MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC (Form: S-8, Received: 06/04/2018 17:27:55)

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 4, 2018

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.

2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan

(Full title of the plan)



Brian G. Lloyd Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary Merit Medical Systems, Inc. 1600 West Merit Parkway South Jordan, Utah 84095 (801) 253-1600 (Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)	Copy to: Bryan T. Allen Parr Brown Gee & Loveless 101 South 200 East, Suite 700 Salt Lake City, Utah 84111 (801) 532-7840

___________________________

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. (Check one):



Large accelerated filer þ	Accelerated filer ¨
Non-accelerated filer ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company ¨
	Emerging growth company ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registration has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ¨

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 Stock, no par value	3,100,000	$51.30	$159,030,000	$19,799.23

(1)

Pursuant to Rule 416(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of the common stock of Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (the “Registrant”) that become issuable under the Merit Medical Systems, Inc. 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction.


(2)	Estimated in accordance with Rules 457 (c) and (h) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, based on a price of $51.30 per share, which is the average of the high and low price per share of the Registrant’s common stock, as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on May 31, 2018.

PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

All information required by Part I to be contained in the Section 10(a) prospectus is omitted from this registration statement in accordance with the Note to Part I of Form S-8 and Rule 428 of the Securities Act.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference .

The following documents filed by the Registrant with the Commission are hereby incorporated herein by reference:


(1)	The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the Commission on March 1, 2018 (our “2017 Annual Report”);


(2)	The information specifically incorporated by reference into the Registrant’s 2017 Annual Report from its definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 13, 2018, as amended on April 23, 2018;


(3)	The Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 filed with the Commission on May 10, 2018;


(4)	The information contained in Items 2.01, 2.03 and 9.01(a) of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on February 21, 2018;


(5)	The information contained in Items 5.02, 5.03 and 5.07 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on May 31, 2018, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Current Report on Form 8-K/A, filed with the Commission on June 4, 2018; and


(5)	The description of the Common Stock contained in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on May 11, 1990, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

In addition, all documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), other than documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or that 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 is also 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.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

The Registrant is a Utah corporation subject to the provisions of the Utah Revised Business Corporation Act (the “Utah Act”), which includes provisions related to indemnification of directors and officers, the key terms of which are summarized below. Each of the sections identified below are sections of the Utah Code and part of the Utah Act.

Section 16-10a-902 allows a corporation to indemnify any individual made a party to a proceeding because he or she is or was a director of the corporation if (a) his or her conduct was in good faith, (b) he or she reasonably believed that his or her conduct was in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, and (c) in the case of any criminal proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe such conduct was unlawful. Such indemnification is limited to reasonable expenses (including attorney’s fees) incurred in connection with any such proceeding. The above notwithstanding, Section 16-10a-902(4)-(5) provides that the corporation may not indemnify a director in connection with:


(i)	any proceeding brought by or in the right of the corporation (including any derivative actions) if that director was adjudged liable to the corporation; and


(ii)	any other proceeding charging that the director derived an improper personal benefit, whether or not involving action in his or her official capacity, in which proceeding he or she was adjudged liable on the basis that he or she derived an improper personal benefit.

Section 16-10a-903 provides that, unless limited by its articles of incorporation, a corporation must indemnify a director who is 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 or she was a party because he or she is or was a director of the corporation, against reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in connection with the proceeding or claim with respect to which he or she has been successful.

Section 16-10a-904 allows a corporation to 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 upon certain affirmations, undertakings and determinations required thereunder.

Section 16-10a-905 provides that, unless otherwise limited by a corporation’s articles of incorporation, a director who is or was a party to a proceeding may apply for indemnification to the court conducting the proceeding or to another court of competent jurisdiction. The court may order such indemnification if it determines that the director is entitled to mandatory indemnification under Section 16-10a-903 or is otherwise fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification in view of all the relevant circumstances.

Section 16-10a-906 provides a corporation may only indemnify a director pursuant to Section 16-10a-902 if a determination is made in the specific proceeding that indemnification is permissible in the circumstances and such indemnification is authorized by the corporation. Similarly, authorization is required for a corporation to advance expenses under Section 16-10a-904.

Section 16-10a-907 provides that, unless otherwise limited by a corporation’s articles of incorporation:


(i)	an officer of the corporation is entitled to mandatory indemnification under Section 16-10a-903 and is entitled to apply for court-ordered indemnification under Section 16-10a-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 a director, 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.

Section 16-10a-908 allows a corporation to purchase and maintain liability insurance on behalf of a person who is or was a director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of the corporation or who, while serving in any such capacity, is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, fiduciary, or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation or other person, or of an employee benefit plan, in each case, against liability asserted against or incurred by the individual in that capacity or arising from his or her status as such. Such insurance may be purchased and maintained whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify any such person against the same liability under Sections 16-10a-902, 903 or 907.

Under Section 16-10a-909, a provision treating a corporation’s indemnification of, or advance for expenses to, directors that is contained in its articles of incorporation or bylaws, in a resolution of its shareholders or board of directors or in a contract (except an insurance policy) or otherwise, will only be valid if and to the extent that provision is not inconsistent with Sections 16-10a-901 through 909. Additionally, if the articles of incorporation of a corporation limit indemnification or advancement of expenses, then such indemnification and advancement of expenses will be valid only to the extent not inconsistent with such articles.

The Registrant’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (the “Articles”) require the Registrant to indemnify our directors and officers against liabilities incurred by them that result from acts performed by them in furtherance of the business of the corporation to the fullest extent permitted by Utah law.

The Registrant’s Second and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) also include mandatory indemnification provisions with respect to our directors and officers and discretionary indemnification provisions with respect to employees and agents, each subject to limitations generally reflecting the limitations on indemnification set forth in the Utah Act (as discussed above). The Bylaws also allow us to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was one of our directors or officers (or is or was serving at our request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise) against any liability asserted against, or incurred by, him or her in such capacity or arising out of his or her status in such capacity, whether or not we would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the indemnification provisions of the Bylaws or Utah law. We maintain insurance from commercial carriers against certain liabilities that may be incurred by our directors and officers.

The Registrant has also entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and executive officers, pursuant to which we have, among other things, agreed to defend, indemnify and hold harmless each such person to the fullest extent permitted by the Utah Act if he or she is or was a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any proceeding (other than derivative proceedings) by reason of his or her role as a director, officer or agent of the company or its subsidiaries. The Registrant has also agreed to defend, indemnify and hold harmless each such person to the fullest extent permitted by the Utah Act in connection with any derivative proceeding to which such person was or is, or is threatened to be made, a party if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed by him or her to be in the best interests of our company and shareholders, unless such person is found by a court to be liable to our company and shareholders in performance of his or her duties. Under these agreements, each person is presumed to have satisfied the applicable standard of conduct necessary to be indemnified by our company, a presumption that may only be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence to the contrary.

Indemnification may also be granted to our directors and officers in the future pursuant to other agreements, amendments to the Articles or Bylaws or by vote of our shareholders or directors.

The foregoing descriptions are summary in nature, do not describe all details regarding the indemnification of our officers, directors or controlling persons and are subject in its entirety by reference to the applicable provisions of the Utah Act, the Articles and Bylaws and such indemnification agreements.

Item 7. Exemption From Registration Claimed .

Not applicable.

Item 8. Exhibits .



Exhibit Number	Description	Filing Status
3.1	Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation dated May 31, 2018	Form 8-K, filed May 31, 2018 (Exhibit No. 3.1)
3.2	Third Amended and Restated Bylaws	Form 8-K, filed May 31, 2018 (Exhibit No. 3.2)
4.1	Specimen certificate of common stock	Form 10-K filed March 1, 2018 (Exhibit No. 4.1)
4.2	Merit Medical Systems, Inc. 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan	Filed herewith
5.1	Opinion of Parr Brown Gee & Loveless PC	Filed herewith
23.1	Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP	Filed herewith
23.2	Consent of Parr Brown Gee & Loveless	Included in Exhibit 5.1, which is filed herewith
24.1	Power of Attorney	Included in signature pages hereto

Item 9. Undertakings .


(a)	The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; provided , however , that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this item do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-8, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 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 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, 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 South Jordan, State of Utah, on June 4, 2018.



	MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.

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

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature to this registration statement appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Fred P. Lampropoulos (President and Chief Executive Officer), Raul Parra, Jr. (interim Chief Financial Officer) and Brian G. Lloyd (Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary), and each of them acting individually, as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution, to sign on his or her behalf individually and in the capacity stated below and to perform any acts necessary to be done in order to file all amendments (including any 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 to file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto say attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in or about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, and each of the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that such attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or their respective substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on June 4, 2018.



Signature		Capacity in Which Signed

/s/ FRED P. LAMPROPOULOS		President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Fred P. Lampropoulos		(Principal executive officer)

/s/ RAUL PARRA, JR.		Interim Chief Financial Officer
Raul Parra, Jr.		(Principal financial and accounting officer)

/s/ A. SCOTT ANDERSON		Director
A. Scott Anderson

/s/ THOMAS J. GUNDERSON		Director
Thomas J. Gunderson

/s/ NOLAN E. KARRAS		Director
Nolan E. Karras

/s/ DAVID M. LIU		Director
David M. Liu

/s/ FRANKLIN J. MILLER		Director
Franklin J. Miller

/s/ F. ANN MILLNER		Director
F. Ann Millner

/s/ KENT W. STANGER		Director
Kent W. Stanger

/s/ MICHAEL E. STILLABOWER		Director
Michael E. Stillabower

MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.

EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit Number	Description	Filing Status
3.1	Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation dated May 31, 2018	Form 8-K, filed May 31, 2018 (Exhibit No. 3.1)
3.2	Third Amended and Restated Bylaws	Form 8-K, filed May 31, 2018 (Exhibit No. 3.2)
4.1	Specimen certificate of common stock	Form 10-K filed March 1, 2018 (Exhibit No. 4.1)
4.2	Merit Medical Systems, Inc. 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan	Filed herewith
5.1	Opinion of Parr Brown Gee & Loveless PC	Filed herewith
23.1	Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP	Filed herewith
23.2	Consent of Parr Brown Gee & Loveless	Included in Exhibit 5.1, which is filed herewith
24	Power of Attorney	Included in signature pages hereto

Exhibit 4.2

MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.

2018 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (the “Company”), a Utah corporation, hereby establishes and adopts the Merit Medical Systems, Inc. 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) effective as of the date specified in Section 13.13 below.

1. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

The purpose of the Plan is to assist the Company and its Subsidiaries in attracting and retaining selected individuals to serve as directors, employees, consultants and/or advisors of the Company who are expected to contribute to the Company's success and to achieve long-term objectives which will inure to the benefit of all shareholders of the Company through the additional incentives inherent in the Awards hereunder.


2.	DEFINITIONS

“ Award ” shall mean any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit Award, Other Share-Based Award or any other right, interest or option relating to Shares or other property (including cash) granted pursuant to the provisions of the Plan.

“ Award Agreement ” shall mean any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing any Award granted by the Committee hereunder, including through an electronic medium.

“ Base Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2(b).

“ Board ” shall mean the board of directors of the Company.

“ Cause ” shall mean with respect to any Employee or Consultant, unless the applicable Award Agreement states otherwise: (i) if the Employee or Consultant is a party to an employment or service agreement with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and such agreement provides for a definition of Cause, the definition contained therein; or (ii) if no such agreement exists, or if such agreement does not define Cause: (A) the commission of, or plea of guilty or no contest to, a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude or the commission of any other act involving willful malfeasance or material fiduciary breach with respect to the Company or a Subsidiary; (B) conduct that results in or is reasonably likely to result in material harm to the reputation or business of the Company or any Subsidiary; (C) gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the Company or a Subsidiary; or (D) material violation of state or federal securities laws or any applicable written employment-related policy of the Company or Subsidiary. With respect to any Director, unless the applicable Award Agreement states otherwise, “Cause” means the commission of, or plea of guilty or no contest to, a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, malfeasance in office, gross misconduct or neglect of duties as a Director, false or fraudulent misrepresentation inducing the Director’s appointment, or repeated failure to participate in Board meetings on a regular basis despite having received proper notice of the meetings in advance. The Committee, in its absolute discretion, shall determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to whether a Participant has been discharged for Cause.

“ Change in Control ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.4.

“ Clawback Policy ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13.5(b).

“ Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. Any reference to a section of the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any regulations promulgated thereunder

“ Committee ” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board, consisting of no fewer than two Directors, each of whom is: (i) a “Non-Employee Director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act; and (ii) an “independent director” for purpose of the rules and regulations of the NASDAQ Global Select Market (or such other principal securities market on which the Shares are traded).

“ Company ” shall mean Merit Medical Systems, Inc., a Utah corporation.

“ Company Voting Securities ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.4(b).

“ Consultant ” shall mean any individual or entity which performs bona fide services to the Company or a Subsidiary, other than as an Employee or Director, and who may be offered Shares under the Plan registerable pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act.

“ Continuous Service ” shall mean that the Participant’s service with the Company or a Subsidiary, whether as an Employee, Consultant or Director, is not terminated. The Participant’s Continuous Service shall not be deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in the capacity in which the Participant renders service to the Company or a Subsidiary as an Employee, Consultant or Director or a change in the entity for which the Participant renders such service; provided that (i) there is no interruption or termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service; and (ii) that if any Award is subject to Section 409A of the Code, this sentence shall only be given effect to the extent consistent with Section 409A of the Code. For example, a change in status from an Employee of the Company to a Director of a Subsidiary will not constitute an interruption of Continuous Service. The Committee or its delegate, in its sole discretion, may determine whether Continuous Service shall be considered interrupted in the case of any leave of absence approved by that party, including sick leave, military leave or any other personal or family leave of absence. The Committee or its delegate, in its sole discretion, may also determine whether a Company transaction, such as a sale or spin-off of a division or Subsidiary that employs a Participant, shall be deemed to result in a termination of Continuous Service for purposes of affected Awards, and such decision shall be final, conclusive and binding.

“ Director ” shall mean a non-employee member of the Board.

“ Disability ” shall mean, unless the applicable Award Agreement says otherwise, that the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment; provided, that for purposes of determining the term of an Incentive Stock Option, the term Disability shall have the meaning ascribed to it under Section 22(e)(3) of the Code. The determination of whether an individual has a Disability shall be determined under procedures established by the Committee. Except in situations where the Committee is determining Disability for purposes of the term of an Incentive Stock Option, the Committee may rely on any determination that a Participant is disabled for purposes of benefits under any long-term disability plan maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary in which the Participant participates.

“ Dividend Equivalents ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.3(b).

“ Employee ” shall mean any employee of the Company or any Subsidiary and any prospective employee conditioned upon, and effective not earlier than, such person’s becoming an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary.

“ Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“ Fair Market Value ” shall mean, with respect to any property other than Shares, the market value of such property determined by such methods or procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Committee. The Fair Market Value of Shares as of any date shall be the closing trading price of the Shares as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on that date (or if there were no reported closing prices on such date, on the last preceding date as of which the closing price per Share was reported) or, if the Company is not then listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, on such other principal securities exchange on which the Shares are traded. If the Company is not listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market or any other securities exchange, the Fair Market Value of Shares shall be determined by the Committee in good faith using such criteria as it determines in its discretion, and such determination shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.

“ Freestanding Stock Appreciation Right ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.

“ Grant Date ” shall mean the date on which the Committee adopts a resolution, or takes other appropriate action, expressly granting an Award to a Participant that specifies the material terms and conditions of the Award or, if a later date is set forth in such resolution, then such later date as is set forth in such resolution.

“ Incentive Stock Option ” shall mean an Option that is designated by the Committee as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and that meets the requirements set out in the Plan.

“ Incumbent Directors ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.4(a).

“ Non-qualifying Transaction ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.4(c).

“ Option ” shall mean any right granted to a Participant under the Plan allowing such Participant to purchase Shares at such price or prices and during such period or periods as the Committee shall determine.

“ Option Exercise Price ” shall mean the price at which a Share may be purchased upon the exercise of an Option.

