8.   Debt. Principal balances outstanding under our long-term debt obligations as of June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024 consisted of the following (in thousands):

​

​

Future minimum principal payments on our long-term debt, as of June 30, 2025, were as follows (in thousands):

​

​

Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

On June 6, 2023, we entered into a Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the "Fourth A&R Credit Agreement"). The Fourth A&R Credit Agreement is a syndicated loan agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and other parties. The Fourth A&R Credit Agreement amended and restated in its entirety our previously outstanding Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and all amendments thereto. The Fourth A&R Credit Agreement provides for a term loan of $150 million and a revolving credit commitment of up to an aggregate amount of $700 million, inclusive of sub-facilities for multicurrency borrowings, standby letters of credit and swingline loans. On June 6, 2028, all principal, interest and other amounts outstanding under the Fourth A&R Credit Agreement are payable in full. At any time prior to the maturity date, we may repay any amounts owing under all term loans and revolving credit loans in whole or in part, without premium or penalty.

On December 5, 2023, we executed an amendment to the Fourth A&R Credit Agreement (as amended, the "Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement”) to facilitate the issuance of our Convertible Notes described below. Among other things, the amendment also updated the definition of the Applicable Margin used in determining the interest rates and amended the financial covenants, all as described below.

Term loans made under the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement bear interest, at our election, at either (i) the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin (as defined in the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement) or, (ii) Adjusted Term SOFR plus the Applicable Margin (as defined in the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement). Revolving credit loans bear interest, at our election, at either (a) the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin, (b) Adjusted Term SOFR plus the Applicable Margin, (c) Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate plus the Applicable Margin (as defined in the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement), or (d) Adjusted Daily Simple SONIA plus the Applicable Margin (as defined in the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement). Swingline loans bear interest at the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin. Interest on each loan featuring the Base Rate and each Daily Simple SONIA Loan is due and payable on the last business day of each calendar month; interest on each loan featuring the Eurocurrency Rate and each Term SOFR Loan is due and payable on the last day of each interest period applicable thereto, and if such interest period extends over three months, at the end of each three-month interval during such interest period.

The Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement is collateralized by substantially all of our assets. The Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement contains affirmative and negative covenants, representations and warranties, events of default and other terms customary for loans of this nature. In particular, the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement requires that we maintain certain financial covenants, as follows:

We were in compliance with these financial covenants set forth in the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement as of June 30, 2025.

As of June 30, 2025, we had no outstanding borrowings and issued letter of credit guarantees of $2.9 million under the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement, with additional available borrowings of approximately $697 million, based on the maximum net leverage ratio required pursuant to the Amended Fourth A&R Credit Agreement.

Convertible Notes

In December 2023, we issued convertible notes which bear interest at 3.00% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears on February 1 and August 1 of each year, which commenced August 1, 2024 (the “Convertible Notes”). The Convertible Notes are senior unsecured obligations (as defined in the indenture governing the Convertible Notes (the “Indenture”)) of Merit and will mature on February 1, 2029, unless repurchased, redeemed or converted in accordance with their terms prior to such date. The net proceeds from the sale of the Convertible Notes were approximately $724.8 million after deducting offering and issuance costs and before the costs of the Capped Call Transactions, as described below.

The initial conversion rate of the notes will be 11.5171 shares of our common stock (the “Common Stock”) per $1,000 principal amount of notes, which equates to an initial conversion price of approximately $86.83 per share of Common Stock, subject to adjustments as provided in the Indenture upon the occurrence of certain specified events.

Conversion can occur at the option of the holders of the Convertible Notes (“Holders”) at any time on or after October 1, 2028. Prior to October 1, 2028, Holders may only elect to convert the Convertible Notes under the following circumstances: (1) During the five business day period after any ten consecutive trading day period in which, for each day of that period, the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of the Convertible Notes for such trading day was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of the Common Stock and the applicable conversion rate on such trading day; (2) Merit issues to common shareholders any rights, options, or warrants, entitling them, for a period of not more than 60 days, to purchase shares of Common Stock at a price per share less than the average closing sale price of 10 consecutive trading days, or Merit’s election to make a distribution to common shareholders exceeding 10% of the previous day’s closing sale price; (3) Upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Change, as set forth in the Indenture; (4) During any calendar quarter (and only during such calendar quarter) beginning after March 31, 2024, if, the last reported sale price per share of the Common Stock exceeds 130% of the applicable conversion price on each applicable trading day for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) in the period of the 30 consecutive trading day period ending on, and including, the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter; or (5) Prior to the related redemption date if Merit calls any Convertible Notes for redemption. As of June 30, 2025, none of the conditions permitting the Holders to convert their Convertible Notes early had been met. Therefore, the Convertible Notes are classified as long-term debt obligations.

Upon conversion, Merit will (1) pay cash up to the aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes to be converted and (2) pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of Common Stock, or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, at Merit’s election, in respect of the remainder, if any, of its conversion obligation in excess of the aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes being converted.

In addition, Holders will have the right to require Merit to repurchase all or a part of their notes upon the occurrence of a “fundamental change” (as defined in the Indenture) in cash at a fundamental change repurchase price of 100% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest up to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date.

On or after February 7, 2027, we may redeem for cash all or part of the Convertible Notes, at our option, if the last reported sales price of Common Stock has been at least 130% of the conversion price then in effect for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive), including the trading day immediately preceding the date on which we provide notice of redemption, during any 30 consecutive trading days ending on, and including, the trading day immediately before the date we send the related notice of the redemption.

Capped Call Transactions

In December 2023, in connection with the pricing of the Convertible Notes, Merit entered into privately negotiated capped call transactions (“Capped Call Transactions”) with certain of the initial purchasers and/or their respective affiliates and certain other financial institutions. The Capped Call Transactions cover, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments, the number of shares of Common Stock initially underlying the Convertible Notes and are generally expected to reduce potential dilution to the Common Stock upon any conversion of Convertible Notes and/or offset any cash payments Merit is required to make in excess of the principal amount of converted Convertible Notes, as the case may be, with such reduction and/or offset subject to a cap, based on a cap price initially equal to approximately $114.68 per share of Common Stock, subject to certain adjustments under the terms of the Capped Call Transactions. The cost of the Capped Call Transactions was approximately $66.5 million. The Capped Call Transactions do not meet the criteria for separate accounting as a derivative as they are indexed to the Common Stock. The premiums paid for the Capped Call Transactions have been included as a net reduction to Common Stock within stockholders' equity.