2000

ANNUAL

REPORT

MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.

Table of Contents
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Presidents's Letter

Products & Technology

Management's Discussion & Analysis

Financial Information

Corporate Information

Year Ended December 3 1 ,
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2000 1999 1998 1997 1996
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Operating Data:
Net Sales $91,477,512 $77,959,576 $68,377,357 $60,579,011 $50,455,766
Gross profit 30,624,053 30,041,761 25,943,484 22,812,895 21,136,149
Income before income taxes 773,845 4,761,429 4,290,346 1,775,516 3,630,152
Net income 826,557 3,225,590 2,451,159 797,532 2,162,608
Net income per share $0.11 $0.43 $0.33 $0.11 $0.31
Weighted average shares
outstanding (diluted) 7,860,905 7,565,673 7,488,225 7,369,668 7,051,911
Balance Sheet Data:
Working capital $32,447,007 $33,933,698 $15,779,725 $14,737,971 $12,761,211
Total assets 71,446,631 72,360,469 50,664,786 45,269,678 41,718,553
Long-term debt 24,011,778 27,817,308 3,388,835 3,913,686 4,822,126
Stockholders' equity $34,772,702 $32,690,136 $29,086,368 $25,802,149 $22,487,123

ABOUT THE COVER

Merit Medical has emerged from a difficult year in 2000 into a very bright
positive operating and safe environment. Small-cap health care stocks appear to
be favorably positioned as an anti-recession vehicle.

Corporate Headquarters
Merit Medical Systems, Inc.
1600 West Merit Parkway
South Jordan, Utah 84095
801-253-1600
www.merit.com

PRESIDENT'S LETTER

Dear Fellow Shareholders:

2000 was the worst of times and it was the best of times. I could spend
a great deal of time in this report analyzing our lower results, but I think we
have done that sufficiently during the year. As discussed in our conference
calls, news releases and quarterly reports, our expectations for sales were too
high, we built too much inventory, and we were too highly staffed, which created
operating inefficiencies. Indeed, our revenues experienced a 17 percent gain to
$91.45 million in 2000 from $77.96 million in 1999, and we saw good growth in
several of our product lines. These included inflation devices, which grew by 7
percent; catheters, which grew by 174 percent; and stand-alone products (those
not sold in kits), which grew by 24 percent.

The costs associated with higher inventories, including debt service
and inventory management issues, resulted in much lower profits for Merit. In
addition, one of our large customers ceased business operations, resulting in a
charge to our operating income of $340,000, or $0.03 per share. Net income was
$827,000, or $0.11 per share, compared with $3.23 million, or $0.43 per share in
1999. With these results behind us, I would like to focus on the future and what
we are doing to bring value to our shareholders. We have spent the entire year
improving efficiencies in operations while continuing to develop differentiating
products and build sustainable competitive advantages in each of our product
groups. These improvements are resulting in the dawn of a very successful year
for Merit in 2001.

REDEFINING OUR BUSINESS

We made tremendous progress in re-evaluating and improving the
processes by which we conduct our business-including labor, overhead and
materials. Each one of these three broad categories of business management was
redefined within the meaning of Merit's corporate philosophy and modified from
the top down. In the first quarter of 2000, we began to make changes in our
manufacturing processes. Since that time, we have adopted an automated packaging
process, standardized our labeling, re-evaluated our packaging materials, and
increased the efficiencies of product flow between facilities. In addition, in
order to help drive efficiencies going forward, we have adopted a new,
goal-oriented employee compensation plan based on performance and cost-saving
achievement.
1

INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY

Within the labor and overhead categories, it was determined that in
order to rapidly reduce inventories, product had to be built at a pace slower
than sales, which required a lower headcount. Therefore, we chose not to replace
hourly staff as they left the Company for other opportunities. In addition, in
June of last year, we made a decision to formally reduce our staff by 23 people,
mostly from middle management, which on an annualized basis will save Merit over
$1 million in labor and overhead costs each year.

