Table of Contents

 

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 21, 2018September 24, 2019

 

Registration No. 333-222433333-__________

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO


FORM S-3

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

BioLife Solutions, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware

94-3076866

(State or other jurisdiction of

(I.R.S. Employer

incorporation or organization)

Identification Number)

 

3303 Monte Villa Parkway

Bothell, Washington 98021

(425) 402-1400

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

    

Michael Rice

President and Chief Executive Officer

3303 Monte Villa Parkway, Suite 310

Bothell, Washington 98021

 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

Please send a copy of all communications to:

Barry I. Grossman, Esq.

Sarah Williams, Esq.

Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP

1345 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10105-0302

(212) 370-1300

 

Approximate date of commencement proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement. 

 

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.¨

 

1

Table of Contents

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  x

 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.¨

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.¨

 

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.¨

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.:

 

Large accelerated filer¨

Accelerated filer¨

Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if smaller reporting company)¨Smaller reporting companyx

  

Non-accelerated filer ☐

Smaller reporting company ☒  

Emerging growth company¨

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ¨

 



 

2

Table of Contents

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

  

Title of Each Class
of Securities
to be Registered


Amount to be

Registered

Proposed
Maximum Aggregate
Offering Price
per Security

Proposed
Maximum Aggregate
Offering Price

Amount of
Registration Fee

Registrant Primary Offering

Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (1)(2)(3)

Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (1)(2)(3)

Purchase Contracts (1)(2)(3)(5)

Warrants to Purchase common stock, Preferred Stock or other Securities (1)(2)(3)(6)

Subscription Rights to Purchase common stock or Preferred Stock (1)(2)(3)

Depositary Shares (1)(2)(3)

Debt Securities (which may be senior or subordinated, convertible or non-convertible, secured or unsecured) (1)(2)(3)

Units (1)(2)(3)(7)

Total Primary Offering (1)(2)(3)(4)

---

$75,000,000

$9,090

Registrant Secondary Offering

Shares of common stock (8)(9)

3,854,092

$20.73

$79,895,327.16

$9,683.31

Total Registration Fee

   

$18,773.31

Title

1)

Securities registered hereunder in the Registrant’s primary offering may be sold separately, together or as units with other securities registered hereunder.

2)

With regard to the Registrant’s primary offering, the amount of Each Class
of Securities
each security to be Registeredregistered is not specified as to each class of securities to be registered pursuant to Form S-3 General Instruction II.D.

 Amount

3)

The Registrant is registering in the Registrant’s primary offering an indeterminate aggregate principal amount and number of securities of each identified class of securities up to a proposed aggregate offering price of $75,000,000, which may be
Registered (1)

Proposed
Maximum Aggregate
Offering Price
per Security (2)
Proposed
Maximum Aggregate
Offering Price (2)
Amount offered from time to time in unspecified numbers and at indeterminate prices, and as may be issuable upon conversion, redemption, repurchase, exchange, or exercise of
Registration Fee (2)
Shares any securities registered hereunder, including under any applicable anti-dilution provisions. In addition, pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the shares being registered hereunder include such indeterminate number of shares of common stock acquirableand preferred stock as may be issuable with respect to the shares being registered hereunder as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions

4)

With regard to the Registrant’s primary offering, the registration fee is calculated in accordance with Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

5)

Includes purchase contracts issuable upon exerciseconversion or exchange of securities registered hereunder to the extent any such securities are by their terms convertible into or exchangeable for purchase contracts. Each purchase contract obligates the registrant to sell, and the holder thereof to purchase, an indeterminate number of debt securities, shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock or other securities registered hereunder.

6)

Warrants may represent rights to purchase debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or other securities registered hereunder.

7)

Each Unit consists of any combination of two or more of the common stock warrantssecurities being registered hereby.

 

8)

2,817,444

1)This replacement registration statement is filed pursuant

Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) under416 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and includes solely 2,817,444the shares of common stock offered hereby also include such presently indeterminate number of shares of the registrant issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants to purchaseregistrant’s common stock as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.

9)

The proposed maximum offering price has been estimated solely for the registrant. The salepurpose of calculating the shares upon exercise of the warrants was previously registered by the registrant on the expiring registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-194697), declared effective on January 8, 2015 (as amended and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the “Prior Registration Statement”), and were not sold thereunder. Pursuantfee pursuant to Rule 416457(c) under the Securities Act this registration statement also includes an indeterminate numberbased on the average of shares which may be issued by the Company with respect to such shareshigh and low sales price of the common stock by way of a stock dividend, stock split or in connection with a stock combination, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or otherwise.

2)Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) underon the Securities Act and in accordance with Rule 457(p) under the Securities Act, the filing fee of $2,135 paid by the registrant in the Prior Registration Statement in connection with the registration of the 2,817,444 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants that were not sold will continue to be applied to such unsold securities. Accordingly, no registration fee is due. The Prior Registration Statement will be deemed terminated as of the date of effectiveness of this replacement registration statement.Nasdaq Capital Market on September 18, 2019.

 

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

3

Table of Contents

 

Explanatory NoteEXPLANATORY NOTE

This replacement registration statement on Form S-3 is filed pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and includes solely 2,817,444 shares of common stock of BioLife Solutions, Inc. (the “Company”) issuable upon exercise of outstanding common stock warrants of the Company that were previously registered by the Company on the expiring registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-194697), initially filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act on December 24, 2014 and declared effective on January 8, 2015 (as amended and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the “Prior Registration Statement”), and were not sold thereunder. Amendment No. 2 of this replacement registration statement on Form S-3 has been filed to update company disclosures, incorporate the Company’s financial statements from the year ended December 31, 2017 and to update the section entitled “Incorporation of Documents by Reference.”contains two prospectuses:

a base prospectus which covers the offering, issuance and sale by us of up to $75,000,000 of our common stock, preferred stock, purchase contracts, warrants, subscriptions rights, depositary shares, debt securities and/or units; and

a resale prospectus covering the resale by selling stockholders of up to 3,854,092 shares of common stock.

 

The Company is filingbase prospectus immediately follows this replacement registration statement on Form S-3explanatory note. The resale prospectus immediately follows the base prospectus. The cover pages and such additional information contained in accordance with Instruction I.B.4 of Form S-3.

Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(5) under the Securities Act, securities registered onsales agreement prospectus are set forth in the Prior Registration Statement may be offered and sold only if not more than three years have elapsed sincepages following the initial effective date of the Prior Registration Statement. Accordingly, we are filing this registration statement to cover unsold securities covered by the Prior Registration Statement. In addition, under Rule 415(a)(5), the Company may continue to offer and sell the shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants during the grace period permitted by Rule 415(a)(5). In accordance with Rule 415(a)(6), effectiveness of this registration statement will be deemed to terminate the offering of securities on the Prior Registration Statement.base prospectus included herein.

 

4

Table of Contents

 

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We The selling shareholdermay not sell the securities until the Registration Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, of which this prospectus is a part, is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MARCH 21, 2018SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

 

Prospectus

___________________________

 

 $75,000,000

 

COMMON STOCK

PREFERRED STOCK

PURCHASE CONTRACTS

WARRANTS

SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS

DEPOSITARY SHARES

DEBT SECURITIES

UNITS

 

2,817,444 SharesWe may offer and sell from time to time, in one or more series, any one of Common Stockthe following securities of our company, for total gross proceeds of up to $75,000,000:

Issuable Upon Exercise

common stock;

preferred stock;

purchase contracts;

warrants to purchase our securities;

subscription rights to purchase any of the foregoing securities;

depositary shares;

secured or unsecured debt securities consisting of notes, debentures or other evidences of indebtedness which may be senior debt securities, senior subordinated debt securities or subordinated debt securities, each of which may be convertible into equity securities; or

units comprised of, or other combinations of, the foregoing securities.

We may offer and sell these securities separately or together, in one or more series or classes and in amounts, at prices and on terms described in one or more offerings.  We may offer securities through underwriting syndicates managed or co-managed by one or more underwriters or dealers, through agents or directly to purchasers.  The prospectus supplement for each offering of Warrantssecurities will describe in detail the plan of distribution for that offering.  For general information about the distribution of securities offered, please see “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus.  

Each time our securities are offered, we will provide a prospectus supplement containing more specific information about the particular offering and attach it to this prospectus. The prospectus supplements may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus.

 

This prospectus relatesmay not be used to 2,817,444 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants that were offered and sold by us pursuant tooffer or sell securities without a prospectus dated March 20, 2014. The warrants are exercisable until March 25, 2021 at an exercise price of $4.75 per share of our common stock, subject to adjustment upon events specified in the warrants. If allsupplement which includes a description of the warrants are exercised in full at the exercise pricemethod and terms of $4.75 per share, we expect to receive net proceeds to be approximately $13.4 million.this offering.

 

For a more detailed description

5

Table of our common stock, see the section entitled “Description of Securities—Common Stock” beginning on page 13 of this prospectus.  For a more detailed description of our warrants, see the section entitled "Description of Securities—Warrants" beginning on page 13 of this prospectus.  We refer to the aforementioned warrants as the “Warrants.”  We refer to the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants as the “Warrant Shares.”

Contents

 

Our common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “BLFS.” On March 16, 2018,September 20, 2019, our common stock closed at $5.25$20.74 per share. The aggregate market value of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates is approximately $287,310,631 based on 20,344,825 shares of outstanding common stock, of which 13,694,501 shares are held by non-affiliates, and a per share price of $20.98 which was the closing sale price of our common stock as quoted on the NASDAQ Capital Market on September 18, 2019.

 

If we decide to seek a listing of any preferred stock, purchase contracts, warrants, subscriptions rights, depositary shares, debt securities or units offered by this prospectus, the related prospectus supplement will disclose the exchange or market on which the securities will be listed, if any, or where we have made an application for listing, if any.

Investing in our securities involves certain risks. See “Risk Factors”Risk Factors beginning on page 4 12 and the risk factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated by reference herein, as well as in any other recently filed quarterly or current reports.reports and, if any, in the relevant prospectus supplement.  We urge you to carefully read this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, together with the documents we incorporate by reference, describing the terms of these securities before investing.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus.  Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this Prospectus is ___________

TABLE OF CONTENTS_____________, 2019. 

 

6

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

About This Prospectus

1

8

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

2

9

Prospectus Summary

3

10

Risk Factors

4

12

Use of Proceeds

10

13

Dilution11
Description of Securities13

Plan of Distribution

12

14

Indemnification forDescription of Securities Act LiabilitiesWe May Offer

17

15Forms of Securities

28

Experts

30

Legal Matters1630
Experts16

Where You Can Find Additional Information

16

30

Incorporation of Documents byBy Reference

16

30

   

7

Table of Contents

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer and sell, either individually or in combination, in one or more offerings, any of the securities described in this prospectus, for total gross proceeds of up to $75,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement to this prospectus that will contain more specific information about the terms of that offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you may also add, update or change any of the information contained in this prospectus or in the documents that we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

We urge you to read carefully this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, together with the information incorporated herein by reference as described under the heading “Incorporation of Documents by Reference,” before investing in any of the securities being offered. You should rely only on the information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, along with the information contained in this prospectus.any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering. We have not authorized any personanyone to provide you with different or inconsistentadditional information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not makingThis prospectus is an offer to sell or seeking an offeronly the securities offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that thedo so.

The information appearing in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front of the document and the documentsany information we have incorporated by reference is accurate only as of their respective dates. BioLife Solutions, Inc.’s business, financial condition, resultsthe date of operations and prospects may have changed since such dates.the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus, or any sale of a security.

 

We further note thatThis prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the representations, warranties and covenantsdocuments described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by us in any document that isthe actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as an exhibitexhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and in any document that is incorporatedyou may obtain copies of those documents as described below under the section entitled “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”

This prospectus contains, or incorporates by reference, herein were made solely for the benefittrademarks, tradenames, service marks and service names of the parties to such agreement, including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreements, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you. Moreover, such representations, warranties or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made. Accordingly, such representations, warranties and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of our affairs.

Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “BioLife,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” and similar terms used in this prospectus refer to BioLife Solutions, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

 

1
8

Table of Contents

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein may contain forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.  All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein, including statements regarding future events, our future financial performance, business strategy, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. We have attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminology including “anticipates,” “believes,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “should,” or “will” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Although we do not make forward looking statements unless we believe we have a reasonable basis for doing so, we cannot guarantee their accuracy. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including the risks outlined under “Risk Factors” or elsewhere in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein, which may cause our or our industry’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Moreover, we operate in a highly regulated and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to predict all risk factors, nor can we address the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.

 

We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short term and long term business operations, and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in this prospectus, and in particular, the risks discussed below and under the heading “Risk Factors” and those discussed in other documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 20172018 and 20162017 and notes incorporated by reference therein. We undertake no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this prospectus may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statement.

 

You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement, each of which applies only as of the date of this prospectus. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this prospectus to conform our statements to actual results or changed expectations.

 

Any forward-looking statement you read in this prospectus or any document incorporated by reference reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, operating results, growth strategy and liquidity. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements because such statements speak only as to the date when made. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future, except as otherwise required by applicable law. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our reports on Forms 10-Q, 8-K and 10-K filed with the SEC. You should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all risk factors. Consequently, you should not consider any such list to be a complete set of all potential risks or uncertainties.

 

9

Table of Contents

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere in this prospectus.  This summary does not contain all the information that you should consider before investing in our Company.  You should carefully read the entire prospectus, including all documents incorporated by reference herein. In particular, attention should be directed to our “Risk Factors,” “Information With Respect to the Company,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the financial statements and related notes thereto contained herein or otherwise incorporated by reference hereto, before making an investment decision.

Overview

We develop, manufacture and market bioproduction tools for cells and gene therapies. Our products are used in basic and applied research, and commercial manufacturing of biologic based therapies by maintaining the health and function of biologic source material and finished products during manufacturing, distribution, and patient delivery of cells and tissues. Our products are designed to allow biologic manufacturing to be more efficient and effective.

Our proprietary, clinical grade HypoThermosol® FRS and CryoStor® biopreservation media products are marketed to the regenerative medicine, biobanking, and drug discovery markets. Our customers include cell and gene therapy companies, research institutions, hospital-based stem cell transplant centers, cell therapy contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) and contract development manufacturing organizations (CDMOs), pharmaceutical companies, cord blood and adult stem cell banks, hair transplant centers, suppliers of cells to the drug discovery, and toxicology testing and diagnostic markets. All of our biopreservation media products are serum-free and protein-free, fully defined, and are manufactured under current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). We strive to source the highest available grade components.

Our proprietary biopreservation media products are formulated to reduce preservation-induced, delayed-onset cell damage and death. Our platform enabling technology provides our customers significant shelf life extension of biologic source material and final cell products, and also greatly improves post-preservation cell and tissue viability and function. We estimate our products have been incorporated in over 300 regenerative medicine applications, including numerous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell and other cell types.

On April 1, 2019, we closed a transaction for the acquisition of 100% of Astero Bio Corporation ("Astero"), an innovator in the design, development and commercialization of novel automated thawing devices for cell and gene therapies, for an upfront cash payment of $8 million. This transaction is expected to further strengthen BioLife's position as a leading supplier of disruptive, enabling solutions used in the manufacture, storage and distribution of cell and gene therapies. We believe Astero's ThawSTAR product line broadens BioLife's bioproduction tools portfolio and increases the Company's footprint and engagement level in its customers' cell and gene therapy manufacturing workflow. Under the terms of the share purchase agreement, Astero shareholders are eligible to receive up to an additional $4.5 million in cash upon the earlier of the completion of certain product development milestones and April 1, 2020 and up to an additional $8.5 million in cash over the next three years based on attainment of specific revenue targets.

On July 8, 2019, we announced that we exercised our option to acquire the remaining 56% of the outstanding shares of privately held SAVSU Technologies that we do not currently own in exchange for 1.1 million shares of BioLife common stock. The acquisition closed on August 7, 2019

Recent Developments

On September 24, 2019, we announced that we agreed to invest $1.5 million in privately held Sexton Biotechnologies (“Sexton”), a recent spinout of Cook Regentec (“Cook”), in exchange for shares of Series A Preferred Stock representing approximately 18% ownership of Sexton. BioLife’s investment includes a right of first negotiation to acquire Sexton at a future date. The financing is subject to the completion of various closing conditions, including the completion of the contribution of various intellectual property assets from Cook to Sexton.

