SCHEDULE 14A
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INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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BIOLIFE SOLUTIONS, INC.
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BIOLIFE SOLUTIONS, INC.
171 Front Street
Owego, NY 13827
--------------
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2005
To the Stockholders of
BIOLIFE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of BioLife
Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), will be held at the
offices of Breslow & Walker, LLP, 767 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017, on
September 28, 2005, at 10:00 am, Eastern Standard Time, for the following
purposes:
1. To elect a board of four directors to serve until the next
Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are
duly elected and qualified.
2. To approve an amendment to the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of
common stock from 25,000,000 to 100,000,000.
3. To approve an amendment to the Company's 1998 Stock Option
Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock reserved
for issuance thereunder from 4,000,000 to 10,000,000.
4. To ratify the appointment of Aronson & Company to serve as
independent auditors for the year ending December 31, 2005.
5. To transact such other business as may properly come before
the meeting or any postponements or adjournments thereof.
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on August 19, 2005 as the
record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to
vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournments thereof.
ALL STOCKHOLDERS ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING. WHETHER OR
NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, YOU ARE URGED TO COMPLETE, SIGN, AND DATE
THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. IF YOU
ATTEND THE MEETING, YOU MAY VOTE YOUR SHARES IN PERSON IF YOU WISH TO DO SO,
EVEN IF YOU HAVE SIGNED AND RETURNED YOUR PROXY CARD.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
-------------------------------
John G. Baust, President
Owego, New York
August 26, 2005
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE ENCLOSED PROXY FORM
BE COMPLETED AND RETURNED PROMPTLY
BIOLIFE SOLUTIONS, INC.
171 FRONT STREET
OWEGO, NY 13827
---------------
PROXY STATEMENT
---------------
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD SEPTEMBER 28, 2005
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by the
Board of Directors of BioLife Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), of proxies to be voted at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the
Company to be held on September 28, 2005 (the "Meeting"), at 10:00 a.m., Eastern
Standard Time, at the offices of Breslow & Walker, LLP, 767 Third Avenue, New
York, NY 10017, and at any adjournments thereof.
A form of proxy is enclosed for use at the Meeting. The proxy may be revoked by
a stockholder at any time before it is voted by execution of a proxy bearing a
later date or by written notice to the Secretary of the Company before the
Meeting, and any stockholder present at the Meeting may revoke his or her proxy
thereat and vote in person if he or she desires. When such proxy is properly
executed and returned, the shares of Common Stock, Series F Preferred Stock, and
Series G Preferred Stock it represents will be voted at the Meeting in
accordance with any instructions noted thereon. If no direction is indicated,
all shares of Common Stock, Series F Preferred Stock, and Series G Preferred
Stock represented by valid proxies received pursuant to this solicitation (and
not revoked prior to exercise) will be voted (i) FOR the election of the
nominees for directors named in this Proxy Statement, (ii) FOR the proposed
amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of
authorized shares of common stock from 25,000,000 to 100,000,000 (the "Common
Stock Increase"), (iii) FOR the proposed amendment to the Company's 1998 Stock
Option Plan to increase the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for
issuance thereunder from 4,000,000 to 10,000,000 (the "Plan Increase"), and (iv)
FOR the ratification of the appointment of Aronson & Company to serve as
independent auditors for the year ending December 31, 2005, and (v) in
accordance with the judgment of the persons named in the proxy as to such other
matters as may properly come before the Meeting.
The cost for soliciting proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors will be
borne by the Company. In addition to solicitation by mail, proxies may be
solicited in person or by telephone, telefax, or cable by personnel of the
Company who will not receive any additional compensation for such solicitation.
The Company may reimburse brokers or other persons holding stock in their names
or the names of their nominees for the expenses of forwarding soliciting
material to their principals and obtaining their proxies. The approximate date
of mailing of this Proxy Statement and accompanying form of proxy is August 26,
2005.
The close of business on August 19, 2005 has been fixed as the record date for
the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the
Meeting. On that date there were 12,413,209 shares of the Company's Common
Stock, par value $.001 per share ("Common Stock"), issued and outstanding, each
of which has one vote on each matter to be presented at the Meeting (the
"Proposals"), 12,000 shares of the Company's Series F Convertible Preferred
Stock, par value $.001 ("Series F Preferred Stock"), issued and outstanding,
each of which has four hundred (400) votes on each Proposal, and 55.125 shares
of the Company's Series G Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $.001 ("Series
G Preferred Stock"), issued and outstanding, each of which has three hundred
twelve thousand five hundred (312,500) votes on each Proposal. The holders of
Common Stock, the holders of Series F Preferred Stock, and the holders of Series
G Preferred Stock will vote together on the proposals as if they held one class
of stock. The holders of stock representing a majority of the votes entitled to
be cast at the Meeting, present in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum
for the transaction of business at the Meeting and any adjournments thereof.
Election of the Directors requires a plurality of the votes entitled to be cast
by holders of stock represented in person or by proxy at the Meeting. Approval
of the Common Stock Increase Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the
holders of stock representing a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at the
Meeting. Approval of the Plan Increase Proposal and the ratification of the
independent auditors requires the affirmative vote of the holders of stock
representing a majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy at
the Meeting and entitled to vote thereon.
All votes will be tabulated by the inspector(s) of election appointed for the
Meeting, who will separately tabulate affirmative and negative votes,
abstentions and broker non-votes. Abstentions and broker non-votes shall each be
included as shares present and voting for the purpose of determining whether a
quorum is present at the Meeting. Abstentions will be counted toward the
tabulation of votes cast on the Proposals and will have the same effect as
negative votes. Broker non-votes are not counted in determining whether a
Proposal has been approved.
2
PROPOSAL NO. 1 - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
NOMINEES
Four persons, all of whom are members of the present Board of Directors, are
nominees for election at the Annual Meeting to hold office until the next annual
meeting and until their respective successors are elected and qualified. Unless
authority to vote for any director is withheld in a proxy, it is intended that
each proxy will be voted for the four nominees named below.
It is expected that all nominees will be able and willing to serve as directors.
However, in the event that any nominee is unable or declines to serve as a
director at the time of the Annual Meeting, the proxies will be voted for any
nominee who shall be designated by the present Board of Directors to fill the
vacancy. The Board of Directors has no reason to believe that any of the persons
named will be unable or unwilling to serve as director if elected.
REASON FOR SUBMISSION TO STOCKHOLDERS
This Proposal is being submitted to stockholders to satisfy the requirements of
the Delaware General Corporation Law.
REQUIRED VOTE
Approval of the nominees for election to the Board of Directors will require the
affirmative vote of the holders of stock representing a plurality of the votes
present at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy and entitled to vote.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF
ALL NOMINEES LISTED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
NOMINEES FOR ELECTION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Name Age Present office or Position
---- --- --------------------------
John G. Baust, Ph.D. 62 Director, Chief Executive Officer
Howard S. Breslow 65 Director, Secretary
Roderick de Greef 43 Director
Thomas Girschweiler 47 Director
The following information is submitted concerning the nominees named for
election as directors based upon information received by the Company from such
persons.
3
John G. Baust, Ph.D., has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company since July 2002. Previously he was Senior Vice President of Cryomedical
Sciences, Inc. ("CMSI"), the Company's predecessor, since January 1995, Chief
Scientific Officer since August 1993, Vice President, Research and Development
from July 1990 to January 1995, and a consultant from April 1990 to July 1990.
Dr. Baust became a director of CMSI on October 13, 2000. Since 1987, Dr. Baust
has also been a Professor and the Director of the Center for Cryobiological
Research at the State University of New York at Binghamton, and since July 1994,
Dr. Baust has also been Adjunct Professor of Surgery, Medical College of
Pennsylvania. From 1984 to 1987, he was a Professor at, and the Director of, the
Institute of Low Temperature Biology at the University of Houston.
Howard S. Breslow has served as a director of the Company since July 1988. He
has been a practicing attorney in New York City for 40 years and is a member of
the law firm of Breslow & Walker, LLP, New York, New York, which firm serves as
general counsel to the Company. Mr. Breslow currently serves as a director of
Excel Technology, Inc., a publicly-held company engaged in the manufacture and
marketing of photonics-based solutions, consisting of laser systems and
electro-optical components, primarily for industrial and scientific
applications, and Lucille Farms, Inc., a company engaged in the manufacture and
marketing of dairy products.
Roderick de Greef has served as a director of the Company since June 19, 2000.
From March 2001 to present, Mr. de Greef has served as Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Cardiac Sciences, Inc., a public
company traded on NASDAQ, under the ticker "DFIB". Since 1995 Mr. de Greef has
provided corporate finance advisory services to a number of early stage
companies, including the Company, where he was instrumental in securing the
Company's equity capital beginning in June 2000, and advising on merger and
acquisition activity. From 1989 to 1995, Mr. de Greef was Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer of BioAnalogics, Inc. and International BioAnalogics,
Inc., publicly held, development stage medical technology companies located in
Portland, Oregon. From 1986 to 1989, Mr. de Greef was Controller and then Chief
Financial Officer of Brentwood Instruments, Inc., a publicly held cardiology
products distribution company based in Torrance, California. Mr. de Greef has a
B.A. in Economics and International Relations from California State University
at San Francisco and an M.BA. from the University of Oregon.