The result of this gradual reduction in our workforce throughout the
year was a headcount of 1030 at the end of 2000 compared with 1270 in December
1999. Averaging the headcount over the year, the net reduction was 100 fewer
people than in 1999, which yielded a direct-labor and overhead savings of
approximately $1.4 million. We accomplished this staff reduction while sales
increased by 17%.

This gradual slowing in our workforce numbers also coincided with a
drop in inventory by year's end of approximately $2.3 million, and $1.3 million
of that was accomplished in the fourth quarter. Along with inventory reductions,
inventory turns have begun to increase from 2.1 times in 1999 to 2.3 times in
2000. It is our goal this year to increase inventory turns to at least 2.7.

Once we began to see in the third quarter that our efforts in labor and
overhead were beginning to produce results, we turned our attention to the ways
in which raw materials were purchased and our products distributed. First of
all, we decided to change our approach to the Canadian marketplace, which
operates within a national health care system, and we secured the services of a
distributor rather than using direct sales representatives. This decision began
to yield immediate rewards that have continued through the beginning of 2001. We
have also greatly strengthened our commitment to support and train not only our
domestic sales force but the international sales force and worldwide
distributors as well. This increased effort should reward us with increased
sales of our products going forward.

Another area of emphasis is the renegotiation of contracts for raw
materials purchases. Due to continued pricing pressure on its products, Merit is
developing new partnerships with its vendors to reduce costs and implement
just-in-time raw material deliveries. This program already is underway and is
beginning to show rewards.

OTHER COST-CUTTING MEASURES

A close scrutiny of our entire organization has yielded many areas for
potential cost reduction. For example, even this annual report was produced
differently, saving over $5,000 from last year. Last year as a result of lower
inventory and other cost-related savings, we were able to reduce debt
substantially, particularly in the fourth quarter. We made considerable progress
in this regard in 2000, and particularly in the fourth quarter. As of December
31, 2000, the Company had reduced its long-term debt to $24 million from $31
million in August 2000. Since the beginning of 2001, long-term debt has been
reduced by an additional $4 million. Merit's strategy to reduce long-term debt
will result in less business risk, increased available capital for growth, and
lower interest costs. It is our strategy to continue to reduce our debt, which
will have an immediate and long-lasting impact on the value of the company.

ALLIANCES AND PARTNERSHIPS

We are conducting our business in a highly competitive arena,
particularly in terms of pricing. Device manufacturers have continued to
experience pressure from managed care buying groups to reduce prices, while
attempting to maintain margins. Changes we made last year such as greater
efficiencies in manufacturing, materials purchasing and handling, and reductions
in inventory and headcount will have a positive impact on our financial results
in 2001. We believe that substantial annual savings are still available in the
cost-of-sales area, which will help continue to increase our gross margins.

Last year we also made some new product decisions that should be of
tremendous value going forward. During the year we took on a distribution
agreement for the PercuStay(R), a drainage catheter fastening device; and we
signed licensing agreements on the Arrowood patent for a radial artery
compression device and with Specialized Medical to manufacture and market a
safety needle. We are one of only a few companies that will offer a needle with
safety features to prevent inadvertent needle punctures, which was mandated in
November 2000 by the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act.

In addition to new distribution and development agreements, we
introduced several new products that add to Merit's offering: a complete line of
vessel-sizing catheters used in radiology procedures to repair damaged arteries
3

and veins; an 8ml syringe for contrast media injection; a new hemostasis valve,
the Inspector(R); the ShortStop(R), a temporary sharps holder; and our new DeVos
manifold with a proprietary, integral flow-control valve. Sales of these
products did well and helped provide us with the solid revenue growth we
sustained during the year, particularly the new vessel-sizing catheters, which
are discussed in the Product and Technology section.

We have accomplished all the above in a marketplace that has
accelerated its demands for cost cutting and productivity, while that market is
growing only by modest, single-digit rates. Merit has built an outstanding
reputation with its customers, based on quality products and customer service
that benefit the treatment of patients. With new, innovative products in
development, we believe we are addressing both physician and patient needs in an
ever-changing environment.

