UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
☒ |
Annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024
or
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Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
For the transition period from to .
Commission File Number 0-18592

MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Utah |
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87-0447695 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
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(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
1600 West Merit Parkway, South Jordan, Utah 84095
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (801) 253-1600
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
Trading Symbol |
Name of exchange on which registered |
Common Stock, no par value |
MMSI |
NASDAQ Global Select Market |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large Accelerated Filer ☒ |
Accelerated Filer ☐ |
Non-Accelerated Filer ☐ |
Smaller Reporting Company ☐ |
Emerging Growth Company ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
The aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant on June 30, 2024, based upon the closing price of the common stock as reported by the NASDAQ Global Select Market on such date, was approximately $4.9 billion. As of February 21, 2025, the registrant had 58,834,568 shares of common stock outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the following document are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Report: the registrant’s definitive proxy statement relating to its 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
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Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure |
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Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters |
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Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence |
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PART I
Unless otherwise indicated in this report, “Merit,” “we,” “us,” “our,” and similar terms refer to Merit Medical Systems, Inc. and our consolidated subsidiaries.
DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This report contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements include, among others:
| ● | statements proceeded or followed by, or that include the words, “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “seeks,” “believes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “potential,” “target,” “continue,” “upcoming,” “optimistic” or other forms of these words or similar words or expressions, or the negative thereof or other comparable terminology; |
| ● | statements that address our future operating performance or events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur, including, without limitation, any statements regarding our projected earnings, revenues or other financial measures, our plans and objectives for future operations, our proposed new products or services, the integration, development or commercialization of the business or any assets acquired from other parties, future economic conditions or performance, the implementation of, and results which may be achieved through, Merit’s Continued Growth Initiatives Program or other business optimization initiatives, and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing; and |
| ● | statements regarding our past performance, efforts, or results about which inferences or assumptions may be made, including statements proceeded or followed by the words "preliminary," "initial," "potential," "possible," "diligence," "industry-leading," "compliant," "indications," or "early feedback" or other forms of these words or similar words or expressions, or the negative thereof or other comparable terminology. |
The forward-looking statements contained in this report are based on our management’s current expectations and assumptions regarding future events or outcomes. If underlying expectations or assumptions prove inaccurate, or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results will likely differ, and could differ materially, from our expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to unduly rely on any such forward-looking statements.
The following are some of the important risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ from our expectations in any forward-looking statements: inherent risks and uncertainties associated with Merit’s integration of businesses or products acquired from third parties, including the businesses and products acquired from Cook Medical Holdings LLC and EndoGastric Solutions, Inc. in 2024, and Merit’s ability to achieve the anticipated financial results, product development and other anticipated benefits of such acquisitions; disruptions in Merit’s supply chain, manufacturing or sterilization processes; U.S. and global political, economic, competitive, reimbursement and regulatory conditions; reduced availability of, and price increases associated with, components and other raw materials; increases in transportation expenses; risks relating to Merit’s potential inability to successfully manage growth through acquisitions generally, including the inability to effectively integrate acquired operations or products or commercialize technology developed internally or acquired through completed, proposed or future transactions; fluctuations in interest or foreign currency exchange rates and inflation; cybersecurity events; difficulties relating to development, testing and regulatory approval, clearance and maintenance of Merit’s products; the ability to fully enroll and the outcomes of ongoing and future clinical trials and market studies relating to Merit’s products; litigation and other judicial proceedings affecting Merit; failure to comply with U.S. and foreign laws and regulations; restrictions on Merit’s liquidity or business operations resulting from its debt agreements; infringement of Merit’s technology or the assertion that Merit’s technology infringes the rights of other parties; product recalls and product liability claims; potential for significant adverse changes in governing regulations; changes in tax laws and regulations in the United States or other jurisdictions or exposure to additional tax liabilities which may adversely affect our effective tax rate; termination of relationships with Merit’s suppliers, or failure of such suppliers to perform; development of new products and technology that could render Merit’s existing or future products obsolete; market acceptance of new products; failure to comply with applicable environmental laws; changes in key personnel; labor shortages and increases in labor costs; price and product competition; extreme weather events; and geopolitical events.
1
For a further discussion of the risks and uncertainties and other factors affecting our business, see Item 1A. Risk Factors in this report and our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
All subsequent forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. All forward-looking statements included in this report are made as of the date hereof and are based on information available to us as of such date. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement. If we do update or correct one or more forward-looking statements, investors and others should not conclude that we will make additional updates or corrections.
DISCLOSURE REGARDING TRADEMARKS
This report includes trademarks, tradenames and service marks that are our property or the property of other third parties. Solely for convenience, such trademarks and tradenames sometimes appear without any “™” or “®” symbol. However, failure to include such symbols is not intended to suggest, in any way, that we will not assert our rights or the rights of any applicable licensor, to these trademarks and tradenames.
DISCLOSURE REGARDING WEBSITE REFERENCES
In this report, we make reference to our website at www.merit.com. References to our website in this report are provided for convenience only. The content of our website does not constitute part of, and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into, this report.
2
Item 1.Business.
Our Company
Merit Medical Systems, Inc. is a leading manufacturer and marketer of proprietary medical devices used in interventional, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, particularly in cardiology, radiology, oncology, critical care and endoscopy. We strive to be the most customer-focused company in healthcare. Each day we are determined to make a difference by understanding our customers’ needs and innovating and delivering a diverse range of products that improve the lives of people and communities throughout the world. We believe that long-term value is created for our customers, employees, shareholders, and communities when we focus outward and are determined to deliver an exceptional customer experience.
Merit Medical Systems, Inc. was founded in 1987 by Fred P. Lampropoulos, Kent W. Stanger, Darla Gill and William Padilla. Initially, we focused our operations on injection and insert molding of plastics. Our first product was a specialized control syringe used to inject contrast solution into a patient’s arteries for a diagnostic cardiac procedure called an angiogram. Since that time, our products and product lines have expanded substantially, both through internal research and development projects and through strategic acquisitions.
Business Strategy
Our business strategy focuses on five target areas as follows:
| ● | enhancing global growth and profitability through research and development, sales model optimization, cost discipline and operational focus; |
| ● | optimizing our operational capability through lean processes, cost effective environments and asset utilization; |
| ● | targeting high-growth, high-return opportunities by understanding, innovating and delivering in our core divisions; |
| ● | maintaining a highly disciplined, customer-focused enterprise guided by strong core values to globally address unmet or underserved healthcare needs; and |
| ● | creating a sustainable business for our employees, shareholders and community. |
We conduct our operations through a number of domestic and foreign subsidiaries and representative offices. Our principal offices are located at 1600 West Merit Parkway, South Jordan, Utah, 84095, and our telephone number is (801) 253-1600. We maintain an internet website at www.merit.com.
Products
We design, develop, market and manufacture, through our own operations and contract manufacturers, medical products that offer a high level of quality, value and safety to our customers, as well as the patients they serve. Our products are used in the following clinical areas: radiology; diagnostic and interventional cardiology; interventional radiology; neurointerventional radiology; vascular, general and thoracic surgery; electrophysiology; cardiac rhythm management; interventional pulmonology; interventional nephrology; orthopedic spine surgery; interventional oncology; pain management; breast cancer surgery, outpatient access centers; intensive care; imaging; and interventional gastroenterology.
The success of our products is enhanced by the extensive experience of our management team in the healthcare industry, our experienced direct sales force and distributors, our ability to provide custom procedural solutions such as kits, trays and procedural packs at the request of our customers, and our dedication to offering facility-unique solutions in the markets we serve worldwide.
We conduct our business through two operating segments: cardiovascular and endoscopy. For information relating to our operating segments and product categories, see Note 13 Segment Reporting and Foreign Operations to our consolidated financial statements set forth in Item 8 of this report and Management’s Discussion and Analysis set forth in Item 7 of this report.
The following sections describe our principal product offerings by reporting segment and product category.
3
Cardiovascular
We offer a broad line of medical devices used to gain and maintain vascular access. These products include our micropuncture kits, angiographic needles, our family of Prelude® Introducer Sheaths and a wide range of guide wires and safety products. Our cardiovascular segment includes the following product categories: peripheral intervention, cardiac intervention, custom procedural solutions, and original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”).
Peripheral Intervention
Our peripheral intervention products support the minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment of diseases in peripheral vessels and organs throughout the body, excluding the heart. Products in our peripheral intervention product category are organized into the following product groups: peripheral intervention, spine, and oncology.
Merit Vascular – Peripheral
Our peripheral intervention products include product offerings in the following product portfolios: access (peripheral), angiography, drainage, delivery systems, embolotherapy, and intervention (peripheral). We recently expanded the renal therapies portion of our access (peripheral) portfolio, which now includes the following key products:
| ● | Merit Wrapsody® Cell-Impermeable Endoprosthesis (the “Wrapsody Device”), a cell-impermeable endoprosthesis which is designed to maintain long-term vessel patency in patients with obstructions in the dialysis outflow circuit; |
| ● | HeRO® (Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow) Graft, a fully subcutaneous vascular access system, which is intended for use in maintaining long-term vascular access for chronic hemodialysis patients; |
| ● | CentrosFLO® Long-Term Hemodialysis Catheter and ProGuide® Chronic Dialysis Catheter; |
| ● | BioFlo DuraMax® Catheter, which provides optimal ease of insertion and high flow rates at modest arterial pressure; |
| ● | Broad offering of peritoneal dialysis catheters, accessories and implantation kits for home dialysis therapy; and |
| ● | Surfacer® Inside-Out® Access Catheter System that restores and preserves access in chronically occluded veins. |
The products in our angiography portfolio are used to identify blockages and other disease states in blood vessels. The principal product offerings in our angiography portfolio include our:
| ● | Merit SplashWire® hydrophilic Steerable Guide Wires, combining optimum lubricity, exceptional torque response and enhanced visibility; |
| ● | Performa® and Impress® Diagnostic Catheters, a catheter offering designed for traversing difficult to access peripheral blood vessels; and |
| ● | Performa Vessel Sizing Catheters for vessel measurement. |
We offer a broad line of drainage products. The principal product offerings in our drainage portfolio include our:
| ● | Aspira® Pleural Effusion Drainage and Aspira® Peritoneal Drainage Systems, a compassionate treatment option for end-stage cancer, allowing patients to spend more time at home by reducing the need for frequent hospital visits to treat their drainage needs; |
| ● | Family of ReSolve® Drainage Catheters, including our ReSolve ConvertX® Stent System and ReSolve Mini™ Locking Drainage Catheter, and our related tubing sets and drainage bag; |
| ● | One-Step® and Valved One-Step® Drainage Catheters, sold individually and in kits, for quickly removing unwanted fluid accumulation; and |
| ● | Revolution™ Catheter Securement Device and StayFIX® Fixation Device, used to stop migration, movement and accidental removal of percutaneous catheters. |
4
The principal product offerings in our delivery systems portfolio include our:
| ● | SwiftNINJA® Steerable Microcatheter, an advanced microcatheter with a 180-degree articulating tip; |
| ● | Merit Maestro® and Merit Pursue™ Microcatheters, small microcatheters designed for pushability and trackability through small and tortuous vessels; and |
| ● | True Form™ Reshapable Guide Wire, designed to be reshaped multiple times, reducing the need for multiple guide wires. |
Our embolotherapy products treat disease by blocking or slowing the flow of blood into the arteries or delivering chemotherapy drugs in the treatment of primary and metastatic liver cancer. The principal product offerings in our embolotherapy portfolio include our:
| ● | Embosphere® Microspheres, a highly-studied, round embolic for consistent and predictable results; |
| ● | HepaSphere® Microspheres, soft embolics with a consistent cross-sectional diameter for predictable, flow-directed targeting; and |
| ● | Recently-launched Siege™ Vascular Plug, a self-expanding vascular implant designed for peripheral arterial embolization in vessels measuring 1.5mm to 6.0mm in diameter. |
The products in our intervention (peripheral) portfolio are chiefly used to remove blood clots, retrieve foreign bodies in blood vessels and assist with placing balloons and stents to treat arterial disease. The principal product offerings in our intervention (peripheral) portfolio include our:
| ● | ClariVein® Specialty Infusion Catheter which is designed for controlled 360-degree dispersion of physician specified agents to the peripheral vasculature; |
| ● | Dynamis AV™ PTA Dilatation Catheter, a line of balloon catheters that facilitates the opening of blockages located in the arteriovenous system of dialysis patients; |
| ● | Q50X™ and Q50® Stent Graft Balloon Catheters, a line of catheters that treat abdominal and thoracic endovascular aortic repair procedures and reinterventions; |
| ● | Fountain® Infusion System and Mistique® Infusion Catheters, a line of catheters that treat arterial and hemodialysis graft occlusions and deep vein thrombosis; and |
| ● | EN Snare® and One Snare® Endovascular Snare Systems, a complete line of snares designed to manipulate, capture and retrieve foreign material in the body. |
Merit Spine
Our spine products are used in the treatment of vertebral compression fractures and metastatic spinal tumors and in musculoskeletal biopsy procedures. Our spine product line includes the following product portfolios: vertebral augmentation, radiofrequency ablation, and bone biopsy systems. Our primary product offerings in the vertebral augmentation and radiofrequency ablation portfolios include our:
| ● | STAR™ Tumor Ablation System, designed to provide palliative treatment of painful metastatic spinal tumors in cancer patients by targeted radiofrequency ablation; |
| ● | Arcadia® Steerable and straight balloons, designed to achieve controlled, precise, targeted cavity creation in vertebral augmentation procedures; and |
| ● | StabiliT® MX Vertebral Augmentation System, which uses our inflation devices to deliver bone cement. |
The bone biopsy systems portfolio comprises a full offering of manual bone biopsy products, including our Madison™, Huntington™, Kensington™, Preston™ and Westbrook™ biopsy products.
5
Merit Oncology
Our oncology products are dedicated to the accurate diagnosis and localization of breast and soft tissue tumors and the innovative treatment of early-stage breast cancer. We also offer an extensive line of soft tissue biopsy products and accessories. Our primary product offerings in our oncology portfolio include our:
| ● | SCOUT® Radar Localization System, a nonradioactive, wire-free tumor localization system that facilitates successful surgical removal of marked lesions and lymph nodes, improving workflow and the patient experience; |
| ● | CorVocet® Biopsy System, one of our innovative soft tissue core needle biopsy and accessory products, designed to cut a full core of tissue and provide large specimens for pathological examination; |
| ● | Achieve®, Temno® and Tru-Cut® Soft Tissue Biopsy Devices; |
| ● | BioSentry® biopsy tract sealant system; and |
| ● | SAVI® Brachytherapy, a precise, targeted approach to accelerated partial breast irradiation with lower toxicities and reduced treatment duration. |
Cardiac Intervention
We manufacture and sell a variety of products designed to treat various heart conditions. Products in our cardiac intervention product category are organized into the following product portfolios: access (cardiac), angiography, electrophysiology and CRM, fluid management, hemodynamic monitoring, hemostasis, and intervention (cardiac).
Merit Vascular – Cardiac
The principal product offerings in our access portfolio (cardiac) include our family of Prelude Introducer Sheaths, for both radial and femoral access, featuring our Prelude IDeal™ Hydrophilic Sheath Introducer, an ultra-thin wall introducer sheath that provides more room for the insertion of catheters and other devices in the radial artery.
The principal product offerings in our angiography portfolio include our InQwire® Guide Wires and Performa Diagnostic and Ultimate™ catheters for femoral and radial procedures.
Electrophysiology is the study of diagnosing and treating abnormal electrical activities of the heart. Cardiac rhythm management (“CRM”) is the field of cardiac disease therapy that relates to the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias or the improper beating of the heart. The principal product offerings in our electrophysiology and CRM portfolio include our:
| ● | Recently-acquired Evolution® system for lead removal procedures relating to pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators; |
| ● | Worley™ Advanced LV Delivery System, used to aid in the insertion and implantation of left ventricular pacing leads; |
| ● | HeartSpan® Transseptal Needle, for left-heart access procedures; |
| ● | HeartSpan® Steerable and Fixed Curve Sheath Introducer, featuring a neutral position indicator and tactile click to help physicians identify curve orientation with an expanded product line that includes fixed curve shapes; and |
| ● | SafeGuard FocusTM and Focus CoolTM compression devices, used to protect closed surgical sites in the immediate postoperative period. |
The product offerings in our fluid management portfolio include manifolds, control syringes and tubing.
The principal products we offer in our hemodynamic monitoring portfolio include the Meritrans DTXPLUS® disposable transducer, SAFEDRAW® closed arterial sampling system and related accessories.
The principal product offerings in our hemostasis portfolio include our Prelude SYNC EVO™, PreludeSYNC Distal™, PreludeSYNC EZTM Radial Compression devices (designed to reduce and stop blood flow after radial access procedures), and the SafeGuard® Pressure Assisted Device which provides hemostasis after femoral procedures.
6
The principal product offerings in our intervention (cardiac) portfolio include a full line of inflation devices and hemostasis valves, including the BasixSKY™, BasixCompak™, basixTOUCH™, Blue Diamond™ and DiamondTouch™ inflation devices and the PhD™ Hemostasis Valve, the latest addition to our hemostasis valve portfolio.
Custom Procedural Solutions
Our custom procedural solutions product category is comprised of standard and custom kit and pack solutions that include items needed for peripheral procedures, safety and waste management products, and hemostasis accessories. Our kit and pack solutions can optimize efficiency and reduce cost and waste. The principal product offerings in this product category include:
| ● | Critical care products; |
| ● | Dual Cap® Disinfection Protection System and Medallion ® syringes; |
| ● | Manifold kits; and |
| ● | Trays and packs. |
OEM
Our global OEM Division sells components and finished devices, including molded components, sub-assembled goods, custom kits and bulk non-sterile goods, to other medical device manufacturers. Additionally, we provide coating services for medical tubes and wires under OEM brands in addition to many of the products identified above. We offer coated tubes and wires to customers on a spool or as further manufactured components including guide wire components, coated mandrels/stylets and coated needles.
We also manufacture and sell sensor components for microelectromechanical systems. These components consist of piezoresistive pressure sensors in various forms, including bare silicon die, die mounted on ceramic substrates, and fully calibrated components for numerous applications both inside and outside the healthcare industry.
Endoscopy
The products in our endoscopy operating segment, Merit Medical Endotek™®, are organized in two product portfolios: gastroenterology and pulmonary.
Our gastroenterology products include a complete range of innovative, gastrointestinal solutions. Our primary product offerings in our gastroenterology portfolio include our:
| ● | Recently-acquired EsophyX® Z+ system for minimally invasive non-pharmacological treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease; |
| ● | Alimaxx-ES™ and EndoMAXX® Fully Covered Esophageal Stents, for maintaining esophageal luminal patency in certain esophageal strictures; |
| ● | BIG60® and BIG60 ALPHA™ Inflation Devices, 60-mL syringes and gauges designed to inflate and deflate non-vascular balloon dilators while monitoring and displaying inflation pressures up to 12 atmospheres; and |
| ● | Elation® Fixed Wire, Wire Guided and new 5-stage Balloon Dilators, intended for use in the alimentary tract. |
Our pulmonary products consist of laser-cut tracheobronchial stents, advanced over-the-wire and direct visualization delivery systems and dilation balloons to endoscopically dilate strictures. Our primary product offerings in our pulmonary portfolio include our:
| ● | AERO®, AEROmini® and AERO DV® Fully Covered Tracheobronchial Stents, for the treatment of tracheobronchial strictures produced by malignant neoplasms; and |
| ● | Elation® Pulmonary™ Balloon Dilator, for the dilation of strictures of the trachea and bronchi. |
We also offer a variety of kits and accessories for endoscopy and bronchoscopy procedures.
7
Marketing and Sales
Target Market/Industry. Our principal target markets are peripheral intervention (including, renal therapies), cardiac intervention, interventional oncology, critical care and endoscopy. Within these markets our products are used in the following clinical areas: diagnostic and interventional cardiology; interventional radiology; neurointerventional radiology; vascular, general and thoracic surgery; electrophysiology; cardiac rhythm management; interventional pulmonology; interventional nephrology; orthopedic spine surgery; interventional oncology; pain management; breast cancer surgery; outpatient access centers; intensive care; imaging; and interventional gastroenterology.
According to statistics published by the National Center for Health Statistics, cardiovascular disease continues to be a leading cause of death and a significant health problem in the U.S. Treatment options range from dietary changes to surgery, depending on the nature of the specific disease or disorder. Endovascular techniques, including angioplasty, stenting and endoluminal stent grafts, continue to represent important therapeutic options for the treatment of vascular disease. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and is the second leading cause of cancer death among women. We derive a large percentage of our revenues from sales of products used during percutaneous diagnostic and interventional procedures such as angiography, angioplasty and stent placement, and we intend to pursue additional sales growth by building on our existing market position in both core technology and accessory products.
Marketing Strategy. Traditionally, as part of our product sales and marketing efforts, we attend major medical conventions throughout the world pertaining to our target markets and invest in market development including physician training, peer-to-peer education, and patient outreach. Additionally, we are developing digital and direct-to-customer programs to increase awareness of our products, and we work closely with major healthcare facilities and physicians involving our primary target markets in the areas of training, therapy awareness programs, clinical studies and ongoing product research and development. In general, our target markets are characterized by rapid change resulting from technological advances and scientific discoveries. We plan to continue to develop and launch innovative products to support clinical trends and to address the increasing demands of these markets.
Product Development Strategy. Our product development is focused on identifying and introducing a regular flow of profitable products that meet customer needs. To stay abreast of customer needs, we work closely with health care professionals working in the fields of medicine in which we offer or develop products. Suggestions for new products and product improvements may also come from engineers, marketing and sales personnel, and physicians and technicians who perform clinical procedures.
When we believe that a product suggestion demonstrates a sustainable competitive advantage, meets customer needs, fits strategically and technologically with our business and has a good potential financial return, we generally assemble a “project team” comprised of individuals from our sales, marketing, engineering, manufacturing, legal and quality assurance departments. This team works to identify the customer requirements, develop the design, compile necessary documentation and testing, and prepare the product for market introduction. We believe that one of our competitive strengths is our capacity to rapidly conceive, design, develop and introduce new products that meet customer needs.
U.S. and International Sales. Sales of our products in the U.S. accounted for 59%, 58% and 57% of our net sales for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. In the U.S., we have dedicated, direct sales organizations primarily focused on selling to end-user physicians, hospitals and alternate site facilities (e.g., office-based labs), major buying groups and integrated healthcare networks.
Internationally, we employ sales representatives and contract with independent dealer organizations and custom procedure tray manufacturers to distribute our products worldwide, including territories in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Oceania, Central and South America, Mexico and Canada. In 2024, our international sales grew 4.8% over our 2023 international sales and accounted for 41% of our net sales. Our largest non-U.S. market is China, which represented 11% of our net sales in 2024 and reported net sales of $149.8 million, $147.3 million, and $149.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. We maintain a distribution center and administrative office in Beijing and sales offices in a few major cities in China. We sell our products through more than 500 distributors in mainland China, who are responsible for reselling our products, primarily to hospitals. We use the “modified direct” sales approach in China, employing sales personnel throughout China who work with our distributors to promote the clinical advantages of our products to clinicians and other decision makers at hospitals.
In 2019, China announced a volume-based procurement (“VBP”) policy applicable to medical device manufacturers that is designed to reduce the price of medical devices sold in China. We began experiencing the impact of the VBP policy in 2022 and 2023 in the form of decreased sales prices and revenue.
8
The negative impacts of the VBP policy persisted in 2024 and we expect to continue to experience these negative impacts in 2025. For further discussion of the risks and uncertainties associated with the VBP policy, please refer to disclosure under the heading “Consolidation in the healthcare industry, group purchasing organizations and public cost-containment measures have led to demands for price concessions, which may reduce our revenues and harm our ability to sell our products at prices necessary to support our current business strategies.” set forth in Item 1A “Risk Factors.”
In Europe, the Middle East and Africa (“EMEA), we have both direct and modified direct sales operations. Such sales operations are active throughout the region, including the largest markets in Western, Southern, Central and Eastern Europe and the emerging markets within EMEA.
Our direct sales personnel are principally engaged in each of our divisions. Marketing teams responsible for each division operate clinical education programs, often directed by leading subject matter personnel, who provide technical instruction on techniques and therapies to physicians, nurses and technologists. We are currently conducting education programs specific to radial access, spinal intervention, surgical grafts, wire-free tumor localization, electrophysiology, endoscopy, dialysis and embolism.
We require our international dealers to store products and sell directly to customers within defined sales territories. Each of our products must be approved for sale under the laws of the country in which it is sold. International dealers are responsible for compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws, such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, as well as all applicable laws and regulations in their respective countries.
We consider training to be a critical factor in the success of our sales force. Members of our sales force are trained by our clinical marketers, our staff professionals, consulting physicians, and senior field trainers in their respective territories.
OEM Sales. Our global OEM Division sells components and finished devices, including molded components, sub-assembled goods, custom kits and bulk non-sterile goods, to medical device manufacturers. These products may be combined with other components and products from other companies and sold under a Merit or customer label. Products sold by our OEM Division can be customized and enhanced to customer specifications, including packaging, labeling and a variety of physical modifications. Our OEM Division serves customers with a staff of regional sales representatives based in the U.S., Europe and Asia, and a dedicated OEM engineering and customer service group.
Customers
We provide products to hospitals and alternate site-based physicians, technicians and nurses. Hospitals and acute care facilities in the U.S. purchase our products through our direct sales force, distributors, OEM partners, or custom procedure tray manufacturers who assemble and combine our products in custom kits and packs. Outside the U.S., hospitals and acute care facilities generally purchase our products through our direct sales force, or, in the absence of a sales force, through independent distributors or OEM partners.
Research and Development
Our research and development operations have been central to our historical growth, and we believe they will be critical to our continued growth. In recent years, our commitment to innovation has led to the introduction of several new products, improvements to our existing products and expansion of our product lines, as well as enhancements and new equipment in our research and development facilities.
We continue to develop new products and make improvements to our existing products utilizing many different sources. In 2024, our Chief Executive Officer and our Executive Vice President of Global Research & Development worked closely with our sales and marketing teams to incorporate feedback from physicians and clinicians in the field, which contributed to innovative new products and improvements to our existing products.
In 2024, we completed projects that resulted in the newest additions to our product lineup: the Wrapsody Device, basixSky™ Inflation Device, MIGHTYwire® Guide Wire, Siege™ Vascular Plug, Bearing nsPVA Express™ Syringe, and 10FoRe™ hemostasis valve. Other products added to our new product portfolio include simplified connections to our Centesis and Aspira® drainage systems to facilitate compatibility with a broader range of drainage tools.
Currently, we have research and development facilities in California, Texas, Utah, Ireland and France.
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Manufacturing
We manufacture many of our products using our proprietary technology and our expertise in plastic injection molding, insert molding and extrusion, along with many other technologically advanced manufacturing processes. We generally contract with third parties for the tooling of our molds, but we design and own most of our molds. We have also received various International Standards Organization (“ISO”) certifications for many of our facilities; for further details, please refer to Item 1. “Business - Sustainability” below. Merit Sensor Systems, Inc. (“Merit Sensors”) develops and markets silicon pressure sensors to a range of enterprises and presently supplies the sensors we use in our digital inflation devices and blood pressure sensors.
We have specialized manufacturing personnel at most of our ten global manufacturing facilities. Consequently, we possess the capability to flexibly locate or shift the manufacture of products to the facilities providing the most strategic advantages. The determination of manufacturing location is based upon multiple factors, including facility technological capabilities, market demand, acquisition and integration activities and economic and competitive conditions.
We currently produce and package all of our embolotherapy products. Manufacturing of our embolotherapy products includes the synthesis and processing of raw materials and third-party manufactured compounds.
We have packaging and manufacturing facilities located in Texas, Virginia, Utah, Minnesota, Mexico, Brazil, Ireland, France, The Netherlands, and Singapore. See Item 2. “Properties.”
We ship our products through distribution centers located in Virginia, Utah, Canada, Brazil, The Netherlands, United Kingdom (“UK”), South Africa, South Korea, India, New Zealand, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Mexico, Colombia and Australia.
Competition
Merit operates in the complex, highly competitive and challenging global medical technology marketplace, specifically in the areas of cardiology, radiology, oncology, critical care and endoscopy. This marketplace is characterized by rapid technological advancement, industry and customer consolidation, customer demands for price reductions, regulatory reform, and evolving patient needs. We compete with companies of varying sizes. Many of our competitors are much larger than we are and have access to greater resources. We also compete with smaller companies that sell single or limited numbers of products in specific product lines or geographies. In certain countries, and particularly in China and Japan, we also face competition from domestic medical device companies that may benefit from their status as local suppliers. We also face competition from non-medical device companies offering alternative therapies for disease states that could also be treated using our products.
The principal competitive factors in the markets in which our products are sold are quality, price, product features, customer service, breadth of line, and customer relationships. We believe our products are attractive to customers due to their innovative designs, the quality of materials and workmanship, clinical performance, our strong focus on customer needs, and our prompt attention to customer requests. As a company, some of our primary competitive strengths are our relative stability in the marketplace; comprehensive, broad line of ancillary products; manufacturing integration to secure our supply chain; commitment to innovation and strong cadence of new products and product line extensions that enhance our portfolio.
Our primary competitors in our peripheral intervention market are Teleflex Incorporated (“Teleflex”), Cook Medical Incorporated (“Cook Medical”), Medtronic plc (“Medtronic”), Boston Scientific Corporation (“Boston Scientific”), and Becton, Dickinson and Company (“BD”). Our primary competitors in our cardiac intervention market are BD, Teleflex, Medtronic, Abbott Laboratories, Terumo Corporation, Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, Cook Medical, and Boston Scientific. Our primary competitors in our spine market are Medtronic, Stryker Corporation, and Johnson & Johnson. Our primary competitors in our oncology market are BD, Hologic, Inc., Endomagnetics Ltd., Argon Medical Devices, Inc. and Cook Medical. Our primary competitors in our endoscopy market are Getinge AB, Boston Scientific, Cook Medical, and Olympus Corporation.
Based on available industry data, with respect to the number of procedures performed, we believe we are a leading provider of digital inflation technology in the world. In addition, we believe we are one of the market leaders in the U.S. for analog inflation devices. We believe we are a market leader in the U.S. for control syringes, radar localization, waste-disposal systems, embolic beads, tubing and manifolds. Although we believe our recent and planned additions to these product lines will help us compete even more effectively in both the U.S. and international markets, we cannot give any assurance that we will be able to maintain our existing competitive advantages or compete successfully in the future.
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Sources and Availability of Raw Materials
Raw materials essential to our business are generally purchased worldwide and are normally available in quantities adequate to meet the needs of our business. Where there are exceptions, the temporary unavailability of those raw materials has not historically had a material adverse effect on our financial results; however, fluctuations and uncertainties in supply chain, transportation logistics, and freight expenses that we have experienced during the past several years have challenged our operating capabilities and could result in disruptions in our operations and materially impact our financial results. For further discussion of the risks and uncertainties associated with recent disruptions in supply chain and logistics, please refer to disclosure under the heading “Disruptions in the supply from third-party vendors of the materials and components used in manufacturing or sterilizing our products could adversely affect our business, operations or financial condition.” set forth in Item 1A “Risk Factors.”
Proprietary Rights and Litigation
We rely on a combination of patents, trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights and confidentiality agreements to protect our intellectual property. We have a number of U.S. and foreign-issued patents and pending patent applications, including rights to patents and patent applications acquired through strategic transactions, which relate to various aspects of our products and technology. The duration of our patents is determined by the laws of the country of issuance and, for the U.S., is typically 20 years from the date of filing of the patent application. As of December 31, 2024, we owned approximately 1,900 U.S. and international patents and patent applications.
Additionally, we hold exclusive and non-exclusive licenses to a variety of third-party technologies covered by patents and patent applications. In the aggregate, our intellectual property assets are critical to our business, but no single patent, trademark or other intellectual property asset is of material importance to our business.
The Merit® name and logo are trademarks in the U.S. and other countries. In addition to the Merit name and logo, we have used, registered or applied for registration of other specific trademarks and service marks to help distinguish our products, technologies and services from those of our competitors in the U.S. and foreign countries. See Item 1. “Business - Products” above. The duration of our trademark registrations varies from country to country; in the U.S. we can generally maintain our trademark rights and renew any trademark registrations for as long as the trademarks are in use. As of December 31, 2024, we owned approximately 800 U.S. and foreign trademark registrations and trademark applications.
There is substantial litigation regarding patents and other intellectual property rights in the medical device industry. At any given time, we may be involved as either a plaintiff or a defendant, as well as a counter-claimant or counter-defendant, in patent, trademark, and other intellectual property infringement actions. If a court rules against us in any intellectual property litigation we could be subject to significant liabilities, be forced to seek licenses from third parties, or be prevented from marketing certain products. In addition, intellectual property litigation is costly and may consume significant time of employees and management.
Regulation
Corporate Integrity Agreement. In October 2020, we entered into a Corporate Integrity Agreement (“CIA”) with the Office of Inspector General (“OIG”), a five-year agreement that was a condition of our settlement with the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”). The CIA subjects us to certain compliance, monitoring, reporting, certification, oversight and training obligations. The CIA requires, among other matters, that we (i) maintain a compliance officer, a compliance committee, board review and oversight of certain federal healthcare compliance matters and compliance and disclosure programs; (ii) establish compliance policies and procedures to meet the requirements of all federal health care programs and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”); (iii) provide management certifications and compliance training and education; (iv) engage an independent review organization to conduct a thorough review of our systems, policies, processes and procedures related to promotional materials, product evaluations, consulting agreements, trainings provided to healthcare professionals, sponsorships, grants and charitable contributions; (v) implement a risk assessment and internal review process; (vi) establish a disclosure program for whistleblowers; (vii) increase oversight of the interactions between our sales personnel and healthcare providers; and (viii) report or disclose certain events and physician payments. We recently completed our fourth reporting period under the CIA and continue to implement compliance program enhancements.
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Our failure to comply with our obligations under the CIA could result in monetary penalties and our exclusion from participation in federal health care programs.
The foregoing description of the CIA is qualified in its entirety by the full terms of the CIA, which is attached as Exhibit 10.39 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Regulatory Approvals. Our products and operations are global and are subject to regulations by the FDA and various other federal and state agencies, as well as by foreign governmental agencies. These agencies enforce laws and regulations that control the design, development, testing, clinical trials, manufacturing, labeling, storage, advertising, marketing, distribution, import and export, and post-market surveillance of our medical products. Further, approval by one governmental agency does not assure approval by another governmental agency, although sometimes test results from one country can be used in applications for regulatory approval in another country. Finally, changes in government administrations may result in changed administrative or legislative priorities and could also prevent or delay approval of our current or future products, restrict or regulate post-approval activities and affect our ability to profitably sell our current or future products for which we obtain marketing approval.
The time required to obtain approval by the FDA and foreign governmental agencies can be lengthy and complicated given that the regulatory requirements may differ in each jurisdiction. For example, in May 2017, the European Union (E.U.) adopted Regulation (EU) 2017/745 (“MDR”), which replaced Council Directive 93/92/EEC (“MDD”) as of May 26, 2021. Under transitional provisions, medical devices with notified body certificates issued under the MDD prior to May 26, 2021, for which we intend to seek approval under the MDR and which meet certain other requirements, may continue to be placed on the E.U. market until December 31, 2027 or December 31, 2028 depending on risk classification. After the expiry of the applicable transitional period, only devices that have been CE marked under the MDR may be placed on the market in the E.U.
We are preparing to comply with these new regulations under the MDR before the transitional period expires. However, there will be products that we will instead choose to discontinue or postpone introduction in the E.U. This decision will depend on a number of factors, including, without limitation, changing business strategies, timing and cost of obtaining MDR certification, availability of necessary data and the capacity of notified bodies. The MDR includes increasingly stringent requirements in multiple areas, such as pre-market clinical evidence, review of high-risk devices, labeling, post-market surveillance and post-market clinical follow-up. Under the MDR, pre-market clinical data will now be required to obtain CE mark approval for high-risk, new and modified medical devices.
U.S. and foreign counter-part regulatory approval processes for medical devices are expensive, uncertain and lengthy. In certain circumstances, human clinical trials are required for regulatory clearance or approval for devices, which can be expensive, time-consuming and produce uncertain results. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain necessary regulatory approvals for any product on a timely basis or at all. Delays in, or failure to receive, such approvals, the loss of previously received approvals, or the failure to comply with existing or future regulatory requirements could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects. Further, even if a regulatory approval or clearance is issued by the FDA, the FDA may impose post-clearance or post-approval marketing restrictions or other regulatory requirements regarding a medical product that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial conditions, operations or prospects. Finally, even after regulatory approval or clearance, Merit is subject to several laws, rules and regulations, and the failure to comply with any applicable laws, rules or regulations at any time during the lifecycle of a product, including without limitation, after approval or clearance, may subject us to a variety of administrative or judicial proceedings, penalties or sanctions, including refusal by the applicable regulatory authority to approve pending applications, withdrawal of an approval, imposition of a clinical hold, issuance of warning letters and other types of letters, product recalls, product seizures, total or partial suspension of production or distribution, injunctions, fines, refusals of government contracts, restitution, disgorgement of profits, or civil or criminal investigations and penalties brought by the FDA and the Department of Justice or other governmental entities.
With respect to regulatory approvals for the Wrapsody Device, in May 2020, we received the CE mark and in December 2024, we received premarket approval from the FDA. We continue to seek regulatory approvals for the Wrapsody Device in other jurisdictions. We are conducting a large, multinational pivotal human clinical trial of the Wrapsody Device, which was required for us to obtain approval from the FDA and is required by some foreign regulatory agencies. Human clinical trials of a medical device are often required for regulatory clearance or approval for devices and are expensive, time-consuming and uncertain.
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Quality System Requirements. The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (“FDCA”) and its counterpart non-U.S. laws require us to comply with quality system regulations (“QSR”) pertaining to all aspects of our product design, purchasing and supplier controls, manufacturing, distribution, servicing, complaint handling, corrective and preventive action and internal quality system audits. The FDA, Notified Bodies, and foreign regulators enforce these requirements through periodic inspections of medical device manufacturers. These requirements are complex, technical and require substantial resources to remain compliant. Our failure or the failure of our distributors or suppliers to maintain compliance with these requirements could result in the shutdown of our manufacturing operations or the recall of our products, or could restrict our ability to obtain new product approvals or certificates from regulatory authorities, such as the FDA, that are necessary for import and export of our products. Any of these results could have a material adverse effect on our business. If one of our suppliers fails to maintain compliance with our quality requirements, we may have to qualify a new supplier and could experience manufacturing delays as a result. We also could be subject to injunctions, product seizures, or civil or criminal penalties.
Labeling and Promotion. Our labeling and promotional activities are also subject to scrutiny by the FDA and foreign regulators. Labeling includes not only the label on a device, but also includes any descriptive or informational literature that accompanies or is used to promote the device. Among other things, labeling violates the law if it is false or misleading in any respect or it fails to contain adequate directions for use. Moreover, product claims that are outside the approved or cleared labeling (for example, an uncleared or unapproved use) violate the FDCA and other applicable laws. If the FDA determines that our promotional materials constitute promotion of an uncleared or unapproved use, or otherwise violate the FDCA, it could request that we modify our promotional materials or subject us to regulatory or enforcement actions, including the issuance of an untitled letter, a notice of violation, a warning letter, injunction, seizure, civil fines or criminal penalties. Allegations of off-label promotion can also result in enforcement action by federal, state, or foreign enforcement authorities and trigger significant civil or criminal penalties, including exclusion from the Medicare and Medicaid programs and liability under the False Claims Act, discussed further below.
Our product promotion is also subject to regulation by the Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”), which has primary oversight of the advertising of unrestricted devices, including FDA-cleared devices. The Federal Trade Commission Act prohibits unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce, as well as unfair or deceptive practices such as the dissemination of any false or misleading advertisement pertaining to medical devices. FTC enforcement can result in orders requiring, among other things, limits on advertising, corrective advertising, consumer redress, rescission of contracts and such other relief as the FTC may deem necessary.
In addition, under the federal Lanham Act and similar state laws, competitors and others can initiate litigation relating to advertising claims.
Import and Export Requirements. Our operations are global and are subject to complex federal and foreign laws relating to the import and export of medical devices. Among other requirements, the laws of the U.S. require imported articles to have their labels accurately marked with the appropriate country of origin, the violation of which may result in confiscation, fines and penalties. Products for export are subject to foreign countries’ import requirements and the exporting requirements of the exporting countries’ regulating bodies, as applicable.
Additionally, the export of our products is subject to restrictions due to trade and economic sanctions imposed by the U.S., the E.U. and other governments and organizations. The U.S. Departments of Justice, Commerce, State and Treasury and other federal agencies and authorities have a broad range of civil and criminal penalties they may seek to impose against corporations and individuals for violations of economic sanctions laws, export control laws, and other federal statutes and regulations, including those established by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. With the U.S. and other countries imposing export sanctions on certain countries and actors in response to escalating tensions in certain parts of the world, any such export restrictions may affect the company’s business in certain regions of the world, including the requirement to obtain specific export licenses to enable the continuation of Merit’s business in those regions.
Additional Post-Market Requirements. As a medical device manufacturer, we are subject to other post-market requirements in multiple jurisdictions, including (i) product listing, (ii) establishment registration, (iii) Unique Device Identification (“UDI”), and (iv) reports of corrections and removals. We are also subject to regulations that require manufacturers to report to the FDA, or an equivalent foreign regulatory body, any incident in which their device may have caused or contributed to a death or serious injury, or has malfunctioned in a way that would likely cause or contribute to a death or serious injury if the malfunction of the device or a similar device were to recur. The FDA also regularly inspects companies to determine compliance with the QSRs and other post-market requirements.
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Please refer to our discussion of the risks and uncertainties associated with these post-market requirements under the heading “The FDA regulatory clearance process is extensive and dynamic, and the failure to obtain and maintain required regulatory clearances and approvals could prevent us from commercializing our products.” set forth in Item 1A “Risk Factors.”
Reimbursement. Our products are generally used in medical procedures that are covered and reimbursed by governmental payers, such as Medicare, and/or private health plans. In general, these third-party payers cover a medical device and/or related procedure in which the device is used only when the payer determines that healthcare outcomes are supported by medical evidence and the device and procedure is medically necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of the patient’s illness or injury. Even if a device has received clearance or approval for marketing by the FDA or, for uses outside of the U.S., a similar foreign regulatory agency, there is no certainty that third-party payers will cover and reimburse for the cost of the device and/or related procedures involving the use of the device. Because of increasing cost-containment pressures, some private payers in the U.S. and government payers in foreign countries may also condition payment on the cost-effectiveness of the device and/or procedure. Even if coverage is available, third-party payers may place restrictions on the circumstances in which they provide coverage or may offer reimbursement that is not sufficient to cover the cost of our products. If healthcare providers such as hospitals and physicians cannot obtain adequate coverage and reimbursement for our products or the procedures in which they are used, this may affect demand for our products and our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows could suffer a material adverse impact.
Anti-Corruption Laws. Our international operations are subject to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the “FCPA”), the U.K. Bribery Act and other foreign anti-corruption laws. The FCPA prohibits offering, paying, or promising to pay anything of value to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or maintaining an improper business advantage. The FCPA also requires that we maintain fair and accurate books and records and devise and maintain an adequate system of internal accounting controls. In certain countries, the individuals and entities that we regularly interact with may meet the definition of a foreign government official for purposes of the FCPA. As part of our compliance program, we train our U.S. and international employees, and we also train and monitor foreign third parties with whom we contract (e.g., distributors), to comply with the FCPA and other anti-corruption laws. Failing to comply with the FCPA or any other anti-corruption law could result in fines, penalties or other adverse consequences.
As we expand our international operations, we continue to increase the scope of our compliance programs to match the risks relating to the potential for violations of the FCPA and other anti-corruption laws. Our compliance program includes (i) policies addressing not only the FCPA, but also the provisions of a variety of anti-corruption laws in multiple foreign jurisdictions, (ii) provisions relating to books and records that apply to us as a public company, and (iii) effective training for our personnel and relevant third parties.
Transparency Laws. The U.S. Physician Payment Sunshine Act, and similar state laws, include annual reporting and disclosure requirements for device manufacturers aimed at increasing the transparency of the interactions between device manufacturers and healthcare providers. Reports submitted under these requirements are placed in a public database. A number of other jurisdictions outside the U.S. have also adopted or begun adopting similar transparency laws. In addition to the burden of establishing processes for compliance, if we fail to provide these reports, or if the reports we provide are not accurate, we could be subject to significant penalties.
Anti-Kickback Statutes. The federal Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits persons and entities from, among other things, knowingly and willfully offering or paying remuneration, directly or indirectly, to induce the purchase, order, lease, or recommendation of a good or service for which payment may be made in whole or part under a federal healthcare program, such as Medicare or Medicaid, unless the arrangement fits within one of several statutory exemptions or regulatory “safe harbors.” The definition of remuneration has been broadly interpreted to include anything of value, including, for example, gifts, discounts, the furnishing of supplies or equipment, credit arrangements, payments of cash and waivers of payments. Violations can result in significant penalties, imprisonment and exclusion from Medicare, Medicaid and other federal healthcare programs. Exclusion of a manufacturer would preclude any federal healthcare program from paying for the manufacturer’s products. Under the Affordable Care Act, a violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute is deemed to be a violation of the False Claims Act, which is discussed in more detail below. A party’s failure to fully satisfy the obligations of a regulatory “safe harbor” provision may result in increased scrutiny by government enforcement authorities.