“ Other Share-Based Award ” shall mean an Award that (i) is not an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit, (ii) is granted under Section 9; and (iii) is payable by delivery of Shares and/or which is measured by reference to the value of Shares.

“ Participant ” shall mean an Employee, Consultant or Director who is selected by the Committee to receive an Award under the Plan.

“ Payee ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13.1.

“ Performance Award ” shall mean any Award the exercisability, vesting, payment or settlement of which is subject to or conditioned upon satisfaction in whole or in part of specific Performance Goals established by the Committee and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. For clarity, Options and other Awards that become exercisable, vest, or otherwise are earned and become payable based solely on conditions relating to Continuous Service are not Performance Awards.

“ Performance Goals ” shall mean, as to a Performance Award, the specified levels of attainment of designated Performance Measures established by the Committee and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement at which the Performance Award will vest, become exercisable, or otherwise become payable or earned.

“ Performance Measures ” shall mean the measures or criteria that the Committee shall select for purposes of establishing the performance-based conditions for a Performance Award. The Performance Measures may be based on the attainment of specific levels of performance of the Company (or any Subsidiary, division, business unit or operational unit of the Company) and may include the following: (i) net earnings or net income (before or after taxes); (ii) basic or diluted earnings per share (before or after taxes); (iii) net revenue or net revenue growth; (iv) gross revenue, gross profit or gross profit growth; (v) net operating profit (before or after taxes); (vi) return on assets, capital, invested capital, equity, or sales; (vii) cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow, and cash flow return on capital); (viii) earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation and/or amortization; (ix) gross or operating margins; (x) improvements in capital structure; (xi) budget and expense management; (xii) productivity ratios; (xiii) economic value added or other value added measurements; (xiv) Share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total shareholder return); (xv) expense targets; (xvi) margins; (xvii) operating efficiency; (xix) working capital targets; (xx) enterprise value; (xxi) completion of acquisitions or business expansions; and (xxii) performance measures identified in the Prior Plan.

“ Permitted Assignee ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.3.

“ Plan ” shall mean the Merit Medical Systems, Inc. 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.

“ Prior Plan ” shall mean the Merit Medical Systems, Inc. 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan.

“ Related Right ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.

“ Restricted Stock ” shall mean any Share issued with the restriction that the holder may not sell, transfer, pledge or assign such Share and with such other restrictions as the Committee in its sole discretion, may impose (including any restriction on the right to vote such Share and the right to receive any dividends), which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times, in installments or otherwise, or upon the attainment of such specified Performance Goals as the Committee may deem appropriate.

“ Restricted Stock Award ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.

“ Restricted Stock Unit ” shall mean an Award of a contractual right to a future payment that is valued by reference to a Share, which value may be paid to the Participant in Shares or cash as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion upon the satisfaction of such vesting restrictions as the Committee may establish, which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times, in installments or otherwise, as the Committee may deem appropriate.

“ Restricted Stock Unit Award ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.

“ Shares ” shall mean the shares of common stock, no par value, of the Company.

“ Stock Appreciation Right ” shall mean the right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 6.

“ Subcommittee ” shall mean a subcommittee of the Committee designated by the Committee under Section 4.2(c) of the Plan.

“ Subsidiary ” shall mean any (i) corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if, at the time of the granting of the Award, each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in the chain; and (ii) any other entity in which the Company has a greater than 50% direct or indirect voting and economic equity interest.

“ Substitute Awards ” shall mean Awards granted or Shares issued by the Company in assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, awards previously granted, or the right or obligation to make future awards, by a company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines.

“ Ten Percent Shareholder ” means a person who owns (or is deemed to own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any of its Subsidiaries.

“ Vesting Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1 in the case of Restricted Stock or Section 8.1 in the case of Restricted Stock Units, as applicable.

“ Vested Units ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.5.

3. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

3.1 Number of Shares .

(a) Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 12.2, a total of 3,100,000 Shares shall be authorized for grant under the Plan. Any Shares that are subject to Awards of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights shall be counted against this limit as one (1) Share for every one (1) Share granted. Any Shares that are subject to Awards other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights shall be counted against this limit as two and one-half (2 ½) Shares for every one (1) Share granted.

(b) If any Shares subject to an Award under this Plan are forfeited or any Options awarded under this Plan expire unexercised, the Shares underlying such Award shall, to the extent of such forfeiture or expiration, again be available for Awards under the Plan, subject to Section 3.1(d) below. For clarity, the following Shares shall not be added to the Shares authorized for grant under Section 3.1(a): (i) Shares tendered by the Participant or withheld by the Company in payment of the purchase price of an Option, (ii) Shares tendered by the Participant or withheld by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation with respect to an Award, (iii) Shares repurchased by the Company with Option proceeds, (iv) Shares subject to a Stock Appreciation Right that are not issued in connection with the settlement of the Stock Appreciation Right on exercise thereof; and (v) Shares authorized for issuance or subject to awards under the Prior Plan, including Shares subject to awards under the Prior Plan which are forfeited or expire unexercised under the Prior Plan.

(c) Substitute Awards shall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under the Plan or authorized for grant to a Participant in any calendar year.

(d) Any Shares that again become available for grant pursuant to this Section 3.1 shall be added back as one (1) Share if such Shares were subject to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan, or as two and one-half (2 ½) Shares if such Shares were subject to Awards other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan.

3.2. Character of Shares . Any Shares issued hereunder may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares, treasury shares or shares purchased in the open market or otherwise.

4. ELIGIBILITY AND ADMINISTRATION

4.1. Eligibility . The persons eligible to receive Awards are the Employees, Consultants and Directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

4.2. Administration .

(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. Subject to Section 4.2(c) below, the other provisions of the Plan and such orders or resolutions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as may from time to time be adopted by the Board, the Committee shall have full power and authority to: (i) select the Employees, Consultants and Directors to whom Awards may from time to time be granted hereunder; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, to be granted to each Participant hereunder; (iii) determine the number of Shares to be covered by each Award granted hereunder; (iv) determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, of any Award granted hereunder, including conditions on exercisability and vesting; (v) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances Awards may be settled in cash, Shares or other property; (vi) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances cash, Shares, other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award made under the Plan shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the Participant; (vii) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances any Award shall be canceled or suspended; (viii) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement entered into under or in connection with the Plan, including any Award Agreement; (ix) correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award in the manner and to the extent that the Committee shall deem desirable to carry it into effect; (x) establish such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan and authorize any person to execute, on behalf of the Company, any instrument required to carry out the purposes of the Plan; (xi) determine whether any Award, other than an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, will have Dividend Equivalents; (xii) accelerate, on a case-by-case basis, the exercisability or vesting of a Participant’s Awards, in whole or in part, upon such Participant’s death, Disability or other termination of Continuous Service; (xiii) extend, on a case-by-case basis, the period during which a Participant’s Options can be exercised upon such Participant’s death, Disability or other termination of Continuous Service; provided that the extension will not allow any Option to be exercised after the Option’s original expiration date; (xiv) make all determinations for purposes of the Plan with respect to the occurrence, time and basis of any termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service; (xv) determine the Performance Measures, performance periods and Performance Goals, if any, that apply to vesting, exercisability or settlement of a Performance Awards, the degree to which the applicable Performance Goals have been timely attained, and the portion of any Performance Award that has become vested, exercisable, earned or payable; (xvi) make decisions with respect to outstanding Awards that may become necessary upon a Change in Control or an event that triggers anti-dilution adjustments; and (xvii) exercise full discretion and make any other determinations and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for administration of the Plan.

(b) Decisions of the Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Company, any Participant, and any Subsidiary. A Participant or other holder of an Award may contest a decision or action of the Committee with respect to such person or Award only on the grounds that such decision is arbitrary and capricious or unlawful, and any review of such decision or action shall be limited to determining whether the Committee’s decision or action was arbitrary and capricious or unlawful.