To this point, value to the shareholders has been missing at the level
we believe is possible. However, we beleive that our projects this year, as well
as all the internal improvements we have made, will yield outstanding value in
terms of financial performance. Already, as I write this letter to you, we are
for the first few months of the year consistently ahead of plan, which bodes
well for the prospects of this year. We can't anticipate every problem; however,
the momentum we are gaining should be more than sufficient to overcome most
obstacles. Merit is a much stronger, leaner company than it was last year at
this time, and we are still making adjustments to all areas of our corporate
structure as the need arises.

The future for Merit Medical is bright. Many opportunities for growth
exist despite adverse conditions in the marketplace. It was an unfortunate year;
but looking forward, I believe we will be able to say in the next year's annual
report that it was a good year. I sincerely appreciate the faith, patience and
loyalty you, as shareholders, have had in Merit these last several years. It is
with great enthusiasm that our entire organization and I look forward to
bringing Merit to its full potential in 2001.

Best personal regards,

/s/ Fred P. Lampropoulos
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Fred P. Lampropoulos
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
4

PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGY

DIAGNOSTIC CATHETERS

Merit Medical has completed its first full year of marketing the line
of diagnostic radiology and cardiology catheters it acquired from Mallinckrodt
Inc. in mid-1999. These types of catheters are used by hospitals worldwide to
perform angiograms. There are approximately 8 million of these essential
procedures performed each year worldwide, representing a market of approximately
$7 billion. Diagnostic angiography catheters continue to be the tool most widely
used by physicians in the diagnosis of patients with vascular disease.

An angiogram involves the injection of radiopaque fluid, or contrast
media, into a patient's artery or vein. A picture from an X-ray machine called a
fluoroscope is taken of a location within the blood vessel, and a skilled
physician then can determine the nature, severity and precise location of plaque
deposits, blockages, aneurysms, and other abnormalities.

The standard method for inserting these long, thin catheters has been
through a puncture made in the patient's femoral artery, located in the groin
area. The catheter is threaded up through the vascular system to either the
heart or another area of the body. Within the last few years an insertion
technique through the radial artery in the wrist has become more popular. This
is because the opening made is much smaller and therefore easier to close,
resulting in less blood loss, shorter hospital stay and faster recovery time for
the patient. As an adjunct to the radial procedure, last year Merit secured the
licensing rights for a new product, the RadStat(R), a radial artery compression
device. Market research tests of the RadStat have provided positive feedback in
terms of stopping bleeding from the wound after the procedure. The RadStat was
introduced in early 2001. With margins substantially above corporate averages,
this new product should be a solid contributor to corporate profits.

The acquisition of the diagnostic catheter line enables Merit to expand
its capabilities and technological know-how for catheter-related projects such
as extrusion, tipping, catheter coating, wire braiding, and other technologies.
Areas where the Company has utilized this new technology include pigtail
angiography catheters for both adults and infants; pericardiocentesis catheters,
which drain excess fluid from around a patient's heart; vessel-sizing catheters,
which help physicians diagnose and repair damaged blood vessels; and drainage
catheters.
5

Merit's sales of its diagnostic catheters have been encouraging this
last year. In this competitive market, Merit has deemed it necessary to improve
the quality of this product line in order to grow its business. A substantial
portion of Merit's research and development efforts this past year have been
focused on these improvements, which should appear in the marketplace sometime
in mid-2001. All of Merit's know-how, together with its already substantial
abilities in catheter-related areas, is being combined into a new Center of
Excellence for catheter technology located in our Angleton, Texas facility. We
expect this will result in greater manufacturing efficiencies and higher
corporate profits.

VESSEL-SIZING CATHETERS

Leveraging off its catheter expertise, last year Merit Medical launched
a new line of catheters used to measure the internal diameter and length of
either an artery or vein. Vessel-sizing catheters are used in a variety of
procedures, including angioplasty, embolization, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)
grafts, and vena cava filter placements. It is estimated that the worldwide
market potential for these catheters is in excess of $5 million per year, and
growing rapidly.