In addition to the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, many states have their own anti-kickback laws. Often, these laws closely follow the language of the federal law, although they do not always have the same exceptions or safe harbors. In some states, these anti-kickback laws apply with respect to all payers, including commercial health insurance companies.
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Government officials continue their vigorous enforcement efforts on the sales and marketing activities of pharmaceutical, medical device and other healthcare companies, including the pursuit of cases against individuals or entities that allegedly offered unlawful inducements to potential or existing customers to procure their business. Settlements of these government cases have involved significant fines and penalties and, in some instances, criminal proceedings.
False Claims Laws. The False Claims Acts prohibit any person from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, a false claim for payment to the federal government or knowingly making, or causing to be made, a false statement to get a claim paid. The Civil False Claims Act can be violated without actual knowledge and only requires reckless disregard or deliberate ignorance, while the Criminal False Claims Act requires a higher knowledge standard of actual knowledge and intent to violate. Manufacturers can be held liable under the False Claims Acts, even if they do not submit claims to the government, if they are found to have caused the submission of false claims (e.g., by third parties such as healthcare providers). The Civil False Claims Act also includes whistleblower provisions that allow private citizens to bring suit against an entity or individual on behalf of the U.S. and to recover a portion of any monetary recovery. Many of the recent, highly publicized settlements in the healthcare industry relating to sales and marketing practices have been cases brought under the Civil False Claims Act. Most states also have adopted statutes or regulations similar to the federal laws, which apply to items and services reimbursed under Medicaid and other state programs. Sanctions under the federal False Claims Acts and similar state laws may include civil monetary penalties, treble damages, criminal fines and/or imprisonment.
Labor Standards Laws. We are also subject to corporate social responsibility (“CSR”) laws and regulations which require us to monitor the labor standards in our supply chain, including the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act, the UK Modern Slavery Act, and U.S. Federal Acquisition Regulations regarding Combating Trafficking in Persons. These CSR laws and regulations may impose additional processes and supplier management systems and have led certain key customers to impose additional requirements on medical device companies, including audits, as a prerequisite to selling products to such customers, which could result in increased costs for our products, the termination or suspension of certain suppliers, and reductions in our margins and profitability.
Environmental Regulation. We are subject to various environmental laws, directives and regulations both in the U.S. and internationally. Our operations involve the use of substances regulated under environmental laws, primarily in the manufacturing and sterilization process. We believe our policies and practices comply, in all material respects, with applicable environmental laws and regulations. We strive to continuously improve our environmental management system with a goal of reducing pollution, minimizing depletion of natural resources and reducing our overall environmental footprint. Specifically, we are working to optimize energy and resource usage, ultimately reducing greenhouse gas emissions, water use and waste.
Privacy and Security. Due to Merit’s global presence, we are impacted by the privacy and data security requirements of U.S. and foreign governments, those of various regional, provincial, state and local governments, as well those targeted towards our specific industry. More privacy and data security laws and regulations are being adopted and enforced, with increasingly significant fines and financial penalties for violations in the jurisdictions in which we conduct our operations. Compliance with these evolving and complex data privacy and cybersecurity laws and regulations has resulted and will likely continue to result in new compliance challenges and increased costs. Our business relies on the secure electronic transmission, storage and hosting of personal and sensitive personal information, including protected health information, financial information, intellectual property and other sensitive information related to our customers and workforce.
Internationally, Merit is impacted by a number of stringent privacy regimes, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) in the E.U. and the Personal Information Protection Law (“PIPL”) in China. Non-compliance could result in the imposition of significant fines, penalties, and/or orders to stop non-compliant activities.
In the U.S., data privacy is regulated at the federal and state levels. U.S. federal and state laws protect the confidentiality of certain patient health information, including patient medical records (“PHI”), and restrict the use and disclosure of patient health information by healthcare providers. “Privacy” and “Security” Rules under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”), as amended, and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (the “HITECH Act”), govern the use, disclosure, and security of protected health information.
Merit may be subject to these laws in certain instances. Additionally, several U.S. states have enacted comprehensive data privacy laws. In general, these laws give residents the right to obtain their personal information from companies, request to have their personal information deleted, and opt out of having that information sold to third parties. The state laws also compel companies to post clear privacy policies that detail the types of personal information they collect about consumers, with whom they share this data, and how consumers can control their personal data.
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We post on our websites our privacy notices, policies and practices regarding the collection, use and disclosure of user data, as well as providing our privacy policies to our employees (including job applicants) by linking to the Merit privacy policy (posted on the Merit website) from our Employee Handbook and our job application board. Any failure, or perceived failure, by us to comply with our posted privacy notices or policies or with any applicable regulatory requirements or orders, or privacy, data protection, information security or consumer protection-related privacy laws and regulations in one or more jurisdictions could result in proceedings or actions against us by governmental entities or others, including class action privacy litigation in certain jurisdictions, subject us to significant fines, penalties, judgments and negative publicity, require us to change our business practices, increase the costs and complexity of compliance, and adversely affect our business.
Because privacy and data security laws and regulations continue to expand, differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and are subject to evolving (and at times inconsistent) governmental interpretation, compliance with these laws and regulations may require significant additional cost expenditures or changes in products or business that increase competition or reduce revenue. Noncompliance with such laws or regulations could result in the imposition of fines, penalties, or orders to stop noncompliant activities, as well as harm to reputation, or other consequences. If our customers were to reduce their use of our products and services as a result of these concerns, our business could be materially harmed. We are also subject to the possibility of security and privacy breaches, which themselves may result in a violation of these privacy laws.
Seasonality
Our worldwide sales have not historically reflected a significant degree of seasonality; however, customer purchases have historically been lower during the third quarter of the year, as compared to other quarters. This reflects, among other factors, lower demand during summer months in countries in the northern hemisphere.
Sustainability
Under the oversight of our Board of Directors and management team, we continue to make sustainability a key focus of our business. We have a cross-functional Corporate Sustainability Council that is driving long-term environment, social and governance goals across our enterprise. These efforts have included proactive actions to address both risks and opportunities related to our sustainability program, as we strive for continued growth and profitability.
The majority of our products are disposable medical devices and are generally disposed of after a single use due primarily to the risks of exposing patients to bloodborne pathogens capable of transmitting disease or other potentially infectious materials. Additionally, repeated sterilization to address such risks is not possible because it may adversely affect the quality of the materials used in many of our products and result in the failure of our product to function properly if used in multiple medical procedures. Consequently, many of our used products will likely end up in a medical waste disposal facility at the end of their usefulness. We continually look for opportunities to deliver sustainable, long-term growth of our business. Our sustainability practices are an integral component of our business strategy.
We have identified sustainability opportunities, and have developed areas of focus where we are positioned to make a positive impact. These include programs designed to reduce waste, improve efficiencies, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and protect the environment. Our sustainability values in action include:
| ● | achievement of the International Organization for Standardization (“ISO”) 14001 certification at nine facilities including eight manufacturing facilities (eight in scope) and one large distribution facility (one in scope). A key part of our ISO 14001 program is energy management which includes yearly energy reviews and procurement controls for energy efficient purchasing. (ISO 14001 is the international standard that specifies requirements for an effective environmental management system); |
| ● | establishment and support of employee gardens that promote pollination and provide farm-to-table nutrition for our employees at our headquarters in South Jordan, Utah; |
| ● | use of re-usable pallets where possible and methods to move products in reusable bulk containers, reducing intra-company shipping materials; |
| ● | reduction in water consumption at our water-stressed location in South Jordan, Utah by investing in campus-wide xeriscaping and water recirculation systems within our most water intensive operations; |
| ● | reduction in packaging materials by implementing product family packaging reviews to consolidate shipments by better understanding our customers' purchasing practices-these reviews often allow us to increase quantities |
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| per box, eliminate the usage of intermediate packaging, reduce film thickness and re-use original product packaging where possible; |
| ● | transition from paper work orders to electronic work orders through our internally designed eWorq program. Currently, 69% of our global work orders are managed by eWorq, with a goal to be at 89% by the end of 2025. This project saves millions of pieces of paper and thousands of plastic sleeves annually. Currently, our eWorq program is in place at three of our largest manufacturing sites and in 2024 we estimate that we eliminated 4,223,770 pages of paper. We plan to continue implementing this program at our manufacturing facilities globally to eliminate as much paper as we can within our operations; |
| ● | recycling programs where we recycle materials, including food waste, paper, plastic, cardboard, beverage containers, scrap metal, and pallets; |
| ● | placement of free car charging stations for employees who have transitioned to electric vehicles; |
| ● | installation of efficient heating and cooling systems that operate on variable efficiency drives, increasing our energy efficiency at our headquarters in South Jordan, Utah and our transition to Light Emitting Diode ("LED") lighting in our global facilities; |
| ● | operation of an environmental tracking system at our world-wide facilities to facilitate monthly reporting and accountability for energy, water, waste, recycling, and scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions metrics—this system supports our 2030 operational sustainability goals; and |
| ● | engaged in a comprehensive materiality assessment to better align environmental, social and governance expectations from our internal and external stakeholders. |
To learn more about our sustainability programs and accomplishments, you may visit www.merit.com/about/corporate-sustainability/.
Our People
As of December 31, 2024, we had approximately 7,400 employees located in approximately 40 different countries in a variety of different roles. In the highly competitive medical device industry, we consider attracting, developing, and retaining talented people in technical, operational, marketing, sales, research, management, and other positions to be critical to our overall long-term growth strategy. Our ability to recruit and retain such talent depends on several factors, including our work environment, employee engagement, compensation and benefits, talent and career development, and employee wellness. We invest in our people and cultivate a company culture committed to supporting an inclusive workforce.
Work Environment. We strive to create a global work environment where employees feel welcomed, respected, and valued. With this goal in mind, our Chief Human Resources Officer has been charged with working with our leadership team to strengthen and enhance our inclusion efforts company wide. We are committed to providing equal opportunity in all aspects of employment. In the U.S., we are an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer committed to making employment decisions without regard to race, religion, ethnicity or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristics protected by law. To further promote a culture of inclusion, during 2021 we started the Women’s Leadership Initiative (“WLI”), our first ever affinity group led by women and open to all Merit employees. The WLI contributes to our long-term strategies by promoting a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion through (i) sponsoring professional development activities focused on overcoming barriers and restraints to the advancement of women’s careers, (ii) facilitating external interactions with organizations and thought leaders, and (iii) providing resources focused on improving diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Employee Engagement. The engagement of our workforce is critical to delivering on our competitive strategy, and we place high importance on informed and engaged employees. We communicate frequently with our employees through a variety of communication methods, including video and written communications, town hall meetings, and our company intranet, and we acknowledge individual contributions to Merit by celebrating milestones of service in five-year increments. Since 2021, we have substantially strengthened our employee communication capabilities through the addition of dedicated internal resources and programs aimed at doing even more to communicate with and engage our workforce. In partnership with the Gallup organization, in 2022 we launched our first ever global employee engagement survey. We repeated this employee engagement survey in 2024. This survey provided us with many insights into the engagement of our employees from which we have been able to develop action plans at the team and company level in order to further strengthen employee engagement.
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Additionally, for four consecutive years, our subsidiary in China has been recognized as a “China Top Employer” by the Top Employers Institute. This award reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence in human resources practices. In selecting recipients of the award, the Top Employers Institute considers a variety of factors, including people strategy, work environment, talent acquisition, learning and development, employee well-being, and diversity and inclusion.
The Merit Way—Our Core Values. In 2024, Merit launched a new core values program known as “The Merit Way,” which is an employee culture initiative to preserve the workplace attributes that have contributed to Merit’s success while preparing the organization for the future. The Merit Way is further described with the acronym H.E.A.R.T. as follows:
| ● | Health – Committed to employee and patient well-being |
| ● | Excellence – Deliver your best with the highest of standards |
| ● | Agility – Decide, act, and adapt to change |
| ● | Responsibility – Own your decisions, actions and results |
| ● | Teamwork – Collaborate and communicate to achieve a common goal. |
The Merit Way program aims to reinforce our purpose and create a consistent global culture with common terminology and expectations for all employees. The development of the Merit Way program was a cross-organizational effort which included interviews with employees and leaders, workshops across departments and survey feedback from over 5,000 employees.
Compensation and Benefits. Because our mission is to create innovative medical devices that improve lives, we aim to hire and develop employees who want to build something special through hard work, team effort, and commitment. That is why we provide all our employees with competitive total rewards packages and strive to provide the most cost-effective medical benefits and wellness programs. As a result of our focus on competitive health and wellness benefits, we have achieved our tenth consecutive year of zero health care plan cost increases for our U.S. employees who participate in our group healthcare plans. Our total rewards package include competitive pay, annual incentive awards and bonus opportunities, healthcare and retirement benefits, an Employee Stock Purchase Plan, paid time off and sick leave, paid parental leave, flexible work schedules, remote working opportunities, and a wellness program.
Talent Development. In 2021, we hired our first ever Director of Global Talent Management who continues to be focused on building and strengthening global programs around strategic talent management, employee performance, development, succession planning and engagement. To improve employee performance, we have begun developing a global performance management program which we expect to officially implement in 2025 using our recently-launched human resources information system. Employee development programs are also being executed at different regional and local levels with a focus on management and leadership development.
Community. Our employees are actively involved in their communities and supporting causes. At our headquarters, we provide an onsite garden where employees take part in growing and distributing produce to employees and to the local community. Employees also actively support causes by raising awareness and funds for non-profit organizations. Areas that our employees have supported in recent years include Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Heart Health Month, children’s charities and supporting those in need. In 2024, we continued our support of humanitarian missions through Merit product donations in Belize, Cape Verde, Ethiopia, Haiti, Honduras, Kenya, Mauritius, Nicaragua, Peru and Tanzania. Merit also conducts and/or participates in medical education conferences around the globe.
Wellness. Wellness is at the foundation of creating a positive employee experience. At our company headquarters in Utah, we have an onsite medical clinic available for our employees and their families where we provide preventative and general medical care. We have a monthly wellness committee meeting and create a “Get Healthy” wellness program available to all sites across the globe. Programs include providing health information from medical and nutrition experts, newsletters with wellness and dietary tips, and activities promoting health and wellbeing such as walking groups and fitness challenges. Some programs include suicide prevention awareness, on-site diabetes screenings, mental health awareness, lifestyle modification to prevent diseases, tobacco cessation and breast cancer awareness. Additionally, we continue to offer our Smart Choice meal program designed by our onsite dietician and culinary team to provide a free healthy meal option to employees at our Utah headquarters.
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Additionally, Merit Medical Ireland has held the KeepWell Mark™ accreditation since 2021, recognizing our commitment to employee wellbeing. This year, our Ireland subsidiary was honored with the “Best in Class - Mental Health” award, reflecting our strong focus on mental health and wellness culture. Retaining the KeepWell Mark™ demonstrates our ongoing dedication to workplace health, safety, and wellbeing, with senior management playing an active role in promoting these values.
Health and Safety. Ensuring our employees’ safety is a top priority. We strive to foster a safety-oriented culture, and we maintain an occupational health and safety management system that covers all our employees and contractors. By minimizing risks at our production facilities and implementing training to enhance awareness of hazards, we are able to promote safe practices that can preserve the health of our employees. We maintain high standards for workplace safety, and our orientation for employees includes training about safe procedures. Our programs and policies are in compliance with applicable local, regional, and federal laws, including U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements. We have obtained ISO 45001 certification at six manufacturing facilities (eight in scope) and one distribution facility (one in scope). This is a globally recognized standard for employee occupational health and safety, established by the International Standards Organization, which provides a voluntary framework to identify key occupational health and safety aspects associated with our business helping to deliver continuous improvement. We plan to achieve this certification at our seventh and eighth in scope facilities by the end of 2025.
We also have formal plans in place to protect our employee’s safety in the event of an emergency and maintain emergency action plans that employees receive training on annually. Our emergency action plans describe procedures that employees should follow when faced with a variety of unexpected health and safety events. As part of this initiative, we train certain employees to use automated external defibrillators, provide first aid, and perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). In addition, we conduct periodic health and safety audits of our facilities to monitor the effectiveness of our programs and drive continual improvement in our overall safety performance.
Recent Developments
None.
Available Information
We file annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The address of the SEC’s internet website is www.sec.gov.
Our internet address is www.merit.com. On our Investor Relations website, www.merit.com/investors, we make available, free of charge, a variety of information for investors. Our goal is to maintain the Investor Relations website as a portal through which investors can easily find or navigate to pertinent information about us, including:
| ● | Our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file that material with or furnish it to the SEC. |
| ● | Press releases on our quarterly earnings and other pertinent information, including product launches, corporate initiatives, and participation in upcoming investor conferences. |
| ● | Corporate governance information including our corporate governance guidelines, committee charters, and codes of business conduct and ethics. |
Additionally, we provide electronic and paper copies of such filings free of charge upon request.
Financial Information About Foreign and Domestic Sales
For financial information relating to our foreign and domestic sales see Note 2 Revenues and Note 13 Segment Reporting and Foreign Operations to our consolidated financial statements set forth in Item 8 of this report.
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Item 1A.Risk Factors.
Our business, operations and financial condition are subject to risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results will vary, and may vary materially, from those anticipated, estimated, projected or expected. Among the key factors that may have a direct bearing on our business, operations or financial condition are the factors identified below:
Business, Economic, Industry and Operational Risks
Disruptions in the supply from third-party vendors of the materials and components used in manufacturing or sterilizing our products could adversely affect our business, operations or financial condition.
We rely on third-party vendors to supply raw materials, component parts, finished products and services in connection with our business. Our reliance on these third-party vendors exposes us to product or service shortages and unanticipated price increases, whether due to inflationary pressure, regulatory changes, geopolitical tensions, the discretion of such vendors or otherwise. For example, we rely on a relatively small number of service providers to sterilize our products prior to sale. If any of these service providers goes out of business, ceases to provide services to us or fails to comply with quality or regulatory requirements, we may be unable to find a suitable service provider to replace them. This could significantly delay or stop production and adversely affect sales of such products. Additionally, many of our products have components that are manufactured using resins, plastics and other petroleum-based materials which are available from a limited number of suppliers. There is no assurance that crude oil supplies will be uninterrupted or that petroleum-based manufacturing materials will be available for purchase in the future. Tensions in the Middle East and the military conflict in Ukraine may increase the likelihood of supply interruptions and hinder our ability to obtain the materials we need to make our products. Supply disruptions are making it harder for us to find reliable sources for the materials we need, putting upward pressure on our costs and increasing the risk that we may be unable to acquire the materials and services we need to continue to manufacture certain products.
The availability and price of these materials, parts, products and services are affected by a variety of factors beyond our control, including existing and potential tariffs, changes in supply and demand, general economic conditions, labor and transportation costs, climate change (including existing and prospective laws and regulations), competition, import duties, currency exchange rates and political uncertainty around the world. During 2024, we experienced significantly elevated commodity and supply chain costs, including the costs of labor, raw materials, energy, packaging materials and other inputs necessary for the production and distribution of our products. Those elevated costs may continue in 2025, which could adversely affect our business, operations or financial condition.
Our ability to recover increased costs may depend upon our ability to raise prices on our products. Due to the highly competitive nature of the healthcare industry and the cost-containment efforts of our customers and third-party payers, we may be unable to pass along cost increases through higher prices. If we are unable to recover these costs through price increases or offset these increases through cost reductions, or we experience terminations or interruptions of our relationships with our suppliers, we could experience lower margins and profitability, and our business, operations or financial condition could be materially harmed.
Changes in economic and geopolitical conditions, domestic and foreign trade policies, monetary policies and other factors beyond our control may adversely impact our business, operations and financial condition.
Our operations and performance are significantly impacted by global, regional and U.S. economic and geopolitical conditions. The global macroeconomic environment continues to be challenging due to the effects of inflation globally, instability in global credit markets, uncertainty regarding global central bank monetary policy, instability in the geopolitical environment in many parts of the world, current economic challenges in China, and other factors. Periods of diplomatic or armed conflict, such as the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, tensions in the Middle East and China-Taiwan relations, may result in (i) new and rapidly evolving sanctions and trade restrictions, which may impair trade with sanctioned individuals and countries, and (ii) negative impacts to regional trade ecosystems among our customers, partners, and us. Non-compliance with sanctions, as well as general ecosystem disruptions, could result in reputational harm, operational delays, monetary fines, lost revenues, increased costs, lost export privileges or criminal sanctions.
U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed a strong desire to impose new or increase existing tariffs on selected goods imported into the United States. Accordingly, on February 1, 2025, President Trump issued three executive orders directing the United States to impose new tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China, and on February 3, 2025, President Trump announced his intention to pause these tariffs on Canada and Mexico for approximately 30 days. A significant portion of our raw materials, component parts and finished products are sourced or manufactured in Mexico and China and could be subject to these tariffs, thereby increasing our manufacturing costs.
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We are currently evaluating the potential impact of the imposition of potential tariffs on our business and financial condition. The ultimate impact of any announced or future tariffs will depend on various factors, including whether such tariffs are ultimately implemented, the timing of implementation and the amount, scope and nature of such tariffs and potential exclusions from the application of those tariffs. Additionally, potential tariffs or other U.S. trade policy measures could trigger retaliatory actions by other countries, including by countries that are significant markets for our products, resulting in a “trade war.” A trade war could cause increased manufacturing costs, including with respect to our products manufactured in Mexico, foreign governments imposing tariffs on products that we export outside of the U.S., or limitations on our ability to sell our products domestically or abroad, any of which would negatively affect our business, operations and financial condition.
The above factors, as well as other economic and geopolitical factors in the U.S. and abroad, could have a material adverse effect on our business, operations and financial condition, including:
| ● | changes in economic, monetary and fiscal policies in the U.S. and abroad; |
| ● | a global or regional economic slowdown in any of our market segments; |
| ● | public health crises, and government and social responses; |
| ● | government cost-reduction initiatives, including such initiatives implemented by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump; |
| ● | policies in various countries that favor domestic industries or restrict foreign companies; |
| ● | postponement of spending, in response to tighter credit, financial market volatility and other factors; |
| ● | rapid escalation of the cost of regulatory compliance and litigation; and |
| ● | credit risks, longer payment cycles and other challenges in collecting accounts receivable. |
Volatile geopolitical turmoil, including popular uprisings, regional conflicts, terrorism and war could result in market instability, which could negatively impact our business results.
We are a global company with international operations, and we sell our products in countries throughout the world. Regional conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, tensions in the Middle East, and the risk of increased tensions between China and Taiwan, could limit or prohibit our ability to sell our products in or source materials from sanctioned countries. In addition, international conflicts could further result in global or regional market instability; increased energy costs; and increased risk of cybersecurity attacks, any of which could adversely impact our financial results.
Any damage or interruption to our operations, facilities, manufacturing processes or information technology systems, or those of our suppliers, could have an adverse effect on our business, operations or financial condition.
Our products are designed and manufactured in facilities around the world, either by us or third parties. Damage or interruption to our facilities or systems, or those of our suppliers, because of extreme weather conditions, natural disaster, power loss, communications failure, geopolitical disruption, labor strikes, riots, cyber-attack, public health crises, unauthorized entry or other events could significantly disrupt our operations, the operations of suppliers or critical infrastructure. These events may delay or prevent product manufacturing and shipment during the time required to repair, rebuild or replace the damaged facilities or systems. Climate change may increase both the frequency and severity of natural disasters and, consequently, risks to our operations and growth. In the event of any such delay or interruption of our operations, facilities or systems, or those of our suppliers, we may experience a loss of market share and harm to our reputation, which could adversely affect our business, operations or financial condition.
Consolidation in the healthcare industry, group purchasing organizations and public cost-containment measures have led to demands for price concessions, which may reduce our revenues and harm our ability to sell our products at prices necessary to support our current business strategies.
Healthcare costs have risen significantly over the past decade, which has led to numerous cost containment measures and other healthcare reforms by legislators, regulators and third-party payers. Cost reform has triggered a consolidation trend in the healthcare industry to aggregate purchasing power, which has created more requests for pricing concessions and is expected to continue in the future. Additionally, many of our customers belong to group purchasing organizations or integrated delivery networks that use their market power to consolidate purchasing decisions for these hospitals and healthcare providers. These customers are often able to obtain lower prices and more favorable terms because of the potential sales volume they represent, which has led to lower revenues and required us to take on additional liability.
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The global trend toward limiting growth of healthcare costs has also impacted us in international markets, including China, our largest international market in terms of revenue. China has implemented the VBP policy, which has the specific aim of decreasing prices for medical devices. China’s VBP policy decreased our sales prices in China in 2022, 2023 and 2024, which negatively impacted our revenues. Due to uncertainties with the application of the VBP tender process, we are unable to reliably predict the impact of the VBP policy on our China revenues in 2025. However, we expect that the VBP tender process in China will continue to have a negative impact on the revenue we are able to generate in China in 2025, and there can be no assurance that the VBP policy will not have a materially adverse effect on our business, operations or financial condition.
We may be unable to compete in our markets, particularly if there is a significant change in practices or technology.
We are a global company that faces significant competition from a wide range of existing competitors and new market entrants. These include large medical device companies with extensive product lines, many of which may have greater financial and other resources than we do, as well as firms which are more specialized than we are with respect to particular markets or product lines. Nontraditional entrants, such as technology companies, are also entering into the healthcare industry and some may have greater financial or other resources than we do.
Additionally, the medical device industry is also subject to rapid technological change and frequent product introductions. Our ability to compete successfully is dependent, in part, upon our response to changes in technology and upon our efforts to develop and market new products which achieve significant market acceptance. Companies with substantially greater resources than us are actively engaged in research and development of new methods, treatments, drugs, and procedures that could limit the market for our products and eventually make our products obsolete. Furthermore, our existing competitors and new market entrants may respond more quickly to or integrate new or emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning in their product offerings, which could also limit the market for our products. A reduction in demand for our products could have a material adverse effect on our business, operations or financial condition.
Strategic, Business Development and Employee Attraction and Retention Risks
We may be unable to successfully manage growth.
Successful implementation and execution of our business strategy will require that we effectively manage our growth. As Merit grows, we are often faced with decisions to (i) expand certain product lines and discontinue others, (ii) open or expand new facilities and close others, (iii) allocate resources between new and established markets, or (iv) allocate resources between the expansion of organic business and the acquisition of new product lines. The outcome of each of these decisions is uncertain, and even with the exercise of excellent business judgment, results may not align with expectations. Our management will need to continue to implement changes in certain aspects of our business, improve our information systems, infrastructure and operations to respond to increased demand, attract and retain qualified personnel, and develop, train, and manage an increasing number of employees. We may not have the resources available to implement certain necessary changes, and as a result, growth may be delayed or we may not be able to take advantage of certain business opportunities. Growth has placed, and will likely continue to place, an increasing strain on our management, sales and other personnel, and on our financial, product design, marketing, distribution, technology and other resources. Any failure to manage growth effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, operations or financial condition.
We may incur substantial costs when evaluating, negotiating and closing acquisitions, and our failure to integrate acquired businesses may adversely impact our business and financial results.
We seek to supplement our internal growth through strategic acquisitions and transactions. We regularly evaluate potential acquisitions and transactions, certain of which may be significant. We have incurred, and will likely continue to incur, significant expenses in connection with evaluating, negotiating and consummating various acquisition and other transactions.
Our integration of acquired businesses requires considerable efforts, which may include corporate restructuring and the coordination of information technologies, research and development, sales and marketing, operations, regulatory, supply chain, manufacturing, quality systems and finance. These efforts result in additional expenses and require significant management time. Some of the factors that could affect the success of our acquisitions include the effectiveness of our due diligence process, our ability to execute our business plan for the acquired companies, the strength of the acquired technology, results of clinical trials, regulatory approvals and reimbursement levels of the acquired products and related procedures, the performance of critical transition services, our ability to adequately fund acquired research and development projects and retain key employees and our ability to achieve synergies with the acquired businesses.
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Foreign acquisitions involve unique risks, including those related to integration of operations across different geographies, cultures and languages, currency risks and risks associated with the economic, political, legal and regulatory environment in specific countries. In addition, we have and may in the future acquire less than full ownership interests in other businesses, which involve unique challenges for effective collaboration. Further, other parties that hold remaining ownership interests in such businesses may have economic or business goals that are inconsistent with our goals or the goals of such businesses. Our failure to manage these challenges successfully and coordinate the growth of such businesses or other investments could have an adverse impact on our business and our future growth. In addition, we cannot be certain that the businesses we acquire or invest in will become profitable or remain so, and if our acquisitions or investments are not successful, we may record related asset impairment charges in the future or experience other negative consequences on our operating results.
Past and future acquisitions and transactions may increase the risks of competition we face by, among other things, extending our operations into industry segments and product lines where we have few existing customers or experienced sales personnel and limited expertise. Further, as a result of certain acquisitions, we are selling capital equipment, in addition to our historical sales of disposable medical devices. The sale of capital equipment may create additional risks and potential liability, which may negatively affect our business, operations or financial condition.
In addition, we may not realize competitive advantages, synergies or other benefits anticipated in connection with any such acquisition or other transaction. If we do not adequately identify and value targets for, or manage issues related to, acquisitions and other transactions, such transactions may not produce the anticipated benefits and could have an adverse effect on our business, operations or financial condition.
Failure to realize the benefits expected from recent acquisitions could adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition.
We have completed a series of strategic acquisitions and transactions in recent years, some of which have been significant, such as the acquisitions of assets from each of the following companies: AngioDynamics, Inc. on June 8, 2023; EndoGastric Solutions, Inc. on July 1, 2024; and Cook Medical Holdings, LLC on November 1, 2024 (collectively, the “Recent Acquisitions”). The benefits we expect from the Recent Acquisitions are based on projections and assumptions about the performance of the acquired assets under our ownership and control, which may not materialize as expected or which may prove to be inaccurate. Our business, operating results and financial condition could be adversely affected if we are unable to realize the anticipated benefits, such as the anticipated cost and revenue synergies, from the Recent Acquisitions on a timely basis, if at all. Achieving the benefits of the Recent Acquisitions will depend, in part, on our ability to integrate the acquired businesses and operations successfully and efficiently with our business. The challenges involved in these integrations include the following:
| ● | integrating operations and production lines; |
| ● | limiting business disruptions, preserving customer and other important relationships of the acquired businesses, and attracting new business and operational relationships; |
| ● | coordinating and integrating research and development and engineering teams across technologies and product lines to enhance product development while reducing costs; |
| ● | consolidating and integrating corporate, IT, cybersecurity, finance and administrative infrastructures; |
| ● | coordinating branding, sales and marketing efforts to effectively position the products acquired in the Recent Acquisitions; and |
| ● | integrating employees and related HR systems and benefits, maintaining employee productivity and retaining key employees. |
If we do not successfully manage these issues and the other challenges inherent in integrating an acquired business, we may not achieve the anticipated benefits of the Recent Acquisitions on our anticipated timeframe, if at all, and our business, operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.
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If we fail to achieve anticipated benefits from business acquisitions or strategic investments or identify underperforming products, we may dispose of the acquired or underperforming assets, which could adversely affect our results of operations.
We may acquire businesses or assets which do not produce the benefits projected at the time of acquisition or we may identify legacy operations and products that are underperforming, do not fit with our longer-term business strategy or that become subject to unforeseen operating difficulties. We may seek to divest these underperforming businesses, operations or products. The resulting divestiture may be financially disadvantageous to us, which could adversely affect our results of operations. If we cannot divest an underperforming business, operation or asset on acceptable terms, we may voluntarily cease operations related to that business, operation or asset. In such event, we may be required to take impairment charges or write-downs in connection with acquisitions and divestitures, which could adversely affect our results of operations.
Our future growth is dependent in part upon the development of new products and the enhancement of existing products, and there can be no assurance that such products be developed or enhanced.
An important component of our business strategy is to increase revenue growth through innovation and new product development. The development of new products and enhancement of existing products requires significant investment in research and development, clinical trials and regulatory approvals. The results of our product development efforts may be affected by a number of factors, including our ability to anticipate customer needs, innovate and develop new products, efficiently conduct and complete clinical trials, obtain regulatory approvals and reimbursement approvals in the U.S. and abroad, manufacture products in a cost-effective manner, obtain and enforce intellectual property rights and gain and maintain market approval of our products. There can be no assurance that any product we have recently launched (such as the Wrapsody Device), are preparing for launch, are now developing or that we may seek to develop in the future, will achieve technological feasibility, obtain regulatory approval or gain market acceptance. If we are unable to develop and launch new products and enhanced products, our ability to maintain or expand our market position in the markets in which we participate may be materially adversely impacted.
Additionally, the development or enhancement of certain products or groups of products, for example the Wrapsody Device, may have a disproportionate impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations. We have devoted and currently devote significant research and development resources to certain products and groups of products. In light of the significant investment of financial and personnel resources to the development of these products, failure to meet development timelines or growth projections, poor clinical outcomes, increasing regulatory requirements, launch delays and inability to effectively scale manufacturing and achieve targeted margins with respect to any of these products or groups of products in particular may adversely impact our business, operations and financial condition.
We may be unable to accurately forecast customer demand for our products and manage our inventory.
To ensure adequate supply, we must forecast our inventory needs and place orders with our suppliers based on estimates of future demand for particular products. Our ability to accurately forecast demand for our products could be negatively affected by many factors, including product introductions by our competitors, an increase or decrease in customer demand for our products or for products of our competitors, unanticipated changes in general market conditions or regulatory matters and weakening of economic conditions, or decreased consumer confidence. Inventory levels in excess of customer demand may result in inventory write-downs or write-offs, which would impact our results of operation. Conversely, if we underestimate customer demand, our manufacturing facilities may not be able to deliver products to meet our order requirements, which could damage our reputation and customer relationships.
Our reliance on third-party distributors in many countries could negatively impact the commercialization of our products in those countries.
In many countries, we rely on third-party distributors to market, distribute and sell our products, which exposes us to multiple risks. These distributors are often the main point of contact for the healthcare professionals and healthcare organization customers who buy and use our products. If we are unable to enter into or maintain distribution agreements with these third-party distributors on acceptable terms, we may not be able to successfully commercialize our products in certain countries. The sales of our products in these countries may be at risk if third-party distributors become insolvent, cease selling our products or choose to sell competing products. In addition, although our contract terms require our distributors to comply with applicable laws regarding the sale of our products, including anti-competition, anti-corruption, anti-money laundering and sanctions laws, we may not be able to ensure proper compliance. Our reliance on third-party distributors exposes us to various risks, including commercial, legal, compliance and reputational risks, the realization of any of which could harm our results of operations and business.
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If we are unable to effectively execute our leadership succession plans and attract, develop and retain key employees, our business and results of operations could be harmed.
Effective succession planning is critical to our long-term success. Failure to ensure the transfer of knowledge and smooth transitions involving executives and other key employees could hinder our strategic planning and execution. Changes in our management team may be disruptive to our business, and any failure to successfully integrate key new hires or promote employees could adversely affect our operations. We have announced that a committee of our independent directors is overseeing a succession plan in preparation for the retirement of Fred P. Lampropoulos, our Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President, which we currently anticipate will occur around December 31, 2025. Despite the efforts of that committee and our senior management team to implement an effective succession plan that will position Merit for future growth and development, there can be no assurance that we will not experience disruption in our management team, departure of key management or other employees, loss of focus on our strategic business objectives or other adverse consequences resulting from the anticipated transition. We do not maintain key man life insurance on Mr. Lampropoulos. The loss of Mr. Lampropoulos, or of certain other key management personnel, could have a materially adverse effect on our business, operations and financial condition.
Our ability to compete effectively depends on our ability to attract, develop and retain executives and key employees. The market for experienced and talented employees, particularly for persons with certain technical competencies, is highly competitive. Inflationary pressures, labor demand and shortages and other macroeconomic factors have increased and could further increase the cost of labor, particularly in Mexico, and could harm our ability to recruit, hire and retain talented employees. Further, if we are unable to maintain (i) competitive and equitable compensation and benefit programs, including incentive programs which reward financial and operational performance, and (ii) an inclusive work culture that aligns our diverse workforce with our mission and values, our ability to recruit, hire, develop, engage, motivate and retain talented and experienced employees could be negatively affected, which could adversely impact our operating results and financial condition.
Regulatory, Litigation, Tax and Legal Compliance Risks
The FDA regulatory clearance process is extensive and dynamic, and the failure to obtain and maintain required regulatory clearances and approvals could prevent us from commercializing our products.
Before we can introduce a new device or a new claim for an existing device in the U.S., we must generally obtain clearance or approval from the FDA, unless an exemption from premarket review or an alternative clearance or approval procedure applies. The process of obtaining and maintaining FDA clearances and approvals for our medical devices could require a significant period of time, require the expenditure of substantial resources, involve rigorous clinical testing and post-market surveillance, require changes to our products or result in limitations on the indicated uses of our products.
We may make changes to our cleared or approved devices without seeking additional clearances or approvals if we determine such clearances or approvals are not necessary and document the basis for that conclusion. However, the FDA may disagree with our determination or may require additional information, including clinical data, to be submitted before a determination is made, in which case we may be required to delay the introduction and marketing of our modified products, redesign our products, conduct clinical trials to support any modifications or pay significant regulatory fines or penalties. In addition, the FDA may not approve or clear our products for the indications that are necessary or desirable for successful commercialization.
Further, the FDA may change its clearance and approval policies, adopt additional regulations or revise existing regulations, or take other actions which may prevent or delay approval or clearance of our products or impact our ability to modify our currently cleared products on a timely basis. Additionally, the recent reductions in the FDA workforce imposed by the administration of President Trump could cause delays in the product approval or clearance process of the FDA. Delays in receipt of, or failure to obtain, regulatory clearances or approvals for any product enhancements or new products we develop could result in delayed or no realization of revenue from such product enhancements or new products and in substantial additional costs, which could decrease our profitability.
In addition, we are required to continue to comply with applicable FDA and other regulatory requirements once we have obtained clearance or approval for a product, including good manufacturing practices, timely adverse event reporting, completion of required post-market studies, timely annual and other periodic reports, submission of significant changes and other post-market requirements.
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We cannot provide assurance that we will comply with all of these requirements or successfully maintain the clearances or approvals we have received or may receive in the future. The loss of previously received clearances or approvals, or the failure to comply with existing or future regulatory requirements, could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Our products are subject to regulation in foreign countries in which we sell them. We have expended significant resources and experienced delays in obtaining foreign approvals and clearances and we will likely continue to incur significant expense, and experience delays, as we seek to obtain further approvals or clearances.
In order to sell our products in foreign countries, generally we must obtain regulatory approvals and comply with applicable regulations of those countries. These regulations, including the requirements for approvals or clearances and the time required for regulatory review, vary from country to country. See our related discussion under Item 1. “Business – Regulation – Regulatory Approvals.”
In general, we intend to obtain MDR approvals for our principal products sold in the E.U. ahead of transition deadlines; however for multiple reasons, including but not limited to changing business strategies, limited labor pool and contract resources, administrative delays, increased costs of obtaining MDR certification, availability of necessary data and notified body capacity, there will be some products that will not be fully compliant by the transition deadline. The additional time and resources required to obtain MDR certification has been a significant factor in, and will likely continue to influence, our decisions to discontinue sales and distribution of certain products in the E.U.
The global regulatory environment is becoming increasingly stringent and unpredictable. Complying with and obtaining regulatory approval in foreign countries, including our efforts to comply with changing requirements and with the requirements of the MDR, have caused and will likely continue to cause us to experience more uncertainty, risk, expense and delay in commercializing products in certain foreign jurisdictions, which could have a material adverse impact on our net sales, market share and financial results from our international operations.
Unsuccessful pre- and post-market clinical trials relating to our products could have a material adverse effect on our prospects.
As a part of the regulatory process of obtaining regulatory clearance or approval for new products and new indications for existing products, we conduct and participate in clinical trials with a variety of study designs and patient populations. We are developing and expect to continue to develop products that are increasingly therapeutic in nature. Pursuit of our business strategy for therapeutic products will likely increase our need for, and dependance on, clinical trials. Such clinical trials are inherently uncertain and there can be no assurance that these trials will be sufficiently enrolled or completed in a timely or cost-effective manner or result in a commercially viable product or indication. Unfavorable, unexpected or inconsistent clinical data from existing or future clinical trials conducted by us, by our competitors or by third parties, or the FDA's, foreign regulatory authorities’ or the market's perception of this clinical data, may adversely impact our ability to obtain and maintain product clearances and approvals, our position in, and share of, the markets in which we participate and our business, financial condition, results of operations or future prospects.
The medical device industry is subject to extensive scrutiny and regulation by governmental and other authorities, and we are currently operating under a Corporate Integrity Agreement. If governmental authorities determine that we have violated laws, regulations or our Corporate Integrity Agreement, our company or our employees may be subject to various penalties, including civil or criminal penalties.
Our products and business activities are subject to rigorous regulation by the FDA and other federal, state and foreign authorities. These authorities and domestic and foreign legislators continue to scrutinize the medical device industry. In recent years, the U.S. Congress and multiple federal agencies, as well as foreign counterparts, have issued subpoenas and other requests for information to medical device manufacturers.
In October 2020, we entered into a Settlement Agreement with the DOJ to resolve their investigation into our past marketing transactions and practices. Under the Settlement Agreement and related agreements, we paid $18.7 million (which includes interest and certain fees) in exchange for a release from liability for the alleged conduct. The settlement was also conditioned upon our entering into the CIA. Please refer to the discussion in Item 1. “Business - Regulation - Corporate Integrity Agreement.” Our compliance with the CIA has consumed a significant amount of our resources and management’s attention.
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We anticipate that government authorities will continue to scrutinize our industry closely, and that additional regulation by government authorities may increase compliance costs, exposure to litigation and other adverse effects on our operations. If we fail to comply with applicable regulatory requirements, including the terms of the CIA, we may be subjected to a wide variety of sanctions, including warning letters that require corrective action, injunctions, product recalls, suspension of product manufacturing, revocation of approvals, import or export prohibitions, exclusion from participation in government healthcare programs, civil fines and/or criminal penalties, which in turn may have a negative impact on our business, results of operations or financial condition.
We are subject to laws targeting fraud and abuse in the healthcare industry, the violation of which could adversely affect our business, operations or financial condition.
Our operations are subject to various state and federal laws targeting fraud and abuse in the healthcare industry, including the U.S. federal Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibit any person from knowingly and willfully offering, paying, soliciting or receiving remuneration, directly or indirectly, to induce or reward either the referral of an individual, or the furnishing or arranging for an item or service, for which payment may be made under federal healthcare programs, such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Violations of these laws are punishable by criminal or civil sanctions, including substantial fines, imprisonment and exclusion from participation in healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, any of which could harm our business or negatively impact our financial results. Allegations of such violations could lead to expensive and time-consuming investigations by government authorities and result in settlement costs and additional restrictions, like the CIA discussed above under Item 1. “Business - Regulation - Corporate Integrity Agreement.”
Furthermore, our contracts with government-sponsored healthcare entities are subject to specific procurement requirements. Failure to comply with applicable rules or regulations or with contractual or other requirements may result in monetary damages and criminal or civil penalties, as well as termination of our government contracts or our suspension or debarment from government contract work.
We are subject to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar anti-bribery laws in non-U.S. jurisdictions, and our failure, or the failure of our distributors or agents, to comply with these laws could subject us to civil and criminal penalties and adversely affect our business, operations or financial condition.
We currently conduct our business in various foreign countries, and we expect to continue to expand our foreign operations. As a result, we are subject to the FCPA, the U.K. Bribery Act, and similar anti-corruption laws in non-U.S. jurisdictions. These laws generally prohibit companies and their intermediaries from illegally offering things of value to any individual for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business.
Compliance with the FCPA and other anti-bribery laws presents challenges to our operations. Our policies mandate compliance with the FCPA and all other applicable anti-bribery laws. Further, we expect our employees, distributors, agents and others who work for us or on our behalf to comply with these anti-bribery laws. Despite our training and compliance programs, our internal control policies and procedures may not always protect us from negligent, reckless or criminal acts or other violations committed by our employees, distributors or agents. If our employees, distributors or agents violate the provisions of the FCPA or other anti-bribery laws, or even if there are allegations of such violations, we could be subject to investigations or civil and criminal penalties or other sanctions, which could have a material, adverse effect on our reputation, business, operations or financial condition.
Limits on reimbursement imposed by governmental and other programs may adversely affect our business and results of operation.
We sell our products to hospitals and other healthcare providers around the world that typically receive reimbursement for the services provided to patients, which incorporate the use of our products, from third-party payers such as government programs (e.g., Medicare and Medicaid in the U.S.) and private insurance programs. The ability of our customers to obtain adequate reimbursement for the health care procedures that use our products, such that the cost of our products is covered, is critical to our business. Limits on reimbursement imposed by such third-party payers may adversely affect our customers, such as hospitals, physicians and other healthcare providers, to purchase our products, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Third-party payers, whether foreign, domestic, governmental or commercial, are developing increasingly sophisticated methods of controlling healthcare costs. In general, a third-party payer covers a medical procedure only when the plan administrator is satisfied that the product or procedure is reasonable and necessary to the patient’s treatment; however, for certain payers (such as foreign governments and some commercial insurers) the cost-effectiveness of the treatment may also be a condition.