Thomas Girschweiler joined the Board in 2003. Mr. Girschweiler has been engaged
in corporate financing activities on his own behalf since 1996. From 1981 to
1996 he was an investment banker with Union Bank of Switzerland. Thomas
Girschweiler was graduated at the Swiss Banking School.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
The Company has not compensated its directors for their services in such
capacity, except that on May 12, 2005, each of the directors received a ten-year
fully vested non-incentive stock option to purchase 250,000 shares of the
Company's common stock at $0.08 per share.
4
BOARD MEETINGS
The Board of Directors held meetings or acted by unanimous consent on fourteen
(14) occasions during the twelve months ended December 31, 2004. Meetings were
attended by all directors. Although the Company does not have a formal policy
regarding attendance by the Board of Directors at the Company's Annual Meeting
of Stockholders, it strongly encourages directors to attend. Because of
financial constraints, the Company did not hold an Annual Meeting of
Stockholders last year.
BOARD COMMITTEES
AUDIT COMMITTEE. The Board of Directors does not have an audit committee or an
audit committee financial expert. The Company does believe, based on its current
operations, that the failure to have such a committee or expert is material to
the integrity of the financial statements of the Company.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE. The Board of Directors does not have a compensation
committee. Management compensation for fiscal year 2004 was determined by the
non-employee members of the Board of Directors.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE. The Board of Directors has no standing nominating
committee. The Company believes that obtaining input from all of its directors
in connection with Board nominations enhances the nomination process. The
Company currently does not have a charter with regard to the nomination process.
The nominations of the directors standing for election or re-election at the
Meeting were unanimously recommended for selection by the independent directors
(as defined by NASDAQ rules), and were unanimously approved by the Board of
Directors.
The Company does not have a formal policy concerning stockholder recommendations
of nominees to the Board of Directors. The need for such a policy has not arisen
since, to date, the Company has not received any recommendations from
stockholders requesting that the Board of Directors consider a candidate for
inclusion among the Board's slate of nominees in the Company's proxy statement.
The absence of such a policy does not mean, however, that a recommendation would
not have been considered had one been received. The Company will consider
director candidates recommended by stockholders. Any stockholder desiring to
make such a recommendation should send the recommendation, in writing, to the
Corporate Secretary at the address of the Company set forth on the first page of
this Proxy Statement, no later than the date by which stockholder proposals for
action must be submitted. The recommendation should include the recommended
candidate's biographical data, and should be accompanied by the candidate's
written consent to nomination and to serving as a director, if elected.
The Company's goal is to assemble a Board of Directors that brings to the
Company a variety of perspectives and skills derived from business and
professional experience. The Company does not have any formal rules or policies
regarding minimum qualifications for nominees, but expects that its candidates
be of the highest ethical character, share the values of the Company, have
reputations, both personal and professional, consistent with the image and
reputation of the
5
Company, be highly accomplished in their respective field, and possess the
relevant expertise and experience necessary to assist the Board of Directors and
the Company to increase stockholder value.
The Board of Directors identifies nominees by first evaluating the current
members of the Board of Directors willing to continue in service. Current
members of the Board with skills and experience that are relevant to the
Company's business and who are willing to continue in service are considered for
re-nomination, balancing the value of continuity of service by existing members
of the Board with that of obtaining a new perspective. If any member of the
Board does not wish to continue in service or if the Board of Directors decides
not to re-nominate a member for re-election, the Board of Directors will seek to
identify nominees that possess the characteristics outlined above. Current
members of the Board of Directors are polled for suggestions. Research also may
be performed to identify qualified individuals. To date, the Company has not
engaged third parties to identify, evaluate, or assist in identifying potential
nominees, although the Company reserves the right in the future to retain a
third party search firm, if necessary.
In evaluating director nominees, the Board of Directors may consider the
following factors:
o the appropriate size and the diversity of the Company's Board of
Directors;
o the needs of the Company with respect to the particular talents and
experience of its directors;
o the knowledge, skills and experience of nominees, including experience
in technology, business, or finance, in light of prevailing business
conditions and the knowledge, skills and experience already possessed
by other members of the Board;
o familiarity with national and international business matters;
o experience with accounting rules and practices; and
o the need to satisfy governance and other standards set by the SEC.
The Board of Directors may also consider such other factors as it may deem to be
in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
COMMUNICATING WITH DIRECTORS
Stockholders may contact any of our directors or our Board of Directors as a
group by writing to them c/o BioLife Solutions, Inc., 171 Front Street, Owego,
NY 13827, Att: Dr. John G. Baust. All communications will be received, processed
and forwarded to the directors by the Corporate Secretary. You will receive a
written acknowledgement from the Corporate Secretary upon receipt of your
communication if you include a return address.
6
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
The executive officers of the Company are as follows:
Name Age Present office or Position
---- --- --------------------------
John G. Baust, Ph.D. 62 Chief Executive Officer, President
Officers are appointed by, and hold office at the pleasure of, the Board of
Directors. Officers serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors and are
elected at the annual meeting of the Board of Directors.
7
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth certain information concerning the compensation
paid by the Company to its Chief Executive Officer and to each of its executive
officers (other than the Chief Executive Officer) who received salary and bonus
payments in excess of $100,000 during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004
(collectively the "Named Executive Officers").
Annual Compensation
----------------------------------------------------
Name and Principal Fiscal Other Annual
Positions Year Salary ($) Bonus ($) Compensation ($)
-------------------------------- ------------- -------------- ------------- ------------------
John G. Baust, Ph.D 2004 240,000(1) - -
Chief Executive Office,r 2003 240,000(2) - 7,490 (3)
President, and 2002 202,369 50,000 3,600 (3)
Director
Alan Rich 2004 174,587(4) - 7,200(3)
VP Sales & Marketing 2003 150,000(5) - -
2002 15,000 - -
Long Term Compensation
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Awards Payouts
-------------------------------- -----------------------------------
Restricted
Name and Principal Stock Options/ LTIP All Other
Positions Award(s) SARs (#) Payouts Compensation
-------------------------------- -------------- -------------- ----------- -------------------
John G. Baust, Ph.D - - - -
Chief Executive Office,r - - - -
President, and - 1,000,000 - -
Director
Alan Rich - - - -
VP Sales & Marketing - 100,000 - -
- - - -
(1) Consists of $176,490 paid compensation and $63,510 accrued salary paid in
2005.
(2) Consists of $170,654 paid compensation, $53,125 paid in 2.125 units of
Series G Preferred Stock, and $16,221 accrued salary paid in 2004.
(3) Represents auto allowance.
(4) Consists of $150,000 paid compensation, $20,248 paid commissions, and
$4,339 accrued commissions paid in 2004. (5) Consists of $103,846 paid
compensation, $12,500 paid in 1.0 units of Series G Preferred Stock, and
$33,654 accrued salary paid in 2004.
OPTION/SAR GRANTS IN YEAR-ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004
In 2004, the Company issued no options to purchase shares of Common Stock to its
Named Executive Officers.
8
AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES DURING THE 2004 FISCAL YEAR AND THE 2004 FISCAL
YEAR OPTION/SAR VALUES
The following table provides information related to options exercised by each of
the Named Executive Officers during the 2004 fiscal year and the number and
value of options held at December 31, 2004. The Company does not have any
outstanding stock appreciation rights. None of the options were in the money at
December 31, 2004.
Number of Securities Value of Unexercised
Underlying Unexercised in the money
Options/SAR at Fiscal Options/SAR at Fiscal
Year End (#) Year End ($)(1)
------------ ---------------
Shares Acquired Value
Name On Exercise(#) Realized($) Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable
------ --------------- ----------- ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
John G. Baust, Ph.D. - - 1,542,000 1,000,000 - -
Alan F. Rich - - - - - -
--------------------------
(1) The closing price for the Common Stock as reported on the OTC Bulletin
Board on December 31, 2004 was $0.09. Value is calculated on the basis
of the difference between the option exercise price and $0.09
multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the
option.
(2) Mr. Rich's employment relationship with the Company ended in February
2005.
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
The Company has an employment agreement with its President and Chief Executive
Officer, dated July 1, 2002, which was to expire on June 30, 2004, but which was
automatically renewed for a one-year term. The agreement provides for a salary
of $20,000 per month and an incentive bonus based on certain milestones, as
determined by the Board of Directors. The officer also received a $50,000
signing bonus in 2002 and ten-year incentive stock options to purchase 1,000,000
shares of Common Stock, which options vest ratably over five years on the
anniversary date of the grant. The agreement also provides an automobile
allowance of $600 per month.