10

Table of Contents

On September 24, 2019, we announced that we made a $1 million convertible debt investment in iVexSol, a private startup company based in Toronto. iVexSol’s mission is to produce lentiviral vectors – retroviruses that are crucial to the development of cell and gene therapies to fight cancer and various genetic disorders – in far greater quantities and at a significantly lower costs than legacy methods by using iVexSol's clinically proven advanced manufacturing process.

Principal Offices

Our principal executive offices are located at 3303 Monte Villa Parkway, Suite 310, Bothell, Washington 98021 and the telephone number is (425) 402-1400. Information about us is available on our website http://www.biolifesolutions.com. The information contained on our website or that can be accessed through our website does not constitute part of this prospectus and is not incorporated in any manner into this prospectus.

11

Table of Contents

RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk.  Before deciding whether to invest in our securities, you should carefully consider the risk factors we describe in any prospectus supplement and in any related free writing prospectus for a specific offering of securities, as well as those incorporated by reference into this prospectus or such prospectus supplement.  You should also carefully consider other information contained and incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, including our financial statements and the related notes thereto incorporated by reference in this prospectus. The risks and uncertainties described in the applicable prospectus supplement and our other filings with the SEC incorporated by reference herein are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently consider immaterial may also adversely affect us. If any of the described risks occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially harmed. In such case, the value of our securities could decline and you may lose all or part of your investment.

12

Table of Contents

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from these sales for general corporate purposes, which includes, without limitation, investing in or acquiring companies that are synergistic with or complimentary to our technologies, and working capital. The amounts and timing of these expenditures will depend on numerous factors, including the development of our current business initiatives. As previously disclosed, we have entered into agreements with Sexton and iVexSol to invest in their technologies, however no proceeds from an offering under this prospectus is expected to be used for these investments. While we have not entered into any definitive agreements for any other specific investments or acquisitions at this time, we have been negotiating with other companies to discuss potential transactions.

13

Table of Contents

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities from time to time to or through underwriters or dealers, through agents, or directly to one or more purchasers.  A distribution of the securities offered by this prospectus may also be effected through the issuance of derivative securities, including without limitation, warrants, rights to purchase and subscriptions.  In addition, the manner in which we may sell some or all of the securities covered by this prospectus includes, without limitation, through:

 2

a block trade in which a broker-dealer will attempt to sell as agent, but may position or resell a portion of the block, as principal, in order to facilitate the transaction;

purchases by a broker-dealer, as principal, and resale by the broker-dealer for its account; or

ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker solicits purchasers.

A prospectus supplement or supplements with respect to each series of securities will describe the terms of the offering, including, to the extent applicable:

the terms of the offering;

the name or names of the underwriters or agents and the amounts of securities underwritten or purchased by each of them, if any;

the public offering price or purchase price of the securities or other consideration therefor, and the proceeds to be received by us from the sale;

any delayed delivery requirements;

any over-allotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us;

any underwriting discounts or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation

any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers; and

any securities exchange or market on which the securities may be listed.

The offer and sale of the securities described in this prospectus by us, the underwriters or the third parties described above may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions, including privately negotiated transactions, either:

at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;

in an “at the market” offering within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act;

at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or

at negotiated prices.

Only underwriters named in the prospectus supplement will be underwriters of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement.

Underwriters and Agents; Direct Sales

If underwriters are used in a sale, they will acquire the offered securities for their own account and may resell the offered securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale.  We may offer the securities to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate.

Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable underwriting agreement.  Subject to certain conditions, the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement, other than securities covered by any over-allotment option. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may change from time to time. We may use underwriters with whom we have a material relationship. We will describe in the prospectus supplement, naming the underwriter, the nature of any such relationship.

14

Table of Contents

We may sell securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of securities, and we will describe any commissions we will pay the agent in the prospectus supplement. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, our agent will act on a best-efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

We may authorize agents or underwriters to solicit offers by certain types of institutional investors to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future.  We will describe the conditions to these contracts and the commissions we must pay for solicitation of these contracts in the prospectus supplement.

Dealers

We may sell the offered securities to dealers as principals. The dealer may then resell such securities to the public either at varying prices to be determined by the dealer or at a fixed offering price agreed to with us at the time of resale.

Institutional Purchasers

We may authorize agents, dealers or underwriters to solicit certain institutional investors to purchase offered securities on a delayed delivery basis pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified future date. The applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials, as the case may be, will provide the details of any such arrangement, including the offering price and commissions payable on the solicitations.

We will enter into such delayed contracts only with institutional purchasers that we approve. These institutions may include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies and educational and charitable institutions.

Indemnification; Other Relationships

We may provide agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms with indemnification against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribution with respect to payments that the agents or underwriters may make with respect to these liabilities. Agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms, and their affiliates, may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.  This includes commercial banking and investment banking transactions.

Market-Making; Stabilization and Other Transactions

There is currently no market for any of the offered securities, other than our common stock, which is quoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market.  If the offered securities are traded after their initial issuance, they may trade at a discount from their initial offering price, depending upon prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities and other factors. While it is possible that an underwriter could inform us that it intends to make a market in the offered securities, such underwriter would not be obligated to do so, and any such market-making could be discontinued at any time without notice. Therefore, no assurance can be given as to whether an active trading market will develop for the offered securities.  We have no current plans for listing of the debt securities, preferred stock, warrants or subscription rights on any securities exchange or quotation system; any such listing with respect to any particular debt securities, preferred stock, warrants or subscription rights will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials, as the case may be.

Any underwriter may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. Over-allotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum price. Syndicate-covering or other short-covering transactions involve purchases of the securities, either through exercise of the over-allotment option or in the open market after the distribution is completed, to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a stabilizing or covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time.

15

Table of Contents

Any underwriters or agents that are qualified market makers on the Nasdaq Capital Market may engage in passive market making transactions in our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act, during the business day prior to the pricing of the offering, before the commencement of offers or sales of our common stock. Passive market makers must comply with applicable volume and price limitations and must be identified as passive market makers. In general, a passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid for such security; if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, however, the passive market maker’s bid must then be lowered when certain purchase limits are exceeded. Passive market making may stabilize the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

Fees and Commissions

If 5% or more of the net proceeds of any offering of securities made under this prospectus will be received by a FINRA member participating in the offering or affiliates or associated persons of such FINRA member, the offering will be conducted in accordance with FINRA Rule 5121.

16

Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

General

This prospectus describes the general terms of our capital stock. The following description is not complete and may not contain all the information you should consider before investing in our capital stock. For a more detailed description of these securities, you should read the applicable provisions of Delaware law and our certificate of incorporation, as amended, referred to herein as our certificate of incorporation, and our bylaws, as amended, referred to herein as our bylaws. When we offer to sell a particular series of these securities, we will describe the specific terms of the series in a supplement to this prospectus. Accordingly, for a description of the terms of any series of securities, you must refer to both the prospectus supplement relating to that series and the description of the securities described in this prospectus. To the extent the information contained in the prospectus supplement differs from this summary description, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.

The total number of shares of capital stock we are authorized to issue is 151,000,000 shares, of which (a) 150,000,000 shares are common stock and (b) 1,000,000 shares are preferred stock.

We, directly or through agents, dealers or underwriters designated from time to time, may offer, issue and sell, together or separately, up to $75,000,000 in the aggregate of:

common stock;

preferred stock;

purchase contracts;

warrants to purchase our securities;

subscription rights to purchase our securities;

depositary shares;

secured or unsecured debt securities consisting of notes, debentures or other evidences of indebtedness which may be senior debt securities, senior subordinated debt securities or subordinated debt securities, each of which may be convertible into equity securities; or

units comprised of, or other combinations of, the foregoing securities.

We may issue the debt securities exchangeable for or convertible into shares of common stock, preferred stock or other securities that may be sold by us pursuant to this prospectus or any combination of the foregoing. The preferred stock may also be exchangeable for and/or convertible into shares of common stock, another series of preferred stock or other securities that may be sold by us pursuant to this prospectus or any combination of the foregoing.  When a particular series of securities is offered, a supplement to this prospectus will be delivered with this prospectus, which will set forth the terms of the offering and sale of the offered securities.

Common Stock

As of September 19, 2019, there were 20,344,825 shares of common stock issued and outstanding, held of record by approximately 200 stockholders. Subject to preferential rights with respect to any outstanding preferred stock, all outstanding shares of common stock are of the same class and have equal rights and attributes.

Dividend Rights

Holders of the common stock may receive dividends when, as and if declared by our board of directors out of the assets legally available for that purpose and subject to the preferential dividend rights of any other classes or series of stock of our Company.  We have never paid, and have no plans to pay, any dividends on our shares of common stock.

VotingRights

Holders of the common stock are entitled to one vote per share in all matters as to which holders of common stock are entitled to vote. Holders of not less than a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders constitute a quorum unless otherwise required by law.

17

Table of Contents

Election of Directors

Directors hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and are eligible for re-election at such meeting. Directors are elected by a plurality of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. There is no cumulative voting for directors.

Liquidation

In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, holders of the common stock have the right to receive ratably and equally all of the assets remaining after payment of liabilities and liquidation preferences of any preferred stock then outstanding.

Redemption

The common stock is not redeemable or convertible and does not have any sinking fund provisions.

Preemptive Rights

Holders of the common stock do not have preemptive rights.

Other Rights

Our common stock is not liable to further calls or to assessment by the registrant and for liabilities of the registrant imposed on its stockholders under state statutes.

Right to Amend Bylaws

The board of directors has the power to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws.  Bylaws adopted by the board of directors may be repealed or changed, and new bylaws made, by the stockholders, and the stockholders may prescribe that any bylaw made by them shall not be altered, amended or repealed by the board of directors.

Change in Control

Provisions of Delaware law and our certificate of incorporation and bylaws could make the acquisition of our company by means of a tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, and the removal of incumbent officers and directors, more difficult. These provisions include:

Section 203 of the DGCL, which prohibits a merger with a 15%-or-greater stockholder, such as a party that has completed a successful tender offer, until three years after that party became a 15%-or-greater stockholder;

The authorization in our certificate of incorporation of undesignated preferred stock, which could be issued without stockholder approval in a manner designed to prevent or discourage a takeover; and

Provisions in our bylaws regarding stockholders' rights to call a special meeting of stockholders limit such rights to stockholders holding together at least a thirty-five percent of the shares of the Company entitled to vote at the meeting, which could make it more difficult for stockholders to wage a proxy contest for control of our board of directors or to vote to repeal any of the anti-takeover provisions contained in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws.

Together, these provisions may make the removal of management more difficult and may discourage transactions that could otherwise involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our common stock.

Market, Symbol and Transfer Agent

Our common stock is listed for trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “BLFS”. The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.

18

Table of Contents

Preferred Stock

Our certificate of incorporation empowers our board of directors, without action by our shareholders, to issue up to 1,000,000 shares of blank check preferred stock from time to time in one or more series, which preferred stock may be offered by this prospectus and supplements thereto. As of September 19, 2019, 4,250 shares of Series A preferred stock were designated and 0 shares of Series A preferred stock was outstanding.

We will fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of the preferred stock of each series in the certificate of designation relating to that series. We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, the form of any certificate of designation that describes the terms of the series of preferred stock we are offering before the issuance of the related series of preferred stock. This description will include any or all of the following, as required:

the title and stated value;

the number of shares we are offering;

the liquidation preference per share;

the purchase price;

the dividend rate, period and payment date and method of calculation for dividends;

whether dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends will accumulate;

any contractual limitations on our ability to declare, set aside or pay any dividends;

the procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any;

the provisions for a sinking fund, if any;

the provisions for redemption or repurchase, if applicable, and any restrictions on our ability to exercise those redemption and repurchase rights;

any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange or market;

whether the preferred stock will be convertible into our common stock, and, if applicable, the conversion price, or how it will be calculated, and the conversion period;

whether the preferred stock will be exchangeable into debt securities, and, if applicable, the exchange price, or how it will be calculated, and the exchange period;

voting rights, if any, of the preferred stock;

preemptive rights, if any;

restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment, if any;

whether interests in the preferred stock will be represented by depositary shares;

a discussion of any material or special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred stock;

the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs;

any limitations on issuance of any class or series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the series of preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs; and

any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the preferred stock.

If we issue shares of preferred stock under this prospectus, after receipt of payment therefor, the shares will be fully paid and non-assessable.

The Delaware General Corporation Law provides that the holders of preferred stock will have the right to vote separately as a class on any proposal involving fundamental changes in the rights of holders of that preferred stock. This right is in addition to any voting rights provided for in the applicable certificate of designation.

Our board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of our common stock. Preferred stock could be issued quickly with terms designed to delay or prevent a change in control of our Company or make removal of management more difficult. Additionally, the issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of decreasing the market price of our common stock.

19

Table of Contents

Series A Preferred Stock

Dividends

The Series A Preferred Stock holders are entitled to receive cash dividends at a rate per share (as a percentage of the stated value per share) of 10% per annum. Dividends are payable quarterly in cash from legally available funds and accrue daily.

Voting; Ranking

The Series A Preferred Stock do not contain any voting rights other than as required by law. However, as long as there are any shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding, the Company will not, without the approval of a majority of the then outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, (i) alter or amend the Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of Series A Preferred Stock, (ii) authorize or create any class of equity securities ranking as to distribution of assets upon a liquidation senior to the Series A Preferred Stock, (iii) enter into, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any indebtedness for borrowed money, except purchase money indebtedness, that by its terms is expressly senior in right of payment to the Company’s obligations to the holders of Series A Preferred Stock, or (iv) enter into any agreement with respect to the foregoing.

Redemption

The Company has the right to redeem for cash the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock along with accrued but unpaid dividends beginning immediately after issuance of shares of Series A Preferred Stock. Without the written consent of a majority of the Series A Preferred Stock outstanding, the Company may only redeem shares of Series A Preferred Stock in tranches of at least $50,000 in the aggregate based upon the Stated Value of such shares of Series A Preferred Stock. If there is more than one holder of Series A Preferred Stock and the Company desires to conduct a redemption, such redemption will be conducted on a pro rata basis among all of the holders of Series A Preferred Stock. The holders of Series A Preferred Stock will not have any right to require redemption.

Liquidation Preference

Each share of Series A Preferred Stock will have a liquidation preference equal to the Stated Value plus any accrued but unpaid dividends thereon. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company (which includes any merger, reorganization, sale of assets in which control of the Company is transferred or event which results in all or substantially all of the Company’s assets being transferred), the holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Company, before any payment is made to the holders of the Company’s common stock and either in preference to or pari pasu with the holders of any other series of preferred stock that may be issued in the future, a per share amount equal to the liquidation preference.

Purchase Contracts

We may issue purchase contracts, representing contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and us to sell to the holders, a specific or varying number of common stock, preferred stock, warrants, depositary shares, debt securities, warrants or any combination of the above, at a future date or dates. Alternatively, the purchase contracts may obligate us to purchase from holders, and obligate holders to sell to us, a specific or varying number of common stock, preferred stock, warrants, depositary shares, debt securities, or any combination of the above. The price of the securities and other property subject to the purchase contracts may be fixed at the time the purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the purchase contracts. The purchase contracts may be issued separately or as a part of a unit that consists of (a) a purchase contract and (b) one or more of the other securities that may be sold by us pursuant to this prospectus or any combination of the foregoing, which may secure the holders’ obligations to purchase the securities under the purchase contract. The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders or require the holders to make periodic payments to us. These payments may be unsecured or prefunded and may be paid on a current or on a deferred basis. The purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under the contracts in a manner specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

20

Table of Contents

We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, forms of the purchase contracts and purchase contract agreement, if any. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any purchase contracts in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, including, to the extent applicable, the following:

whether the purchase contracts obligate the holder or us to purchase or sell, or both purchase and sell, the securities subject to purchase under the purchase contract, and the nature and amount of each of those securities, or the method of determining those amounts;

whether the purchase contracts are to be prepaid or not;

whether the purchase contracts are to be settled by delivery, or by reference or linkage to the value, performance or level of the securities subject to purchase under the purchase contract;

any acceleration, cancellation, termination or other provisions relating to the settlement of the purchase contracts; and

whether the purchase contracts will be issued in fully registered or global form.

