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March 5, 2016

Dear UTMD Shareholder:

You are cordially invited to attend the 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Utah Medical Products, Inc. (UTMD).  The meeting will be held promptly at 12:00 noon (local time), on Friday, April 29, 2016 at the corporate offices of UTMD, 7043 South 300 West, Midvale, Utah USA.  Please use the North Entrance.

Please note that attendance at the Annual Meeting will be limited to shareholders as of the record date (or their authorized representatives) and guests of the Company.  Proof of ownership can be a copy of the enclosed proxy card.  You may wish to refer to page one of this Proxy Statement for information about voting your proxy, including voting at the Annual Meeting.

At the Annual Meeting, we seek the approval of UTMD shareholders in electing one director and ratifying the selection of an independent accounting firm.  In an advisory vote, we are also asking UTMD shareholders to approve our executive compensation program.  If you think you will be unable to attend the meeting, please complete your proxy and return it as soon as possible.  If you decide later to attend the meeting, you may revoke the proxy and vote in person.

You have several options for obtaining UTMD's public announcements and other disclosures including financial information, such as SEC Forms 10-K and 10-Q.  You can be added to the Company email or regular mail lists by contacting Paul Richins with your email or mailing address, by sending an instruction letter to the corporate address, by calling (801-569-4200) with instructions, or by e-mailing your contact information to info@utahmed.com.  As an alternative, you can view and print Company financial and other information directly from UTMD's website; http://www.utahmed.com.

Thank you for your ownership in UTMD!

Sincerely

Kevin L. Cornwell

Chairman & CEO

UTAH MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.

7043 South 300 West

Midvale, Utah  84047

(801) 566-1200

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

TO BE HELD APRIL 29, 2016

TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF UTAH MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.

The Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Annual Meeting") of UTAH MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC. (the "Company" or "UTMD"), will be held at the corporate offices of the Company, 7043 South 300 West, Midvale, Utah, on April 29, 2016, at 12:00 noon local time, for the following purposes:

UTMD's Board of Directors recommends a vote "FOR" the nominated director, whose background is described in the accompanying Proxy Statement, and "FOR" the other proposals.

Only shareholders of record at the close of business on February 25, 2016 (the "Record Date"), are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting.

This Proxy Statement and form of proxy are being first furnished to shareholders of the Company on approximately March 28, 2016.

THE ATTENDANCE AT AND/OR VOTE OF EACH SHAREHOLDER AT THE ANNUAL MEETING IS IMPORTANT, AND EACH SHAREHOLDER IS ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND.

 

Salt Lake City, Utah

Dated: March 5, 2016

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PLEASE PROMPTLY FILL IN, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY, WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING.

If your shares are held in the name of a third party brokerage firm, nominee, or other institution, only that third party can vote your shares.  In that case, please promptly contact the third party responsible for your account and give instructions how your shares should be voted.

UTAH MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC.

PROXY STATEMENT

This Proxy Statement is furnished to shareholders of UTAH MEDICAL PRODUCTS, INC. (the "Company" or "UTMD") in connection with the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Annual Meeting") to be held at the corporate offices of the Company, 7043 South 300 West, Midvale, Utah, on April 29, 2016 at 12:00 noon local time, and any postponement or adjournment(s) thereof.  The enclosed proxy, when properly executed and returned in a timely manner, will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the directions set forth thereon.  If the enclosed proxy is signed and timely returned without specific instructions, it will be voted at the Annual Meeting:

 

The Board of Directors has approved the foregoing proposals and recommends that the shareholders vote in favor of each of the proposals.  Proxies solicited by the Company will be voted FOR each of the proposals unless a vote against, or an abstention from, one or more of the proposals is specifically indicated on the proxy.

A proxy for the Annual Meeting is enclosed.  It is important that each shareholder complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy promptly, whether or not she/he plans to attend the Annual Meeting.  Any shareholder who executes and delivers a proxy has the right to revoke it at any time prior to its exercise by providing the Secretary of the Company with an instrument revoking the proxy or by providing the Secretary of the Company with a duly executed proxy bearing a later date.  In addition, a shareholder may revoke her/his proxy by attending the Annual Meeting and electing to vote in person.

Proxies are being solicited by the Company.  All costs and expenses incurred in connection with the solicitation will be paid by the Company.  Proxies are being solicited by mail, but in certain circumstances, officers and directors of the Company may make further solicitation in person, by telephone, facsimile transmission, telegraph or overnight courier.

Only holders of the 3,752,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock") issued and outstanding as of the close of business on February 25, 2016 (the "Record Date"), will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.  Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote.  Holders of at least a majority of the 3,752,000 shares of Common Stock outstanding on the Record Date must be represented at the Annual Meeting to constitute a quorum for conducting business.