The Company had an employment agreement with its Vice President, Sales and
Marketing which expired on October 31, 2004. The agreement provided for a salary
of $12,500 per month, an incentive bonus based on certain milestones, as
determined by the Board of Directors, ten-year incentive stock options to
purchase 400,000 shares of Common Stock vesting ratably over four years on the
anniversary date of the grant, and an automobile allowance of $600 per month.
Mr. Rich's employment relationship with the Company ended in February 2005.
Every officer of the Company has executed a Proprietary Information and
Inventions Agreement pursuant to which each agreed, among other things, to keep
the Company's information confidential and assigned all inventions to the
Company, except for certain personal inventions not related to the Company's
work, whether existing or later developed.
9
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
Management compensation for fiscal year 2004 was determined by the non-employee
members of the Board. There were no compensation committee interlocks.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Until 2004, the Company conducted its internal research through Small Business
Innovative Research ("SBIR") grants awarded by the National Institutes of
Health. In 2004, the Company elected to not continue to directly engage in the
SBIR grant program. Accordingly, the Company entered into a Research Agreement
with Cell Preservation Services, Inc. ("CPSI") to outsource to CPSI all BioLife
research currently funded through SBIR grants. CPSI is owned by Dr. John M.
Baust, a recognized expert in cell preservation, a former employee of BioLife
and the son of John G. Baust, the CEO of BioLife. Robert Van Buskirk, formerly
Vice President, Business Development of BioLife and the person primarily
responsible for processing applications for SBIR grants for BioLife, also has
left the employ of BioLife and joined CPSI. The Research Agreement, which was
negotiated on an arms length basis and designed to comply with the rules and
regulations applicable to the performance of research with respect to SBIR
grants, establishes a format pursuant to which CPSI will (a) take over the
processing of existing applications for SBIR grants applied for by BioLife
("Current Projects"), (b) apply for additional SBIR grants for future research
projects ("Future Projects"), (c) perform a substantial portion of the principal
work to be done, in terms of (i) time spent, and (ii) research, in connection
with Current Projects and Future Projects (the "Research"), and (d) utilize
BioLife personnel as consultants with respect to such Research. In conjunction
therewith BioLife has granted to CPSI a non-exclusive, royalty free license
(with no right to sublicense) to use BioLife's technology solely for the purpose
of conducting the research in connection with the Current Projects and Future
Projects. Pursuant to the Research Contract, (x) BioLife will, among other
matters, provide CPSI with (i) suitable facilities in which to conduct the
Research, including basic research equipment and office equipment
("Facilities"), and (ii) management services ("Management Services"), and (y)
CPSI will (i) accept assignment of Current Projects, (ii) be responsible for
conducting Research with respect to Current Projects and Future Projects, (iii)
as mutually agreed to by the parties and within the confines of the rules and
regulations applicable to the performance of Research with respect to SBIR
grants, utilize BioLife's personnel as consultants, (iv) provide suitable
experienced personnel, including, without limitation, a principal
investigator/program director, to conduct the Research, (v) comply with all
federal laws, rules and regulations applicable to SBIR grants and file all
necessary forms and reports with the federal agency awarding the SBIR grants,
and (vi) utilize the Facilities and Management Services and pay BioLife fees
with respect thereto. BioLife is to own all right, title and interest in and to
any technology, inventions, designs, ideas, and the like (whether or not
patentable) that emanates from the Current Projects, Future Projects and
Research.
Howard S. Breslow, a director of the Company, is a member of Breslow & Walker,
LLP, general
10
counsel to the Company. Mr. Breslow currently owns 53,600 shares of Common Stock
of the Company and directly or indirectly owns options and warrants to purchase
an aggregate of 2,477,910 additional shares. The Company incurred $80,118 in
legal fees during the year ended December 31, 2004 for services provided by
Breslow & Walker, LLP. At December 31, 2004 accounts payable includes $28,027
due to Breslow & Walker, LLP.
Thomas Girschweiler, a director of the Company, loaned the Company, in the form
of notes, $250,000, $100,000 and $100,000 in March 2002, March 2003 and May
2003, respectively. The notes accrued interest at the rate of 10% per annum. On
March 1, 2004, the Company paid Mr. Girschweiler $515,418, including principal
and accrued interest, in satisfaction of the outstanding notes.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
COMPENSATION GUIDELINES
The Company is engaged in a highly competitive industry and must attain
high levels of quality and safety in the formulation and production of its
products. To succeed, the Company believes that it must offer executive
compensation that reflects competitive pay practices of other companies and job
responsibility, and enables the Company to attract, retain, and reward
qualified, experienced executives. The Company also believes that any
competitive pay package should be structured, in part, to align management's
interests with the success of the Company by making a portion of compensation
dependent on operating achievements and, to a lesser extent, on stock
performance. The non-employee members of the Board of Directors have determined
that these objectives are best met by offering the Company's executive officers
competitive base salaries, stock options that vest over time, and, where
appropriate, bonuses based on the achievement of milestones, as determined by
the Board of Directors.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION
Based on the criteria described above, the non-employee members of the
Board of Directors ratified the automatic renewal provision of Dr. Baust's
employment contract in 2004. In making the determination, the non-employee
directors considered several factors including the Company's revenues, losses,
and cash-flow and future business prospects. Dr. Baust did not receive a bonus
in 2004.
Howard S. Breslow
Roderick deGreef
Thomas Girschweiler
11
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF THE COMPANY'S SECURITIES
The following table sets forth, as of August 15, 2005, certain information
regarding the beneficial ownership of Common Stock and Series F Preferred Stock
and Series G Preferred Stock by (i) each stockholder known by the Company to be
the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares thereof; (ii)
each director of the Company; (iii) each Named Executive Officer of the Company;
and (iv) all of the Company's current directors and executive officers as a
group.
Name and Address Common Stock Series F Preferred Series G Preferred
of Beneficial Owner (% of class) (1) (% of class) (% of class)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John G. Baust (Director, Executive Officer)
c/o BioLife Solutions, Inc.
171 Front Street 3,640,525 (22.7%)(2) - 2.125 (3.9%)
Owego, NY 13827
Howard S. Breslow, Esq. (Director)
c/o Breslow & Walker, LLP
767 Third Avenue 2,531,510 (17.0%)(3) - -
New York, NY 10017
Roderick de Greef (Director)
c/o BioLife Solutions, Inc.
171 Front Street 4,514,699 (27.4%)(4) 1,000 (8.3%) 4.0 (7.3%)
Owego, NY 13827
Walter Villiger
Hurdnerstrasse 10
P.O. Box 1474 17,072,314 5,000 (41.7%) 18.0 (32.7%)
CH-8649 Hurden, Switzerland (58.7%)(5)
Thomas Girschweiler (Director)
Wissmannstrasse 15 12,854,278 3,450 (28.8%) 10.0 (18.1%)
8057 Zurich, Switzerland (52.0%)(6)
Karl-Heinz Illenseer
Wissmannstrasse 15 3,910,714 (24.0%)(7) - 6.0 (10.9%)
8057 Zurich, Switzerland
Clariden Bank
Claridenstrasse 26
Postfach 5080 2,520,513 (17.8%)(8) 2,000 (16.7%) -
CH-8022 Zurich, Switzerland
Richard Molinsky
c/o BioLife Solutions, Inc.
171 Front Street 2,583,333 (17.2%)(9) - 4.0 (7.3%)
Owego, NY 13827
Francois Illenseer
Wissmannstrasse 15 2,607,143 - 4.0 (7.3%)
8057 Zurich, Switzerland (17.4%)(10)
Charlotte Illenseer
Wissmannstrasse 15 2,607,143 - 4.0 (7.3%)
8057 Zurich, Switzerland (17.4%)(11)
Robert Van Buskirk 1,095,935 (8.1%)(12) - 1 (1.8%)
c/o CPSI, 2 Court Street
Owego, New York 13827
12
Name and Address Common Stock Series F Preferred Series G Preferred
of Beneficial Owner (% of class) (1) (% of class) (% of class)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John M. Baust 1,085,340(8.0%)(13) - 1 (1.8%)
c/o CPSI, 2 Court Street
Owego, New York 13827
All officers and directors as a group
(four persons) 23,541,012 (67.9%) 4,450 (37.1%) 16.125 (29.3%)
-------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Shares of Common Stock subject to options and warrants currently
exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of July 31, 2005 are deemed
outstanding for computing the number of shares and the percentage of
the outstanding shares held by a person holding such options or
warrants, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage
of any other person. Except as indicated by footnote, and subject to
community property laws where applicable, the Company believes that the
persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with
respect to all shares shown as beneficially owned by them.
