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, 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.

We manufacture our products in plants located in the United States, Mexico, The Netherlands, Ireland, France and Brazil. We export sales to dealers and have direct sales forces in the United States, Canada, Western Europe, Australia, Brazil, Russia, and China (see Note 12). Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The following is a summary of the more significant of such policies.

Use of Estimates in Preparing Financial Statements. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America 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.

Principles of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include our wholly owned subsidiaries. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

Cash and Cash Equivalents. For purposes of the statements of cash flows, we consider interest bearing deposits with an original maturity date of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Receivables. The allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable is based on our historical bad debt experience and on management’s evaluation of our ability to collect individual outstanding balances.

Inventories. We value our inventories at the lower of cost, determined on a first-in, first-out method, or market value. Market value for raw materials is based on replacement costs. Inventory costs include material, labor and manufacturing overhead. We review inventories on hand at least quarterly and record provisions for estimated excess, slow moving and obsolete inventory, as well as inventory with a carrying value in excess of net realizable value. The regular and systematic inventory valuation reviews include a current assessment of future product demand, historical experience and product expiration.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets. We test goodwill balances for impairment on an annual basis as of July 1 or whenever impairment indicators arise. We utilize several reporting units in evaluating goodwill for impairment. We assess the estimated fair value of reporting units using a combination of a guideline public company market-based approach and a discounted cash flow income-based approach. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, an impairment charge is recognized in an amount equal to the excess of the carrying amount of the reporting unit goodwill over the implied fair value of that goodwill.

We evaluate the recoverability of intangible assets periodically and take into account events or circumstances that warrant revised estimates of useful lives or that indicate that impairment exists. All of our intangible assets are subject to amortization. Intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis, except for customer lists, which are generally amortized on an accelerated basis, over the following useful lives:



Customer lists	5	-	14 years
Developed technology	8	-	15 years
Distribution agreements	3	-	12 years
License agreements and trademarks	4	-	15 years
Covenants not to compete	7	-	10 years
Patents	17 years
Royalty agreements	5 years

Long-Lived Assets. We periodically review the carrying amount of our long-lived assets for impairment. An asset is considered impaired when estimated future cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset. 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. There were no impairments of long-lived assets during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, except as noted in Note 4.

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, 2016, 2015 and 2014 was approximately $24.5 million, $22.6 million, and $21.0 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 approximately $9.9 million and $8.8 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, which is included in other assets in our consolidated balance sheets. We have recorded a deferred compensation payable of approximately $9.2 million and $8.5 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, to reflect the liability to our employees under this plan.

Other Assets. Other assets consist of our deferred compensation plan cash surrender value discussed above, unamortized debt issuance costs, investments in privately-held companies accounted for at cost, a long-term income tax refund receivable, and deposits related to various leases.

Deferred Credits. Deferred credits consist of grant money received from the Irish government. Grant money is received for a percentage of expenditures on eligible property and equipment, specific research and development projects and costs of hiring and training employees. Amounts related to the acquisition of property and equipment are amortized as a reduction of depreciation expense over the lives of the corresponding property and equipment.

Revenue Recognition. We sell our single-use disposable 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. Revenues from these customers are recognized when all of the following have occurred: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, (iii) the price is fixed or determinable and (iv) the ability to collect is reasonably assured. These criteria are generally satisfied at the time of shipment when risk of loss and title passes to the customer. We have certain written agreements with group purchasing organizations to sell our products to participating hospitals. These agreements have destination shipping terms which require us to defer the recognition of a sale until the product has arrived at the participating hospitals. We reserve for sales returns, including returns related to defective products, as a reduction in net sales, based on our historical experience. We also offer sales rebates and discounts to purchasing groups. These 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, 2016, 2015 and 2014. 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. We bill our customers for shipping and handling charges, which 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, medical device excise tax, product royalty expense, developed technology amortization expense, production-related depreciation expense and product license agreement expense in cost of sales.

Research and Development. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.

Income Taxes. We utilize an asset and liability approach for financial accounting and reporting for income taxes. Deferred income taxes are provided for temporary differences in the basis of assets and liabilities as reported for financial statement and income tax purposes. Deferred income taxes reflect the tax effects of net operating loss and tax credit carryovers and temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Realization of certain deferred tax assets is dependent upon future earnings, if any. We make estimates and judgments in determining the need for a provision for income taxes, including the estimation of our taxable income for each full fiscal year.

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 dilutive common shares from stock options and warrants, as calculated using the treasury stock 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 share-based payment transactions in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation. Under the provisions of ASC 718, share-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. Stock-based compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 was approximately $2.5 million, $2.2 million and $1.5 million, respectively.

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. Sales to our single largest customer accounted for approximately 3% of net sales for each of the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014.

Foreign Currency. The financial statements of our foreign subsidiaries are measured using local currencies as the functional currency, with the exception of our 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 income (loss) as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Foreign currency transactions denominated in a currency other than the entity’s functional currency are included in determining net income for the period. Such foreign currency transaction gains and losses have not been significant for purposes of our financial reporting.

Derivatives. We use forward contracts to mitigate our exposure to volatility in foreign exchange rates, and we use interest rate swaps to hedge changes in the benchmark interest rate related to our Second Amended Credit Agreement described in Note 7. 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 8).