All properly executed and returned proxies, as well as shares represented in person at the meeting, will be counted for purposes of determining if a quorum is present, whether or not the proxies are instructed to abstain from voting or consist of broker non-votes.  Under the Utah Revised Business Corporation Act, matters other than the election of directors and certain specified extraordinary matters are approved if the number of votes cast FOR exceed the number of votes cast AGAINST.  Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast.  Abstentions and broker non-votes are not counted for purposes of determining whether a matter has been approved or a director has been elected.

Executive officers and directors holding an aggregate of 358,316 shares, or approximately 10%, of the issued and outstanding stock have indicated their intent to vote in favor of all proposals.

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PROPOSAL NO. 1.  ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

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General

The Company's Articles of Incorporation provide that the Board of Directors is divided into three classes as nearly equal in size as possible, with the term of each director being three years and until such director's successor is elected and qualified.  One class of the Board of Directors shall be elected each year at the annual meeting of the shareholders of the Company.  The Board of Directors has nominated Dr. Barbara A. Payne for election as a director, for a three-year term expiring at the 2019 Annual Meeting.

It is intended that votes will be cast, pursuant to authority granted by the enclosed proxy, for the election of the nominee named above as a director of the Company, except as otherwise specified in the proxy.  In the event a nominee shall be unable to serve, votes will be cast, pursuant to authority granted by the enclosed proxy, for such other person as may be designated by the Board of Directors. The officers of the Company are elected to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.  The information concerning the nominees and other directors and their security holdings has been furnished by them to the Company.  (See "PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS" below.)

Directors and Nominees

The Board of Directors' nominee for election as a director of the Company at the Annual Meeting is Dr. Barbara A. Payne.  Other members of the Board of Directors were elected at the Company's 2014 and 2015 meetings for terms of three years, and therefore, are not standing for election at the Annual Meeting.  The terms of Mr. Hoyer and Dr. Beeson expire at the 2017 Annual Meeting and the terms of Mr. Cornwell and Mr. Richins expire at the 2018 Annual Meeting.  The Board of Directors has determined that Dr. Payne, Mr. Hoyer and Dr. Beeson are independent directors within the meaning of NASD Rule 5600(a)(2).  None of the directors has served on the board of another public company during the past five years. None of the directors has been a party in a legal proceeding during the past ten years related to securities, financial institutions, fraud in connection with any business entity or agency or organization, as defined in the Exchange Act, that has disciplinary authority over its members.  Background information appears below with respect to the incumbent directors whose terms have not expired, as well as the director standing for reelection to the Board.

 

 

 

 

Code of Ethics

The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics specifically for its Board of Directors.  The Company also has a Code of Conduct that applies to all of its employees, including its named executive officers, principal financial officer, and Board of Directors.  The Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct are available on the Company's website, www.utahmed.com.

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AND CERTAIN PERSONS

 

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The following table furnishes information concerning the ownership of the Company's Common Stock as of February 25, 2016, by the directors, the nominee for director, the executive officers named in the compensation tables on page 5, all directors and executive officers as a group, and those known by the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of the Company's outstanding Common Stock as of December 31, 2015.

 

Name		Nature of Ownership		Number of Shares  Owned				Percent
Principal Shareholders
FMR Corp		Direct			456,485				12.2	%
82 Devonshire Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.		Direct			303,300				8.1	%
100 East Pratt Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202-1009
Nine Ten Partners, LP		Direct			271,139				7.2	%
12600 Hill Country Blvd, Suite R-230
Austin, Texas 78738
American Century Investment Management, Inc.		Direct			253,808				6.8	%
430 West 7th Street
Kansas City, Missouri 64105

 

                                        ___________________________________________________

In the previous table, shares owned directly by directors and executive officers are owned beneficially and of record, and such record shareholder has sole voting, investment and dispositive power.  Calculations of percentage of shares outstanding assumes the exercise of options to which the percentage relates.  Percentages calculated for totals assume the exercise of options comprising such totals.

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires the Company's directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of the Company's equity securities, to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of equity securities of the Company.  Officers, directors and greater than 10% shareholders are required to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

To the Company's knowledge, based solely on review of the copies of such reports furnished to the Company, all Section 16(a) requirements applicable to persons who were officers, directors and greater than 10% shareholders during the preceding fiscal year were complied with.

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EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION

 

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The following table sets forth, for the last three fiscal years, compensation received by the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer.  There are no other named executive officers.

2015 Summary Compensation Table

Narrative disclosure to the Summary Compensation Table:

 

 

2015 Grants of Equity Incentive Plan-Based Awards

No stock option awards were made in 2015 to any of the named executive officers listed in the Summary Compensation Table, or are currently planned for 2016. The Company's only equity incentive plan is its 2013 Employees' and Directors' Incentive Plan, under which no option awards were issued in 2015.