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In addition, in the U.S., no uniform policy of coverage and reimbursement for procedures using our products exists among third-party payers. Therefore, coverage and reimbursement for procedures using our products can differ significantly from payer to payer and, in some cases, jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In addition, payers continually review new and existing technologies for possible coverage and can, without notice, deny, change or reverse coverage decisions or alter prior authorization requirements for new or existing products and procedures. If we are not successful in reversing non-coverage or unfavorable coverage policies, or if third-party payers that currently cover or reimburse certain procedures involving the use of our products reverse, change or limit their coverage of such procedures in the future, our business and results of operation could be adversely impacted.
Our business is subject to evolving domestic and foreign laws and regulations regarding privacy and data protection. Many of these laws and regulations are subject to change and uncertain interpretation and could result in claims, changes to our business practices, penalties, increased cost of operations, or declines in user growth or engagement, or otherwise harm our business.
The U.S. and many other countries in which we operate have adopted laws and regulations protecting certain data, including medical and personal data (including HIPAA and the HITECH Act), and requiring data holders and controllers to implement administrative, logical and technical controls and procedures in order to protect the privacy of such data. Individual states have also begun to enact data privacy laws giving consumers the right to demand certain information and actions from companies who collect personal information. A significant number of countries where we operate have enacted privacy or data protection laws, rules and regulations, many of which restrict outbound data transfers and have extraterritorial scope, creating significant compliance challenges as we seek to maintain our global reach, with significant penalties for non-compliance. These domestic and international laws and regulations have been, and may continue to be, inconsistent with each other, requiring different approaches in different jurisdictions. In addition, the interpretation and application of medical and personal data protection laws and regulations in the U.S., Europe, China and elsewhere are often uncertain and in flux. Further, we have incurred, and will likely continue to incur, significant expense in connection with our efforts to comply with those applicable laws and regulations. It is possible that these laws and regulations may be interpreted and applied in a manner that is inconsistent with our data practices, may result in significant liability, fines or orders requiring that we change our data practices, which could, in turn, have a materially adverse effect on our business.
Use of our products in unapproved circumstances could expose us to liabilities.
The marketing clearances and approvals from the FDA and other authorities of certain of our products are, or are expected to be, limited to specific uses. We are prohibited from marketing or promoting any uncleared or unapproved use of our products. However, physicians may use these products in ways or circumstances other than those strictly within the scope of the regulatory approval or clearance. The use of our products for unauthorized purposes could arise from our sales personnel or third-party distributors violating our policies by providing information or recommendations about such unauthorized uses. Consequently, claims may be asserted by the FDA or other authorities that we are not in compliance with applicable laws or regulations or have improperly promoted our products for uncleared or unapproved uses. The FDA or such other authorities could require a recall of products or allege that our promotional activities misbrand or adulterate our products or violate other legal requirements, which could result in investigations, prosecutions, fines or other civil or criminal actions.
Our products may be subject to product liability claims and warranty claims.
The design, manufacture and marketing of medical devices involves various risks. Frequently, our products are used in connection with invasive procedures, surgical and intensive care settings with seriously ill patients and in other medical contexts that entail an inherent risk of product liability claims. If medical personnel or their patients suffer injury or death in connection with the use of our products, whether as a result of a failure of our products to function as designed, an inappropriate design, inadequate disclosure of product-related risks or information, improper use, or for any other reason, we could be subject to lawsuits seeking significant compensatory and punitive damages, safety alerts or product recalls. We have previously faced, and currently face, claims by patients claiming injuries from our products. To date, these claims have not had a material adverse effect on our business, operations or financial condition. The outcome of this type of personal injury litigation is difficult to assess or quantify. We maintain product liability insurance; however, there is no assurance that this coverage will be sufficient to satisfy any claim made against us. Moreover, any product liability claim brought against us could result in significant costs, divert our management’s attention from other business matters or operations, increase our product liability insurance rates, or prevent us from securing insurance coverage in the future.
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We generally offer a limited warranty for the return of products due to defects in quality and workmanship. We attempt to estimate our potential liability for future product returns and establish reserves on our financial statements in amounts that we believe will be sufficient to address our warranty obligations; however, our actual liability for product returns may significantly exceed the amount of our reserves. If we underestimate our potential liability for future product returns, or if unanticipated events result in returns that exceed our historical experience, our financial condition and operating results could be materially harmed.
In addition, the occurrence of such an event or claim could result in a recall of products from the market or a safety alert relating to such products. Such a recall could result in significant costs, reduce our revenue, divert management’s attention from our business, and harm our reputation.
Our employees, independent contractors, consultants, manufacturers and distributors may engage in misconduct or other improper activities, including noncompliance with regulatory standards and requirements.
We are exposed to the risk that our employees, independent contractors, consultants, manufacturers and distributors may engage in fraudulent conduct or other illegal activity. Misconduct by these parties could include intentional, reckless or negligent conduct, or unauthorized activities that violate the laws and regulations of the FDA and other federal, state and international authorities. We have adopted a code of business conduct and ethics, and a global anti-corruption policy, but it is not always possible to identify and deter misconduct, and the precautions we take to detect and prevent this activity may not be effective in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses or in protecting us from governmental investigations or other actions or lawsuits. If any such actions are instituted against us, and we are not successful in defending ourselves or asserting our rights, those actions could have a significant impact on our business, including the imposition of significant civil, criminal and administrative penalties.
We are routinely a party to litigation, which could affect our financial condition and results of operations.
We are routinely a party, including as a defendant to or otherwise involved in legal proceedings, claims or other legal matters. Although we endeavor to mitigate our legal risk, we are potentially subject to a wide variety of claims in the conduct of our business, including claims relating to products liability, labor matters, securities laws, regulatory compliance and breach of contract. Legal proceedings can be complex, expensive, time-consuming and disruptive to our operations, with the final outcome depending on a number of variables, many of which are beyond our control. The ultimate resolution and potential financial impact of any such proceedings on us are uncertain. If a legal proceeding is resolved against us, it could result in significant compensatory damages or injunctive relief that could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
We are subject to changes in tax laws, fluctuations in tax rates, the adoption of new tax legislation or exposure to additional tax liabilities, which may adversely affect our effective tax rate, business, financial condition, or results of operations.
We are subject to taxation in numerous countries, states and other jurisdictions. Our effective tax rate is derived from a combination of applicable tax rates in the various countries, states and other jurisdictions in which we operate. In preparing our financial statements, we estimate the amount of tax that will become payable in each of these jurisdictions. Our effective tax rate may, however, differ from the estimated amount due to numerous factors, including a change in the mix of our profitability from country to country and changes in tax laws. Any of these factors could cause us to experience an effective tax rate significantly different from previous periods or our current expectations, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operation.
In many countries, including the United States, we are subject to transfer pricing and other tax regulations designed to ensure that appropriate levels of income are reported as earned by our U.S. or local entities and are taxed accordingly. Although we believe we are in substantial compliance with applicable regulations and restrictions, we are subject to the risk that governmental authorities could assert that we owe additional taxes. In the event that audits, assessments, or other determinations by governmental authorities are concluded adversely to us, they could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operation.
Changes in the tax laws and regulations of the jurisdictions in which we operate could increase our tax expense or tax payments, increase tax uncertainty and have a material adverse impact on our results of operations. For example, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development published Pillar Two Model Rules which impose a 15% minimum tax on income of large multinational enterprises in the jurisdictions in which they operate. In 2025, Pillar Two legislation became effective in some of the jurisdictions in which we operate. We continue to evaluate the impacts of the enacted Pillar Two legislation.
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Tax laws in the U.S. and in other countries in which we and our affiliates operate could change on a prospective or retroactive basis, and any such changes could have a material impact on our effective tax rate and on our business, results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.
Environmental, Health and Safety and Corporate Social Responsibility Risks
Our failure to comply with applicable environmental, health and safety laws and regulations could negatively affect our business, operations or financial condition.
We manufacture and assemble certain products that require the use of materials that are subject to domestic and foreign laws and regulations governing the protection of the environment, health and safety. Existing and prospective environmental, health and safety laws and regulations could lead to business interruption, increased costs and other adverse consequences. Compliance with future regulations may also require additional capital investments or other expenses. Additionally, we are subject to certain risks of future liabilities, lawsuits and claims resulting from substances we manufacture, dispose of or release. Certain environmental laws and regulations may impose “strict liability” for the conduct of, or conditions caused by, others, or for acts that were in non-compliance with applicable laws at the time the acts were performed, rendering us liable without regard to our negligence or fault. Our failure to comply with these laws and regulations may have an adverse effect on our business, operations or financial condition.
Some of our products are composed of materials that contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”). Regulations are being considered in the European Union and other countries that would limit or ban the use of PFAS in consumer and medical products. If these regulations were to restrict our use of PFAS in the production of our products, our business, operations and financial condition could be materially harmed.
Environmental laws and regulations could also impact the way in which our products are sterilized. Most of our products are sterilized using Ethylene Oxide (“EtO”). Regulations are being considered in the U.S., EU and other countries that would limit the use of EtO for the sterilization of medical products. The impact of these regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Our operations are also subject to various laws and regulations relating to occupational health and safety. We maintain safety, training and maintenance programs as part of our ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Compliance with applicable health and safety laws and regulations has required and continues to require significant expenditures.
We could be negatively impacted by corporate social responsibility laws, regulations, practices and expectations.
We are subject to CSR laws and regulations which require us to monitor the labor standards in our supply chain, including the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act, the UK Modern Slavery Act, and U.S. Federal Acquisition Regulations regarding Combating Trafficking in Persons. These laws and regulations may impose additional processes and supplier management systems and have led certain key customers to impose additional requirements on medical device companies as a prerequisite to selling products to such customers, which could result in increased costs for our products, the termination or suspension of certain suppliers or customers, and reductions in our margins and profitability.
Governments, investors, customers, employees and other stakeholders have focused on CSR practices and disclosures, and expectations in this area are rapidly evolving. The criteria by which our CSR practices are assessed may change due to evolving social and regulatory landscape, which could result in greater regulatory requirements or expectations of us and cause us to undertake costly initiatives to satisfy such new criteria. If we are unable to satisfy evolving criteria, investors may conclude that our policies and actions with respect to CSR matters are inadequate and our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely impacted.
Our business and operations are subject to risks related to climate change.
Risks associated with climate change are subject to increasing societal, regulatory and political focus in the United States and globally. Shifts in weather patterns caused by climate change are projected to increase the frequency, severity or duration of certain adverse weather conditions and natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, wildfires, droughts, extreme temperatures or flooding, which could cause significant business and supply chain interruptions, damage to our products and facilities as well as the infrastructure of hospitals, medical care facilities and other customers, reduced workforce availability, increased costs of raw materials and components and increased liabilities, compared to our historical experience with such events. In addition, increased public concern over climate change could result in new legal or regulatory requirements designed to mitigate the effects of climate change. Such developments could result in increased compliance costs and adverse impacts on raw material sourcing, manufacturing operations and the distribution of our products, which could adversely affect our operations and operating results.
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Intellectual Property
We may not be able to protect our intellectual property, which could harm our business and financial condition.
Our ability to remain competitive is dependent, in part, upon our ability to protect our intellectual property rights and prevent other companies from infringing those rights. We seek to protect our intellectual property through a combination of confidentiality and license agreements, maintaining trade secrets, and through registrations under patent, trademark, and copyright laws. However, these measures afford only limited protection and may be challenged, invalidated, or circumvented by third parties. Additionally, these measures may not prevent competitors from duplicating our products or gaining access to our proprietary information and technology. Third parties may copy all or portions of our products or otherwise use our intellectual property without authorization, and we may not be able to prevent the unauthorized disclosure or use of our intellectual property by consultants, vendors and former and current employees. Despite our efforts to restrict such unauthorized disclosure or use through nondisclosure agreements and other contractual restrictions, we may not be able to enforce these contractual provisions or we may incur substantial costs enforcing our legal rights.
Third parties may also develop similar or superior technology independently or by designing around our patents. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not offer the same level of protection for our intellectual property as the laws of the U.S. Further, no assurances can be given that any patent application we have filed or may file will result in a patent being issued, or that any existing or future patents will afford adequate or meaningful protection against competitors or against similar technologies. All of our patents and copyrights will eventually expire and some of our patents, including patents protecting significant elements of our technology, will expire within the next several years.
Filing, prosecuting and defending our intellectual property in countries throughout the world may be impractical and prohibitively expensive. Litigation may be necessary in the future to enforce our intellectual property rights, protect our trade secrets or to determine the validity and scope of proprietary rights claimed by others. Any such litigation could be expensive, time consuming and divert management’s attention from our business. Litigation also puts our patents at risk of being invalidated or interpreted narrowly. Moreover, the legal systems of certain countries, particularly certain developing countries, do not favor the aggressive enforcement of patents and other intellectual property protections, which makes it difficult to stop infringement. We may not prevail in any lawsuits that we initiate, and the damages or other remedies awarded, if any, may not be commercially valuable.
Third parties claiming that we infringe their intellectual property rights could cause us to incur significant legal or licensing expenses and prevent us from selling our products.
Our commercial success will depend in part on not infringing or violating the intellectual property rights of others. From time to time, third parties may claim that we have infringed their intellectual property rights, including claims regarding patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, and confidential information. We may not be aware of whether our products do or will infringe existing or future patents or the intellectual property rights of others. Because of constant technological change in the medical device industry in which we compete, the extensive patent coverage of existing technologies, and the rapid rate of issuance of new patents, it is possible that the number of these claims may grow. Any such claim, with or without merit, could result in costly litigation, distract management from day-to-day operations and harm our brand or reputation, which in turn could harm our business or results of operations. If we are not successful in defending such claims, we could be required to (i) stop selling our products, (ii) redesign our products, (iii) discontinue the use of related trademarks, technologies or designs, (iv) pay damages or indemnification obligations, or (v) enter into royalty or licensing arrangements. Royalty or licensing arrangements that we may seek in such circumstances may not be available to us on commercially reasonable terms or at all and we may not be able to redesign applicable products in a way to avoid infringing the intellectual property rights of others. We have made and expect to continue making significant expenditures to investigate, defend and settle claims related to the use of technology and intellectual property rights as part of our strategy to manage this risk.
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Information Technology and Cybersecurity Risks
We rely on the proper function, availability and security of information technology systems to operate our business, and a material disruption of critical information systems or a material breach in the security of our systems may adversely affect our business, reputation and financial condition.
We rely on information technology systems (including technology from third-party providers) to process, transmit, and store electronic information in our operations, including sensitive personal information and proprietary or confidential information. We also rely on our technology infrastructure to interact with customers and suppliers, fulfill orders and bill, collect and make payments, ship products, provide support to customers, fulfill contractual obligations and otherwise conduct business. Our internal information technology systems, as well as those systems maintained by third-party providers, may be subjected to inadvertent leaks, computer viruses or other malicious code, unauthorized access attempts, and ransom or other cyber-attacks (including through phishing emails, attempts to induce employees to disclose information, and the exploitation of software and operating vulnerabilities), any of which could result in data leaks or otherwise compromise our confidential or proprietary information and disrupt our operations. Cyber-attacks continue to increase in frequency, sophistication and intensity, and are becoming increasingly difficult to detect. Such attacks are often carried out by motivated and highly skilled actors, who are increasingly well-resourced. Geopolitical events have also increased cybersecurity risks on a global basis. Additionally, the continuing evolution of technology we use, including cloud-based computing, data hosting and artificial intelligence, create additional exposure to security breaches and loss of access to our confidential or proprietary information. There can be no assurance that our protective measures have prevented or will prevent security breaches, any of which could have a significant impact on our business, reputation and financial condition.
We rely on third-party vendors to supply and support certain aspects of our information technology systems. These vendors could become vulnerable to cyber-attacks, malicious intrusions, breakdowns, interference or other significant disruptions, and their systems may contain defects in design or manufacture or other problems that could result in system disruption or compromise the information security of our own systems. In addition, we continue to grow in part through business and product acquisitions and may face risks associated with defects and vulnerabilities in the systems operated by the other parties to those transactions, or difficulties or other breakdowns or disruptions in connection with the integration of the acquired businesses and products into our information technology systems.
Cyber-attacks could also result in unauthorized access to our systems and products, including personal information of individuals, which could trigger notification requirements, encourage actions by regulatory bodies, result in adverse publicity, prompt us to offer credit support products or services to affected individuals and lead to litigation. If we fail to monitor, maintain or protect our information technology systems and data integrity or fail to anticipate, plan for or manage significant disruptions to these systems, we could lose customers, be subject to fraud, breach our agreements with or duties toward customers, physicians, other parties, be subjected to regulatory sanctions or penalties, incur expenses or lose revenues, sustain damage to our reputation, or suffer other adverse consequences. Unauthorized tampering, adulteration or interference with our products may also create issues with product functionality that could result in a loss of data, risk to patient safety, and product recalls or field actions. Any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation or financial condition.
The SEC has adopted new rules that require us to provide greater disclosure regarding cybersecurity risk management, strategy and governance, as well as disclosure of material cybersecurity incidents. We cannot predict or estimate the amount of additional costs we will incur in order to comply with these rules or the timing of such costs. These rules may also require us to report a cybersecurity incident before we have been able to fully assess its impact or remediate the underlying issue. Efforts to comply with such reporting requirements could divert management's attention from our incident response and could potentially reveal system vulnerabilities to threat actors. Failure to timely report incidents under these or other similar rules could also result in monetary fines, sanctions or subject us to other forms of liability.
Market, Liquidity and Credit Risks
The agreements and instruments governing our debt contain restrictions and limitations that could significantly affect our ability to operate our business, as well as significantly affect our liquidity.
On June 6, 2023, we entered into a Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (“Fourth A&R Credit Agreement”), with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, and other financial institutions named therein. On December 5, 2023, we executed an amendment to the Fourth A&R Credit Agreement (as amended, the "Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement”) to facilitate the issuance of our Convertible Notes described below.
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We have pledged substantially all of our assets as collateral for the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement. Our breach of any covenant in the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement could result in a default under that agreement and could trigger acceleration of the underlying obligations. Any default under the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement could adversely affect our ability to service our debt and to fund our planned capital expenditures and ongoing operations. The administrative agent, joint lead arrangers, joint bookrunners and lenders under the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement have available to them the remedies typically available to lenders and secured parties, including the ability to foreclose on the collateral we have pledged.
On December 8, 2023, we issued $747.5 million aggregate principal amount of 3.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2029 (the “Convertible Notes”) pursuant to Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Convertible Notes are unsecured and bear interest at 3.00% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears on February 1 and August 1 of each year, beginning on August 1, 2024. The Convertible Notes will mature on February 1, 2029, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted in accordance with their terms prior to such date.
The Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement and the Indenture which governs the Convertible Notes (the “Note Indenture”) contain restrictive covenants that could adversely affect our ability to operate our business, our liquidity or our results of operations. These covenants restrict, among other things, our incurrence of indebtedness, creation of liens or pledges on our assets, mergers or similar combinations or liquidations, asset dispositions, repurchases or redemptions of equity interests or debt, issuances of equity and payment of dividends and certain distributions.
As currently amended, the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement provides for potential borrowings of up to $850 million. Such increased borrowing limits may make it more difficult for us to comply with leverage ratios and other restrictive covenants in the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement. We may also have less cash available for operations and investments in our business, as we will be required to use additional cash to satisfy the minimum payment obligations associated with this increased indebtedness.
Our management has broad discretion regarding the use of proceeds of the Convertible Notes and other borrowed funds.
Our management has broad discretion with respect to the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Convertible Notes and borrowed funds under the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement. Some of these uses could prove to be ineffective or unproductive and could negatively impact our business. We used a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Convertible Notes and borrowed funds under the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement to finance the Recent Acquisitions, but have not identified additional acquisitions or other uses for a significant portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Convertible Notes or borrowed funds under the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement. Our failure to utilize borrowed funds effectively and productively or find suitable investments or assets to acquire in a timely manner or on acceptable terms could result in financial losses, violation of financial covenants, limitations on our ability to access additional liquidity resources or have other negative consequences, any of which could result in a material adverse effect on our business, operations or financial condition.
We may not be able to service all of our indebtedness.
As of December 31, 2024, our total outstanding indebtedness under the Convertible Notes and the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement was $747.5 million. Under the terms of the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement, we are potentially able to borrow up to $697 million in additional funds, which could result in total indebtedness under the Convertible Notes and Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement of up to $1,444.5 million.
We depend on our cash on hand and free cash flow from operations to fund our debt obligations, capital expenditures and ongoing operations. Our ability to service our debt and to fund our planned capital expenditures and ongoing operations will depend on our ability to continue to generate cash flow which, in turn, is dependent on a range of economic, competitive, and business factors, many of which are outside our control. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow or we are unable to access additional liquidity sources, we may not be able to service or repay our debt, operate our business, respond to competitive challenges, or fund our other liquidity and capital needs, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
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The fundamental change repurchase feature of the Convertible Notes may delay or prevent an otherwise beneficial attempt to acquire us.
Certain provisions in the Note Indenture may make it more difficult or expensive for a third party to acquire us. For example, the Note Indenture requires us, in certain circumstances, to repurchase the Convertible Notes for cash upon the occurrence of a fundamental change and, in certain circumstances, to increase the conversion rate for a holder that converts its Convertible Notes in connection with a make-whole fundamental change. A takeover of Merit may trigger the requirement that we repurchase the Convertible Notes and/or increase the conversion rate, which could make it more costly for a potential acquirer to engage in such takeover. Such additional costs may have the effect of delaying or preventing a takeover of Merit that would otherwise be beneficial to investors.
The market price of our common stock has been and may continue to be volatile.
The market price of our common stock has at times, been, and may in the future be, volatile for various reasons, including those discussed in these risk factors. Other events that could cause volatility in our stock include, without limitation, variances in our financial results; analysts’ and other projections or recommendations regarding our common stock specifically or medical technology stocks generally; any restatement of our financial statements; governmental or regulatory investigations; actions taken by activist investors or other shareholders; significant litigation or a decline, or rise, of stock prices in capital markets generally.
In connection with the sale of the Convertible Notes, we entered into capped call transactions with certain of the initial purchasers of the Convertible Notes and/or their affiliates (the “Option Counterparties”). The capped call transactions are expected generally to reduce potential dilution to our common stock upon conversion of any Convertible Notes and/or offset any cash payments we are required to make in excess of the principal amount of converted Convertible Notes, as the case may be, with such reduction and/or offset subject to a cap. Certain actions taken by the Option Counterparties, including modifying their hedge positions, purchasing or selling our common stock, or defaulting on their obligations, could negatively impact the market price of our common stock.
Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates may negatively impact our financial results.
We report our financial results in United States Dollars. However, a substantial amount of our revenue is derived from sales in foreign currencies. Thus, the revenues we report with respect to our operations outside the U.S. have been and may continue to be adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. These exchange rate fluctuations are caused by a number of factors, including changes in a country's political and economic policies and inflationary conditions. Currency exchange rates have been especially volatile in recent years, and these currency fluctuations have affected, and may continue to affect, the reported value of our assets and liabilities, as well as our cash flows. Those fluctuations could have a negative impact on our margins and financial results. During 2024, 2023 and 2022, the exchange rate between all applicable foreign currencies and the U.S. Dollar resulted in decreases in our net sales of $7.2 million, $6.4 million and $23.8 million, respectively.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, $464.9 million, or 34.3%, of our net sales, were denominated in foreign currencies, with our Chinese Yuan- and Euro-denominated sales representing our largest currency risks. If the rate of exchange between foreign currencies declines against the U.S. Dollar, we may not be able to increase the prices we charge our customers for products whose prices are denominated in those currencies. Furthermore, we may be unable or elect not to enter into hedging transactions which could mitigate the effect of declining exchange rates. As a result, if the rate of exchange between foreign currencies declines against the U.S. Dollar, our financial results may be negatively impacted.
34
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 1C. Cybersecurity.
We maintain strong cybersecurity systems to guard against unauthorized access, malicious software, corruption of data, disruption of our networks and systems and unauthorized release of confidential information. We employ an experienced and dedicated information security team, strive to follow industry best practices, and work with our employees globally to create awareness and mitigate cyber risk. On an ongoing basis, we assess risks (including our exposure from significant information technology suppliers, significant software as a service providers and major vendors with access to our information technology systems) and implement procedures and practices designed to improve the security, confidentiality, integrity and availability of our systems. We voluntarily engage third-party security auditors to test our systems and controls at least annually against the most widely recognized security standards and regulations. We have developed and continue to implement a continuing cyber awareness training program which is designed to increase awareness of cybersecurity threats throughout our company and reduce the risk of human error. We conduct periodic phishing testing on all our employees with e-mail access and emphasize information security in training events and programs we host throughout the year.
We have established controls and procedures to escalate enterprise-level issues, including cybersecurity matters, to the appropriate management levels within our organization and our Board of Directors, or members or committees thereof, as appropriate. Our Board of Directors provides oversight of our enterprise risk management, including our approach to managing cybersecurity risk, and has delegated responsibility for review of information security risks to its Audit Committee. The Audit Committee regularly reviews information security risks and receives reports from our Chief Information Officer and other members of the Company’s management regarding those risks. Our cybersecurity program is managed by a dedicated Chief Information Officer whose global team, including the Vice President, Information Security, is responsible for leading enterprise-wide cybersecurity strategy, policy, standards, architecture and processes. Our Chief Information Officer has over 29 years of relevant industry experience, including 18 years with Merit. Our Vice President, Information Security, functions as our senior information security officer and has over 18 years of relevant industry experience. Further, team members who support our cybersecurity program have relevant educational and industry experience through various roles involving information technology, security, auditing, compliance, systems and programming, as well as cybersecurity certifications such as Certified Information Systems Security Professional.
Under our framework, cybersecurity issues are analyzed by subject matter experts for potential financial, operational, and reputational risks, based on, among other factors, the nature of the matter and breadth of impact. Matters determined to present potential material impacts to the Company’s financial results, operations, and/or reputation are immediately reported by management to our Board of Directors or the Audit Committee, as appropriate, in accordance with our escalation framework. In addition, we have established procedures to ensure that management responsible for overseeing the effectiveness of disclosure controls is informed in a timely manner of known cybersecurity risks and incidents that may materially impact our operations and that timely public disclosure is made as appropriate.
We maintain cyber insurance coverage that may, subject to policy terms, conditions and limitations, cover certain aspects of cybersecurity risks; however, such insurance coverage may be unavailable or insufficient to cover all losses or all types of claims that may arise in the continually evolving area of cyber risk.
During the last three years, we have not experienced a material security breach and, as a result, we have not incurred any material expenses from such a breach. Furthermore, during such time, we have not been penalized or paid any amount under any information security breach settlement.
35
Item 2.Properties.
Our world headquarters is located in South Jordan, Utah, with our principal office for European operations located in Galway, Ireland and our principal office for Asian distribution located in Beijing, China. We also support our European operations from a distribution and customer service facility located in Maastricht, The Netherlands. In addition, we lease commercial space in India, Hong Kong, Italy, Dubai, Australia, Canada, Brazil, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, South Africa, Singapore, Great Britain, Vietnam, Taiwan, New Zealand, Indonesia, and France, as well as in California and Texas. Our principal manufacturing and packaging facilities are located in Utah, Virginia, Texas, Ireland, Brazil, Singapore, Mexico, France and The Netherlands. Our research and development activities are conducted principally at facilities located in Utah, California, Texas, Ireland and France.
Our total manufacturing, commercial, distribution, and research space is approximately 2.0 million square feet, of which approximately 1.0 million square feet is owned, and 1.0 million square feet is leased.
The following is a summary of the approximate square footage of our key facilities as of December 31, 2024:
Location |
|
Main Purpose |
|
Area (sq. ft.) |
Utah |
|
HQ, Manufacturing, Distribution, Research |
|
724,170 |
Mexico |
|
Manufacturing |
|
262,020 |
Virginia |
|
Manufacturing, Distribution |
|
187,659 |
The Netherlands |
|
Manufacturing, Distribution |
|
162,646 |
Ireland |
|
Manufacturing, Research |
|
139,680 |
Texas |
|
Manufacturing, Research |
|
94,000 |
Singapore |
|
Manufacturing |
|
68,000 |
China |
|
Distribution |
|
57,520 |
Operations associated with our cardiovascular segment utilize all of our facilities, while operations associated with our endoscopy segment are conducted primarily from our facilities located in Utah and Texas.
We believe our existing and proposed facilities will generally be adequate for our present and future anticipated levels of operations.
Item 3.Legal Proceedings.
See Note 10 Commitments and Contingencies to our consolidated financial statements set forth in Item 8 of this report and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 4.Mine Safety Disclosures.
The disclosure required by this item is not applicable.
36
PART II
Item 5. |
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities. |
Market Information
Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “MMSI.” As of February 21, 2025, the number of shares of our common stock outstanding was 58,834,568 held by approximately 90 shareholders of record, not including shareholders whose shares are held in securities position listings. We did not repurchase any shares during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022.
Dividends
We have never declared or paid cash dividends on shares of our common stock. We presently intend to retain any future earnings for use in our business and, therefore, do not anticipate paying any dividends on shares of our common stock in the foreseeable future. In addition, (i) cash held by our subsidiary in China is subject to local laws and regulations that require government approval for the transfer of such funds to entities located outside of China (which may prevent such funds from being used to pay dividends) and (ii) our Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement contains covenants prohibiting the declaration and distribution of a cash dividend at any time prior to the termination of the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement.
37
Performance
The following graph compares the performance of our common stock with the performance of the NASDAQ US Benchmark TR Index and NASDAQ Stocks (SIC 3840-3849 U.S. Companies - Surgical, Medical and Dental Instruments and Supplies) for a five-year period by measuring the changes in common stock prices from December 31, 2019 to December 31, 2024.

|
|
12/2019 |
|
12/2020 |
|
12/2021 |
|
12/2022 |
|
12/2023 |
|
12/2024 |
||||||
Merit Medical Systems, Inc. |
|
$ |
100.00 |
|
$ |
177.80 |
|
$ |
199.55 |
|
$ |
226.17 |
|
$ |
243.24 |
|
$ |
309.68 |
NASDAQ US Benchmark (TR) |
|
|
100.00 |
|
|
121.27 |
|
|
152.67 |
|
|
122.55 |
|
|
154.93 |
|
|
192.86 |
NASDAQ Stocks (SIC 3840-3849 U.S. Companies) |
|
|
100.00 |
|
|
133.88 |
|
|
153.19 |
|
|
107.20 |
|
|
114.09 |
|
|
130.41 |
The stock performance graph assumes for comparison that the value of our common stock and of each index was $100 on December 31, 2019 and that all dividends were reinvested. Past performance is not necessarily an indicator of future results.
NOTE: Performance graph data is complete through last fiscal year. Corporate Performance Graph with peer group uses peer group only performance (excludes only Merit). Peer group indices use beginning of period market capitalization weighting. Prepared by Zacks Investment Research, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved. Copyright 1980-2023. Used with permission. All rights reserved. Index Data: Copyright NASDAQ OMX, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
Item 6.Reserved.
38
Item 7.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes thereto set forth in Item 8 of this report.
Discussion of the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the year ended December 31, 2022 is included in Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and is incorporated by reference into this Form 10-K.
Overview
We design, develop, manufacture, market and sell medical products for interventional and diagnostic procedures. For financial reporting purposes, we report our operations in two operating segments: cardiovascular and endoscopy. Our cardiovascular segment consists of four product categories: peripheral intervention, cardiac intervention, custom procedural solutions, and OEM. Within these product categories, we sell a variety of products, including cardiology and radiology devices (which assist in diagnosing and treating coronary arterial disease, peripheral vascular disease and other nonvascular diseases), as well as embolotherapeutic, cardiac rhythm management, electrophysiology, critical care, breast cancer localization and guidance, biopsy, and interventional oncology and spine devices. Our endoscopy segment consists of gastroenterology and pulmonology devices which assist in the palliative treatment of expanding esophageal, tracheobronchial and biliary strictures caused by malignant tumors.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, we reported sales of $1.357 billion, up $99.1 million or 7.9%, compared to 2023 sales of $1.257 billion. Our revenue results for the year ended December 31, 2024 were driven primarily by demand in the U.S. and favorable international sales trends, particularly in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (“EMEA”) and in the “Rest of World” (“ROW”) regions.
Gross profit as a percentage of sales was 47.4% for the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to 46.4% for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Net income for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $120.4 million, or $2.03 per share, as compared to $94.4 million, or $1.62 per share, for the year ended December 31, 2023.
In July 2024, we executed an asset purchase agreement with EndoGastric Solutions, Inc. (“EGS”), acquiring the EsophyX® Z+ device which delivers a durable, minimally invasive non-pharmacological treatment option for patients suffering from GERD. In November 2024, we completed the acquisition of a portfolio of Lead Management products from Cook Medical.
On February 28, 2024, we introduced our “Continued Growth initiatives” Program with muti-year financial targets for the three-year period ending December 31, 2026, which reflects our commitment to better-position Merit for long-term, sustainable growth and enhanced profitability.
On December 20, 2024, we announced that the WRAPSODY® Cell-Impermeable Endoprosthesis has received premarket approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). With this approval, Merit can begin commercialization of the device in the U.S. in 2025.
39
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth certain operational data as a percentage of sales for the years indicated:
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|
Net sales |
|
100 |
% |
100 |
% |
100 |
% |
Gross profit |
|
47.4 |
|
46.4 |
|
45.1 |
|
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
|
29.5 |
|
29.7 |
|
29.8 |
|
Research and development expenses |
|
6.4 |
|
6.6 |
|
6.6 |
|
Impairment charges |
|
— |
|
— |
|
0.2 |
|
Contingent consideration expense |
|
0.0 |
|
0.1 |
|
0.4 |
|
Acquired in-process research and development expense |
|
— |
|
0.1 |
|
0.6 |
|
Income from operations |
|
11.5 |
|
9.9 |
|
7.6 |
|
Other expense — net |
|
(0.4) |
|
(0.9) |
|
(0.4) |
|
Income before income taxes |
|
11.1 |
|
8.9 |
|
7.2 |
|
Net income |
|
8.9 |
|
7.5 |
|
6.5 |
|
Sales
Listed below are the sales by product category within each operating segment for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands, other than percentage changes):
|
|
% Change |
|
2024 |
|
% Change |
|
2023 |
|
% Change |
|
2022 |
|||
Cardiovascular |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Peripheral Intervention |
|
9.9 |
% |
$ |
552,168 |
|
14.2 |
% |
$ |
502,220 |
|
8.6 |
% |
$ |
439,810 |
Cardiac Intervention |
|
3.5 |
% |
|
370,993 |
|
4.4 |
% |
|
358,451 |
|
7.0 |
% |
|
343,186 |
Custom Procedural Solutions |
|
3.0 |
% |
|
201,201 |
|
2.7 |
% |
|
195,333 |
|
(1.9) |
% |
|
190,194 |
OEM |
|
7.8 |
% |
|
177,382 |
|
13.5 |
% |
|
164,556 |
|
17.4 |
% |
|
145,034 |
Total |
|
6.7 |
% |
|
1,301,744 |
|
9.2 |
% |
|
1,220,560 |
|
7.2 |
% |
|
1,118,224 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Endoscopy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Endoscopy Devices |
|
48.8 |
% |
|
54,770 |
|
12.4 |
% |
|
36,806 |
|
3.9 |
% |
|
32,757 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
7.9 |
% |
$ |
1,356,514 |
|
9.2 |
% |
$ |
1,257,366 |
|
7.1 |
% |
$ |
1,150,981 |
Cardiovascular Sales. Our cardiovascular sales for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $1.302 billion, up 6.7%, when compared to the year ended December 31, 2023 of $1.221 billion. Sales for the year ended December 31, 2024 were favorably affected by increased sales of:
| (a) | Peripheral intervention products, which increased by $49.9 million, or 9.9%, from the corresponding period of 2023. This increase was driven primarily by sales of our access, radar localization, delivery systems, and drainage products. |
| (b) | Cardiac intervention products, which increased by $12.5 million, or 3.5%, from the corresponding period of 2023. This increase was driven primarily by sales of our cardiac rhythm management/electrophysiology (“CRM/EP”), fluid management, and access products, partially offset by a decrease in sales of our hemostasis products. |
| (c) | Custom procedural solutions products, which increased by $5.9 million, or 3.0% from the corresponding period of 2023. This increase was driven primarily by increased sales of our kits and critical care products, offset partially by decreased sales of trays. |
| (d) | OEM products, which increased by $12.8 million, or 7.8% from the corresponding period of 2023. This increase was driven primarily by sales of our access, vertebral compression fracture, and fluid management products as well as our kits, partially offset by a decrease in sales of our CRM/EP products. |
40
Endoscopy Sales. Our endoscopy sales for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $54.8 million, up 48.8%, when compared to sales for the year ended December 31, 2023 of $36.8 million. Sales for the year ended December 31, 2024 were favorably affected by sales of our recently-acquired EsophyX® Z+ Device.
Geographic Sales
Listed below are sales by geography for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands, other than percentage changes):
|
|
% Change |
|
2024 |
|
% Change |
|
2023 |
|
% Change |
|
2022 |
|||
United States |
|
10.2 |
% |
|
800,780 |
|
11.7 |
% |
|
726,989 |
|
6.8 |
% |
|
650,559 |
International |
|
4.8 |
% |
|
555,734 |
|
6.0 |
% |
|
530,377 |
|
7.4 |
% |
|
500,422 |
Total |
|
7.9 |
% |
$ |
1,356,514 |
|
9.2 |
% |
$ |
1,257,366 |
|
7.1 |
% |
$ |
1,150,981 |
United States Sales: U.S. sales for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $800.8 million, or 59.0% of net sales, up 10.2% when compared to 2023. The increase in our domestic sales in 2024 was driven primarily by our U.S. direct, OEM and endoscopy businesses.
International Sales. International sales for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $555.7 million, or 41.0% of net sales, up 4.8% when compared to 2023. The increase in our international sales during 2024 was primarily a result of higher sales in EMEA, which increased $11.2 million or 4.8%, higher ROW sales which increased $8.9 million or 18.1%, and higher sales in our Asia Pacific region, which increased $5.3 million or 2.1%, compared to the corresponding period of 2023.
Our international sales are subject to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations between the natural currency of a foreign country and the U.S. Dollar. Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, calculated by using the applicable average foreign exchange rates for the prior year decreased sales (0.6)% for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to 2023.
Gross Profit
Our gross profit as a percentage of sales was 47.4%, 46.4%, and 45.1% for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The increase in gross profit as a percentage of sales for 2024, as compared to 2023, was primarily due to increased sales combined with favorable changes in standard costs and product mix, partially offset by higher intangible amortization expense as a percentage of sales associated with acquisitions.
Operating Expenses
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Our selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses as a percentage of sales were 29.5%, 29.7% and 29.8% for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. SG&A expenses increased $26.1 million, or 7.0%, for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to 2023. The increase in SG&A expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to the year ended December 31, 2023 was primarily related to increased labor-related costs associated with an increase in headcount and higher variable compensation linked to company performance, an increase of stock-based compensation expense associated with new equity grants and variability in our stock price, and an increase in travel related costs associated with our sales and marketing activities, partially offset by a decrease in consulting costs primarily associated with our Foundations for Growth Program which ended in 2023.
Research and Development Expenses. Our research and development (“R&D”) expenses as a percentage of sales were 6.4%, 6.6% and 6.6% for the years ended December 31 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively. R&D expenses increased by $4.7 million or 5.7% to $87.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $82.7 million in 2023. The increase in R&D expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to the year ended December 31, 2023 was primarily related to labor-related costs consistent with an increase in headcount and an increase materials and scrap utilized in R&D, partially offset by lower regulatory costs related to Medical Device Rgulation in the E.U.
Impairment Charges. During the year ended December 31, 2024, we recognized no impairment costs.
41
Contingent Consideration Expense. For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, we recorded $0.4 million, $1.7 million and $4.6 million, respectively, of net contingent consideration expense from changes in the estimated fair value of our contingent consideration obligations stemming from our previously disclosed business acquisitions. The expense in each fiscal year relates to changes in the probability and timing of achieving certain revenue and operational milestones, as well as expense for the passage of time.
Acquired In-process Research and Development. During the year ended December 31, 2024, we recognized no acquired in-process research and development costs.
Operating Income
Our operating profit by operating segment for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 was as follows (in thousands):
Operating Income |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|||
Cardiovascular |
|
$ |
150,150 |
|
$ |
114,440 |
|
$ |
80,946 |
Endoscopy |
|
|
5,543 |
|
|
9,504 |
|
|
6,617 |
Total operating income |
|
$ |
155,693 |
|
$ |
123,944 |
|
$ |
87,563 |
Cardiovascular Operating Income. Our cardiovascular operating income for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $150.2 million, compared to cardiovascular operating income of $114.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. This increase in cardiovascular operating income was primarily related to higher sales and gross profit, decreased acquired in-process research and development charges, and decreased contingent consideration expense ($0.4 million in 2024 compared to $1.7 million in 2023), partially offset by higher SG&A and R&D expenses.
Endoscopy Operating Income. Our endoscopy operating income for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $5.5 million, compared to operating income of $9.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. This decrease in endoscopy operating income relative to 2023 was primarily due to higher SG&A expense associated with the acquisition and integration of operations acquired from EGS and higher R&D expenses, partially offset by higher sales.
Other Income (Expense)
Our other expense for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 was $5.7 million, $11.9 million, and $4.9 million, respectively. The decrease in other expense for 2024 compared to 2023 was principally the result of an increase in interest income associated with and increased cash and cash equivalents and reduced borrowings under the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement, partially offset by interest expense associated with outstanding convertible debt.
Effective Tax Rate
Our provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 was a tax expense of $29.6 million, $17.7 million and $8.1 million, respectively, which resulted in an effective income tax rate of 19.8%, 15.8%, and 9.8%, respectively. The increase in the effective income tax rate for 2024 compared to 2023 was primarily the result of decreased benefit from items such as stock-based compensation and foreign tax credit utilization.
Net Income
Our net income for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 was $120.4 million, $94.4 million, and $74.5 million, respectively. The increase in net income for 2024, when compared to 2023, was primarily related to higher sales, higher gross margin as a percentage of sales, decreased contingent consideration expense ($0.4 million in 2024 compared to $1.7 million in 2023), decreased acquired in-process research and development expense ($0 in 2024 compared to $1.6 million in 2023) and decreased other expenses; partially offset by higher SG&A, R&D, and income tax expense.
42
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Capital Commitments and Contractual Obligations
Our most significant contractual obligations as of December 31, 2024 included total long-term debt obligations of $747.5 million, interest payments on this debt, contingent consideration liabilities of $3.5 million, of which $0.4 million is recorded in current liabilities, and operating lease liabilities of $65.1 million, of which $10.3 million is recorded in current liabilities. Additional information about these obligations is contained in Notes 8, 15 and 17 to our consolidated financial statements set forth in Item 8 of this report.
Cash Flows
At December 31, 2024 and 2023, we had cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of $378.8 million and $589.1 million respectively, of which $50.6 million and $48.7 million, respectively, were held by foreign subsidiaries. We do not consider our foreign earnings to be permanently reinvested. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, approximately $2.1 million and $2.1 million respectively, of our cash and cash equivalents represents restricted cash for the payment of certain import and other taxes for our subsidiary in China. Cash held by our subsidiary in China is subject to local laws and regulations that require government approval for the transfer of such funds to entities located outside of China. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash, of $18.1 million and $17.6 million, respectively, held by our subsidiary in China.
Cash flows provided by operating activities. We generated cash from operating activities of $220.8 million, $145.2 million and $114.3 million during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Net cash provided by operating activities increased $75.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to the year ended December 31, 2023. Significant changes in operating assets and liabilities affecting cash flows during these years included:
| ● | Net income was $120.4 million and $94.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. |
| ● | Cash used for inventories was $2.3 million and $32.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively due primarily to efforts to normalize inventory levels following prior year investments to build bridge inventory for production line transfers and increases in safety stock due to vendor supply delays. |
| ● | Cash provided by (used for) accrued expenses was $9.7 million and $(2.5) million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, primarily due to an increase in accrued interest and the associated expense related to our convertible debt. |
| ● | Cash paid for income taxes was $45.0 million and $31.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, primarily due to increases in income before tax. |
Cash flows used in investing activities. We used cash in investing activities of $368.7 million, $175.3 million, and $57.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. We invested in capital expenditures for property and equipment of $35.1 million, $34.3 million, and $45.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Capital expenditures in each period were primarily related to investment in property and equipment to support development and production of our products. Historically, we have incurred significant expenses in connection with facility construction, production automation, product development and the introduction of new products. We anticipate that we will spend approximately $55 to $60 million in 2025 for property and equipment.