(c) The full Committee may also delegate to a Subcommittee the right to authorize the grant of Options to Employees who are not directors or officers of the Company and the authority to take action on behalf of the Committee pursuant to the Plan to cancel or suspend Awards to Employees who are not directors or officers of the Company. Additionally, to the extent not inconsistent with applicable law and the rules and regulations of any securities exchange on which the Company’s Shares are traded, the Committee may delegate in writing to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, so long as he is also a director of the Company, any of the authority of the Committee under the Plan to grant Options to such Employees and on such Plan-compliant terms as are determined by the Chief Executive Officer, other than to Employees who are officers or other persons subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. Any such delegation of authority shall be revocable prospectively by the Committee at any time and shall be subject to such limitations, including on the number of Options that can be granted in a specified period, and procedures as the Committee may specify.

(d) Any action within the scope of its or his authority by a Subcommittee or the Chief Executive Officer under Section 4.2(c) shall be deemed for all purposes under the Plan to have been taken by the full Committee and references in the Plan to the “Committee” shall be deemed to include the Subcommittee or the Chief Executive Officer acting within the scope of its or his delegated authority under Section 4.2(c), as applicable, unless the context otherwise requires.

(e) The Committee shall act pursuant to a vote of the majority of its members or, in the case of a Committee comprised of only two members, the unanimous consent of its members, whether present or not, or by the written consent of the majority of its members and minutes shall be kept of all of its meetings and copies thereof shall be provided to the Board. Subject to the limitations prescribed by the Plan and the Board, the Committee may establish and follow such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as it may determine to be advisable.

5. OPTIONS

5.1. Grant of Options . Options may be granted hereunder to Participants either alone or in addition to other Awards under the Plan. Any Option shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Article 5 and to such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall deem desirable.

5.2. Award Agreements . All Options granted pursuant to this Article 5 shall be evidenced by a written Award Agreement in such form and containing such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine which are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan. The terms of Options need not be the same with respect to each Participant. Granting an Option pursuant to the Plan shall impose no obligation on the recipient to exercise such Option. Any individual who is granted an Option pursuant to this Article may hold more than one Option granted pursuant to the Plan at the same time.

5.3. Option Exercise Price .

(a) The Option Exercise Price per Share purchasable under any Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such Share on the Grant Date of such Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option may be granted with an Option Exercise Price lower than that set forth in the preceding sentence if such Option is a Substitute Award granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner satisfying the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, and Option Exercise Prices may be adjusted as provided in Section 12.2.

(b) Other than pursuant to Section 12.2, the Committee shall not without the approval of the Company’s shareholders: (a) lower the Option Exercise Price per Share of an Option after it is granted; (b) cancel an Option when the Option Exercise Price per Share exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares in exchange for another Award (other than in connection with Substitute Awards); or (c) take any other action with respect to an Option that may be treated as a repricing under the rules and regulations of the NASDAQ Global Select Market (or such other principal securities market on which the Shares are traded).

5.4. Option Term and Vesting .

(a) The term of each Option shall be fixed by the Committee in its sole discretion; provided that no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of seven (7) years from the Option’s Grant Date, except in the event of death or Disability.

(b) Each Option shall be subject to such terms and conditions on the time or times when it may be exercised (which conditions may be based on Continuing Service, Performance Goals or a combination thereof) as the Committee may deem appropriate and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. The vesting provisions of individual Options may vary from Award to Award.

5.5. Exercise of Options . Vested Options granted under the Plan shall be exercised by the Participant or by a Permitted Assignee thereof (or by the Participant’s executors, administrators, guardian or legal representative, as may be provided in an Award Agreement) as to all or any part of the Shares covered thereby, by the giving of written notice of exercise to the Company or its designated agent, specifying the number of Shares to be purchased, accompanied by payment of the full Option Exercise Price for the Shares being purchased. Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, full payment of such Option Exercise Price shall be made at the time of exercise and shall be made (a) in cash or cash equivalents (including certified check or bank check or wire transfer of immediately available funds); or (b) if permitted by the applicable Award Agreement or otherwise with the consent of the Committee in its discretion, and to the extent permitted by applicable statutes and regulations: (i) by tendering previously acquired Shares (either actually or by attestation, valued at their then Fair Market Value) provided such previously acquired Shares have been held for more than six months (or such longer or shorter period of time required to avoid a charge to earnings for financial accounting purposes), (ii) by withholding Shares otherwise issuable in connection with the exercise of the Option; (iii) through a “cashless” exercise program established with a broker, (iv) by any combination of any of the foregoing, or (v) through delivery of any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Committee. The notice of exercise, accompanied by such payment, shall be delivered to the Company at its principal business office or such other office as the Committee may from time to time direct, and shall be in such form, containing such further provisions consistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee may from time to time prescribe. In no event may any Option granted hereunder be exercised for a fraction of a Share. No adjustment shall be made for cash dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date of such issuance of the underlying Shares. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, during any period for which the Common Stock is publicly traded (i.e., the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system) an exercise by a Director or Officer that involves or may involve a direct or indirect extension of credit or arrangement of an extension of credit by the Company, directly or indirectly, in violation of Section 402(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 shall be prohibited with respect to any Award under this Plan

5.6. Form of Settlement . In its sole discretion, the Committee may provide, at the time of grant, that the Shares to be issued upon an Option's exercise shall be in the form of Restricted Stock or other similar securities, or may reserve the right so to provide after the time of grant.

5.7. Incentive Stock Options. The Committee may grant Options intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options to any employee of the Company or any Subsidiary corporation, subject to the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. No Option shall be an Incentive Stock Option unless expressly designated as such in the applicable Award Agreement. Solely for the purposes of determining whether Shares are available for the grant of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options may be issued under the Plan shall be 3,100,000 Shares, subject to adjustment under Section 12.2. Additionally, a Ten Percent Shareholder shall not be granted an Incentive Stock Option unless the Option Exercise Price is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares at the Grant Date and the Option is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the Grant Date. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the Grant Date) of Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Employee during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries) exceeds $100,000, the Options or portions thereof which exceed such limit (according to the order in which they were granted) shall not be treated as Incentive Stock Options.

5.8. Effect of Termination of Continuous Service . Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or approved by the Committee, in the event a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates (other than upon the Participant’s death or Disability), the Participant may exercise the Participant’s vested Options (to the extent that the Participant was entitled to exercise such Options as of the date of termination) but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (a) the date three months following the termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service, or (b) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Award Agreement; provided that, if the termination of Continuous Service is for Cause, all outstanding Options (whether or not otherwise vested) shall immediately terminate and cease to be exercisable. If, after termination of Continuous Service, the Options are not timely exercised, the Options shall automatically terminate.

6. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

6.1. Grant and Exercise . The Committee may award Stock Appreciation Rights to a Participant: (a) in conjunction with all or part of any Option granted under the Plan or at any subsequent time during the term of such Option (a “Related Right”); (b) in conjunction with all or part of any Award (other than an Option) granted under the Plan or at any subsequent time during the term of such Award; or (c) without regard to any Option or other Award (a “Freestanding Stock Appreciation Right”), in each case upon such terms and conditions as the Committee may establish in its sole discretion.

6.2. Terms and Conditions . Stock Appreciation Rights shall be subject to such terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as shall be determined from time to time by the Committee, including the following:

(a) Each Stock Appreciation Right shall be subject to such terms and conditions on the time or times when it may be exercised (which conditions may be based on Continuing Service, Performance Goals, or a combination thereof) as the Committee may deem appropriate and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. The vesting provisions of individual Stock Appreciation Rights may vary from Award to Award.

(b) Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the holder shall have the right to receive the excess of: (i) the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of exercise, over (ii) a designated base value per Share (the “Base Amount”) with respect to the right on the applicable Grant Date (or in the case of a Related Right on the Grant Date of the related Option) as specified by the Committee in its sole discretion and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, which Base Amount per Share, except in the case of Substitute Awards or in connection with an adjustment provided in Section 12.2, shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of one Share on the Grant Date of the right or the related Option, as the case may be.

(c) Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion whether payment shall be made in in whole Shares, in cash or other property, or any combination thereof.

(d) Any Related Right may be granted at the same time as the related Option is granted or at any time thereafter before exercise or expiration of such Option.

(e) Any Related Right may be exercised only when the related Option would be exercisable and the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the related Option exceeds the Option Exercise Price at which Shares can be acquired pursuant to the Option. In addition, (i) if a Related Right exists with respect to less than the full number of Shares covered by a related Option, then an exercise or termination of such Option shall not reduce the number of Shares to which the Related Right

applies until the number of Shares then exercisable under such Option equals the number of Shares to which the Related Right applies, and (ii) no Related Right granted under the Plan to a person then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall be exercised during the first six (6) months of its term for cash, except as provided in Article 11.

