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Merit Medical Systems Inc. (ticker: MMSI, exchange: NASDAQ Global Market (.O)) News Release - 25-Oct-2011

Merit Medical Announces Results for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2011

            Revenues Up 24% for the Quarter and Year to Date


          Core Business Up 15% for the Quarter and Year to Date


   Non-GAAP Net Income Up 25% for the Quarter and Up 28% Year to Date


      Growth in China Anticipated Due to New Approvals and Tenders


                  New Technology Acquisitions Completed



SOUTH JORDAN, Utah, Oct. 25, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:MMSI), a leading manufacturer and marketer of proprietary disposable medical devices used in interventional and diagnostic procedures, particularly in cardiology, radiology and endoscopy, today announced results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2011.

For the quarter ended September 30, 2011, revenues increased 24% to $90.5 million, compared to revenues of $73.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2010. Revenues for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011 were a record $268.4 million, compared with $215.6 million for the comparable nine-month period in 2010, a gain of 24%. Merit's core business grew 15% for both the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011.

Merit's non-GAAP net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2011, adjusted to eliminate non-recurring costs and amortization of intangible assets, was $7.7 million, up 25%, or $0.18 per share, compared to $6.1 million, or $0.17 per share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2010. The non-recurring pre-tax expenses of $3.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 consisted primarily of in-process research and development related to the acquisition of intellectual property for a vena cava filter Merit is developing and flexible sheath technology ($3.4 million), stepped-up inventory costs attributable to the BioSphere acquisition Merit completed in September 2010 ($117,000), and patents abandoned ($42,000). Amortization of intangibles was $1.4 million before tax for the quarter ended September 30, 2011.

Merit's non-GAAP net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, adjusted to eliminate the non-recurring costs referenced above, was up 28% to a record $23.5 million, or $0.60 per share, compared to $18.3 million, or $0.51 per share, for the corresponding period of 2010.

GAAP net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 was $4.6 million, or $0.11 per share, compared to net loss of $2.0 million, or ($0.06) per share, for the comparable quarter of 2010.

GAAP net income for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011 was a record $18.1 million, or $0.47 per share, compared to $8.2 million, or $0.23 per share, for the corresponding period of 2010. When comparing earnings per share for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 to the corresponding periods ended September 30, 2010, it is important to note that on June 22, 2011 Merit issued 5,520,000 shares of common stock in an underwritten public offering.

In the third quarter of 2011, compared to the third quarter of 2010, Endotek sales were up 39%; catheter sales grew 34%; stand-alone device sales rose 19%; custom kit and tray sales increased 6%; and inflation device sales were up 5%. Excluding lower sales to an OEM customer, inflation device sales for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 were up 10% from the corresponding quarter of 2010. BioSphere sales were a record $8.0 million for the full quarter ended September 30, 2011, compared to $1.5 million for the 20 days that Merit owned BioSphere during the third quarter of 2010.

For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011, compared to the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010, Endotek sales were up 28%; catheter sales rose 23%; stand-alone device sales grew 17%; custom kit and tray sales were up 11%; and inflation device sales increased 9%. Excluding decreased sales to the OEM customer referenced above, inflation device sales for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011 were up 13% from the corresponding period of 2010.

"We are pleased with the improvement in sales, particularly in our historically slow third quarter, of our Endotek division and BioSphere product line. Sales of our HepaSphere(TM) and QuadraSphere(R) product lines increased by 127% and 53% for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011, respectively," said Fred P. Lampropoulos, Merit's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We continue to focus on the increased opportunity for these oncology products and the additional 'pull-through' opportunities they create. We also experienced substantial growth in our catheter product group due to new products and increased sales of legacy products attributable to opportunities created by a market withdrawal of a competitor."

"Recently, Merit acquired assets, including intellectual property, for a novel vena cava filter as well as an exclusive license for a line of braided vascular sheaths, which we believe will offer substantial features and benefits compared to current competitors and allow us to compete in new interventional markets," Lampropoulos continued. "Merit also recently acquired from Ash Access Technology, Inc. the assets associated with the Centros(R) Dialysis Catheter. We believe this group of assets will substantially increase Merit's presence in the chronic and peritoneal dialysis markets in the future."