Cash outflows invested in acquisitions and other equity investments for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $320.2 million and were primarily related to payments required by our asset purchase agreements with Cook Medical Holdings LLC ($210.0 million), Endogastric Solutions, Inc. ($105.0 million) and Scholten Surgical Instruments, Inc. ($3.0 million). Cash outflows invested in acquisitions for the year ended December 31, 2023 were $134.5 million and were primarily related to payments required by our asset purchase agreements with AngioDynamics, Inc. ($100 million), Bluegrass Vascular Technologies, Inc. ($32.7 million) and ART ($1.5 million). Cash outflows invested in acquisitions for the year ended December 31, 2022 were $6.9 million and were primarily related to our $3.0 million upfront payment in our purchase of Restore Endosystems LLC and our $2.5 million payment in our purchase of BioTrace Medical, Inc.
43
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities. Cash (used in) provided by financing activities for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 was $(60.0) million, $559.3 million, and $(60.3) million, respectively. In 2024 we decreased our net borrowings under our Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement by $99.1 million and had cash proceeds from the issuance of common stock of $40.9 million. In 2023 we issued convertible debt of $747.5 million, paid $66.5 million for the purchase of capped call options, and decreased our net borrowings under our Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement by $99.1 million. In 2022 we decreased our net borrowings under our Third Amended Credit Agreement by $44.9 million and paid contingent consideration of $32.9 million, which is classified as a financing activity, principally related to our acquisitions of Cianna Medical Inc. (“Cianna Medical”) and Vascular Insights LLC (“Vascular Insights”).
As of December 31, 2024, we had outstanding borrowings of $747.5 million and issued letter of credit guarantees of $2.9 million, with additional available borrowings of approximately $697 million under the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement, based on the leverage ratio required pursuant to the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement. Our interest rate as of December 31, 2024 was a fixed rate of 3.0% on our Convertible Notes. Our interest rate as of December 31, 2023 was a fixed rate of 3.0% on our Convertible Notes, a fixed rate of 3.39% on $75 million as a result of an interest rate swap, and a variable floating rate of 7.21%% on $24.1 million. The foregoing fixed rates are exclusive of potential future changes in the applicable margin associated with our variable rate debt under the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement. See Note 8 Debt and Note 9 Derivatives to our consolidated financial statements set forth in Item 8 of this report for additional details regarding the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement, Convertible Notes, and our interest rate swap.
We currently believe that our existing cash balances, anticipated future cash flows from operations and borrowings under our long-term debt agreements will be adequate to fund our current and currently planned future operations for the next twelve months and the foreseeable future. In the event we pursue and complete significant transactions or acquisitions in the future, additional funds may be required to meet our strategic needs, which may require us to raise additional funds in the debt or equity markets.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our significant accounting policies are summarized in Note 1 Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to our consolidated financial statements set forth in Item 8 of this report. While these significant accounting policies affect the reporting of our financial condition and results of operations, the SEC has requested that all registrants address their most critical accounting policies. The SEC has indicated that a “critical accounting policy” is one which is both important to the representation of the registrant’s financial condition and results and requires management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. We base our estimates on past experience and on various other assumptions our management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results will differ and may differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Additionally, changes in accounting estimates could occur in the future from period to period. The following paragraphs identify our most critical accounting policies:
Inventory Obsolescence. Our management reviews inventory quantities on hand and records provisions for estimated excess, slow moving and obsolete inventory. Based on this review, we provide adjustments for any slow-moving finished good products or raw materials that we believe will expire prior to being sold or used to produce a finished good and any products that are unmarketable. This review of inventory quantities for unmarketable and/or slow moving products is based on forecasted product demand derived from our historical experience of product sales and production raw material usage. If market conditions become less favorable than those projected by our management, additional inventory write-downs may be required. During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, we recorded obsolescence expense of approximately $10.6 million, $11.5 million, and $9.8 million, respectively, and wrote off approximately $12.0 million, $11.9 million, and $10.2 million, respectively. Based on this historical trend, we believe that our inventory balances as of December 31, 2024 have been accurately adjusted for any unmarketable and/or slow moving products that may expire prior to being sold.
Valuation of Goodwill and Intangible Assets. We allocate any excess purchase price over the fair value of the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired in a business combination to goodwill. We base the fair value of identifiable intangible assets acquired in a business combination on valuations that use information and assumptions that a market participant would use, including assumptions for estimated revenue projections, growth rates, cash flows, discount rates, useful life, and other relevant assumptions.
44
We test our goodwill balances for impairment annually as of July 1, or whenever impairment indicators arise. When impairment indicators are identified, we may elect to perform an optional qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of our reporting units has fallen below their carrying value. During our annual impairment test performed as of July 1, we utilized four reporting units in evaluating goodwill for impairment using a quantitative assessment, which uses a combination of a guideline public company market-based approach and a discounted cash flow income-based approach. The quantitative assessment considers whether the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, in which case an impairment charge is recorded to the extent the reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value. This analysis requires significant judgment, including estimation of the amount, timing and duration of future cash flows, which is based on internal forecasts, and a determination of a discount rate based on our weighted average cost of capital. During our annual test of goodwill balances in 2024, which was completed during the third quarter of 2024, we determined that the fair value of each reporting unit with goodwill exceeded the carrying amount by a significant amount.
We evaluate long-lived assets, including amortizing intangible assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. We perform the impairment analysis at the asset group for which the lowest level of identifiable cash flows is largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. We first compare undiscounted cash flows to the carrying amount of the asset group to determine if impairment exists, and then determine the fair value of our amortizing assets based on estimated future cash flows discounted back to their present value using a discount rate that reflects the risk profiles of the underlying activities. This analysis requires similar significant judgments as those discussed above regarding goodwill. In-process technology intangible assets, which are not subject to amortization until projects reach commercialization, are assessed for impairment at least annually and more frequently if events occur that would indicate a potential reduction in the fair value of the assets below their carrying value.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, we identified indicators of impairment associated with certain acquired intangible assets within the asset groups based on our qualitative assessment. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we recorded total impairment charges associated with intangible assets in our cardiovascular segment of $1.7 million. We did not have any goodwill or intangible asset impairments for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. These expenses are reflected within impairment charges in our consolidated statements of income. The primary factors driving impairment of certain intangible assets were planned closure and restructuring activities and uncertainty about future product development and commercialization associated with certain acquired technologies. See Note 5 Goodwill and Intangible Assets to our consolidated financial statements set forth in Item 8 of this report for additional details regarding impairments of intangible assets.
45
Item 7A.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Currency Exchange Rate Risk
Our consolidated financial statements are denominated in, and our principal currency is, the U.S. Dollar. For the year ended December 31, 2024, a portion of our net sales ($464.9 million, representing 34.3% of our aggregate net sales), was attributable to sales that were denominated in foreign currencies. All other international sales were denominated in U.S. Dollars. Our principal market risk relates to changes in the value of the Chinese Yuan Renminbi (CNY) and Euro (EUR) relative to the U.S. Dollar (USD), with limited market risk relating to various other currencies. In general, a strengthening of the U.S. Dollar against CNY has a negative effect on our operating income. Our Euro-denominated expenses associated with our European operations (manufacturing sites, a distribution facility and sales representatives) provide a natural hedge for Euro-denominated revenues. Accordingly, a strengthening of the U.S. Dollar against the Euro will generally have a positive effect on our operating income.
We forecast our net exposure related to sales and expenses denominated in foreign currencies. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, we had entered into foreign currency forward contracts, which qualified as cash flow hedges, with aggregate notional amounts of $117.5 million and $141.1 million, respectively. We also forecast our net exposure in various receivables and payables to fluctuations in the value of various currencies, and we enter into foreign currency forward contracts to mitigate that exposure. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, we had entered into foreign currency forward contracts, which were not designated as hedging instruments, related to those balance sheet accounts with aggregate notional amounts of $95.7 million and $108.4 million, respectively.
A sensitivity analysis of changes in the fair value of all currency exchange rate derivative contracts at December 31, 2024 and 2023 indicates that, if the U.S. Dollar strengthened or weakened by 10% against all currencies, it would have the following impact on the fair value of these contracts (in thousands):
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
||
10% Strengthening |
|
$ |
5,545 |
|
$ |
7,264 |
10% Weakening |
|
$ |
(5,545) |
|
$ |
(7,264) |
Gains or losses on the fair value of derivative contracts would generally be offset by gains and losses on the underlying hedged transaction or net exposure. These offsetting gains and losses are not reflected above. See Note 9 Derivatives to our consolidated financial statements set forth in Item 8 of this report for additional discussion of our foreign currency forward contracts.
Interest Rate Risk
As discussed in Note 8 Debt to our consolidated financial statements set forth in Item 8 of this report, as of December 31, 2024, we had no outstanding borrowings under the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement. Our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to variable interest earned on cash balances. Accordingly, our earnings and after-tax cash flow are affected by changes in interest rates. Assuming the current level of cash balances remained the same and no additional borrowings are withdrawn, it is estimated that our interest income before income taxes would change by approximately $3.8 million annually for each one percentage point change in the average interest rate associated with these cash holdings.
46
Item 8.Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the stockholders and the Board of Directors of Merit Medical Systems, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Merit Medical Systems, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders' equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024, and the related notes and the schedule listed in the Index at Item 15 (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP).
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 25, 2025, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
Inventories - Provision for estimated excess, slow moving and obsolete inventories – Refer to Note 1 to the financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
Inventories are valued at the lower of cost, at approximate costs determined on a first-in, first-out method, or net realizable value. The Company reviews inventories on hand and records provisions based on estimated excess, slow moving and obsolete inventories.
47
The valuation of inventories includes an assessment of future product demand based on historical sales and raw material usage and product expiration.
We identified the provision for estimated excess, slow moving and obsolete inventories as a critical audit matter because of management’s significant judgment and estimates in determining the provision for estimated excess, slow moving and obsolete inventories primarily around forecasted product demand derived from historical experience of product sales and production raw material usage. This required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to management’s estimate of the valuation of excess, slow moving and obsolete inventories included the following, among others:
| ● | We tested the effectiveness of controls over the provision for estimated excess, slow moving and obsolete inventories. |
| ● | We evaluated management’s ability to accurately estimate the provision for estimated excess, slow moving and obsolete inventories by comparing actual write-downs of inventories to management’s historical estimates. |
| ● | We tested the calculation of the estimated excess, slow moving and obsolete inventories, on a sample basis, including the completeness and accuracy of the data used in the calculation, such as future product demand based on historical sales and raw material usage and product expiration. |
| ● | We assessed the reasonableness of the assumptions used in the calculations of the provision for estimated excess, slow moving and obsolete inventories by developing an independent expectation and comparing our independent expectation to the results of the Company’s calculation. |
| ● | We tested the mathematical accuracy of the Company’s calculation of excess, slow moving and obsolete inventories. |
Intangible Assets – EGS and Cook Developed Technology – Refer to Note 3 to the financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
On July 1, 2024, the Company entered into an asset purchase agreement with Endogastric Solutions, Inc. (“EGS”) to acquire the assets associated with the EsophyX® Z+ device. The Company accounted for this acquisition under the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations. Accordingly, the purchase price was allocated to the tangible and intangibles assets acquired based on their respective fair values, including developed technology intangible assets of $72.8 million.
On November 1, 2024, the Company entered into an asset purchase agreement with Cook Medical Holdings, LLC (“Cook”) to acquire the assets associated with its lead management business. The Company accounted for this acquisition under the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations. Accordingly, the purchase price was allocated to the tangible and intangible assets acquired based on their respective fair values, including developed technology intangible assets of $126.1 million.
The determination of the fair value of the developed technology intangible assets required management to make significant estimates and assumptions related to future cash flows and the discount rate.
We identified the valuation of the acquired developed technology intangible assets from EGS and Cook as a critical audit matter because of the significant estimates and assumptions management made to determine the fair value of the acquired developed technology. This required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort, including the involvement of our fair value specialists, when performing audit procedures to evaluate the reasonableness of management’s forecasts of future cash flows and the discount rate.
48
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to the estimates of future cash flows and discount rate for the acquired EGS and Cook developed technology intangible assets included the following, among others:
| ● | We tested the effectiveness of internal controls over the valuation of the developed technology intangible assets, including those over estimates of future cash flows and the selection of the discount rate. |
| ● | We assessed the reasonableness of management’s estimated cash flows by inquiring of management regarding its processes for developing estimated cash flows and comparing the estimates to historical results achieved by the predecessor, historical results of the Company and other acquisitions completed in recent years, and comparable peer companies. |
| ● | We performed sensitivity analyses of the significant assumptions used in the developed technology valuation models to evaluate the change in fair value resulting from changes in the significant assumptions. |
| ● | With the assistance of our fair value specialists, we (1) evaluated the reasonableness of the valuation methodology; (2) evaluated the reasonableness of the discount rate through comparing the data underlying the determination of the discount rate to independent sources and developed a range of independent estimates and compared those to the discount rates selected by management; and (3) tested the mathematical accuracy of the discounted cash flow calculations. |
| ● | We evaluated whether the estimated revenue growth rates and cash flows were consistent with evidence obtained as part of a retrospective review of actual post-acquisition financial results. |
|
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP |
|
|
|
Salt Lake City, Utah |
|
February 25, 2025 |
|
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1988. |
|
49
MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
|
|
December 31, |
|
December 31, |
||
ASSETS |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
376,715 |
|
$ |
587,036 |
Trade receivables — net of allowance for credit losses — 2024 — $9,729 and 2023 — $9,023 |
|
|
190,243 |
|
|
177,885 |
Other receivables |
|
|
16,588 |
|
|
10,517 |
Inventories |
|
|
306,063 |
|
|
303,871 |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
|
28,544 |
|
|
24,286 |
Prepaid income taxes |
|
|
3,286 |
|
|
4,016 |
Income tax refund receivables |
|
|
2,335 |
|
|
859 |
Total current assets |
|
|
923,774 |
|
|
1,108,470 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property and equipment: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Land and land improvements |
|
|
25,846 |
|
|
26,017 |
Buildings |
|
|
192,296 |
|
|
191,491 |
Manufacturing equipment |
|
|
340,864 |
|
|
316,930 |
Furniture and fixtures |
|
|
61,321 |
|
|
63,044 |
Leasehold improvements |
|
|
58,770 |
|
|
53,638 |
Construction-in-progress |
|
|
58,673 |
|
|
61,439 |
Total property and equipment |
|
|
737,770 |
|
|
712,559 |
Less accumulated depreciation |
|
|
(351,605) |
|
|
(329,036) |
Property and equipment — net |
|
|
386,165 |
|
|
383,523 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intangible assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Developed technology — net of accumulated amortization — 2024 — $377,993 and 2023 — $321,488 |
|
|
431,766 |
|
|
283,999 |
Other — net of accumulated amortization — 2024 — $85,343 and 2023 — $76,887 |
|
|
66,499 |
|
|
41,884 |
Goodwill |
|
|
463,511 |
|
|
382,240 |
Deferred income tax assets |
|
|
16,044 |
|
|
7,288 |
Right-of-use operating lease assets |
|
|
65,508 |
|
|
63,047 |
Other assets |
|
|
65,336 |
|
|
54,793 |
Total other assets |
|
|
1,108,664 |
|
|
833,251 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
2,418,603 |
|
$ |
2,325,244 |
See notes to consolidated financial statements. |
(continued) |
50
MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
|
|
December 31, |
|
December 31, |
||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trade payables |
|
$ |
68,502 |
|
$ |
65,944 |
Accrued expenses |
|
|
134,077 |
|
|
120,447 |
Short-term operating lease liabilities |
|
|
10,331 |
|
|
12,087 |
Income taxes payable |
|
|
3,492 |
|
|
5,086 |
Total current liabilities |
|
|
216,402 |
|
|
203,564 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term debt |
|
|
729,551 |
|
|
823,013 |
Deferred income tax liabilities |
|
|
240 |
|
|
5,547 |
Long-term income taxes payable |
|
|
— |
|
|
347 |
Liabilities related to unrecognized tax benefits |
|
|
2,118 |
|
|
1,912 |
Deferred compensation payable |
|
|
19,197 |
|
|
17,167 |
Deferred credits |
|
|
1,502 |
|
|
1,605 |
Long-term operating lease liabilities |
|
|
54,783 |
|
|
56,259 |
Other long-term obligations |
|
|
15,451 |
|
|
13,830 |
Total liabilities |
|
|
1,039,244 |
|
|
1,123,244 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments and contingencies |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders' equity: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock — 5,000 shares authorized; no shares issued as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
Common stock, no par value — 100,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024 - 58,743 and December 31, 2023 - 57,858 |
|
|
703,219 |
|
|
638,150 |
Retained earnings |
|
|
695,541 |
|
|
575,184 |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
|
|
(19,401) |
|
|
(11,334) |
Total stockholders’ equity |
|
|
1,379,359 |
|
|
1,202,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
|
$ |
2,418,603 |
|
$ |
2,325,244 |
See notes to consolidated financial statements. |
(concluded) |
51
MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|||
Net sales |
|
$ |
1,356,514 |
|
$ |
1,257,366 |
|
$ |
1,150,981 |
Cost of sales |
|
|
713,181 |
|
|
673,494 |
|
|
631,882 |
Gross profit |
|
|
643,333 |
|
|
583,872 |
|
|
519,099 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selling, general and administrative |
|
|
399,731 |
|
|
373,676 |
|
|
342,525 |
Research and development |
|
|
87,466 |
|
|
82,728 |
|
|
75,510 |
Impairment charges |
|
|
— |
|
|
270 |
|
|
2,219 |
Contingent consideration expense |
|
|
443 |
|
|
1,704 |
|
|
4,611 |
Acquired in-process research and development |
|
|
— |
|
|
1,550 |
|
|
6,671 |
Total operating expenses |
|
|
487,640 |
|
|
459,928 |
|
|
431,536 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from operations |
|
|
155,693 |
|
|
123,944 |
|
|
87,563 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest income |
|
|
26,230 |
|
|
2,456 |
|
|
439 |
Interest expense |
|
|
(31,219) |
|
|
(15,511) |
|
|
(6,339) |
Other income (expense) — net |
|
|
(711) |
|
|
1,200 |
|
|
966 |
Total other expense — net |
|
|
(5,700) |
|
|
(11,855) |
|
|
(4,934) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before income taxes |
|
|
149,993 |
|
|
112,089 |
|
|
82,629 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income tax expense |
|
|
29,636 |
|
|
17,678 |
|
|
8,113 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income |
|
$ |
120,357 |
|
$ |
94,411 |
|
$ |
74,516 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings per common share |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
|
$ |
2.07 |
|
$ |
1.64 |
|
$ |
1.31 |
Diluted |
|
$ |
2.03 |
|
$ |
1.62 |
|
$ |
1.29 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average shares outstanding |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
|
|
58,218 |
|
|
57,593 |
|
|
56,806 |
Diluted |
|
|
59,365 |
|
|
58,356 |
|
|
57,671 |
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
52
MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In thousands)
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|||
Net income |
|
$ |
120,357 |
|
$ |
94,411 |
|
$ |
74,516 |
Other comprehensive income (loss): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flow hedges |
|
|
1,444 |
|
|
(3,570) |
|
|
9,007 |
Income tax benefit (expense) |
|
|
(341) |
|
|
866 |
|
|
(2,177) |
Foreign currency translation adjustment |
|
|
(9,224) |
|
|
2,959 |
|
|
(10,491) |
Income tax benefit (expense) |
|
|
54 |
|
|
(39) |
|
|
102 |
Total other comprehensive income (loss) |
|
|
(8,067) |
|
|
216 |
|
|
(3,559) |
Total comprehensive income |
|
$ |
112,290 |
|
$ |
94,627 |
|
$ |
70,957 |
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
53
MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In thousands)
|
|
Common Stock |
|
Retained |
|
Accumulated Other |
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
Shares |
|
Amount |
|
Earnings |
|
Comprehensive Loss |
|
Total |
||||
BALANCE — January 1, 2022 |
|
56,570 |
|
$ |
641,533 |
|
$ |
406,257 |
|
$ |
(7,991) |
|
$ |
1,039,799 |
Net income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
74,516 |
|
|
|
|
|
74,516 |
Other comprehensive loss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3,559) |
|
|
(3,559) |
Stock-based compensation expense |
|
|
|
|
16,045 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,045 |
Options exercised |
|
703 |
|
|
20,092 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,092 |
Issuance of common stock under Employee Stock Purchase Plans |
|
19 |
|
|
1,118 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,118 |
Shares issued from time-vested restricted stock units |
|
70 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
Shares surrendered in exchange for payment of payroll tax liabilities |
|
(38) |
|
|
(2,474) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,474) |
Shares surrendered in exchange for exercise of stock options |
|
(18) |
|
|
(1,140) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,140) |
BALANCE — December 31, 2022 |
|
57,306 |
|
|
675,174 |
|
|
480,773 |
|
|
(11,550) |
|
|
1,144,397 |
Net income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
94,411 |
|
|
|
|
|
94,411 |
Other comprehensive income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
216 |
|
|
216 |
Stock-based compensation expense |
|
|
|
|
19,043 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19,043 |
Options exercised |
|
606 |
|
|
20,312 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,312 |
Issuance of common stock under Employee Stock Purchase Plans |
|
15 |
|
|
1,081 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,081 |
Shares issued from time-vested restricted stock units |
|
92 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
Purchase of capped call option |
|
— |
|
|
(66,528) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(66,528) |
Shares surrendered in exchange for payment of payroll tax liabilities |
|
(75) |
|
|
(5,123) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5,123) |
Shares surrendered in exchange for exercise of stock options |
|
(86) |
|
|
(5,809) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5,809) |
BALANCE — December 31, 2023 |
|
57,858 |
|
|
638,150 |
|
|
575,184 |
|
|
(11,334) |
|
|
1,202,000 |
Net income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
120,357 |
|
|
|
|
|
120,357 |
Other comprehensive loss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(8,067) |
|
|
(8,067) |
Stock-based compensation expense |
|
|
|
|
25,753 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,753 |
Options exercised |
|
824 |
|
|
39,746 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
39,746 |
Issuance of common stock under Employee Stock Purchase Plans |
|
14 |
|
|
1,162 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,162 |
Shares issued from time-vested restricted stock units |
|
68 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
Shares surrendered in exchange for payment of payroll tax liabilities |
|
(21) |
|
|
(1,592) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,592) |
BALANCE — December 31, 2024 |
|
58,743 |
|
$ |
703,219 |
|
$ |
695,541 |
|
$ |
(19,401) |
|
$ |
1,379,359 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
54
MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Net income |
|
$ |
120,357 |
|
$ |
94,411 |
|
$ |
74,516 |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
102,709 |
|
|
89,985 |
|
|
81,804 |
(Gain) loss on disposition of business |
|
|
— |
|
|
(431) |
|
|
1,417 |
Loss on sale or abandonment of property and equipment |
|
|
1,490 |
|
|
5,838 |
|
|
380 |
Write-off of certain intangible assets and other long-term assets |
|
|
456 |
|
|
506 |
|
|
2,281 |
Acquired in-process research and development |
|
|
— |
|
|
1,550 |
|
|
6,671 |
Amortization of right-of-use operating lease assets |
|
|
12,023 |
|
|
11,307 |
|
|
10,394 |
Fair value adjustments related to contingent consideration liabilities |
|
|
443 |
|
|
1,704 |
|
|
4,611 |
Amortization of deferred credits |
|
|
(103) |
|
|
(104) |
|
|
(107) |
Amortization and write-off of long-term debt issuance costs |
|
|
6,769 |
|
|
1,717 |
|
|
604 |
Deferred income taxes |
|
|
(14,873) |
|
|
(12,643) |
|
|
(14,924) |
Stock-based compensation expense |
|
|
28,473 |
|
|
21,333 |
|
|
18,042 |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions and divestitures: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trade receivables |
|
|
(13,686) |
|
|
(11,916) |
|
|
(15,116) |
Other receivables |
|
|
(6,482) |
|
|
2,429 |
|
|
4,154 |
Inventories |
|
|
(2,287) |
|
|
(32,105) |
|
|
(47,929) |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
|
(4,295) |
|
|
1,281 |
|
|
(1,798) |
Prepaid income taxes |
|
|
709 |
|
|
(92) |
|
|
(379) |
Income tax refund receivables |
|
|
(1,536) |
|
|
(58) |
|
|
1,952 |
Other assets |
|
|
(6,066) |
|
|
(5,976) |
|
|
657 |
Trade payables |
|
|
(2,314) |
|
|
(7,297) |
|
|
12,661 |
Accrued expenses |
|
|
9,715 |
|
|
(2,484) |
|
|
(16,379) |
Income taxes payable |
|
|
(1,785) |
|
|
(1,685) |
|
|
4,521 |
Liabilities related to unrecognized tax benefits |
|
|
206 |
|
|
— |
|
|
(45) |
Deferred compensation payable |
|
|
2,030 |
|
|
1,903 |
|
|
(2,848) |
Operating lease liabilities |
|
|
(12,183) |
|
|
(11,492) |
|
|
(11,127) |
Other long-term obligations |
|
|
1,029 |
|
|
(2,530) |
|
|
278 |
Total adjustments |
|
|
100,442 |
|
|
50,740 |
|
|
39,775 |
Net cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash provided by operating activities |
|
|
220,799 |
|
|
145,151 |
|
|
114,291 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital expenditures for: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property and equipment |
|
|
(35,140) |
|
|
(34,290) |
|
|
(45,029) |
Intangible assets |
|
|
(2,903) |
|
|
(2,411) |
|
|
(3,175) |
Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment |
|
|
5 |
|
|
201 |
|
|
65 |
Proceeds (payments) from disposition of business |
|
|
— |
|
|
431 |
|
|
(971) |
Cash paid for notes receivable and other investments |
|
|
(10,433) |
|
|
(4,755) |
|
|
(1,412) |
Cash paid in acquisitions, net of cash acquired |
|
|
(320,182) |
|
|
(134,523) |
|
|
(6,875) |
Net cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash used in investing activities |
|
$ |
(368,653) |
|
$ |
(175,347) |
|
$ |
(57,397) |
See notes to consolidated financial statements. |
(continued) |
55
MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|||
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Proceeds from issuance of common stock |
|
$ |
40,908 |
|
$ |
15,584 |
|
$ |
20,070 |
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt |
|
|
— |
|
|
1,199,203 |
|
|
215,205 |
Payments on long-term debt |
|
|
(99,063) |
|
|
(579,624) |
|
|
(260,143) |
Purchase of capped call option |
|
|
— |
|
|
(66,528) |
|
|
— |
Long-term debt issuance costs |
|
|
— |
|
|
(677) |
|
|
— |
Contingent payments related to acquisitions |
|
|
(261) |
|
|
(3,569) |
|
|
(32,918) |
Payment of taxes related to an exchange of common stock |
|
|
(1,592) |
|
|
(5,123) |
|
|
(2,474) |
Net cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash (used in) provided by financing activities |
|
|
(60,008) |
|
|
559,266 |
|
|
(60,260) |
Effect of exchange rates on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash |
|
|
(2,515) |
|
|
(484) |
|
|
(3,826) |
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
|
|
(210,377) |
|
|
528,586 |
|
|
(7,192) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginning of period |
|
|
589,144 |
|
|
60,558 |
|
|
67,750 |
End of period |
|
$ |
378,767 |
|
$ |
589,144 |
|
$ |
60,558 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RECONCILIATION OF CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH TO THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
376,715 |
|
|
587,036 |
|
|
58,408 |
Restricted cash reported in prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
|
2,052 |
|
|
2,108 |
|
|
2,150 |
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
|
$ |
378,767 |
|
$ |
589,144 |
|
$ |
60,558 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid during the period for: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest (net of capitalized interest of $1,005, $1,272 and $858, respectively) |
|
$ |
23,244 |
|
$ |
14,051 |
|
$ |
6,258 |
Income taxes |
|
|
45,047 |
|
|
31,534 |
|
|
17,092 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property and equipment purchases in accounts payable |
|
$ |
13,244 |
|
$ |
8,267 |
|
$ |
3,702 |
Acquisition purchases in accrued expenses and other long-term obligations |
|
|
4,956 |
|
|
3,713 |
|
|
3,526 |
Merit common stock surrendered (0, 86, and 18 shares, respectively) in exchange for exercise of stock options |
|
|
— |
|
|
5,809 |
|
|
1,140 |
Right-of-use operating lease assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities |
|
|
9,947 |
|
|
8,891 |
|
|
11,130 |
See notes to consolidated financial statements. |
(concluded) |
56
MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1.ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Organization. Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (“Merit,” “we,” or “us”) designs, develops, manufactures and markets single-use medical products for interventional and diagnostic procedures. For financial reporting purposes, we report our operations in two operating segments: cardiovascular and endoscopy. Our cardiovascular segment consists of cardiology and radiology medical device products which assist in diagnosing and treating coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease and other non-vascular diseases and includes embolotherapeutic, cardiac rhythm management, electrophysiology, critical care, and interventional oncology and spine devices. Our endoscopy segment consists of gastroenterology and pulmonology devices which assist in the palliative treatment of expanding esophageal, tracheobronchial and biliary strictures caused by malignant tumors. Within those two operating segments, we offer products focused in five product categories: peripheral intervention, cardiac intervention, custom procedural solutions, original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) and endoscopy.
We manufacture our products in plants located in the U.S., Mexico, The Netherlands, Ireland, France, Brazil and Singapore. We export sales to dealers and have direct or modified direct sales forces in the U.S., Canada, Western Europe, Australia, Brazil, Japan, China, Malaysia, South Korea, UAE, India, New Zealand and South Africa (see Note 13 Segment Reporting and Foreign Operations).
Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation. Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). The consolidated financial statements include our wholly owned subsidiaries. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Amounts presented in this report are rounded, while percentages and earnings per share amounts presented are calculated from the underlying amounts.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, we elected to change the presentation of investments in privately held companies within the statements of cash flows to be included within Cash paid for notes receivable and other investments. Previously, amounts paid to acquire such investments were presented within Cash paid in acquisitions, net of cash acquired. The change in presentation had no material impact on previously reported financial information and comparative periods have been adjusted to reflect this change in presentation.
Use of Estimates in Preparing Financial Statements. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents. We consider interest-bearing deposits and money market funds with an original maturity date of three months or less to be cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, we had restricted cash for the payment of certain import and other taxes for our subsidiary in China of $2.1 million and $2.1 million, respectively, which was reported within prepaid expenses and other assets on our consolidated balance sheets.
Receivables. Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the net invoice value and are not interest-bearing. An allowance for credit losses on trade receivables is recorded based on our expectation of credit losses and is based upon our historical bad debt experience, current economic conditions, expectations of future economic conditions and management’s evaluation of our ability to collect individual outstanding balances. Once collection efforts have been exhausted and a receivable is deemed to be uncollectible, such balance is charged against the allowance for credit losses.
Inventories. We value our inventories at the lower of cost, at approximate costs determined on a first-in, first-out method, or net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. Inventory costs include material, labor and manufacturing overhead. We review inventories on hand and record provisions based on estimated excess, slow moving and obsolete inventories, as well as inventories with a carrying value in excess of net realizable value. The regular and systematic review of the valuation of inventories includes an assessment of future product demand based on historical sales and raw material usage and product expiration.
57
Goodwill and Intangible Assets. We test goodwill balances for impairment on an annual basis as of July 1 or whenever impairment indicators arise. When impairment indicators are identified, we may elect to perform an optional qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of our reporting units has fallen below their carrying value. During our annual impairment test, we utilize four reporting units in evaluating goodwill for impairment using a quantitative assessment, which uses a combination of a guideline public company market-based approach and a discounted cash flow income-based approach. The quantitative assessment considers whether the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, in which case an impairment charge is recorded to the extent the reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value.
Finite-lived intangible assets including developed technology, customer lists, distribution agreements, license agreements, trademarks and patents are subject to amortization. Intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful life on a straight-line basis, except for customer lists, which are generally amortized on an accelerated basis. Estimated useful lives are determined considering the period the assets are expected to contribute to future cash flows. We evaluate long-lived assets, including amortizing intangible assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. We perform the impairment analysis at the asset group for which the lowest level of identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. We compare the carrying value of the asset group to the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the asset group and determine whether the carrying amount is recoverable. We determine the fair value of each asset group based on estimated future cash flows discounted back to their present value using a discount rate that reflects the risk profiles of the underlying activities.
In-process technology intangible assets, which are not subject to amortization until projects reach commercialization, are assessed for impairment at least annually and more frequently if events occur that would indicate a potential reduction in the fair value of the assets below their carrying value. An impairment charge would be recognized to the extent the carrying amount of the in-process technology exceeded its fair value.
During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, we recorded no impairment charges related to our intangible assets. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we recorded total impairment charges related to our intangible assets of $1.7 million for our divestiture on April 30, 2022 of the STD Pharmaceutical Products Limited (“STD Pharmaceutical”) business acquired in our August 2019 acquisition of Fibrovein Holdings Limited, which pertained to our cardiovascular segment. The primary indicators of impairment were restructuring activities and uncertainty about future product development and commercialization associated with certain acquired technologies.
Long-Lived Assets. We periodically review the carrying amount of our long-lived assets, including property and equipment, intangible assets, and right-of-use operating lease assets, for impairment. An asset is considered impaired when undiscounted estimated future cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset based on the criteria for accounting for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets under ASC 360, Property, Plant and Equipment. In the event the carrying amount of such asset is not considered recoverable, the asset is adjusted to its fair value. Fair value is generally determined based on discounted future cash flow. The Company recorded write downs of property and equipment in each of the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022.
58
Property and Equipment. Property and equipment is stated at the historical cost of construction or purchase. Construction costs include interest costs capitalized during construction. Maintenance and repairs of property and equipment are charged to operations as incurred. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of the base term of the lease or estimated life of the leasehold improvements. Construction-in-process consists of new buildings and various production equipment being constructed internally and externally. Assets in construction-in-process will commence depreciating once the asset has been placed in service. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives as follows:
|
|
|
Buildings |
|
40 years |
Manufacturing equipment |
|
4 - 20 years |
Furniture and fixtures |
|
3 - 20 years |
Land improvements |
|
10 - 20 years |
Leasehold improvements |
|
4 - 25 years |
Depreciation expense related to property and equipment for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 was $37.2 million, $34.0 million, and $33.4 million, respectively.
Deferred Compensation. We have a deferred compensation plan that permits certain management employees to defer a portion of their salary until the future. We established a Rabbi trust to finance obligations under the plan with corporate-owned variable life insurance contracts. The cash surrender value totaled $20.7 million and $18.3 million at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, which is included in other assets in our consolidated balance sheets. We have recorded a deferred compensation payable of $19.2 million and $17.2 million at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, to reflect the liability to our employees under this plan.
Other Assets. Other assets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
||
Investments in privately held companies |
|
$ |
22,832 |
|
$ |
19,061 |
Deferred compensation plan assets |
|
|
20,716 |
|
|
18,309 |
Long-term notes receivable, net |
|
|
9,423 |
|
|
3,241 |
Other |
|
|
12,365 |
|
|
14,182 |
Total |
|
$ |
65,336 |
|
$ |
54,793 |
We analyze our investments in privately held companies to determine if they should be accounted for using the equity method based on our ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies of the investment. Our share of earnings associated with equity method investments is reported within other income (expense) in our consolidated statements of income. Investments not accounted for under the equity method of accounting are accounted for at cost minus impairment, if applicable, plus or minus changes in valuation resulting from observable transactions for identical or similar investments. We paid $3.8 million, $4.0 million, and $1.4 million in the acquisition of additional equity investments and have no cumulative impairments or other fair value adjustments associated with our existing investments. Refer to Note 15, Fair Value Measurements, for details of impairments of securities previously classified as equity investments.
Other Long-term Obligations. Other long-term obligations as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
||
Contingent consideration liabilities |
|
$ |
3,128 |
|
$ |
3,039 |
Other long-term obligations |
|
|
12,323 |
|
|
10,791 |
Total |
|
$ |
15,451 |
|
$ |
13,830 |
In connection with a business combination, any contingent consideration is recorded at fair value on the acquisition date based upon the consideration expected to be transferred in the future. We re-measure the estimated liability each quarter based upon changes in revenue estimates, changes in the probability of achieving relevant milestones and changes in the discount rate or expected period of payment.
59
Changes in the estimated fair value are recorded through operating expense in our consolidated statements of income.
Revenue Recognition. We sell our medical products through a direct sales force in the U.S. and through OEM relationships, custom procedure tray manufacturers and a combination of direct sales force and independent distributors in international markets. Revenue is recognized when a customer obtains control of promised goods based on the consideration we expect to receive in exchange for these goods. This core principle is achieved through the following steps:
Identify the contract with the customer. A contract with a customer exists when (i) we enter into an enforceable contract with a customer that defines each party’s rights regarding the goods to be transferred and identifies the payment terms related to these goods, (ii) the contract has commercial substance and (iii) we determine that collection of substantially all consideration for services that are transferred is probable based on the customer’s intent and ability to pay the promised consideration. We do not have significant costs to obtain contracts with customers. For commissions on product sales, we have elected the practical expedient to expense the costs as incurred if the amortization period would have been one year or less.
Identify the performance obligations in the contract. Generally, our contracts with customers do not include multiple performance obligations to be completed over a period of time. Our performance obligations generally relate to delivering single-use medical products to a customer, subject to the shipping terms of the contract. Limited warranties are provided, under which we typically accept returns and provide either replacement parts or refunds. We do not have significant returns. We do not typically offer extended warranty or service plans, except in limited cases which are not material.
Determine the transaction price. Payment by the customer is due under customary fixed payment terms, and we evaluate if collectability is reasonably assured. Our contracts do not typically contain a financing component. Revenue is recorded at the net sales price, which includes estimates of variable consideration such as product returns, rebates, discounts, and other adjustments. The estimates of variable consideration are based on historical payment experience, historical and projected sales data, and current contract terms. Variable consideration is included in revenue only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal of the revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved. Taxes collected from customers relating to product sales and remitted to governmental authorities are excluded from revenues.
Allocate the transaction price to performance obligations in the contract. We typically do not have multiple performance obligations in our contracts with customers. As such, we generally recognize revenue upon transfer of the product to the customer’s control at contractually stated pricing.
Recognize revenue when or as we satisfy a performance obligation. We generally satisfy performance obligations at a point in time upon either shipment or delivery of goods, in accordance with the terms of each contract with the customer. We do not have significant service revenue. Contract assets are recognized for the future right to invoice customers, and contract liabilities are recognized for unearned revenue if payment is received prior to our fulfillment of performance obligations. We do not have material contract assets or contract liabilities.
Reserves are recorded as a reduction in net sales and are not considered material to our consolidated statements of income for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022. In addition, we invoice our customers for taxes assessed by governmental authorities, such as sales tax and value-added taxes. We present these taxes on a net basis.
Shipping and Handling. When billed to our customers, shipping and handling charges are included in net sales for the applicable period, and the corresponding shipping and handling expense is reported in cost of sales.
Cost of Sales. We include product costs (i.e., material, direct labor and overhead costs), shipping and handling expense, product royalty expense, developed technology amortization expense, production-related depreciation expense and product license agreement expense in cost of sales.
60
Research and Development. Research and development costs, including new product development, clinical trials, and regulatory compliance, are expensed as incurred.
Restructuring. Restructuring charges consist primarily of termination benefits for employees effected by certain site consolidation and production line optimization transfers related to the company’s transformation initiatives. We account for involuntary employee termination benefits that represent a one-time benefit in accordance with ASC 420, Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations. Severance costs accounted for under ASC 420 are recognized when management with the proper level of authority commits to a restructuring plan and communicates these actions to employees and other applicable criteria. We record such costs into expense over the employee’s future service period, if any. Other exit costs are accounted for under ASC 420 and are either deferred or expensed as incurred based on the nature of the expense. We recorded restructuring charges of $3.1 million, $2.7 million and $7.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. These expenses are reflected within selling, general and administrative expenses within our consolidated statements of income. The restructuring reserve balance as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 was $1.1 million and $4.1 million, respectively.
Income Taxes. Under our accounting policies, we initially recognize a tax position in our financial statements when it becomes more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination by the tax authorities. Such tax positions are initially and subsequently measured as the largest amount of tax positions that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the tax authorities assuming full knowledge of the position and all relevant facts. Although we believe our provisions for unrecognized tax positions are reasonable, we can make no assurance that the final tax outcome of these matters will not be different from that which we have reflected in our income tax provisions and accruals. Such differences could have a material impact on our income tax provisions and operating results in the periods in which we make such determination.
Earnings per Common Share. Net income per common share is computed by both the basic method, which uses the weighted average number of our common shares outstanding, and the diluted method, which includes the potentially dilutive common equivalent shares outstanding. Performance stock units are considered contingently issuable awards and are excluded from the weighted average basic share calculation. These awards are included in the weighted average dilutive share calculation, to the extent they are dilutive, based on the number of shares, if any, that would be issuable as of the end of the reporting period assuming the end of the reporting period is also the end of the performance period. For Convertible Notes, the dilutive effect is calculated using the if-converted method.
Fair Value Measurements. The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount that could be received upon the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Financial assets are marked to bid prices and financial liabilities are marked to offer prices. Fair value measurements do not include transaction costs. A fair value hierarchy is used to prioritize the quality and reliability of the information used to determine fair values. Categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The fair value hierarchy is defined in the following three categories:
Level 1: Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2: Observable market-based inputs or inputs that are corroborated by market data.
Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.
Stock-Based Compensation. We recognize the fair value compensation cost relating to stock-based payment transactions in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation. Under the provisions of ASC 718, stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized over the employee’s requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period. The fair value of our stock options is estimated using a Black-Scholes option valuation model. The fair value of our performance stock units linked to total shareholder return is estimated using Monte-Carlo simulations. Compensation expense is adjusted each period based on the grant-date fair value and the number of shares that are probable of being awarded based on the performance conditions of the awards. Restricted stock units are valued based on the closing stock price on the date of grant. Cash-settled share-based awards, or liability awards, are remeasured at fair value each reporting period until the awards are settled. Total stock-based compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 was $28.5 million, $21.3 million, and $18.0 million, respectively (see Note 12, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Stock Options and Warrants).
61
Concentration of Credit Risk. Financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. We provide credit, in the normal course of business, primarily to hospitals and independent third-party custom procedure tray manufacturers and distributors. We perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers and maintain allowances for potential credit losses. Due to the diversified nature and number of our customers, concentrations of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable are limited.
Foreign Currency. The financial statements of our foreign subsidiaries are measured using local currencies as the functional currency, with the exception of our manufacturing subsidiaries in Ireland and Mexico, which each use the U.S. Dollar as its functional currency. Assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. Dollars at year-end rates of exchange and results of operations are translated at average rates for the year. Gains and losses resulting from these translations are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Transactional exchange gains or losses are included in other income (expense) in determining net income for the period.
Derivatives. We use forward contracts to mitigate our exposure to volatility in foreign exchange rates, and we used an interest rate swap to hedge changes in the benchmark interest rate related to our Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement described in Note 8, Debt. All derivatives are recognized in the consolidated balance sheets at fair value. Classification of each hedging instrument is based upon whether the maturity of the instrument is less than or greater than 12 months. We do not purchase or hold derivative financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes (see Note 9, Derivatives).
Recently Adopted Financial Accounting Standards. In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, which provides temporary optional expedients and exceptions in accounting for modifications of contracts that reference the London interbank offered rate (“LIBOR”) or another reference rate expected to be discontinued as a result of reference rate reform. Entities can elect not to apply certain modification accounting requirements to contracts affected by what the guidance calls “reference rate reform” if certain criteria are met. An entity that makes this election would not have to remeasure the contracts at the modification date or reassess a previous accounting determination. Also, entities can elect various optional expedients that would allow them to continue applying hedge accounting for hedging relationships affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. In December 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-06, Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848, which defers the sunset date of the guidance in ASC 848 to December 31, 2024. During 2023, we transitioned our interest rate swap agreement to reference the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) in connection with reference rate reform and adopted certain optional expedients provided in ASU 2020-04 in relation to contract modifications and hedge accounting that allowed us to continue hedge accounting for our interest rate swap cash flow hedge (see Note 9, Derivatives). The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which requires a public entity to disclose significant segment expenses and other segment items on an annual and interim basis and to provide in interim periods all disclosures about reportable segment’s profit or loss and assets that are currently required annually. We adopted this ASU on January 1, 2024, and applied the amendments retrospectively to all prior periods presented in our consolidated financial statements (see Note 13, Segment Reporting and Foreign Operations). The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards. In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which amends Income Taxes (Topic 740). The FASB issued this update to improve annual basis income tax disclosures related to (1) rate reconciliation, (2) income taxes paid, and (3) other disclosures related to pretax income (or loss) and income tax expense (or benefit) from continuing operations. ASU 2023-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2025, with early adoption permitted. These amendments are to be applied on a prospective basis. Retrospective application is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact this standard will have on our consolidated financial statement disclosures.
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses, which requires a public entity to disclose certain operating expenses disaggregated into categories, such as purchases of inventory, employee compensation, depreciation, and intangible asset amortization on an annual and interim basis. ASU 2024-03 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted.
62
The provisions within the update may be applied retrospectively for all periods presented in the financial statements. While we are still evaluating the specific impacts and adoption method, we anticipate this guidance will have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statement disclosures.