Warrants

We may issue warrants to purchase our securities or other rights, including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies, securities or indices, or any combination of the foregoing. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any other securities that may be sold by us pursuant to this prospectus or any combination of the foregoing and may be attached to, or separate from, such securities. To the extent warrants that we issue are to be publicly-traded, each series of such warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent.

We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, forms of the warrant and warrant agreement, if any. The prospectus supplement relating to any warrants that we may offer will contain the specific terms of the warrants and a description of the material provisions of the applicable warrant agreement, if any. These terms may include the following:

the title of the warrants;

the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued;

the designation, amount and terms of the securities or other rights for which the warrants are exercisable;

the designation and terms of the other securities, if any, with which the warrants are to be issued and the number of warrants issued with each other security;

the aggregate number of warrants;

any provisions for adjustment of the number or amount of securities receivable upon exercise of the warrants or the exercise price of the warrants;

the price or prices at which the securities or other rights purchasable upon exercise of the warrants may be purchased;

if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the securities or other rights purchasable upon exercise of the warrants will be separately transferable;

a discussion of any material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the exercise of the warrants;

the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence, and the date on which the right will expire;

the maximum or minimum number of warrants that may be exercised at any time;

information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; and

any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.

Exercise of Warrants.   Each warrant will entitle the holder of warrants to purchase the amount of securities or other rights, at the exercise price stated or determinable in the prospectus supplement for the warrants. Warrants may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date shown in the applicable prospectus supplement, unless otherwise specified in such prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, if applicable, unexercised warrants will become void. Warrants may be exercised in the manner described in the applicable prospectus supplement. When the warrant holder makes the payment and properly completes and signs the warrant certificate at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent, if any, or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as possible, forward the securities or other rights that the warrant holder has purchased. If the warrant holder exercises less than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate, we will issue a new warrant certificate for the remaining warrants.

21

Table of Contents

Subscription Rights

We may issue rights to purchase our securities. The rights may or may not be transferable by the persons purchasing or receiving the rights. In connection with any rights offering, we may enter into a standby underwriting or other arrangement with one or more underwriters or other persons pursuant to which such underwriters or other persons would purchase any offered securities remaining unsubscribed for after such rights offering. In connection with a rights offering to holders of our capital stock a prospectus supplement will be distributed to such holders on the record date for receiving rights in the rights offering set by us.

We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, forms of the subscription rights, standby underwriting agreement or other agreements, if any. The prospectus supplement relating to any rights that we offer will include specific terms relating to the offering, including, among other matters:

the date of determining the security holders entitled to the rights distribution;

the aggregate number of rights issued and the aggregate amount of securities purchasable upon exercise of the rights;

the exercise price;

the conditions to completion of the rights offering;

the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence and the date on which the rights will expire; and

any applicable federal income tax considerations.

Each right would entitle the holder of the rights to purchase the principal amount of securities at the exercise price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Rights may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for the rights provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised rights will become void.

Holders may exercise rights as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon receipt of payment and the rights certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the rights agent, if any, or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the securities purchasable upon exercise of the rights. If less than all of the rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than stockholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby underwriting arrangements, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Depositary Shares

General.   We may offer fractional shares of preferred stock, rather than full shares of preferred stock. If we decide to offer fractional shares of our preferred stock, we will issue receipts for depositary shares. Each depositary share will represent a fraction of a share of a particular series of our preferred stock, and the applicable prospectus supplement will indicate that fraction. The shares of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a deposit agreement between us and a depositary that is a bank or trust company that meets certain requirements and is selected by us. The depositary will be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each owner of a depositary share will be entitled to all of the rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented by the depositary share. The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the deposit agreement. Depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional shares of our preferred stock in accordance with the terms of the offering. We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, forms of the deposit agreement, form of certificate of designation of underlying preferred stock, form of depositary receipts and any other related agreements.

22

Table of Contents

Dividends and Other Distributions.   The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received by it in respect of the preferred stock to the record holders of depositary shares relating to such preferred shares in proportion to the numbers of depositary shares held on the relevant record date.

In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute securities or property received by it to the record holders of depositary shares in proportion to the numbers of depositary shares held on the relevant record date, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such distribution. In that case, the depositary may make the distribution by such method as it deems equitable and practicable. One such possible method is for the depositary to sell the securities or property and then distribute the net proceeds from the sale as provided in the case of a cash distribution.

Redemption of Depositary Shares.   Whenever we redeem the preferred stock, the depositary will redeem a number of depositary shares representing the same number of shares of preferred stock so redeemed. If fewer than all of the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot, pro rata or by any other equitable method as the depositary may determine.

Voting of Underlying Shares.  Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of our preferred stock of any series are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the information contained in the notice of the meeting to the record holders of the depositary shares relating to that series of preferred stock. Each record holder of the depositary shares on the record date will be entitled to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights represented by the number of shares of preferred stock underlying the holder’s depositary shares. The depositary will endeavor, to the extent it is practical to do so, to vote the number of whole shares of preferred stock underlying such depositary shares in accordance with such instructions. We will agree to take all action that the depositary may deem reasonably necessary in order to enable the depositary to do so. To the extent the depositary does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares relating to such preferred shares, it will abstain from voting such shares of preferred stock.

Withdrawal of Shares. Upon surrender of depositary receipts representing any number of whole shares at the depositary’s office, unless the related depositary shares previously have been called for redemption, the holder of the depositary shares evidenced by the depositary receipts will be entitled to delivery of the number of whole shares of the related series of preferred stock and all money and other property, if any, underlying such depositary shares. However, once such an exchange is made, the preferred stock cannot thereafter be re-deposited in exchange for depositary shares. Holders of depositary shares will be entitled to receive whole shares of the related series of preferred stock on the basis set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares representing more than the number of whole shares of preferred stock of the related series to be withdrawn, the depositary will deliver to the holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares.

Amendment and Termination of Depositary Agreement.   The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the applicable depositary agreement may at any time be amended by agreement between us and the depositary. We may, with the consent of the depositary, amend the depositary agreement from time to time in any manner that we desire. However, if the amendment would materially and adversely alter the rights of the existing holders of depositary shares, the amendment would need to be approved by the holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares then outstanding.

The depositary agreement may be terminated by us or the depositary if:

all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed; or

there has been a final distribution in respect of the shares of preferred stock of the applicable series in connection with our liquidation, dissolution or winding up and such distribution has been made to the holders of depositary receipts.

23

Table of Contents

Resignation and Removal of Depositary.   The depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to do so. We may remove a depositary at any time. Any resignation or removal will take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of appointment.

Charges of Depositary.   We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of any depositary arrangements. We will pay all charges of each depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred shares of any series, the initial issuance of the depositary shares, any redemption of such preferred shares and any withdrawals of such preferred shares by holders of depositary shares. Holders of depositary shares will be required to pay any other transfer taxes.

Notices.   Each depositary will forward to the holders of the applicable depositary shares all notices, reports and communications from us which are delivered to such depositary and which we are required to furnish the holders of the preferred stock represented by such depositary shares.

Miscellaneous. The depositary agreement may contain provisions that limit our liability and the liability of the depositary to the holders of depositary shares. Both the depositary and we are also entitled to an indemnity from the holders of the depositary shares prior to bringing, or defending against, any legal proceeding. We or any depositary may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, or information provided by persons presenting preferred shares for deposit, holders of depositary shares or other persons believed by us to be competent and on documents believed by us or them to be genuine.

Debt Securities

As used in this prospectus, the term “debt securities” means the debentures, notes, bonds and other evidences of indebtedness that we may issue from time to time. The debt securities will either be senior debt securities, senior subordinated debt or subordinated debt securities. We may also issue convertible debt securities. Debt securities may be issued under an indenture (which we refer to herein as an Indenture), which are contracts entered into between us and a trustee to be named therein. The Indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. We may issue debt securities and incur additional indebtedness other than through the offering of debt securities pursuant to this prospectus. It is likely that convertible debt securities will not be issued under an Indenture.

The debt securities may be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a secured or unsecured senior or subordinated basis by one or more guarantors, if any. The obligations of any guarantor under its guarantee will be limited as necessary to prevent that guarantee from constituting a fraudulent conveyance under applicable law. In the event that any series of debt securities will be subordinated to other indebtedness that we have outstanding or may incur, the terms of the subordination will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the subordinated debt securities.

We may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series, in each case with the same or various maturities, at par or at a discount. Unless indicated in a prospectus supplement, we may issue additional debt securities of a particular series without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of such series outstanding at the time of the issuance. Any such additional debt securities, together with all other outstanding debt securities of that series, will constitute a single series of debt securities under the applicable Indenture and will be equal in ranking.

Should an Indenture relate to unsecured indebtedness, in the event of a bankruptcy or other liquidation event involving a distribution of assets to satisfy our outstanding indebtedness or an event of default under a loan agreement relating to secured indebtedness of our company or its subsidiaries, the holders of such secured indebtedness, if any, would be entitled to receive payment of principal and interest prior to payments on the unsecured indebtedness issued under an Indenture.

Each prospectus supplement will describe the terms relating to the specific series of debt securities. These terms will include some or all of the following:

the title of debt securities and whether the debt securities are senior or subordinated;

any limit on the aggregate principal amount of debt securities of such series;

the percentage of the principal amount at which the debt securities of any series will be issued;

24

Table of Contents

the ability to issue additional debt securities of the same series;

the purchase price for the debt securities and the denominations of the debt securities;

the specific designation of the series of debt securities being offered;

the maturity date or dates of the debt securities and the date or dates upon which the debt securities are payable and the rate or rates at which the debt securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, which may be fixed or variable, or the method by which such rate shall be determined;

the basis for calculating interest;

the date or dates from which any interest will accrue or the method by which such date or dates will be determined;

the duration of any deferral period, including the period during which interest payment periods may be extended;

whether the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the debt securities may be determined with reference to any index, formula or other method, such as one or more currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices, and the manner of determining the amount of such payments;

the dates on which we will pay interest on the debt securities and the regular record date for determining who is entitled to the interest payable on any interest payment date;

the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the debt securities will be payable, where any securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange or conversion, as applicable, and notices and demands may be delivered to or upon us pursuant to the applicable Indenture;

the rate or rates of amortization of the debt securities;

any terms for the attachment to the debt securities of warrants, options or other rights to purchase or sell our securities;

if the debt securities will be secured by any collateral and, if so, a general description of the collateral and the terms and provisions of such collateral security, pledge or other agreements;

if we possess the option to do so, the periods within which and the prices at which we may redeem the debt securities, in whole or in part, pursuant to optional redemption provisions, and the other terms and conditions of any such provisions;

our obligation or discretion, if any, to redeem, repay or purchase debt securities by making periodic payments to a sinking fund or through an analogous provision or at the option of holders of the debt securities, and the period or periods within which and the price or prices at which we will redeem, repay or purchase the debt securities, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation, and the other terms and conditions of such obligation;

the terms and conditions, if any, regarding the option or mandatory conversion or exchange of debt securities;

the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any debt securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part at our option and, if other than by a board resolution, the manner in which any election by us to redeem the debt securities shall be evidenced;

any restriction or condition on the transferability of the debt securities of a particular series;

the portion, or methods of determining the portion, of the principal amount of the debt securities which we must pay upon the acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities in connection with any event of default;

the currency or currencies in which the debt securities will be denominated and in which principal, any premium and any interest will or may be payable or a description of any units based on or relating to a currency or currencies in which the debt securities will be denominated;

provisions, if any, granting special rights to holders of the debt securities upon the occurrence of specified events;

any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the events of default or our covenants with respect to the applicable series of debt securities, and whether or not such events of default or covenants are consistent with those contained in the applicable Indenture;

any limitation on our ability to incur debt, redeem stock, sell our assets or other restrictions;

the application, if any, of the terms of the applicable Indenture relating to defeasance and covenant defeasance (which terms are described below) to the debt securities;

what subordination provisions will apply to the debt securities;

25

Table of Contents

the terms, if any, upon which the holders may convert or exchange the debt securities into or for our securities or property;

whether we are issuing the debt securities in whole or in part in global form;

any change in the right of the trustee or the requisite holders of debt securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable because of an event of default;

the depositary for global or certificated debt securities, if any;

any material federal income tax consequences applicable to the debt securities, including any debt securities denominated and made payable, as described in the prospectus supplements, in foreign currencies, or units based on or related to foreign currencies;

any right we may have to satisfy, discharge and defease our obligations under the debt securities, or terminate or eliminate restrictive covenants or events of default in the Indentures, by depositing money or U.S. government obligations with the trustee of the Indentures;

the names of any trustees, depositories, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars or other agents with respect to the debt securities;

to whom any interest on any debt security shall be payable, if other than the person in whose name the security is registered, on the record date for such interest, the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global debt security will be paid;

if the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities is to be payable in one or more currencies or currency units other than as stated, the currency, currencies or currency units in which it shall be paid and the periods within and terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the amounts payable (or the manner in which such amount shall be determined);

the portion of the principal amount of any debt securities which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities pursuant to the applicable Indenture;

if the principal amount payable at the stated maturity of any debt security of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the stated maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such debt securities as of any such date for any purpose, including the principal amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any maturity other than the stated maturity or which shall be deemed to be outstanding as of any date prior to the stated maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount shall be determined); and

any other specific terms of the debt securities, including any modifications to the events of default under the debt securities and any other terms which may be required by or advisable under applicable laws or regulations.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we do not anticipate the debt securities will be listed on any securities exchange. Holders of the debt securities may present registered debt securities for exchange or transfer in the manner described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Except as limited by the applicable Indenture, we will provide these services without charge, other than any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with the exchange or transfer.

Debt securities may bear interest at a fixed rate or a variable rate as specified in the prospectus supplement. In addition, if specified in the prospectus supplement, we may sell debt securities bearing no interest or interest at a rate that at the time of issuance is below the prevailing market rate, or at a discount below their stated principal amount. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement any special federal income tax considerations applicable to these discounted debt securities.

We may issue debt securities with the principal amount payable on any principal payment date, or the amount of interest payable on any interest payment date, to be determined by referring to one or more currency exchange rates, commodity prices, equity indices or other factors. Holders of such debt securities may receive a principal amount on any principal payment date, or interest payments on any interest payment date, that are greater or less than the amount of principal or interest otherwise payable on such dates, depending upon the value on such dates of applicable currency, commodity, equity index or other factors. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information as to how we will determine the amount of principal or interest payable on any date, as well as the currencies, commodities, equity indices or other factors to which the amount payable on that date relates and certain additional tax considerations.

26

Table of Contents

Units

We may issue units consisting of any combination of the other types of securities offered under this prospectus in one or more series. We may evidence each series of units by unit certificates that we may issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into unit agreements with a unit agent. Each unit agent, if any, may be a bank or trust company that we select. We will indicate the name and address of the unit agent, if any, in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of units. Specific unit agreements, if any, will contain additional important terms and provisions. We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a current report that we file with the SEC, the form of unit and the form of each unit agreement, if any, relating to units offered under this prospectus.

If we offer any units, certain terms of that series of units will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, the following, as applicable

the title of the series of units;

identification and description of the separate constituent securities comprising the units;

the price or prices at which the units will be issued;

the date, if any, on and after which the constituent securities comprising the units will be separately transferable;

a discussion of certain United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the units; and

any other material terms of the units and their constituent securities.

