• Asset acquisition expands Merit’s endoscopy portfolio with a minimally invasive solution for patients suffering from chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). 
• Asset acquisition projected to add approximately $30 million of revenue, on an annualized basis, in key gastrointestinal endoscopy market that leverages existing commercial footprint.  
• Merit reaffirms full-year 2024 financial guidance on standalone basis and updates full-year 2024 financial guidance to include projected partial-year impact from this acquisition.

SOUTH JORDAN, Utah, July 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MMSI), a global leader of healthcare technology, today announced it has executed an asset purchase agreement with EndoGastric Solutions, Inc. for a total cash consideration of approximately $105 million. EndoGastric Solutions’ EsophyX^® Z+ device delivers a durable, minimally invasive non-pharmacological treatment option for patients suffering from GERD.  

GERD is a digestive disorder that occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter doesn’t tighten correctly, allowing acid from the stomach to enter the esophagus. When this occurs chronically, it can result in serious health conditions, such as esophageal damage and cancer. The EsophyX Z+ device treats GERD by restoring the body’s reflux barrier.

“This acquisition is consistent with our Continued Growth Initiatives. It enhances our product portfolio in existing clinical specialties while expanding our global footprint in the multi-billion-dollar gastrointestinal market,” said Fred P. Lampropoulos, Merit’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to helping more patients by providing clinicians with a sustained and minimally invasive treatment option for chronic GERD.”  

Mr. Lampropoulos continued: “In addition to the strong strategic rationale, we believe the financial profile of this acquisition is compelling. While modestly dilutive to our full year 2024 non-GAAP profitability given the partial-year contribution, we expect the acquisition to be accretive to our non-GAAP gross and operating margins*, non-GAAP net income* and non-GAAP EPS* in the first full year post-closing. Importantly, we reaffirmed our full-year 2024 financial guidance on a stand-alone basis and we look forward to discussing this acquisition and our updated outlook for 2024 on our second quarter earnings report on August 1, 2024.”

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* Non-GAAP net income; non-GAAP earnings per share; non-GAAP gross margin; non-GAAP operating margin and constant currency revenue are non-GAAP financial measures. A description of these financial measures is included under the heading “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below. A quantitative reconciliation of such financial measures to comparable GAAP financial measures is not available without unreasonable effort.

About EsophyX Z+ Treatment

By restoring the body’s reflux barrier, the acquired EsophyX Z+ device is designed to provide relief of GERD symptoms and reduce acid reflux that can cause long-term complications and risk. This is accomplished under endoscopic visualization during a minimally invasive procedure called Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication (TIF 2.0). Recently, the American Gastroenterology Association released a clinical practice update on the evaluation and management of GERD and listed TIF 2.0 as an effective endoscopic option in carefully selected patients.²   

TIF 2.0 can also be combined with a surgical hiatal hernia repair, in a procedure referred to as Concomitant Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication (cTIF). During cTIF, an interventional gastroenterologist and a surgeon collaborate to bridge the treatment gap between medication and more invasive-surgical fundoplication.

Financial Summary:

The assets acquired from EndoGastric Solutions generated approximately $26 million of revenue over the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2023. The acquired assets are expected to contribute revenue, from closing date through December 31, 2024, in the range of $13 to $15 million and are expected to dilute Merit’s previously forecasted non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP earnings per share, inclusive of approximately $2.7 million of lower interest income on cash balances used for the total purchase consideration and excluding approximately $6.5 million of non-cash and non-recurring transaction-related expenses, and to be dilutive to Merit’s full-year 2024 GAAP net income and GAAP earnings per share. The acquisition is expected to be accretive to non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP earnings per share in the first full-year post close, but dilutive to Merit’s GAAP net income and earnings per share for that period.

Updated Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Guidance

Merit’s updated full-year 2024 financial guidance now reflects the forecasted impacts of the acquisition of EndoGastric Solutions from the closing date through December 31, 2024. Merit is reaffirming prior full-year 2024 financial guidance ranges for the stand-alone Merit business previously announced on April 30, 2024.

Based upon the information currently available to Merit’s management, for the year ending December 31, 2024, after giving effect to the projected contribution of the assets acquired from EndoGastric Solutions, but absent material acquisitions, non-recurring transactions or other factors beyond Merit’s current expectations, Merit now expects the following financial results:

Revenue and Earnings Guidance*

2024 Net Sales Guidance - % Change from Prior Year (Constant Currency) Reconciliation*

(1) “Updated Guidance” reflects Merit’s full-year 2024 financial guidance on standalone basis, plus the forecasted impacts of the acquisition of EndoGastric Solutions, Inc. from closing date through December 31, 2024.  
(2) “Prior Guidance” previously introduced on April 30, 2024, and reflects Merit’s full-year 2024 financial guidance on a standalone basis, excluding the acquisition of the assets of EndoGastric Solutions. 