(f) Any Option related to a Related Right shall no longer be exercisable to the extent the Related Right has been exercised.

(g) The provisions of Stock Appreciation Rights need not be the same with respect to each recipient.

(h) The Committee may impose such other conditions or restrictions on the terms of exercise and the exercise price of any Stock Appreciation Right, as it shall deem appropriate. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.2(h), but subject to Section 12.2, a Stock Appreciation Right shall have the same terms and conditions as Options, including (i) a Base Amount per Share not less than Fair Market Value of a Share on the applicable Grant Date, and (ii) a term not greater than seven (7) years. In addition to the foregoing, but subject to Section 12.2, the Committee shall not without approval of the Company’s shareholders (A) reduce the Base Amount per Share under any Stock Appreciation Right after it is granted, (B) cancel a Stock Appreciation Right when the Base Amount per Share exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares in exchange for another Award (other than in connection with Substitute Awards), or (C) take any other action with respect to a Stock Appreciation Right that may be treated as a repricing under the rules and regulations of the NASDAQ Global Select Market (or such other principal securities market on which the Shares are traded).

(i) The Committee may impose such terms and conditions on Stock Appreciation Rights granted in conjunction with any Award (other than an Option) as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion.


7.	RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS

7.1. Grants . Shares may be awarded under the Plan to Participants as Restricted Stock either alone or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan (a “Restricted Stock Award”). Restricted Stock Awards consist of grants of actual outstanding Shares on the applicable Grant Date. A Restricted Stock Award shall be subject to vesting restrictions imposed by the Committee covering a period of time (“Vesting Period”) specified by the Committee and may also be subject in whole or in part to additional performance-based vesting conditions designated by the Committee. A Restricted Stock Award subject to Performance Goal vesting conditions may be denominated as “performance shares.” The Committee has absolute discretion to determine whether any consideration (other than services) is to be received by the Company or any Subsidiary as a condition precedent to the issuance of shares of Restricted Stock.

7.2. Award Agreements . The terms of any Restricted Stock Award granted under the Plan shall be set forth in a written Award Agreement which shall contain provisions determined by the Committee and not inconsistent with the Plan. The terms of Restricted Stock Awards need not be the same with respect to each Restricted Stock Award. Each Participant granted Restricted Stock shall execute and deliver to the Company an Award Agreement with respect to the Restricted Stock. If the Committee determines that the Restricted Stock shall be held by the Company or in escrow rather than delivered to the Participant pending the release of the applicable restrictions, the Committee may require the Participant to additionally execute and deliver to the Company (a) an escrow agreement satisfactory to the Committee, and (b) the appropriate blank stock power with respect to the Restricted Stock covered by such agreement. If a Participant fails to execute within such time as the Committee requires an Award Agreement evidencing an Award of Restricted Stock and, if applicable, an escrow agreement and stock power, the Award shall be null and void.

7.3. Rights of Holders of Restricted Stock.

(a) Beginning on the Grant Date of the Restricted Stock Award and subject to execution of the Award Agreement, the Participant shall become a shareholder of the Company with respect to all Shares subject to the applicable Award Agreement and shall have all of the rights of a shareholder, including the right to vote such Shares and the right to receive distributions made with respect to such Shares; provided that, except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, any cash, Shares or any other property distributed as a dividend or otherwise with respect to any Restricted Stock as to which the restrictions have not yet lapsed shall be subject to the same restrictions as such Restricted Stock. Any provision herein to the contrary notwithstanding, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, cash dividends or with respect to any Restricted Stock Award and any other property (including additional Shares) distributed as a dividend or otherwise with respect to any Restricted Stock Award shall be: (i) accumulated subject to restrictions and risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the underlying Restricted Stock with respect to which such cash, Shares or other property has been distributed; and (ii) either (A) paid to the

Participant at the time such restrictions and risk of forfeiture lapse or (B) forfeited to the extent the underlying Restricted Stock is forfeited.

(b) Shares awarded to a Participant as Restricted Stock shall be subject to the following restrictions until the expiration of the applicable Vesting Period, and to such other terms and conditions as may be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement: (i) if an escrow arrangement is used, the Participant shall not be entitled to delivery of the stock certificate representing the Restricted Stock; (ii) the Shares shall be subject to the restrictions on transferability set forth in the Award Agreement; (iii) the Shares shall be subject to forfeiture to the extent provided in the applicable Award Agreement; and (iv) to the extent such Shares are forfeited, the applicable stock certificates shall be returned to the Company, and all rights of the Participant to such Shares and as a shareholder with respect to such Shares shall immediately terminate without further obligation on the part of the Company. Any certificate representing Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan shall bear a legend in such form as the Company deems appropriate.

7.4 . Vesting. Restricted Stock Awards shall be subject to such terms and conditions on the time or times when they vest (which conditions may be based on Continuing Service, Performance Goals or a combination thereof) as the Committee may deem appropriate and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

7.5. Delivery of Shares . Upon the expiration of the applicable Vesting Period with respect to any Restricted Stock, the restrictions set forth in this Article 7 and the applicable Award Agreement shall be of no further force or effect with respect to the Shares of Restricted Stock, except as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. If an escrow arrangement is used, upon such expiration, the Company shall deliver to the Participant, or his or her beneficiary, without charge, the stock certificate evidencing the shares of Restricted Stock which have not then been forfeited and with respect to which the Vesting Period has expired (to the nearest full share) and any cash dividends or stock dividends credited to the Participant’s account with respect to such Restricted Stock and the interest thereon, if any.

8. RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARDS

8.1. Grants . Awards of Restricted Stock Units having a value equal to a designated number of Shares (“Restricted Stock Unit Awards”) may be granted hereunder to Participants, in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. A Restricted Stock Unit Award shall be subject to vesting restrictions imposed by the Committee covering a period of time (“Vesting Period”) specified by the Committee and may also be subject to additional Performance Goal vesting conditions designated by the Committee. A Restricted Stock Unit Award subject to Performance Goal vesting conditions may be denominated as “performance units.”

8.2. Award Agreements . The terms of Restricted Stock Unit Awards granted under the Plan shall be set forth in a written Award Agreement which shall contain provisions determined by the Committee and not inconsistent with the Plan. The terms of such Awards need not be the same with respect to each Restricted Stock Unit Award. Each Participant granted Restricted Stock Units shall execute and deliver to the Company an Award Agreement with respect to the Restricted Stock Units.

8.3. Rights of Holders of Restricted Stock Units.

(a) No Shares shall be issued at the time a Restricted Stock Unit is granted, and the Company will not be required to set aside Shares or funds for the payment of any such Award. A Participant shall have no voting rights with respect to any Shares underlying Restricted Stock Units granted hereunder.

(b) At the discretion of the Committee, each Restricted Stock Unit (representing one Share) may be credited with cash and stock dividends paid by the Company in respect of one Share (“Dividend Equivalents”). Unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable Award Agreement, Dividend Equivalents shall be withheld by the Company and credited to the Participant’s account, and interest may be credited on the amount of cash Dividend Equivalents credited to the Participant’s account at a rate and subject to such terms as determined by the Committee. Dividend Equivalents credited to a Participant’s account and attributable to any particular Restricted Stock Unit (and earnings thereon, if applicable) shall be distributed in cash or, at the discretion of the Committee, in Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such Dividend Equivalents and earnings, if applicable, to the Participant upon settlement of such Restricted Stock Unit and, if such Restricted Stock Unit is forfeited, the Participant shall have no right to such Dividend Equivalents.

