Merit Medical Systems Inc. Added to S&P SmallCap 600 Index

Merit Medical Systems Inc. Added to S&P SmallCap 600 Index 


NEW YORK, March 9  /PRNewswire/ -- Merit Medical Systems Inc.  will replace
Rainbow Technologies Inc.  in the S&P SmallCap 600 after the close of trading on
Monday, March 15, 2004. SafeNet Inc.  is acquiring Rainbow Technologies in a
transaction anticipated to close on or about that date.  The deal is still
subject to shareholder approval, and the combined company will not be added to
an S&P index at this time.

Standard & Poor's continues to monitor this transaction, and will post any
relevant updates on its website: http://www.standardandpoors.com/.

Merit Medical Systems makes and markets disposable proprietary medical products
used primarily in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. 
Headquartered in South Jordan, UT, the company will be added to the S&P SmallCap
600 GICS (Global Industry Classification Standard) Health Care Supplies
sub-industry.

  Following is a summary of the changes:

                   S&P SMALLCAP 600 INDEX - March 15, 2004

                 COMPANY       GICS ECONOMIC SECTOR    GICS SUB-INDUSTRY

    ADDED     Merit Medical        Health Care       Health Care Supplies
                 Systems

   DELETED       Rainbow      Information Technology  Computer Storage &
              Technologies                                Peripherals
                  Inc.



Additions to and deletions from an S&P equity index do not in any way reflect an
opinion on the investment merits of the companiesconcerned.

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DATASOURCE: Standard & Poor's



CONTACT:  David Blitzer, Managing Director, Quantitative Services of

Standard & Poor's, [phone]



Web site:  http://www.standardandpoors.com/

http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/ 

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