Merit does not provide guidance for GAAP reported financial measures (other than revenue) or a reconciliation of forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP reported financial measures (other than revenue) because Merit is unable to predict with reasonable certainty the financial impact of items such as expenses related to acquisitions or other extraordinary transactions, non-cash expenses related to amortization or write-off of previously acquired tangible and intangible assets, certain severance expenses, performance-based stock compensation expenses, corporate transformation expenses, expenses resulting from non-ordinary course litigation or administrative proceedings and resulting settlements, governmental proceedings, and changes in governmental or industry regulations. These items are uncertain, depend on various factors, and could have a material impact on GAAP reported results for the guidance period. For the same reasons, Merit is unable to address the significance of the unavailable information, which could be material to future results. Specifically, Merit is not, without unreasonable effort, able to reliably predict the impact of these items and Merit believes inclusion of a reconciliation of these forward-looking non-GAAP measures to their GAAP counterparts could be confusing to investors or cause undue reliance.

Merit’s financial guidance for the year ending December 31, 2024 is subject to risks and uncertainties identified in this release and Merit’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results Conference Call:

Merit will release its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, after the close of the stock market on Thursday, August 1, 2024 and will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern that day (4:00 p.m. Central, 3:00 p.m. Mountain, and 2:00 p.m. Pacific). To access the conference call, please pre-register using the following link. Registrants will receive confirmation with dial-in details. A live webcast and slide deck will also be available at merit.com.

Advisors:

Oppenheimer & Co. acted as a financial advisor to Merit. Parr Brown Gee & Loveless P.C. served as legal advisor to Merit. Cooley LLP served as legal advisor to EndoGastric Solutions, Inc. 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures 

Although Merit’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, Merit’s management believes that the non-GAAP financial measures referenced in this release may provide investors with useful information regarding the underlying business trends and performance of Merit’s ongoing operations and can be useful for period-over-period comparisons of such operations. Non-GAAP financial measures referenced in this release include: 

• constant currency revenue; 
• non-GAAP gross profit and margin; 
• non-GAAP operating income and margin; 
• non-GAAP net income; and 
• non-GAAP earnings per share.

Merit’s management team uses these non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate Merit’s profitability and efficiency, to compare operating and financial results to prior periods, to evaluate changes in the results of its operating segments, and to measure and allocate financial resources internally. However, Merit’s management does not consider such non-GAAP measures in isolation or as an alternative to measures determined in accordance with GAAP. 

Readers should consider non-GAAP measures referenced in this release in addition to, not as a substitute for, financial reporting measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures generally exclude some, but not all, items that may affect Merit’s net income. In addition, they are subject to inherent limitations as they reflect the exercise of judgment by management about which items are excluded. Merit believes it is useful to exclude such items in the calculation of non-GAAP earnings per share, non-GAAP gross profit and margin, non-GAAP operating income and margin, and non-GAAP net income because such amounts in any specific period may not directly correlate to the underlying performance of Merit’s business operations and can vary significantly between periods as a result of factors such as acquisition or other extraordinary transactions, non-cash expenses related to amortization or write-off of previously acquired tangible and intangible assets, certain severance expenses, expenses resulting from non-ordinary course litigation or administrative proceedings and resulting settlements, corporate transformation expenses, governmental proceedings or changes in tax or industry regulations, gains or losses on disposal of certain assets, and debt issuance costs. Merit may incur similar types of expenses in the future, and the non-GAAP financial information referenced in this release should not be viewed as a statement or indication that these types of expenses will not recur. Additionally, the non-GAAP financial measures referenced in this release may not be comparable with similarly titled measures of other companies. Merit urges readers to review the reconciliations of its non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate Merit’s business or results of operations. 

Constant Currency Revenue 

Merit’s constant currency revenue is prepared by converting the current-period reported revenue of subsidiaries whose functional currency is a currency other than the US dollar at the applicable foreign exchange rates in effect during the comparable prior-year period and adjusting for the effects of hedging transactions on reported revenue, which are recorded in the US dollar.  

Non-GAAP Gross Profit and Margin 

Non-GAAP gross profit is calculated by reducing GAAP cost of sales by amounts recorded for amortization of intangible assets and inventory mark-up related to acquisitions. Non-GAAP gross margin is calculated by dividing non-GAAP gross profit by reported net sales.  

Non-GAAP Operating Income and Margin 

Non-GAAP operating income is calculated by adjusting GAAP operating income for certain items which are deemed by Merit’s management to be outside of core operations and vary in amount and frequency among periods, such as expenses related to acquisitions or other extraordinary transactions, non-cash expenses related to amortization or write-off of previously acquired tangible and intangible assets, certain severance expenses, performance-based stock compensation expenses, corporate transformation expenses, expenses resulting from non-ordinary course litigation or administrative proceedings and resulting settlements, governmental proceedings, and changes in governmental or industry regulations. Non-GAAP operating margin is calculated by dividing non-GAAP operating income by reported net sales. 

Non-GAAP Net Income 

Non-GAAP net income is calculated by adjusting GAAP net income for the items set forth in the definition of non-GAAP operating income above, as well as for expenses related to debt issuance costs, gains or losses on disposal of certain assets, changes in tax regulations, and other items.  

