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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 10, 2004

Registration No. 333-[            ]



UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under the
Securities Act of 1933


MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Utah
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  87-0447695
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

1600 West Merit Parkway
South Jordan, Utah 84095
Telephone: (801) 253-1600
(Address of Principal Executive Offices,
including Zip Code)

Merit Medical Systems, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan
(Full title of the plan)

Kent W. Stanger
Chief Financial Officer
Merit Medical Systems, Inc.
1600 West Merit Parkway
Salt Lake City, Utah 84095
(801) 253-1600
(Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
  Copy to:
Brian G. Lloyd
Stoel Rives LLP
201 South Main Street, Suite 1100
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
(801) 578-6950

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


Title of Securities to be Registered
  Amount to
be Registered(1)

  Proposed Maximum
Offering Price
per Share(2)

  Proposed Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price(2)

  Amount of
Registration Fee(2)


Common Shares, no par value   1,250,000   $14.24   $17,800,000   $2,255

(1)
This Registration Statement shall also cover any additional common shares which become issuable under the Merit Medical Systems, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction effected without the receipt of consideration which results in an increase in the number of outstanding shares of common stock of Merit Medical Systems, Inc.

(2)
Calculated solely for purposes of this offering under Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on the basis of the average of the high and low price per share of common stock of Merit Medical Systems, Inc., as reported on the Nasdaq National Market on June 9, 2004.





PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS


Item 1. Plan Information.*


Item 2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.*


PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

        The following documents filed by Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (the "Registrant") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") are hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

        In addition, all documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes hereof to the extent that a statement contained herein (or in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated by reference herein) modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed to constitute a part hereof except as so modified or superseded.


Item 4. Description of Securities.

        Not applicable.


Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

        Not applicable.

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Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

        Section 16-10a-902 ("Section 902") of the Utah Revised Business Corporation Act (the "Revised Act") provides that a corporation may indemnify any individual who was, is, or is threatened to be made a named defendant or respondent (a "Party") in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative and whether formal or informal (a "Proceeding"), because he is or was a director of the corporation or is or was serving at its request as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, fiduciary or agent of another corporation or other person or of an employee benefit plan (an "Indemnified Director"), against any obligation incurred with respect to a Proceeding, including any judgment, settlement, penalty, fine or reasonable expenses (including attorneys' fees), incurred in the Proceeding if his conduct was in good faith, he reasonably believed that his conduct was in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, and, in the case of any criminal Proceeding, he had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; except that (i) indemnification under Section 902 in connection with a Proceeding by or in the right of the corporation is limited to payment of reasonable expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred in connection with the Proceeding and (ii) the corporation may not indemnify an Indemnified Director in connection with a Proceeding by or in the right of the corporation in which the Indemnified Director was adjudged liable to the corporation, or in connection with any other Proceeding charging that the Indemnified Director derived an improper personal benefit, whether or not involving action in his official capacity, in which Proceeding he was adjudged liable on the basis that he derived an improper personal benefit.

        Section 16-10a-906 of the Revised Act provides that a corporation may not indemnify a director under Section 902 unless authorized and a determination has been made (by the board of directors, a committee of the board of directors or by the stockholders) that indemnification of the director is permissible in the circumstances because the director has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 902.

        Section 16-10a-903 ("Section 903") of the Revised Act provides that, unless limited by its articles of incorporation, a corporation shall indemnify a director who was successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any Proceeding, or in the defense of any claim, issue or matter in the proceeding, to which he was a Party because he is or was a director of the corporation, against reasonable expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by him in connection with the Proceeding or claim.

        In addition to the indemnification provided by Sections 902 and 903, Section 16-10a-905 ("Section 905") of the Revised Act provides that, unless otherwise limited by a corporation's articles of incorporation, a director may apply for indemnification to the court conducting the Proceeding or to another court of competent jurisdiction. On receipt of an application and after giving any notice the court considers necessary, (i) the court may order mandatory indemnification under Section 903, in which case the court shall also order the corporation to pay the director's reasonable expenses to obtain court-ordered indemnification, or (ii) upon the court's determination that the director is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification in view of all the relevant circumstances and regardless of whether the director met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 902, the court may order indemnification as the court determines to be proper, except that indemnification with respect to certain Proceedings resulting in a director being found liable for certain actions against the corporation may be limited to reasonable expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by the director.

        Section 16-10a-904 ("Section 904") of the Revised Act provides that a corporation may pay for or reimburse the reasonable expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by a director who is a Party to a Proceeding in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding if (i) the director furnishes the corporation a written affirmation of his good faith belief that he has met the applicable standard of conduct described in Section 902, (ii) the director furnishes to the corporation a written undertaking,

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executed personally or in his behalf, to repay the advance if it is ultimately determined that he did not meet the required standard of conduct, and (iii) a determination is made that the facts then known to those making the determination would not preclude indemnification under Section 904.