27

Table of Contents

FORMS OF SECURITIES

Each security may be represented either by a certificate issued in definitive form to a particular investor or by one or more global securities representing the entire issuance of securities. Certificated securities in definitive form and global securities will be issued in registered form. Definitive securities name you or your nominee as the owner of the security, and in order to transfer or exchange these securities or to receive payments other than interest or other interim payments, you or your nominee must physically deliver the securities to the trustee, registrar, paying agent or other agent, as applicable. Global securities name a depositary or its nominee as the owner of the debt securities, warrants or units represented by these global securities. The depositary maintains a computerized system that will reflect each investor’s beneficial ownership of the securities through an account maintained by the investor with its broker/dealer, bank, trust company or other representative, as we explain more fully below.

Registered Global Securities

We may issue the securities in the form of one or more fully registered global securities that will be deposited with a depositary or its nominee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of that depositary or nominee. In those cases, one or more registered global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal or face amount of the securities to be represented by registered global securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole for securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred except as a whole by and among the depositary for the registered global security, the nominees of the depositary or any successors of the depositary or those nominees.

The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any securities to be represented by a registered global security will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those securities. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.

Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to persons, called participants, that have accounts with the depositary or persons that may hold interests through participants. Upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ accounts with the respective principal or face amounts of the securities beneficially owned by the participants. Any dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the securities will designate the accounts to be credited. Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary, with respect to interests of participants, and on the records of participants, with respect to interests of persons holding through participants. The laws of some states may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of these securities in definitive form. These laws may impair your ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities.

So long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a registered global security, that depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement or unit agreement.

Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security will not be entitled to have the securities represented by the registered global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of the securities under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement or unit agreement. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for that registered global security and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement or unit agreement. We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement or unit agreement, the depositary for the registered global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take that action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through them to give or take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.

28

Table of Contents

Payments to holders with respect to securities represented by a registered global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the registered global security. None of the Company, the trustees, the warrant agents, the unit agents or any other agent of the Company, agent of the trustees, the warrant agents or unit agents will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the registered global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial ownership interests.

We expect that the depositary for any of the securities represented by a registered global security, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, interest or other payment or distribution to holders of that registered global security, will immediately credit participants’ accounts in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in that registered global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security held through participants will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of those participants.

If the depositary for any of these securities represented by a registered global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and a successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue securities in definitive form in exchange for the registered global security that had been held by the depositary. Any securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security will be registered in the name or names that the depositary gives to the relevant trustee, warrant agent, unit agent or other relevant agent of ours or theirs. It is expected that the depositary’s instructions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the registered global security that had been held by the depositary.

29

Table of Contents

LEGAL MATTERS

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities offered by this prospectus were passed upon for us by Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP. 

EXPERTS

The financial statements of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, consisting of our balance sheets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the related statements of operations, shareholders' equity, and cash flows for the years then ended, incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 have been audited by Peterson Sullivan LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, to the extent and for the periods set forth in their report, incorporated by reference herein, and are included in reliance upon such report given upon the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.  

The financial statements of Astero Bio Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2018, consisting of the balance sheet as of December 31, 2018, and the related statements of operations, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for the year then ended, incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on June 17, 2019.  have been audited by Peterson Sullivan LLP, independent auditors’, to the extent and for the periods set forth in their report, incorporated by reference herein, and are included in reliance upon such report given upon the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

We file annual, quarter and periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission using the Commission’s EDGAR system. The Commission maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the Commission. The address of such site is http//www.sec.gov.

We have filed a registration statement with the Commission relating to the offering of the shares. The registration statement contains information which is not included in this prospectus. You may inspect or copy the registration statement at the Commission’s public reference facilities or its website.

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not authorized any person to provide you with any information that is different. 

INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

We are “incorporating by reference” in this prospectus certain documents we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents.  The information in the documents incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. Statements contained in documents that we file with the SEC and that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus will automatically update and supersede information contained in this prospectus, including information in previously filed documents or reports that have been incorporated by reference in this prospectus, to the extent the new information differs from or is inconsistent with the old information.  We have filed or may file the following documents with the SEC and they are incorporated herein by reference as of their respective dates of filing.

1.

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 as filed with the SEC on March 15, 2019;

2.

Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2019 and June 30, 2019 as filed with the SEC on May 9, 2019 and August 9, 2019, respectively;

3.

Our Current Reports on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on March 14, 2019, March 19, 2019, April 5, 2019 (as amended on June 17, 2019), May 9, 2019, June 18, 2019, July 12, 2019, August 8, 2019 and August 13, 2019;

4.

Our definitive proxy statement Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on April 30, 2019; and

5.

The description of the Company’s common stock contained in the Company’s registration statement on Form 8-A, as filed with the Commission on March 19, 2014 under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

30

Table of Contents

All documents that we filed with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this registration statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this registration statement that indicates that all securities offered under this prospectus have been sold, or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, will be deemed to be incorporated in this registration statement by reference and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus shall be deemed modified, superseded or replaced for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus, or in any subsequently filed document that also is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus, modifies, supersedes or replaces such statement. Any statement so modified, superseded or replaced shall not be deemed, except as so modified, superseded or replaced, to constitute a part of this prospectus. None of the information that we disclose under Items 2.02 or 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K or any corresponding information, either furnished under Item 9.01 or included as an exhibit therein, that we may from time to time furnish to the SEC will be incorporated by reference into, or otherwise included in, this prospectus, except as otherwise expressly set forth in the relevant document. Subject to the foregoing, all information appearing in this prospectus is qualified in its entirety by the information appearing in the documents incorporated by reference.

You may request, orally or in writing, a copy of these documents, which will be provided to you at no cost (other than exhibits, unless such exhibits are specifically incorporate by reference), by contacting Chief Financial Officer, at BioLife Solutions, Inc., 3303 Monte Villa Parkway, Suite 310, Bothell, Washington 98021, or by telephone at (425) 402-1400. Information about us is also available at our website at www.biolifesolutions.com. However, the information in our website is not a part of this prospectus and is not incorporated by reference. 

31

Table of Contents

You should rely only on the information contained in this document. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different. This document may only be used where it is legal to sell these securities. The information in this document may only be accurate on the date of this document.

Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known may also impair our business operations. The risks and uncertainties described in this document and other risks and uncertainties which we may face in the future will have a greater impact on those who purchase our common stock. These purchasers will purchase our common stock at the market price or at a privately negotiated price and will run the risk of losing their entire investment.

___________________________

$75,000,000

COMMON STOCK

PREFERRED STOCK

PURCHASE CONTRACTS

WARRANTS

SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS

DEPOSITARY SHARES

DEBT SECURITIES

UNITS

    , 2019

32

Table of Contents

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. The selling shareholdermay not sell the securities until the Registration Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, of which this prospectus is a part, is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

Prospectus 

___________________________

3,854,092 Shares of Common Stock

This prospectus relates to the resale by selling stockholders of up to 3,854,092 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of BioLife Solutions, Inc. (“we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company,” or “BioLife”). The shares offered for resale by this prospectus consist of (i) 1,000,000 shares of common stock acquired by a selling stockholder in a private sale with an affiliate of the Company in April 2018, (ii) 1,428,571 shares of common stock acquired by a selling stockholder in a private placement transaction with the Company that closed on August 15, 2018, (iii) 325,521 shares of common stock acquired by two selling stockholders upon conversion of certain Company indebtedness in 2014 and (iv) 1,100,000 shares of common stock acquired by a selling stockholder in exchange for shares of the Company’s now wholly-owned subsidiary.

We will not receive any proceeds from the resale of any of the shares of common stock being registered hereby sold by the selling stockholders.  

Our common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “BLFS.” On September 20, 2019, our common stock closed at $20.74 per share. 

The selling stockholders may offer all or part of the shares for resale from time to time through public or private transactions, at either prevailing market prices or at privately negotiated prices. Our registration of the shares of common stock covered by this prospectus does not mean that the selling stockholders will offer or sell any of the shares. With regard only to the shares the selling stockholders sell for their own behalf, the selling stockholders may be deemed an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Company has paid all of the registration expenses incurred in connection with the registration of the shares. We will not pay any of the selling commissions, brokerage fees and related expenses. 

Investing in our securities involves certain risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 39 and the risk factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 15, 2019, which is incorporated by reference herein, as well as in any other recently filed quarterly or current reports.  We urge you to carefully read this prospectus, together with the documents we incorporate by reference, describing the terms of these securities before investing.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus.  Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this Prospectus is ___________, 2019

33

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

35

Prospectus Summary

36

The Offering

38

Risk Factors

39

Use of Proceeds

47

Determination of Offering Price

48

Selling Stockholder

49

Plan of Distribution

50

Description of Securities to be Registered

52

Indemnification For Securities Act Liabilities

53

Legal Matters

54

Experts54

Where You Can Find Additional Information

54

Incorporation of Documents by Reference

54

 

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. Neither we nor the selling stockholders have authorized any other person to provide you with information different from or in addition to that contained in this prospectus. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. The selling stockholders are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where an offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front cover of this prospectus. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

We further note that the representations, warranties and covenants made by us in any document that is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and in any document that is incorporated by reference herein were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreements, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you. Moreover, such representations, warranties or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made. Accordingly, such representations, warranties and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of our affairs.

In this prospectus, we rely on and refer to information and statistics regarding our industry. We obtained this statistical, market and other industry data and forecasts from publicly available information. While we believe that the statistical data, market data and other industry data and forecasts are reliable, we have not independently verified the data.

Unless the contest otherwise requires, the terms “BioLife,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” and similar terms used in this prospectus refer to BioLife Solutions, Inc.

34

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein may contain forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.  All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein, including statements regarding future events, our future financial performance, business strategy, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. We have attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminology including “anticipates,” “believes,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “should,” or “will” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Although we do not make forward looking statements unless we believe we have a reasonable basis for doing so, we cannot guarantee their accuracy. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including the risks outlined under “Risk Factors” or elsewhere in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein, which may cause our or our industry’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Moreover, we operate in a highly regulated and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to predict all risk factors, nor can we address the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.

We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short term and long term business operations, and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in this prospectus, and in particular, the risks discussed below and under the heading “Risk Factors” and those discussed in other documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017 and notes incorporated by reference therein. We undertake no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this prospectus may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statement.

You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement, each of which applies only as of the date of this prospectus. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this prospectus to conform our statements to actual results or changed expectations.

Any forward-looking statement you read in this prospectus or any document incorporated by reference reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, operating results, growth strategy and liquidity. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements because such statements speak only as to the date when made. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future, except as otherwise required by applicable law. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our reports on Forms 10-Q, 8-K and 10-K filed with the SEC. You should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all risk factors. Consequently, you should not consider any such list to be a complete set of all potential risks or uncertainties.

35

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

 

This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere in this prospectus.  This summary does not contain all the information that you should consider before investing in our Company.  You should carefully read the entire prospectus, including all documents incorporated by reference herein. In particular, attention should be directed to our “Risk Factors,” “Information With Respect to the Company,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the financial statements and related notes thereto contained herein or otherwise incorporated by reference hereto, before making an investment decision.

 

Overview

 

We develop, manufacture and market a portfolio of biopreservationbioproduction tools for cells tissues, and organs, including proprietary clinical grade cell and tissue hypothermic storage and cryopreservation freeze media.

gene therapies. Our products are used in basic and applied research, on, and commercializationcommercial manufacturing of new biologic based therapies by maintaining the health and function of biologic source material and finished products during manufacturing, distribution, and patient delivery.

delivery of cells and tissues. Our product offerings include:products are designed to allow biologic manufacturing to be more efficient and effective.

·Patented hypothermic storage and cryopreservation freeze media products for cells, tissues, and organs
·Generic blood stem cell freezing and cell thawing media products
·Custom product formulation and custom packaging services
·Contract aseptic manufacturing formulation, fill, and finish services of liquid media products

 

Our proprietary, clinical grade HypoThermosol® FRS and CryoStor® biopreservation media products are marketed to the regenerative medicine, biobanking, and drug discovery markets includingmarkets. Our customers include cell and gene therapy companies, research institutions, hospital-based stem cell transplant centers, cell therapy contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) and contract development manufacturing organizations (CDMOs), pharmaceutical companies, cord blood and adult stem cell banks, hair transplant centers, and suppliers of cells to the drug discovery, and toxicology testing and diagnostic markets, including private and public cell therapy companies.markets. All of our biopreservation media products are serum-free and protein-free, fully defined, and are manufactured under current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) using United States Pharmacopia (USP)/Multicompendial or. We strive to source the highest available grade components.

 

Our patentedproprietary biopreservation media products are formulated to reduce preservation-induced, delayed-onset cell damage and death. Our platform enabling technology provides our customers significant shelf life extension of biologic source material and final cell products, and also greatly improves post-preservation cell and tissue viability and function. We estimate that our products have been incorporated in over 275300 regenerative medicine applications, including numerous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell and other T cell receptor (TCR) types.

On April 1, 2019, we closed a transaction for the acquisition of 100% of Astero Bio Corporation ("Astero"), an innovator in the design, development and commercialization of novel automated thawing devices for cell and gene therapies, for an upfront cash payment of $8 million. This transaction is expected to further strengthen BioLife's position as a leading supplier of disruptive, enabling solutions used in the manufacture, storage and distribution of cell and gene therapies. We believe Astero's ThawSTAR product line broadens BioLife's bioproduction tools portfolio and increases the Company's footprint and engagement level in its customers' cell and gene therapy manufacturing workflow. Under the terms of the share purchase agreement, Astero shareholders are eligible to receive up to an additional $4.5 million in cash upon the earlier of the completion of certain product development milestones and April 1, 2020 and up to an additional $8.5 million in cash over the next three years based on attainment of specific revenue targets.

On July 8, 2019, we announced that we exercised our option to acquire the remaining 56% of the outstanding shares of privately held SAVSU Technologies that we do not currently own in exchange for 1.1 million shares of BioLife common stock. The acquisition closed on August 7, 2019

Recent Developments

On September 24, 2019, we announced that we agreed to invest $1.5 million in privately held Sexton Biotechnologies (“Sexton”), a recent spinout of Cook Regentec (“Cook”), in exchange for shares of Series A Preferred Stock representing approximately 18% ownership of Sexton. BioLife’s investment includes a right of first negotiation to acquire Sexton at a future date. The financing is subject to the completion of various closing conditions, including the completion of the contribution of various intellectual property assets from Cook to Sexton.

On September 24, 2019, we announced that we made a $1 million convertible debt investment in iVexSol, a private startup company based in Toronto. iVexSol’s mission is to produce lentiviral vectors – retroviruses that are crucial to the development of cell and gene therapies to fight cancer and various genetic disorders – in far greater quantities and at a significantly lower costs than legacy methods by using iVexSol's clinically proven advanced manufacturing process.

36

Selling Stockholders

The shares offered for resale by this prospectus consist of (i) 1,000,000 shares of common stock acquired by a selling stockholder, Casdin Partners Master Fund, LP (“Casdin”), in a private sale with an affiliate of the Company in April 2018, (ii) 1,428,571 shares of common stock acquired by Casdin in a private placement transaction with the Company that closed on August 15, 2018, (iii) 325,521 shares of common stock acquired by two selling stockholders ((1) Taurus4757 GmbH, which is a wholly-owned entity of a Company director, Thomas Girschweiler, “Taurus,” and (2) WAVI Holding AG, the Company’s largest stockholder, “WAVI”) upon conversion of certain Company indebtedness in 2014 and (iv) 1,100,000 shares of common stock acquired by a selling stockholder, SAVSU Origin LLC (“SAVSU Origin”), in exchange for 8,616 shares of common stock of SAVSU, representing the remaining 56% of the outstanding shares of SAVSU that the Company did not own, in August 2019.

Casdin Transactions

On or about April 9, 2018, Casdin entered into an agreement to purchase 1,000,000 shares of Company common stock in a private transaction from our second largest shareholder, Taurus. The transaction closed on or about April 20, 2018.