(c) Restricted Stock Units awarded to any Participant shall be subject to (i) forfeiture until the expiration of the applicable Vesting Period, and satisfaction of any applicable Performance Goals during such period, to the extent provided in the applicable Award Agreement, and to the extent such Restricted Stock Units are forfeited, all rights of the Participant to such Restricted Stock Units shall automatically terminate without further obligation on the part of the Company and (ii) such other terms and conditions as may be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

8.4. Vesting . Restricted Stock Unit Awards shall be subject to such terms and conditions on the time or times when they vest and become earned (which conditions may be based on Continuing Service, Performance Goals or a combination thereof) as the Committee may deem appropriate and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

8.5. Settlement and Payment. Except as may be provided in the applicable Award Agreement, upon the expiration of the applicable Vesting Period with respect to any outstanding Restricted Stock Units, the Company shall deliver to the Participant, or his or her beneficiary, without charge, one Share for each such outstanding vested Restricted Stock Unit (“Vested Unit”) and cash equal to any Dividend Equivalents credited with respect to each such Vested Unit in accordance with Section 8.3(b) hereof and the interest thereon or, at the discretion of the Committee, in Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to such Dividend Equivalents and the interest thereon, if any; provided, however, that, if explicitly provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, elect to pay cash or part cash and part Shares in lieu of delivering only Shares for Vested Units. If a cash payment is made in lieu of delivering Shares, the amount of such payment shall be equal to the Fair Market Value of the Shares as of the date on which the Vesting Period lapsed with respect to each Vested Unit. The Company shall issue Shares or make otherwise make payment for each Vested Unit as soon as reasonably possible after expiration of the applicable Vesting Period and on a date selected by the Company; provided that in no event shall settlement of any Vested Units be made later than sixty (60) days after expiration of the applicable Vesting Period (or such shorter period as is necessary to exempt the Award from Section 409A of the Code).

9. OTHER AWARDS

The Committee may, subject to any restrictions under applicable law or under the rules of any securities exchange on which the Shares are listed, grant Other Share-Based Awards, either alone or in tandem with other Awards, in such amounts and subject to such conditions as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion. Each Other Share-Based Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement and shall be subject to such conditions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement. Other Share-Based Awards may be paid in cash, Shares, other property, or any combination thereof, as specified in the applicable Award Agreement. No Dividend Equivalents shall be paid or credited with respect to Other Share-Based Awards. Any cash, Shares or any other property distributed as a dividend or otherwise with respect to any issued but unvested Shares underlying an Other Share-Based Award shall be subject to the same vesting conditions and risk of forfeiture as such Other Share-Based Award.

10. SECURITIES LAW COMPLIANCE

No Shares shall be issued, purchased or sold under any Award Agreement unless and until (a) any then applicable requirements of federal, state and foreign laws and regulatory agencies have been fully complied with to the satisfaction of the Company and its counsel and (b) if required to do so by the Company, the Participant has executed and delivered to the Company a letter of investment intent in such form and containing such provisions as the Committee may require. The Company shall use reasonable efforts to seek to obtain from each regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such authority as may be required to grant Awards and to issue and sell Shares upon exercise, vesting or settlement of the Awards; provided that this undertaking shall not require the Company to register under the Exchange Act or other applicable securities laws the Plan, any Award or any Shares issued or issuable pursuant to any such Award. If, after reasonable efforts, the Company is unable to obtain from any such regulatory commission or agency the authority which counsel for the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of Shares under the Plan, the Company shall be relieved from any liability for failure to issue and sell Shares upon exercise, vesting or settlement of such Awards unless and until such authority is obtained.

It is the intent of the Company that the Plan satisfy, and be interpreted in a manner that satisfies, the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 as promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act so that Participants will be entitled to the benefit of Rule 16b-3, or any other rule promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and will not be subject to short-swing liability under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, if the operation of any provision of the Plan would conflict with the intent expressed in this Section 10, such provision to the extent possible shall be interpreted and/or deemed amended so as to avoid such conflict.

11. CHANGE IN CONTROL PROVISIONS

11.1. Effect of Change in Control . Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan (other than Section 11.2) or any applicable Award Agreement to the contrary, in the event of a Change in Control, all then outstanding Awards shall automatically become 100% vested, exercisable, earned and payable, as of the effective time of the Change in Control. For clarity, to the extent the amount or timing of vesting, exercisability, payment or settlement of any Award is subject to or conditioned upon attainment of Performance Goals stated in the applicable Award Agreement (i.e., the Award is a Performance Award), for purposes of this Section 11.1, such Performance Goals shall be deemed to have been attained at 100% of the applicable target levels.

11.2. Discretionary Cancellation of Awards . In addition, and notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Plan or applicable Award Agreement, in the event of a pending Change in Control, the Committee may in its discretion and upon at least 10 days’ advance notice to the affected Participants, elect to cancel under this Section 11.2 all or any portion of the then outstanding Awards and cause the Company to pay to the holders thereof, in cash or Shares, or any combination thereof, the then current Fair Market Value of such cancelled Awards. The Committee shall compute the Fair Market Value of Awards canceled under this Section 11.2 based upon the price per Share received or to be received by the other shareholders of the Company in the Change in Control transaction. In determining the Fair Market Value of Awards cancelled under this Section 11.2, all such cancelled Awards shall be valued as if they are 100% vested and earned (with any Performance Goals deemed satisfied at 100% of the applicable target level). In the case of any Option or Stock Appreciation Right with an Option Exercise Price (or Base Amount in the case of a Stock Appreciation Right) that equals or exceeds the price paid or to be paid for a Share in connection with the Change in Control, the Committee may cancel the Option or Stock Appreciation Right without the payment of any consideration therefor.

11.3. Successors . The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be binding upon any successor corporation or organization resulting from the merger, consolidation or other reorganization of the Company, or upon any successor corporation or organization succeeding to all or substantially all of the assets and business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

11.4. Definition of Change in Control. For purposes of the Plan, unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, Change in Control means the occurrence of any one of the following events:

(a) During any twelve (12) month period beginning after the date hereof, individuals who, as of the beginning of such period, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the beginning of such period whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors then on the Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for director, without written objection to such nomination) shall be an Incumbent Director; and provided further that no individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to directors or as a result of any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of any person other than the Board shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director;

(b) any “person” (as such term is defined in the Exchange Act and as used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes a “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d‑3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 30% of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities eligible to vote for the election of the Board (the “Company Voting Securities”); provided that the event described in this paragraph (b) shall not be deemed to be a Change in Control by virtue of any of the following acquisitions: (i) by the Company or any Subsidiary, (ii) by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary, (iii) by any underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, (iv) pursuant to a Non-Qualifying Transaction, as defined in paragraph (c) below, or (v) by any person of Voting Securities from the Company, if a majority of the Incumbent Board approves in advance the acquisition of beneficial ownership of 30% or more of Company Voting Securities by such person;

(c) the consummation of a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries that requires the approval of the Company’s shareholders, whether for such transaction or the issuance of securities in the transaction, unless immediately following such transaction: (i) more than 30% the total voting power of (A) the surviving corporation resulting from such transaction, or (B) if applicable, the ultimate parent corporation that directly or indirectly has beneficial ownership of 100% of the voting securities eligible to elect directors of the surviving corporation, is represented by Company Voting Securities that were outstanding immediately prior to such transaction (or, if applicable, is represented by shares into which such Company Voting Securities were converted pursuant to such transaction), and such voting power among the holders thereof is in substantially the same proportion as the voting power of such Company Voting Securities among the holders thereof immediately prior to the transaction; (ii) no person (other than any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the surviving corporation or its parent corporation), is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 30% of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to elect directors of the parent corporation (or, if there is no parent corporation, the surviving corporation); and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the parent corporation (or, if there is no parent Corporation, the surviving corporation) following the consummation of the transaction were Incumbent Directors at the time of the Board’s approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such transaction (any transaction which satisfies all of the criteria specified in (i), (ii) and (iii) above shall be deemed to be a “Non - Qualifying Transaction”);

(d) the date shareholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

(e) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person that is not a Subsidiary.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur solely because any person acquires beneficial ownership of more than 30% of the Company Voting Securities as a result of the acquisition of Company Voting Securities by the Company which reduces the number of Company Voting Securities outstanding; provided that if after such acquisition by the Company such person becomes the beneficial owner of additional Company Voting Securities that increases the percentage of outstanding Company Voting Securities beneficially owned by such person, a Change in Control of the Company shall then occur.