2015 Grants of Non-Equity Incentive Plan-Based Awards

Named Executive Officers participated in the Profit-Sharing Sales & Management Bonus Plan (MB Plan), generally available to all exempt, as well as key nonexempt, employees.  The structure of the performance-based MB Plan is described in the following Compensation Discussion and Analysis.  The 2015 awards under the MB Plan to the named executive officers were recommended by the Compensation and Benefits Committee in early 2016, after the independent audit of financial results had been concluded.  The awards were subsequently approved by the Board of Directors. The structure of the MB Plan remains the same for 2016.

Additional disclosure regarding executive and employee compensation

The Compensation and Benefits Committee establishes the criteria, and directs the implementation, of all compensation program elements for the CEO.  The CEO's base salary is set early in each calendar year by the Board of Directors after review of the recommendation of the Compensation and Benefits Committee.  Mr. Cornwell's base salary in 2016 will be $156,000, down from $234,000 in 2015 and 2014. The annual MB paid to Mr. Cornwell in early 2016 for 2015 performance represented 53% of his total 2015 compensation.  Mr. Cornwell's 2015 MB was 1% lower than in 2014. In 2015, the Company's consolidated EBT prior to accrual of the annual MB was down 1%.  EPS were up 1% (not including a 2015 tax provision reduction resulting from a deferred tax liability adjustment that increased 2015 EPS). Consistent with prior years, Mr. Cornwell's MB was tied closely to UTMD profits and EPS.

For all other employees, in collaboration with the other executive officer(s), the CEO develops compensation policies, plans and programs that are intended to meet the objectives of the Company's overall compensation program. The Compensation and Benefits Committee annually reviews and approves the elements of the compensation program recommended by the CEO. In addition, the committee periodically reviews any proposed changes within a calendar year.  The compensation of employees other than the CEO, including other named executive officer(s), is administered by the CEO under the review and ratification of the Compensation and Benefits Committee comprised of all the independent directors. One hundred sixty-seven UTMD employees, including employees of its subsidiaries, received bonuses for 2015 performance.

Mr. Richins' base salary at the beginning of 2016 was $115,400, which is subject to review and adjustment during the year on the same basis as the Company's performance review criteria for its exempt employees.  Mr. Richins' MB, which was about 14% of his total compensation in 2015, increased 3.4% compared to 2014, consistent with other exempt employees' MB (excluding the CEO).

Employment Agreements, Termination of Employment, and Change in Control.

Except for Mr. Cornwell, the Company has no employment agreements in the United States.  In Ireland, UTMD is subject to providing certain statutory advance notice and severance benefits to its employees in the event of redundancy termination.  In the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia (AUS), Femcare has employment agreements with each of its employees that typically include a three month termination notice or pay in lieu of notice.

In May 1998, the Company entered into an agreement with the CEO to provide a long term incentive to increase shareholder value.  The Company is required to pay Mr. Cornwell additional compensation in the event his employment is terminated as a result of a change in control at the election of the Company or by the mutual agreement of Mr. Cornwell and the Company.  Under the agreement, the additional compensation that the Company is required to pay Mr. Cornwell is equal to his last three years' salary and bonuses, and the appreciation of stock value for awarded options above the option exercise price. Mr. Cornwell currently has no outstanding option shares. Based on actual salary plus bonuses for the three years of 2013-2015, the additional compensation would be $1,505,250.

In the event of a change in control, the Company will also pay Mr. Cornwell incentive compensation under the agreement equal to about 2% of the value paid by an acquiring company that exceeds $14.00 per share.  For example, at the $58.54 per share closing price at the end of 2015, the amount of incentive compensation in the event of an acquisition of UTMD would be $3,340,500.  At the time of the execution of the agreement, the value per UTMD share was $7.75.

Except for notice, or payment in lieu thereof, provisions in UK employee contracts, UTMD's CEO is the only employee with a formal termination benefit agreement, which was last modified in 1998.  Unless acquired by UTMD as part of the acquisition of another company in a stock purchase transaction, the Board of Directors does not anticipate the need for any other agreements for the indefinite future.  In the absence of any practical requirement, UTMD has no general policies regarding termination benefits.

The Company is also required to pay all other optionees under employee and outside director's option plans, the appreciation of stock value for awarded options above the option exercise price ("in the money") in the event of a change of control of the Company.  The number of options outstanding as of December 31, 2015, including those held by outside directors, was 62,058 at an average exercise price of $38.69/ share.  At the year-end 2015 per share closing price of $58.54, the amount of change of control pay due all optionees would be $1,231,900.

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2015 Fiscal Year End

 

 

The Company has no outstanding Stock Awards.

2015 Option Exercises and Stock Vested

No stock option exercises were made in 2015 by any of the named executive officers listed in the Summary Compensation Table.  The Company has made no Stock Awards.