On August 15, 2018, we closed a financing transaction with Casdin, pursuant to which we received gross proceeds of approximately $20,000,000. The transaction was consummated pursuant to a share purchase agreement, dated August 9, 2018, between us and Casdin. Pursuant to the terms of the transaction, at closing, we issued to Casdin 1,428,571 shares of common stock at the purchase price of $14.00 per share. The registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part is being filed pursuant to certain registration rights we granted to Casdin requiring us to file a registration statement with the SEC covering the resale by Casdin of all shares of Company common stock held by Casdin. Casdin has entered into a separate lock-up agreement restricting Casdin’s ability to sell the 1,428,571 shares issued in the transaction for one year from closing.

Taurus and WAVI Transactions

Taurus and WAVI entered into a note conversion agreement executed in December 2013 pursuant to which certain outstanding Company indebtedness was converted into shares of our common stock. Upon request from Taurus and WAVI, we agreed to register for resale a portion of those shares in connection with a potential sale of those shares to a third party. On or about June 18, 2019, each of Taurus and WAVI entered into separate stock purchase agreements with an institutional investor to sell 162,760 shares and 162,761 shares, respectively, to such purchaser for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $5,000,000. The transactions contemplated by the stock purchase agreements is expected to close upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

SAVSU Origin Transaction

On August 7, 2019, we entered into a Share Exchange Agreement by and among the Company, SAVSU and SAVSU Origin pursuant to which SAVSU Origin agreed to transfer to the Company and the Company agreed to acquire from SAVSU Origin 8,616 shares of common stock of SAVSU, representing the remaining 56% of the outstanding shares of SAVSU that the Company did not own, in exchange for 1,100,000 shares of common stock of the Company. In addition, the Company agreed to include the 1,100,000 shares among the shares the Company registers for resale on the next resale Registration Statement on Form S-3 that the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The acquisition was completed following the Company’s previously announced exercise on July 8, 2019 of its option to purchase the remaining shares of SAVSU. As a result of the Acquisition SAVSU became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

 

Principal Offices

 

Our principal executive offices are located at 3303 Monte Villa Parkway, Suite 310, Bothell, Washington 98021 and the telephone number is (425) 402-1400. Information about us is available on our website http://www.biolifesolutions.com. The information contained on our website or that can be accessed through our website does not constitute part of this prospectus and is not incorporated in any manner into this prospectus.

 

The Offering

37

 

The following summary contains basic information about the offering and the securities we are offering and is not intended to be complete. It does not contain all the information that is important to you. For a more complete understanding of the securities we are offering, please refer to the sections of this prospectus titled “Description of Securities.”THE OFFERING

 

Securities

Common stock offered by us:the selling stockholders herein:

3,854,092 shares

Common stock outstanding: (1)

20,344,825 shares

 
2,817,444

Selling Stockholders Ownership:

Casdin owns approximately 11.9% of our common stock assuming that Casdin does not hold any other shares of common stock other than the shares being registered for resale herein.

Taurus owns approximately 7.4% of our common stock and WAVI owns approximately 17.1% of our common stock (in each case, excluding shares of common stock issuable upon exercise or conversion of any outstanding Warrants.

Exercise Pricederivative securities) based upon the Company’s books and records.

SAVSU Origin owns approximately 5.4% of Warrants:

$4.75 per share.
Exercise Period:Until 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on March 25, 2021
Common stock outstanding before this offering:14,145,413 shares
Common stock to be outstanding after this offering16,962,857 shares (1)
Use of proceedsWe intend to use the net proceeds from any exercises of the Warrants for general corporate purposes, including working capital. See “Use of Proceeds” below.
Market for our common stock assuming that SAVSU Origin does not hold any other shares of common stock other than the shares being registered for resale herein.

 

Use of Proceeds:

We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the common stock by the selling stockholders.

Listing of common stock:

Our common stock is quoted and tradedlisted on The NASDAQthe Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol BLFS.“BLFS.

Dividend policy:

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock and do not plan to pay any cash dividends in the near future. Our current policy is to retain all funds and earnings for use in the operation and expansion of our business.

Risk FactorsFactors:

You should read the

An investment in our company is highly speculative and involves a significant degree of risk.  See “Risk Factors” section ofand other information included in this prospectus for a discussion of factors toyou should carefully consider before deciding to purchase our securities.

Limitation on beneficial ownershipA holder of Warrants will not have the right to exercise any portion of its Warrants if the holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially owninvest in excess of 4.99% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.stock.

 

(1)  

(1)

The number of shares of common stock to be outstanding after this offering as reflected in the table above is based on the actual total number of shares outstanding as of March 20, 2018, which was 14,145,413,September 19, 2019 and does not include, as of that date:

 

● 

3,326,841

2,530,725 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding vested and unvested stock options under our 2013 Performance Incentive Plan, 1998 Stock Option Plan and non-plan stock option agreements, having a weighted average exercise price of $1.80;$1.83;

 

337,981

496,668 shares of common stock issuable upon vesting of restricted stock awards issued under our 2013 Performance Incentive Plan; and

 

6,688,849

3,963,505 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants, having a weighted average exercise price of $4.50$4.33 per share, other than the shares of common stock that may be issued upon exercise of the Warrants.warrants.

 

3
38

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below, as well as those risks described in the sections titled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” each contained in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017,2018 and our Quarterly Reports for the periods ended March 31, 2019 and June 30, 2019, which hashave been filed with the SEC and isare incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, as well as all other information in this prospectus or in any other documents incorporated by reference including our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.reference. Each of the risks described in these sections and documents could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, and could result in a complete loss of your investment. This prospectus and the incorporated documents also contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including the risks mentioned above.

  

Risks Related to Our Business

 

The majority of our net sales come from a relatively small number of customers and products in a limited number of market sectors; if we lose any of these customers or if there are problems in those market sectors, our net sales and operating results could decline significantly.

 

In each of the yearsthree months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016,June 30, 2019, we derived approximately 12%17% of our product revenue from one customer and in the six months ended June 30, 2019, we derived approximately 20% of our revenue from our relationship with one distributorcustomer. In the three months ended March 31, 2018, we derived approximately 38% of our products.product revenue from three customers and in the six months ended June 30, 2018, we derived approximately 27% of our revenue from two customers. No other customer accounted for more than 10% of revenue in 2017the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 or 2016.2018. In the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, we derived approximately 82% and 87%, of our revenue from CryoStor products, respectively. In each of the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, we derived approximately 86%, of our revenue from CryoStor products. At June 30, 2019, two customers accounted for approximately 28% of total gross accounts receivable. At December 31, 2018, three customers accounted for approximately 71% of total gross accounts receivable. Our principal customers may vary from period to period, and our principal customers may not continue to purchase products from us at current levels, or at all. Significant reductions in net sales to any of these customers or our failure to make appropriate choices to the customers we serve, could seriously harm our business. In addition, we focus our sales to customers in only a few market sectors. Each of these sectors is subject to macroeconomic conditions as well as trends and conditions that are sector specific. Shifts in the performance of a sector served by us, as well as the economic, business and/or regulatory conditions that affect the sector, or our failure to choose appropriate sectors can particularly impact us. Any weakness in the market sectors in which our customers are concentrated could negatively affect our business and results of operations.

 

WeWhile we have achieved net income for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 and for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2019, we recently acquired Astero and the remaining 56% of SAVSU that we did not own, both of which have had a history of losses and may never achieve or maintain profitability.

We have incurred annual consolidated operating losses since inception and may continue to incur operating losses. For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had consolidated net losses attributable to us of $2.5 million and $6.9 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2017, our consolidated accumulated deficit was approximately $74 million. We may not be able to successfully achievesustain or increase our profitability in the future.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 we achieved net income attributable to common shareholders of approximately $2.9 million. This was the first full year of profitability in our history. Additionally, for the three months ended June 30, 2019, we achieved net income attributable to common shareholders of approximately $838,000. However, we have an accumulated deficit of $69.8 million as of June 30, 2019. Our ability to sustain profitability. Successful transition toor increase profitable operations is dependent upon achieving a levelon numerous factors, including the consolidation of revenues adequatethe financial statements of Astero and SAVSU, the continued use by our customers of our various products, the continued availability of the raw materials necessary to supportmanufacture our cost structure.products, our market share and our margins. If we fail to maintain or increase our revenue or manage our expenses, we may not sustain or increase profitability in the future.

39

We may fail to realize the expected benefits from the Astero and SAVSU acquisitions.

Although we expect to realize benefits from the Astero and SAVSU acquisition, there can be no assurances we will realize these anticipated benefits. We face challenges and complexities in the integration of Astero and SAVSU into our Company, including the following:

Integrating the culture of the companies;

Coordinating and integrating geographically separate organizations;

Coordinating and developing new and current product lines that were already in development under the Astero and SAVSU management team;

Integrating and consolidating information technology, contract manufacturing and financial infrastructures;

Coordinating the marketing and selling of a new product line within our current and expanded customer base;

Reducing management distractions and remaining focused on important business objectives.

If we do not successfully manage these issues and other issues inherently involved in the integration process, we may not achieve the anticipated benefits from the Astero and SAVSU acquisitions.

 

We may engage in future acquisitions or strategic transactions which may require us to seek additional financing or financial commitments, increase our expenses and/or present significant distractions to our management. 

We are actively evaluating opportunities to grow our portfolio of cell and gene therapy tools and services. In the event we engage in an acquisition or strategic transaction, including by making an investment in another company, we may need to acquire additional capital to reach and maintain a sustainable level of positive cash flow and if we raise such additional capitalfinancing. Obtaining financing through the issuance or sale of additional equity and/or convertible debt securities, your ownership willif possible, may not be diluted,at favorable terms and equity securities issued may have rights, preferences and privileges superiorresult in additional dilution to the shares of common stock.

If we are unable to achieve profitability sufficient to permitour current stockholders. Additionally, any such transaction may require us to fundincur non-recurring or other charges, may increase our near and long-term expenditures and may pose significant integration challenges or disrupt our management or business, which could adversely affect our operations and other planned actions, wefinancial results. For example, an acquisition or strategic transaction may be required to raise additional capital. Thereentail numerous operational and financial risks, including:

exposure to unknown liabilities;

disruption of our business and diversion of our management's time and attention in order to develop acquired products or technologies;

higher than expected acquisition and integration costs;

write-downs of assets or goodwill or impairment charges;

increased amortization expenses;

difficulty and cost in combining the operations and personnel of any acquired businesses with our operations and personnel;

impairment of relationships with key suppliers or customers of any acquired businesses due to changes in management and ownership; and

inability to retain key employees of any acquired businesses.

Accordingly, although there can be no assurance that such capital would be available on favorable terms,we will undertake or at all. Ifsuccessfully complete any transactions of the nature described above, any transactions that we raise additional capital through the issuance of equity or convertible debt securities, the percentage ownership held by existing stockholders may be reduced, and the market price of our common stockdo complete could fall due to an increased number of shares available for sale in the market. Further, our board has the authority to establish the designation of additional shares of preferred stock that may be convertible into common stock without any action by our stockholders, and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions, including voting rights, of such shares. Any such additional shares of preferred stock may have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of outstanding common stock, and the issuance and conversion of any such preferred stock would further dilute the percentage ownership of our stockholders. Debt financing, if available, may involve restrictive covenants, which may limit our operating flexibility with respect to certain business matters. If we are unable to secure additional capital as circumstances require, we may not be able to fund our planned activities or continue our operations.

There is uncertainty surrounding our continued ability to successfully commercialize our HypoThermosol® FRS and CryoStor® biopreservation media products.

Our growth depends on our continued ability to successfully develop, commercialize and market our HypoThermosol® FRS, CryoStor®, and BloodStor® biopreservation media products. Even in markets that do not require us to obtain regulatory approvals, our products will not be used unless they present an attractive alternative to competitive products and the benefits and cost savings achieved through their use outweigh the cost of our products. If we are unable to develop and sustain a market for our products, this will have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and our ability to continue and grow our business.prospects.

4

 

The success of our HypoThermosol®HypoThermosol FRS and CryoStor®CryoStor biopreservation media products, isThawSTAR automated thawing products and evo cold chain management products are dependent, in part, on successful customer regulatory approvals and commercial success of new regenerative medicine products and therapies.

 

Our HypoThermosol®HypoThermosol FRS and CryoStor®CryoStor biopreservation media products, ThawSTAR thawing products and evo cold chain management products are marketed to biotechnology companies, specialty couriers and research institutions engaged in research and development of cell, gene and tissue engineering therapies. The end-products or therapies developed by these biotechnology companies and research institutions are subject to substantial regulatory oversight by the United States Food and Drug Administration, or FDA and other regulatory bodies, and many of these therapies are years away from commercialization. Thus demand, if any, for HypoThermosol® FRS and CryoStor® is expected to be limited for several years. Failure of the end-products that use our biopreservation media products to receive regulatory approvals and be successfully commercialized will have an adverse effect in the demand for our products.

40

 

We face significant competition.

 

The life sciences industry is highly competitive. We anticipate that we will continue to face increased competition as existing companies may choose to develop new or improved products and as new companies could enter the market with new technologies.technologies, any of which could compete with our products or even render our products obsolete. Many of our competitors are significantly larger than us and have greater financial, technical, research, marketing, sales, distribution and other resources than us. There can be no assurance that our competitors will not succeed in developing or marketing technologies and products that are more effective or commercially attractive than any that are being developed or marketed by us, or that such competitors will not succeed in obtaining regulatory approval, or introducing or commercializing any such products, prior to us. Such developments could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Also, even if we can compete successfully, there can be no assurance that we couldcan continue do so in a profitable manner.

 

We are dependent on outside suppliers for all our manufacturing media supplies.

We rely on outside suppliers for all our manufacturing supplies, parts and components. Although we believe we could develop alternative sources of supply for most of these components within a reasonable period of time, there can be no assurance that, in the future, our current or alternative sources will be able to meet all our demands on a timely basis. Unavailability of necessary components could require us to re-engineer our products to accommodate available substitutions, which could increase costs to us and/or have a material adverse effect on manufacturing schedules, products performance and market acceptance. In addition, an uncorrected defect or supplier’s variation in a component or raw material, either unknown to us or incompatible with our manufacturing process, could harm our ability to manufacture products. We might not be able to find a sufficient alternative supplier in a reasonable amount of time, or on commercially reasonable terms, if at all. If we fail to obtain a supplier for the components of our products, our operations could be disrupted.

 

Our investment in our biologistex CCM, LLC joint venture (“SAVSU”) may be adversely impacted by the failure of SAVSU.

We own a minority equity interest in SAVSU and we have limited control over management decisions. Accordingly, our ability to profit from our equity interest in SAVSU will be largely dependent on the current management of SAVSU. SAVSU faces all the inherent risks associated with the development, marketing and operation of a new product line. In addition, we face the risk that SAVSU will not be able to fulfill product orders based on our sales effort. If SAVSU fails to fulfill its obligations due to strategic business interests, financial condition or otherwise, SAVSU may be required to raise additional capital, which will dilute our ownership, or SAVSU may not be able to continue its operations, in which case we may suffer losses.

Our success will depend on our ability to attract and retain key personnel.

 

In order to execute our business plan, we must attract, retain and motivate highly qualified managerial, scientific, manufacturing, and sales personnel. If we fail to attract and retain skilled scientific and sales personnel, our sales efforts will be hindered. Our future success depends to a significant degree upon the continued services of key scientific and technical personnel. If we do not attract and retain qualified personnel, we will not be able to achieve our growth objectives.

 

If we were to be successfully sued related to our products, operations or other activities, we could face substantial liabilities that may exceed our resources.

We may be held liable if any of our products or operations cause injury or death. We are subject to certain litigation described in our Exchange Act reports, and may also face other types of litigation, including those related to alleged breaches of contract or applicable laws or of our duties to third parties. We currently maintain commercial general and umbrella liability policies and a product liability insurance policy. When necessary for our products, we intend to obtain additional product liability insurance. Insurance coverage may be prohibitively expensive, may not fully cover potential liabilities or may not be available in the future. Inability to obtain sufficient insurance coverage at an acceptable cost or otherwise to protect against potential product liability claims could prevent or inhibit the commercialization of our products. If we were to be sued for any injury caused by or associated with our products or operations or in connection with other matters, or if our existing litigation proceeds, the litigation could consume substantial time and attention of our management, and the resulting liability could have a material adverse effect on us.