"We believe our ability to acquire these technologies with substantial markets for a reasonable price is an efficient method of product development that goes hand-in-hand with our internal product development," Lampropoulos added.

"We have also received notice of the opening of the Beijing tender, which will allow us to bid with many of the recent product approvals from China's State Food and Drug Administration," Lampropoulos said. "These include the recently received approval of Merit's Prelude(R) Sheath Introducers, Concierge(R) Guiding Catheters, Merit Laureate(R) Hydrophilic Guide Wires, Impress(R) Catheters and several other products. We believe this will continue to enhance our growth prospects in China for the foreseeable future."

Gross margin for the third quarter of 2011 was 45.4% of sales, up 270 basis points, compared to 42.7% of sales for the third quarter of 2010. Gross margin for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011 was 46.0% of sales, up 330 basis points, compared to 42.7% of sales for the comparable period of 2010. The improvement in gross margin for both the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 was due primarily to the addition of the higher-margin BioSphere product sales and higher prices and unit sales through Merit's distribution system in China.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2011 were 28.4% of sales, compared to 30.7% of sales for the third quarter of 2010. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011, SG&A expenses were 28.5% of sales, unchanged from 28.5% of sales for the first nine months of 2010. SG&A expenses for both the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010, adjusted for one-time charges from the BioSphere transaction costs and acquisition severance costs, would have been 26.9% and 26.7%, respectively. The increase in SG&A expenses for both periods can be attributed primarily to the addition of sales and marketing employees, trade shows, sales commissions and the amortization of intangibles relating to the BioSphere business and the start-up of Merit's Chinese distribution system.

Research and development costs during the third quarter of 2011 were 6.0% of sales, compared to 5.3% of sales for the third quarter of 2010. Research and development costs were 5.9% of sales for the first nine months of 2011, compared to 4.9% of sales for the comparable period of 2010. The increase in R&D expenses can be attributed primarily to additional regulatory costs incurred for the start-up of Merit's HiQuality clinical trial, seeking product approvals from the FDA and international regulatory agencies, and the development of several new products for Merit's endoscopy product line.

Merit's income from operations was $6.5 million for the third quarter of 2011, compared to an operating loss of $3.4 million for the third quarter of 2010. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011, income from operations was $27.6 million, compared to $11.7 million for the comparable period of 2010.

CONFERENCE CALL

Merit Medical invites all interested parties to participate in its conference call today, (Tuesday, October 25, 2011) at 5:00 p.m. Eastern (4:00 p.m. Central, 3:00 p.m. Mountain, and 2:00 p.m. Pacific). The telephone numbers to call are (domestic) 877-941-0844; and (international) 480-629-9835. A live webcast will also be available for the conference call at www.merit.com and www.fulldisclosure.com.

  INCOME STATEMENT
  (Unaudited, in thousands except
   per share amounts)

                                Three Months           Nine Months

                            Ended September 30,    Ended September 30,
                           ---------------------  ----------------------

                              2011       2010        2011        2010
                           ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------

  SALES                     $ 90,477    $ 73,172   $ 268,357   $ 215,552


  COST OF SALES               49,423      41,925     145,034     123,412
                           ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------

  GROSS PROFIT                41,054      31,247     123,323      92,140

  OPERATING EXPENSES
  Selling, general and
   administrative             25,708      22,480      76,474      61,451
  Research and
   development                 5,401       3,865      15,847      10,664
  Acquired in-process
   research and
   development                 3,438                   3,438
  Goodwill impairment
   charge                                  8,344                   8,344
                           ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------
  Total                       34,547      34,689      95,759      80,459

  INCOME (LOSS) FROM
   OPERATIONS                  6,507     (3,442)      27,564      11,681

  OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
  Interest income                 36           7          52          27
  Interest (expense)            (19)        (95)       (755)       (145)

  Other income                   159          18         238          94
                           ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------
  Total other income
   (expense) - net               176        (70)       (465)        (24)

  INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE
   INCOME TAX EXPENSE          6,683     (3,512)      27,099      11,657