We currently believe there are no other issued and not yet effective accounting standards that are materially relevant to our financial statements.
2.REVENUES
Disaggregation of Revenue. Our revenue is disaggregated based on reporting segment, product category and geographical region. We design, develop, manufacture and market medical products for interventional and diagnostic procedures. For financial reporting purposes, we report our operations in two operating segments: cardiovascular and endoscopy. Our cardiovascular segment consists of four product categories: peripheral intervention, cardiac intervention, custom procedural solutions, and OEM. Within these product categories, we sell a variety of products, including cardiology and radiology devices (which assist in diagnosing and treating coronary arterial disease, peripheral vascular disease and other non-vascular diseases), as well as embolotherapeutic, cardiac rhythm management, electrophysiology, critical care, breast cancer localization and guidance, biopsy, and interventional oncology and spine devices. Our endoscopy segment consists of gastroenterology and pulmonology devices which assist in the palliative treatment of expanding esophageal, tracheobronchial and biliary strictures caused by malignant tumors.
The following table presents sales by operating segment disaggregated based on product category and geographic region for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended |
|
Year Ended |
|
Year Ended |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
December 31, 2024 |
|
December 31, 2023 |
|
December 31, 2022 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
United States |
|
International |
|
Total |
|
United States |
|
International |
|
Total |
|
United States |
|
International |
|
Total |
|||||||||
Cardiovascular |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Peripheral Intervention |
|
$ |
331,514 |
|
$ |
220,654 |
|
$ |
552,168 |
|
$ |
299,313 |
|
$ |
202,907 |
|
$ |
502,220 |
|
$ |
263,602 |
|
$ |
176,208 |
|
$ |
439,810 |
Cardiac Intervention |
|
|
147,992 |
|
|
223,001 |
|
|
370,993 |
|
|
143,755 |
|
|
214,696 |
|
|
358,451 |
|
|
128,711 |
|
|
214,475 |
|
|
343,186 |
Custom Procedural Solutions |
|
|
122,330 |
|
|
78,871 |
|
|
201,201 |
|
|
114,010 |
|
|
81,323 |
|
|
195,333 |
|
|
108,778 |
|
|
81,416 |
|
|
190,194 |
OEM |
|
|
147,108 |
|
|
30,274 |
|
|
177,382 |
|
|
135,525 |
|
|
29,031 |
|
|
164,556 |
|
|
118,869 |
|
|
26,165 |
|
|
145,034 |
Total |
|
|
748,944 |
|
|
552,800 |
|
|
1,301,744 |
|
|
692,603 |
|
|
527,957 |
|
|
1,220,560 |
|
|
619,960 |
|
|
498,264 |
|
|
1,118,224 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Endoscopy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Endoscopy Devices |
|
|
51,836 |
|
|
2,934 |
|
|
54,770 |
|
|
34,386 |
|
|
2,420 |
|
|
36,806 |
|
|
30,599 |
|
|
2,158 |
|
|
32,757 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
800,780 |
|
$ |
555,734 |
|
$ |
1,356,514 |
|
$ |
726,989 |
|
$ |
530,377 |
|
$ |
1,257,366 |
|
$ |
650,559 |
|
$ |
500,422 |
|
$ |
1,150,981 |
63
3.ACQUISITIONS AND OTHER STRATEGIC TRANSACTIONS
2024 Acquisitions
On November 1, 2024, pursuant to the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Cook Purchase Agreement”) dated September 18, 2024 between Merit and Cook Medical Holdings LLC, (“Cook”), we acquired Cook’s lead management business, which is composed of a comprehensive end-to-end portfolio of medical devices and accessories used in lead management procedures for patients who need a pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator lead removed or replaced. We acquired the portfolio for a purchase price of $210 million, plus the assumption of certain liabilities. We accounted for this transaction under the acquisition method of accounting as a business combination. The sales related to the acquisition have been included in our Cardiovascular segment since the acquisition date and were $5.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. It is not practical to separately report earnings related to the acquisition, as we began to immediately integrate the acquisition into the existing operations, sales distribution networks and management structure of our cardiovascular business segment. Acquisition-related costs associated with the transaction, which were included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of income were approximately $5.4 million. The purchase price was preliminarily allocated as follows (in thousands):
Assets Acquired |
|
|
|
Intangible assets |
|
|
|
Developed technology |
|
$ |
126,100 |
Trademarks |
|
|
7,100 |
Customer List |
|
|
11,100 |
Goodwill |
|
|
65,897 |
Total assets acquired |
|
|
210,197 |
|
|
|
|
Liabilities Assumed |
|
|
|
Accrued expenses |
|
|
197 |
Total liabilities assumed |
|
|
197 |
|
|
|
|
Total net assets acquired |
|
$ |
210,000 |
We are amortizing Cook developed technology intangible assets over ten years, the trademark intangible assets over 12 years, and the customer list intangible asset on an accelerated basis over 12 years. We have estimated the weighted average life of the intangible assets acquired from Cook to be 10.3 years. The goodwill consists largely of the synergies expected from combining operations and is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes. The pro forma effects on our consolidated results of operations of the Cook acquisition are not material in relation to reported sales and it was deemed impracticable to obtain information to determine earnings associated with the acquired product lines which represent only a small portion of the product lines of a large, consolidated company without standalone financial information.
On July 1, 2024, we entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “EGS Purchase Agreement”) with EndoGastric Solutions, Inc. (“EGS”), pursuant to which we acquired the EsophyX® Z+ device and various assets related thereto (collectively, the “EGS Acquisition”), which are designed to deliver a durable, minimally invasive non-pharmacological treatment option for patients suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease. We acquired the purchased assets identified under the EGS Purchase Agreement for a purchase price of $105 million. We accounted for the EGS Acquisition under the acquisition method of accounting as a business combination. The sales related to the EGS Acquisition have been included in our endoscopy segment since the acquisition date and were $14.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. It is not practical to separately report earnings related to the EGS Acquisition, as we began to immediately integrate the acquisition into the existing operations, sales distribution networks and management structure of our endoscopy business segment. Acquisition-related costs associated with the EGS Acquisition, which were included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of income were approximately $3.4 million.
64
The purchase price was allocated as follows (in thousands):
Assets Acquired |
|
|
|
Trade receivables |
|
$ |
2,568 |
Inventories |
|
|
3,553 |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
|
99 |
Property and equipment |
|
|
258 |
Intangible assets |
|
|
|
Developed technology |
|
|
72,800 |
Trademarks |
|
|
5,400 |
Customer list |
|
|
6,600 |
Goodwill |
|
|
16,997 |
Total assets acquired |
|
|
108,275 |
|
|
|
|
Liabilities Assumed |
|
|
|
Trade payables |
|
|
494 |
Accrued expenses |
|
|
2,752 |
Total liabilities assumed |
|
|
3,246 |
|
|
|
|
Total net assets acquired |
|
$ |
105,029 |
We are amortizing the EGS developed technology intangible assets over ten years, the trademark intangible assets over 11 years, and the customer list intangible asset on an accelerated basis over 11 years. We have estimated the weighted average life of the intangible assets acquired from EGS to be 10.1 years. The goodwill consists largely of the synergies expected from combining operations and is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes. The pro forma effects to our consolidated results of operations of the EGS Acquisition are not material in relation to reported sales.
On March 8, 2024, we entered into an asset purchase agreement with Scholten Surgical Instruments, Inc. (“SSI”) to acquire the assets associated with the Bioptome, Novatome, and Sensatome devices. The total purchase price of the SSI assets included an up-front payment of $3 million, and three deferred payments, including (i) $1 million payable upon the earlier of (a) the first anniversary of the closing date or (b) the date on which Merit can independently manufacture the purchased devices (“Deferred Payment Date”), (ii) $1 million payable upon the first anniversary of the Deferred Payment Date, and (iii) $1 million payable upon the second anniversary of the Deferred Payment Date. We have accounted for this transaction as an asset purchase, and recorded the amount paid and deferred payments as a developed technology intangible asset, which we are amortizing over eight years.
2023 Acquisitions
On June 8, 2023, we entered into an asset purchase agreement with AngioDynamics, Inc. (“AngioDynamics”) to acquire the assets associated with a portfolio of dialysis catheter products and the BioSentry® Biopsy Tract Sealant System for a purchase price of $100 million. We accounted for this transaction under the acquisition method of accounting as a business combination. The sales related to the acquisition have been included in our cardiovascular segment since the acquisition date and were approximately $26.9 million and $14.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. It is not practical to separately report earnings related to the acquisition, as we began to immediately integrate the acquisition into existing operations, sales distribution networks and management structure of our cardiovascular business segment. Acquisition-related costs associated with the AngioDynamics acquisition, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income, were approximately $4.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023.
65
The purchase price was allocated as follows (in thousands):
Assets Acquired |
|
|
|
Prepaid expenses |
|
$ |
2,000 |
Inventories |
|
|
5,254 |
Property and equipment |
|
|
108 |
Intangible assets |
|
|
|
Developed technology |
|
|
65,200 |
Trademarks |
|
|
4,000 |
Customer list |
|
|
5,800 |
Goodwill |
|
|
17,638 |
Total net assets acquired |
|
$ |
100,000 |
We are amortizing the AngioDynamics developed technology intangible assets over ten years, the trademark intangible assets over 11 years, and the customer list intangible asset on an accelerated basis over ten years. We have estimated the weighted average life of the intangible assets acquired from AngioDynamics to be 10.5 years. The goodwill consists largely of the synergies expected from combining operations and is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes. The pro forma effects on our consolidated results of operations of the AngioDynamics acquisition are not material in relation to reported sales and it was deemed impracticable to obtain information due to the unavailability of the information provided to the Company, management’s inability to reasonably estimate the amounts from the carve out of assets and differing fiscal year-end of the acquired business.
On May 4, 2023, we entered into an asset purchase agreement to acquire the assets associated with the Surfacer® Inside-Out® Access Catheter System from Bluegrass Vascular Technologies, Inc. (“Bluegrass”), for a purchase price of approximately $32.7 million. Prior to the acquisition, we held an equity investment of 1,251,878 Bluegrass common shares representing approximately 19.5% ownership in Bluegrass. The fair value of this previously held equity investment of approximately $0.2 million is included in the purchase price allocation. We accounted for this transaction under the acquisition method of accounting as a business combination. The sales and results of operations related to the acquisition have been included in our cardiovascular segment since the acquisition date and were not material. Acquisition-related costs associated with the Bluegrass acquisition, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income, are not material. The purchase price was allocated as follows (in thousands):
Assets Acquired |
|
|
|
Inventories |
|
$ |
175 |
Intangible assets |
|
|
|
Developed technology |
|
|
28,000 |
Trademarks |
|
|
900 |
Goodwill |
|
|
3,898 |
Total net assets acquired |
|
$ |
32,973 |
We are amortizing the Bluegrass developed technology intangible asset over 15 years and the related trademarks over 13 years. We have estimated the weighted average life of the intangible assets acquired from Bluegrass to be 14.9 years. The goodwill consists largely of the synergies expected from combining operations and is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes. The pro forma effects on our consolidated results of operations of the Bluegrass acquisition are not material.
On May 1, 2023, we entered into an asset purchase agreement to acquire certain assets from ART, related to intellectual property rights for soft tissue markers. The total purchase price of the ART assets included an up-front payment of $0.8 million, a deferred payment of $0.8 million payable upon the first to occur of (1) shipment and installation of two commercial production winders used to manufacture the product or (2) 30 days after delivery of the winders to Merit, and, a deferred payment of $0.5 million payable upon regulatory approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Merit to commence commercialization, marketing and sale of the product in the United States.
66
We have accounted for this transaction as an asset purchase and recorded $1.5 million of acquired in-process research and development expense associated with the upfront payment and completion of the milestone related to the installation of the commercial production winders. The final payment will be capitalized as a developed technology intangible asset when paid upon completion of the regulatory approval milestone under the terms of the asset purchase agreement. The payments are reported within operating expenses because the technological feasibility of the underlying research and development project has not yet been reached and such technology has no identified future alternative use as of the date of acquisition.
2022 Acquisitions
On October 3, 2022, we entered into an asset purchase agreement with BioTrace Medical, Inc., developer of the Tempo® Temporary Pacing Lead device, for a purchase price of $2.5 million. We are also required to pay a total of six annual royalty payments between 5% and 10% of net sales, dependent on net sales goal achievement, upon achievement of the first device sold in the United States. We accounted for this transaction as an asset purchase. We recorded the amount paid upon closing as a developed technology intangible asset, which we are amortizing over 10 years.
On April 30, 2022, we acquired the Restore Endosystems Bifurcated Stent System pursuant to the terms of a unit purchase agreement we executed with all of the members of Restore Endosystems LLC. Subject to the terms and conditions of the unit purchase agreement, we paid $3 million in cash at closing. We also accrued $3.5 million of other long-term obligations, which represents the fair value of two separate $2 million payments which are payable no later than two and four years following the closing of the acquisition, respectively, or earlier upon the achievement of specified milestones. We will impute interest on these liabilities with the passage of time. We have accounted for this transaction as an asset purchase and recorded $6.5 million of acquired in-process research and development expense because the technological feasibility of the underlying research and development project has not yet been reached and such technology has no identified future alternative use as of the date of acquisition.
4.INVENTORIES
Inventories at December 31, 2024 and 2023, consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
December 31, 2024 |
|
December 31, 2023 |
||
Finished goods |
|
$ |
168,437 |
|
$ |
158,893 |
Work-in-process |
|
|
27,114 |
|
|
25,420 |
Raw materials |
|
|
110,512 |
|
|
119,558 |
Total inventories |
|
$ |
306,063 |
|
$ |
303,871 |
5.GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, are as follows (in thousands):
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
||||||||||||||
|
|
Cardiovascular |
|
Endoscopy |
|
Total |
|
Cardiovascular |
|
Endoscopy |
|
Total |
||||||
Goodwill balance at January 1 |
|
$ |
382,240 |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
382,240 |
|
$ |
359,821 |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
359,821 |
Effect of foreign exchange |
|
|
(1,623) |
|
|
— |
|
|
(1,623) |
|
|
883 |
|
|
— |
|
|
883 |
Additions and adjustments as the result of acquisitions |
|
|
65,897 |
|
|
16,997 |
|
|
82,894 |
|
|
21,536 |
|
|
— |
|
|
21,536 |
Goodwill balance at December 31 |
|
$ |
446,514 |
|
$ |
16,997 |
|
$ |
463,511 |
|
$ |
382,240 |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
382,240 |
Total accumulated goodwill impairment losses aggregated to $8.3 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023. We did not have any goodwill impairments for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022.
67
Other intangible assets at December 31, 2024 and 2023, consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
December 31, 2024 |
|||||||
|
|
Gross Carrying |
|
Accumulated |
|
Net Carrying |
|||
|
|
Amount |
|
Amortization |
|
Amount |
|||
Patents |
|
$ |
31,489 |
|
$ |
(12,824) |
|
$ |
18,665 |
Distribution agreements |
|
|
3,250 |
|
|
(2,994) |
|
|
256 |
License agreements |
|
|
11,557 |
|
|
(9,125) |
|
|
2,432 |
Trademarks |
|
|
47,613 |
|
|
(24,177) |
|
|
23,436 |
Customer lists |
|
|
57,933 |
|
|
(36,223) |
|
|
21,710 |
Total |
|
$ |
151,842 |
|
$ |
(85,343) |
|
$ |
66,499 |
|
|
December 31, 2023 |
|||||||
|
|
Gross Carrying |
|
Accumulated |
|
Net Carrying |
|||
|
|
Amount |
|
Amortization |
|
Amount |
|||
Patents |
|
$ |
28,877 |
|
$ |
(10,916) |
|
$ |
17,961 |
Distribution agreements |
|
|
3,250 |
|
|
(2,919) |
|
|
331 |
License agreements |
|
|
11,142 |
|
|
(8,327) |
|
|
2,815 |
Trademarks |
|
|
35,135 |
|
|
(20,804) |
|
|
14,331 |
Customer lists |
|
|
40,367 |
|
|
(33,921) |
|
|
6,446 |
Total |
|
$ |
118,771 |
|
$ |
(76,887) |
|
$ |
41,884 |
Aggregate amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 was $65.6 million, $56.1 million, and $48.4 million, respectively.
Estimated amortization expense for the developed technology and other intangible assets for the next five years consists of the following as of December 31, 2024 (in thousands):
Year ending December 31, |
|
Estimated Amortization Expense |
|
2025 |
|
$ |
83,747 |
2026 |
|
|
73,155 |
2027 |
|
|
69,188 |
2028 |
|
|
67,790 |
2029 |
|
|
56,115 |
6.INCOME TAXES
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (“OECD”) Pillar 2 global minimum tax rules, which generally provide for a minimum effective tax rate of 15%, are intended to apply for tax years beginning in 2024. On February 2, 2023, the OECD issued administrative guidance providing transition and safe harbor rules around the implementation of the Pillar 2 global minimum tax. Under a transitional safe harbor released July 17, 2023, the undertaxed profits rule top-up tax in the jurisdiction of a company's ultimate parent entity will be zero for each fiscal year of the transition period, if that jurisdiction has a corporate tax rate of at least 20%. The safe harbor transition period will apply to fiscal years beginning on or before December 31, 2025 and ending before December 31, 2026. We are closely monitoring developments and evaluating the impact these new rules are anticipated to have on our tax rate, including eligibility to qualify for these safe harbor rules. Based on the 2024 financial results, we anticipate to meet the safe harbor rules in all jurisdictions and do not anticipate the Pillar 2 laws to have a material impact on our effective tax rate.
68
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, income before income taxes is broken out between U.S. and foreign-sourced operations and consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|||
Domestic |
|
$ |
93,687 |
|
$ |
60,935 |
|
$ |
77,562 |
Foreign |
|
|
56,306 |
|
|
51,154 |
|
|
5,067 |
Total |
|
$ |
149,993 |
|
$ |
112,089 |
|
$ |
82,629 |
The components of the provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|||
Current expense: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal |
|
$ |
26,061 |
|
$ |
15,684 |
|
$ |
9,584 |
State |
|
|
5,286 |
|
|
3,775 |
|
|
3,162 |
Foreign |
|
|
13,162 |
|
|
10,862 |
|
|
10,291 |
Total current expense |
|
|
44,509 |
|
|
30,321 |
|
|
23,037 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred expense (benefit): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal |
|
|
(12,609) |
|
|
(11,030) |
|
|
(10,438) |
State |
|
|
(1,421) |
|
|
(1,699) |
|
|
(3,615) |
Foreign |
|
|
(843) |
|
|
86 |
|
|
(871) |
Total deferred benefit |
|
|
(14,873) |
|
|
(12,643) |
|
|
(14,924) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total income tax expense |
|
$ |
29,636 |
|
$ |
17,678 |
|
$ |
8,113 |
The difference between the income tax expense reported and amounts computed by applying the statutory federal rate of 21.0% to pretax income for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|||
Computed federal income tax expense at applicable statutory rate of 21% |
|
$ |
31,499 |
|
$ |
23,539 |
|
$ |
17,352 |
State income tax expense |
|
|
3,081 |
|
|
1,627 |
|
|
35 |
Tax credits |
|
|
(3,004) |
|
|
(2,412) |
|
|
(1,978) |
Tax effect of international items |
|
|
(1,870) |
|
|
(3,994) |
|
|
(10,698) |
Uncertain tax positions |
|
|
218 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
(47) |
Deferred compensation insurance assets |
|
|
(535) |
|
|
(548) |
|
|
706 |
Stock-based compensation |
|
|
(1,817) |
|
|
(3,001) |
|
|
(3,423) |
Valuation allowance |
|
|
— |
|
|
(90) |
|
|
3,523 |
Remeasurement of state deferred taxes |
|
|
— |
|
|
(73) |
|
|
(375) |
Non-deductible expenses |
|
|
2,454 |
|
|
2,101 |
|
|
2,027 |
Remeasurement of contingent consideration liabilities |
|
|
108 |
|
|
317 |
|
|
1,061 |
Other — including the effect of graduated rates |
|
|
(498) |
|
|
208 |
|
|
(70) |
Total income tax expense |
|
$ |
29,636 |
|
$ |
17,678 |
|
$ |
8,113 |
69
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2024 and 2023, consisted of the following temporary differences and carry-forward items (in thousands):
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
||
Deferred income tax assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Allowance for credit losses on trade receivables |
|
$ |
2,215 |
|
$ |
2,009 |
Accrued compensation expense |
|
|
11,701 |
|
|
10,285 |
Inventory differences |
|
|
5,139 |
|
|
5,477 |
Net operating loss carryforwards |
|
|
8,320 |
|
|
10,007 |
Stock-based compensation expense |
|
|
7,569 |
|
|
7,913 |
Operating lease assets |
|
|
11,586 |
|
|
11,331 |
State R&D tax credits |
|
|
5,924 |
|
|
5,237 |
IRC section 174 capitalized R&D |
|
|
35,200 |
|
|
26,370 |
Other |
|
|
10,759 |
|
|
10,159 |
Total deferred income tax assets |
|
|
98,413 |
|
|
88,788 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred income tax liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prepaid expenses |
|
|
(1,277) |
|
|
(1,123) |
Property and equipment |
|
|
(22,699) |
|
|
(23,539) |
Intangible assets |
|
|
(29,440) |
|
|
(34,613) |
Foreign withholding tax |
|
|
(1,681) |
|
|
(2,005) |
Operating lease liabilities |
|
|
(11,737) |
|
|
(10,129) |
Other |
|
|
(1,632) |
|
|
(1,898) |
Total deferred income tax liabilities |
|
|
(68,466) |
|
|
(73,307) |
Valuation allowance |
|
|
(14,143) |
|
|
(13,740) |
Net deferred income tax liabilities |
|
$ |
15,804 |
|
$ |
1,741 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reported as: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred income tax assets |
|
$ |
16,044 |
|
$ |
7,288 |
Deferred income tax liabilities |
|
|
(240) |
|
|
(5,547) |
Net deferred income tax liabilities |
|
$ |
15,804 |
|
$ |
1,741 |
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are netted on the balance sheet by separate tax jurisdictions. Deferred income tax balances reflect the temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax basis and are stated at enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when taxes are actually paid or recovered. The valuation allowance is primarily related to state credit carryforwards, non-US net operating loss carryforwards, and capital loss carryforwards for which we believe it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The valuation allowance increased by $0.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2024, increased by $0.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2023, and increased by $2.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2022.
As of December 31, 2024, we had U.S federal net operating loss carryforwards of $19.8 million, which were generated by Cianna Medical, DFINE Inc., and Biosphere Medical, Inc., prior to our acquisition of these companies. These net operating loss carryforwards are subject to annual limitations under Internal Revenue Code Section 382. If unused, $19.8 million of the net operating losses will expire between 2030 and 2037. We anticipate that we will utilize all current net operating loss carryforwards prior to their expiration dates over the next 11 years. We utilized a total of $4.8 million in U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards during the year ended December 31, 2024.
As of December 31, 2024, we had $20.9 million of non-U.S. net operating loss carryforwards, of which $19.2 million have no expiration date and $1.7 million expire at various dates through 2036. Non-U.S. net operating loss carryforwards utilized during the year ended December 31, 2024 were not material.
We do not consider our foreign earnings to be permanently reinvested. Consequently, we have recorded tax expense of $0.7 million, $0.4 million and $0.3 million for foreign withholding taxes on unremitted foreign earnings during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Additionally, for the year ended December 31, 2022, a tax benefit of $4.3 million was recorded with respect to the restructuring of our foreign entities and the associated change in foreign withholding taxes on the unremitted foreign earnings.
70
We are subject to income taxes in the U.S. and numerous foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in determining our worldwide provision for income taxes and recording the related assets and liabilities. In the ordinary course of our business, there are many transactions and calculations where the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. In our opinion, we have made adequate provisions for income taxes for all years subject to audit. We are no longer subject to U.S. federal, state, and local income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2021. In foreign jurisdictions, we are no longer subject to income tax examinations for years before 2018.
Although we believe our estimates are reasonable, the final outcomes of these matters may be different from those which we have reflected in our historical income tax provisions and accruals. Such differences could have a material effect on our income tax provision and operating results in the period in which we make such determination.
The total liability for unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2024, including interest and penalties, was $2.1 million, of which $2.1 million would favorably impact our effective tax rate if recognized. The total liability for unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2023, including interest and penalties, was $1.9 million, of which $1.9 million would favorably impact our effective tax rate if recognized. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, we had accrued $0.2 million and $0.3 million respectively, in total interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits. We account for interest and penalties for unrecognized tax benefits as part of our income tax provision. During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, our liability for unrecognized tax benefit was increased (decreased) for interest and penalties by $(52,000), $(46,000), and $14,000, respectively. We estimate it is reasonably possible that within the next 12 months the total liability for unrecognized tax benefits may increase, including expirations related to statutes of limitation, up to $0.1 million.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of liabilities associated with uncertain tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|||
Unrecognized tax benefits, opening balance |
|
$ |
1,622 |
|
$ |
1,576 |
|
$ |
1,635 |
Gross increases (decreases) in tax positions taken in a prior year |
|
|
70 |
|
|
112 |
|
|
(10) |
Gross increases in tax positions taken in the current year |
|
|
559 |
|
|
442 |
|
|
294 |
Lapse of applicable statute of limitations |
|
|
(371) |
|
|
(508) |
|
|
(343) |
Unrecognized tax benefits, ending balance |
|
$ |
1,880 |
|
$ |
1,622 |
|
$ |
1,576 |
The tabular roll-forward ending balance does not include interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits.
7.ACCRUED EXPENSES
Accrued expenses at December 31, 2024 and 2023, consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
||
Payroll and related liabilities |
|
$ |
73,514 |
|
$ |
66,929 |
Current portion of contingent liabilities |
|
|
358 |
|
|
408 |
Advances from employees |
|
|
158 |
|
|
285 |
Accrued rebates payable |
|
|
11,778 |
|
|
11,005 |
Accrued interest |
|
|
9,531 |
|
|
1,556 |
Other accrued expenses |
|
|
38,738 |
|
|
40,264 |
Total |
|
$ |
134,077 |
|
$ |
120,447 |
71
8.DEBT
Principal balances outstanding under our long-term debt obligations as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
||
Term loans |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
99,063 |
Convertible notes |
|
|
747,500 |
|
|
747,500 |
Less unamortized debt issuance costs |
|
|
(17,949) |
|
|
(23,550) |
Total long-term debt |
|
|
729,551 |
|
|
823,013 |
Less current portion |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
Long-term portion |
|
$ |
729,551 |
|
$ |
823,013 |
Future minimum principal payments on our long-term debt as of December 31, 2024, are as follows (in thousands):
Year Ending |
|
Future Minimum |
|
December 31, |
|
Principal Payments |
|
2025 |
|
$ |
— |
2026 |
|
|
— |
2027 |
|
|
— |
2028 |
|
|
— |
2029 |
|
|
747,500 |
Total future minimum principal payments |
|
$ |
747,500 |
Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
On June 6, 2023, we entered into a Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the "Fourth A&R Credit Agreement"). The Fourth A&R Credit Agreement is a syndicated loan agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and other parties. The Fourth A&R Credit Agreement amended and restated in its entirety our previously outstanding Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and all amendments thereto. The Fourth A&R Credit Agreement provides for a term loan of $150 million and a revolving credit commitment of up to an aggregate amount of $700 million, inclusive of sub-facilities for multicurrency borrowings, standby letters of credit and swingline loans. On June 6, 2028, all principal, interest and other amounts outstanding under the Fourth A&R Credit Agreement are payable in full. At any time prior to the maturity date, we may repay any amounts owing under all term loans and revolving credit loans in whole or in part, without premium or penalty.
On December 5, 2023, we executed an amendment to the Fourth A&R Credit Agreement (as amended, the "Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement”) to facilitate the issuance of our Convertible Notes described below. Among other things, the amendment also updated the definition of the Applicable Margin used in determining the interest rates and amended the financial covenants, all as described below.
Term loans made under the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement, as amended bear interest, at our election, at either (i) the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin (as defined in the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement) or, (ii) Adjusted Term SOFR plus the Applicable Margin (as defined in the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement). Revolving credit loans bear interest, at our election, at either (a) the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin, (b) Adjusted Term SOFR plus the Applicable Margin, (c) Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate plus the Applicable Margin (as defined in the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement), or (d) Adjusted Daily Simple SONIA plus the Applicable Margin (as defined in the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement). Swingline loans bear interest at the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin. Interest on each loan featuring the Base Rate and each Daily Simple SONIA Loan is due and payable on the last business day of each calendar month; interest on each loan featuring the Eurocurrency Rate and each Term SOFR Loan is due and payable on the last day of each interest period applicable thereto, and if such interest period extends over three months, at the end of each three-month interval during such interest period.
72
The Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement is collateralized by substantially all of our assets. The Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement contains affirmative and negative covenants, representations and warranties, events of default and other terms customary for loans of this nature. In particular, the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement requires that we maintain certain financial covenants, as follows:
|
|
Covenant Requirement |
|
|
Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio (1) |
|
|
5.0 to 1.0 |
|
Consolidated Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio (2) |
|
|
3.0 to 1.0 |
|
Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio (3) |
|
|
3.0 to 1.0 |
|
| (1) | Maximum Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement) as of any fiscal quarter end. |
| (2) | Maximum Consolidated Senior Secured Net Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement) as of any fiscal quarter end. |
| (3) | Minimum ratio of Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement and adjusted for certain expenditures) to Consolidated Interest Expense (as defined in the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement) for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters. |
As of December 31, 2024, we were in compliance with all covenants set forth in the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement.
As of December 31, 2024, we had no outstanding borrowings and issued letter of credit guarantees of $2.9 million under the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement, with available borrowings of approximately $697 million, based on the leverage ratio required pursuant to the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement. As of December 31, 2023, we had outstanding borrowings of $99.1 million with a fixed rate of 3.39% with respect to $75 million of the principal amount, as a result of an interest rate swap (see Note 9, Derivatives) and a variable floating rate of 7.21% on $24.1 million, in addition, we had issued letter of credit guarantees of $2.7 million under the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement.
Convertible Notes
In December 2023, we issued Convertible Notes which bear interest at 3.00% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears on February 1 and August 1 of each year, beginning on August 1, 2024. The Convertible Notes are senior unsecured obligations (as defined in the Note Indenture) of the Company and will mature on February 1, 2029, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted in accordance with their terms prior to such date. The net proceeds from the sale of the Convertible Notes were approximately $724.8 million after deducting offering and issuance costs and before the costs of the Capped Call transaction, as described below.
The initial conversion rate of the notes will be 11.5171 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of notes equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $86.83 per share of common stock, subject to adjustments as provided in the Indenture upon the occurrence of certain specified events. In addition, Holders of the Convertible Notes (“Holders”) will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or a part of their notes upon the occurrence of a “fundamental change” (as defined in the indenture governing the Convertible Notes) in cash at a fundamental change repurchase price of 100% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date.
Conversion can occur at the option of the Holders at any time on or after October 1, 2028. Prior to October 1, 2028, Holders may only elect to convert the Convertible Notes under the following circumstances: (1) During the five business day period after any ten consecutive trading day period in which, for each day of that period, the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of the Convertible Notes for such trading day was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock and the applicable conversion rate on such trading day; (2) The Company issues to common stockholders any rights, options, or warrants, entitling them, for a period of not more than 60 days, to purchase shares of common stock at a price per share less than the average closing sale price of 10 consecutive trading days, or the Company’s election to make a distribution to common stockholders exceeding 10% of the previous day’s closing sale price; (3) Upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Change, as set forth in the indenture governing the Convertible Notes; (4) During any calendar quarter (and only during such calendar quarter) beginning after March 31, 2024, if, the last reported sale price per share of the Company’s common stock exceeds 130% of the applicable conversion price on each applicable trading day for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) in the period of the 30 consecutive trading day period ending on, and including, the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter; or (5) Prior to the related redemption date if the Company calls any Convertible Notes for redemption.
73
As of December 31, 2024, none of the conditions permitting the holders of the Convertible Notes to convert their notes early had been met, therefore, they are classified as long-term.
On or after February 7, 2027, we may redeem for cash all or part of the Convertible Notes, at our option, if the last reported sales price of common stock has been at least 130% of the conversion price then in effect for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive), including the trading day immediately preceding the date on which we provide notice of redemption, during any 30 consecutive trading days ending on, and including, the trading day immediately before the date we send the related notice of the redemption.
Upon conversion, the Company will (1) pay cash up to the aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes to be converted and (2) pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of its common stock, or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, at the Company’s election, in respect of the remainder, if any, of its conversion obligation in excess of the aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes being converted.
Capped Call Transaction
In December 2023, in connection with the pricing of the Convertible Notes, Merit entered into privately negotiated capped call transactions (“Capped Call Transactions”) with certain of the initial purchasers and/or their respective affiliates and certain other financial institutions. The Capped Call Transactions cover, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments, the number of shares of Merit’s common stock initially underlying the Convertible Notes and are generally expected to reduce potential dilution to Merit’s common stock upon any conversion of Convertible Notes and/or offset any cash payments Merit is required to make in excess of the principal amount of converted Convertible Notes, as the case may be, with such reduction and/or offset subject to a cap, based on a cap price initially equal to approximately $114.68 per share of Merit’s common stock, subject to certain adjustments under the terms of the Capped Call Transactions. The cost of the Capped Call Transactions was approximately $66.5 million. The Capped Call Transactions do not meet the criteria for separate accounting as a derivative as they are indexed to the Company's stock. The premiums paid for the Capped Call Transactions have been included as a net reduction to common stock within stockholders' equity.
9.DERIVATIVES
General. Our earnings and cash flows are subject to fluctuations due to changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates, and we seek to mitigate a portion of these risks by entering into derivative contracts. The derivatives we use are interest rate swaps and foreign currency forward contracts. We recognize derivatives as either assets or liabilities at fair value in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, regardless of whether or not hedge accounting is applied. We report cash flows arising from our hedging instruments consistent with the classification of cash flows from the underlying hedged items. Accordingly, cash flows associated with our derivative programs are classified as operating activities in the accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows.
We formally document, designate and assess the effectiveness of transactions that receive hedge accounting initially and on an ongoing basis. For qualifying hedges, the change in fair value is deferred in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”), a component of stockholders’ equity in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, and recognized in earnings at the same time the hedged item affects earnings. Changes in the fair value of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments are recorded in earnings throughout the term of the derivative.
74
Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedges
On December 23, 2019, we entered into a pay-fixed, receive-variable interest rate swap with a notional amount of $75 million with Wells Fargo. In June 2023, certain terms under the agreement were amended to reflect the transition from LIBOR to SOFR, an alternative reference rate. Under the interest rate swap agreement we fixed the one-month SOFR rate on that portion of our borrowings under the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement at 1.64% for the period from June 1, 2023 to July 31, 2024. The variable portion of the interest rate swap is tied to the one-month SOFR rate (the benchmark interest rate). On a monthly basis, the interest rates under both the interest rate swap and the underlying debt reset, the swap is settled with the counterparty, and interest is paid.
At December 31, 2024, we held no interest rate swap qualifying as cash flow hedges. At December 31, 2023, our interest rate swap qualified as a cash flow hedge. The fair value of our interest rate swap at December 31, 2023 was an asset of $1.5 million, partially offset by $0.4 million in deferred taxes.
Foreign Currency Risk. We operate on a global basis and are exposed to the risk that our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows could be adversely affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates. To reduce the potential effects of foreign currency exchange rate movements on net earnings, we enter into derivative financial instruments in the form of foreign currency exchange forward contracts with major financial institutions. Our policy is to enter into foreign currency derivative contracts with maturities of up to two years. We are exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risk with respect to transactions and balances denominated in various currencies, with our most significant exposure related to transactions and balances denominated in Chinese Renminbi and Euros, among others. We do not use derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. We do not believe we are subject to any credit risk contingent features related to our derivative contracts, and we seek to manage counterparty risk by allocating derivative contracts among several major financial institutions.
Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedges
For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges, the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is temporarily reported as a component of other comprehensive income and then reclassified into earnings in the same line item associated with the forecasted transaction and in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. We entered into forward contracts on various foreign currencies to manage the risk associated with forecasted exchange rates which impact revenues, cost of sales, and operating expenses in various international markets. The objective of the hedges is to reduce the variability of cash flows associated with the forecasted purchase or sale of foreign currencies. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, we had entered into foreign currency forward contracts, which qualified as cash flow hedges, with aggregate notional amounts of $117.5 million and $141.1 million, respectively.
Derivatives Not Designated as Cash Flow Hedges
We forecast our net exposure in various receivables and payables to fluctuations in the value of various currencies, and we enter into foreign currency forward contracts to mitigate that exposure. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, we had entered into foreign currency forward contracts related to those balance sheet accounts with aggregate notional amounts of $95.7 million and $108.4 million, respectively.
75
Balance Sheet Presentation of Derivatives. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, all derivatives, both those designated as hedging instruments and those that were not designated as hedging instruments, were recorded gross at fair value on our consolidated balance sheets. We are not subject to any master netting agreements. The fair value of derivative instruments on a gross basis is as follows (in thousands):
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments Designated as Hedging Instruments |
|
Balance Sheet Location |
|
December 31, 2024 |
|
December 31, 2023 |
||
Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest rate swap |
|
Prepaid expenses and other assets |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
1,503 |
Foreign currency forward contracts |
|
Prepaid expenses and other assets |
|
|
3,771 |
|
|
2,061 |
Foreign currency forward contracts |
|
Other assets (long-term) |
|
|
1,064 |
|
|
216 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Liabilities) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign currency forward contracts |
|
Accrued expenses |
|
|
(1,332) |
|
|
(1,898) |
Foreign currency forward contracts |
|
Other long-term obligations |
|
|
(287) |
|
|
(499) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments |
|
Balance Sheet Location |
|
December 31, 2024 |
|
December 31, 2023 |
||
Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign currency forward contracts |
|
Prepaid expenses and other assets |
|
$ |
2,595 |
|
$ |
828 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Liabilities) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign currency forward contracts |
|
Accrued expenses |
|
|
(1,288) |
|
|
(1,463) |
Income Statement Presentation of Derivatives
Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedges
Derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges had the following effects, before income taxes, on other comprehensive income ("OCI") in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income and consolidated balance sheets (in thousands):
|
|
Amount of Gain |
|||||||
|
|
Recognized in OCI |
|||||||
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|||||||
Derivative instrument |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|||
Interest rate swap |
|
$ |
152 |
|
$ |
609 |
|
$ |
4,879 |
Foreign currency forward contracts |
|
|
5,732 |
|
|
3,909 |
|
|
6,263 |
Derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges had the following effects, before income taxes, on AOCI and net earnings in our consolidated statements of income, consolidated statements of comprehensive income and consolidated balance sheets (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated Statements |
|
|
Amount of Gain/(Loss) |
||||||||||||||
|
|
of Income |
|
|
Reclassified from AOCI |
||||||||||||||
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
||||||||||||||
Location in statements of income |
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|||||
Interest expense |
|
$ |
(31,219) |
|
$ |
(15,511) |
|
$ |
(6,339) |
|
|
$ |
1,656 |
|
$ |
2,550 |
|
$ |
(12) |
Revenue |
|
|
1,356,514 |
|
|
1,257,366 |
|
|
1,150,981 |
|
|
|
2,140 |
|
|
4,081 |
|
|
3,583 |
Cost of sales |
|
|
(713,181) |
|
|
(673,494) |
|
|
(631,882) |
|
|
|
644 |
|
|
1,457 |
|
|
(1,436) |
As of December 31, 2024, $2.7 million or $2.1 million after taxes, was expected to be reclassified from AOCI to earnings in revenue and cost of sales over the succeeding twelve months.
76
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
The following gains/(losses) from these derivative instruments were recognized in our consolidated statements of income for the years presented (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
|||||||
Derivative Instrument |
|
Location in statements of income |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|||
Foreign currency forward contracts |
|
Other income (expense) — net |
|
$ |
1,961 |
|
$ |
2,004 |
|
$ |
1,420 |
See Note 15, Fair Value Measurements for additional information about our derivatives.
10.COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
We are obligated under non-terminable operating leases for manufacturing facilities, finished good distribution centers, office space, equipment, vehicles, and land. See Note 17, Leases for disclosures regarding these operating leases.
Royalties. As of December 31, 2024, we had entered into a number of agreements to license or acquire rights to certain intellectual property which require us to make royalty payments during the term of the agreements generally based on a percentage of sales. During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, total royalty expense approximated $8.7 million, $8.6 million and $7.3 million, respectively, and is recorded in cost of sales on the consolidated statements of income. Minimum contractual commitments under royalty agreements to be paid within twelve months of December 31, 2024 were not significant. See Note 15, Fair Value Measurements for discussion of future royalty commitments related to acquisitions.
Litigation. In the ordinary course of business, we are involved in various claims and litigation matters. These proceedings, actions and claims may involve product liability, intellectual property, contract disputes, employment, governmental inquiries or other matters, including the matter described below. These matters generally involve inherent uncertainties and often require prolonged periods of time to resolve. In certain proceedings, the claimants may seek damages as well as other compensatory and equitable relief that could result in the payment of significant claims and settlements and/or the imposition of injunctions or other equitable relief. For legal matters for which our management had sufficient information to reasonably estimate our future obligations, a liability representing management’s best estimate of the probable loss, or the minimum of the range of probable losses when a best estimate within the range is not known, is recorded. The estimates are based on consultation with legal counsel, previous settlement experience and settlement strategies. If actual outcomes are less favorable than those estimated by management, additional expense may be incurred, which could unfavorably affect our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. The ultimate cost to us with respect to actions and claims could be materially different than the amount of the current estimates and accruals and could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Unless included in our legal accrual, we are unable to estimate a reasonably possible loss or range of loss associated with any individual material legal proceeding. Legal costs for these matters, such as outside counsel fees and expenses, are charged to expense in the period incurred.
SEC Inquiry
Commencing in January 2022, we have received requests from the Division of Enforcement of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) seeking the voluntary production of information relating to the business activities of Merit’s subsidiary in China, including interactions with hospitals and health care officials in China (the “SEC Inquiry”). We are cooperating with the requests, investigating the matter and are in discussions with the SEC Staff regarding a potential resolution to the matter. Currently, we are unable to predict the scope, timing, significance or outcome of the SEC Inquiry or estimate a reasonably possible loss or range of loss associated with the matter. It is possible that the ultimate resolution of the SEC Inquiry, if resolved in a manner unfavorable to us, may be materially adverse to our business, financial position, results of operations or liquidity.
77
In management's opinion, based on its examination of these matters, its experience to date and discussion with counsel, other than the SEC Inquiry, we are not currently involved in any legal proceedings which, individually or in the aggregate, could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Our management regularly assesses the risks of legal proceedings in which we are involved, and management’s view of these matters may change in the future.
11.EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (EPS)
The computation of weighted average shares outstanding and the basic and diluted earnings per common share for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, consisted of the following (in thousands, except per share amounts):
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|||
Net income |
|
$ |
120,357 |
|
$ |
94,411 |
|
$ |
74,516 |
Average common shares outstanding |
|
|
58,218 |
|
|
57,593 |
|
|
56,806 |
Basic EPS |
|
$ |
2.07 |
|
$ |
1.64 |
|
$ |
1.31 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average common shares outstanding |
|
|
58,218 |
|
|
57,593 |
|
|
56,806 |
Effect of dilutive stock awards |
|
|
760 |
|
|
763 |
|
|
865 |
Effect of dilutive convertible notes |
|
|
387 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
Total potential shares outstanding |
|
|
59,365 |
|
|
58,356 |
|
|
57,671 |
Diluted EPS |
|
$ |
2.03 |
|
$ |
1.62 |
|
$ |
1.29 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity awards excluded as the impact was anti-dilutive (1) |
|
|
672 |
|
|
1,143 |
|
|
1,438 |
| (1) | Does not reflect the impact of incremental repurchases under the treasury stock method. |
Convertible Notes
For our Convertible Notes issued in December 2023, the dilutive effect is calculated using the if-converted method. Upon surrender of the Convertible Notes for conversion, Merit will pay cash up to the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be converted and pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of Merit’s common stock or a combination of cash and shares of Merit’s common stock, at Merit’s election, in respect of the remainder, if any, of Merit’s conversion obligation in excess of the aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes being converted. Under the if-converted method, we include the number of shares required to satisfy the remaining conversion obligation, assuming all the Convertible Notes were converted. The Convertible Notes only have an impact on diluted earnings per share when the average share price of our common stock exceeds the conversion price of $86.83. The average closing prices of our common stock for the year ended December 31, 2024 were used as the basis for determining the dilutive effect on EPS.
12.EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN, STOCK OPTIONS AND WARRANTS
Our stock-based compensation primarily consists of the following plans:
2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan. In June 2018, our Board of Directors adopted and our shareholders approved, the Merit Medical Systems, Inc. 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan, which was subsequently amended effective December 14, 2018 (the “2018 Incentive Plan”) to supplement the Merit Medical Systems, Inc. 2006 Long-Term Incentive plan (the "2006 Incentive Plan"). The 2018 Incentive Plan provides for the granting of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, stock units (including restricted stock units) and performance awards (including performance stock units). Options may be granted to directors, officers, outside consultants and key employees and may be granted upon such terms and such conditions as the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors determines. Options typically vest on an annual basis over a three to five-year life with a contractual life of seven years.
