Merit
Medical Systems, Inc.
|
(Name
of Issuer)
|
Common
Stock, No Par Value
|
(Title
of Class of Securities)
|
589889104
|
(CUSIP
Number)
|
December
31, 2008
|
(Date
of Event Which Requires Filing of this
Statement)
|
o | Rule 13d-1(b) |
x | Rule 13d-1(c) |
o | Rule 13d-1(d) |
1
|
NAME
OF REPORTING PERSON
ACCIPITER
LIFE SCIENCES FUND, LP
|
||
2
|
CHECK
THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
|
(a) o
(b) o
|
|
3
|
SEC
USE ONLY
|
||
4
|
CITIZENSHIP
OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
DELAWARE
|
||
NUMBER
OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
|
5
|
SOLE
VOTING POWER
0
shares
|
|
6
|
SHARED
VOTING POWER
0
shares
|
||
7
|
SOLE
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
shares
|
||
8
|
SHARED
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
shares
|
||
9
|
AGGREGATE
AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
0
shares
|
||
10
|
CHECK
BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES
|
¨
|
|
11
|
PERCENT
OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
0%
|
||
12
|
TYPE
OF REPORTING PERSON
PN
|
1
|
NAME
OF REPORTING PERSON
ACCIPITER
LIFE SCIENCES FUND (OFFSHORE), LTD.
|
||
2
|
CHECK
THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
|
(a) o
(b) o
|
|
3
|
SEC
USE ONLY
|
||
4
|
CITIZENSHIP
OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
CAYMAN
ISLANDS
|
||
NUMBER
OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
|
5
|
SOLE
VOTING POWER
0
shares
|
|
6
|
SHARED
VOTING POWER
0
shares
|
||
7
|
SOLE
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
shares
|
||
8
|
SHARED
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
shares
|
||
9
|
AGGREGATE
AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
0
shares
|
||
10
|
CHECK
BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES
|
¨
|
|
11
|
PERCENT
OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
0%
|
||
12
|
TYPE
OF REPORTING PERSON
OO
|
1
|
NAME
OF REPORTING PERSON
ACCIPITER
LIFE SCIENCES FUND II, LP
|
||
2
|
CHECK
THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
|
(a) o
(b) o
|
|
3
|
SEC
USE ONLY
|
||
4
|
CITIZENSHIP
OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
DELAWARE
|
||
NUMBER
OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
|
5
|
SOLE
VOTING POWER
0
shares
|
|
6
|
SHARED
VOTING POWER
0
shares
|
||
7
|
SOLE
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
shares
|
||
8
|
SHARED
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
shares
|
||
9
|
AGGREGATE
AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
0
shares
|
||
10
|
CHECK
BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES
|
¨
|
|
11
|
PERCENT
OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
0%
|
||
12
|
TYPE
OF REPORTING PERSON
PN
|
1
|
NAME
OF REPORTING PERSON
ACCIPITER
LIFE SCIENCES FUND II (OFFSHORE), LTD.
|
||
2
|
CHECK
THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
|
(a) o
(b) o
|
|
3
|
SEC
USE ONLY
|
||
4
|
CITIZENSHIP
OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
CAYMAN
ISLANDS
|
||
NUMBER
OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
|
5
|
SOLE
VOTING POWER
0
shares
|
|
6
|
SHARED
VOTING POWER
0
shares
|
||
7
|
SOLE
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
shares
|
||
8
|
SHARED
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
shares
|
||
9
|
AGGREGATE
AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
0
shares
|
||
10
|
CHECK
BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES
|
¨
|
|
11
|
PERCENT
OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
0%
|
||
12
|
TYPE
OF REPORTING PERSON
OO
|
1
|
NAME
OF REPORTING PERSON
ACCIPITER
LIFE SCIENCES FUND II (QP), LP
|
||
2
|
CHECK
THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
|
(a) o
(b) o
|
|
3
|
SEC
USE ONLY
|
||
4
|
CITIZENSHIP
OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
DELAWARE
|
||
NUMBER
OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
|
5
|
SOLE
VOTING POWER
0
shares
|
|
6
|
SHARED
VOTING POWER
0
shares
|
||
7
|
SOLE
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
shares
|
||
8
|
SHARED
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
shares
|
||
9
|
AGGREGATE
AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
0
shares
|
||
10
|
CHECK
BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES
|
¨
|
|
11
|
PERCENT
OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
0%
|
||
12
|
TYPE
OF REPORTING PERSON
PN
|
1
|
NAME
OF REPORTING PERSON
CANDENS
CAPITAL, LLC
|
||
2
|
CHECK
THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
|
(a) o
(b) o
|
|
3
|
SEC
USE ONLY
|
||
4
|
CITIZENSHIP
OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
DELAWARE
|
||
NUMBER
OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
|
5
|
SOLE
VOTING POWER
0
shares
|
|
6
|
SHARED
VOTING POWER
0
shares
|
||
7
|
SOLE
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
shares
|
||
8
|
SHARED
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
shares
|
||
9
|
AGGREGATE
AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
0
shares
|
||
10
|
CHECK
BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES
|
¨
|
|
11
|
PERCENT
OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
0%
|
||
12
|
TYPE
OF REPORTING PERSON
OO
|
1
|
NAME
OF REPORTING PERSON
ACCIPITER
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
|
||
2
|
CHECK
THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
|
(a) o
(b) o
|
|
3
|
SEC
USE ONLY
|
||
4
|
CITIZENSHIP
OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
DELAWARE
|
||
NUMBER
OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
|
5
|
SOLE
VOTING POWER
0
shares
|
|
6
|
SHARED
VOTING POWER
0
shares
|
||
7
|
SOLE
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
shares
|
||
8
|
SHARED
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
shares
|
||
9
|
AGGREGATE
AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
0
shares
|
||
10
|
CHECK
BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES
|
¨
|
|
11
|
PERCENT
OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
0%
|
||
12
|
TYPE
OF REPORTING PERSON
OO
|
1
|
NAME
OF REPORTING PERSON
GABE
HOFFMAN
|
||
2
|
CHECK
THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
|
(a) o
(b) o
|
|
3
|
SEC
USE ONLY
|
||
4
|
CITIZENSHIP
OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
USA
|
||
NUMBER
OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
|
5
|
SOLE
VOTING POWER
0
shares
|
|
6
|
SHARED
VOTING POWER
0
shares
|
||
7
|
SOLE
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
shares
|
||
8
|
SHARED
DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
shares
|
||
9
|
AGGREGATE
AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
0
shares
|
||
10
|
CHECK
BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES
|
¨
|
|
11
|
PERCENT
OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
0%
|
||
12
|
TYPE
OF REPORTING PERSON
IN
|
Item
1(a).
|
Name
of Issuer:
|
Item
1(b).
|
Address
of Issuer’s Principal Executive
Offices:
|
Item
2(a).
|
Name
of Person Filing:
|
Item
2(b).
|
Address
of Principal Business Office or, if None,
Residence:
|
Item
2(c).
|
Citizenship:
|
Item
2(d).
|
Title
of Class of Securities:
|
Item
2(e).
|
CUSIP
Number:
|
Item
3.
|
If
This Statement is Filed Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b) or (c),
Check Whether the Person Filing is
a:
|
|
/X/
|
Not
Applicable
|
|
(a)
|
/
/
|
Broker
or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange
Act;
|
|
(b)
|
/
/
|
Bank
as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Exchange
Act;
|
|
(c)
|
/
/
|
Insurance
company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Exchange
Act;
|
|
(d)
|
/
/
|
Investment
company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company
Act;
|
|
(e)
|
/
/
|
An
investment adviser in accordance with Rule
13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);
|
|
(f)
|
/
/
|
An
employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Rule
13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);
|
|
(g)
|
/
/
|
A
parent holding company or control person in accordance with Rule
13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);
|
|
(h)
|
/
/
|
A
savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act;
|
|
(i)
|
/
/
|
A
church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company
under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company
Act;
|
|
(j)
|
/
/
|
A
non-U.S. institution, in accordance with Rule
13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J);
|
|
(k)
|
/
/
|
Group,
in accordance with Rule
13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K).
|
Item
4.
|
Ownership
|
Item
5.
|
Ownership
of Five Percent or Less of a Class.
|
Item
6.
|
Ownership
of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another
Person.
|
Item
7.
|
Identification
and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being
Reported on by the Parent Holding Company or Control
Person.
|
Item
8.
|
Identification
and Classification of Members of the
Group.
|
Item
9.
|
Notice
of Dissolution of Group.
|
Item
10.
|
Certifications.
|
Dated: February
17, 2009
|
ACCIPITER
LIFE SCIENCES FUND, LP
|
|
By:
|
Candens
Capital, LLC
its
general partner
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Gabe Hoffman
|
|
Gabe
Hoffman, Managing Member
|
ACCIPITER
LIFE SCIENCES FUND II, LP
|
||
By:
|
Candens
Capital, LLC
its
general partner
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Gabe Hoffman
|
|
Gabe
Hoffman, Managing Member
|
ACCIPITER
LIFE SCIENCES FUND (OFFSHORE), LTD.
|
||
By:
|
Accipiter
Capital Management, LLC
its
investment manager
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Gabe Hoffman
|
|
Gabe
Hoffman, Managing Member
|
ACCIPITER
LIFE SCIENCES FUND II (OFFSHORE), LTD.
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Simon Whicker
|
|
Simon
Whicker, Liquidator
|
ACCIPITER
LIFE SCIENCES FUND II (QP), LP
|
||
By:
|
Candens
Capital, LLC
its
general partner
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Gabe Hoffman
|
|
Gabe
Hoffman, Managing Member
|
ACCIPITER
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Gabe Hoffman
|
|
Gabe
Hoffman, Managing Member
|
CANDENS
CAPITAL, LLC
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Gabe Hoffman
|
|
Gabe
Hoffman, Managing Member
|
/s/
Gabe Hoffman
|
|
GABE
HOFFMAN
|