(2) Includes 1,942,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of
outstanding stock options under the Company's 1988 and 1998 Stock
Option Plans, 664,063 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the
conversion of Series G Preferred Stock, 990,618 shares of Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants, and 43,844 shares
of Common Stock, 39,844 of which were earned as dividend on Preferred
Stock.
(3) Includes 399,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of
outstanding stock options under the Company's 1988 and 1998 Stock
Option Plans, 2,078,910 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the
exercise of outstanding warrants owned of record by Breslow & Walker,
LLP (1,358,910) and B & W Investments (720,000), both of which are
entities in which Mr. Breslow is a partner, and 53,600 common shares.
(4) Includes 250,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of
outstanding stock options under the Company's 1988 and 1998 Stock
Option Plans, 400,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the
conversion of Series F Preferred Stock, 1,250,000 shares of Common
Stock issuable upon the conversion of Series G Preferred Stock,
1,814,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of
outstanding warrants, and 800,699 shares of Common Stock, 367,399 of
which were earned as dividend on Preferred Stock.
(5) Includes 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion
of Series F Preferred Stock, 5,625,000 shares of Common Stock issuable
upon the conversion of Series G Preferred Stock, 7,375,000 shares of
Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants, and
2,072,314 shares of Common Stock, 1,672,314 of which were earned as
dividend on Preferred Stock.
(6) Includes 250,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of
outstanding stock options under the Company's 1988 and 1998 Stock
Option Plans, 1,380,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the
conversion of Series F Preferred Stock, 3,125,000 shares of Common
Stock issuable upon the conversion of Series G Preferred Stock,
6,455,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of
outstanding warrants, and 1,644,278 shares of Common Stock, 1,106,218
of which were earned as dividend on Preferred Stock.
(7) Includes 1,875,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion
of Series G Preferred Stock, 1,875,000 shares of Common Stock issuable
upon the exercise of outstanding warrants, and 160,714 shares of Common
Stock earned as dividend on Preferred Stock.
(8) Includes 800,000 shares of Common Stock, 800,000 shares of Common Stock
issuable upon the conversion of Series F Preferred Stock, 400,000
shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding
warrants, and 520,513 shares of Common Stock earned as dividend on
Preferred Stock.
(9) Includes 1,250,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion
of Series G Preferred Stock, 1,250,000 shares of Common Stock issuable
upon the exercise of outstanding warrants, and 83,333 shares of Common
Stock earned as dividend on Preferred Stock.
(10) Includes 1,250,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion
of Series G Preferred Stock, 1,250,000 shares of Common Stock issuable
upon the exercise of outstanding warrants, and 107,143 shares of Common
Stock earned as dividend on Preferred Stock.
(11) Includes 1,250,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion
of Series G Preferred Stock, 1,250,000 shares of Common Stock issuable
upon the exercise of outstanding warrants, and 107,143 shares of Common
Stock earned as dividend on Preferred Stock.
(12) Includes 275,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of
outstanding stock options under the Company's 1988 and 1998 Stock
Option Plans, 312,500 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the
conversion of Series G Preferred Stock, 489,685 shares of Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants, and 18,750 shares
of Common Stock earned as dividend on Preferred Stock.
(13) Includes 250,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of
outstanding stock options under the Company's 1988 and 1998 Stock
Option Plans, 312,500 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the
conversion of Series G Preferred Stock, 504,090 shares of Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants, and 18,750 shares
of Common Stock earned as dividend on Preferred Stock.
13
COMPARISON OF CUMULATIVE TOTAL STOCKHOLDER RETURN
The following chart compares the percentage change in the cumulative
total stockholder return on the Common Stock during the period from December 31,
1999 through the year ended December 31, 2004 with the cumulative total return
on the NASDAQ Composite Index and the Company Peer Group. The comparison assumes
$100 was invested in the Common Stock on December 31, 1999, and in each of the
stocks included in the NASDAQ Composite Index and the Company Peer Group.
COMPARE 5-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
AMONG BIOLIFE SOLUTIONS, INC.,
NASDAQ MARKET INDEX AND PEER GROUP INDEX
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------- FISCAL YEAR ENDING ------------------------------
COMPANY/INDEX/MARKET 12/31/1999 12/29/2000 12/31/2001 12/31/2002 12/31/2003 12/31/2004
BIOLIFE SOLUTIONS, INC. 100.00 312.50 131.25 75.00 68.75 56.25
CUSTOMER SELECTED STOCK LIST 100.00 177.16 201.11 142.50 212.07 227.24
NASDAQ MARKET INDEX 100.00 62.85 50.10 34.95 52.55 56.97
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14
PROPOSAL NO. 2 - AMEND THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO EFFECT THE COMMON
STOCK INCREASE
REASON FOR SUBMISSION TO STOCKHOLDERS
The Board of Directors unanimously adopted a resolution proposing that Article
Four of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation be amended to increase the
number of shares of Common Stock that the Company is authorized to issue from
25,000,000 to 100,000,000 shares. This proposal is being submitted to
stockholders to satisfy the requirements of the Delaware General Corporation
Law.
REASONS FOR INCREASING THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
Presently, the charter authorizes the issuance of 25,000,000 shares of Common
Stock, of which 12,413,209 shares of Common Stock are issued and outstanding.
Also, there are outstanding (i) shares of Series F Preferred Stock convertible
into 4,800,000 shares of Common Stock, (ii) shares of Series G Preferred Stock
convertible into 17,226,563 shares of Common Stock, (iii) warrants and options
exercisable into an aggregate of 30,777,858 shares of Common Stock, and (iv)
4,365,432 shares of Common Stock earned as dividends on Preferred Stock.
Assuming the conversion/exercise of all outstanding Series F Preferred Stock,
Series G Preferred Stock, and warrants and options, there would be 69,583,062
shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding. Thus, there are not a sufficient
number of authorized shares of Common Stock available for the Company to meet
its outstanding commitments as well as to provide the Company with flexibility
in connection with various corporate purposes, including possible future
financings and stock option grants. In connection with the issuance of various
securities convertible/exercisable into shares of Common Stock, the Company
undertook to amend its certificate of incorporation to increase the number of
authorized shares of Common Stock so as to meet its commitments upon the
conversion/exercise of such securities (the "Committed Shares").
EFFECTS OF THE COMMON STOCK INCREASE
The Common Stock Increase will not alter the par value of the Common Stock or
the rights of stockholders. It will allow the Company to meet its commitments to
those security holders who are entitled to the Committed Shares. To the extent
the Company issued shares of common stock over and above the amount required to
satisfy its commitments to current security holders, such issuances would reduce
the proportionate interests in the Company held by current stockholders as well
as those who receive the Committed Shares.
NO RIGHT OF APPRAISAL
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, dissenting stockholders are not
entitled to appraisal rights with respect to the Common Stock Increase, and the
Company will not provide stockholders with any such right.
15
METHOD OF EFFECTING THE AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
The Common Stock Increase shall become effective, automatically and without
further action by the stockholders, upon the filing with the Delaware Secretary
of State of an appropriate Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of
Incorporation. The complete text of such amendment is set forth in Exhibit A
hereto.
VOTING REQUIREMENT
Approval of the Common Stock Increase requires the affirmative vote of the
holders of stock representing a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at the
Meeting.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT TO THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO EFFECT THE COMMON STOCK
INCREASE.
16
PROPOSAL NO. 3 - AMEND THE 1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN
REASONS FOR THE PLAN INCREASE
The Company's 1998 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") was adopted by the Board of
Directors in August 1998 and approved by stockholders at a special meeting in
December 1998. Currently, the Plan allows for a maximum of 4,000,000 shares of
Common Stock (subject to adjustment to cover stock splits, stock dividends,
recapitalizations, and other capital adjustments) to be issued pursuant to the
Plan. In contemplation of increasing the number of shares of Common Stock
covered by the Plan, and subject to approval of the Plan Increase by the
stockholders of the Company, options were granted to employees and directors of
and consultants to the Company over and above those currently authorized by the
Plan. In order to honor the commitments made in connection with such grants, and
to provide the Company with sufficient flexibility for future grants, the Board
of Directors amended the Plan, subject to the approval of the Company's
stockholders, to increase to 10,000,000 the maximum number of shares of Common
Stock that may be issued pursuant to the Plan (subject to adjustment to cover
stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, and other capital
adjustments). The proposal to approve the Plan Increase is now being submitted
to stockholders for their approval.
A summary of the Plan as proposed to be amended is set forth below. The summary
does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the text of
the Plan as proposed to be amended, a copy of which is attached to this Proxy
Statement as Annex B.