12. GENERALLY APPLICABLE PROVISIONS

12.1. Amendment and Termination of the Plan . The Board may, from time to time, alter, amend, suspend or terminate the Plan as it shall deem advisable, subject to any requirement for shareholder approval imposed by applicable law, including the rules and regulations of the NASDAQ Global Select Market (or such other principal securities market on which the Shares are traded) provided that the Board may not amend the Plan in any manner that would result in noncompliance with Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act; and further provided that the Board may not, without the approval of the Company's shareholders, amend the Plan to (a) increase the number of Shares that may be the subject of Awards under the Plan (except for adjustments pursuant to Section 12.2), (b) expand the types of awards available under the Plan; (c) materially expand the class of persons eligible to participate in the Plan; (d) amend any provision of Section 5.3, (e) increase the maximum permissible term of any Option specified by Section 5.4 or the maximum permissible term of a Stock Appreciation Right specified by Section 6.2, or (f) take any action with respect to an Option or Stock Appreciation Right that may be treated as a repricing under the rules and regulations of the NASDAQ Global Select Market (or such other principal securities market on which the Shares are traded), including reducing the Option Exercise Price or Base Amount (as applicable) or exchanging an Option or Stock Appreciation Right for cash or another Award. In addition, no amendments to, or termination of, the Plan shall in any way impair the rights of a Participant under any Award previously granted without such Participant's consent.

12.2. Adjustments . In the event of changes in the outstanding Shares or in the capital structure of the Company by reason of any stock or extraordinary cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, an extraordinary corporate transaction such as any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, exchange, or other relevant change in capitalization occurring after the Grant Date of any Award, Awards granted under the Plan and any Award Agreements, the Option Exercise Price of Options and Base Amount of Stock Appreciation Rights, the maximum number of Shares subject to all Awards stated in Section 3.1 and the maximum number of Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options may be granted shall be equitably adjusted or substituted, as to the number, price or kind of share of common stock or other consideration subject to such Awards to the extent necessary to preserve the economic intent of such Award. In the case of adjustments made pursuant to this Section 12.2, unless the Committee specifically determines that such adjustment is in the best interests of the Company or its Subsidiaries, the Committee shall, in the case of Incentive Stock Options, ensure that any adjustments under this Section 12.2 will not constitute a modification, extension or renewal of the Incentive Stock Options within the meaning of Section 424(h)(3) of the Code and in the case of all Stock Options, ensure that any adjustments under this Section 12.2 will not constitute a modification of such Stock Options within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. Any adjustments made under this Section 12.2 shall be made in a manner which does not adversely affect the exemption provided pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. The Company shall give each Participant notice of an adjustment hereunder and, upon notice, such adjustment shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes.

12.3. Transferability of Awards . Except as provided below, and except as otherwise authorized by the Committee in an Award Agreement, no Award and no Shares subject to Awards described in Article 8 that have not been issued or as to which any applicable restriction or performance period has not lapsed, may be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and such Award may be exercised during the life of the Participant only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative. Notwithstanding the foregoing if provided for in an Award Agreement, a Participant may assign or transfer an Award with the consent of the Committee (each transferee thereof, a “Permitted Assignee”): (a) to the Participant’s spouse, children, or grandchildren (including any adopted step children and grandchildren); (b) to a trust or partnership for the benefit of one or more person referred to in clause (a); or (c) for charitable donations; provided that such Permitted Assignee shall be bound by and subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan and the Award Agreement relating to the transferred Award and shall execute an agreement satisfactory to the Company evidencing such obligations; and provided further that such Participant shall remain bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan. The Company shall cooperate with any Permitted Assignee and the Company’s transfer agent in effectuating any transfer permitted under this Section. Any transfer of an Award or Shares in violation of this Section 12.3 shall be null and void.

12.4. Deferral . The Committee may establish one or more programs under the Plan to permit selected Participants the opportunity to elect to defer receipt of consideration upon exercise of an Award, vesting, satisfaction of Performance Goals, or other event that absent the election would entitle the Participant to payment or receipt of Shares or other consideration under an Award. The Committee may establish the election procedures, the timing of such elections, the mechanisms for payments of, and accrual of interest or other earnings, if any, on amounts, Shares or other consideration so deferred, and such other terms, conditions, rules and procedures that the Committee deems advisable for the administration of any such deferral program. The Committee shall be authorized to establish procedures pursuant to which the payment of any Award may be deferred.

13. MISCELLANEOUS

13.1. Tax Withholding . The Company shall have the right to make all payments or distributions pursuant to the Plan to a Participant (or a Permitted Assignee thereof) (any such person, a “Payee”) net of any applicable federal, state and local taxes required to be paid or withheld as a result of (a) the grant of any Award, (b) the exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, (c) the delivery of Shares or cash, (d) the lapse of any restrictions in connection with any Award or (e) any other event occurring pursuant to the Plan. The Company or any Subsidiary shall have the right to withhold from wages or other amounts otherwise payable to such Payee such withholding taxes as may be required by law, or to otherwise require the Payee to pay such withholding taxes. If the Payee shall fail to make such tax payments as are required, the Company or its Subsidiaries shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to such Payee or to take such other action as may be necessary to satisfy such withholding obligations. The Committee shall be authorized to establish procedures for election by Participants to satisfy such obligation for the payment of such taxes by tendering previously acquired Shares (either actually or by attestation, valued at their then Fair Market Value) that have been owned for a period of at least six months (or such other period to avoid accounting charges against the Company’s earnings), or by directing the Company to retain Shares otherwise deliverable in connection with the Award.

13.2. Right of Discharge Reserved; Claims to Awards . Nothing in the Plan nor the grant of an Award hereunder shall confer upon any person the right to continue in the employment or service of the Company or any Subsidiary or affect any right that the Company or any Subsidiary may have to terminate the employment or service of (or to demote or to exclude from future Awards under the Plan) any such Employee, Consultant or Director at any time for any reason “at will.” Except as specifically provided by the Committee, the Company shall not be liable for the loss of existing or potential profit from an Award granted in the event of termination of an employment or other relationship. No Employee, Consultant or Participant shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Employees, Consultants or Participants under the Plan.

13.3. Prospective Recipient . The prospective recipient of any Award under the Plan shall not, with respect to such Award, be deemed to have become a Participant, or to have any rights with respect to such Award, until and unless such recipient shall have executed an agreement or other instrument evidencing the Award and delivered a copy thereof to the Company, and otherwise complied with the then applicable terms and conditions of the Plan and Award Agreement.

13.4. Substitute Awards . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the terms of Substitute Awards may vary from the terms set forth in the Plan to the extent the Committee deems appropriate to conform, in whole or in part, to the provisions of the awards in substitution for which they are granted.

13.5. Cancellation and Forfeiture of Awards; Clawback .

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any Award Agreement, all outstanding Awards granted to any Participant shall be automatically and immediately canceled if (a) the Participant is terminated for Cause or engages following his or her period of Continuous Service in conduct that would constitute Cause; (b) breaches any non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality, or other restrictive covenants that are contained in the Award Agreement or otherwise applicable to the Participant; of (c) without the consent of the Company, during or following the Participant’s period of Continuous Service for the Company or any Subsidiary, establishes a relationship with a competitor of the Company or any Subsidiary or engages in activity that is in conflict with and materially adverse to the interest of the Company or any Subsidiary, as determined by the Committee in its discretion.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Plan or any Award Agreement, the Company may cancel any Award, require reimbursement of any Award (or the proceeds thereof) by a Participant, and effect any other right of recoupment of equity or other compensation provided under the Plan in accordance with any Company policies that may be adopted and/or modified from time to time (“Clawback Policy”). A Participant may be required to repay to the Company previously paid compensation, whether provided pursuant to the Plan or an Award Agreement, in accordance with the Clawback Policy. By accepting an Award, the Participant agrees to be bound by the Clawback Policy, as in effect or as may be adopted and/or modified from time

to time by the Company in its discretion (including, without limitation, to comply with applicable law or stock exchange listing requirements).