Non-GAAP EPS 

Non-GAAP EPS is defined as non-GAAP net income divided by the diluted shares outstanding for the corresponding period. 

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, oncology, critical care, and endoscopy. Merit serves client hospitals worldwide with a domestic and international sales force and clinical support team totaling more than 700 individuals. Merit employs approximately 7,000 people worldwide. 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements contained in this release which are not purely historical, including, without limitation, statements regarding Merit’s forecasted plans, revenues, net sales, net income (GAAP and non-GAAP), operating income and margin (GAAP and non-GAAP), gross profit and margin (GAAP and non-GAAP), earnings per share (GAAP and non-GAAP), and other financial measures, future growth and profit expectations or forecasted economic conditions, or the implementation of, and results which may be achieved through, Merit’s Continued Growth Initiatives program or other expense reduction initiatives, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, 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, 2023 (the “2023 Annual Report”) and other filings with the SEC. Such risks and uncertainties include inherent risks and uncertainties associated with Merit’s integration of the assets and operations acquired from EndoGastric Solutions and its ability to achieve anticipated financial results, product development and other anticipated benefits of the EndoGastric Solutions acquisition; uncertainties as to whether Merit will achieve sales, gross and operating margins, net income and earnings per share performance consistent with its forecasts associated with that acquisition; disruptions in Merit’s supply chain, manufacturing or sterilization processes; reduced availability of, and price increases associated with, commodity components and other raw materials; adverse changes in freight, shipping and transportation expenses; negative changes in economic and industry conditions in the United States or other countries, including inflation; risks relating to Merit’s potential inability to successfully manage growth through acquisitions generally, including the inability to effectively integrate acquired operations or products or commercialize technology developed internally or acquired through completed, proposed or future transactions; risks associated with Merit’s ongoing or prospective manufacturing transfers and facility consolidations; fluctuations in interest or foreign currency exchange rates; risks and uncertainties associated with Merit’s information technology systems, including the potential for breaches of security and evolving regulations regarding privacy and data protection; governmental scrutiny and regulation of the medical device industry, including governmental inquiries, investigations and proceedings involving Merit; consequences associated with a Corporate Integrity Agreement executed between Merit and the U.S. Office of Inspector General – Department of Health and Human Services; difficulties, delays and expenditures relating to development, testing and regulatory approval or clearance of Merit’s products, including the pursuit of approvals under the European Union Medical Device Regulation, and risks that such products may not be developed successfully or approved for commercial use; litigation and other judicial proceedings affecting Merit; 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 or regulations; restrictions on Merit’s liquidity or business operations resulting from its debt agreements; infringement of Merit’s technology or the assertion that Merit’s technology infringes the rights of other parties; product recalls and product liability claims; changes in customer purchasing patterns or the mix of products Merit sells; laws and regulations targeting fraud and abuse in the healthcare industry; potential for significant adverse changes in governing regulations, including reforms to the procedures for approval or clearance of Merit’s products by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration or comparable regulatory authorities in other jurisdictions; changes in tax laws and regulations in the United States or other jurisdictions; termination of relationships with Merit’s suppliers, or failure of such suppliers to perform; concentration of a substantial portion of Merit’s revenues among a few products and procedures; development of new products and technology that could render Merit’s existing or future products obsolete; market acceptance of new products; dependance on distributors to commercialize Merit’s products in various jurisdictions outside the United States; volatility in the market price of Merit’s common stock; modification or limitation of governmental or private insurance reimbursement policies; changes in healthcare policies or markets related to healthcare reform initiatives; failure to comply with applicable environmental laws; changes in key personnel; work stoppage or transportation risks; failure to introduce products in a timely fashion; price and product competition; fluctuations in and obsolescence of inventory; and other factors referenced in the 2023 Annual Report and other materials filed with the SEC.

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. Financial estimates are subject to change and are not intended to be relied upon as predictions of future operating results. Those estimates and all other forward-looking statements included in this release are made only as of the date of this release, and except as otherwise required by applicable law, Merit assumes no obligation to update or disclose revisions to estimates and all other forward-looking statements.

TRADEMARKS 

Unless noted otherwise, trademarks and registered trademarks used in this release are the property of Merit Medical Systems, Inc., its subsidiaries, or its licensors.  

REFERENCES

1. Sharma et al. 2023. “Healthcare Resource Utilization and Costs Among Patients With Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, Barrett’s Esophagus, and Barrett’s Esophagus–Related Neoplasia in the United States.” Journal of Health Economics and Outcomes Research 10, no. 1 (March): 51 ̶ 58. Accessed June 11, 2024. doi: 10.36469/001c.68191. (PMID: 58829388)2.

2. Yadlapati, Gyawali, and Pandolfino. 2022. “AGA Clinical Practice Update on the Personalized Approach to the Evaluation and Management of GERD: Expert Review.” Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology 20, no. 5 (May): 984 ̶ 94.e1. Accessed June 11, 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2022.01.025. (PMID: 35123084)