SUMMARY OF PLAN
The Plan covers 10,000,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment to
cover stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, and other capital
adjustments). The options granted under the Plan are designated as incentive
stock options or non-incentive stock options by the Board of Directors or a
committee thereof, which also have discretion as to the persons to be granted
options, the number of shares subject to the options, and the terms of the
option agreements. Only employees (including officers) of the Company and its
affiliates may be granted incentive stock options. The options to be granted
under the Plan and designated as incentive stock options are intended to receive
incentive stock option tax treatment pursuant to Section 422 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
The Plan provides that all options thereunder shall be exercisable during a
period of no more than ten years from the date of grant (five years for options
granted to holders who own more than 10% of the total combined voting power of
all classes of stock of the Company), depending upon the specific stock option
agreement, and that the option exercise price for incentive stock options shall
be at least equal to 100% of the fair market value of the Common Stock at the
time of grant (110% for options granted to holders who own more than 10% of the
total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company). In
addition, the aggregate fair market value (determined on the date of grant) of
the Common Stock with respect to which incentive stock options are exercisable
for the first time by an employee during any calendar year shall not exceed
$100,000.
The Plan permits optionees whose employment is terminated without cause and
other than by
17
reason of death, disability or retirement at age 65, to exercise their options
prior to the expiration thereof or within three months, or such longer period as
the Board of Directors (or a committee thereof) may decide on a case by case
basis, of termination, whichever is earlier, but only to the extent the holder
had the right to exercise such options on the date of termination. If the
employment of an optionee is terminated for cause and other than by reason of
death, disability or retirement at age 65, any options granted to the optionee
will terminate automatically. If employment is terminated by reason of
disability or retirement at age 65, the optionee may exercise his options at any
time prior to the expiration thereof or within one year from the date of
termination (three months from the date of termination in the event of
termination by reason of retirement at age 65), whichever is earlier, but only
to the extent the holder had the right to exercise such options on the date of
termination. If employment is terminated by death, the person or persons to whom
the optionee's rights under the option are transferred by will or the laws of
descent and distribution have similar rights of exercise within three months
after such death (but not after the expiration of the option). Options are not
transferable otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or
pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined under the Code or
Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act or the rules thereunder,
and are exercisable during the optionee's lifetime only by the optionee. Shares
subject to options which expire or terminate may be the subject of future
options. The Plan terminates on August 30, 2008.
If shares are issued to the holder of a non-incentive option under the Plan (a)
no income will be recognized by the holder at the time of grant of the option;
(b) except as stated below, upon exercise of the option, the holder will
recognize taxable ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of the fair
market value of the shares over the option price; (c) if the holder exercising
the option is restricted from selling the shares so acquired because the holder
is an officer or director of the Company and would be subject to liability under
Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, then, unless the holder makes an election to
be taxed under the rule of clause (b) above, the holder will recognize taxable
ordinary income, at the time such Section 16(b) restriction terminates, equal to
the excess of the fair market value of the shares at that time over the option
price, and any dividends he or she receives on the shares before that time will
be taxable to him or her as income; (d) the Company will be entitled to a
deduction at the same time and in the same amount as the holder has income under
clause (b) or (c); and (e) upon a sale of shares so acquired, the holder may
have additional short-term or long-term capital gain or loss.
If shares are issued to the holder of an incentive stock option under the Plan,
(a) no income will be recognized by such holder at the time of the grant of the
option or the transfer of shares to the holder pursuant to his or her exercise
of the option; (b) the difference between the option price and the fair market
value of the shares at the time of exercise will be treated as an item of tax
preference to the holder; (c) no deduction will be allowed to the Company for
federal income tax purposes in connection with the grant or exercise of the
option; and (d) upon a sale or exchange of the shares after the later of (i) one
year from the date of transfer of the shares to the original holder, or (ii) two
years from the date of grant of the option, any amount realized by the holder in
excess of the option price will be taxed to the holder as a long-term capital
gain, and any loss sustained by the holder will be a long-term capital loss. If
the shares are disposed of before the holding period requirements described in
the preceding sentence are satisfied, (aa) the holder will recognize taxable
ordinary income in the year of disposition in an amount determined under the
rules of the Code; (bb) the Company will be entitled to a deduction for such
year in the amount
18
of the ordinary income so recognized; (cc) the holder may have additional
long-term or short-term capital gain or loss; and (dd) the tax preference
provision might not be applicable.
The Plan provides for the cashless payment of the exercise price of options
granted under the Plan by (a) delivery to the Company of shares of Common Stock
having a fair market value equal to such purchase price, (b) irrevocable
instructions to a broker to sell shares of Common Stock to be issued upon
exercise of the option, followed by delivery to the Company of the amount of
sale proceeds necessary to pay such purchase price, and delivery of the
remaining cash proceeds less commissions and brokerage fees to the optionee or
delivery of the remaining shares of Common Stock to the optionee, or (c) by any
combination of the methods of payment described in (a) and (b) above.
The Plan also provides that in the event any distribution consists of securities
(including common stock) held by the Company in any subsidiary or any other
company, then (i) with respect to securities of a subsidiary, each holder of
options under the Plan on the record date for such distribution shall be
entitled to receive options to purchase such number of such securities as is
equal to the number of securities such holder would have received had he
exercised all of his options under the Plan (vested and unvested) and owned the
common stock in the Company underlying such options, which options in the
subsidiary shall be vested or shall vest to the same extent as such holder's
options in the Company, and, generally, shall contain such provisions as to put
such holder in the same equitable position such holder was in prior to the
distribution, including an allocation of the exercise price for the options
issued under this Plan to both such option and the options in the subsidiary,
and (ii) with respect to securities of another company, each holder of options
under the Plan on the record date for such distribution shall be entitled to
receive such number of securities as such holder would have received had he
exercised all of his options under the Plan (vested and unvested) and owned the
common stock in the Company underlying such options, which securities shall be
vested or shall vest to the same extent as such holder's options in the Company.
To the extent such securities do not vest in the holder, they shall be retained
by the Company.
If the shares of Common Stock outstanding are changed in number, kind, or class
by reason of a stock split, combination, merger, consolidation, reorganization,
reclassification, exchange, or any capital adjustment, including a stock
dividend, or if any distribution is made to stockholders other than a cash
dividend and the Board of Directors (or Committee) deems it appropriate to make
an adjustment, then (i) the aggregate number and class of shares that may be
issued under the Plan, (ii) the number and class of shares which are issuable
under outstanding options, and (iii) the purchase price to be paid per share
under outstanding options, shall be adjusted in a proportionate and equitable
manner by the Board of Directors.
In the event of a liquidation of the Company, or a merger, reorganization, or
consolidation of the Company with any other corporation in which the Company is
not the surviving corporation or the Company becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary
of another corporation, any unexercised options theretofore granted under the
Plan shall be deemed canceled unless the surviving corporation in any such
merger, reorganization, or consolidation elects to assume the options under the
Plan or to issue substitute options in place thereof; provided, however, if such
options would otherwise be canceled in accordance with the foregoing, the
optionee shall have the right,
19
exercisable during a ten-day period immediately prior to such liquidation,
merger, or consolidation, to exercise the option, in whole or in part. The
granting of an option pursuant to the Plan shall not affect in any way the right
or power of the Company to make adjustments, reorganizations, reclassifications,
or changes of its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate,
dissolve, liquidate, or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or
assets.
NEW PLAN BENEFITS
For each of the Named Executive Officers and the various indicated groups, the
table below shows the benefits that will be allocated to each of the following
under the plan being acted upon.
NUMBER OF OPTION DOLLAR VALUE
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION SHARES (1)
-------------------------------------------------- --------------------- -----------------------
John G. Baust
President and Chief Executive Officer 1,000,000 $80,000
Executive group (1 persons) 1,000,000 $80,000
Non-executive director group (3 persons) 750,000 $60,000
Non-executive officer employee group
(7 persons) 910,000 $72,800
-------------------------------------
(1) Stock options exercisable at $.08 per share
The closing price per share for the Common Stock as reported on the OTC Bulletin
Board on July 25, 2005 was $0.16.
20
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
Number of
Number of securities Weighted average exercise securities available for
to be issued upon exercise price of outstanding future issuance under equity
of outstanding options, warrants compensation plans (excluding
Plan Category options, warrants and rights and rights securities reflected in column (a)
------------- ---------------------------- ---------- ----------------------------------
(a) (b) (c)
Equity compensation plan
approved by shareholders 2,906,000 $0.52 -0-
Equity compensation plan not
approved by shareholders 29,926,858 $0.19 4,449,000
---------- ----- ---------
Total 32,832,858 $0.22 4,449,000
========== ===== =========
VOTING REQUIREMENT
The Plan Increase requires the affirmative vote of the holders of stock
representing a majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy at
the Meeting and entitled to vote thereon.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENT TO THE PLAN TO EFFECT THE PLAN INCREASE.
21
PROPOSAL NO. 4 - RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Board of Directors has selected the accounting firm of Aronson & Company to
serve as the Company's independent auditors for the year ending December 31,
2005 and proposes the ratification of such decision.