  INCOME TAX EXPENSE
   (BENEFIT)                   2,120     (1,539)       9,025       3,407
                           ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------


  NET INCOME (LOSS)          $ 4,563   $ (1,973)    $ 18,074     $ 8,250
                           =========  ==========  ==========  ==========

  EARNINGS (LOSS) PER
   SHARE--

  Basic                       $ 0.11    $ (0.06)      $ 0.47      $ 0.23
                           =========  ==========  ==========  ==========


  Diluted                     $ 0.11    $ (0.06)      $ 0.47      $ 0.23
                           =========  ==========  ==========  ==========

  AVERAGE COMMON SHARES--
  Basic                       41,909      35,293      38,123      35,249

  Diluted                     42,502      35,293      38,832      35,954

Although Merit's financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles which are generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"), Merit's management believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures provide investors with useful information regarding the underlying business trends and performance of Merit's ongoing operations and can be useful for period-over-period comparisons of such operations. The following table sets forth supplemental financial data and corresponding reconciliations to GAAP financial statements for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010. Investors should consider these non-GAAP measures in addition to, not as a substitute for, financial reporting measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures exclude some, but not all, items that affect net income. Additionally, these calculations may not be comparable with similarly titled measures of other companies.

                                           Three Months            Nine Months

                                       Ended September 30,     Ended September 30,
                                      ----------------------  --------------------

                                         2011       2010         2011       2010
                                      ---------  -----------  ---------  ---------
  Non-GAAP ADJUSTMENTS
  GAAP net income                       $ 4,563    $ (1,973)   $ 18,074    $ 8,250

   Acquisition costs - (a)                             1,879         86      3,024
   BioSphere severance cost                            1,637                 1,637
   Fair value write-up of acquired
    inventory sold - (b)                    117                     644
   Long-term asset impairment
    charges - (c)                            42          250         59        494
   Legal settlement                                                            477
   Goodwill impairment charge                          8,344                 8,344
   Acquired in-process research and
    development                           3,438                   3,438
   Amortization of intangible assets      1,443          971      4,503      2,303
   Income tax effect of reconciling
    items - (d)                          (1,915      (4,971)    (3,317)    (6,186)
                                      ---------  -----------  ---------  ---------

  Non-GAAP net income                   $ 7,688      $ 6,137   $ 23,487   $ 18,343


  Non-GAAP net income per share          $ 0.18       $ 0.17     $ 0.60     $ 0.51
                                      =========  ===========  =========  =========

  Diluted shares used to compute
   Non-GAAP net income per share:        42,502       36,019     38,832     35,954
                                      =========  ===========  =========  =========

Merit did not adjust the non-GAAP income for stock-based compensation expense of $436,000 and $344,000, for three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and $1.1 million and $950,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

  (a)  Acquisition costs related to Merit's acquisition of BioSphere.
  (b)  Increase in cost of goods sold related to the mark-up of finished goods associated with Merit's
   acquisition of BioSphere.
  (c)  Amounts represent patents and trademarks and construction work-in-progress equipment abandoned.
  (d)  To reflect an estimated annual effective tax rate of 38% on a Non-GAAP basis.


  BALANCE SHEET
  (Unaudited in thousands)


                               September   December
                               30,         31,

                                  2011        2010
                               ----------  ----------
  ASSETS
  Current Assets
   Cash and cash equivalents      $ 5,819     $ 3,735
   Trade receivables, net          40,579      37,362
   Employee receivables               199         110
   Other receivables                1,442       1,242
   Inventories                     66,557      60,597
   Prepaid expenses and other
    assets                          4,302       2,541
   Deferred income tax assets       4,591       4,647
   Income tax refunds
    receivable                        467        2067
                               ----------  ----------
    Total Current Assets          123,956     112,301

  Property and equipment, net     162,523     128,055
  Other intangibles, net           58,544      57,184
  Goodwill                         61,144      58,675
  Other assets                      8,053       9,125

  Deferred income tax assets        4,613       4,140
                               ----------  ----------

  Total Assets                  $ 418,833   $ 369,480
                               ==========  ==========