Regulatory or other difficultiesDifficulties in manufacturing could have an adverse effect upon our expenses and our media product revenues.

 

We currently manufacture all of our biopreservation media products. The manufacturemanufacturing of theseour products is difficult complex and highly regulated.complex. To support our current and prospective clinical customers, we comply with and intend to continue to comply with cGMP in the manufacture of our products. Our ability to adequately and in a timely manner manufacture and supply our biopreservation media products in a timely matter is dependent on the uninterrupted and efficient operation of our facilities and those of third-parties producing raw materials and supplies upon which we rely in our manufacturing. The manufacture of our products may be impacted by:

 

·

availability or contamination of raw materials and components used in the manufacturing process, particularly those for which we have no other source or supplier;

·

the ongoing capacity of our facilities;

·

our ability to comply with new regulatory requirements, including our ability to comply with cGMP;

·

inclement weather and natural disasters;

 5

·changes in forecasts of future demand for product components;

·

potential facility contamination by microorganisms or viruses;

·

updating of manufacturing specifications; and

·

product quality success rates and yields.

 

If efficient manufacture and supply of our products is interrupted, we may experience delayed shipments or supply constraints. If we are at any time unable to provide an uninterrupted supply of our products to customers, our customers may be unable to supply their end-products incorporating our products to their patients and other customers, which could materially and adversely affect our product sales and results of operations.

 

41

IfWe are dependent on our contract manufacturer for ThawSTAR thawing products and evo cold chain management products.

We rely on an outside manufacturer for all our ThawSTAR devices and SAVSU shipping containers. Although we believe we could develop alternative sources within a reasonable period of time, there can be no assurance that, in the future, our current or alternative sources will be able to meet all our demands on a timely basis. Unavailability of necessary components could require us to re-engineer our products to accommodate available substitutions, which could increase costs to us and/or have a material adverse effect on manufacturing schedules, products performance and market acceptance. In addition, an uncorrected defect or variation in a ThawSTAR device or SAVSU shipping container, could affect our future sales with our customers. 

While we are not currently subject to FDA or other regulatory approvals, if we become subject to additional regulatory requirements, the manufacture and sale of our products may be delayed or prevented, or we may become subject to increased expenses.

 

None of our products are subject to FDA or other regulatory approvals. In particular, we are not required to sponsor formal prospective, controlled clinical-trials to establish safety and efficacy. Additionally, we comply with cGMP requirements. This is done solely to support our current and prospective clinical customers. However, there can be no assurance that we will not be required to obtain approval from the FDA, or foreign regulatory authorities, as applicable, prior to marketing any of our products in the future. Any such requirements could delay or prevent the sale of our products or may subject us to additional expenses.

 

We may be adversely affected if we violate privacy and security regulations or suffer a data breach.

Federal and state laws protect the confidentiality of certain patient health information, including patient records, and restrict the unauthorized use and disclosure of such information. In particular, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, and its implementing privacy, security, and breach notification regulations, collectively, HIPAA Standards, govern the use and disclosure of protected health information by “covered entities,” which are healthcare providers that submit electronic claims, health plans and healthcare clearinghouses, as well as their "business associates" and their subcontractors. Our employee health benefit plans are considered “covered entities” and, therefore, are subject to the HIPAA Standards.

We may be adversely affected if our internal control over financial reporting fails or is circumvented.

We regularly review and update our internal controls, disclosure controls and procedures, and corporate governance policies. We are required under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to report annually on our internal control over financial reporting, but as a smaller reporting company we are exempt from the requirement to have our independent accountants attest to our internal control over financial reporting. If it were to be determined that our internal control over financial reporting is not effective, such shortcoming could have an adverse effect on our business and financial results and the price of our common stock could be negatively affected. This reporting requirement could also make it more difficult or more costly for us to obtain certain types of insurance, including director and officer liability insurance, and we may be forced to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain the same or similar coverage. Any system of internal controls, however well designed and operated, is based in part on certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurances that the objectives of the system are met. Any failure or circumvention of the controls and procedures or failure to comply with regulation concerning control and procedures could have a material effect on our business, results of operation and financial condition. Any of these events could result in an adverse reaction in the financial marketplace due to a loss of investor confidence in the reliability of our financial statements, which ultimately could negatively affect the market price of our shares, increase the volatility of our stock price and adversely affect our ability to raise additional funding. The effect of these events could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on our board and our board committees and as executive officers.

Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property

 

Expiration of our patents may subject us to increased competition and reduce or eliminate our opportunity to generate product revenue.

 

The patents for our products have varying expiration dates and, when these patents expire, we may be subject to increased competition and we may not be able to recover our development costs. In some of the larger economic territories, such as the United States and Europe, patent term extension/restoration may be available. We cannot, however, be certain that an extension will be granted or, if granted, what the applicable time or the scope of patent protection afforded during any extended period will be. If we are unable to obtain patent term extension/restoration or some other exclusivity, we could be subject to increased competition and our opportunity to establish or maintain product revenue could be substantially reduced or eliminated. Furthermore, we may not have sufficient time to recover our development costs prior to the expiration of our U.S. and non-U.S. patents.

 

US Patent 6,045,990, which provides patent coverage relating to HypoThermosol®HypoThermosol FRS, will expireexpired in April 2019, and its foreign patent counterparts will expireexpired in July 2019, reducing2019. This may reduce the barrier to entry for competition for this product, which may materially affect the pricing of HypoThermosol®HypoThermosol FRS and our ability to retain market share. We may file extensions for this patent. We hold various trade secrets and other confidential know-how related to the manufacturing and testing of our products which limit our exposure upon the expiration of US patent 6,045,990.

6

 

Our proprietary rights may not adequately protect our technologies and products.

 

Our commercial success will depend on our ability to obtain patents and/or regulatory exclusivity and maintain adequate protection for our technologies and products in the United States and other countries. We will be able to protect our proprietary rights from unauthorized use by third parties only to the extent that our proprietary technologies and products are covered by valid and enforceable patents or are effectively maintained as trade secrets.

42

 

We intend to apply for additional patents covering both our technologies and products, as we deem appropriate. We may, however, fail to apply for patents on important technologies or products in a timely fashion, if at all. Our existing patents and any future patents we obtain may not be sufficiently broad to prevent others from practicing our technologies or from developing competing products and technologies. In addition, the patent positions of life science industry companies are highly uncertain and involve complex legal and factual questions for which important legal principles remain unresolved. As a result, the validity and enforceability of our patents cannot be predicted with certainty. In addition, we cannot guarantee that:

 

·

we were the first to make the inventions covered by each of our issued patents and pending patent applications;

·

we were the first to file patent applications for these inventions;

·

others will not independently develop similar or alternative technologies or duplicate any of our technologies;

·

any of our pending patent applications will result in issued patents;

·

any of our patents will be valid or enforceable;

·

any patents issued to us will provide us with any competitive advantages, or will not be challenged by third parties; and

·

we will develop additional proprietary technologies that are patentable, or the patents of others will not have an adverse effect on our business.

 

The actual protection afforded by a patent varies on a product-by-product basis, from country to country and depends on many factors, including the type of patent, the scope of its coverage, the availability of regulatory related extensions, the availability of legal remedies in a particular country and the validity and enforceability of the patents. Our ability to maintain and solidify our proprietary position for our products will depend on our success in obtaining effective claims and enforcing those claims once granted. Our issued patents and those that may be issued in the future, or those licensed to us, may be challenged, invalidated, unenforceable or circumvented, and the rights granted under any issued patents may not provide us with proprietary protection or competitive advantages against competitors with similar products. We also rely on trade secrets to protect some of our technology, especially where it is believed that patent protection is inappropriate or unobtainable. However, trade secrets are difficult to maintain. While we use reasonable efforts to protect our trade secrets, our employees, consultants, contractors or scientific and other advisors may unintentionally or willfully disclose our proprietary information to competitors. Enforcement of claims that a third party has illegally obtained and is using trade secrets is expensive, time consuming and uncertain. In addition, non-U.S. courts are sometimes less willing than U.S. courts to protect trade secrets. If our competitors independently develop equivalent knowledge, methods and know-how, we would not be able to assert our trade secrets against them and our business could be harmed.

 

We may not be able to protect our intellectual property rights throughout the world.

 

Filing, prosecuting and defending patents on all our products in every jurisdiction would be prohibitively expensive. Competitors may use our technologies in jurisdictions where we have not obtained patent protection to develop their own products. These products may compete with our products and may not be covered by any patent claims or other intellectual property rights.

 

The laws of some non-U.S. countries do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States, and many companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending such rights in foreign jurisdictions. The legal systems of certain countries, particularly certain developing countries, do not favor the enforcement of patents and other intellectual property protection, particularly those relating to biotechnology, which could make it difficult for us to stop the infringement of our patents. Proceedings to enforce our patent rights in foreign jurisdictions could result in substantial cost and divert our efforts and attention from other aspects of our business.

 

If we fail to protect our intellectual property rights, our competitors may take advantage of our ideas and compete directly against us.

 

Our success will depend to a significant degree on our ability to secure and protect intellectual property rights and enforce patent and trademark protections relating to our technology. While we believe that the protection of patents and trademarks is important to our business, we also rely on a combination of copyright, trade secret, nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements, know-how and continuing technological innovation to maintain our competitive position. From time to time, litigation may be advisable to protect our intellectual property position. However, these legal means afford only limited protection and may not adequately protect our rights or permit us to gain or keep any competitive advantage. Any litigation in this regard could be costly, and it is possible that we will not have sufficient resources to fully pursue litigation or to protect our intellectual property rights. This could result in the rejection or invalidation of our existing and future patents. Any adverse outcome in litigation relating to the validity of our patents, or any failure to pursue litigation or otherwise to protect our patent position, could materially harm our business and financial condition. In addition, confidentiality agreements with our employees, consultants, customers, and key vendors may not prevent the unauthorized disclosure or use of our technology. It is possible that these agreements will be breached or that they will not be enforceable in every instance, and that we will not have adequate remedies for any such breach. Enforcement of these agreements may be costly and time consuming. Furthermore, the laws of foreign countries may not protect our intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States.

 

7
43

 

We may incur substantial costs as a result of litigation or other proceedings relating to patent and other intellectual property rights and we may be unable to protect our rights to, or use of, our technology.

 

If we choose to go to court to stop someone else from using the inventions claimed in our patents or our licensed patents, that individual or company has the right to ask the court to rule that these patents are invalid and/or should not be enforced against that third party. These lawsuits are expensive and would consume time and other resources even if we were successful in stopping the infringement of these patents. In addition, there is a risk that the court will decide that these patents are invalid or unenforceable and that we do not have the right to stop the other party from using the inventions. There is also the risk that, even if the validity or enforceability of these patents is upheld, the court will refuse to stop the other party on the grounds that such other party’s activities do not infringe our rights.

 

If we wish to use the technology claimed in issued and unexpired patents owned by others, we will need to obtain a license from the owner, enter into litigation to challenge the validity or enforceability of the patents or incur the risk of litigation in the event that the owner asserts that we infringed its patents. The failure to obtain a license to technology or the failure to challenge an issued patent that we may require to discover, develop or commercialize our products may have a material adverse effect on us.

 

If a third party asserts that we infringed its patents or other proprietary rights, we could face a number of risks that could seriously harm our results of operations, financial condition and competitive position, including:

 

·

patent infringement and other intellectual property claims, which would be costly and time consuming to defend, whether or not the claims have merit, and which could delay a product and divert management’s attention from our business;

·

substantial damages for past infringement, which we may have to pay if a court determines that our product or technologies infringe a competitor’s patent or other proprietary rights;

·

a court prohibiting us from selling or licensing our technologies unless the third party licenses its patents or other proprietary rights to us on commercially reasonable terms, which it is not required to do; and

·

if a license is available from a third party, we may have to pay substantial royalties or lump-sum payments or grant cross licenses to our patents or other proprietary rights to obtain that license.

 

The biotechnology industry has produced a proliferation of patents, and it is not always clear to industry participants, including us, which patents cover various types of products or methods of use. The coverage of patents is subject to interpretation by the courts, and the interpretation is not always uniform. If we are sued for patent infringement, we would need to demonstrate that our products or methods of use either do not infringe the patent claims of the relevant patent, and/or that the patent claims are invalid, and/or that the patent is unenforceable, and we may not be able to do this. Proving invalidity, in particular, is difficult since it requires a showing of clear and convincing evidence to overcome the presumption of validity enjoyed by issued patents.

 

U.S. patent laws as well as the laws of some foreign jurisdictions provide for provisional rights in published patent applications beginning on the date of publication, including the right to obtain reasonable royalties, if a patent subsequently issues and certain other conditions are met.

 

Because some patent applications in the United States may be maintained in secrecy until the patents are issued, because patent applications in the United States and many foreign jurisdictions are typically not published until 18 months after filing, and because publications in the scientific literature often lag behind actual discoveries, we cannot be certain that others have not filed patent applications for technology covered by our issued patents or our pending applications, or that we were the first to invent the technology.

44

 

Patent applications filed by third parties that cover technology similar to ours may have priority over our patent applications and could further require us to obtain rights to issued patents covering such technologies. If another party files a U.S. patent application on an invention similar to ours, we may elect to participate in or be drawn into an interference proceeding declared by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to determine priority of invention in the United States. The costs of these proceedings could be substantial, and it is possible that such efforts would be unsuccessful, resulting in a loss of our U.S. patent position with respect to such inventions. Some of our competitors may be able to sustain the costs of complex patent litigation more effectively than we can because they have substantially greater resources. In addition, any uncertainties resulting from the initiation and continuation of any litigation could have a material adverse effect on our ability to raise the funds necessary to continue our operations. We cannot predict whether third parties will assert these claims against us, or whether those claims will harm our business. If we are forced to defend against these claims, whether they are with or without any merit and whether they are resolved in favor of or against us, we may face costly litigation and diversion of management’s attention and resources. As a result of these disputes, we may have to develop costly non-infringing technology, or enter into licensing agreements. These agreements, if necessary, may be unavailable on terms acceptable to us, if at all, which could seriously harm our business or financial condition.

 

Risks Related to our Common Stock and Other Securities

 

The market for our common stock is limited and our stock price is volatile.

 

Our common stock, traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market, is volatile and has historically traded at low average daily volumes, resulting in a limited market for the purchaseexperienced price and sale of our common stock.volume fluctuations.

8

 

The market prices of many publicly traded companies, including emerging companies in the life sciences industry, have been, and can be expected to be, highly volatile. The future market price of our common stock could be significantly impacted by numerous factors, including, but not limited to:

 

·

Future sales of our common stock or other fundraising events;

·

Sales of our common stock by existing shareholders;

·

Changes in our capital structure, including stock splits or reverse stock splits;

·

Announcements of technological innovations for new commercial products by our present or potential competitors;

·

Developments concerning proprietary rights;

·

Adverse results in our field or with clinical tests of our products in customer applications;

·

Adverse litigation;

·

Unfavorable legislation or regulatory decisions;

·

Public concerns regarding our products;

·

Variations in quarterly operating results;

·

General trends in the health care industry; and

·

Other factors outside of our control.

A significant percentage of our outstanding common stock is held by twothree stockholders, and these stockholders therefore have significant influence on us and our corporate actions.

 

As of March 20, 2018, twothe date of this prospectus, three of our existing stockholders, Taurus4757 GmbH, orTaurus, WAVI and Casdin, owned, collectively, approximately 7.4 million shares of our common stock representing approximately 37% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock and warrants to purchase approximately 3.3 million shares of our common stock (excluding any securities held by Thomas Girschweiler and Walter Villiger, the owners of Taurus and WAVI, Holdings AG, or WAVI, beneficially owned, collectively, approximately 65.0% of our outstanding shares.respectively). Taurus and WAVI were previously secured lenders to our Company, and the chairman of Taurus, Mr. Girschweiler, is a member of our board.board of directors. Casdin is an institutional investor that became a stockholder in 2018 (see “Prospectus Summary – Selling Stockholders” above). Accordingly, these stockholders have had (in the case of Taurus and WAVI), and will continue to have, significant influence in determining the outcome of any corporate transaction or other matter submitted to the stockholders for approval, including mergers, consolidations and the sale of all or substantially all our assets, election of directors and other significant corporate actions. In addition, without the consent of these stockholders, we could be prevented from entering into transactions that could be beneficial to us.