Aronson & Company has audited the Company's financial statements for the year
ended December 31, 2004. Representatives of Aronson & Company are expected to be
present at the Annual Meeting, with the opportunity to make a statement if they
desire to do so, and to respond to appropriate questions.
During 2004, Aronson & Company acted as the independent auditors for the
Company. The following table sets forth the aggregate fees billed by Aronson &
Company for audit and review services rendered in connection with the financial
statements and reports for the years ending December 31, 2004 and December 31,
2003 and for other services rendered during the years ending December 31, 2004
and December 31, 2003 on behalf of the Company:
2004 2003
---- ----
Audit Fees $49,275 $64,317
Audit-related fees -0- -0-
Tax fees 6,775 17,163
All other fees 475 -0-
-------- -------
Total $56,525 $81,480
The Board of Directors pre-approves all audit and non-audit services to be
performed by the Company's independent auditors.
VOTING REQUIREMENT
Ratification of the appointment of the independent auditors requires the
affirmative vote of the holders of stock representing a majority of shares
present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting and entitled to vote
thereon.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE
RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS.
22
INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
John G. Baust, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Messrs. Breslow,
deGreef and Girschweiler, directors of the Company, have an interest in the
approval of the Plan Increase. On May 12, 2005, the Board of Directors of the
Company granted to (a) Dr. Baust ten-year options to purchase 1,000,000 shares
of Common Stock at a price of $.08 per share, which options shall vest to the
extent of 250,000 shares on the first day of the month following the first
anniversary date of the grant (the "First Vesting Date") and 20,833 on the first
day of each of the next 36 months following the First Vesting Date, and (b) to
each of the aforesaid directors a ten-year, fully vested non-incentive stock
option to purchase 250,000 shares of Common Stock at a price of $0.08 per share;
provided, however, that such stock options may not be exercised until such time
as (x) the amendment to the Company's Stock Option Plan, approved by the
Company's Board of Directors on October 12, 2004, increasing the number of
shares of Common Stock covered by Plan from 4,000,000 shares to 7,500,000 shares
(subsequently increased to 10,000,000 shares) is approved by the Company's
stockholders, which approval must take place on or before October 12, 2005 (and
in the event such approval does not take place on or before October 12, 2005,
the options are rescinded), and (y) the certificate of incorporation of the
Company is amended to increase the authorized number of shares of common stock
to a number that is sufficient to accommodate the exercise of all options
granted to them.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Stockholder proposals for action at the Company's Annual Meeting of Stockholders
for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004 must be submitted in writing to the
Company at its address set forth on the first page of this Proxy Statement and
received by the Company no later than June 1, 2005 in order that they may be
considered for inclusion in the proxy statement and form of proxy relating to
that meeting. Stockholders who intend to present a proposal at the Company's
Annual Meeting of Stockholders for the year ending December 31, 2004 without
inclusion of such proposal in the Company's proxy materials are required to
provide notice of such proposal to the Company no later than August 1, 2005. The
Company reserves the right to reject, rule out of order, or take other
appropriate action with respect to any proposal that does not comply with these
and other applicable requirements.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP COMPLIANCE
The Company's officers, directors and beneficial owners of more than 10% of any
class of its equity securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Reporting Persons") are required under that
Act to file reports of ownership and changes in beneficial ownership of the
Company's equity securities with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies
of those reports must also be furnished to the Company. Based solely on a review
of the copies of reports furnished to the Company pursuant to that Act, the
Company believes that during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, all filing
requirements applicable to Reporting Persons were complied with.
23
OTHER MATTERS
The Board of Directors of the Company does not know of any other matters that
are to be presented for action at the Meeting. Should any other matters properly
come before the Meeting or any adjournments thereof, the persons named in the
enclosed proxy will have the discretionary authority to vote all proxies
received with respect to such matters in accordance with their judgment.
This Proxy Statement is sent by order of the Board of Directors of the Company.
-----------------------------
John G. Baust
President and
Chief Executive Officer
Owego, New York
August 26, 2005
STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO SPECIFY THEIR CHOICES AND DATE, SIGN, AND RETURN THE
ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. A PROMPT RESPONSE IS HELPFUL AND YOUR
COOPERATION WILL BE APPRECIATED.
24
ANNEX A
CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF THE
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
BIOLIFE SOLUTIONS, INC.
(Pursuant to Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware)
BioLife Solutions, Inc. (the "Corporation"), a corporation organized and
existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "GCL"),
certifies as follows:
1. The name of the Corporation is BioLife Solutions, Inc.
2. The date of filing of the Corporation's certificate of incorporation (the
"Certificate of Incorporation") with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware was November 5, 1987.
3. Subdivision (a) of Article Fourth of the Certificate of Incorporation is
hereby amended so that it shall now read as follows:
"FOURTH: The aggregate number of shares of stock which the Corporation
shall have the authority to issue shall be:
One hundred million (100,000,000) shares of common stock, each
having a par value of $.001 (the "Common Stock"), and one million
(1,000,000) shares of preferred stock, each having a par value of $.001
(the "Preferred Stock"). The Board of Directors, in its sole discretion,
shall have full and complete authority, by resolution, from time to time,
to establish one or more series or classes and to issue shares of
Preferred Stock, and to fix, determine and vary the voting rights,
designations, preferences, restrictions, qualifications, privileges,
limitation, options, conversion rights and other special rights of each
series or class of Preferred Stock, including, but not limited to,
dividend rates and manner of payment, preferential amounts payable upon
voluntary or involuntary liquidation, voting rights, conversion rights,
redemption prices, terms and conditions, and sinking fund and stock
purchase prices, terms and conditions."
4. This Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation was
authorized by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon at a meeting of stockholders
pursuant to Sections 222 and 242 of the GCL.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto sign my name and affirm that the statements
made herein are true under penalties of perjury this ____ day of
_________________, 2005.
BIOLIFE SOLUTIONS, INC.
By:
-----------------------------
John G. Baust, President and
Chief Executive Officer
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ANNEX B
BIOLIFE SOLUTIONS, INC.
1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN
(as amended May 10, 2001)
1. PURPOSE OF PLAN. The purpose of this 1998 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan")
is to further the growth and development of BioLife Solutions, Inc. (the
"Company") by encouraging and enabling employees, officers, and directors of,
and consultants and advisors to, the Company to obtain a proprietary interest in
the Company through the ownership of stock (thereby providing such persons with
an added incentive to continue in the employ or service of the Company and to
stimulate their efforts in promoting the growth, efficiency, and profitability
of the Company), and affording the Company a means of attracting to its service
persons of outstanding quality.
2. SHARES OF STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. Subject to the provisions of Section
12 hereof, an aggregate of 10,000,000 shares of the common stock, par value
$.001 per share, of the Company ("Common Stock") shall be reserved for issuance
upon the exercise of options which may be granted from time to time in
accordance with the Plan. As the Board of Directors of the Company ("Board of
Directors") shall from time to time determine, such shares may be, in whole or
in part, authorized but unissued shares or issued shares which have been
reacquired by the Company. If, for any reason, an option shall lapse, expire, or
terminate without having been exercised in full, the unpurchased shares
underlying such option shall (unless the Plan shall have been terminated) again
be available for issuance pursuant to the Plan.
3. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) The Board of Directors shall administer the Plan and, subject to the
provisions of the Plan, shall have authority to determine and designate from
time to time those persons eligible for a grant of options under the Plan, those
persons to whom options are to be granted, the purchase price of the shares
covered by each option, the time or times at which options shall be granted, and
the manner in which said options are exercisable. In making such determination,
the Board of Directors may take into account the nature of the services rendered
by the respective persons, their present and potential contributions to the
Company's success, and such other factors as the Board of Directors in its sole
discretion shall deem relevant. Subject to the express provisions of the Plan,
the Board of Directors also shall have authority to interpret the Plan, to
prescribe, amend, and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, to
determine the terms and provisions of the instruments by which options shall be
evidenced (which shall not be inconsistent with the terms of the Plan), and to
make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of
the Plan, all of which determinations shall be final, binding, and conclusive.
(b) The Board of Directors may, at its discretion, in accordance with the
provisions of the Company's By-Laws, appoint from among its members a Stock
Option or Compensation Committee (the "Committee"). The Committee shall be
composed of two or more directors and shall have and may exercise any and all of
the powers relating to the administration of the Plan and
the grant of options hereunder as are set forth above in Section 3(a), as the
Board of Directors shall confer and delegate. The Board of Directors shall have
the power at any time to fill vacancies in, to change the membership of, or to
discharge, the Committee. The Committee shall select one of its members as its
Chairman and shall hold its meetings at such time and at such places as it shall
deem advisable. A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum and such
majority shall determine its action. The Committee shall keep minutes of its
proceedings and shall report the same to the Board of Directors at the meeting
next succeeding. No director or member of the Committee shall be liable for any
action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any
option granted thereunder.