2015 Pension Benefits

The Company does not provide a defined benefit pension plan to any employee.

2015 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

The Company does not provide nonqualified deferred compensation to any employee.

2015 Director Compensation

 

Narrative disclosure to the Director Compensation Table:

 

At the 2003 Annual Meeting, shareholders approved the 2003 Employees' and Directors' Incentive Plan, under which up to 1.2 million shares could have been granted over the ten-year life of the plan. The Board of Directors did not approve an award of outside director options in the three preceding years 2000-2002, or in the ensuing years of 2004-2015, except for a 10,000 share award to Dr. Beeson upon joining the board in 2007 and an ensuing 10,000 share award to Dr. Beeson in 2008.  The 2003 Plan expired in February 2013.

At the 2013 Annual Meeting, shareholders approved the 2013 Employees' and Directors' Incentive Plan, under which up to 600,000 shares may be granted over the ten-year life of the plan.

At December 31, 2015, 3,050 total unexercised outside director options were outstanding, each with a $31.33 exercise price.  The Company is required to pay outside director optionees the appreciation of stock value for issued options above the option exercise price in the event of a change of control of the Company.  At the $58.54 per share closing price at the end of 2015, the amount of change in control pay due outside directors would be $83,000.

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DISCLOSURE RESPECTING THE COMPANY'S EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS

 

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The following table summarizes, as of the end of the most recent fiscal year, compensation plans, including individual compensation arrangements, under which equity securities of the Company are authorized for issuance, aggregated for all compensation plans previously approved by shareholders and for all plans not previously approved by shareholders:

Additional disclosure regarding dilution from equity awards:

In 2003 and 2013, shareholders approved incentive stock option plans for employees and directors summarized in the table above.  The Company currently has no other equity award programs.  The dilutive impact to shareholders of stock option awards is provided in the tables below:

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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

 

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General

Under the supervision of the Compensation and Benefits Committee, the Company has developed and implemented compensation policies, plans and programs that seek to enhance the long-term profitability, EPS growth and return on shareholders' equity (ROE) of the Company, and thus shareholder value, by aligning closely the financial interests of the Company's senior management and other key employees with those of its shareholders.  The long term key financial performance objectives are a 20% annually compounded rate of increase in EPS and an average ROE prior to payment of cash dividends greater than 25%.  The Company has actually achieved a 16% annually compounded rate of increase in EPS and an average of 28% ROE (prior to payment of shareholder dividends) over the twenty-nine years since 1986, its first year of profitability since becoming a publicly-traded company.

At the beginning of each year, the Board of Directors approves an operating plan which sets the standards for the Company's financial and nonfinancial performance.  The performance each year may vary according to global economic conditions, competitive environment, life cycle of products, new product development and other factors.  The Compensation and Benefits Committee then approves compensation criteria set in relation to the Company's annual operating plan which includes numerous income statement, balance sheet and cash flow measures, in addition to nonfinancial objectives established for each employee participating in the annual MB program.

The Company applies a consistent philosophy to compensation for all employees, including senior management.  The philosophy is based on the premise that the achievements of the Company result from the coordinated efforts of all individual employees working toward common objectives.  The Company strives to achieve those objectives through teamwork that is focused on meeting the needs and expectations of customers and shareholders.

The Company believes that its compensation policies, in particular its profit-sharing management bonus program and employee stock option awards, align key employee compensation with shareholder interest in creating longer term shareholder value and consistent profitability.  There are no compensation programs or policies that create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

There are seven basic objectives for the Company's compensation program:

The Company uses essentially five vehicles in its compensation program.

UTMD's management personnel, beginning with the first level of supervision and professional management, and including certain non-management specialists and technical people, together with all direct sales representatives, are eligible as participants in the MB Plan.  At the beginning of the year, plan participants were generally awarded participation units in the bonus plan, proportional to base salary and responsibility, based on senior management's determination of the relative contribution expected from each person toward attaining Company goals.  Each individual's performance objectives, derived as the applicable contribution needed from that key employee to achieve the Company's overall business plan for the year, are available for review as needed by the Committee.  As part of the planning process, each eligible employee develops a set of measurable and dated objectives for the ensuing year.  Achieving the Company's plan sets an expected value per bonus unit.  After the end of the year, each individual participant's contribution to the Company's performance is assessed by senior management in order to determine an additional allocation of units for individual contributions, with the accomplishment of the beginning of year objectives as a key component.  In 2015, 167 employees, including employees of UTMD's subsidiaries, were included in the distribution of a $565,000 annual MB Plan payout, not including payroll taxes.  The MB Plan also funded $1,034 in extraordinary bonuses paid contemporaneously to non-executive employees during the year, $14,500 in non-exempt employee attendance bonuses, and $6,500 in holiday chits to employees.