 

We may be at risk

45

 

Anti-takeover provisions in our charter documents and under Delaware law could make a third-party acquisition of us difficult.

 

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws contain provisions that may discourage unsolicited takeover proposals that stockholders may consider to be in their best interests. These provisions include the ability of our board to designate the terms of and issue new series of preferred stock without stockholder approval and to amend our bylaws without stockholder approval. Further, as a Delaware corporation, we are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which generally prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any business combination with any interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date that the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless certain specific requirements are met as set forth in Section 203. Collectively, these provisions could make a third-party acquisition of us difficult or could discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our common stock.

 

Future sales or the potential forAny future sales of our securities in the public markets may cause the trading price of our common stock to decline and could impair our ability to raise capital through future equity offerings.

 

Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock or other securities in the public markets, or the perception that these sales may occur, could cause the market price of our common stock or other securities to decline and could materially impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional securities. WeIn addition to the 3.3 million warrants to purchase shares of our common stock owned by Taurus and WAVI, we have a substantial number ofan additional 92,000 warrants exercisable to purchase shares of common stock outstanding. Many of the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of those warrantsoutstanding which will be freely tradable.tradable upon exercise. We have agreed to use our best efforts to keep a registration statement registering the issuance and resale of many such shares effective during the term of the warrants. In addition, we have a significant number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to other outstanding options and rights. If such shares are issued upon exercise of options, warrants or other rights, or if we issue additional securities in a public offering or a private placement, such sales or any resales of such securities could further adversely affect the market price of our common stock. The sale of a large number of shares of our common stock or other securities also might make it more difficult for us to sell equity or equity-related securities in the future at a time and at the prices that we deem appropriate.

 

We do not anticipate declaring any cash dividends on our common stock.

 

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock and do not plan to pay any cash dividends in the near future. Our current policy is to retain all funds and earnings for use in the operation and expansion of our business.

 

9
46

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We expect towill not receive netany proceeds from the sale of the common stock upon exercise ofby the Warrants to be approximately $13.4 million, which assumes all of the Warrants are exercised in full, for cash, at the exercise price of $4.75 per share. We cannot predict when or if the Warrants will be exercised, however, and it is possible that the Warrants may expire and never be exercised. In certain circumstances, Warrants may be exercised pursuant to the cashless exercise features of the Warrants.

We do not have a specific plan for the use of proceeds of this offering; rather, we intend to use the net proceeds from this public offering for general corporate purposes, including working capital. We will have broad discretion over the manner in which the net proceeds of this offering will be applied, and we may not use the proceeds in a manner desired by ourselling stockholders. Although we have no present intention of doing so, future events may require us to reallocate the offering proceeds.

Pending use of the net proceeds from this offering, we may invest the net proceeds in short-term, interest-bearing, investment-grade securities. We cannot predict whether the proceeds invested will yield a favorable return.

 

10
47

 

DILUTIONDETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE

 

The selling stockholders will offer common stock at the prevailing market prices or a privately negotiated price as it may determine from time to time.

An investor

The offering price of our common stock to be sold by the selling stockholders does not necessarily bear any relationship to our book value, assets, past operating results, financial condition or any other established criteria of value. The facts considered in determining the offering price were our financial condition and prospects, our limited operating history and the general condition of the securities market.

In addition, there is no assurance that acquires additionalour common stock will trade at market prices in excess of the offering price as prices for common stock in any public market will be determined in the marketplace and may be influenced by many factors, including the depth and liquidity.

48

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

The following table sets forth certain information as of September 19, 2019 regarding the selling stockholders and the shares of common stock uponcurrently owned by them and offered by them in this prospectus. Except as indicated in the exercisefootnotes to the following table, the selling stockholders named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares set forth opposite their name. The percentage of ownership of the Warrants may experience additional dilution depending on our net tangible book value atselling stockholders in the time of exercise. Our net tangible book value as of December 31, 2017 was approximately $5.8 million, or approximately $0.42 per share of our common stock. Net tangible book value per share as of December 31, 2017following table is equal to our total tangible assets minus total liabilities and preferred stock, all divided by the number ofbased upon 20,344,825 shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2017.September 19, 2019. 

 

Assuming that we issue all 2,817,444 sharesOther than as described in the footnotes below, none of the selling stockholders or their affiliates has held a position as an officer or director of the Company, nor do the selling stockholders or any of their affiliates have any material relationship of any kind with us or any of our affiliates. All information with respect to share ownership has been furnished by the selling stockholders. The common stock upon exercisebeing offered is being registered to permit secondary trading of the Warrants at a per share cash exercise priceshares and the selling stockholders may offer all or part of $4.75 per share, and after deducting the estimated offering expenses payable by us, our net tangible book value as of December 31, 2017 would have been approximately $19.2 million, or approximately $1.14 per share of our common stock. This amount represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of approximately $0.73 per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of approximately $3.61 per share to new investors acquiring common stock uponowned for resale from time to time.  Other than as described in the exercisefootnotes below, the selling stockholders do not have any family relationships with our officers, directors or controlling stockholders. Furthermore, none of the Warrants.

We determine dilution by subtracting the adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering from the exercise price per shareselling stockholders is a registered broker-dealer or an affiliate of our common stock. The following table illustrates the dilution in net tangible book value per share to new investors.a registered broker-dealer.

Exercise price per share $4.75 
Net tangible book value per share of common stock as of December 31, 2017 $0.42 
Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to new investors $0.72 
Adjusted net tangible book value per share as of December 31, 2017 after giving effect to this offering $1.14 
Dilution in net tangible book value per share to new investors $3.61 
Dilution as a percentage of exercise price  76%

 

The amounts above are based on 14,021,422 shares ofterm “selling stockholder” also includes any transferees, pledges, donees, or other successors in interest to the selling stockholders named in the table below. To our knowledge, subject to applicable community property laws, each person named in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to the common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2017.  The amounts also assume no exercise of outstanding options or Warrants or other warrants or rightsset forth opposite such person’s name. We will file a supplement to acquire common stock since that date.this prospectus (or a post-effective amendment hereto, if necessary) to name successors to any named selling stockholder who is able to use this prospectus to resell the securities registered hereby.

 

 

Name of Selling Stockholder

Number of Shares of Common Stock Owned 

Prior to Offering

Maximum Number of Shares of Common Stock to be Sold Pursuant

to this Prospectus

Number of Shares of Common Stock Owned

After Offering Assuming All

Shares are Sold (1)

Percentage  of Common Stock Owned

After Offering Assuming All

Shares are Sold (1)

Casdin Partners Master Fund, LP (2)

2,428,571

2,428,571

0

-

Taurus4757 GmbH (3)

1,507,713

162,760

1,344,953

6.6%

WAVI Holding AG (4)

3,478,347

162,761

3,315,586

16.3%

SAVSU Origin, LLC (5)

1,100,000

1,100,000

0

-

To the extent that any of our outstanding options, warrants or other rights to acquire common stock (other___________________________

* Less than the Warrants) are exercised, we grant additional options or awards under our stock incentive plans or issue additional warrants or preferred stock, or we issue additional shares of common stock in the future, there may be further dilution to new investors.1%

 

 11

1.

Assumes the sale of all shares offered pursuant to this prospectus. 

 

2.

Consists of 1,000,000 shares of common stock acquired by the selling stockholder pursuant to a private sale with an affiliate of the Company in April 2018 and 1,428,571 shares of common stock acquired by the selling stockholder in a private placement transaction with the Company that closed on or about August 15, 2018.  Eli Casdin is the managing member of Casdin Capital, LLC, which is the investment manager of the Selling Shareholder, and by virtue of such position exercises the voting and investment control over the shares of common stock owned by the selling stockholder.

3.

Thomas Girschweiler, a director of the Company, exercises the voting and investment control for the selling stockholder.

4.

Walter Villiger exercises the voting and investment control for the selling stockholder.

5.

Teb Barnard exercises the voting and investment control for the selling stockholder.

 

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

The common stock held by the selling stockholders may be sold, distributed, transferred or otherwise disposed of from time to time by the selling stockholders directly to one or more purchasers or through brokers, dealers, or underwriters who may act solely as agents at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market prices, at negotiated prices, or at fixed prices, which may be sold on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares are traded or in private transactions. The sale of the selling stockholders’ common stock offered by this prospectus may be effected in one or more of the following methods:

ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

transactions involving cross or block trades;

purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;

an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;

in privately negotiated transactions;

short sales after the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, becomes effective;

broker-dealers may agree with the selling stockholder to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;

through the writing of options on the shares;

a combination of any such methods of sale; and

any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable, the shares of the selling stockholders may be sold in the states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in certain states, such shares may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and complied with.

The selling stockholders may also sell shares of common stock under Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus. In addition, the selling stockholders may transfer the shares of common stock by other means not described in this prospectus.

In connection with the sale of the shares of common stock or interests in shares of common stock, the selling stockholders may enter into hedging transactions, provided that to the extent such hedging transactions involve short sales to be covered by the Shares, such transactions occur only after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling stockholders may also sell shares of common stock short after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The selling stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).

The selling stockholders may also sell the shares directly to market makers acting as principals and/or broker-dealers acting as agents for themselves or their customers. Such broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling stockholder and/or the purchasers of shares for whom such broker-dealers may act as agents or to whom they sell as principal or both, which compensation as to a particular broker-dealer might be in excess of customary commissions. Market makers and block purchasers purchasing the shares will do so for their own account and at their own risk. It is possible that the selling stockholders will attempt to sell shares of common stock in block transactions to market makers or other purchasers at a price per share which may be below the then market price. The selling stockholders cannot assure that all or any of the shares offered in this prospectus will be issued to, or sold by, the selling stockholder.

Brokers, dealers, underwriters, or agents participating in the distribution of the shares held by the selling stockholders as agents may receive compensation in the form of commissions, discounts, or concessions from the selling stockholders and/or purchasers of the common stock for whom the broker-dealers may act as agent.  The selling stockholders may agree to indemnify any agent, dealer or broker-dealer that participates in transactions involving sales of the shares if liabilities are imposed on that person under the Securities Act. 

The selling stockholders acquired the securities offered hereby in the ordinary course of business and have advised us that they have not entered into any agreements, understandings or arrangements with any underwriters or broker-dealers regarding the sale of their shares of common stock, nor is there an underwriter or coordinating broker acting in connection with a proposed sale of shares of common stock by the selling stockholders. If we are notified by the selling stockholder that any material arrangement has been entered into with a broker-dealer for the sale of shares of common stock, if required, we will file a supplement to this prospectus.

Taurus and WAVI have informed us that on or about June 18, 2019, each of Taurus and WAVI entered into separate stock purchase agreements with a purchaser to sell 162,760 shares and 162,761 shares, respectively, to such purchaser for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $5,000,000 (or $15.36 per share). The transactions contemplated by the stock purchase agreements is expected to close upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

With regard only to the shares it sells for its own behalf, each selling stockholder may be deemed an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.  This prospectusoffering as it relates to 2,817,444each selling stockholder will terminate on the date that all shares issued to and issuable to such selling stockholder that are offered by this prospectus have been sold by the selling stockholder.

We may suspend the sale of shares by the selling stockholders pursuant to this prospectus for certain periods of time for certain reasons, including if the prospectus is required to be supplemented or amended to include additional material information.

If the selling stockholders use this prospectus for any sale of the shares of common stock, the selling stockholders will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

We have agreed to indemnify the selling stockholders against certain liabilities, including under the Securities Act and state securities laws, relating to the registration of the shares offered by this prospectus

Regulation M

The anti-manipulation rules of Regulation M under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) may apply to sales of our common stock issuable uponand activities of the exercise of our outstanding Warrants. The Warrants were offered and sold by usselling stockholders.

We have advised the selling stockholders that while they are engaged in a public offering pursuant to a prospectus dated March 20, 2014, as supplemented, which prospectus also covered the offer and sale by usdistribution of the shares included in this prospectus it is required to comply with Regulation M promulgated under the Exchange Act. With certain exceptions, Regulation M precludes the selling stockholders, any affiliated purchasers, and any broker-dealer or other person who participates in the distribution from bidding for or purchasing, or attempting to induce any person to bid for or purchase any security which is the subject of our common stock underlying the Warrants. The ongoing offer and sale by usdistribution until the entire distribution is complete. Regulation M also prohibits any bids or purchases made in order to stabilize the price of a security in connection with the distribution of that security. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is being made pursuant tooffered hereby this prospectus. The Warrants are exercisable until 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on March 25, 2021 at an exercise price of $4.75 per share of our common stock, or in certain circumstances on a cashless exercise basis, subject to adjustment upon events specified in the Warrants.

The exercise price per share of the Warrants was negotiated between us and the placement agent in our March 2014 public offering after considering a number of factors including, but not limited to the then-current market price of our common stock, trading prices of our common stock over a period of time, the illiquidity and volatility of our common stock prevailing market conditions, our historical performance, our future prospects and the future prospects of our industry in general, our capital structure, estimates of our business potential and earnings prospects, the present state of our development and an assessment of our management and the consideration of the above factors in relation to market valuation of companies engaged in businesses and activities similar to ours.

All of the Warrants are outstanding, and no additional Warrants will be issued. We will deliver shares of our common stock upon exercise of a Warrant, in whole or in part. We will not issue fractional shares. Each Warrant contains instructions for exercise. In order to exercise a Warrant, the holder must deliver to us, or our transfer agent, the information required by the Warrants, along with payment of the exercise price for the shares to be purchased. We will then deliver shares of our common stock in the manner described below in the section titled “Description of Securities – Warrants”.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED

 

General

 

As of the date of this prospectus, our authorized capital stock consisted of 150,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share, of which 4,250 shares of preferred stock are designated as Series A preferred stock. Our board of directors may establish the rights and preferences of the preferred stock from time to time. As of March 20, 2018,September 19, 2019, there were 14,145,41320,344,825 shares of our common stock outstanding and there were 4,2500 shares of Series A preferred stock issued and outstanding.

 

Common Stock

 

Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share. Our certificate of incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting. Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends, subject to the rights, if any, of preferred stockholders. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in all of our assets remaining after we pay our liabilities and distribute the liquidation preference of any then outstanding preferred stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of holders of any series of preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future. Holders of common stock have no preemptive or other subscription or conversion rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. All outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and nonassessable, and any shares of our common stock to be issued upon an offering pursuant to this prospectus and the related prospectus supplement will be fully paid and nonassessable upon issuance.

  

Warrants

The material terms and provisions of the Warrants being offered pursuant to this prospectus are summarized below. This summary of some provisions of the Warrants is not complete. For the complete terms of the Warrants, you should refer to the form Warrant filed as an exhibit to the registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-192880).

The Warrants were issued on March 25, 2014, pursuant to a prospectus dated March 20, 2014.  The Warrants are governed by the terms of a physical Warrant certificate. Each whole Warrant entitles the purchaser to purchase one share of our common stock at a price equal to $4.75 per share at any time for up to seven years after the date of issuance. The holder of a Warrant will not be deemed a holder of our underlying common stock until the Warrant is exercised.

Subject to certain limitations as described below the Warrants are immediately exercisable and expire on the seventh anniversary of the date of issuance. Subject to limited exceptions, a holder of Warrants will not have the right to exercise any portion of its Warrants if the holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.

The exercise price and the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of recapitalization events, stock dividends, stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications, reorganizations or similar events affecting our common stock, and also upon any distributions of assets, including cash, stock or other property to our stockholders. The Warrant holders must pay the exercise price in cash upon exercise of the Warrants, unless such Warrant holders are utilizing the cashless exercise provision of the Warrants. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised Warrants will become void.