4. PERSONS TO WHOM SHARES MAY BE GRANTED.
(a) Options may be granted to persons who are, at the time of the grant,
employees (including part-time employees), officers, and directors of, or
consultants or advisors to, the Company or any subsidiary corporation (as
defined in Section 425 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), a "Subsidiary") as the Board of Directors (or Committee) shall select
from time to time from among those nominated by the Board of Directors (or
Committee). For the purposes of the Plan, options only may be granted to those
consultants and advisors who shall render bona fide services to the Company and
such services must not be in connection with the offer or sale of securities in
a capital raising transaction. Subject to the provisions hereinafter set forth,
options granted under the Plan shall be designated either (i) "Incentive Stock
Options" (which term, as used herein, shall mean options intended to be
"incentive stock options" within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code) or (ii)
"Non-Incentive Stock Options" (which term, as used herein, shall mean options
not intended to be incentive stock options" within the meaning of Section 422 of
the Code). Each option granted to a person who is solely a director of, or
consultant or advisor to, the Company or a Subsidiary on the date of the grant
shall be designated a Non-Incentive Stock Option.
(b) The Board of Directors (or Committee) may grant, at any time, new
options to a person who has previously received options, whether such prior
options are still outstanding, have previously been exercised in whole or in
part, have expired, or are canceled in connection with the issuance of new
options. The purchase price of the new options may be established by the Board
of Directors (or Committee) without regard to the existing option price.
5. OPTION PRICE.
(a) The purchase price of the Common Stock underlying each option shall
be determined by the Board of Directors (or Committee), which determination
shall be final, binding, and conclusive; provided, however, in no event shall
the purchase price of Incentive Stock Options be less than 100% (110% in the
case of optionees who own more than 10% of the total combined voting power of
all classes of stock of the Company) of the fair market value of the Common
Stock on the date the option is granted. In determining such fair market value,
the Board of Directors (or Committee) shall consider (i) the last sale price of
the Common Stock on the date on which the option is granted or, if no such
reported sale takes place on such day, the last reported bid price on such day,
on NASDAQ or on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common
2
Stock is admitted to trading or listed, or (ii) if not listed or admitted to
trading on NASDAQ or a national securities exchange, the closing bid price as
quoted by the National Quotation Bureau or a recognized dealer in the Common
Stock on the date of grant. If the Common Stock is not publicly traded at the
time an option is granted, the Board of Directors (or Committee) shall deem fair
market value to be the fair value of the Common Stock after taking into account
appropriate factors which may be relevant under applicable federal tax laws and
Internal Revenue rules and regulations. For purposes of the Plan, the date of
grant of an option shall be the date specified by the Board of Directors (or
Committee) at the time it grants such option; provided, however, such date shall
not be prior to the date on which the Board of Directors (or Committee) acts to
approve the grant.
(b) The aggregate fair market value (determined at the time the Incentive
Stock Options are granted) of the Common Stock with respect to which Incentive
Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by an employee during any
calendar year shall not exceed $100,000. Non-Incentive Stock Options shall not
be subject to the limitations of this paragraph 5(b).
6. EXERCISE OF OPTIONS.
(a) The number of shares which are issued pursuant to the exercise of an
option shall be charged against the maximum limitations on shares set forth in
Section 2 hereof.
(b) The exercise of an option shall be made contingent upon receipt by
the Company from the holder thereof of (i) if deemed necessary by the Company, a
written representation and acknowledgement that (1) at the time of such exercise
it is the holder's then present intention to acquire the option shares for
investment and not with a view to distribution or resale thereof, (2) the holder
knows that the Company is not obligated to register the option shares and that
the option shares may have to be held indefinitely unless an exemption from the
registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"),
is available or the Company has registered the shares underlying the options,
and (3) the Company may place a legend on the certificate(s) evidencing the
option shares reflecting the fact that they were acquired for investment and
cannot be sold or transferred unless registered under the Act, and (ii) payment
in full of the purchase price of the shares being purchased. Payment may be made
in cash; by certified check payable to the order of the Company in the amount of
such purchase price; by delivery to the Company of shares of Common Stock having
a fair market value equal to such purchase price; by irrevocable instructions to
a broker to sell shares of Common Stock to be issued upon exercise of the option
and to deliver to the Company the amount of sale proceeds necessary to pay such
purchase price and to deliver the remaining cash proceeds, less commissions and
brokerage fees, to the optionee; or by any combination of such methods of
payment.
7. TERM OF OPTIONS. The period during which each option granted hereunder
shall be exercisable shall be determined by the Board of Directors (or
Committee); provided, however, no option shall be exercisable for a period
exceeding ten (10) years from the date such option is granted.
8. NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS. No option granted pursuant to the Plan
shall be subject to
3
anticipation, sale, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or charge, or shall be
otherwise transferable except by will or the laws of descent and distribution or
pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order (as defined by the Code or
Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act or the rules thereunder),
and an option shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the holder thereof
only by such holder.
9. TERMINATION OF SERVICES. If an employee, officer, or director to whom an
option has been granted under the Plan shall cease to be an employee, officer,
or director of the Company or a Subsidiary by reason of a termination of such
relationship without cause and other than by reason of death or disability, such
holder may exercise such option at any time prior to the expiration date of the
options or within three months (or such longer period as the Board of Directors
(or Committee) may decide on a case by case basis) after the date of
termination, whichever is earlier, but only to the extent the holder had the
right to exercise such option on the date of termination. If an employee,
officer, or director to whom an option has been granted under the Plan shall
cease to be an employee, officer, or director of the Company or a Subsidiary by
reason of a termination of such relationship for cause and other than by reason
of death or disability, such options shall terminate, lapse, and expire
forthwith and automatically. So long as the holder of an option shall continue
to be in the employ, or continue to be a director, of the Company or one or more
of its Subsidiaries, such holder's option shall not be affected by any change of
duties or position. Absence on leave approved by the employing corporation shall
not be considered an interruption of employment for any purpose under the Plan.
The granting of an option in any one year shall not give the holder of the
option any rights to similar grants in future years or any right to be retained
in the employ or service of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or interfere
in any way with the right of the Company or any such Subsidiary to terminate
such holder's employment or services at any time. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
no option may be exercised after ten years from the date of its grant.
10. DISABILITY OF HOLDER OF OPTION. If any employee, officer, or director to
whom an option has been granted under the Plan shall cease to be an employee,
officer, or director of the Company or a Subsidiary by reason of disability,
such holder may exercise such option at any time prior to the expiration date of
the option or within one year after the date of termination for such reason,
whichever is earlier, but only to the extent the holder had the right to
exercise such option on the date of termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
no option may be exercised after ten years from the date of its grant. For the
purposes of the Plan, "disability" shall mean "permanent and total disability"
as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
11. DEATH OF HOLDER OF OPTION. If any employee, officer, or director to whom
an option has been granted under the Plan shall cease to be an employee,
officer, or director of the Company or a Subsidiary by reason of death, or such
holder of an option shall die within three months after termination, or in the
case of the death of an advisor or consultant to whom an option has been granted
under the Plan, the option may be exercised by the person or persons to whom the
optionee's rights under the option are transferred by will or by the laws of
descent and distribution at any time prior to the expiration date of the option
or, in the case of an employee, officer, or director, within three months from
the date of death, whichever is earlier, but only to the extent the holder of
the option had the right to exercise such option on the date of such
termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no option may be exercised after ten
years from the date of its grant.
4
12. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION.
(a) If the shares of Common Stock outstanding are changed in number,
kind, or class by reason of a stock split, combination, merger, consolidation,
reorganization, reclassification, exchange, or any capital adjustment, including
a stock dividend, or if any distribution is made to stockholders other than a
cash dividend and the Board of Directors (or Committee) deems it appropriate to
make an adjustment, then (i) the aggregate number and class of shares that may
be issued or transferred pursuant to Section 2, (ii) the number and class of
shares which are issuable under outstanding options, and (iii) the purchase
price to be paid per share under outstanding options, shall be adjusted as
hereinafter provided. In the event any distribution consists of common stock
held by the Company in any subsidiary, then each holder of options under this
Plan on the record date for such distribution shall be entitled to receive
options to purchase such number of shares of such common stock as is equal to
the number of shares of common stock such holder would have received had such
holder exercised all of such holder's options under this Plan (vested and
unvested) and owned the common stock in the Company underlying such options,
which options in the subsidiary shall be vested or shall vest to the same extent
as such holder's options in the Company, and, generally, shall contain such
provisions as to put such holder in the same equitable position such holder was
in prior to the distribution, including an allocation of the exercise price for
the options issued under this Plan to both such options and the options in the
subsidiary.
(b) Adjustments under this Section 12 shall be made in a proportionate
and equitable manner by the Board of Directors (or Committee), whose
determination as to what adjustments shall be made, and the extent thereof,
shall be final, binding, and conclusive. In the event that a fraction of a share
results from the foregoing adjustment, said fraction shall be eliminated and the
price per share of the remaining shares subject to the option adjusted
accordingly.