These catheters have special marker bands that are spaced at a known
distance apart to enable physicians to calculate the vessel size. With this
critical information, the physician can determine what size of vascular graft,
venous filter or other treatment is needed. A precise measurement is necessary
in order that the graft or filter fits well to prevent migration toward the
heart or into other areas of the body.

The AAA stent-graft market is growing very rapidly, due primarily to
the September 1999 approval of this minimally invasive procedure by the U.S.
Food & Drug Administration. In the fourth quarter, Merit introduced its new
20-band vessel-sizing catheter used specifically for measuring the aorta during
a AAA stent-graft procedure. IMS sales data suggests that Merit is now the
market leader in the 20-band catheter market used primarily for the AAA
stent-graft procedure. The 20-band catheter has decided advantages over other
catheters, such as its high radiopacity, making it easier to see under
fluoroscopy, a very smooth transition from the catheter body to the platinum
bands, as well as a highly kink-resistant catheter body.
6

Prior to approval for this procedure, physicians had to perform
open-abdominal surgery to remove a section of the diseased artery and replace it
with a man-made graft. Today, physicians can insert a catheter through an artery
or vein and measure it, insert a stent-graft or filter, deploy the device, and
withdraw the catheter. Following a closure procedure, the patient usually
recovers within a few days, rather than a few weeks.

DIGITAL INFLATION TECHNOLOGY

Merit believes in product innovations that contribute to the
physician's skill and improve clinical outcome. Innovation and new technology
adds to existing clinical potential, and expands it into new dimensions once
thought impossible. Last year, Merit introduced a new standard in digital
technology with the IntelliSystem(R) II monitor, inflation devices and
accessories.

There are approximately 2 million angioplasty and stent placement
procedures performed each year worldwide. Merit has achieved and sustained a
world market leadership in balloon inflation devices and accessories for
angioplasty and stent placement by adapting its technology to physician demand.
In order to continue the growth of Merit's core inflation business, it developed
a more sophisticated, digital technology for measuring inflation pressures.

The patented IntelliSystem II color monitor is the most advanced on the
market and gives physicians several highly desirable options. For example, its
large touch screen and display readout make it possible for everyone in the
clinical setting to know at a glance how the patient is responding to the
procedure. The screen also instantly displays positive or negative pressure by
changing color, and the user can choose to enlarge the graphing capability to
observe extremely subtle changes in pressure measurements. The IntelliSystem II
enhances global flexibility by enabling the user to manually select the monitor
to display in four different languages.

As the product life cycle for the inflation device has matured, this
highly sensitive display monitor has enhanced sales by opening up new realms of
use by physicians. For example, in 1999 physicians in pain clinics began using
Merit's inflation devices for a diagnostic spinal procedure called discography,
causing sales for inflation devices used in discography to double from 1999 to
2000. In addition, other physicians use Merit's inflation device to inflate and
measure pressure in a tiny balloon to treat a painful facial disorder called
trigeminal nerve compression.
7

Merit is the only company that has digital technology sensitive enough
to show the minute changes going on in these procedures. Merit's sales of
inflation devices have grown steadily over the last two years due to expanded
physician acceptance and use. The increased use of drug-coated stents to reduce
restenosis (re-closure of the artery) is also contributing to growth rates for
Merit's digital technology.

SAFETY PRODUCTS

Merit Medical is committed to improving safety in the clinical setting
by designing medical products that minimize errors and the exposure of
healthcare workers to "sharps" (needles, scalpels and other sharp tools), and
the associated vulnerability to blood and blood-borne pathogens. Syringes and
needles need to be handled with extreme caution to avoid accidental skin
puncture, aerosol generation, or inadvertent medication errors.