The Company makes occasional cash awards, in amounts determined on an individual basis, to employees who make extraordinary contributions to the performance of the Company at any time during the year.  These contemporaneous payments are made as frequently as possible to recognize excellent accomplishments when they occur.  The awards are funded from the accrued MB plan described above, and therefore do not otherwise impact the Company's financial performance. Senior management is not eligible for these awards.

At the 2003 Annual Meeting, shareholders approved the 2003 Employees' and Directors' Incentive Plan, under which up to 1.2 million shares could have been granted over the ten-year life of the plan.  During the same period of time that 153,000 (uncancelled) option shares were granted to employees under the 2003 Plan, UTMD repurchased 1.4 million of its shares in the open market.  As of December 31, 2015, 30,200 unexercised option shares remained outstanding under the 2003 Plan.

At the 2013 Annual Meeting, shareholders approved the 2013 Employees' and Directors' Incentive Plan, under which up to 600,000 shares may be granted over the ten-year life of the plan.  As of December 31, 2015, 31,900 unexercised option shares were outstanding under the 2013 Plan

After the conclusion of the annual independent audit and public announcement of financial results, the Board of Directors typically allocates an annual amount of shares for employee options each year at its regularly scheduled Board meeting following the audited close of the prior year's financial performance.  Option shares may be awarded on this same date at the closing price on the date of the meeting.  Some number of allocated shares are usually reserved for awards later in the year to employees, including new or key employees with increased responsibilities. The Compensation and Benefits Committee approves all awards, and the closing price on the date of the approval is the exercise price of the option shares.  According to policy, awards are not made in advance of material news events, or when material non-public information is known.

In May 2014, option awards were granted to 70 U.S., Ireland, UK and Australia employees to purchase a total of 39,000 shares at exercise prices of $49.18 or $50.72.  6,400 of those shares have been cancelled as of February 2016.  No option awards were made in 2015.

Employee and director options vest over a four-year period, with a ten-year exercise period. Management expects to recommend additional options be awarded on an annual basis to the Company's key employees based on its belief that sharing ownership of the Company with those who help create its success is the best way to assure growth in shareholder value.

Structure for Executive Officer Compensation

The structure and activities of the Compensation and Benefits Committee meet the requirements of  SEC Rule 10C-1, as mandated by Section 952 of the Dodd-Frank Act.  In regard to Item 407 of Regulation S-K, in 2015 and to-date in 2016, the company has not retained or obtained the advice of a compensation advisor.

Utilizing the compensation objectives and vehicles outlined previously, the Compensation and Benefits Committee, comprised of all three outside directors, establishes the annual base salary for the CEO.  All other employees' salaries are set by the CEO, and reviewed by the Committee for consistency with the Company's compensation objectives.  The Committee periodically uses surveys of similar companies selected from among the companies with which UTMD's stock is compared in the Stock Performance Chart, based on variations in industry type, geographic location, size, and profitability as the Committee deems appropriate.  Base salary is fixed at a level somewhat below the competitive amounts paid to executive officers with comparable qualifications, experience and responsibilities at other similarly sized companies engaged in the same or similar businesses.  The annual bonus and long-term incentive compensation in the form of stock options were more highly leveraged and tied closely to the Company's success in achieving significant financial and non-financial goals.

The annual bonuses for the named executive officers are awarded using the same basis as all employees included in the annual profit-sharing MB Plan, except a bonus inflating factor related to stock option awards is not included for the CEO. The goals for executive officers include financial and non-financial goals.  Financial goals include net sales, gross profit margin, operating margin, after-tax profits, return on equity and earnings per share.  Non-financial goals include continuing the development of a talented and motivated team of employees, conceiving and implementing programs to maintain competitive advantages and to achieve consistent earnings per share growth, reacting to competitive challenges, developing business initiatives to further support critical mass in a consolidating marketplace, promoting the Company's participation in socially responsible programs, protecting intellectual property, maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements, achieving a high regard for the integrity of the Company and its management, and minimizing issues that represent significant business risk factors such as overly burdensome administrative programs and product liability exposure.  In 2015, UTMD exceeded its profitability objectives in a difficult economic period of time for all participants in the medical device industry.  Based on the Company's slightly lower pretax/prebonus profit, annual management bonuses were 1% lower, offset by a 5% higher bonus inflating factor as a result of no options awarded in 2015 compared to 2014, for the same level of responsibility and contribution of employees regularly participating in the MB plan.

The Committee intends that stock options serve as an important component of executive officers' total compensation in order to retain critical efforts on behalf of the Company and to focus efforts on enhancing shareholder value.  The Committee believes that past option awards have successfully provided this incentive.  An option for 50,000 shares was awarded the CEO in January 2004, at an exercise price of $25.59 per share.  Except for the 2004 award, no CEO options have been awarded during the last seventeen years.