13.6. Delivery and Stop Transfer Orders . Upon exercise or vesting of an Award, as applicable, the Company shall issue Shares or pay any amounts due within a reasonable period of time thereafter. Subject to any statutory or regulatory obligations the Company may otherwise have, and except as otherwise contemplated by this Plan, 30 days shall be considered a reasonable period of time. All certificates for Shares delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award shall be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which the Shares are then listed, and any applicable federal or state securities law, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. Any provision herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall have no obligation to issue any Shares pursuant to an Award if the Committee determines in good faith that such issuance would violate applicable federal, state or foreign securities laws.

13.7. Nature of Payments . All Awards made pursuant to the Plan are in consideration of services performed or to be performed for the Company or any Subsidiary, division or business unit of the Company. Any income or gain realized pursuant to Awards under the Plan constitute a special incentive payment to the Participant and shall not be taken into account, to the extent permissible under applicable law, as compensation for purposes of any of the employee benefit plans of the Company or any Subsidiary except as may be determined by the Committee or by the Board or board of directors of the applicable Subsidiary.

13.8. Other Plans . No further Awards shall be granted under the Prior Plan. Nothing contained in the Plan, however, shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to shareholder approval if such approval is required; and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

13.9. Severability . If any provision of the Plan shall be held unlawful or otherwise invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall (a) be deemed limited to the extent that such court of competent jurisdiction deems it lawful, valid and/or enforceable and as so limited shall remain in full force and effect, and (b) not affect any other provision of the Plan or part thereof, each of which shall remain in full force and effect. If the making of any payment or the provision of any other benefit required under the Plan shall be held unlawful or otherwise invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such unlawfulness, invalidity or unenforceability shall not prevent any other payment or benefit from being made or provided under the Plan, and if the making of any payment in full or the provision of any other benefit required under the Plan in full would be unlawful or otherwise invalid or unenforceable, then such unlawfulness, invalidity or unenforceability shall not prevent such payment or benefit from being made or provided in part, to the extent that it would not be unlawful, invalid or unenforceable, and the maximum payment or benefit that would not be unlawful, invalid or unenforceable shall be made or provided under the Plan.

13.10. Construction . As used in the Plan, the words “ include ” and “ including ,” and variations thereof, shall not be deemed to be terms of limitation, but rather shall be deemed to be followed by the words “ without limitation .”

13.11. Unfunded Status of the Plan. The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant by the Company, nothing contained herein shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company. In its sole discretion, the Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the obligations created under the Plan to deliver the Shares or payments in lieu of or with respect to Awards hereunder; provided, however, that the existence of such trusts or other arrangements is consistent with the unfunded status of the Plan.

13.12. Governing Law . The Plan and all determinations made and actions taken thereunder, to the extent not otherwise governed by the Code or the laws of the United States, shall be governed by the laws of the State of Utah, without reference to principles of conflict of laws, and construed accordingly.

13.13. Effective Date of Plan; Termination of Plan . The Plan shall be effective on the date of the approval of the Plan by the holders of a majority of the Shares voted at a duly constituted meeting of the shareholders of the Company. The Plan shall be null and void and of no effect if the foregoing condition is not fulfilled and no Award shall be granted until the shareholders of the Company approve the Plan. Awards may be granted under the Plan at any time and from time to time following shareholder approval of the Plan until the tenth anniversary of the effective date of the Plan, on which date the Plan will expire except as to Awards then outstanding under the Plan. Such outstanding Awards shall remain in effect until they have been exercised or terminated, or have expired.

13.14. Foreign Employees and Sub-Plans .

(a) Awards may be granted to Participants who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States, or both, on such terms and conditions different from those applicable to Awards to Employees employed in the United States as may, in the judgment of the Committee, be necessary or desirable in order to recognize differences in local law or tax policy. The Committee also may impose conditions on the exercise or vesting of Awards in order to minimize the Company's obligation with respect to tax equalization for Employees on assignments outside their home country.

(b) The Committee may from time to time establish sub-plans under the Plan for purposes of satisfying foreign or state blue sky, securities, tax, employment, privacy or other laws of various jurisdictions in which the Company intends to grant Awards. Any sub-plans shall contain such limitations and other terms and conditions as the Committee determines are necessary or desirable. All sub-plans shall be deemed a part of the Plan, but each sub-plan shall apply only to the Participants in the jurisdiction for which the sub-plan was designed.

13.15. Compliance with Section 409A of the Code; Taxes.

(a) The Plan is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code to the extent subject thereto, and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, the Plan shall be interpreted and administered to be in compliance therewith. Any payments described in the Plan that are due within the “short-term deferral period” as defined in Section 409A of the Code shall not be treated as deferred compensation unless applicable laws require otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, to the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation and taxation under Section 409A of the Code, amounts that would otherwise be payable and benefits that would otherwise be provided pursuant to the Plan during the six (6) month period immediately following the Participant’s termination of Continuous Service shall instead be paid on the first payroll date after the six-month anniversary of the Participant’s separation from service (or the Participant’s death, if earlier).

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of the Plan or any other agreement, neither the Company, any Subsidiary nor the Committee or any of their respective directors, officers, employees or agents shall have any obligation to take any action to prevent the assessment of any tax or penalty on any Participant under Section 409A of the Code or otherwise with respect to the Plan or any Award. Neither the Company, any Subsidiary, nor the Committee or any of their respective directors, officers, employees or agents has any liability or obligation to indemnify, reimburse, gross-up or compensate any Participant for any taxes or tax-related penalties, interest and other costs arising out of or resulting from the Plan or any Award, including any taxes under Sections 409A and 4999.

13.16. Captions . The captions in the Plan are for convenience of reference only, and are not intended to narrow, limit or affect the substance or interpretation of the provisions contained herein.

13.17. Beneficiary Designation . Each Participant under the Plan may from time to time name any beneficiary or beneficiaries by whom any Award under the Plan is to be exercised (or to whom any amount or Shares are to be paid or issued) in case of such Participant’s death. Each designation will revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form reasonably prescribed by the Committee and shall be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime.

Exhibit 5.1

June 4, 2018

Merit Medical Systems, Inc.

1600 West Merit Parkway

South Jordan, Utah 84095


Re:	Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed by Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (the “Company”) with respect to the Merit Medical Systems, Inc. 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel for Merit Medical Systems, Inc., a Utah corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Company’s registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), of the offer and sale of an aggregate of up to 3,100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, no par (the “Shares”), pursuant to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof, which Shares may be issued from time to time in accordance with the terms of the above-described Plan.

In reaching the opinions set forth herein, we have examined and are familiar with originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents and records of the Company and such statutes, regulations and other instruments as we deemed necessary or advisable for purposes of this opinion, including (i) the Registration Statement, (ii) certain resolutions adopted by the board of directors of the Company, (iii) the Plan, (iv) the charter documents of the Company and (v) such other certificates, instruments, and documents as we have considered necessary for purposes of this opinion. As to any facts material to our opinions, we have made no independent investigation or verification of such facts and have relied, to the extent that we deem such reliance proper, upon certificates of public officials and officers or other representatives of the Company.

We have assumed (i) the legal capacity of all natural persons, (ii) the genuineness of all signatures, (iii) the authority of all persons signing all documents submitted to us on behalf of the parties to such documents, (iv) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, (v) the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies, (vi) that all information contained in all documents reviewed by us is true, correct and complete, and (vii) that the Shares will be issued in accordance with the terms of the Plan.

Based on the foregoing and subject to the limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that when the Shares are issued by the Company and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the instruments executed pursuant to the Plan, as applicable, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

This opinion is limited in all respects to the (i) the federal laws of the United States and (ii) the Utah Revised Business Corporation Act, as amended (the “URBC”), including all applicable provisions of the Utah Constitution and reported judicial decisions interpreting the URBC, in each case, as such laws exist on the date hereof. We express no opinion as to any other law or any matter other than as expressly set forth above, and no opinion as to any other law or matter may be inferred or implied herefrom. The opinions expressed herein are rendered as of the date hereof, and we expressly disclaim any obligation to update this letter or advise you of any change in any matter after the date hereof.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and the reference to this firm therein. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Parr Brown Gee & Loveless, PC

PARR BROWN GEE & LOVELESS, PC

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated March 1, 2018, relating to the financial statements and financial statement schedules of Merit Medical Systems, Inc., (the “Company”), and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2017.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Salt Lake City, Utah

June 4, 2018