In the past few years as the awareness of the potential danger of
blood-borne pathogens and the safety of both clinicians and patients has become
more apparent, Merit Medical has responded to customer needs by launching new
products that address specific safety concerns. Merit's safety products have
experienced double-digit sales growth over the past year, confirming customer
acceptance.

SAFETY NEEDLE

In November 1999, OSHA issued a compliance directive that "mandates the
use of safer medical devices to help reduce needle sticks and other sharps
injuries." The Needle Stick Safety and Prevention Act was passed unanimously by
Congress and signed by President Clinton on November 6, 2000 (published in the
Federal Register in January 2001, and effective April 2001). As mandated by this
Act, OSHA has revised its blood-borne pathogens standard to clarify the need for
employers to select safer needle devices as they become available and to involve
employees in identifying and choosing the devices.

In the first quarter of 2001, Merit signed an exclusive worldwide
agreement with Specialized Health Products to manufacture and sell safety needle
devices for angiographic guide wire introducers. The new safety needles are
being developed in response to the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act. There

are more than 5 million unprotected angiography needles used in the United
States each year and approximately 5 million more for the rest of the world.
Merit believes the new safety device will more than double the volume of its
needle sales.

ShortStop(R) Temporary Sharps Container

The ShortStop is a small, adhesive-based container that fits
unobtrusively on the back table in a clinical lab. It is used for the temporary
containment of needles and other sharps and provides a viable alternative to
minimize the potential of inadvertent needle sticks. Merit's sales of this
device grew 45 percent in 2000.

MEDALLION: COLOR-CODED AND PRINTED SYRINGE

In response to the growing concern of medication errors, one of the
first products Merit introduced was the Medallion color-coded syringe. These
perfectly clear, colorful syringes have the name of the medication printed on
the barrel to minimize medication errors in the clinical setting. Additionally,
physicians can color-code their medications to further prevent medication
errors. The Merit Medallion syringe is a cost-effective product for those health
care workers who value safety. Merit's sales of this syringe grew by 14 percent
in 2000.

MERIT DISPOSAL DEPOT (MDD): CLOSED-WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Merit's disposal depots are totally closed-fluid systems that transport
waste away from the patient procedure in a safe, convenient way. OSHA's
"Occupational Exposure to Blood-Borne Pathogens Standard" was designed to
protect approximately 6 million workers in the health care and related fields
from the risk of exposure to blood-borne pathogens, such as HIV and hepatitis.
Handling and manipulation of blood and other biological fluids requires the use
of precautionary measures. The MDD closed-waste system is a cost-effective,
simple way to satisfy OSHA guidelines in managing blood waste. Sales of this
product grew 10 percent in 2000.

BACKSTOP: COVERED WASTE BASIN

An additional OSHA standard states, "All procedures involving
infectious material shall be performed in such a manner as to minimize
splashing, spraying and splattering of droplets of these substances." The unique
design of Merit's Backstop reduces the risk of blood splattering commonly seen
in traditional open bowls used on the back tables of radiology and cardiology
labs. Sales of the BackStop grew by 13% in 2000.
9

MBA HEMOSTASIS VALVE

In 1999 Merit introduced a unique hemostasis valve, the MBA, which
reduces blood loss to just a few drops during exchange of catheters, guide
wires, and other tools used during diagnostic and interventional procedures such
as angiography and angioplasty. Standard hemostasis valves, when opened to
insert a catheter or other instrument, allow free blood flow, causing occasional
severe patient blood loss and unnecessary exposure to blood-borne pathogens by
the clinicians. Introduced in 2000, the sales of Merit's MBA valve expanded on
an annualized basis by 83%.

DRAINAGE PRODUCTS

Leveraging off Merit's existing catheter technology and know-how, the
Company has been investing heavily the past year in a new line of drainage
products. In particular, Merit signed a licensing agreement with Derma Sciences
for the PercuStay and related catheter fastening devices which Merit introduced
in the third quarter of last year. The drainage line also includes the MDD
disposal bag that is discussed above in the Safety Products section, a 60cc
VacLok syringe, a large-bore stopcock and the flagship product, a line of
drainage catheters. Many of these products were introduced in 2000, while
others, like the catheter line, remain in the development cycle for introduction
later this year or 2002. These products address a market size of approximately
$90 million worldwide annually, and the catheter line should provide Merit with
considerable growth in the years ahead.