(c) In the event of a liquidation of the Company, or a merger,
reorganization, or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation in
which the Company is not the surviving corporation or the Company becomes a
wholly-owned subsidiary of another corporation, any unexercised options
theretofore granted under the Plan shall be deemed canceled unless the surviving
corporation in any such merger, reorganization, or consolidation elects to
assume the options under the Plan or to issue substitute options in place
thereof; provided, however, if such options would otherwise be canceled in
accordance with the foregoing, the optionee shall have the right, exercisable
during a ten-day period immediately prior to such liquidation, merger, or
consolidation, to exercise the option, in whole or in part. The granting of an
option pursuant to the Plan shall not affect in any way the right or power of
the Company to make adjustments, reorganizations, reclassifications, or changes
of its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve,
liquidate, or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.
13. VESTING OF RIGHTS UNDER OPTIONS. Nothing contained in the Plan or in any
resolution adopted or to be adopted by the Board of Directors (or Committee) or
the stockholders of the Company shall constitute the vesting of any rights under
any option. The vesting of such rights shall take place only when a written
agreement shall be duly executed and delivered by and on
5
behalf of the Company to the person to whom the option shall be granted.
14. RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER. A holder of an option shall have no rights of a
stockholder with respect to any shares covered by such holder's option until the
date of issuance of a stock certificate to such holder for such shares.
15. TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT. The Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors
on August 31, 1998, subject, with respect to the validation of Incentive Stock
Options granted under the Plan, to approval of the Plan by the stockholders of
the Company at the next Meeting of Stockholders or, in lieu thereof, by written
consent. If the approval of stockholders is not obtained prior to August 30
1999, any grants of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan made prior to that
date will be rescinded. The Plan shall expire at the end of the day on August
30, 2008 (except as to options outstanding on that date). Options may be granted
under the Plan prior to the date of stockholder approval of the Plan. The Board
of Directors (or Committee) may terminate or amend the Plan in any respect at
any time, except that, without the approval of the stockholders obtained within
12 months before or after the Board of Directors (or Committee) adopts a
resolution authorizing any of the following actions, (a) the total number of
shares that may be issued under the Plan may not be increased (except by
adjustment pursuant to paragraph 12); (b) the provisions regarding eligibility
for grants of Incentive Stock Options may not be modified; (c) the provisions
regarding the exercise price at which shares may be offered pursuant to
Incentive Stock Options may not be modified (except by adjustment pursuant to
paragraph 12), and (d) the expiration date of the Plan may not be extended.
Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph 15, in no event may action of the
Board of Directors (or Committee) or stockholders alter or impair the rights of
an optionee, without such optionee's consent, under any option previously
granted to such optionee.
16. MODIFICATION, EXTENSION AND RENEWAL OF OPTIONS. Subject to the terms and
conditions and within the limitations of the Plan, the Board of Directors (or
Committee) may modify, extend, or renew outstanding options granted under the
Plan, or accept the surrender of outstanding options (to the extent not
theretofore exercised) and authorize the granting of new options in substitution
therefor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no modification of an option shall,
without the consent of the holder thereof, alter or impair any rights or
obligations under any option theretofore granted under the Plan.
17. CONVERSION OF INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS INTO NON-QUALIFIED OPTIONS. Without
the prior written consent of the holder of an Incentive Stock Option, the Board
of Directors (or Committee) shall not alter the terms of such Incentive Stock
Option (including the means of exercising such Incentive Stock Option) if such
alteration would constitute a modification within the meaning of Section
424(h)(3) of the Code. The Board of Directors (or Committee), at the written
request or with the written consent of any optionee, may in its discretion take
such actions as may be necessary to convert such optionee's Incentive Stock
Options (or any installments or portions of installments thereof) that have not
been exercised on the date of conversion into Non-Incentive Stock Options at any
time prior to the expiration of such Incentive Stock Options, regardless of
whether the optionee is an employee of the Company at the time of such
conversion. Such actions may include, but shall not be limited to, extending the
exercise period or reducing the exercise price of the appropriate installments
of such Incentive Stock Options. At the time of such conversion, the
6
Board of Directors (or Committee) (with the consent of the optionee) may impose
such conditions on the exercise of the resulting Non-Incentive Stock Options as
the Board of Directors (or Committee) in its discretion may determine, provided
that such conditions shall not be inconsistent with the Plan. Nothing in the
Plan shall be deemed to give any optionee the right to have such optionee's
Incentive Stock Options converted into Non-Incentive Stock Options, and no such
conversion shall occur until and unless the Board of Directors (or Committee)
takes appropriate action.
18. WITHHOLDING OF ADDITIONAL INCOME TAXES. Upon the exercise of a
Non-Incentive Stock Option, the transfer of a Non-Incentive Stock Option
pursuant to an arm's length transaction, the making of a Disqualifying
Disposition (as described in Sections 421, 422 and 424 of the Code and
regulations thereunder), the vesting of transfer of restricted stock or
securities acquired on the exercise of an option hereunder, or the making of a
distribution or other payment with respect to such stock or securities, the
Company may withhold taxes in respect of amounts that constitute compensation
includible in gross income. The Board of Directors (or Committee) in its
discretion may condition the exercise of an option, the transfer of a
Non-Incentive Stock Option, or the vesting or transferability of restricted
stock or securities acquired by exercising an option on the optionee's making
satisfactory arrangement for such withholding. Such arrangement may include
payment by the optionee in cash or by check of the amount of the withholding
taxes or, at the discretion of the Board of Directors (or Committee), by the
optionee's delivery of previously held shares of Common Stock or the withholding
from the shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable upon exercise of option
shares having an aggregate fair market value equal to the amount of such
withholding taxes.
19. INDEMNIFICATION. In addition to such other rights of indemnification as
they may have as members of the Board of Directors (or Committee), the members
of the Board of Directors (or Committee) administering the Plan shall be
indemnified by the Company against reasonable expenses, including attorneys'
fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any
action, suit, or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal therein, to which
they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to
act under or in connection with the Plan or any option granted thereunder, and
against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement
is approved by independent legal counsel selected by the Company) or paid by
them in satisfaction of a judgment in any action, suit, or proceeding, except in
relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit, or
proceeding that such member is liable for negligence or misconduct in the
performance of his duties, and provided that within 60 days after institution of
any such action, suit, or proceeding, the member shall in writing offer the
Company the opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same.
20. GOVERNING LAW. The validity and construction of the Plan and the
instruments evidencing options shall be governed by the laws of Delaware, or the
laws of any jurisdiction in which the Company or its successors in interest may
be organized.
BIOLIFE SOLUTIONS, INC.
171 FRONT STREET
OWEGO, NY 13827
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned, acknowledging receipt of the proxy statement dated
August 26, 2005 of BioLife Solutions, Inc., hereby constitutes and appoints John
G. Baust and Howard S. Breslow and each or any of them, attorney, agent and
proxy of the undersigned, with full power of substitution to each of them, for
and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned on the books of said
corporation, to appear and vote all the shares of stock of BioLife Solutions,
Inc. standing in the name of the undersigned on the books of said corporation on
August 19, 2005, at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of BioLife Solutions,
Inc. to be held at Breslow & Walker, LLP, 767 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
on September 28, 2005, at 10:00 A.M., Eastern Standard Time, and any
adjournments thereof.
When properly executed, this proxy will be voted as designated by the
undersigned. If no choice is specified, the proxy will be voted FOR the
following proposals, which are set forth in the Proxy Statement.
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
_______ For all nominees listed below
(except as marked to the contrary below)
_______ Withhold Authority to vote for all nominees
listed below
John G. Baust
Howard S. Breslow
Rod de Greef
Thomas Girschweiler
(INSTRUCTION: to withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, strike a
line through or otherwise strike nominee's name in the list above.)
2. PROPOSAL TO APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE OF
INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK FROM
25,000,000 TO 100,000,000.
FOR____ AGAINST____ ABSTAIN____
3. PROPOSAL TO APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY'S 1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN TO
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK RESERVED FOR ISSUANCE THEREUNDER
FORM 4,000,000 TO 10,000,000.
FOR____ AGAINST____ ABSTAIN____
4. PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF ARONSON & COMPANY TO SERVE AS
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2005.
FOR____ AGAINST____ ABSTAIN____
5. TO VOTE, IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXIES, ON SUCH OTHER MATTERS THAT MAY
PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING AND ANY ADJOURNMENTS THEREOF.
Please sign exactly as name appears below. When shares are held by
joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, administrator,
trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please
sign in full corporate name by President or other authorized officer. If a
partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.
DATED: ,2005
------------------
------------------------------
Signature
-------------------------------
Signature if held jointly
PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY IN THE
ENCLOSED ENVELOPE