  LIABILITIES AND
   STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
  Current Liabilities
   Trade payables                $ 23,129    $ 20,092
   Accrued expenses                21,404      18,890
   Advances from employees            798         307

   Income taxes payable             2,967         887
                               ----------  ----------
    Total Current Liabilities      48,298      40,176

  Deferred income tax
   liabilities                      1,449       1,267
  Liabilities related to
   unrecognized tax benefits        2,417       3,527
  Deferred compensation
   payable                          4,382       4,258
  Deferred credits                  1,682       1,763
  Long-term debt                    5,619      81,538

  Other long-term obligation        4,270       1,336
                               ----------  ----------
  Total Liabilities                68,117     133,865

  Stockholders' Equity
   Common stock                   165,011      67,091
   Retained earnings              185,738     167,664
   Accumulated other
    comprehensive income
    (loss)                           (33)         860
                               ----------  ----------
    Total stockholders'
     equity                       350,716     235,615
                               ----------  ----------
  Total Liabilities and
   Stockholders' Equity         $ 418,833   $ 369,480
                               ==========  ==========

ABOUT MERIT

Founded in 1987, Merit Medical Systems, Inc. is engaged in the development, manufacture and distribution of proprietary disposable medical devices used in interventional and diagnostic procedures, particularly in cardiology, radiology and endoscopy. Merit serves client hospitals worldwide with a domestic and international sales force totaling approximately 130 individuals. Merit employs approximately 2,350 people worldwide with facilities in Salt Lake City and South Jordan, Utah; Angleton, Texas; Richmond, Virginia; Maastricht and Venlo, The Netherlands; Paris, France; Galway, Ireland; Beijing, China; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Rockland, Massachusetts.

The Merit Medical Systems, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3282

Statements contained in this release which are not purely historical, including, without limitation, statements regarding Merit's forecasted revenues, net income or other financial results, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Merit's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. Such risks and uncertainties include risks relating to product recalls and product liability claims; potential restrictions on Merit's liquidity or its ability to operate its business by its current debt agreements; possible infringement of Merit's technology or the assertion that Merit's technology infringes the rights of other parties; the potential of fines, penalties, or other adverse consequences if Merit's employees or agents violate the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or other laws and regulations; expenditures relating to research, development, testing and regulatory approval or clearance of Merit's products and risks that such products may not be developed successfully or approved for commercial use; greater governmental scrutiny and regulation of the medical device industry; reforms to the 510(k) process administered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; laws targeting fraud and abuse in the healthcare industry; potential for significant adverse changes in, or failure to comply with, governing regulations; increases in the price of commodity components; negative changes in economic and industry conditions in the United States and other countries; termination or interruption of relationships with Merit's suppliers, or failure of such suppliers to perform; Merit's potential inability to successfully manage growth through acquisitions, including the inability to commercialize technology acquired through recent, proposed or future acquisitions, including the BioSphere acquisition; fluctuations in Euro and GBP exchange rates; Merit's need to generate sufficient cash flow to fund its debt obligations, capital expenditures, and ongoing operations; concentration of Merit's revenues among a few products and procedures; development of new products and technology that could render Merit's existing products obsolete; market acceptance of new products; volatility in the market price of Merit's common stock; modification or limitation of governmental or private insurance reimbursement policies; changes in health care markets related to health care reform initiatives; failure to comply with applicable environmental laws; changes in key personnel; work stoppage or transportation risks; uncertainties associated with potential healthcare policy changes which may have a material adverse effect on Merit; introduction of products in a timely fashion; price and product competition; availability of labor and materials; cost increases; fluctuations in and obsolescence of inventory; and other factors referred to in Merit's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and other materials filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All subsequent forward-looking statements attributable to Merit or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Actual results will differ, and may differ materially, from anticipated results. Financial estimates are subject to change and are not intended to be relied upon as predictions of future operating results, and Merit assumes no obligation to update or disclose revisions to those estimates.

This news release was distributed by GlobeNewswire, www.globenewswire.com

SOURCE: Merit Medical Systems, Inc.

CONTACT: Anne-Marie Wright, Vice President, Corporate Communications
Phone: (801) 208-4167
e-mail: awright@merit.com
Fax: (801) 253-1688