78
As of December 31, 2024, approximately 3,026,000 shares remained available to be issued under the 2018 Incentive Plan.
2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan. In May 2006, our Board of Directors adopted, and our shareholders approved, the 2006 Incentive Plan. As of December 31, 2024, the 2006 Incentive Plan was no longer being used for new equity award grants. However, as of December 31, 2024, options granted under this plan were still outstanding, vesting, and being exercised and will continue to be outstanding until the vesting periods end and the terms of the equity awards expire.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan. We have a non-qualified Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”), which has an expiration date of June 30, 2026. As of December 31, 2024, the total number of shares of common stock that remained available to be issued under our non-qualified plan was approximately 74,000 shares. ESPP participants purchase shares on a quarterly basis at a price equal to 95% of the market price of the common stock at the end of the applicable offering period.
Stock-Based Compensation Expense. The stock-based compensation expense before income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|||
Cost of sales |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nonqualified stock options |
|
$ |
1,229 |
|
$ |
1,647 |
|
$ |
1,606 |
Research and development |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nonqualified stock options |
|
|
1,522 |
|
|
1,739 |
|
|
1,789 |
Selling, general and administrative |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nonqualified stock options |
|
|
6,206 |
|
|
7,542 |
|
|
7,305 |
Performance-based restricted stock units |
|
|
12,517 |
|
|
6,344 |
|
|
3,509 |
Restricted stock units |
|
|
4,279 |
|
|
1,771 |
|
|
1,836 |
Cash-settled performance-based awards |
|
|
2,720 |
|
|
2,290 |
|
|
1,997 |
Total selling, general and administrative |
|
|
25,722 |
|
|
17,947 |
|
|
14,647 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock-based compensation expense before taxes |
|
$ |
28,473 |
|
$ |
21,333 |
|
$ |
18,042 |
We recognize stock-based compensation expense (net of a forfeiture rate) for those awards which are expected to vest on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. We estimate the forfeiture rate based on our historical experience and expectations about future forfeitures.
Nonqualified Stock Options
As of December 31, 2024, the total remaining unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock options, net of expected forfeitures, was $11.0 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.7 years.
In applying the Black-Scholes methodology to the option grants, the fair value of our stock-based awards granted was estimated using the following assumptions for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022:
|
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
Risk-free interest rate |
|
3.6% - 4.8% |
|
1.4% - 4.3% |
Expected option term |
|
4.0 years |
|
4.0 years |
Expected dividend yield |
|
— |
|
— |
Expected price volatility |
|
39.6% - 47.1% |
|
46.2% - 47.5% |
79
The average risk-free interest rate is determined using the U.S. Treasury rate in effect as of the date of grant, based on the expected term of the stock option. We determine the expected term of the stock options using the historical exercise behavior of employees. The expected price volatility was determined based upon the historical volatility for our stock. We recognize compensation expense for options on a straight-line basis over the service period, which corresponds to the vesting period. During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, approximately 444,000 and 251,000 nonqualified stock option grants were made, respectively, for a total fair value of $13.1 million and $6.3 million. The Company did not grant any options during the year ended December 31, 2024.
The table below presents information related to stock option activity for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|||
Total intrinsic value of stock options exercised |
|
$ |
36,431 |
|
$ |
23,300 |
|
$ |
27,110 |
Cash received from stock option exercises |
|
|
39,746 |
|
|
14,503 |
|
|
18,952 |
Excess tax benefit from the exercise of stock options |
|
|
1,817 |
|
|
3,001 |
|
|
3,423 |
Changes in stock options for the year ended December 31, 2024, consisted of the following (shares and intrinsic value in thousands):
|
|
Number |
|
Weighted Average |
|
Remaining Contractual |
|
Intrinsic |
||
|
|
of Shares |
|
Exercise Price |
|
Term (in years) |
|
Value |
||
Beginning balance |
|
2,868 |
|
|
56.39 |
|
|
|
|
|
Granted |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
Exercised |
|
(824) |
|
|
48.21 |
|
|
|
|
|
Forfeited/expired |
|
(21) |
|
|
66.61 |
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding at December 31 |
|
2,023 |
|
|
59.62 |
|
3.05 |
|
$ |
75,055 |
Exercisable |
|
1,411 |
|
|
55.87 |
|
2.35 |
|
|
57,639 |
Ending vested and expected to vest |
|
1,997 |
|
|
59.49 |
|
3.02 |
|
|
74,372 |
The weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $29.58 and $24.98, respectively.
Stock-Settled Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units (“PSUs”) and Time-Vested Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”)
We have outstanding PSUs which vest at the end of three-year performance periods. The number of shares delivered upon vesting at the end of the performance periods are based upon performance against specified financial performance metrics and relative total shareholder return as compared to the Russell 2000 Index (“rTSR”), as defined in the award agreements. PSUs convey no shareholder rights unless and until shares are issued in settlement of the award.
We use Monte-Carlo simulations to estimate the grant-date fair value of the PSUs linked to total shareholder return. Compensation expense is recognized using the grant-date fair value for the number of shares that are probable of being awarded based on the performance conditions. Each reporting period, this probability assessment is updated, and cumulative catchups are recorded based on the performance metrics that are expected to be achieved. At the end of the performance period, cumulative expense is calculated based on the actual financial performance metrics attained.
We have granted RSUs to our employees and non-employee directors, which are subject to continued service through the vesting date, which is between one to four years from the date of grant. The expense recognized for RSUs is equal to the closing stock price on the date of grant, which is recognized over the vesting period.
80
Changes in PSUs and RSUs for the year ended December 31, 2024, consisted of the following:
|
|
PSUs |
|
RSUs |
||||||
|
|
|
|
Weighted Average |
|
|
|
Weighted Average |
||
|
|
Stock Units |
|
Grant Date |
|
Stock Units |
|
Grant Date |
||
|
|
(In Thousands) |
(1) |
Fair Value |
|
(In Thousands) |
|
Fair Value |
||
Beginning nonvested balance |
|
355 |
|
|
71.15 |
|
20 |
|
|
83.99 |
Granted |
|
287 |
|
|
86.79 |
|
329 |
|
|
90.54 |
Vested |
|
(47) |
|
|
76.51 |
|
(20) |
|
|
83.99 |
Nonvested balance at December 31 |
|
595 |
|
|
82.33 |
|
329 |
|
|
90.54 |
| (1) | Based on the maximum payout, excluding the impact of the rTSR multiplier. The actual number of shares which vest is determined based on the satisfaction of performance conditions and the application of an rTSR multiplier between 75% and 125%. |
The following table summarizes PSUs and RSUs granted during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 (units and shares in thousands):
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|
|||
PSUs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Target units granted |
|
|
144 |
|
|
115 |
|
|
48 |
|
Maximum units granted (1) |
|
|
287 |
|
|
229 |
|
|
97 |
|
Maximum potential shares (1)(2) |
|
|
359 |
|
|
287 |
|
|
121 |
|
Weighted average grant date fair value |
|
$ |
86.79 |
|
$ |
72.26 |
|
$ |
64.54 |
|
RSUs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Units granted |
|
|
329 |
|
|
20 |
|
|
31 |
|
Weighted average grant date fair value |
|
$ |
90.54 |
|
$ |
83.99 |
|
$ |
59.02 |
|
| (1) | Based on the maximum payout, excluding the impact of the rTSR multiplier. |
| (2) | Includes the impact of the maximum potential rTSR multiplier of 125%. |
During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, there were approximately 47,000, 61,000 and 44,000 shares, respectively, that vested under PSUs, prior to the reduction of shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations. Vested shares were calculated based upon achievement of the financial performance multipliers and market conditions related to the rTSR multiplier. During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, there were approximately 20,000, 31,000 and 26,000 shares, respectively, that vested under RSUs.
The fair value of each PSU was estimated as of the grant date using the following assumptions for awards granted in the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022:
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
Risk-free interest rate |
|
4.4% |
|
3.9% - 4.6% |
|
1.6% - 2.7% |
Performance period |
|
2.8 years |
|
2.8 years |
|
2.6 - 2.8 years |
Expected dividend yield |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
Expected price volatility |
|
31.1% |
|
31.4% - 32.6% |
|
38.5% - 46.2% |
The risk-free interest rate of return was determined using the U.S. Treasury rate at the time of grant with a remaining term equal to the expected term of the award. The expected volatility was based on a weighted average volatility of our stock price and the average volatility of our compensation peer group's volatilities. The expected dividend yield was assumed to be zero because, at the time of the grant, we had no plans to declare a dividend.
As of December 31, 2024, the total remaining unrecognized compensation cost related to stock-settled performance stock units and restricted stock units, net of expected forfeitures, was $18.2 million and $23.4 million, respectively, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.7 years and 3.6 years, respectively.
81
Cash-Settled Performance-Based Share-Based Awards (“Liability Awards”)
During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, we granted liability awards to our Chief Executive Officer with total target cash incentives in the amount of $1.6 million, $1.3 million, and $1.0 million, respectively. These awards entitle him to a target cash payment based upon our relative shareholder return as compared to the rTSR and achievement of specified performance metrics, as defined in the award agreements.
During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, we granted additional performance stock units to certain employees that provide for settlement in cash upon our achievement of specified financial metrics. The cash payable upon vesting at the end of the service period is based upon performance against specified financial performance metrics and relative total shareholder return as compared to the rTSR, as defined in the award agreements. Compensation expense is recognized for the cash payment probable of being awarded based on the performance metrics.
The potential maximum payout of these liability awards is 250% of the target cash incentive, resulting in a total potential maximum payout of $4.7 million, $4.3 million and $2.5 million for liability awards granted during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Settlement generally occurs at the end of three-year performance periods based upon the same performance metrics and vesting period as our performance stock units.
These awards are classified as liabilities and reported in accrued expenses and other long-term liabilities within our consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of these awards is remeasured at each reporting period until the awards are settled. As of December 31, 2024, our recorded liabilities associated with these awards was $5.1 million, and we had remaining unrecognized compensation cost related to cash-settled performance-based share-based awards of $3.6 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.7 years. During 2024, 2023 and 2022, we paid $1.3 million, $1.7 million and $0.8 million, respectively, in connection with liability awards, and no awards were forfeited.
13.SEGMENT REPORTING AND FOREIGN OPERATIONS
We report our operations in two operating segments: cardiovascular and endoscopy. Our cardiovascular segment consists of four product categories: peripheral intervention, cardiac intervention, custom procedural solutions, and OEM. Within these product categories, we sell a variety of products, including cardiology and radiology devices (which assist in diagnosing and treating coronary arterial disease, peripheral vascular disease and other non-vascular diseases), as well as embolotherapeutic, cardiac rhythm management, electrophysiology, critical care, breast cancer localization and guidance, biopsy, and interventional oncology and spine devices. Our endoscopy segment consists of gastroenterology and pulmonology devices which assist in the palliative treatment of expanding esophageal, tracheobronchial and biliary strictures caused by malignant tumors. Our chief operating decision maker is our Chief Executive Officer. Our CODM uses segment profit or loss to assess performance and allocate resources to each segment, primarily through periodic budgeting and segment performance reviews. See Note 2, Revenues to our consolidated financial statements set forth in Item 8 of this report for a detailed breakout of our sales by operating segment and product category, disaggregated between domestic and international sales. Total assets by segment are not used by the CODM to assess performance or allocate resources to the Company’s segments; therefore, total assets by segment are not disclosed.
During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, we had international sales of $555.7 million, $530.4 million and $500.4 million, respectively, or 41.0%, 42.2% and 43.5%, respectively, of net sales. Our largest international markets include China, Japan, Germany, France and the United Kingdom, with China representing our most significant international sales market with sales of $149.8 million, $147.3 million, and $149.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. International sales are attributed based on location of the customer receiving the product.
82
Our long-lived assets (which are comprised of our net property and equipment) by geographic area at December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|||
United States |
|
$ |
271,734 |
|
$ |
273,105 |
|
$ |
281,290 |
Ireland |
|
|
45,325 |
|
|
42,333 |
|
|
40,749 |
Other foreign countries |
|
|
69,106 |
|
|
68,085 |
|
|
60,937 |
Total |
|
$ |
386,165 |
|
$ |
383,523 |
|
$ |
382,976 |
Financial information relating to our reportable operating segments and reconciliations to the consolidated totals for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, are as follows (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended |
|
Year Ended |
|
Year Ended |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
December 31, 2024 |
|
December 31, 2023 |
|
December 31, 2022 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Cardiovascular |
|
Endoscopy |
|
Consolidated |
|
Cardiovascular |
|
Endoscopy |
|
Consolidated |
|
Cardiovascular |
|
Endoscopy |
|
Consolidated |
|||||||||
Net sales |
|
$ |
1,301,744 |
|
$ |
54,770 |
|
$ |
1,356,514 |
|
$ |
1,220,560 |
|
$ |
36,806 |
|
$ |
1,257,366 |
|
$ |
1,118,224 |
|
$ |
32,757 |
|
$ |
1,150,981 |
Cost of sales standard(1) |
|
|
549,657 |
|
|
15,746 |
|
|
|
|
|
534,826 |
|
|
12,987 |
|
|
|
|
|
496,678 |
|
|
12,739 |
|
|
|
Cost of sales other(2) |
|
|
140,948 |
|
|
6,830 |
|
|
|
|
|
125,388 |
|
|
293 |
|
|
|
|
|
121,045 |
|
|
1,420 |
|
|
|
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
|
|
376,734 |
|
|
22,997 |
|
|
|
|
|
362,082 |
|
|
11,594 |
|
|
|
|
|
332,012 |
|
|
10,513 |
|
|
|
Research and development expenses |
|
|
83,812 |
|
|
3,654 |
|
|
|
|
|
80,300 |
|
|
2,428 |
|
|
|
|
|
74,042 |
|
|
1,468 |
|
|
|
Other operating expenses(3) |
|
|
443 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
3,524 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
13,501 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from operations |
|
$ |
150,150 |
|
$ |
5,543 |
|
$ |
155,693 |
|
$ |
114,440 |
|
$ |
9,504 |
|
$ |
123,944 |
|
$ |
80,946 |
|
$ |
6,617 |
|
$ |
87,563 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total other expense — net |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5,700) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(11,855) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4,934) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before income taxes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
149,993 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
112,089 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
82,629 |
| (1) | Cost of sales standard represents costs of goods sold measured at the internal standard cost for production of inventory. Inventory standard costs include material, labor and manufacturing overhead. |
| (2) | Cost of sales other for all segments include amortization expense associated with our developed technology and license agreement intangible assets, freight and handling associated with shipments to customers, provisions based on estimated excess, slow moving and obsolete inventories, manufacturing and price variances, and royalties. |
| (3) | Other operating expenses include impairment charges, contingent consideration (benefit expense) related to the changes in fair value of contingent payments associated with acquisitions, acquired in-process research and development expense, and certain legal settlements. |
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|||
Cardiovascular |
|
$ |
97,749 |
|
$ |
88,960 |
|
$ |
80,777 |
Endoscopy |
|
|
4,960 |
|
|
1,025 |
|
|
1,027 |
Total |
|
$ |
102,709 |
|
$ |
89,985 |
|
$ |
81,804 |
Total depreciation and amortization by operating segment for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, consisted of the following (in thousands):
14.EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
We have defined contribution plans covering all U.S. full-time adult employees and certain of our foreign employees. Our contributions to these plans are discretionary in certain countries, including the U.S. Total expense for contributions made to these plans for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 was $9.6 million, $8.8 million and $7.7 million, respectively.
83
15.FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Assets (Liabilities) Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Our financial assets and (liabilities) carried at fair value measured on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
Fair Value Measurements Using |
|||||||
|
|
Total Fair |
|
Quoted prices in |
|
Significant other |
|
Significant |
||||
|
|
Value at |
|
active markets |
|
observable inputs |
|
unobservable inputs |
||||
|
|
December 31, 2024 |
|
(Level 1) |
|
(Level 2) |
|
(Level 3) |
||||
Money market funds (1) |
|
$ |
10,034 |
|
$ |
10,034 |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
— |
Marketable securities (2) |
|
$ |
92 |
|
$ |
92 |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
— |
Foreign currency contract assets, current and long-term (4) |
|
$ |
7,430 |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
7,430 |
|
$ |
— |
Foreign currency contract liabilities, current and long-term (5) |
|
$ |
(2,907) |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
(2,907) |
|
$ |
— |
Contingent consideration liabilities |
|
$ |
(3,486) |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
(3,486) |
|
|
|
|
|
Fair Value Measurements Using |
|||||||
|
|
Total Fair |
|
Quoted prices in |
|
Significant other |
|
Significant |
||||
|
|
Value at |
|
active markets |
|
observable inputs |
|
unobservable inputs |
||||
|
|
December 31, 2023 |
|
(Level 1) |
|
(Level 2) |
|
(Level 3) |
||||
Marketable securities (2) |
|
$ |
78 |
|
$ |
78 |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
— |
Interest rate contract asset, current (3) |
|
$ |
1,503 |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
1,503 |
|
$ |
— |
Foreign currency contract assets, current and long-term (4) |
|
$ |
3,105 |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
3,105 |
|
$ |
— |
Foreign currency contract liabilities, current and long-term (5) |
|
$ |
(3,860) |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
(3,860) |
|
$ |
— |
Contingent consideration liabilities |
|
$ |
(3,447) |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
(3,447) |
| (1) | Our money market fund represents a bank-managed money market fund which permits daily redemptions. The fund is recorded as cash equivalents in the consolidated balance sheets. |
| (2) | Our marketable securities, which consist entirely of available-for-sale equity securities, are valued using market prices in active markets. Level 1 instrument valuations are obtained from real-time quotes for transactions in active exchange markets involving identical assets. |
| (3) | The fair value of the interest rate contract is determined using Level 2 fair value inputs and is recorded as prepaid and other current assets or other long-term assets in the consolidated balance sheets. |
| (4) | The fair value of the foreign currency contract assets (including those designated as hedging instruments and those not designated as hedging instruments) is determined using Level 2 fair value inputs and is recorded as prepaid and other assets or other long-term assets in the consolidated balance sheets. |
| (5) | The fair value of the foreign currency contract liabilities (including those designated as hedging instruments and those not designated as hedging instruments) is determined using Level 2 fair value inputs and is recorded as accrued expenses or other long-term obligations in the consolidated balance sheets. |
Certain of our business combinations involve the potential for the payment of future contingent consideration, generally based on a percentage of future product sales or upon attaining specified future revenue or other milestones. Contingent consideration liabilities are re-measured to fair value at each reporting period, with the change in fair value recognized within operating expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. We measure the initial liability and re-measure the liability on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs as defined under authoritative guidance for fair value measurements.
84
Changes in the fair value of our contingent consideration liabilities during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
||
Beginning balance |
|
$ |
3,447 |
|
$ |
18,073 |
Contingent consideration expense |
|
|
443 |
|
|
1,704 |
Contingent payments made |
|
|
(404) |
|
|
(16,330) |
Ending balance |
|
$ |
3,486 |
|
$ |
3,447 |
As of December 31, 2024, $3.1 million in contingent consideration liability was included in other long-term obligations and $0.4 million in contingent consideration liability was included in accrued expenses in our consolidated balance sheet related to contingent liabilities. As of December 31, 2023, $3.0 million in contingent consideration liability was included in other long-term obligations and $0.4 million in contingent consideration liability was included in accrued expenses in our consolidated balance sheet related to contingent liabilities.
Cash payments related to the settlement of the contingent consideration liability recognized at fair value as of the applicable acquisition date have been reflected as a cash outflow from financing activities in the accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows. Payments related to increases in the contingent consideration liability subsequent to the date of acquisition of $0.1 million and $12.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 are reflected as operating cash flows.
The recurring Level 3 measurement of our contingent consideration liabilities includes the following significant unobservable inputs at December 31, 2024 and 2023 (amounts in thousands):
|
|
Fair value at |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contingent consideration |
|
December 31, |
|
Valuation |
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted |
|
liability |
|
2024 |
|
technique |
|
Unobservable inputs |
|
Range |
|
Average(1) |
|
Revenue-based royalty payments contingent liability |
|
$ |
2,217 |
|
Discounted cash flow |
|
Discount rate |
|
14.0% - 16.0% |
|
14.6% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Projected year of payments |
|
2025-2034 |
|
2028 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue milestones contingent liability |
|
$ |
88 |
|
Monte Carlo simulation |
|
Discount rate |
|
13.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Projected year of payments |
|
2025-2040 |
|
2039 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Regulatory approval contingent liability |
|
$ |
1,181 |
|
Scenario-based method |
|
Discount rate |
|
6.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Probability of milestone payment |
|
50.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Projected year of payment |
|
2025-2026 |
|
2025 |
| (1) | Unobservable inputs were weighted by the relative fair value of the instruments. No weighted average is reported for contingent consideration liabilities without a range of unobservable inputs. |
85
|
|
Fair value at |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contingent consideration |
|
December 31, |
|
Valuation |
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted |
|
liability |
|
2023 |
|
technique |
|
Unobservable inputs |
|
Range |
|
Average(1) |
|
Revenue-based royalty payments contingent liability |
|
$ |
2,945 |
|
Discounted cash flow |
|
Discount rate |
|
12.0% - 16.0% |
|
14.6% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Projected year of payments |
|
2024-2034 |
|
2028 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue milestones contingent liability |
|
$ |
93 |
|
Monte Carlo simulation |
|
Discount rate |
|
13.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Projected year of payments |
|
2024-2039 |
|
2039 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Regulatory approval contingent liability |
|
$ |
409 |
|
Scenario-based method |
|
Discount rate |
|
5.5% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Probability of milestone payment |
|
50.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Projected year of payment |
|
2024-2030 |
|
2030 |
| (1) | Unobservable inputs were weighted by the relative fair value of the instruments. No weighted average is reported for contingent consideration liabilities without a range of unobservable inputs. |
The contingent consideration liabilities are re-measured to fair value each reporting period using projected revenues, discount rates, probabilities of payment, and projected payment dates. Projected contingent payment amounts are discounted back to the current period using a discounted cash flow model. Projected revenues are based on our most recent internal operational budgets and long-range strategic plans. An increase (decrease) in either the discount rate or the time to payment, in isolation, may result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement. A decrease (increase) in the probability of any milestone payment may result in lower (higher) fair value measurements. Our determination of the fair value of contingent consideration liabilities could change in future periods based upon our ongoing evaluation of these significant unobservable inputs. We intend to record any such change in fair value to operating expenses in our consolidated statements of income.
Contingent Payments to Related Parties. As a former shareholder of Cianna Medical, a former Merit director was eligible for payments for the achievement of sales milestones specified in our merger agreement with Cianna Medical completed in 2018. The terms of the acquisition, including contingent consideration payments, were determined prior to the appointment of the former Cianna Medical shareholder as a Merit director. During 2023, we made the final contingent payment to Cianna Medical Shareholders, including $0.9 million paid to the former Merit director who is a former Cianna Medical shareholder. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we made contingent payments of approximately $1.6 million to the former director.
Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments
The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, and trade payables approximate fair value because of the immediate, short-term maturity of these financial instruments. Our long-term debt under our Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement re-prices frequently due to variable rates and entails no significant changes in credit risk and, as a result, we believe the fair value of long-term debt approximates carrying value. The fair value our long-term debt under our convertible notes was $945.6 million as of December 31, 2024 and was determined based on quoted prices in markets that are not active, which is considered a Level 2 valuation input. The fair value of assets and liabilities whose carrying value approximates fair value is determined using Level 2 inputs, with the exception of cash and cash equivalents, which are Level 1 inputs.
Impairment Charges
We recognize or disclose the fair value of certain assets, such as non-financial assets, primarily property and equipment, right-of-use operating lease assets, equity investments in privately held companies, intangible assets and goodwill in connection with impairment evaluations. All of our nonrecurring valuations use significant unobservable inputs and therefore fall under Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
86
Intangible Assets. During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, we had losses of $0.0 million, $0.0 million and $1.7 million, respectively, related to certain acquired intangible assets (see Note 1 Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies).
Equity Investments, Purchase Options and Notes Receivable. During the year ended December 31, 2023, we recorded impairment charges of $0.3 million associated with our previously held equity investment in Bluegrass in connection with the Bluegrass asset acquisition completed on May 4, 2023 (see Note 3 Acquisitions and Other Strategic Transactions). During the year ended December 31, 2022, we recognized $0.5 million of impairment expense related to our equity method investment in XableCath, as business ceased operations. We had no such losses during the year ended December 31, 2024. Our equity investments in privately held companies were $22.8 million and $19.1 million at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, which are included within other long-term assets in our consolidated balance sheets. We analyze our investments in privately held companies to determine if they should be accounted for using the equity method based on our ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies of the investment. Investments not accounted for under the equity method of accounting are accounted for at cost minus impairment, if applicable, plus or minus changes in valuation resulting from observable transactions for identical or similar investments.
Current Expected Credit Losses
Our outstanding long-term notes receivable, including accrued interest and our allowance for current expected credit losses, were $9.4 million and $3.2 million, as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, we had an allowance for current expected credit losses of $1.4 million and $0.6 million, respectively, associated with these notes receivable. We assess the allowance for current expected credit losses on an individual security basis, due to the limited number of securities, using a probability of default model, which is based on relevant information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the expected collectability of securities.
The table below presents a rollforward of the allowance for current expected credit losses on our notes receivable for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
||
Beginning balance |
|
$ |
568 |
|
$ |
281 |
Provision for credit loss expense |
|
|
798 |
|
|
287 |
Ending balance |
|
$ |
1,366 |
|
$ |
568 |
87
16.ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
The changes in each component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 were as follows (in thousands):
|
Cash Flow Hedges |
|
Foreign Currency Translation |
|
Total |
|||
BALANCE — January 1, 2022 |
$ |
(2,464) |
|
|
(5,527) |
|
|
(7,991) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other comprehensive income (loss) |
|
11,142 |
|
|
(10,491) |
|
|
651 |
Income taxes |
|
(2,177) |
|
|
102 |
|
|
(2,075) |
Reclassifications to: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
|
(3,583) |
|
|
|
|
|
(3,583) |
Cost of sales |
|
1,436 |
|
|
|
|
|
1,436 |
Interest expense |
|
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
12 |
Net other comprehensive income (loss) |
|
6,830 |
|
|
(10,389) |
|
|
(3,559) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BALANCE — December 31, 2022 |
|
4,366 |
|
|
(15,916) |
|
|
(11,550) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other comprehensive income |
|
4,518 |
|
|
2,959 |
|
|
7,477 |
Income taxes |
|
866 |
|
|
(39) |
|
|
827 |
Reclassifications to: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
|
(4,081) |
|
|
|
|
|
(4,081) |
Cost of sales |
|
(1,457) |
|
|
|
|
|
(1,457) |
Interest expense |
|
(2,550) |
|
|
|
|
|
(2,550) |
Net other comprehensive income (loss) |
|
(2,704) |
|
|
2,920 |
|
|
216 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BALANCE — December 31, 2023 |
|
1,662 |
|
|
(12,996) |
|
|
(11,334) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other comprehensive income (loss) |
|
5,884 |
|
|
(9,224) |
|
|
(3,340) |
Income taxes |
|
(341) |
|
|
54 |
|
|
(287) |
Reclassifications to: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
|
(2,140) |
|
|
|
|
|
(2,140) |
Cost of sales |
|
(644) |
|
|
|
|
|
(644) |
Interest expense |
|
(1,656) |
|
|
|
|
|
(1,656) |
Net other comprehensive income (loss) |
|
1,103 |
|
|
(9,170) |
|
|
(8,067) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BALANCE — December 31, 2024 |
$ |
2,765 |
|
$ |
(22,166) |
|
$ |
(19,401) |
88
17.LEASES
We have operating leases for facilities used for manufacturing, research and development, sales and distribution, and office space, as well as leases for manufacturing and office equipment, vehicles, and land. Our leases have remaining terms ranging from less than one year to approximately 25 years. A number of our lease agreements contain options to renew at our discretion for periods of up to 15 years and options to terminate the leases within one year. The lease term used to calculate ROU assets and lease liabilities includes renewal and termination options that are deemed reasonably certain to be exercised. Lease agreements with lease and non-lease components are generally accounted for as a single lease component. We do not have any bargain purchase options in our leases. For leases with an initial term of one year or less, we do not record a ROU asset or lease liability on our consolidated balance sheet. Substantially all of the ROU assets and lease liabilities as of December 31, 2024 recorded on our consolidated balance sheet are related to our cardiovascular segment.
From time to time, we enter into agreements to sublease a portion of our facilities to third parties. Such sublease income is not material. We also lease certain hardware consoles to customers and record rental revenue as a component of net sales. Rental revenue under such console leasing arrangements for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 was not significant.
The following was included in our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
||
Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
ROU operating lease assets |
|
$ |
65,508 |
|
$ |
63,047 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Short-term operating lease liabilities |
|
$ |
10,331 |
|
$ |
12,087 |
Long-term operating lease liabilities |
|
|
54,783 |
|
|
56,259 |
Total operating lease liabilities |
|
$ |
65,114 |
|
$ |
68,346 |
We recognize lease expense for operating leases on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Net lease cost for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 was $15.4 million, $14.4 million, and $13.8 million, respectively. The components of lease costs for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 were as follows, in thousands:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Lease Cost |
|
Classification |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|||
Operating lease cost (a) |
|
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
|
$ |
15,885 |
|
$ |
14,879 |
|
$ |
14,219 |
Sublease (income) (b) |
|
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
|
|
(462) |
|
|
(488) |
|
|
(409) |
Net lease cost |
|
|
|
$ |
15,423 |
|
$ |
14,391 |
|
$ |
13,810 |
(a) |
Includes expense related to short-term leases and variable payments, which were not significant. |
(b) |
Does not include rental revenue from leases of hardware consoles to customers, which was not significant. |
Supplemental cash flow information for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022 was as follows, in thousands:
|
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|||
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities |
|
$ |
14,529 |
|
$ |
13,804 |
|
$ |
13,710 |
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations |
|
$ |
9,947 |
|
$ |
8,891 |
|
$ |
11,130 |
89
Generally, our lease agreements do not specify an implicit rate. Therefore, we estimate our incremental borrowing rate, which is defined as the interest rate we would pay to borrow on a collateralized basis, considering such factors as length of lease term and the risks of the economic environment in which the leased asset operates. As of December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, our lease agreements had the following remaining lease term and discount rates:
|
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2022 |
Weighted average remaining lease term |
|
|
9.6 years |
|
|
9.6 years |
|
|
10.4 years |
Weighted average discount rate |
|
|
3.5% |
|
|
3.4% |
|
|
3.4% |
As of December 31, 2024, maturities of operating lease liabilities were as follows, in thousands:
Year ending December 31, |
|
Amounts due under operating leases |
|
2025 |
|
$ |
11,915 |
2026 |
|
|
10,067 |
2027 |
|
|
8,726 |
2028 |
|
|
6,948 |
2029 |
|
|
6,258 |
Thereafter |
|
|
32,692 |
Total lease payments |
|
|
76,606 |
Less: Imputed interest |
|
|
(11,492) |
Total |
|
$ |
65,114 |
90
Item 9.Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
EVALUATION OF DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act, as of December 31, 2024. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that as of December 31, 2024, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective, at a reasonable assurance level, to ensure that information we are required to disclose in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (a) recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and is (b) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. of America.
Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024. In making this assessment, our management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO") in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013). Based on the criteria discussed above and our management’s assessment, our management concluded that, as of December 31, 2024, our internal control over financial reporting was effective.
CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
During the quarter ended December 31, 2024, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act).
Our independent registered public accountants have also issued an audit report on our internal control over financial reporting. Their report appears below.
91
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the stockholders and the Board of Directors of Merit Medical Systems, Inc.
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Merit Medical Systems, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024, of the Company and our report dated February 25, 2025, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Salt Lake City, Utah
February 25, 2025
92
Item 9B.Other Information.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP On November 6, 2024, Neil Peterson, our Chief Operating Officer, adopted a trading arrangement (the “Peterson Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan”) for the sale of shares of our common stock that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Exchange Act Rule 10b5-1(c). The term of the Peterson Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan will terminate on April 24, 2026, unless terminated earlier pursuant to the terms of the Plan. The Peterson Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan provides for sales of up to 15,000 shares of our common stock pursuant to the terms of the plan.
Item 9C.Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections.
Not applicable.
PART III
Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14.
The information required by these items is incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement relating to our 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. We currently anticipate that our definitive proxy statement will be filed with the SEC not later than 120 days after December 31, 2024, pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Merit has adopted an insider trading policy which governs the purchase, sale, and/or any other dispositions of our securities by our directors, officers and employees and is designed to promote compliance with insider trading laws, rules and regulations, and listing standards applicable to Merit. A copy of our insider trading policy is filed with this report as Exhibit 19.1.
PART IV
Item 15.Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
| (a) | Documents filed as part of this Report: |
| (1) | Financial Statements. The following consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto, and the Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm are incorporated by reference as provided in Item 8 and Item 9A of this report: |
93
(2) Financial Statement Schedules.
Schedule II - Valuation and qualifying accounts
Years Ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022
(In thousands)
|
|
|
Balance at |
|
|
Additions Charged to |
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at |
Allowance for Credit Losses: |
|
|
Beginning of Year |
|
|
Costs and Expenses (a) |
|
|
Deduction (b) |
|
|
End of Year |
2022 |
|
$ |
(6,767) |
|
$ |
(1,858) |
|
$ |
202 |
|
$ |
(8,423) |
2023 |
|
$ |
(8,423) |
|
$ |
(1,772) |
|
$ |
1,172 |
|
$ |
(9,023) |
2024 |
|
$ |
(9,023) |
|
$ |
(1,425) |
|
$ |
719 |
|
$ |
(9,729) |
| (a) | We record a provision for credit losses based upon historical bad debt experience, current economic conditions, expectations of future economic conditions, and management’s evaluation of our ability to collect individual outstanding balances. |
| (b) | When an individual customer balance becomes impaired and is deemed uncollectible, a deduction is made against the allowance for credit losses. |
Years Ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022
(In thousands)
|
|
|
Balance at |
|
|
Additions Charged to |
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at |
Tax Valuation Allowance: |
|
|
Beginning of Year |
|
|
Costs and Expenses (a) |
|
|
Deduction |
|
|
End of Year |
2022 |
|
$ |
(10,786) |
|
$ |
(2,741) |
|
$ |
- |
|
$ |
(13,527) |
2023 |
|
$ |
(13,527) |
|
$ |
(213) |
|
$ |
- |
|
$ |
(13,740) |
2024 |
|
$ |
(13,740) |
|
$ |
(403) |
|
$ |
- |
|
$ |
(14,143) |
| (a) | We record a valuation allowance against a deferred tax asset when it is determined that it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset will not be realized. |
| (b) | Exhibits: |
The following exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K are filed herewith or have been filed previously with the SEC as indicated below:
|
|
|
2.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
2.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
2.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
3.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
3.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
4.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
94
4.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.1 |
|
Merit Medical Systems, Inc. 2006 Long Term Incentive Plan.*† |
|
|
|
10.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.4 |
|
Amended and Restated Deferred Compensation Plan, dated January 1, 2004.*† |
|
|
|
10.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.10 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.11 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.12 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.13 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.14 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.15 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.16 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.17 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.18 |
|
|
|
|
|
95
10.19 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.20 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.21 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.22 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.23 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.24 |
|
Form of First Amendment to Employment Agreement for each of Joseph C. Wright, and Brian G. Lloyd.*† |
|
|
|
10.25 |
|
First Amendment to Lease Agreement dated May 22, 2017 for office and manufacturing facility.* |
|
|
|
10.26 |
|
Merit Medical Systems, Inc. 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan effective May 24, 2018.*† |
|
|
|
10.27 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.28 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.29 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.30 |
|
Merit Medical Systems, Inc. 2019 Executive Bonus Plan, dated January 1, 2019.*† |
|
|
|
10.31 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.32 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.33 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.34 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.35 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.36 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.37 |
|
|
|
|
|
96
10.38 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.39 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.40 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.41 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.42 |
|
Form of Indemnification Agreement between Merit Medical Systems, Inc. and each executive officer.*† |
|
|
|
10.43 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.44 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.45 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.46 |
|
Employment Agreement between Merit Medical Systems, Inc. and Neil Peterson, dated May 19, 2022.*† |
|
|
|
10.51 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.52 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.53 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.54 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.56 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.57 |
|
Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors, effective as of July 22, 2022.*† |
|
|
|
10.58 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.59 |
|
|
|
|
|
97
10.60 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.61 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.62 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.63 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.64 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.65 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.66 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.67 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.68 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.69 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.70 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.71 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.72 |
|
Form of 3.00% Convertible Senior Note due 2029 (included in Exhibit 10.68).* |
|
|
|
10.73 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.74 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.75 |
|
Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan, dated August 7, 2023, between F. Ann Millner and E*TRADE Securities LLC.* |
|
|
|
98
10.76 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.77 |
|
|
|
|
|
10.78 |
|
|
|
|
|
19.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
21 |
|
|
|
|
|
23.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
31.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
31.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
32.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
32.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
97 |
|
Policy Relating to the Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation.*† |
|
|
|
101 |
|
The following materials from the Merit Medical Systems, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, formatted in iXBRL (Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Statements of Income, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iii) Consolidated Balance Sheets, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, (v) Consolidated Statements of Equity, and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. |
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104 |
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Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document). |
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* |
These exhibits are incorporated herein by reference. |
† |
Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement. |
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Portions of this exhibit have been omitted. |
| (c) | Schedules: |
None
Item 16.Form 10-K Summary.
None.
99
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Annual Report on Form 10-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on February 25, 2025.
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MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC. |
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By: |
/s/ FRED P. LAMPROPOULOS |
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Fred P. Lampropoulos, President and |
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Chief Executive Officer |
ADDITIONAL SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this Annual Report on form 10-K has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on February 25, 2025.
Signature |
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Capacity in Which Signed |
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/s/: FRED P. LAMPROPOULOS |
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President, Chief Executive Officer and Director |
Fred P. Lampropoulos |
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(Principal executive officer) |
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/s/: RAUL PARRA |
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Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
Raul Parra |
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(Principal financial and accounting officer) |
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/s/: F. ANN MILLNER |
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Director |
F. Ann Millner |
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/s/: LONNY J. CARPENTER |
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Director |
Lonny J. Carpenter |
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/s/: STEPHEN C. EVANS |
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Director |
Stephen C. Evans |
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/s/: DAVID K. FLOYD |
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Director |
David K. Floyd |
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/s/: THOMAS J. GUNDERSON |
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Director |
Thomas J. Gunderson |
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/s/: LAURA S. KAISER |
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Director |
Laura S. Kaiser |
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/s/: MICHAEL R. MCDONNELL |
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Director |
Michael R. McDonnell |
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/s/: SILVIA M. PEREZ |
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Director |
Silvia M. Perez |
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/s/: LYNNE N. WARD |
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Director |
Lynne N. Ward |
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100
EXHIBIT 4.2
DESCRIPTION OF THE REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES
REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (“Merit” “we” “us” or “our”) has one class of securities, our common stock, registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
The general terms and provisions of our common stock are summarized below. The below summary does not purport to be complete, and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, referred to herein as our “Articles,” and our Second Amended and Restated Bylaws, referred to herein as our “Bylaws,” each of which have been filed as exhibits to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, of which this exhibit is a part, and the applicable provisions of the Utah Code. We encourage you to review complete copies of our Articles and Bylaws and the applicable provisions of the Utah Code for additional information.
Authorized Capital Stock
We are authorized to issue 100,000,000 shares of common stock, no par value per share. We are also authorized to issue 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, no par value per share. As of February 21, 2025, approximately 58,834,568 shares of common stock, and no shares of preferred stock, were issued and outstanding.
Description of Common Stock
Voting Rights. Holders of outstanding shares of common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders. Our common stock does not have cumulative voting rights.
Dividend Rights. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding shares of preferred stock, holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our Board of Directors out of funds legally available for dividend payments. We have never issued a cash dividend on our common stock and do not anticipate doing so in the foreseeable future.
Liquidation Rights. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of our affairs, holders of outstanding common stock at such time will be entitled to share ratably in our assets that are legally available for such purpose after payment or provision for payment of all of our debts and obligations, and after liquidation payments to holders of outstanding shares of preferred stock, if any.
Other Rights and Preferences. The holders of common stock have no preferences or rights of conversion, exchange, pre-emption or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock.
Listing
Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "MMSI."
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is ZB, National Association, dba Zions Bank.
Description of Preferred Stock
We are authorized to issue 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, in one or more series, from time to time, with such rights and preferences as determined by our Board of Directors with respect to such series.
EXHIBIT 4.2
Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of Utah Law and Our Charter Documents
Director Liability. Our Articles limit the personal liability of our directors to our company and our shareholders to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. The inclusion of this provision in our Articles may reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors and may discourage or deter shareholders or management from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their duty of care.
Shareholder Action and Meetings of Shareholders. Our Bylaws provide that shareholders wishing to propose business to be brought before a meeting of shareholders will be required to comply with various advance notice requirements. The inclusion of this provision in our Bylaws may deter our shareholders from submitting proposals for consideration at a meeting of shareholders.
Classified Board of Directors. Our Articles provide for our Board of Directors to be divided into three classes of directors, with each class as nearly equal in number as possible, serving staggered three-year terms. As a result, approximately one-third of the Board of Directors will be elected each year. We believe the classified board provision will help to assure the continuity and stability of our Board of Directors and the business strategies and policies of our company as determined by the Board of Directors. The classified board provision could also have the effect of discouraging a third party from making a tender offer or attempting to obtain control of our company. In addition, the classified board provision could delay shareholders who do not agree with the policies of the Board of Directors from removing a majority of the directors for two years.
Authorized but Unissued Shares. Our authorized capital stock consists of 100,000,000 shares of common stock and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock. As of February 21, 2025, we had 58,834,568 shares of common stock outstanding and no shares of preferred stock outstanding. Accordingly, our Articles would permit us to issue up to 34,288,671 additional shares of common stock (after taking into account 6,876,760 shares reserved for issuance under existing employee benefit plans or existing equity awards), and up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock. However, such issuances would be subject to the rules of the NASDAQ Global Select Market, which in some cases may require shareholder approval or impose other limitations. These additional shares may be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, corporate acquisitions, and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock could make it more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
Utah Control Shares Acquisitions Act. We are subject to the Control Shares Acquisitions Act, or Control Shares Act, as set forth in Section 61-6-1 to 61-6-12 of the Utah Code.
The Control Shares Act provides that any person or entity that acquires control shares of an issuing public corporation in a control share acquisition is denied voting rights with respect to the acquired shares, unless a majority of the disinterested shareholders of the issuing public corporation elects to restore such voting rights.
For purposes of the Control Shares Act:
• person or entity acquires "control shares" whenever it acquires shares that, not considering application of the Control Shares Act, would bring its voting power after the acquisition within any of the following ranges of voting power of the issuing public corporation: (i) 1/5 to (but less than) 1/3 of all voting power, (ii) 1/3 to (but less than) a majority of all voting power; or (iii) a majority or more of all voting power;
•an "issuing public corporation" is any Utah corporation, other than a depository institution, that has (a) 100 or more shareholders, (b) a principal place of business, principal office or substantial assets within Utah, and (c) more than 10% of its shareholders resident in Utah, more than 10% of its shares owned by Utah residents or 10,000 shareholders resident in Utah; and
•"control share acquisition" is generally defined as the direct or indirect acquisition (including through a series of acquisitions) of either ownership or voting power associated with issued and outstanding control shares (excluding voting power pursuant to a revocable proxy solicited by the issuing public corporation or its board of directors in connection with meetings of its shareholders).
EXHIBIT 4.2
Under the Control Shares Act, any person or entity that acquires control shares pursuant to a control share acquisition acquires voting rights with respect to those shares only to the extent consent is granted by a majority of the disinterested shareholders of each class of capital stock outstanding prior to the acquisition. To obtain such consent, the acquiring person may file an "acquiring person statement" with the issuing public corporation setting forth the number of shares acquired and certain other specified information. Upon delivering the statement, an acquiring person or entity may request a special meeting of shareholders if it undertakes to pay the issuing public corporation's expenses of a special shareholders' meeting. Following receipt of such a request and undertaking, the directors of an issuing public corporation must call a special meeting (generally within 50 days) to consider the voting rights to be given to the shares acquired or to be acquired in the control shares acquisition. If no request for a special meeting is made, the voting rights to be accorded the control shares are to be presented at the issuing public corporation's next special or annual meeting of shareholders.
If either (i) the acquiring person does not file an acquiring person statement with the issuing public corporation or (ii) the shareholders do not vote to restore voting rights to the control shares, the issuing public corporation may, if its articles of incorporation or bylaws so provide, redeem the control shares from the acquiring person at fair market value. Our Articles and Bylaws do not currently provide for such a redemption right.
Unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation or bylaws of an issuing public corporation, all shareholders are entitled to dissenters' rights if the control shares are accorded full voting rights and the acquiring person has obtained control shares with at least a majority of voting power. Notice of such dissenter's rights must be sent to shareholders as soon as practicable thereafter. Our Articles and Bylaws do not currently deny such dissenters' rights.
The directors or shareholders of a corporation may elect to exempt the stock of the corporation from the provisions of the Control Shares Act through adoption of a provision to that effect in the corporation's articles of incorporation or bylaws. To be effective, such an exemption must be adopted prior to the control shares acquisition. Neither our directors nor our shareholders have taken any such action.
We expect the Control Shares Act to have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions not approved in advance by our Board of Directors. The Control Shares Act may also discourage takeover attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares of common stock held by our shareholders.
Business Combinations. Under Sections 16-10a-1801 to 16-10a-1804 of the Utah Code and certain amendments to Section 16-10a-840 of the Utah Code, all of which took effect on May 9, 2017, we are prohibited from entering into a business combination, such as a merger, consolidation, recapitalization, asset sale, or disposition of stock, with any person that meets the definition of "interested shareholder" (discussed further below), including any entity that is, or after the business combination would be, an affiliate or associate of an interested shareholder, for a period of five years after the date such person became an interested shareholder, unless one of the of the following conditions is met:
• the business combination, or the acquisition of stock that resulted in the person becoming an interested shareholder, was approved by our Board of Directors prior to the person becoming an interested shareholder;
• the business combination is approved by a majority of our non-interested shareholders at a meeting called no earlier than five years after the date the person first became an interested shareholder; or
• the cash and other consideration to be delivered to the holder of each share of our common stock meets certain minimum value criteria.
For purposes of the business combination provisions, an "interested shareholder" includes any person who owns (or, in the case of affiliates and associates, did own within the last five years) 20% or more of that corporation's voting stock.
These amendments may have an anti-takeover effect with respect to such business combinations.
Exhibit 21
SUBSIDIARIES OF MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
Subsidiary Name |
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Jurisdiction of |
Merit Medical Australia Pty Ltd. |
Australia |
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Merit Medical Austria GmbH |
Austria |
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Merit Medical Belgium Sprl (BVBA) |
Belgium |
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Merit Medical Comercialização, Distribuição, Importação e Exportação de Produtos Hospitalares LTDA. |
Brazil |
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Merit Medical Canada Ltd. |
Canada |
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Merit Medical Beijing Co. Ltd. |
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China |
Merit Medical Colombia S.A.S. |
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Colombia |
BioSphere Medical Japan, Inc. |
Delaware |
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BioSphere Medical, Inc. |
Delaware |
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Brightwater Medical, Inc. |
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Delaware |
BSMD Ventures, Inc. |
Delaware |
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Cianna Medical, Inc. |
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Delaware |
DFINE, Inc. |
Delaware |
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Restore Endosystems, LLC |
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Delaware |
Vascular Access Technologies, Inc. |
Delaware |
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Merit Medical Denmark A/S |
Denmark |
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Merit Medical Egypt LLC |
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Egypt |
Merit Medical Finland Ltd. |
Finland |
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BioSphere Medical SA |
France |
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Merit Medical France SAS |
France |
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Dfine Europe GmbH |
Germany |
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Merit Medical GmbH |
Germany |
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Merit Medical Asia Company Limited |
Hong Kong |
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Merit Medical Systems India Private Limited |
India |
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Merit Medical Ireland, Ltd. |
Ireland |
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Merit Medical Italy S.R.L. |
Italy |
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Merit Medical Japan KK |
Japan |
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Merit Medical Malaysia Sdn. Bhd |
Malaysia |
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Merit Maquiladora México, S. de R.L. de C.V. |
Mexico |
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Merit Mexico Sales, S. de R.L. de C.V. |
Mexico |
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KA Medical, LLC |
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Minnesota |
Merit Medical Coatings B.V. |
Netherlands |
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Merit Medical Nederland B.V. |
Netherlands |
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Merit Medical New Zealand Limited |
New Zealand |
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Merit Medical Norway AS |
Norway |
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Thomas Medical Products, Inc. |
Pennsylvania |
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Merit Medical Poland sp.z.o.o. |
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Poland |
Merit Medical Portugal, S.A. |
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Portugal |
LLC Merit Technologies |
Russia |
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Merit Medical Singapore Holdings Pte. Ltd |
Singapore |
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Merit Medical Singapore Pte. Ltd. |
Singapore |
Merit Medical South Africa (Pty) LTD |
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South Africa |
Merit Medical Africa (Pty) LTD |
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South Africa |
Merit Medical Korea Co., Ltd. |
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South Korea |
Merit Medical Spain S.L. |
Spain |
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Merit Medical Systems AB |
Sweden |
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Merit Medical Switzerland AG |
Switzerland |
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Merit Medical (Thailand) Limited |
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Thailand |
Merit Medical Turkey Tıbbi Ürünler Ticaret Anonim Şirketi |
Turkey |
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Merit Medical ME FZ-LLC |
United Arab Emirates |
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Merit Medical UK Limited |
United Kingdom |
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Merit Holdings, Inc. |
Utah |
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Merit Sensor Systems, Inc. |
Utah |
EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement No. 333-226320 on Form S-3ASR and Registration Statement Nos. 333-281838, 333-262158, 333-262157, 333-225426, 333-206297, 333-206296, 333-163104, 333-135614, 333-129267, 333-58112 and 333-58162 on Form S-8 of our reports dated February 25, 2025, relating to the financial statements of Merit Medical Systems, Inc. and the effectiveness of Merit Medical Systems, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP |
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Salt Lake City, Utah |
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February 25, 2025 |
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EXHIBIT 31.1
CERTIFICATION
I, Fred P. Lampropoulos, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Report”) of Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (the “Registrant”);
2. Based on my knowledge, this Report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this Report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this Report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this Report;
4. The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Registrant and have:
a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this Report is being prepared;
b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with general accepted accounting principles;
c) evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this Report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this Report based on such evaluation; and
d) disclosed in this Report any change in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: February 25, 2025 |
/s/ Fred P. Lampropoulos |
Fred P. Lampropoulos |
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President and Chief Executive Officer |
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(principal executive officer) |
EXHIBIT 31.2
CERTIFICATION
I, Raul Parra, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Report”) of Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (the “Registrant”);
2. Based on my knowledge, this Report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this Report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this Report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this Report;
4. The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Registrant and have:
a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this Report is being prepared;
b) designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with general accepted accounting principles;
c) evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this Report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this Report based on such evaluation; and
d) disclosed in this Report any change in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: February 25, 2025 |
/s/ Raul Parra |
Raul Parra |
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Chief Financial Officer |
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(principal financial officer) |
EXHIBIT 32.1
Certification of Principal Executive Officer
Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted
Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2024, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Report”), I, Fred P. Lampropoulos, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of my knowledge:
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
Date: February 25, 2025 |
/s/ Fred P. Lampropoulos |
Fred P. Lampropoulos |
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President and Chief Executive Officer |
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(principal executive officer) |
This certification accompanies the foregoing Report pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and shall not, except to the extent required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, be deemed filed by the Registrant for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. A signed original of this certification has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.
EXHIBIT 32.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted
Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2024, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Report”), I, Raul Parra, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of my knowledge:
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
Date: February 25, 2025 |
/s/ Raul Parra |
Raul Parra |
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Chief Financial Officer |
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(principal financial officer) |
This certification accompanies the foregoing Report pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and shall not, except to the extent required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, be deemed filed by the Registrant for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. A signed original of this certification has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.
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Page 1 of 24 E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan (Stock and Options) This trading plan (this “Plan”) completed and executed by NEIL W PETERSON November 6, 2024 (“Client”) on (the “Adoption Date”) between Client and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“MSSB”) acting as agent for Client shall be effective as of the date on which MSSB executes this Plan (the “Effective Date”). A. Recitals 1. This Plan is entered into between Client and MSSB for the purpose of establishing a trading arrangement that complies with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 (c)(1) (“Rule 10b5-1”) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). 2. Client is establishing this Plan in order to permit, with respect to shares of common stock, ticker symbol (the “Stock”), of MMSI Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (the “Issuer”) (Client to check the appropriate box(es): the orderly disposition of shares of the Issuer owned by Client, including shares of Stock that Client has the right to acquire under the outstanding stock options issued by the Issuer, that are listed on Addendum A to this Plan (the “Options); and/or the orderly acquisition of shares of Stock of the Issuer. B. Client’s Representations, Warranties and Covenants 1. As of the Adoption Date, Client is not in possession, and is not aware of any material nonpublic information concerning the Issuer or its securities. If Client is a director or officer (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) of the Exchange Act) of the Issuer, Client certifies as to the foregoing in accordance with Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(ii)(C)). Client understands that the laws governing insider trading are fact-specific and that MSSB does not and cannot guarantee that any transaction that is executed pursuant to this Plan will be deemed covered by the protections of Rule 10b5-1. Client understands that the protections of Rule 10b5-1 may not apply if Client alters this Plan or deviates from the instructions in any way, other than in accordance with the modification provisions of this Plan and applicable law. 2. As of the Adoption Date, Client is entering into and adopting this Plan in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade compliance with the federal or state securities laws, including Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rules 10b-5 or 10b5-1 thereunder or the prohibitions of any other law or rule. If Client is a director or officer (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) of the Exchange Act) of the Issuer, Client certifies as to the foregoing in accordance Docusign Envelope ID: F5A85413-7D55-4779-8443-BDA6365BD59B Docusign Envelope ID: A2F21E0D-3862-4DC3-B966-97622E4FE00A |
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Page 2 of 24 with Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(ii)(C)). Client acknowledges that Client will, at all times, act in good faith with respect to this Plan, including any modifications or terminations of this Plan in accordance with the terms of this Plan. Client acknowledges that this Plan does not violate any insider trading policy of Issuer, as amended and supplemented from time to time and Client shall remain in compliance with such policy while this Plan is in effect. 3. In the case of sales of shares of Stock pursuant to this Plan, the shares of Stock to be sold are owned free and clear by Client (subject, in the case of shares underlying Options, only to the compliance by Client with the exercise provisions of such Options) and are not subject to any agreement granting any pledge, lien, mortgage, hypothecation, security interest, charge, option or encumbrance or any other limitation on disposition, other than those which may have been entered into between Client and MSSB or imposed by Rules 144 or 145 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). 4. While this Plan is in effect, Client agrees not to enter into or alter any corresponding or hedging transaction or position with respect to the securities covered by this Plan (including, without limitation, with respect to any securities convertible or exchangeable into the Stock) and agrees not to alter or deviate from the terms of this Plan. 5. (a) Client agrees to notify MSSB as soon as practicable upon the occurrence of any event that would prohibit any sale or purchase of shares of Stock under this Plan, including but not limited to any legal, contractual or regulatory restriction (e.g., a tender offer or exchange offer), or an offering requiring an affiliate lock-up (other than any such restriction relating to Client’s possession or alleged possession of material nonpublic information about the Issuer or its securities). Client agrees that Issuer may on behalf of Client, provide MSSB with the notice required by this paragraph. Such notice, whether from Client or the Issuer, will indicate only the anticipated duration of the restriction and will, in accordance with this Plan, not include any other information about the nature of the restriction or its applicability to Client. (b) (i) Client agrees that this Plan will be suspended if MSSB receives any written notice from the Issuer or Client of a legal, regulatory or contractual restriction applicable to the Issuer or to Client. Upon receipt of such written notice, Client expressly authorizes MSSB to suspend trading as soon as practicable. Client further understands that any resulting modification or change to the amount, price or timing of the sale of shares of Stock under this Plan shall be deemed a modification for purposes of paragraph E.2 of this Plan (or, in the event the requirements for a modification are not or cannot be satisfied, a termination of this Plan). (ii) Client understands that MSSB may not be able to effectuate a sale due to a market disruption or a legal, regulatory or contractual restriction to which MSSB or its affiliates may be subject, as determined by MSSB in its sole discretion. If this Plan is suspended in accordance with this paragraph B.5(b)(ii) hereof, sales or purchase of shares under this Plan shall resume trading as soon as MSSB determines that it is reasonably practical to do so. Docusign Envelope ID: F5A85413-7D55-4779-8443-BDA6365BD59B Docusign Envelope ID: A2F21E0D-3862-4DC3-B966-97622E4FE00A |
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Page 3 of 24 Upon the resumption of trading following such a suspension, any trades having an end date scheduled to have occurred during such suspension period shall be deemed to have expired as of that scheduled end date as set forth in Addendum A, as applicable. Any trades having a start date scheduled to have occurred during such period of suspension shall be placed as soon as practicable for the balance of time remaining until the end date applicable to such trade. All other trades shall be placed as originally set forth in this Plan. 6. Client represents and warrants that the execution and delivery of this Plan by Client and the transactions contemplated by this Plan will not contravene any provision of applicable law or any agreement or other instrument binding on Client or any of Client’s affiliates or any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over Client or Client’s affiliates. 7. Client agrees that, until this Plan has been terminated, Client will not (a) enter into a binding contract with respect to the sale of Client’s shares of Stock covered by Addendum A (the “Plan Shares”) with another broker, dealer or financial institution (each, a “Financial Institution”); (b) instruct another Financial Institution to sell Client’s Plan Shares on behalf of Client; or (c) adopt a plan for trading with respect to Client’s Plan Shares other than pursuant to this Plan or another trading plan with MSSB that complies with the requirements to Rule 10b5-1(c)(1) under the Exchange Act. 8. Client agrees to promptly notify MSSB, in writing, before (a) entering into or modifying any new or existing contract, instruction or plan to purchase or sell any securities of the Issuer that would qualify for the affirmative defense under Rule 10b5-1(c)(1) and be treated as a single “plan” with this Plan under Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(ii)(D)(1) based on consultation with Client’s own legal advisors, and Client understands that any such modification would act as a “modification” of this Plan within the meaning of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(iv), or (b) entering into any other contract, instruction or plan for purchases or sales of the Issuer’s securities. Client understands that any such modification or termination would act as a modification or termination of this Plan, as applicable, with any such modification subject to the cooling-off period then required by Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(ii)(B). 9. Client acknowledges that Client has no outstanding (and will not subsequently enter into, while this Plan is in effect, any additional) contract, instruction or plan that would qualify for the affirmative defense under Rule 10b5-1(c)(1) for purchases or sales of the Issuer’s securities on the open market, except for any such additional contract, instruction or plan that is permitted by Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(ii)(D) (based on consultation with Client’s own legal advisors) and about which Client has notified MSSB in writing. 10. Client agrees that it will not, directly or indirectly, communicate any material nonpublic information about the Issuer or its securities, including the Stock, to any employee or representative of MSSB or its affiliates who is involved, directly or indirectly, in executing this Plan at any time while this Plan is in effect. Docusign Envelope ID: F5A85413-7D55-4779-8443-BDA6365BD59B Docusign Envelope ID: A2F21E0D-3862-4DC3-B966-97622E4FE00A |
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Page 4 of 24 11. Client acknowledges that, if this Plan is designed to effect the open-market sale of the total amount of shares of Stock under this Plan as a single transaction, other than eligible sell-to-cover transactions as described in Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(ii)(D)(3), Client has not, during the prior twelve (12)-month period, adopted, and will not subsequently adopt while this Plan is in effect, a contract, instruction or plan that (a) was or is designed to effect the open-market purchase or sale of all of the securities covered by such contract, instruction or plan in a single transaction and (b) would otherwise qualify for the affirmative defense under Rule 10b5-1(c)(1). 12. Client acknowledges that Client is responsible for making all filings, if any, required under Sections 13(d), 13(g) and 16 of the Exchange Act. 13. (a) Client represents and warrants to MSSB (check applicable box or boxes): For purposes of Rule 144 under the Securities Act, Client is an “affiliate” of the Issuer or has been an affiliate of the Issuer during the preceding three months. If applicable, Client agrees to timely provide the paperwork described in paragraph B.13(c) below. Client intends to sell shares of Stock under this Plan that are “restricted securities” which have been held by the Client for the time period required pursuant to Rule 144(d) under the Securities Act. If applicable, Client agrees to timely provide the paperwork described in paragraph B.13(c) below. Client acquired the Stock in a transaction covered by Rule 145 under the Securities Act and the Stock may be sold without registration pursuant to Rule 145(d) thereunder. Client acquired the Stock under Rule 701 under the Securities Act and intends to sell the Stock in accordance with Rule 701(g)(3) thereunder. None of Rule 144, Rule 145, nor Rule 701 under the Securities Act is applicable to the Stock. (b) Client agrees to not take, and agrees to not cause any person or entity with which Client would be required to aggregate sales of shares of Stock pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) or (e) of Rule 144 to take, any action that would cause sales of shares of Stock under this Plan to not meet all applicable requirements of Rule 144, including without limitation the volume limitation of Rule 144(e). (c) If Client is an affiliate or control person of the Issuer for purposes of Rule 144, or if the shares of Stock subject to this Plan are restricted securities subject to limitations under Rule 144, Client agrees to timely provide Docusign Envelope ID: F5A85413-7D55-4779-8443-BDA6365BD59B Docusign Envelope ID: A2F21E0D-3862-4DC3-B966-97622E4FE00A |
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Page 5 of 24 completed and signed Rule 144 paperwork to MSSB (including, without limitation, a Seller Representation Letter dated as of the date of this Plan substantially in the form of Addendum C to this Plan, and, if applicable, an Initial Electronic Signature Authentication Document, in each case prior to the Adoption Date). Client acknowledges that MSSB requires this paperwork in order to facilitate trades for Client’s account. Client also agrees to timely provide, if applicable, the codes necessary for MSSB to file electronically any required Forms 144 on Client’s behalf with the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (“EDGAR)” system, including Client’s current individual central index key (CIK) and CIK confirmation code (CCC). Client acknowledges that MSSB requires this paperwork to facilitate Rule 144 trades for Client’s account. Subject to MSSB’s timely receipt of Client’s Rule 144 paperwork and the other deliverables described above, MSSB hereby agrees to submit the completed Form 144 to the SEC consistent with Rule 144 filing requirements. Client understands and acknowledges that, if the CIK and CCC codes Client provides are not accurate and up to date, MSSB may not be able to file a timely Form 144 on Client’s behalf. Following such delivery, MSSB agrees to file each such Form 144 on behalf of Client as required by applicable law. Client acknowledges that MSSB will have no obligation to complete or file Forms 144 on behalf of Client for any sales made outside of this Plan. If Client or its affiliates effect sales outside of this Plan, Client will promptly report such sales to MSSB to allow prompt and accurate Form 144 filings for transactions pursuant to this Plan. Client agrees to release, hold harmless and discharge MSSB and its affiliates, agents, officers, successors and insurers from any and all claims, demands, losses, liabilities, damages and other expenses which may be sustained at any time relating to its facilitating transactions and completing necessary form filings on Client’s behalf under Rule 144. 14. Client confirms that is has provided MSSB with a certificate dated as of the Adoption Date and signed by the Issuer substantially in the form of Addendum D to this Plan, attached hereto. 15. Except as specified in Addendum A to this Plan, Client acknowledges and agrees that Client does not have, and will not attempt to exercise, any influence over how, when or whether to effect sales or purchases under this Plan. 16. With respect to the Issuer, Client states: (a) Client has provided the Issuer with an opportunity to review this Plan; (b) The Issuer has acknowledged the existence of this Plan, including Addendum A hereto, as evidenced by the Issuer’s signature hereto; and (c) This Plan does not violate an insider trading policy of the Issuer. Docusign Envelope ID: F5A85413-7D55-4779-8443-BDA6365BD59B Docusign Envelope ID: A2F21E0D-3862-4DC3-B966-97622E4FE00A |
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Page 6 of 24 17. Client and MSSB agree and acknowledge that the Issuer is not a party to this Plan. 18. Client has had the opportunity to consult with Client’s own advisors as to legal, tax, business, financial and related aspects of, and has not relied upon MSSB or any person affiliated with MSSB in connection with, Client’s adoption of this Plan. To the extent that Client does not permit MSSB to exercise any influence over how, when or whether to effect sales and/or purchases of shares of Stock pursuant to this Plan, Client acknowledges that neither MSSB nor any person affiliated with MSSB nor any of their respective officers, employees or other representatives is authorized to exercise any discretion with respect to such sales and/or purchases. C. Representations, Warranties and Covenants of MSSB 1. To the extent that Client advises MSSB that sales under this Plan must comply with Rule 144 of the Securities Act, MSSB agrees to conduct such sales in accordance with the manner of sale requirement of Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in no event will MSSB effect any such sale if the sale would exceed the then-applicable volume limitation under Rule 144(e), assuming MSSB’s sales under this Plan are the only sales subject to that limitation, except to the extent that Client advises MSSB of other specific sales that must be aggregated with Client’s sales. 2. MSSB will provide Client and Issuer with written trade confirmations of the sales and/or purchases made pursuant to this Plan promptly after the execution of such transactions, including sufficient information to permit the client to timely prepare and make all filings required under sections 13(d), 13(g) and 16 of the Exchange Act. To assist Client with Client’s reporting obligations under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, Client and MSSB will have executed “Broker’s Authorization to Confirm and Provide Reports of Transactions Directly to Issuer” in the form of Addendum B hereto. 3. MSSB will not deviate from the instructions set forth in Addendum A to this Plan and will implement this Plan as set forth herein. 4. MSSB will have implemented reasonable policies and procedures to ensure that any employee or representative of MSSB implementing this Plan does not sell or purchase shares of Stock while in possession of material nonpublic information. D. Implementation of this Plan 1. Client hereby appoints MSSB to sell or purchase shares of Stock pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in Addendum A of this Plan. Subject to such terms and conditions, MSSB hereby accepts such appointment. 2. MSSB is authorized to begin selling or purchasing shares of Stock pursuant to this Plan as set forth in Addendum A, and will cease selling or Docusign Envelope ID: F5A85413-7D55-4779-8443-BDA6365BD59B Docusign Envelope ID: A2F21E0D-3862-4DC3-B966-97622E4FE00A |
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Page 7 of 24 purchasing shares of Stock on the earliest to occur of (i) the date specified by Client in Addendum A; (ii) the date on which MSSB receives notice from Client or the Issuer that the Issuer or any other person has publicly announced a tender or exchange offer with respect to the Stock; (iii) the date on which MSSB receives notice from Client or the Issuer that the Issuer or any other person has publicly announced that the Issuer is the target of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, recapitalization or comparable transaction affecting the securities of the Issuer, as a result of which the shares of Stock will be converted into shares of stock of another company; (iv) the date on which MSSB receives notice from the Issuer that sales or purchases of shares of Stock must cease, whether or not the reason is disclosed; (v) the date on which MSSB receives notice of the commencement of any proceeding in respect of or triggered by Client’s bankruptcy or insolvency; (vi) receipt of notice from the Issuer or representatives of the Client’s estate of the death of Client; or (vii) the date on which Client receives receive written notice from MSSB terminating this Plan, which may be given for any reason. 3. MSSB will not sell or purchase shares of Stock under this Plan at any time: (a) When any person at MSSB with influence over how, when or whether to the effect such transaction is aware of material nonpublic information concerning the Issuer or its securities; (b) When MSSB, in its sole discretion, has determined that it is prohibited from doing so by a legal, contractual or regulatory restriction applicable to it or its affiliates or to Client or Client’s affiliates (other than any such restriction relating to Client’s possession or alleged possession of material nonpublic information about the Issuer or its securities); (c) After MSSB receives notice from Client or the Issuer in accordance with paragraph B.5.(a) above of the occurrence of any event that would prohibit the sale or purchase of shares of Stock under this Plan; or (d) After this Plan has been terminated in accordance with paragraph E.1 below: 4. (a) Client agrees to deliver shares of Stock in the case of ALL sales made pursuant to this Plan (with the amount to be estimated by Client in good faith, if the trade amount is designated as an aggregate dollar amount, into an account at MSSB in the name of and for the benefit of Client (the “Plan Account”), and/or deliver $ per share in the case of purchases to be made N/A pursuant to this Plan, prior to the commencement of sales and/or purchases of shares of Stock under this Plan. (b) Client agrees to make appropriate arrangements with the Issuer and its transfer agent and stock plan administrator to permit MSSB to furnish notice to the Issuer of the exercise of Options and to have the underlying shares of Stock delivered to MSSB as necessary to effect sales under this Plan. Client Docusign Envelope ID: F5A85413-7D55-4779-8443-BDA6365BD59B Docusign Envelope ID: A2F21E0D-3862-4DC3-B966-97622E4FE00A |
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Page 8 of 24 hereby authorizes MSSB to serve as Client’s agent and attorney-in-fact and, in accordance with the terms of this Plan, to exercise Options. (c) MSSB will, in connection with the exercise of Options, remit to the Issuer the exercise price thereof along with such amounts as may be necessary to satisfy any tax withholding obligation. These amounts will be deducted from the proceeds of the sale of shares of Stock. To the extent a “market price” is selected to exercise a stock option and sell resulting shares associated therewith in Addendum A hereto, Client understands and acknowledges that such order may result in a loss for some or all of the shares sold, and Client further understands and agrees that Client shall be responsible for any such losses in connection therewith. (d) To the extent that any shares of Stock remain in this Plan Account after the end of this Plan trading period or upon termination of this Plan, MSSB agrees to return such shares of Stock promptly to the Issuer’s transfer agent for relegending if Client advises MSSB that such shares of Stock are subject to transfer restrictions in the hands of Client. 5. MSSB will in no event effect any sales under this Plan if the shares of Stock to be sold are not in this Plan Account or underlying an Option that is exercisable in accordance with the terms of this Plan; provided however, to the extent Addendum A includes the sale of shares underlying unvested stock plan awards as of the Effective Date, such awards must vest and the underlying shares must be deposited in this Plan Account not later than 8:00 A.M. Eastern Time on the corresponding Earliest Sell Date set forth in Addendum A in order for such sale to take place as set forth in Addendum A. Client acknowledges that no sale, or exercise and sale, may occur until the Earliest Sell Date set forth on Addendum A. If Client is a director or officer (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) of the Exchange Act) of the Issuer, Client acknowledges that a representative of the Issuer will communicate the Earliest Sell Date in writing to MSSB at least five (5) business days prior to such date. 6. MSSB will in no event effect any purchase under this Plan if the funds for the purchase of shares of Stock are not in a bank or other account that Client has designated in writing for use in connection with this Plan. 7. MSSB will sell the Stock subject to this Plan in accordance with the terms of this Plan, including, without limitation, Client’s instructions set forth in Addendum A to this Plan. Provided it is consistent with MSSB’s duty of best execution and the parameters that Client has directed in Addendum A, MSSB is authorized: (i) to sell the Stock subject to this Plan on a “not held” basis, which permits MSSB to exercise price and time discretion in the sale of such Stock; and (ii) to sell the Stock subject to this Plan jointly with orders of other plan customers. In either or both of the above cases, Client will receive the average price of all sales of Stock executed on Client’s behalf, which will be equal to or better than any Price specified by Client in Addendum A to this Plan, if applicable. Docusign Envelope ID: F5A85413-7D55-4779-8443-BDA6365BD59B Docusign Envelope ID: A2F21E0D-3862-4DC3-B966-97622E4FE00A |
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Page 9 of 24 8. MSSB may sell or purchase shares of Stock on any national securities exchange, in the over-the-counter market, on an automated trading system or otherwise. Client agrees that if MSSB is a market maker in the Stock at the time any purchase or sale is to be made under this Plan, MSSB may, in its sole discretion, purchase or sell shares of Stock from Client in its capacity as market maker. 9. The exercise, sale and purchase prices, and number of Options to be exercised and shares of Stock to be sold, will be adjusted following the occurrence of a Stock split, Stock dividend or other like distributions affecting the Stock. 10. Unless otherwise agreed to in Addendum A to this Plan, Client is subject to MSSB’s usual and customary commission and fees. E. Termination and Modification 1. This Plan will terminate on the earlier of: (a) ; April 24, 2026 (b) the first date on which all trades have been executed or all trading orders relating to such trades set forth on Addendum A have expired; (c) as soon as practicable but no more than one (1) business day following the date on which Client gives written notice to MSSB to terminate this Plan; (d) as soon as practicable but no more than one (1) business day following the date on which MSSB gives written notice Client to terminate this Plan, which may be for any reason; (e) as soon as practicable but no more than one (1) business day following the date on which MSSB receives written notice of a termination of an additional contract, instruction or plan that is being treated as a single “plan” with this Plan (or MSSB receives written notice of a modification of such additional contract, instruction or plan and the requirements for a modification of this Plan are not or cannot be satisfied); (f) as soon as practicable but no more than one (1) business day following the date on which MSSB receives written notice of a legal, regulatory or contractual restriction applicable to the Issuer or to Client that would result in a modification or change to the amount, price or timing of the sale of Plan Shares but the requirements for a modification of this Plan are not or cannot be satisfied; and (g) as soon as practicable but no more than one (1) business day following the date set forth in paragraph D.2 of this Plan. Docusign Envelope ID: F5A85413-7D55-4779-8443-BDA6365BD59B Docusign Envelope ID: A2F21E0D-3862-4DC3-B966-97622E4FE00A |
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Page 10 of 24 Any termination would require Client to enter into a new Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement with MSSB in order to resume sales or purchases. Client agrees that Client will act in good faith with respect to any terminations of this Plan. 2. Client understands that any modification to the amount, price or timing of the sale of shares of Stock under this Plan and set forth in Addendum A will constitute a termination of this Plan for purposes of Rule 10b5-1(c) and the adoption of a new plan subject to the cooling-off period then required by Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(ii)(B). This Plan, including Addendum A hereto, may be amended by writing entered into by Client and MSSB at a time when Client is not in possession, or aware, of material nonpublic information about Issuer or its securities and upon receipt by MSSB of the following documents, each dated as of the date of such amendment: (a) A Client representation letter completed and executed by Client substantially in a form acceptable to MSSB, if it so requests; and (b) If Client is a Rule 144 affiliate, representations substantially to the effect of those contained in Addendum C of this Plan; and (c) A written acknowledgment by the Issuer of the existence of such amendment. F. Indemnification; Limitation of Liability 1. Client agrees to indemnify and hold harmless MSSB and its affiliated entities and their respective members, directors, officers, employees, agents and affiliates from and against all claims, losses, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim): (i) found by a court of competent jurisdiction to arise out of or attributable to actions taken or not taken by any of them under this Plan, except in the case of any claims, losses, damages or liabilities resulting from MSSB’s gross negligence, willful misconduct, recklessness or bad faith; (ii) arising out of or attributable to any breach by Client of this Plan (including Client’s representations and warranties in this Plan); or (iii) any violation by Client of applicable laws or regulations. This indemnification will survive termination of this Plan 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, neither MSSB nor any of its directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates shall be liable to Client or any other person or entity: (a) As a result of actions taken or not taken by any of them under this Plan, except in the case of a liability found by a court of competent jurisdiction to arise from MSSB’s gross negligence, willful misconduct, recklessness or bad faith. (b) For special, indirect, punitive, exemplary or consequential damages, or incidental losses or damages of any kind, even if advised of the Docusign Envelope ID: F5A85413-7D55-4779-8443-BDA6365BD59B Docusign Envelope ID: A2F21E0D-3862-4DC3-B966-97622E4FE00A |
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Page 11 of 24 possibility of such losses or damages or if such losses or damages could have been reasonably foreseen; or (c) For any failure to perform or to cease performance or any delay in performance that results from a cause or circumstance that is beyond MSSB’s reasonable control, including but not limited to failure of electronic or mechanical equipment, strikes, failure of common carrier or utility systems, severe weather, market disruptions or other causes commonly known as “acts of God.” G. General 1. Client and MSSB acknowledge and agree that this Plan is a “securities contract,” as such term is defined in Section 741 (7) of Title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”), entitled to all of the protections given such contracts under the Bankruptcy Code. Client and MSSB acknowledge and agree that the Issuer has the right to disclose and/or terminate this Plan at any time. 2. This Plan constitutes the entire agreement between Client and MSSB with respect to this Plan and supersedes any prior agreements or understandings with regard to this Plan. In the event that the terms or conditions in this Plan conflict with the terms or conditions in the Self-Directed Account Agreement, the terms or conditions in this Plan will govern with respect to the implementation of this Plan. 3. Client’s rights and obligations under this Plan may not be assigned or delegated without the written permission of MSSB. 4. Client and the Issuer, as applicable, agree to give all notices to MSSB with respect to this Plan either by certified or registered United States mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, by nationally recognized overnight courier that issues a receipt or other confirmation of delivery, or via email at 10b51@etrade.com provided that a confirmation is available to the following address: Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Attn: Executive Services 3 Edison Drive Alpharetta, GA 30005 5. This Plan may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which will be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures on all counterparts were upon the same instrument. 6. If any provision of this Plan is or becomes inconsistent with any applicable present or future law, rule or regulation, that provision will be deemed modified or, if necessary, rescinded in order to comply with the relevant law, rule or regulation. All other provisions of this Plan will continue Docusign Envelope ID: F5A85413-7D55-4779-8443-BDA6365BD59B Docusign Envelope ID: A2F21E0D-3862-4DC3-B966-97622E4FE00A |
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Page 12 of 24 and remain in full force and effect. 7. This Plan will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York and may be modified or amended only by a writing signed by Client and MSSB and, as required under this Plan, the Issuer. Docusign Envelope ID: F5A85413-7D55-4779-8443-BDA6365BD59B Docusign Envelope ID: A2F21E0D-3862-4DC3-B966-97622E4FE00A |
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Page 13 of 24 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Plan (and Addendum A and B, if applicable). CLIENT Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Signature: _________________________ By: __________________________ Print Name: NEIL W PETERSON Print Name: ____________________ Title: Title: __________________________ Date: November 6, 2024 Date: _________________________ Acknowledged by: Merit Medical Systems, Inc. By: ______________________________ Print Name: _______________________ Title: _____________________________ Date: _________________________________ Docusign Envelope ID: F5A85413-7D55-4779-8443-BDA6365BD59B Brian Lloyd 11/6/2024 Chief Legal Officer Chief Operating Officer Docusign Envelope ID: A2F21E0D-3862-4DC3-B966-97622E4FE00A 11/8/2024 Executive Director Colleen Arguello |
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Page 14 of 24 ADDENDUM A This addendum (the “Addendum”) between NEIL W PETERSON (“Client”) and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“MSSB”), is made a part of that certain E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan (Stock and Options) entered into by Client and MSSB (the “Plan”). Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in this Plan. Adoption Date November 6, 2024 : Client Instructions for Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan: *Language changes/additions to this Addendum are permissible only by MSSB* Table 1: Earliest Sell Date* (1) Instructions (Cash Exercise, Sell to Cover, Same Day Sale, Sell ESPP, Sell Restricted Stock Award/Unit) Date of Grant, Vest Date, Purchase Date, Exercise Date Grant Number Security Type Number of Shares to Sell Number of Options to Exercise Price 02/05/2025 through 03/31/2025 Same Day Sale Grant Date 04/25/2019 002676 Stock Options 5000 5000 $105.00 04/01/2025 through 07/31/2025 Same Day Sale Grant Date 04/25/2019 002676 Stock Options Any unsold shares from above order Any unexercised options from above order $95.00 08/01/2025 through 12/31/2025 Same Day Sale Grant Date 04/25/2019 002676 Stock Options Any unsold shares from above order Any unexercised options from above order $90.00 01/02/2026 through 01/30/2026 Same Day Sale Grant Date 04/25/2019 002676 Stock Options Any unsold shares from above order Any unexercised options from above order $80.00 02/02/2026 through 02/27/2026 Same Day Sale Grant Date 04/25/2019 002676 Stock Options Any unsold shares from above order Any unexercised options from above order $70.00 03/02/2026 through 04/17/2026 Same Day Sale Grant Date 04/25/2019 002676 Stock Options Any unsold shares from above order Any unexercised options from above order $60.00 04/20/2026 Same Day Sale Grant Date 04/25/2019 002676 Stock Options Any unsold shares from above order Any unexercised options from above order $57.00 02/05/2025 through 03/31/2025 Same Day Sale Grant Date 04/25/2019 002676 Stock Options 5000 5000 $110.00 Docusign Envelope ID: F5A85413-7D55-4779-8443-BDA6365BD59B Docusign Envelope ID: A2F21E0D-3862-4DC3-B966-97622E4FE00A |
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Page 15 of 24 04/01/2025 through 07/31/2025 Same Day Sale Grant Date 04/25/2019 002676 Stock Options Any unsold shares from above order Any unexercised options from above order $100.00 08/01/2025 through 12/31/2025 Same Day Sale Grant Date 04/25/2019 002676 Stock Options Any unsold shares from above order Any unexercised options from above order $95.00 01/02/2026 through 01/30/2026 Same Day Sale Grant Date 04/25/2019 002676 Stock Options Any unsold shares from above order Any unexercised options from above order $85.00 02/02/2026 through 02/27/2026 Same Day Sale Grant Date 04/25/2019 002676 Stock Options Any unsold shares from above order Any unexercised options from above order $75.00 03/02/2026 through 04/17/2026 Same Day Sale Grant Date 04/25/2019 002676 Stock Options Any unsold shares from above order Any unexercised options from above order $65.00 04/20/2026 Same Day Sale Grant Date 04/25/2019 002676 Stock Options Any unsold shares from above order Any unexercised options from above order $57.00 02/06/2025 through 03/31/2025 Same Day Sale Grant Date 04/25/2019 002676 Stock Options 5000 5000 $130.00 04/01/2025 through 07/31/2025 Same Day Sale Grant Date 04/25/2019 002676 Stock Options Any unsold shares from above order Any unexercised options from above order $110.00 08/01/2025 through 12/31/2025 Same Day Sale Grant Date 04/25/2019 002676 Stock Options Any unsold shares from above order Any unexercised options from above order $100.00 01/02/2026 through 01/30/2026 Same Day Sale Grant Date 04/25/2019 002676 Stock Options Any unsold shares from above order Any unexercised options from above order $90.00 02/02/2026 through 02/27/2026 Same Day Sale Grant Date 04/25/2019 002676 Stock Options Any unsold shares from above order Any unexercised options from above order $80.00 03/02/2026 through 04/17/2026 Same Day Sale Grant Date 04/25/2019 002676 Stock Options Any unsold shares from above order Any unexercised options from above order $70.00 04/20/2026 Same Day Sale Grant Date 04/25/2019 002676 Stock Options Any unsold shares from above order Any unexercised options from above order $57.00 Plan Termination Date: Unless otherwise terminated pursuant to Section E.1 of this Plan, April 24, 2026. Maximum number of shares to be sold: See Table Above * : The Earliest Sell Date is the later of (i) and (ii): Earliest Sell Date (i) the 91st day after the Adoption Date; or (ii) the earlier of: (a) the third business day following the disclosure of the Issuer’s Docusign Envelope ID: F5A85413-7D55-4779-8443-BDA6365BD59B Docusign Envelope ID: A2F21E0D-3862-4DC3-B966-97622E4FE00A |
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Page 16 of 24 financial results in a Form 10-Q or Form 10-K for the completed fiscal quarter in which this Plan is adopted; or (b) the 121st day after the Adoption Date. The Issuer will communicate the Earliest Sell date to the MSSB 10b5-1 team via email at 10b51@etrade.com no later than five (5) business days prior to the Earliest Sell Date. If such notification is not delivered to MSSB at least five (5) business days prior to the Earliest Sell Date, MSSB will act upon such notice as promptly as administratively feasible. **Please Note: If a Price is specified, then MSSB in accordance with the terms set forth in the table, will enter orders to sell as many shares of Stock specified by Client at prices that are equal to or better than the Price specified. (1) If for any reason an Option cannot be exercised and sold or the shares of Stock cannot be sold on the date indicated (check one of the following): the unsold amount will be sold on the next trading date and when the limit price is met, until all shares are sold; the unsold amount will be carried forward and added to the number of shares of Stock authorized to be sold on the next sale date in the table (if any) until sold; the trade will be cancelled and the unsold amount will not be sold and will not be carried over to the next specific sale date. (2) The number of Shares to be sold that relate to unvested restricted stock and performance awards as of this Plan Adoption Date, may vary from the number of Shares actually available for sale under this Plan following vesting of such awards. Commission fee per trade: $.06 per share or $29.95, whichever is greater. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have signed this Addendum to this Plan as of the date first written above. Docusign Envelope ID: F5A85413-7D55-4779-8443-BDA6365BD59B Docusign Envelope ID: A2F21E0D-3862-4DC3-B966-97622E4FE00A |
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Page 17 of 24 CLIENT Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Signature: _________________________ By: __________________________ Print Name: NEIL W PETERSON Print Name: ____________________ Title: Title: __________________________ Date: November 6, 2024 Date: _________________________ Acknowledged by: Merit Medical Systems, Inc. By: ______________________________ Print Name: _______________________ Title: _____________________________ Date: _________________________________ Docusign Envelope ID: F5A85413-7D55-4779-8443-BDA6365BD59B Brian Lloyd Chief Legal Officer 11/6/2024 Chief Operating Officer Docusign Envelope ID: A2F21E0D-3862-4DC3-B966-97622E4FE00A 11/8/2024 Executive Director Colleen Arguello |
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Page 18 of 24 Addendum B Broker’s Authorization To Confirm and Provide Reports Of Transactions Directly To Issuer To: Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC as Broker From: NEIL W PETERSON Date: November 6, 2024 Re: Reporting Procedure for Transactions Involving Equity Securities of Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (the “Issuer”) The undersigned (“Client”) hereby authorizes, acknowledges and confirms to Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Broker”), with respect to the account(s) indicated in paragraph 1 below (each, an “Account”), as follows: 1. Client authorizes Broker and, if appropriate, has obtained written authorization as evidenced by the signatures of the appropriate persons at the end of this authorization with respect to the relevant Account Name(s) and Number(s) listed below, to report to the Issuer any purchase or sale of any equity security of the Issuer effected by Broker in or through any Account (each, a “Transaction”). Each Transaction notification will include date of the transaction, type of transaction, number of shares exercised, purchased or sold, and the corresponding transaction price. Account Name Account Number NEIL W PETERSON XXXXX-6559 2. Client authorizes and directs Broker to use reasonable best efforts to notify the Issuer of each Transaction by no later than one business day after the date of such Transaction, such notification to be made to the attention of the contact names at the e-mail addresses provided below. Client agrees to notify Broker in writing if any of the contact information changes. Docusign Envelope ID: F5A85413-7D55-4779-8443-BDA6365BD59B Docusign Envelope ID: A2F21E0D-3862-4DC3-B966-97622E4FE00A |
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Page 19 of 24 Contact Name Firm/Company Email Address Brian Lloyd Merit Medical Systems, Inc. brian.lloyd@merit.com Nora Durazo Merit Medical Systems, Inc. nora.durazo@merit.com Raul Parra Merit Medical Systems, Inc. rparra@merit.com 3. All notices to Broker hereunder shall be made in writing either by certified or registered United States mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, by nationally recognized overnight courier that issues a receipt or other confirmation of delivery to the following address: Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Attn: Executive Services 3 Edison Drive Alpharetta, GA 30005 4. All authorizations and agreements of Client herein shall remain in effect until terminated in writing by Client. 5. This authorization letter shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, is subject to the terms of the Rule 10b5 1 Trading Plan entered into on between Client and Broker (the “Plan”) and does not November 6, 2024 modify, supersede or otherwise amend the parties’ rights or obligations under this Plan. * * * CLIENT Signature: _________________________ Print Name: NEIL W PETERSON Title: Docusign Envelope ID: F5A85413-7D55-4779-8443-BDA6365BD59B Chief Operating Officer Docusign Envelope ID: A2F21E0D-3862-4DC3-B966-97622E4FE00A |
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Page 20 of 24 Addendum C Rule 144 Seller Representation Letter Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Attention: Executive Services 3 Edison Drive Alpharetta, GA 30005 Re: Sale of shares of (the “Issuer”) stock Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (“Stock”) Pursuant to Rule 144 Dear Sirs/Madams: The undersigned, , proposes to sell the above-referenced NEIL W PETERSON Stock of the Issuer through MSSB (“MSSB”) in accordance with the requirements of Rule 144 (“Rule 144”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The undersigned is an “affiliate” of the Issuer as that term is defined in Rule 144(a)(1). Accordingly, the undersigned delivers to you herewith a signed copy of a Form 144 relating to such sale, and confirms to you that the statements made therein are true and complete and represents and agrees that: 1. The undersigned does not know or have any reason to believe that the Issuer is not a “reporting issuer” or not current in its reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as required by Rule 144(c)(1) (i.e., to the knowledge of the undersigned, the Issuer has filed the reports required to be filed by Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, other than Form 8-K reports, for a period of at least 90 days immediately preceding the date of sale). 2. To the knowledge of the undersigned, the Issuer is not a “shell” company as described in Rule 144(i)(1) or is a former “shell” company and, at the time of any sale of the Stock for the account of the undersigned, will be in compliance with the requirements of Rule 144(i)(2). 3. With respect to any shares of the Stock that are restricted securities, as that term is defined in Rule 144(a)(3), a minimum of six months has elapsed since the date of acquisition of the Stock from the Issuer or an affiliate of the Issuer, and payment of the full purchase price, by the undersigned. 4. At the time of any sale of the Stock for the account of the undersigned, the number of shares of the Issuer’s common stock sold by the undersigned or for the undersigned’s account and by or for the account of any person whose sales are required to be aggregated with sales by or for the undersigned as provided in paragraphs (a)(2) and (e)(3) of Rule 144 during the three months prior to the date of sale will not exceed the amounts permitted by Rule 144(e). 5. The undersigned has not solicited or arranged for the solicitation of, and will not solicit or arrange for the solicitation of, orders to buy the Stock in Docusign Envelope ID: F5A85413-7D55-4779-8443-BDA6365BD59B Docusign Envelope ID: A2F21E0D-3862-4DC3-B966-97622E4FE00A |