The following chart compares annual changes in total executive compensation with changes in earnings per share, shareholder return (year-end share price plus cash dividends paid during the year) and UTMD year-end market capitalization, starting at December 31, 2010:

Compensation and Benefits Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

The members of the Compensation and Benefits Committee are Ernst G. Hoyer, Barbara A. Payne and James H. Beeson.  No member of the committee is a present or former officer of the Company or any subsidiary.  There are no other interlocks.  No member of the Committee, his or her family, or his or her affiliate was a party to any material transactions with the Company or any subsidiary since the beginning of the last completed fiscal year.  No executive officer of the Company serves as an executive officer, director or member of a compensation committee of any other entity, an executive officer or director of which is a member of the Compensation and Benefits Committee of UTMD.

 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

 

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None.

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OTHER BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

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Director Independence 

UTMD's Board of Directors has determined that a majority of its directors are independent, as that term is defined in NASD Rule 5605(a)(2), which satisfies the independence requirement of NASD Rule 5605(b)(1).  The Board of Directors was not aware of any transactions, relationships or arrangements to be considered in determining that Dr. Payne, Mr. Hoyer and Dr. Beeson were independent under the NASD Rules.

Board Leadership

The roles of CEO and Chairman are held by Mr. Cornwell.  Because of Mr. Cornwell's training and experience in the organization of functions of a Board of Directors, his successful tenure on the board since 1993 and the small size of the Company's board membership, the Board of Directors believes this structure is most appropriate at this time. Mr. Hoyer serves as the lead director of the outside directors because of his tenure as the longest serving outside director and his roles as Chairman of the Audit Committee and outside director representative on the Executive Committee.  As the lead outside director, Mr. Hoyer coordinates independent meetings of the outside directors, and assimilates outside director questions and company management responses.

Risk Oversight

The Board of Directors takes a key role in overseeing the Company's risks.  The board receives frequent timely reports of the Company's financial performance, changes in and composition of balance sheet accounts, quality assurance program effectiveness, product liability risks and status of relationships with all business constituencies including customers, employees, suppliers and government entities.  The board reviews and authorizes all material contracts in which the Company enters, including banking relationships.  The Governance and Nominating Committee receives regular reports on UTMD's compliance with securities laws and communications with the SEC and shareholders.  The Audit Committee has established an independent whistleblower hot line to encourage early and anonymous reporting of accounting irregularities or other violations of UTMD's codes of ethics.  The Board of Directors routinely reviews litigation threats, regulatory compliance, product/market strategies and operational activities of the Company.

Board Committees and Meetings 

The Board of Directors held three formal meetings during 2015, and one meeting to date in 2016.  The independent directors also met informally with the CEO during the year. All of the directors attended all applicable meetings during their respective incumbencies. The independent outside directors also met without executive management three times during 2015, and once to date in 2016.

The Company has Executive, Audit, Governance and Nominating and Compensation and Benefits Committees.  The current members of the Company's committees are identified in the preceding Security Ownership table.  In May 2014, the Board of Directors revised and readopted its standing committee charters. The written committee charters, composition, schedule of meetings and attendance are available for public review at www.utahmed.com/governance.htm.

During 2015 and to-date in 2016, the Executive Committee has held about one informal meeting per month. Any formal actions taken on of behalf of the Board of Directors by the Executive Committee were subsequently presented to the full board for ratification.

The Audit Committee formally met four times during 2015 and once to date in 2016 to review the quarterly financial reports, periodic independent accounting reviews and financial and internal control audits by UTMD's independent audit firms.  The Audit Committee selects the Company's independent accountants, approves the scope of audit and related fees and reviews financial reports, audit results, internal accounting procedures, internal controls and other programs to comply with applicable requirements relating to financial accountability. The Audit Committee Chairman on behalf of the Audit Committee reviewed and selected independent auditors for the UK, Ireland and Australia subsidiaries' financial audits and tax returns.

The Governance and Nominating Committee met formally three times during 2015, and once to date in 2016.  The Governance and Nominating Committee, which is comprised of the independent members of the Board of Directors, takes the lead in developing and implementing policies that are intended to ensure that the Board of Directors will be appropriately constituted and organized to meet its fiduciary obligations to the Company and its shareholders, identify individuals qualified to become members of the Board of Directors, and develop and recommend to the Board of Directors a set of corporate governance principles applicable to the Company.  During its meetings, after receiving the Company's routine compliance reports, the Governance and Nominating Committee reviewed compliance by UTMD and its personnel, including executive officers and directors, with applicable regulatory requirements as well as the Company's own compliance policies, and compared its established policies and procedures for compliance with current applicable laws and regulations, under the guidance of corporate counsel, as needed.