In addition, in the event we consummate a merger or consolidation with or into another person or other reorganization event in which our common shares are converted or exchange for securities, cash or other property, or we sell, lease, license, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets or we or another person acquire 50% or more of our outstanding common shares, then following such event, the holders of the Warrants will be entitled to receive upon exercise of the Warrants the same kind and amount of securities, cash or property which the holders would have received had they exercised the Warrants immediately prior to such fundamental transaction. Any successor to us or surviving entity shall assume the obligations under the Warrants. In addition, as further described in the form of Warrant, in the event of any fundamental transaction completed for cash, or a going private transaction under Rule 13e-3 of the Exchange Act, or involving a person not trading on a national securities exchange, the holders of the Warrants will have the right to require us to purchase the Warrants for an amount in cash that is determined in accordance with a formula set forth in the Warrants.

Upon the holder’s exercise of a Warrant, we will issue the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrant within three business days following our receipt of notice of exercise.

Prior to the exercise of any Warrants to purchase common stock, holders of the Warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the common stock purchasable upon exercise, including the right to vote or to receive any payments of dividends on the common stock purchasable upon exercise.

Warrant holders may exercise Warrants only if the issuance of the common shares upon exercise of the Warrants is covered by an effective registration statement, or an exemption from registration is available under the Securities Act and the securities laws of the state in which the holder resides. The Warrant holders must pay the exercise price in cash upon exercise of the Warrants unless there is not an effective registration statement or, if required, there is not an effective state law registration or exemption covering the issuance of the shares underlying the Warrants (in which case, the Warrants may only be exercised via a “cashless” exercise provision).

13

Anti-Takeover Provisions

 

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws include a number of provisions that could deter hostile takeovers or delay or prevent changes in control of our company, including the following:

 

·

the chairman of the board and the president may call a special meeting of the stockholders at any time, and upon written request of the holders of 35% of the outstanding shares entitled to vote at the meeting, the secretary and president are required to call special meetings of stockholders, and the business transacted at such special meetings of stockholders is limited to the business stated in the notice of such meetings;

·

advance notice procedures for stockholders seeking to nominate candidates for election as directors at our annual meeting of stockholders, including certain requirements regarding the form and content of a stockholder’s notice;

·

our board of directors may designate the terms of and issue new series of preferred stock;

·

unless otherwise required by our bylaws, our certificate of incorporation or by law, our board may amend our bylaws without stockholder approval; and

·

our board may fill vacancies on our board of directors.

  

In addition, we are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any “business combination” with an “interested stockholder,” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which a person became an “interested stockholder,” unless:

 

·

prior to such date the board of directors of the corporation approved either the “business combination” or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an “interested stockholder”;

·

upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an “interested stockholder,” the “interested stockholder” owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number of voting shares outstanding (but not the voting shares owned by the “interested stockholder”) those shares owned (1) by persons who are directors and also officers and (2) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

·

at or subsequent to such time the “business combination” is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of a least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the “interested stockholder.”

  

A “business combination” includes mergers, stock or asset sales and other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the “interested stockholders.” An “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns (or within three years, did own) 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock. Although Section 203 permits us to elect not to be governed by its provisions, we have not made this election. As a result of the application of Section 203, our potential acquirers may be discouraged from attempting to effect an acquisition transaction with us, thereby possibly depriving holders of our securities of certain opportunities to sell or otherwise dispose of such securities at above-market prices pursuant to such transactions.

 

 

INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES

 

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or Delaware law, inter alia, empowers a Delaware corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. Similar indemnity is authorized for such persons against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of any such threatened, pending or completed action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and provided further that (unless a court of competent jurisdiction otherwise provides) such person shall not have been adjudged liable to the corporation. Any such indemnification may be made only as authorized in each specific case upon a determination by the stockholders or disinterested directors or by independent legal counsel in a written opinion that indemnification is proper because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

Section 145 further authorizes a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise, against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation would otherwise have the power to indemnify him under Section 145. We maintain policies insuring our officers and directors against certain liabilities for actions taken in such capacities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws require us to indemnify our directors to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law or any other applicable law in effect, but if such statute or law is amended, we may change the standard of indemnification only to the extent that such amended statute or law permits us to provide broader indemnification rights to our directors. We must indemnify such officers and employees in the same manner and to the same extent that we are required to indemnify our directors under our certificate of incorporation and bylaws. Our certificate of incorporation limits the personal liability of a director to us or our stockholders to damages for breach of the director’s fiduciary duty. Pursuant to indemnification agreements we entered into with each of our directors, we are further required to indemnify our directors to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law and our bylaws; provided that each such director shall enjoy the greater of (i) the advancement and indemnification rights permitted under our certificate of incorporation and bylaws for directors and officers as of the date of such indemnification agreement or (ii) the benefits so afforded by amendments thereto.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advisedinformed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission,SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is therefore unenforceable.

 

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities offered by this prospectus were passed upon for us by Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP. 

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of our company as of andthe Company for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, consisting of our balance sheets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and 2016the related statements of operations, shareholders' equity, and cash flows for the years then ended, incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 have been audited by Peterson Sullivan LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, to the extent and for the periods set forth in their report, incorporated by reference herein, and are included in reliance upon such report given upon the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

The financial statements of Astero Bio Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2018, consisting of the balance sheet as of December 31, 2018, and the related statements of operations, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for the year then ended, incorporated by reference in this prospectus in reliance uponfrom the report ofCompany’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on June 17, 2019.  have been audited by Peterson Sullivan LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm,auditors’, to the extent and for the periods set forth in their report, incorporated by reference herein, and are included in reliance upon such report given upon the authority of Peterson Sullivan LLPsaid firm as experts in accountingauditing and auditing.accounting.  

  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

We file annual, quarter and periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission using the Commission’s EDGAR system. You may inspect these documents and copy information from them at the Commission’s offices at public reference room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The Commission maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the Commission. The address of such site is http//www.sec.gov.

We have filed a registration statement with the Commission relating to the offering of the shares. The registration statement contains information which is not included in this prospectus. You may inspect or copy the registration statement at the Commission’s public reference facilities or its website.

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not authorized any person to provide you with any information that is different. 

 

INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

 

We are “incorporating by reference” in this prospectus certain documents we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents.  The information in the documents incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. Statements contained in documents that we file with the SEC and that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus will automatically update and supersede information contained in this prospectus, including information in previously filed documents or reports that have been incorporated by reference in this prospectus, to the extent the new information differs from or is inconsistent with the old information.  We have filed or may file the following documents with the SEC and they are incorporated herein by reference as of their respective dates of filing.

 

1.

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20172018 as filed with the SEC on March 9, 2018;15, 2019;

2.

Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2019 and June 30, 2019 as filed with the SEC on May 9, 2019 and August 9, 2019, respectively;

3.

Our Current Reports on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on JanuaryMarch 14, 2019, March 19, 2019, April 5, 2018, January 26, 2018, February2019 (as amended on June 17, 2019), May 9, 2019, June 18, 2019, July 12, 20182019, August 8, 2019 and March 8, 2018;August 13, 2019;

3.

4.

Our definitive proxy statement Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on April 14, 2017;30, 2019; and

4.

5.

The description of the Company’s common stock contained in the Company’s registration statement on Form 8-A, as filed with the Commission on March 19, 2014 under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

 

All documents that we filed with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this registration statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this registration statement that indicates that all securities offered under this prospectus have been sold, or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, will be deemed to be incorporated in this registration statement by reference and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

 

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus shall be deemed modified, superseded or replaced for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus, or in any subsequently filed document that also is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus, modifies, supersedes or replaces such statement. Any statement so modified, superseded or replaced shall not be deemed, except as so modified, superseded or replaced, to constitute a part of this prospectus. None of the information that we disclose under Items 2.02 or 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K or any corresponding information, either furnished under Item 9.01 or included as an exhibit therein, that we may from time to time furnish to the SEC will be incorporated by reference into, or otherwise included in, this prospectus, except as otherwise expressly set forth in the relevant document. Subject to the foregoing, all information appearing in this prospectus is qualified in its entirety by the information appearing in the documents incorporated by reference.

 

You may requests,request, orally or in writing, a copy of these documents, which will be provided to you at no cost (other than exhibits, unless such exhibits are specifically incorporate by reference), by contacting Chief Financial Officer, at BioLife Solutions, Inc., 3303 Monte Villa Parkway, Suite 310, Bothell, Washington 98021, or by telephone at (425) 402-1400. Information about us is also available at our website atwww.biolifesolutions.com. However, the information in our website is not a part of this prospectus and is not incorporated by reference.

 

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this document. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different. This document may only be used where it is legal to sell these securities. The information in this document may only be accurate on the date of this document.

 

Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known may also impair our business operations. The risks and uncertainties described in this document and other risks and uncertainties which we may face in the future will have a greater impact on those who purchase our common stock. These purchasers will purchase our common stock at the market price or at a privately negotiated price and will run the risk of losing their entire investment.

 

 

___________________________

 

2,817,4443,854,092 Shares of Common Stock

Issuable Upon Exercise of Warrants

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

    , 20182019 

 

 

PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14.Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

 

The Company is paying all expenses of the offering.  No portion of these expenses will be borne by the selling security holder. The following table sets forthselling security holder, however, will pay any other expenses incurred in selling its common stock, including any brokerage commissions or costs of sale.  Following is an itemized statement of all expenses to be paid byin connection with this registration statement.  All of the registrant. All amounts shown are estimates, except for the registration fee.SEC Registration Fees.

 

SEC registration fee (previously paid)* $2,988.00 
Legal fees and expenses $25,000 
Accounting fees and expenses $1,300 
Total $29,288 

SEC registration fee

$18,773.31

Printing

*

Legal fees and expenses

$75,000

Accounting fees and expenses

$10,000

Trustees’ Fees and Expenses

*

Warrant Agent Fees and Expenses

*

Miscellaneous

*

Total

$103,773.31

  

Previously paid. See explanatory note.These fees are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time. The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the estimated amount of expenses of any offering of securities.

 

Item 15.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or Delaware law, inter alia, empowers a Delaware corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. Similar indemnity is authorized for such persons against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of any such threatened, pending or completed action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and provided further that (unless a court of competent jurisdiction otherwise provides) such person shall not have been adjudged liable to the corporation. Any such indemnification may be made only as authorized in each specific case upon a determination by the stockholders or disinterested directors or by independent legal counsel in a written opinion that indemnification is proper because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

Section 145 further authorizes a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise, against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation would otherwise have the power to indemnify him under Section 145. We maintain policies insuring our officers and directors against certain liabilities for actions taken in such capacities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws require us to indemnify our directors to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law or any other applicable law in effect, but if such statute or law is amended, we may change the standard of indemnification only to the extent that such amended statute or law permits us to provide broader indemnification rights to our directors. We must indemnify such officers and employees in the same manner and to the same extent that we are required to indemnify our directors under our certificate of incorporation and bylaws. Our certificate of incorporation limits the personal liability of a director to us or our stockholders to damages for breach of the director’s fiduciary duty. Pursuant to indemnification agreements we entered into with each of our directors, we are further required to indemnify our directors to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law and our bylaws; provided that each such director shall enjoy the greater of (i) the advancement and indemnification rights permitted under our certificate of incorporation and bylaws for directors and officers as of the date of such indemnification agreement or (ii) the benefits so afforded by amendments thereto.

 

Item 16.Exhibits.

 

The following exhibits are filed with this Registration Statement.

 

Exhibit 

 

Number

Description of Document

1.1

Form of Underwriting Agreement**

4.1

Specimen Common Stock

Form of Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 12, 2014)of Designation of Preferred Stock**

4.2

Form of Stock Purchase Contract**

4.3

Form of Warrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report onAgreement and Form 8-K filed on March 20, 2014)of Warrant Certificate**

5.1

4.4

Form of Subscription Rights Agreement and Form Subscription Rights Certificate**

4.5

Form of Indenture*

4.6

Form of Note**

4.7

Form of Debt Securities**

5.1

Legal Opinion of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP (previously filed with Amendment No. 1)(Primary Offering)*

23.1

5.2

Legal Opinion of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP (Secondary Offering)*

12.1

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges**

23.1

Consent of Peterson Sullivan LLP*

23.2

Consent of Peterson Sullivan LLP (Astero Bio Corporation)*

23.3

Consent of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1 hereto)

24.1

23.4

Consent of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.2 hereto)

24.1

Power of Attorney (previously filed)(included in Part II of this Registration Statement)*

25.1

Statement of Eligibility of trustee on Form T-1**+

*

Filed herewith.

**

If applicable, to be filed by an amendment or as an exhibit to a report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference

+

To be filed pursuant to Rule 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

*Filed herewith.

18

Item 17.  Undertakings.

 

The undersigned Registrantregistrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1)          To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

(i)            Toto include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;Act of 1933;

 

(ii)           Toto reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of thisthe registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment hereof)thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in thisthe registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SECCommission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

(iii)          Toto include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in thisthe registration statement or any material change to such information in thisthe registration statement;

 

providedhowever , that paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SECCommission by the Registrantregistrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in thisthe registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of thisthe registration statement.

 

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein,therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered thatwhich remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

  

(i) ��         If the Registrantregistrant is relying on Rule 430B:

  

(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

  

(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Sectionsection 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.Provided, however, , that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; or

  

(ii) If the Registrantregistrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness.Provided, however, , that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.

 

 

(5)           That, for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrantregistrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

Thesecurities, the undersigned Registrantregistrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrantregistrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrantregistrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

(i)            Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrantregistrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

(ii)           Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrantregistrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant;registrant;

 

(iii)          The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrantregistrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant;registrant; and

 

(iv)          Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrantregistrant to the purchaser.

 

(6)           The undersigned Registrantregistrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant’s Annual Report underregistrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Sectionsection 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act)Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference into thisin the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(7)     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of the subscription period, to set forth the results of the subscription offer, the transactions by the underwriters during the subscription period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be purchased by the underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent reoffering thereof. If any public offering by the underwriters is to be made on terms differing from those set forth on the cover page of the prospectus, a post-effective amendment will be filed to set forth the terms of such offering.

(8)     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrantregistrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrantregistrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SECSecurities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrantregistrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrantregistrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrantregistrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

20

(9)     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Bothell, State of Washington, on this 2124stth day of March, 2018.September, 2019.

 

 

BIOLIFE SOLUTIONS, INC.

  
 

/s/ Michael Rice

 

Name:

Michael Rice

 

Title:

President and Chief Executive Officer

  

(Principal Executive Officer)

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below does hereby constitute and appoint Michael Rice and Roderick de Greef, and each of them, with full power of substitution, such person’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents for such person, with full power and authority to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents, and any one of them, determine may be necessary or advisable or required to enable said corporation to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any rules or regulations or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with this Registration Statement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing power and authority, the powers granted include the power and authority to sign the names of the undersigned officers and directors in the capacities indicated below to this Registration Statement, to any and all amendments, both pre-effective and post-effective, and supplements to this Registration Statement, and to any and all instruments or documents filed as part of or in conjunction with this Registration Statement or amendments or supplements thereof, and each of the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms that all said attorneys and agents, or any one of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney may be signed in several counterparts.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statementRegistration Statement has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrantRegistrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature Title 

Signature

Title

Date

   

/s/ Michael Rice

Michael Rice

President and Chief Executive Officer

September 24, 2019

Michael Rice(Principal Executive Officer)

 March 21, 2018
   

/s/ Roderick de Greef

Roderick de Greef

Chief Financial Officer

September 24, 2019

Roderick de Greef(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 March 21, 2018
   

*

/s/ Raymond Cohen

Chairman of the Board of Directors

September 24, 2019

Raymond Cohen March 21, 2018
   

*

/s/ Thomas Girschweiler

Director

September 24, 2019

Thomas Girschweiler March 21, 2018
   

*

/s/ Andrew Hinson

Director

September 24, 2019

Andrew Hinson March 21, 2018
   

*

/s/ Joseph Schick

Director

September 24, 2019

Joseph Schick March 21, 2018

 

61

* by Roderick de Greef as attorney-in-fact

21