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Page 21 of 24 anticipation of or in connection with such proposed sale, and such sale shall be made in accordance with Rule 144(f). 6. The undersigned is not acting, and will not act, in concert with any person or entity with respect to the sale of the Stock. 7. The undersigned has not made, and will not make, any payment in connection with the offering or sale of the Stock to any person other than the usual and customary compensation to MSSB. 8. The undersigned is providing a signed Form 144 and is authorizing MSSB to file Form 144 on the undersigned’s behalf with the SEC at the time the undersigned has instructed MSSB to sell the securities. Through the Initial Electronic Signature Authentication Document the undersigned provided to MSSB, the undersigned has authenticated the use of the undersigned’s electronic signature and provided (or authorized the Issuer to provide) and authorized the use of the undersigned’s individual central index key (CIK) and CIK confirmation code (CCC) for such filings with the SEC. The undersigned understands and acknowledges that, if MSSB does not timely receive the undersigned’s Rule 144 paperwork or if the CIK and CCC codes provided to MSSB are not accurate, MSSB may not be able to facilitate the trade for the undersigned’s account and/or file a timely Form 144 on the undersigned’s behalf. 9. The undersigned authorizes MSSB to complete and/or update the Form 144 information provided to MSSB related to the proposed sales and this Client’s Representation Letter (this “Letter”), including, but not limited to, the number of shares to be sold, the number of shares sold during the past three months and any dates, as may be necessary to reflect the undersigned’s instructions, which may be written or oral, and the facts of the transaction(s) as effected, and to use such Form 144 and this Letter as appropriate to comply with Rule 144 and to effect settlement of any sale made in conjunction herewith. 10. The undersigned agrees to notify MSSB promptly if there are any changes to the facts or representations set forth in this Letter or in the accompanying Form 144 (if applicable). 11. The undersigned authorizes MSSB to contact the Issuer, its counsel, its transfer agent, and their agents and representatives concerning this transaction. 12. MSSB and its agents and representatives, the Issuer, its transfer agent and their agents and representatives may rely on the accuracy of the information contained in this Letter. Docusign Envelope ID: F5A85413-7D55-4779-8443-BDA6365BD59B Docusign Envelope ID: A2F21E0D-3862-4DC3-B966-97622E4FE00A |
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Page 22 of 24 Sincerely yours, CLIENT Signature: _________________________ Print Name: NEIL W PETERSON Title: Date: November 6, 2024 Docusign Envelope ID: F5A85413-7D55-4779-8443-BDA6365BD59B Chief Operating Officer Docusign Envelope ID: A2F21E0D-3862-4DC3-B966-97622E4FE00A |
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Page 23 of 24 Addendum D Issuer Certificate 1. (the “Issuer”) represents that its insider Merit Medical Systems, Inc. trading policy (the “Policy”) allows adoption of trading plans pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 10b5-1 relating to its common stock (the “Stock”), by certain directors, officers and employees of the Issuer, including the E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan (the “Plan”) between (“Client”) and MSSB (“MSSB”). NEIL W PETERSON 2. The sales to be made by MSSB for Client pursuant to the Plan conform to, and do not violate, the Policy, and, to the best of the Issuer’s knowledge, there are no legal, contractual or regulatory restrictions applicable to the Issuer, Client or their respective affiliates as of the date of this representation that would prohibit either Client from entering into the Plan or any sale pursuant to the Plan. 3. The Issuer represents that Client’s Rule 144 affiliate status at the Issuer, as represented by Client in Section 13 of the Plan, is true and accurate. 4. If, at any time during the term of the Plan, (a) the Issuer becomes aware of a legal, contractual or regulatory restriction that is applicable to the Issuer, Client or their respective affiliates or a stock offering requiring a lock-up that would prohibit any sale pursuant to the Plan (other than any such restriction relating to Client’s possession or alleged possession of material non-public information about the Issuer or its securities), (b) there is a change in the Policy or a change in the Client’s status under such Policy, affecting the Plan, (c) there is a stock split, stock dividend or other like distribution affecting the shares of Stock, or (d) where the Plan covers shares of Stock that Client has the right to acquire under outstanding stock options, there is a change in the Issuer’s policies with regard to the timing or method of exercising such options which could interfere with the manner or timing of the sales to be made pursuant to the Plan, the Issuer agrees to give notice of such restriction either by certified or registered United States mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, by nationally recognized overnight courier that issues a receipt or other confirmation of delivery or via email at 10b51@etrade.com, provided that a confirmation is available to the following address: Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Attention: Executive Services 3 Edison Drive Alpharetta, GA 30005 Such notice shall indicate the anticipated duration of the restriction, but shall not include any other information about the nature of the restriction or its applicability to Client. In any event, the Issuer shall not communicate any material non-public information about the Issuer or its securities to MSSB. 5. If Client is a director or officer (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) of the Docusign Envelope ID: F5A85413-7D55-4779-8443-BDA6365BD59B Docusign Envelope ID: A2F21E0D-3862-4DC3-B966-97622E4FE00A |
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Page 24 of 24 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of the Issuer, the Issuer will notify the MSSB 10b5-1 team via email at 10b51@etrade.com no later than five (5) business days prior to the Earliest Sell Date, which such email shall indicate that all conditions under the Issuer’s Policy required for execution of the Plan have been satisfied. A representative of the Issuer will communicate the Earliest Sell Date in writing to MSSB at least five (5) business days prior to such date. If such notification is not delivered to MSSB at least five (5) business days prior to the Earliest Sell Date, MSSB will act upon such notice as promptly as administratively feasible. 6. The Issuer acknowledges that Client has authorized MSSB to serve as Client’s agent and attorney-in-fact to, if applicable, exercise Options to purchase the Plan Shares from time to time pursuant to the Plan and to sell the Plan Shares pursuant to the Plan from time to time. Merit Medical Systems, Inc. By: ______________________________ Print Name: _______________________ Title: _____________________________ Date: _________________________________ MSSB Merit Medical Systems, Inc. 10b5-1 -Offline 3.7.2024 Docusign Envelope ID: F5A85413-7D55-4779-8443-BDA6365BD59B Brian Lloyd Chief Legal Officer 11/6/2024 Docusign Envelope ID: A2F21E0D-3862-4DC3-B966-97622E4FE00A |
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1 MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC. CORPORATE POLICY ON INSIDER TRADING (Revised May 18, 2023) In the course of employment with Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (the “ Company”), including employment with a subsidiary of the Company, directors, officers and employees may come into possession of confidential and highly sensitive information concerning the Company. Sensitive information has a potential for affecting the market price of securities issued by the Company and its affiliates as well as the value of the Company’s securities. Federal securities laws impose considerable civil and criminal penalties on persons who improperly obtain or use material, nonpublic information, in connection with a purchase or sale of securities. In addition to civil damages of up to three times the profit gained, an individual could receive jail time and a criminal fine up to $1,000,000 for violations. In light of the importance of preserving the Company’s reputation for maintaining the highest legal, business and ethical standards, as well as the detrimental impact on employees and the Company from failures to comply with applicable laws, the Company has determined to provide specific guidance concerning the propriety of various personal transactions, and to impose specific restrictions to attempt to ensure that neither the Company nor its directors, officers or employees violate insider trading laws. With this in mind, all directors and officers, and certain other employees, of the Company are asked to read this policy and thoroughly understand its contents. Directors, officers and certain other employees, particularly those in financial, accounting and business development areas who are given access to sensitive information in connection with job performance (“Insiders”), who are most likely to have access to material, nonpublic information regarding the business, operations and financial condition of the Company must sign the attached Insider Trading Compliance Statement and return it to an Insider Trading Compliance Officer. Employees who are deemed Insiders will be notified by the Company. This policy also applies to family members of an Insider who share the Insider’s household and to Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), trusts and other entities controlled by Insiders or their family members (as well as accounts, trusts and other entities of which Insiders or their family members are beneficiaries). The Company has designated its Chief Legal Officer, Brian G. Lloyd, and its Chief Financial Officer, Raul Parra, as Insider Trading Compliance Officers for purposes of this policy. They are available to answer questions regarding this policy. EXPLANATION OF THE LAW The federal securities laws and regulations prohibit transactions in securities at a time when the person engaging in the transaction possesses material, nonpublic information concerning the issuer of the security, or the market for the security, which has not yet become a matter of general public knowledge, and which has been obtained or is being used in breach of a duty to maintain the information in confidence. Communication of nonpublic information to a third party, under circumstances where an improper transaction can be anticipated, is also prohibited. These prohibitions apply to any security, including the Company’s stock and options to purchase the Company’s stock. “Material, nonpublic information” includes information that is not available to the public at large which could affect the market price of the security and to which a reasonable investor would attach importance in deciding whether to buy, sell, or retain the security. It should be noted that either positive or negative information may be material. While it is not possible to identify all information that would be considered material, the following types of information would generally be deemed material: • Financial performance, especially quarterly and year-end results of operations, and significant changes in financial performance, conditions or liquidity (including, but not limited to, significant write-downs of assets or increases in reserves, changes in earnings estimates or unusual gains or losses in major operations); • Potential merger or acquisition transactions, divestitures of Company assets or other transactions outside the ordinary course of the Company’s business; • Stock splits, public or private securities or debt offerings; |
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2 • Company projections and strategic plans; • Major changes in accounting methods or policies; • Cybersecurity risks and incidents, including vulnerabilities and breaches; • Changes in debt ratings, terms or conditions; • Introduction or acquisition of significant new products; • Significant new contracts, or a change in, or loss of, a significant existing contract; • Major changes in executive management; • Important developments in actual or threatened major litigation or government investigations; and • Major developments in the Company’s regulatory compliance or quality affairs, including product recalls. Information is considered to be available to the public only when it has been released to the public through appropriate channels (for example, by means of a press release, a statement from one of the Company’s executive officers or filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)) and enough time has elapsed to permit the investment market to absorb and evaluate the information. Information will normally be regarded as absorbed and evaluated two business days after public release has occurred. COMPANY POLICY 1. No Transactions While Possessing Material, Nonpublic Information. Any director, officer or employee who has material, nonpublic information, including information regarding a potential acquisition, or who may be deemed to possess such information by reason of his or her position, may not: (a) buy or sell the securities of the Company, (b) pass along the information to others (so called “tipping”), (c) permit any member of his or her immediate family or anyone acting on his or her behalf, or anyone to whom he or she has disclosed the information, to purchase or sell such securities; or (d) make gifts or donations of securities of the Company, whether or not in exchange for payment of consideration. Transactions that may be necessary or justifiable for independent reasons (such as the need to raise money for an emergency expenditure) are no exception. Even the appearance of an improper transaction must be avoided to preserve our reputation for adhering to the highest standards of conduct. Any director, officer or employee who learns of material, nonpublic information about a company with which the Company does business, or about a company which is the target of a potential acquisition by the Company, may not engage in transactions in that Company’s securities until the information becomes public. 2. Insider Trading Restrictions. In addition to the obligations applicable to all employees, it is the Company’s policy that Insiders may not engage in transactions in the Company’s securities during the period beginning after the market closes on the 15th day prior to the end of a calendar quarter through and including the second business day following the disclosure of such quarter’s earnings or prior year’s earnings in the case of the fourth quarter in a quarterly or annual report (as applicable) filed with the SEC (for purposes of this policy, the day after the disclosure date shall be counted as the first business day) (the “Blackout Period”), regardless of whether the prior written consent of an Insider Trading Compliance Officer has been received. The Company may prohibit transactions in the Company’s securities during other periods from time to time if there is a material event, a material transaction or other information pending that has not been disclosed to the public. In such cases, Insiders will be notified of the prohibition. Periods of time outside of the Blackout Periods are referred to herein as “Window Periods”. Insiders are required to consult with an Insider Trading Compliance Officer before effecting any transaction in the Company’s securities (including transactions during a Window Period) to confirm that the Window Period is open. 3. Other Restrictions. It is the Company’s policy that officers, directors and employees may not engage in any of the following activities with respect to the Company’s securities, regardless of whether the prior written consent of an Insider Trading Compliance Officer has been received: (a) Trading in the Company’s stock on a short-term basis, i.e., stock or other securities purchased on the open market must be held for a minimum of six months; (b) Short sales; (c) Buying or selling put options or call options or other derivative instruments; or |
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3 (d) Entering into hedging or monetization transactions or similar arrangements (including forward sale or purchase contracts, equity swaps, collars or exchange funds). Short-term trading, short sales, option trading and hedging transactions are all speculative and risky, and are effectively bets that the stock price will change rapidly, creating the appearance that the transaction is based on nonpublic information. For these reasons, when an officer, director or employee engages in transactions in the Company’s securities, it can arouse suspicion in the eyes of the SEC, Company shareholders and the financial community, particularly where the transaction happens to occur before a Company announcement or major event. It is then very difficult for an officer, employee or director to prove that he or she did not know about the announcement or event at the time of the transaction. If the SEC, Nasdaq or any other exchange which trades or quotes the Company’s securities were to notice a transaction prior to a public announcement, it might trigger an investigation, which could cause negative publicity for the Company, require it to incur significant expenses or to pay significant fines, and could result in severe penalties and expense for the persons involved. 4. Company Plans. The provisions of this policy apply to transactions involving Company stock in the Company’s 401(k) Plan, the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan and other benefit plans adopted by the Company (collectively, the “Plans”). Insiders should not engage in elective Plan transactions (e.g., changes in percentage allocations into or out of the Company stock fund or changes in the percentage of compensation designated for purchases of Company stock pursuant to a Plan) while in the possession of material nonpublic information. 5. Company Stock Options. This policy does not apply to the exercise of stock options granted by the Company pursuant to the Company’s long-term incentive plan, except in the case of a “cashless” exercise where a portion of the shares are sold in the public market to cover the exercise price of the option. Cashless exercises may only be made during a Window Period, and then only to the extent permitted by the Company’s long-term incentive plan. This policy does apply to any subsequent sale or other transaction involving Company stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of options granted by the Company. 6. Transactions Under Valid 10b5-1 Plans. Notwithstanding the prohibitions set forth above, purchases and sales of the Company’s securities may be made at any time pursuant to an existing plan validly adopted under Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Securities Exchange Act”). Any such plan must be submitted in writing to the Board of Directors of the Company or its Environmental, Social and Governance Committee prior to adoption and the written permission of an Insider Trading Compliance Officer must be obtained prior to any transactions being completed under the plan. When adopting a new or modified Rule 10b5-1 plan, an Insider will be required to include in the plan written representations certifying that he or she (a) is not aware of material nonpublic information about the Company or its securities and (b) is adopting or modifying the plan in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade the prohibitions of Rule 10b-5 of the Securities Exchange Act. The Company is required to provide disclosure to the SEC of the adoption, modification or termination of a Rule 10b5-1 plan by Insiders, and the material terms and conditions of each plan. 7. Section 16 Reporting Persons. Certain Insiders are subject to the provisions of Section 16 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Section 16”). Such Insiders (“Section 16 Insiders”) are individually responsible for compliance with the provisions of Section 16 and the provisions of this policy do not, in any manner, limit their responsibilities under Section 16, In addition to the other provisions of this policy, Section 16 Insiders shall comply with the following provisions: (a) Prior Approval Required. Section 16 Insiders may not engage in transactions in the Company’s securities or the securities of any target acquisition entity, whether or not the Section 16 Insider possesses specific material, nonpublic information, unless the written permission of an Insider Trading Compliance Officer is first received. Once permission is obtained, the transaction must be completed before the Section 16 Insider obtains any material non-public information. This policy does not, however, apply to shares of generally traded mutual funds, which may in turn own securities of the Company or a target acquisition entity. All inquiries in this regard should be directed to an Insider Trading Compliance Officer. (b) Company Plans. Section 16 Insiders are limited in their ability to engage in certain transactions involving Company stock in the Plans. A transaction involving Company stock in a Plan may, pursuant to Section 16, limit the Section 16 Insider’s ability to engage in other transactions in Company stock, whether or not involving a Plan. For example, Section 16 may limit a Section 16 Insider’s ability to (i) transfer |
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4 funds within a Plan into or out of Company stock, (ii) change the amount of contributions to the purchase of Company stock pursuant to a Plan, (iii) change the percentage of compensation designated for purchases of Company stock under a Plan during a particular pay period, or (iv) engage in any sale or other transaction involving Company stock after its acquisition pursuant to a Plan. (c) Section 16 Reporting Obligations. Section 16 Insiders are required to report initial ownership of the Company’s securities on Form 3 and subsequent transactions in the Company’s securities on Form 4 or Form 5. Forms 3, 4 and 5 are publicly available. Failure to timely file a Form 3, 4 or 5 requires the Company to disclose such failure in the Company’s proxy statement, including the name of the Section 16 Insider, the nature of the transaction(s) and additional details regarding the delinquency. Most transactions must be reported on Form 4 within two days of the transaction. Therefore, it is crucial that Section 16 Insiders notify an Insider Trading Compliance Officer of transactions both in advance and on the day of the transaction. Specifically, all Section 16 Insiders are required: (1) to consult with an Insider Trading Compliance Officer before effecting any transaction in the Company’s securities (including transactions during a Window Period and including exercises of stock options or gifts) to confirm that the Window Period is open, to confirm compliance with the short swing profit rules of Section 16 and to allow the Company sufficient time to prepare a Form 4, if required; and (2) to notify an Insider Trading Compliance Officer on the day of any transaction in the Company’s securities to ensure that any required Form 4 or Form 5 is timely filed. It is important that Section 16 Insiders make direct contact with an Insider Trading Compliance Officer rather than sending e-mails or leaving voicemails and that they not rely on their brokers to make this contact. (d) Short Swing Profit Rules and Short Selling Restrictions. Section 16 Insiders are subject to the short swing profit rules of Section 16, which require disgorgement of all profits realized or losses avoided by a Section 16 Insider if purchases and sales occur within a six-month period, even if made during Window Periods. Section 16 also prohibits Section 16 Insiders from selling Company securities if they do not own the securities at the time of sale (i.e., “short sales”) or if they fail to deliver the securities sold within twenty days after the sale or fail to mail the certificates for delivery within five days after a sale (a “short sales against the box”). 8. Reporting of Violations. Any Insider who violates this policy or any federal or state law governing insider trading or tipping, or knows of any such violation by any other Insider, must report the violation immediately to an Insider Trading Compliance Officer. Upon determining that any such violation has occurred, the Company will determine whether it should release any material nonpublic information, and, when required by applicable law, report the violation to the SEC or other appropriate government authorities. 9. Company Imposed Penalties. Employees who violate this policy may be subject to disciplinary action by the Company, including dismissal for cause, and may be liable for damages. Any exceptions to this policy, if permitted, may only be granted by an Insider Trading Compliance Officer and must be provided before any activity contrary to the above requirements takes place. * * * * * Any person who has a question concerning the propriety of a proposed transaction, or who has a question about the policy generally, is encouraged to contact an Insider Trading Compliance Officer. We look forward to your continued support as we move forward in this exciting time in the history of Merit Medical Systems, Inc. |
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This document affects your legal rights. You are advised to consult with an attorney or other counsel of your choice prior to signing this Agreement. SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS THIS SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS (the “Agreement”) is entered into between Merit Medical Systems, Inc., a Utah corporation (“Employer”), and Joseph C. Wright (“Employee”) (Employer and Employee may be referred to individually as “Party” and collectively, the “Parties”). RECITALS WHEREAS, Employee has been employed as a President by Employer; WHEREAS, with the assistance of independent counsel, the independent directors of Employer (the “Independent Directors”) have conducted an investigation with respect to allegations regarding Mr. Wright’s conduct (the “Investigation”); WHEREAS, Employee has requested that he be permitted to resign from his employment with Employer, rather than Employer taking other action in connection with the Investigation; WHEREAS, with the approval of the Independent Directors, Employer will allow Employee to resign voluntarily from employment with Employer, rather than Employer taking other action in connection with the Investigation; and WHEREAS, the Parties wish to set forth their respective rights and obligations in respect to the termination of Employee’s employment with Employer and Employee’s separation from Employer. AGREEMENT NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises set forth herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt, adequacy, and legal sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree to the following terms and conditions, including the recitals by this reference: 1. Definitions. For the purposes of this Agreement the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings: a. “Affiliates” means any past or present officers, directors, shareholders, members, employees, and/or agents of Employer; and/or any subsidiary, division, or affiliate of Employer and/or any entity in which Employer owns, directly or indirectly, a legal or beneficial interest (whether in whole or in part); and/or any individual or entity that owns, directly or indirectly, a legal or beneficial interest (whether in whole or in part) in Employer, employee benefit plans and plan fiduciaries. b. “Employment Agreement” means the Employment Agreement between Employer and Employee dated as of May 26, 2016, as amended. c. “Executive Bonus Plan” means Employer’s 2019 Executive Bonus Plan. d. “Incentive Plans” means the Merit Medical Systems, Inc. 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan and the Merit Medical Systems, Inc. 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan as applicable. e. “Termination Date” means January 3, 2025. 2. Consideration. In exchange for Employee’s execution of this Agreement and the releases, restrictions, covenants, representations, and warranties contained herein, including, without limitation, Employer’s willingness to accept Employee’s resignation rather than taking other action in connection with the Investigation, Employee shall receive the following consideration: a. Resignation. Employee shall be allowed to resign from employment with Employer, effective on the Termination Date, subject to the following conditions: Docusign Envelope ID: E7CEAF84-72CC-424C-8B1A-A6E67309C150 |
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Separation Agreement and Release of Claims Page 2 i. Employee hereby resigns his employment with Employer effective on the Termination Date. ii. Employee agrees to cooperate fully with Employer in the process of removing Employee from any positions or appointments held with Affiliates. This cooperation includes, but is not limited to, signing any necessary documents, providing any required information, and taking any other actions reasonably requested by Employer to effectuate such removal. iii. On the Termination Date, Employee will sign an updated Release of Claims, which will be effective on the Termination Date and contain the same releases in Section 4, below. b. Retention of Vested Options. Because Employer is allowing Employee to resign instead of taking other action in connection with the Investigation, Employee will retain any outstanding options granted pursuant to the Incentive Plans that have vested as of the Termination Date (the “Retained Options”) and may elect to exercise the Retained Options in accordance with the provisions of the applicable option agreement and the Incentive Plans. c. Executive Compensation Plans. Employee will continue to participate in the Incentive Plans and other executive compensation plans of Employer (including the Executive Bonus Plan and Employer’s Deferred Compensation Plan) through the Termination Date and, subsequent to the Termination Date, shall retain all benefits in which he is vested as of such date, subject to the terms and conditions of such plans. 3. Review and Revocation. a. Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employee has twenty-one (21) days from the date Employee receives this Agreement to consider the terms of and to sign this Agreement. Employee may, at Employee’s sole and absolute discretion, sign this Agreement prior to the expiration of the above review period. By his execution of this Agreement, Employee hereby irrevocably waives any and all rights to consider the terms of this Agreement during such review period. b. Employee may revoke this Agreement for a period of up to 7 days after Employee signs it (not counting the day it was signed) and the Agreement shall not become effective or enforceable until the 7-day revocation period has expired. To revoke this Agreement, Employee must give written notice stating that Employee wishes to revoke the Agreement to Brian Lloyd, Chief Legal Officer, Medical Systems, Inc., 1600 West Merit Parkway, South Jordan, UT 84095. Any notice stating that Employee wishes to revoke this Agreement must be emailed (with a reply confirmation from the above Merit representative), hand-delivered, or mailed (with confirmation of delivery) to Employer, as set forth in this paragraph, in sufficient time to be received by Employer on or before the expiration of the 7-day revocation period. 4. Release of All Claims. a. In consideration for the consideration stated in Section 2 above, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt, adequacy, and legal sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Employee, for Employee and Employee’s heirs, assigns, and all persons and entities claiming by, through, or under Employee, hereby irrevocably, unconditionally, and completely releases, discharges, and agrees to hold harmless Employer and its Affiliates (hereinafter referred to, both individually and collectively, as “Releasees”) of and from any and all claims, liabilities, charges, demands, grievances, lawsuits, and causes of action of any kind or nature whatsoever, including without limitation claims for contribution, subrogation, or indemnification, whether direct or indirect, liquidated or unliquidated, known or unknown, which Employee has, had, or may claim to have against Releasees (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Claim(s)”). Docusign Envelope ID: E7CEAF84-72CC-424C-8B1A-A6E67309C150 |
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Separation Agreement and Release of Claims Page 3 b. The release, discharge, and agreement to hold harmless set forth in this Section 4 includes, without limitation, any Claim(s) that Employee had, has, or may claim to have against Releasees: i. for wrongful or constructive discharge or termination, negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress, breach of express or implied contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, violation of public policy, defamation, promissory estoppel, detrimental reliance, retaliation, tortious interference with contract or prospective economic advantage, invasion of privacy, whistleblower protection, hostile work environment, personal injury (whether physical or mental), or any other Claim(s), whether arising in tort or in contract (whether written or oral); ii. for any Claims arising from the Employment Agreement, including but not limited to claims for payments, benefits, compensation, or other considerations outlined in the Employment Agreement; iii. for discrimination, hostile work environment / harassment, retaliation, or otherwise arising under federal, state, or local law, including without limitation Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Equal Pay Act, all claims under Titles 29 and 42 of the United States Code, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or any other federal, state, or local law prohibiting discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on the basis of race, color, national origin and ancestry, religion, age, sex (including breastfeeding and related conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity / gender expression, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, military and veteran status, or any other protected group status; iv. for discrimination, hostile work environment / harassment, retaliation, or otherwise arising under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, as amended by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act arising on or before the date of this Agreement; v. arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”), or the National Labor Relations Act (“NLRA”); vi. arising under the Dodd-Frank Wall-Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or other whistleblower protection to the full extent allowed by law; vii. arising under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (“WARN”), as amended (and any state or local equivalents, often referred to as mini-WARN acts); viii. for unpaid wages, bonuses, commissions, or other compensation of any type or kind to the full extent allowed by law; ix. arising under any state or local law, including without limitation, Utah state law, the Utah Antidiscrimination Act, the Utah Minimum Wage Act, the Utah Employment Selection Procedures Act, and the Utah Occupational Safety and Health Act; x. for attorney’s fees and/or costs; and/or xi. for any other Claim(s) in any way related to or arising out of Employee’s employment with Employer or the termination of that employment. c. Employee hereby represents and warrants that Employee has not brought a complaint, claim, charge, action, or proceeding against any of the Releasees in any jurisdiction or forum. This Section 4 does not constitute an admission of wrongdoing by Employee. Docusign Envelope ID: E7CEAF84-72CC-424C-8B1A-A6E67309C150 |
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Separation Agreement and Release of Claims Page 4 d. Nothing in this Agreement waives Employee’s rights, if any, to (i) continue Employee’s participation in Employer’s employee health benefit plan, as allowed by COBRA and the terms, conditions, and limitations of the plan, (ii) any vested rights that Employee may have under any employee pension or welfare benefit plan in which Employee participated as an employee of Employer, (iii) any claims Employee has or may claim to have for worker’s compensation or unemployment benefits, and/or (iv) any claims that are non-waivable by law. 5. Exclusion for Certain Claims and Disclosures. a. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employer and Employee agree that the release set forth in Section 4 above shall not apply to any claims arising after the date Employee signs this Agreement, nor shall anything herein prevent Employee or Employer from instituting any action to enforce the terms of this Agreement. Employee understands that nothing contained in this Agreement limits Employee’s ability to file a charge or complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal, state, or local governmental agency or commission (“Government Agencies”). Employee further understands that this Agreement does not limit Employee’s ability to communicate with any Government Agencies or otherwise participate in any investigation or proceeding that may be conducted by any Government Agency, including providing documents or other information, without notice to Merit. This Agreement does not limit Employee’s right to receive an award for information provided to any Government Agencies. b. Some states also do not allow contractual restrictions on the disclosure of factual information related to claims of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation; if Employee was employed such a state, any confidentiality provisions contained in this Agreement, shall not be applicable to such disclosures (but the amount of Employee’s separation benefits contained in Section 2 shall remain confidential where allowed by law). c. Notice Related to Federal Law. Notwithstanding Section 10, Employee is hereby notified in accordance with the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (“DTSA”) that Employee will not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made (i) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (ii) in a complaint or other document that is filed under seal in a lawsuit or other proceeding. Employee is further notified that if he files a lawsuit for retaliation by Employer for reporting a suspected violation of law, Employee may disclose Employer’s trade secrets to his or her attorney and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding if Employee files any document containing the trade secret under seal and does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order. Employee understands that these are the rights presently in force and that Employee will be bound by any subsequent changes or amendments to the DTSA. d. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee agrees that, to the full extent allowed by law, Employee is not entitled to and hereby waives any right to recover compensation, damages, or any other form of relief of any type or kind and/or reinstatement to employment that may be awarded or ordered by any court or administrative agency to or for Employee’s benefit arising from or relating to any Claim(s) released by Employee under this Agreement. Employee further specifically acknowledges and agrees that Employee is waiving, on behalf of Employee and Employee’s attorneys, all claims for fees and expenses and court costs. 6. Full and Complete Release. Employee understands and agrees that Employee isreleasing and waiving any Claim(s) that Employee does not know exists or may exist in Employee’s favor at the time Docusign Envelope ID: E7CEAF84-72CC-424C-8B1A-A6E67309C150 |
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Separation Agreement and Release of Claims Page 5 Employee signsthis Agreement which, if known by Employee, would materially affect Employee’s decision to sign this Agreement. Nonetheless, in exchange for the consideration set forth in this Agreement and for the purpose of implementing a full and complete release of all Claim(s), Employee expressly acknowledges that the release set forth in Section 4 is intended to include, without limitation, all Claim(s) that Employee does not know or suspect to exist in Employee’s favor and that the release set forth in Section 4 includes the release and extinguishment of any such Claim(s). 7. Return of Goods to Employer. Employee covenants and warrants that Employee returned to Employer, and has not retained a copy of, (i) any and all documents or other information about Employer, including without limitation confidential or proprietary information (whether developed by Employee or by any other employee of Employer), (ii) all electronic equipment and electronic information storage devices (e.g., computers, cellular phones, PDAs, zip drives, thumb drives, disks, etc.), (iii) company credit cards, office keys, etc., and (iv) passwords or combinations to any computer, tablet, cellular phone, or similar electronic device, storage device, storage unit, or filing cabinet that Employee obtained or that were made available to Employee as a consequence of Employee’s employment with Employer and/or that contain confidential or proprietary information about Employer or that otherwise are the rightful property of Employer. 8. No Other Representations. Employee represents and warrants that no promise or inducement has been offered or made except as herein set forth and that Employee is entering into and executing this Agreement without reliance on any statement or representation not set forth within this Agreement by any other Party, or any person(s) acting on any Party’s behalf. 9. Covenant of Confidentiality. Subject to Section 5, Employee agrees that, as a material term of this Agreement and to protect the goodwill, the Confidential Information (as defined below), and the business of Employer, Employee shall not at any time, without the express, prior written consent of the Chief Executive Officer of Employer: (i) ever reveal, disclose, furnish, make accessible, or disseminate any of Employer’s Confidential Information or any other matter concerning the business affairs of Employer or of any customer or vendor of Employer or (ii) ever use or exploit any of Employer’s Confidential Information or any other matter concerning the business affairs of Employer or of any customer or vendor of Employer for the personal and/or financial use, gain, or benefit of Employee or of any other person or entity or for any other purpose. For purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential Information” means names, addresses, telephone numbers, contact persons, and other identifying and confidential information about persons, firms, corporations, and/or other entities that are or become customers, accounts, licensors, vendors, and/or suppliers of goods or services to or of Employer; customer lists; details of client or consultant contracts; details of customer usage; non-public pricing policies; operational methods; marketing plans or strategies; product and program developments and plans; research projects; technology and technical processes; business acquisition plans; personnel information and plans; improvements; designs; original works of authorship; derivative works; formulas; processes; compositions of matter; computer software and related information, including without limitation programs, code, concepts, methods, routines, formulas, algorithms, designs, specifications, architectures, or inventions embodied therein, as well as all data, documentation, and copyrights related thereto; patent applications; databases; mask works; trade secrets; know-how; ideas; service marks; planned or proposed website ideas and plans, including but not limited to look and feel; and other intellectual property or proprietary information rights and any and all rights, applications, extensions and renewals in connection therewith (either proposed, filed, or in preparation for filing); and financial information and general confidential business information of Employer. Such information is confidential and unique, not generally known in the industry, and gives Employer a competitive advantage and significantly enhances Employer's goodwill. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Confidential Information excludes information not protected by trademark, copyright, patent, or other similar state, federal, or worldwide protection and that, through no fault of Employee, is generally known to the public, is generally employed in the medical device or equipment manufacturing industry at or after the time Employee first learns of such information, or generic information or knowledge which Employee would have learned in the course of similar employment or work elsewhere in the medical device or equipment manufacturing industry); provided, Docusign Envelope ID: E7CEAF84-72CC-424C-8B1A-A6E67309C150 |
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Separation Agreement and Release of Claims Page 6 however, that Employee shall bear the burden of proving that any information disclosed or used by Employee does not meet the definition of Confidential Information set forth above and/or that the disclosure or use of Confidential Information occurred through no fault of Employee. 10. Agreement Confidential. Employee agrees that Employee shall not disclose the terms of this Agreement except to the extent required by law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee may disclose the terms of this Agreement to Employee’s spouse, attorney, and/or tax advisor. If Employee discloses the terms of this Agreement to Employee’s spouse, attorney, and/or tax advisor, Employee will advise such person that, as a condition of such disclosure, such person must not disclose the terms of this Agreement except to the extent required by law and Employee will use his best efforts to ensure that such person does not disclose the terms of this Agreement except to the extent required by law. In addition, the Parties agree that Employee may disclose this Agreement to the appropriate state or federal agency consistent with Section 5. 11. Restrictive Covenants. a. Non-Solicitation of Employees: Employee acknowledges the character of Employer’s Business and the substantial amount of time, money, and effort that Employer has spent and will spend in recruitment and training of employees. As a material term of this Agreement and to protect the goodwill, the Confidential Information, and the business of Employer, Employee covenants that, beginning on the Termination Date and continuing for twelve (12) months from the Termination Date, Employee shall not, either individually or on behalf of or with any person or entity, directly or indirectly solicit, or attempt to solicit, divert, hire away, encourage, or otherwise induce any employee, contractor, or consultant of Employer to terminate his/her/its employment or relationship with Employer or hire or engage any person employed by Employer at any point during Employee’s last twelve (12) months of employment with Employer. b. Non-Solicitation of Employer’s Customers or Prospective Customers: Employee acknowledges the character of Employer’s Business and the substantial amount of time, money, and effort that Employer has spent and will spend in recruitment of customers and/or accounts. As a material term of this Agreement, for the consideration provided in this Agreement, and to protect the goodwill, the Confidential Information, and the business of Employer, Employee covenants that, beginning on the Termination Date and continuing for twelve (12) months from the later of (i) the Termination Date and (ii) the date that Employee breaches any of the provisions of this Section 11, Employee shall not (either individually or on behalf of or with any person or entity, directly or indirectly) sell, solicit, attempt to sell, or provide products or services that are the same as or substantially similar to products or services Employee sold or provided at any time on behalf of Employer to any person or entity that: i. was a current or former customer or account of Employer with whom Employee (i) had contact or communications at any time during Employee’s last twelve (12) months of employment with Employer; (ii) supervised Employer’s account or dealings at any time during Employee’s last twelve (12) months of employment with Employer; ii. was a prospective customer or account whose business Employee solicited as a representative of or on behalf of Employer within the last twelve (12) months of Employee’s employment with Employer; and/or iii. about whom Employee obtained Confidential Information (as defined herein) during Employee’s last twelve (12) months of employment with Employer. c. Employee’s Agreement: Employee has carefully read and considered the provisions of this Agreement, including without limitation this Section 11, and, having done so, agrees that the restrictions set forth herein are fair, reasonable, and necessary to protect Employer’s legitimate business interests, including its goodwill with its clients and employees and its Confidential Information. Docusign Envelope ID: E7CEAF84-72CC-424C-8B1A-A6E67309C150 |
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Separation Agreement and Release of Claims Page 7 d. Action Upon Breach: Employee agrees that a breach or threatened breach of this Section 11 will result immediate and irreparable injury to Employer. Employee, therefore, agrees that in the event of a breach or threatened breach of this Section 11, in addition to any other remedy that Employer may have under this Agreement or applicable law, Employer shall be entitled to an injunction, temporary restraining order or other equitable relief restraining Employee from such breach. Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting Employer from pursuing any other remedies for such breach or threatened breach. 12. Wages and Commissions Paid in Full. Except for (i) Employee’s regular base wages for the period from December 8, 2024, to the Termination Date, which will be paid in accordance with Employer’s regular payroll practices, (ii) amounts payable to Employee pursuant to the Executive Bonus Plan, if and when they become due, and (iii) accrued but unpaid vacation benefits, which will be paid with employee’s final paycheck, Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employee has received all monies due and owing to Employee from Employer, including without limitation any monies due and owing for wages (including without limitation overtime), commissions, bonuses, or otherwise and that Employee has no claim against Employer whatsoever for the payment of any further wages (including without limitation overtime), commissions, bonuses, vacation benefits, or other monies except as specifically set forth in Section 2. 13. Nondisparagement. a. Employee. Employee covenants that, as an agreed on material term of this Agreement, Employee will not make any disparaging remarks about Employer or its officers, directors, or employees and shall refrain from saying or doing anything that reasonably could hold Employer or its officers, directors, or employees up to disrepute in the eyes of any other person or entity or that reasonably could interfere with Employer’s current or future business plans or activities. This Section will not apply to activities carried out by Employee pursuant to Section 5, provided that Employer reserves all rights to claims for defamation. b. Employer. Employer covenants that, as an agreed on material term of this Agreement and in partial consideration of Employee’s full and complete performance of the agreements, covenants and release set forth in this Agreement, the executive officers of Employer (Fred P. Lampropoulos, Raul Parra, Jr., Neil W. Peterson, Michel J. Voigt, and Brian G. Lloyd) will not make any disparaging remarks about Employee and shall refrain from saying or doing anything that reasonably could hold Employee up to disrepute in the eyes of any other person or entity or that reasonably could interfere with Employee’s current or future business plans or activities; provided, however, that this section shall not in any manner limit or restrict Employer or any of its officers (including the executive officers identified above) from making any statement or disclosure in with any legal proceeding, regulatory action and/or any filing with any governmental authority (including, without limitation, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) that Employer or such officer reasonably believes, based upon the advice of counsel or otherwise, is necessary to comply with the rules, regulations, or requirements of such authority. 14. Forfeiture of Consideration. Employee acknowledges and understands that the provisions of Sections 9, 10, 11, and 13 are each a material term of this Agreement and that Employer would not be willing to enter into this Agreement if it did not include the strict confidentiality, restrictive covenant, and nondisparagement obligations set forth herein. Employee shall be liable for any actual damages suffered by Employer and/or any officer, director, or employee arising from or relating to Employee’s breach of the terms of Sections 9, 10, 11, or 13. 15. Not an Admission. This Agreement is not an admission by any Party that either has violated any contract, law, or regulation or that Employer or Employee has discriminated against the other or otherwise infringed on the other’s rights and privileges or done any other wrongful act. 16. Rehire. Employee waives any right to apply or reapply for employment with the Employer or its Affiliates in the future. Employer and its Affiliates have no obligation, contractual or otherwise, to hire, rehire, re-employ, or recall Employee in the future. Employee waives any claims for damages, compensation, or equitable relief arising from Employer's decision not to hire, rehire, re-Docusign Envelope ID: E7CEAF84-72CC-424C-8B1A-A6E67309C150 |
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Separation Agreement and Release of Claims Page 8 employ, or recall Employee in the future, or Employer’s decision not to waive this Section 16. The existence of the releases in this Section 16 shall be a valid, non-discriminatory basis for rejecting any such application from Employee. Employer may waive the restrictions in this Section 16 without waiving any other portion of this Agreement, at its sole discretion. 17. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire integrated understanding between the Parties regarding the subject matter hereof and supersedes all negotiations, representations, prior discussions, and preliminary agreements between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, except that any previous agreements addressing confidentiality, intellectual property assignment to Employer, non-solicitation, and non-competition shall continue to bind Employee and are in addition to the obligations state herein. No promise, representation, warranty, or covenant not included in this Agreement has been or is relied upon by either Party. 18. No Assignment of Claims. Except as specifically addressed in Section 5 above, Employee represents that Employee has not made, and will not make, any assignment of Claim(s) released by this Agreement and that no other person or entity had or has any interest in any Claim(s) released by Employee under this Agreement. Employee agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Employer from any and all claims, demands, expenses, costs, attorney’s fees, and causes of action asserted by any person or entity due to a violation of this non-assignment provision. 19. Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for ease of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the interpretation of this Agreement. 20. Attorney’s Fees. If a civil action or other proceeding is brought to enforce this Agreement, the prevailing Party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorney's fees, costs, and expenses incurred, in addition to any other relief to which such Party may be entitled, whether incurred before or after the filing of a civil action or the entry of judgment. 21. Controlling Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Utah. The Parties agree that any dispute between them, whether arising under this Agreement or the enforceability or interpretation thereof, shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal or state courts situated in the State of Utah, and each Party hereby submits itself to the personal jurisdiction of the courts situated in the State of Utah. 22. Waiver of Jury Trial. Each Party each hereby waives any right to a trial by jury in any action or proceeding to enforce or defend any rights under this Agreement or any amendment, instrument, document, or agreement delivered in connection herewith or hereafter and agree that any such action or proceeding shall be tried before a judge and not before a jury. 23. Modification and Waiver. Notwithstanding any state or federal statutory or case law to the contrary, this Agreement may not be modified except by a document signed by Employer and Employee, whether or not such claimed modification is supported by separate consideration. Any waiver by any Party of any breach of any kind or character whatsoever by any other Party, whether such waiver be direct or implied, shall not be construed as a continuing waiver of, or consent to, any subsequent breach of this Agreement on the part of the other Party. In addition, no course of dealing between the Parties, nor any delay in exercising any rights or remedies hereunder or otherwise, shall operate as a waiver of any of the rights or remedies of the Parties. 24. Successors. This Agreement shall inure to and bind the heirs, devisees, executors, administrators, personal representatives, successors, and assigns, as applicable, of the respective Parties. 25. Severability. If a court of competent jurisdiction shall find that the provisions of Section 4 of this Agreement are unenforceable, whether in whole or in part, then Employer shall have the right, at its sole option, to rescind this Agreement; provided, however, that the provisions of this sentence shall not be enforceable to the extent prohibited by the Age Discrimination in Employment Act or other applicable law. Except as set forth in the immediately preceding sentence, if any part of this Agreement is found to be unenforceable, the other provisions of this Agreement shall remain fully valid and enforceable. It is the intention and agreement of the Parties that all of the terms and conditions hereof be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law. Docusign Envelope ID: E7CEAF84-72CC-424C-8B1A-A6E67309C150 |
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Separation Agreement and Release of Claims Page 9 26. Cooperation. Employee agrees to cooperate fully with Employer with respect to any investigation, legal proceeding, licensing, or contract matter, assisting Merit in obtaining and enforcing Merit’s intellectual property rights, or other similar matter that may arise following Employee’s separation, and Employee further agrees to be available to participate in and, if necessary, to give testimony, in any such matter. 27. Consultation with Counsel and Knowing and Voluntary Execution. Employee acknowledges that Employee has been advised, by this Agreement, to consult an attorney or other counsel of Employee’s choice prior to signing this Agreement, Employee has consulted with an attorney or other counsel of Employee’s choice or decided that Employee does not want to do so, Employee has read this Agreement carefully, and Employee has had the opportunity to ask any questions Employee may have regarding this Agreement. Employee acknowledges that Employee fully understands the meaning and terms of this Agreement. Employee acknowledge that Employee has signed this Agreement voluntarily and of Employee’s own free will and that Employee is knowingly and voluntarily releasing and waiving all Claim(s) that Employee has or may claim to have against the Releasees to the full extent allowed by law. 28. Attorney’s Fees Paid by Each Party. Each Party agrees that it shall be solely responsible for any attorney's fees incurred by that Party in the negotiation and execution of this Agreement. 29. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original and all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. Facsimile or other electronically delivered copies of signature pages to this Agreement shall be treated between the Parties as original signatures for all purposes. EMPLOYEE DATED: _____________________ __________________________________________ Joseph C. Wright EMPLOYER Merit Medical Systems, Inc. DATED: ______________________ By: ______________________________________ Brian G. Lloyd, Chief Legal Officer Docusign Envelope ID: E7CEAF84-72CC-424C-8B1A-A6E67309C150 16 December 2024 | 11:16 AM MST 16 December 2024 | 11:16 AM MST |