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss). As of December 31, 2016, accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) included approximately $2.9 million (net of tax of $(1.9) million) related to cash flow hedges and ($4.8) million (net of tax of $318,000) related to foreign currency translation. As of December 31, 2015, accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) included approximately $1,000 (net of tax of $(1,000)) related to an interest rate swap and ($5.5) million (net of tax of $513,000) related to foreign currency translation.

Recently Issued Financial Accounting Standards. In January 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which eliminates the requirement to determine the fair value of individual assets and liabilities of a reporting unit to measure goodwill impairment. Under these amendments, goodwill impairment testing will be performed by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount and recognizing an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. The new standard is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and should be applied on a prospective basis. Early adoption is permitted for annual or interim goodwill impairment testing performed after January 1, 2017. We plan to early adopt ASU 2017-01 effective January 1, 2017.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business, which provides guidance to entities to assist with evaluating when a set of transferred assets and activities is a business and provides a screen to determine when a set is not a business. Under the new guidance, when substantially all of the fair value of gross assets acquired (or disposed of) is concentrated in a single identifiable asset, or group of similar assets, the assets acquired would not represent a business. Also, to be considered a business, an acquisition would have to include an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to produce outputs. The new standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017, and should be applied on a prospective basis to any transactions occurring within the period of adoption. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual periods in which the financial statements have not been issued. We plan to early adopt ASU 2017-01 effective January 1, 2017.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory, which requires the recognition of the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset, other than inventory, when the transfer occurs. ASU 2016-16 will be effective for us on January 1, 2018. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2016-16 on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which addresses eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-15 will be effective for us on January 1, 2018 with early adoption permitted. We do not presently anticipate that the adoption of ASU 2016-15 will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which requires companies to record excess tax benefits and deficiencies in income rather than the current requirement to record them through equity. ASU 2016-09 also allows companies the option to recognize forfeitures of share-based awards when they occur rather than the current requirement to make an estimate upon the grant of the awards. ASU 2016-09 will be effective for us on January 1, 2017. Early adoption of ASU 2016-09 will be permitted in any interim or annual period, with any adjustments reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. We do not anticipate that the adoption of ASU 2016-09 will have a material impact on our financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases, which eliminates the current tests for lease classification under U.S. GAAP and requires lessees to recognize the right-of-use assets and related lease liabilities on the balance sheet for all leases greater than one year in duration. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. ASU 2016-02 provides that lessees (for capital and operating leases) and lessors (for sales-type, direct financing, and operating leases) must apply a modified retrospective transition approach for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The modified retrospective approach would not require any transition accounting for leases that expired before the earliest comparative period presented. Lessees and lessors may not apply a full retrospective transition approach. We are assessing the impact that ASU 2016-02 is anticipated to have on our consolidated financial statements. We currently expect that most of our operating lease commitments will be subject to the new standard and recognized as lease liabilities and right-of-use assets upon our adoption of ASU 2016-02.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, which amends the guidance regarding the classification and measurement of financial instruments. Changes to the current guidance primarily affect the accounting for equity investments, financial liabilities under the fair value option, and the presentation and disclosure requirements for financial instruments. In addition, ASU 2016-01 clarifies guidance related to the valuation allowance assessment when recognizing deferred tax assets resulting from unrealized losses on available-for-sale debt securities. ASU 2016-01 will be effective for us on January 1, 2018. Early adoption is not permitted except for the provision to record fair value changes for financial liabilities under the fair value option resulting from instrument-specific credit risk in other comprehensive income. Upon adoption of ASU 2016-01, an entity should apply the amendments by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet at the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective. We do not presently anticipate that the adoption of ASU 2016-01 will have a material impact on our financial statements.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes, which will require all deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities to be presented as noncurrent within a classified balance sheet. ASU 2015-17 will be effective for us as of January 1, 2017, with early application permitted. ASU 2015-17 may be applied either prospectively to all deferred tax assets and liabilities or retrospectively to all periods presented. We have elected not to early adopt ASU 2015-17. We do not anticipate that the adoption of ASU 2015-17 will have a material impact on our financial statements.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory. ASU 2015-11 requires that inventory be measured at the lower of cost 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 measured using last-in, first-out or the retail inventory method are excluded from the scope of ASU 2015-11 which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years. We do not anticipate that the implementation of ASU 2015-11 will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), to update the financial reporting requirements for revenue recognition. Topic 606 outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The guidance is based on the principle that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to fulfill a contract. This guidance is effective for us beginning on January 1, 2018, and entities have the option of using either a full retrospective or a modified retrospective approach for the adoption of the new standard. We have not yet reached a final conclusion on whether we will adopt this new standard on a prospective or retrospective basis.

We are concluding the assessment phase of implementing this guidance. We have evaluated each of the five steps in Topic 606, which are as follows: 1) Identify the contract with the customer; 2) Identify the performance obligations in the contract; 3) Determine the transaction price; 4) Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations; and 5) Recognize revenue when (or as) performance obligations are satisfied. Our preliminary conclusion is that we expect to identify similar performance obligations under ASC Topic 606 as compared with deliverables and separate units of account previously identified. As a result, we expect the timing of our revenue to remain the same in comparison to the current revenue recognition guidance. There are also certain considerations related to internal control over financial reporting that are associated with implementing Topic 606. We are currently evaluating our control framework for revenue recognition and identifying any changes that may need to be made in response to the new guidance. Disclosure requirements under the new guidance in Topic 606 have been significantly expanded in comparison to the disclosure requirements under the current guidance. Designing and implementing the appropriate controls over gathering and reporting the information required under Topic 606 is currently in process.