The Governance and Nominating Committee will consider nominees recommended by shareholders.  In accordance with the Company's Bylaws, shareholders' nominations for election as directors must be submitted in writing to the Company at its principal offices not less than 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting at which the election is to be held (or if less than 40 days' notice of the date of the Annual Meeting is given or made to shareholders, not later than the tenth day following the date on which the notice of the Annual Meeting was mailed).

When considering candidates for directors, the Governance and Nominating Committee takes into account a number of factors, including the following:

 

When considering director candidates, the committee looks for diversity in experience, education, knowledge of industry and geography that when taken in the aggregate of all directors provides a robust scope of understanding of the functional and strategic challenges that the Company faces.

The committee will consider candidates for directors suggested by stockholders using the same considerations.  Stockholders wishing to suggest a candidate for director should write to Governance and Nominating Committee, Utah Medical Products, Inc., 7043 South 300 West, Midvale, UT 84047 and include:

 

Before nominating a sitting director for reelection at an annual meeting, the committee will consider:

 

When seeking candidates for director, the committee may solicit suggestions from incumbent directors, management or others.  After conducting an initial evaluation of the candidates, the committee will interview that candidate if it believes the candidate might be suitable for a position on the Board of Directors.  The committee may also ask the candidate to meet with management.  If the committee believes the candidate would be a valuable addition to the Board of Directors, it will recommend to the full Board of Directors that candidate's nomination.

The Compensation and Benefits Committee, comprised of all incumbent outside directors, consulted by telephone and met formally in early 2015 and again in early 2016 to review management performance relative to objectives, recommend compensation and develop compensation strategies and alternatives throughout the Company, including those discussed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this Proxy Statement.  The deliberations culminated in recommendations ratified at the February 2015 and February 2016 Board of Directors meetings.  None of the members of the Compensation and Benefits Committee or executive management has engaged a compensation consultant within the past five years.

The policy of the Company is that each member of the Board of Directors is encouraged, but not required, to attend the Annual Meeting.  All five directors attended the 2015 Annual Meeting.

Stockholder Communications with Directors

UTMD stockholders who wish to communicate with the Board, any of its committees, or with any individual director may write to the Company at 7043 South 300 West, Midvale, UT 84047.  Such letter should confirm that it is from a UTMD stockholder.  Depending upon the subject matter, management will:

 

At each Board of Directors' meeting, a member of management presents a summary of communications received since the last meeting that were not forwarded to the directors, and makes those communications available to the directors on request.

 

The Compensation and Benefits Committee has reviewed and discussed the CD&A with UTMD management.  Based on that review, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the CD&A be included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K and this Proxy Statement.  In August 2008, the Board of Directors adopted an updated Compensation and Benefits Committee charter.  In May 2014, the Board of Directors revised and readopted the August 2008 charter, which is available at www.utahmed.com.

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is composed of all outside directors, all of whom are independent as defined in Nasdaq Stock Market Rule 5605(a)(2) and under Rule 10A-3(b)(1) adopted pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  The members of the Audit Committee are James H. Beeson, Ernst G. Hoyer and Barbara A. Payne.  In August 2008, the Board of Directors adopted an updated Audit Committee charter.  In May 2014, the Board of Directors revised and readopted the August 2008 charter, which is available at www.utahmed.com.  Ernst G. Hoyer is the Board of Directors' designated Audit Committee Financial Expert consistent with The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

The Audit Committee oversees the financial reporting and internal controls processes for UTMD on behalf of the Board of Directors.  In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee reviewed the quarterly and annual financial statements included in the Annual Report to Shareholders and reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Audit Committee formally met four times during 2015 and once to date in 2016 to review the quarterly financial reports and reviews and audits by Jones Simkins LLC, UTMD's independent lead auditor.  The Committee also met informally as needed during the year.  In accordance with Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, discussions were held with management and the independent auditors as needed regarding the acceptability and the quality of the accounting principles used in the reports.  These discussions included the clarity of the disclosures made therein, the underlying estimates and assumptions used in the financial reporting, and the reasonableness of the significant judgments and management decisions made in developing the financial statements.  In addition, the Audit Committee has discussed with the independent auditors their independence from the Company and its management, including the matters in the written disclosures required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 and The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

The Audit Committee has also met with Company management and its independent auditors and discussed issues related to the overall scope and objectives of the audits conducted, the internal controls used by the Company, the openness and honesty of management, auditor verification of information provided by management, quality control procedures used by auditors in performing the independent audit, and any possible conflicts of interest.  The Committee elicited recommendations for improving UTMD's internal control procedures.  The independent auditors completed a formal review of the scope and effectiveness of the Company's internal control procedures, and made a couple of informal suggestions.

