Merit Medical Announces Appointment of New Director

SOUTH JORDAN, Utah, July 26, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Merit Medical Systems, Inc. MMSI, a leading manufacturer and marketer of proprietary disposable medical devices used in interventional, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, particularly in cardiology, radiology and endoscopy, announced today that it has appointed David M. Liu, MD, Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada (FRCPC), diplomate of the American Board of Radiology, and Fellow of the Society of Interventional Radiology (FSIR), to serve as a director of the Company.

Dr. Liu holds the current appointment of Clinical Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, at University of British Columbia and is in active clinical practice, with board certification in both Canada and the United States.  He is extensively published in various aspects of interventional oncology including chemoembolization, radioembolization, drug-eluting microspheres and ablation.  Dr. Liu's international recognition as a leader in interventional radiology has led to invitations to speak throughout the world, including China, Brazil and The Netherlands. 
           
"We are pleased to have Dr. Liu join our Board as an independent director," said Fred P. Lampropoulos, Merit's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  "We anticipate his broad experience in oncology and interventional radiology will be extremely valuable as we seek to broaden Merit's development into the oncology market and deepen our commitment to interventional radiology.  We also believe Dr. Liu's language skills and international experience will be beneficial in many of our fastest growing markets in Asia."

ABOUT MERIT
Founded in 1987, Merit Medical Systems, Inc. is engaged in the development, manufacture and distribution of proprietary disposable medical devices used in interventional, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, particularly in cardiology, radiology and endoscopy.  Merit serves client hospitals worldwide with a domestic and international sales force totaling approximately 200 individuals.  Merit employs approximately 4,000 people worldwide with facilities in South Jordan, Utah; Pearland, Texas; Richmond, Virginia; Malvern, Pennsylvania; Rockland, Massachusetts; San Jose, California; Maastricht and Venlo, The Netherlands; Paris, France; Galway, Ireland; Beijing, China; Tijuana, Mexico; Joinville, Brazil; Markham, Ontario, Canada, Melbourne, Australia and Mannheim, Germany.

Statements contained in this release which are not purely historical, including, without limitation, statements regarding Merit's plans, expectations or anticipated developments, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Merit's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. Such risks and uncertainties include risks relating to Merit's potential inability to successfully manage growth through acquisitions, including the inability to commercialize technology acquired through completed, proposed or future transactions (including the recently completed acquisition of DFINE, Inc.); product recalls and product liability claims; expenditures relating to research, development, testing and regulatory approval or clearance of Merit's products and risks that such products may not be developed successfully or approved for commercial use; greater governmental scrutiny and regulation of the medical device industry; reforms to the 510(k) process administered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; compliance with governmental regulations and administrative procedures; potential restrictions on Merit's liquidity or its ability to operate its business in compliance with its current debt agreements; possible infringement of Merit's technology or the assertion that Merit's technology infringes the rights of other parties; the potential of fines, penalties or other adverse consequences if Merit's employees or agents violate the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or other laws and regulations; laws targeting fraud and abuse in the healthcare industry; potential for significant adverse changes in, or failure to comply with, governing regulations; the effect of changes in tax laws and regulations in the United States or other countries; increases in the prices of commodity components; negative changes in economic and industry conditions in the United States and other countries; termination or interruption of relationships with Merit's suppliers, or failure of such suppliers to perform; fluctuations in Euro and GBP exchange rates; Merit's need to generate sufficient cash flow to fund its debt obligations, capital expenditures, and ongoing operations; concentration of Merit's revenues among a few products and procedures; development of new products and technology that could render Merit's existing products obsolete; market acceptance of new products; volatility in the market price of Merit's common stock; modification or limitation of governmental or private insurance reimbursement policies; changes in health care markets related to health care reform initiatives; failure to comply with applicable environmental laws; changes in key personnel; work stoppage or transportation risks; uncertainties associated with potential healthcare policy changes which may have a material adverse effect on Merit; introduction of products in a timely fashion; price and product competition; availability of labor and materials; cost increases; fluctuations in and obsolescence of inventory; and other factors referenced in Merit's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and other materials filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All subsequent forward-looking statements attributable to Merit or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Actual results will likely differ, and may differ materially, from anticipated results.