        Section 16-10a-907 of the Revised Act provides that, unless a corporation's articles of incorporation provide otherwise, (i) an officer of the corporation is entitled to mandatory indemnification under Section 903 and is entitled to apply for court ordered indemnification under Section 905, in each case to the same extent as a director, (ii) the corporation may indemnify and advance expenses to an officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of the corporation to the same extent as a director, and (iii) a corporation may also indemnify and advance expenses to an officer, employee, fiduciary or agent who is not a director to a greater extent than the right of indemnification granted to directors, if not inconsistent with public policy, and if provided for by its articles of incorporation, bylaws, general or specific action of its board of directors or contract.

        The Registrant's Bylaws provide that the Registrant shall, to the fullest extent permitted, and in the manner required by the law of the State of Utah, indemnify an individual made, or threatened to be made a party to a proceeding because he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant or of another enterprise at the request of the Registrant.

        The Registrant's Articles of Incorporation, as amended and restated, provide that to the fullest extent permitted by the Revised Act or any other applicable law as now in effect or as it may hereafter be amended, a director of the Registrant shall not be personally liable to the Registrant or its Shareholders for monetary damages for any action taken or any failure to take any action, as a director. The extent to which the Revised Act permits director liability to be eliminated is governed by Section 16-10a-841 of the Revised Act, which provides that the liability of a director may not be eliminated or limited for (i) the amount of financial benefit received by a director to which he is not entitled; (ii) an intentional infliction of harm on the corporation or its shareholders; (iii) a violation of Section 16-10a-842 of the Revised Act which prohibits unlawful distributions by a corporation to its shareholders; or (iv) an intentional violation of criminal law. Indemnification may be granted pursuant to any other agreement, bylaw, or vote of shareholders or directors. In addition to the foregoing, the Registrant maintains insurance from commercial carriers against certain liabilities which may be incurred by its directors and officers.

        Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, the Registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act, and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

        The rights of indemnification described above are not exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which the persons indemnified may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or directors or otherwise. In addition to the foregoing, the Registrant maintains insurance through a commercial carrier against certain liabilities which may be incurred by its directors and officers.

        The foregoing description is necessarily general and does not describe all details regarding the indemnification of officers, directors or controlling persons of the Registrant.

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Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

        Not applicable.


Item 8. Exhibits.

Exhibit
No.

  Description
  Incorporated by Reference/
Filed Herewith (and Sequential Page #)

4.1   Form of Common Stock Certificate   Incorporated by reference to Registration Statement on Form S-18 filed with the Commission on October 19, 1989, Exhibit No. 10.
4.2   Articles of Incorporation   Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on August 14, 1996, Exhibit No. 1.
4.3   Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation   Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on October 9, 1997, Exhibit 99.1.
4.4   Bylaws   Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-18 filed with the Commission on October 19, 1989, Exhibit No. 2.
4.5   Rights Agreement dated as of August 27, 1997 between Merit Medical Systems, Inc. and the Rights Agent identified therein.   Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on October 9, 1997, Exhibit No. 99.1.
4.6   Second Amendment to the Merit Medical Systems, Inc. 1999 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan   Filed herewith
4.7   Third Amendment to the Merit Medical Systems, Inc. 1999 Omnibus Stock Incentive Plan   Filed herewith
5   Opinion of Stoel Rives LLP   Filed herewith
23.1   Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP   Filed herewith
23.2   Consent of Stoel Rives LLP   Included in Exhibit No. 5
24   Powers of Attorney   Included on page 7 hereof


Item 9. Undertakings.

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provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the Registration Statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8 or Form F-3, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

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SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Salt Lake, State of Utah on this 10th day of June 2004.

    MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.

 

 

By

/s/  
FRED P. LAMPROPOULOS      
Fred P. Lampropoulos, Chairman of the Board,
President and Chief Executive Officer


ADDITIONAL SIGNATURES AND POWER OF ATTORNEY

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated. Each person whose signature to this Registration Statement appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Fred P. Lampropoulos and Kent W. Stanger, and each of them, as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution, to sign on his behalf individually and in the capacity stated below and to perform any acts necessary to be done in order to file all amendments and post-effective amendments to this Registration Statement, and any and all instruments or documents filed as part of or in connection with this Registration Statement or the amendments thereto and each of the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitutes, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Signature
  Title
  Date

 

 

 

 

 
/s/  FRED P. LAMPROPOULOS      
Fred P. Lampropoulos
  Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)   June 10, 2004

/s/  
KENT W. STANGER      
Kent W. Stanger

 

Secretary-Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Director (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

 

June 10, 2004

/s/  
REX C. BEAN      
Rex C. Bean

 

Director

 

June 10, 2004

/s/  
RICHARD W. EDELMAN      
Richard W. Edelman

 

Director

 

June 10, 2004

/s/  
JAMES J. ELLIS      
James J. Ellis

 

Director

 

June 10, 2004

/s/  
MICHAEL E. STILLABOWER      
Michael E. Stillabower

 

Director

 

June 10, 2004

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PART I INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
PART II INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SIGNATURES
ADDITIONAL SIGNATURES AND POWER OF ATTORNEY