Merit's investments in new product development, product acquisitions
and licensing agreements have created a favorable opportunity for growth this
year and next. Merit is rapidly becoming the world leader in ancillary products
for diagnostic procedures in cardiology and radiology laboratories around the
country. The advent of new stenting techniques and the aging population will
continue to drive the sale of Merit's products in the years to come.
10

CORPORATE INFORMATION

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS ANNUAL MEETING All shareholders are invited
Fred P. Lampropoulos to offend our Annual Meeting on
Chairman, President/Chief Executive Officer Wednesday, May 23, 2001 at 3:00 p.m. at
the Company's corporate offices in South
Jordan, Utah.

Kent W. Stanger STOCK TRANSFER AGENT/REGISTRAR
Secretary-Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer Zions First National Bank
Stock Transfer Department
Leigh Weintraub P. 0. Box 30880
Chief Operating Officer Salt Lake City, Utah 84130

Brian L. Ferrand
Vice President, Sales
PRIMARY MARKET MAKERS
Sherwood Securities, Inc Dougherty & Co., Inc. Piper Jaffray Cos., Inc. Spear, Leeds & Kellogg
Knight Securities L.P. Wilson-Davis & Co., Inc.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dain Rauscher, Inc. Investec Ernst & Company
Schwab Capital Markets Olsen Payne & Company
Fred P. Lampropoulos Herzog, Heine, Geduld, Inc. Sutro & Co., Inc.
Chairman, President/Chief Executive Officer Sherwood Securities, Inc. Wien Securities Corp.

Kent W. Stanger MARKET INFORMATION The Company's common
Secretary-Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer stock is traded on the NASDAQ National
Market System under the symbol "MMSL" As of
Rex C. Bean, Private Investor December 31, 2000, there were 7,788,208
Ogden, Utah shares of common stock outstanding. The
following chart sets forth the high and
Richard W. Edelman low closing sale prices for the
Managing Director and Dallas Branch Manager Company's common stock for the last two years:
Sanders Morris Harris
Dallas, Texas

James J. Ellis, Managing Partner
EIlis/Rosier & Associates
Dallas, Texas

High Low
2000
Michael E. Stillabower, M.D. First Quarter $11.00 $6.69
Chief, Cardiology, Christiana Care Health Systems; Second Quarter 10.13 4.00
Member, Cardiology Consultants PA Third Quarter 6.88 5.38
Wilmington, Delaware Fourth Quarter 7.00 5.50

CORPORATE OFFICES 1999
Merit Medical Systems In First Quarter $ 6.88 5.00
1600 West Merit Parkwa Second Quarter 6.00 4.75
South Jordan, Utah 84095 Third Quarter 8.50 4.75
(801) 253-1600 Fourth Quarter 7.63 5.88

INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS As of March 30, 2001, the Company had
Deloitte & Touche LLP approximately 200 shareholders of record,
Salt Lake City, Utah not including shareholders whose shares
are held in securities position
LEGAL COUNSEL listings.
Parr Waddoups Brown Gee & Loveless
Securities/General Counsel The Company has never declared or paid
Workman, Nydegger & Jensen any cash dividends on its common stock.
Patent Counsel The Company intends to retain any earnings
for use in its business and does not anticipate paying
FORM 10-K Merit Medical Systems, Inc. any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
filed an annual report on Form 10K with
the Securities and Exchange Commission INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT Nancy Schultz,
for the fiscal year ended December 31, Director, Corporate Communications (801) 253-1600
2000. A copy may be obtained by written
request from Kent W. Stanger, Secretary, FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT Kent W. Stanger, Chief
at the Company's offices. Financial Officer Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (801) 253-1600