Pursuant to the reviews and discussions described above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

 

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STOCK PERFORMANCE CHART

 

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The following chart compares what an investor's five-year cumulative total return (assuming reinvestment of dividends) would have been assuming initial $100 investments on December 31, 2010, for the Company's Common Stock and the two indicated indices.  The Company's Common Stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Market.

Cumulative shareholder return data respecting the Nasdaq Composite Total Return are included as the comparable broad market index.  The peer group index, ICB: 4537 Medical Supplies, is comprised of Nasdaq Stocks in the Medical Supplies subsector of medical device industry stocks traded on Nasdaq, of which UTMD belongs.

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PROPOSAL NO 2. RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

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The Audit Committee selected, and the Board of Directors ratified, the engagement of Jones Simkins LLC as the Company's auditor and independent registered public accounting firm for the two years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.  The Audit Committee has determined to appoint Jones Simkins LLC as the Company's auditor and independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2016, contingent on acceptable terms of engagement including schedule and fee agreement.

If the selection of the independent registered public accounting firm is not ratified by shareholders, the Audit Committee will reconsider its selection.  Even if the selection is ratified by shareholders, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may determine to appoint a different independent registered public accounting firm if the Audit Committee believes that it would be in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders.

Representatives of Jones Simkins LLC will be present at the Annual Meeting, have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and be available to respond to shareholder questions.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF JONES SIMKINS LLC AS ITS INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR 2016.

Fees billed by Jones Simkins LLC

The following table shows the aggregate fees billed for the audits of the Company's consolidated financial statements and for other services rendered by Jones Simkins LLC for the years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

Audit Fees.  Fees for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company's annual financial statements, reviews of the financials included in UTMD's quarterly reports on Form 10‑Q and related regulatory reviews, and audit of its internal controls in accordance with the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.

Audit-Related Fees. Fees for due diligence in connection with acquisitions and related accounting consultations, compliance with financing arrangements and attest services that were not required by statute or regulation.

Tax Fees.  Fees for tax filing, preparation and tax and IRS audit advisory services.

All Other Fees.  Fees for any other services not included in audit fees, audit-related fees and tax fees.

Audit Committee Policy and Approval

The engagements of UTMD auditors to perform all of the above-described services were made by the Audit Committee. This includes independent auditor firms other than Jones Simkins LLC that were required for financial audits of Femcare and its subsidiaries, year-end and statutory fiscal year 2015 financial and internal control audits of Femcare and its subsidiaries, the completion of tax returns for Femcare and its subsidiaries, and statutory audits of the Company's employee benefits plans. The policy of the Audit Committee is to require that all services performed by independent auditors be pre-approved by the Audit Committee before services are performed.

Auditor Independence

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PROPOSAL NO 3. ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

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As described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, UTMD seeks to develop and implement its executive compensation program to enhance the long-term financial value of the Company by closely aligning the financial interests of the Company's senior management and other key employees with those of its shareholders.

The Board of Directors values and encourages constructive dialogue on compensation and other important governance topics with shareholders, to whom it is ultimately accountable.  The Board of Directors has determined to provide shareholders with an advisory vote on executive compensation every year, which it believes will enhance shareholder communication by providing another avenue to obtain information on shareholder views about the Company's executive compensation program.

Although the vote is non-binding, the Board of Directors and Compensation and Benefits Committee will review the voting results and consider constructive feedback obtained through this process in making future decisions about executive compensation.

Accordingly, the Board of Directors proposes that shareholders approve the following advisory resolution:

RESOLVED, that the UTMD shareholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation paid to UTMD's named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and narrative discussion.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THIS PROPOSAL

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IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE SHAREHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON APRIL 29, 2016

 

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This proxy statement and the annual report to shareholders are available at www.utahmed.com/proxy.htm.

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SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

 

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No proposals have been submitted by shareholders of the Company for consideration at the 2016 Annual Meeting.  It is anticipated that the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held during May 2017.  In accordance with SEC Rule 14a-8 and the advance notice requirements of Section 2.15 of UTMD's Bylaws, shareholders may present proposals for inclusion in the Proxy Statement to be mailed in connection with the 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company, provided such proposals are received by the Company no later than December 1, 2016, and are otherwise in compliance with applicable laws and regulations and the governing provisions of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company.

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MISCELLANEOUS

 

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Other Business

There is no business other than that referred to in the Notice that may be considered at the Annual Meeting.

In order to assure the presence of the necessary quorum and to vote on the matters to come before the Annual Meeting, please indicate your choices on the enclosed proxy and date, sign, and return it promptly in the envelope provided.  Whether or not you sign a proxy, we encourage you to attend the meeting.

Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of Utah Medical Products, Inc.

(This Proxy is Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors)

Dated _________________________	No. of Shares ________________________________
Signature_______________________	Signature (if held jointly) _______________________
Print Name______________________	Print Name __________________________________