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8-K - CURRENT REPORT - BIOLIFE SOLUTIONS INCblfs_8k.htm
EXHIBIT 99.1

 
BioLife Solutions Announces Record 4th Quarter and Full Year 2011 Financial Results and Provides 2012 Outlook

Management Forecasts Revenue Growth of at Least 50% and Positive Cash Flow
 
BOTHELL, WA—March 26, 2012—BioLife Solutions, Inc. (OTCBB: BLFS), a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of proprietary clinical grade hypothermic storage and cryopreservation freeze media for cells and tissues, and contract aseptic media manufacturer, today announced record revenue for the fourth quarter and full year 2011, and for the first time, provided initial guidance on management’s outlook for the full year 2012.
 
Mike Rice, Chief Executive Officer, commented on the outlook for BioLife by stating, “We had very strong growth in 2011 and expect this momentum to accelerate in 2012.  Our best-in-class proprietary biopreservation media products are now used by hundreds of customers in the regenerative medicine, biobanking, and drug discovery markets.  This continued product adoption, along with a significant contract manufacturing customer we gained late in 2011, will enable BioLife to grow total revenue by 50% over 2011.”
 
Summary of 2011 Achievements

  
Revenue and customer base continued to grow with shipments of CryoStor®, HypoThermosol®, and BloodStor®, to dozens of new and to existing customers in strategic direct markets of regenerative medicine, biobanking, and drug discovery. The Company’s estimated direct and indirect customer base now totals more than 400.

  
Revenue from distributors grew more than 150% over 2010 and was 20% of total revenue.

  
The Company executed a significant confidential multi-year contract manufacturing services agreement to perform aseptic media formulation, fill, and finish of several biopreservation solutions for a new multinational customer.

Fourth Quarter 2011 Financial Results

Total revenue during the fourth quarter of 2011 was $809,564, compared to $575,994 in the same period of 2010. The increase of 41% from 2010 to 2011 was due primarily to a 175% increase in sales to distributors and an increase of over 70% in sales to customers in the regenerative medicine market segment.
 
Gross margin in the fourth quarter was a record high of 56% due mainly to improved utilization of the Company’s manufacturing facility.
 
Total operating expenses in the fourth quarter of 2011 were $667,650, compared to $522,588 in the fourth quarter of 2010. The primary driver for the increase in expenses was related to legal costs incurred in the fourth quarter of 2011.
 
Other expense is primarily related to interest expense on the Company’s notes payable. In the fourth quarter of 2011 other expense was $200,584, compared to $155,320 in the fourth quarter of 2010. Interest expense increased due to the additional borrowing in 2011.
 
 
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For the fourth quarter of 2011, the Company reported a net loss of $411,170, or $(0.01) per share, compared with a net loss of $470,638, or $(0.01) per share, for the fourth quarter of 2010. Loss from operations in the fourth quarter of 2011 was $210,586, which was 33% lower when compared to the $315,318 loss from operations in the fourth quarter of 2010.
 
Full Year 2011 Financial Results

Total revenue in 2011 was $2,758,729, compared to $2,081,565 in the same period of 2010. This increase of 33% from 2010 to 2011 was driven by a 159% increase in sales to distributors, an increase of over 50% in year over year sales to customers in the regenerative medicine market segment, and continued strong sales to customers in the biobanking and drug discovery markets.
 
Gross margin increased significantly in 2011 to 51% compared to 41% in 2010, due mainly to improved utilization of the Company’s manufacturing facility.
 
Total operating expenses in 2011 were $2,612,841, compared to $2,250,584 in 2010. The primary driver for the increase in expenses was related to increased personnel costs and additional legal costs incurred in 2011.
 
In 2011 other expense was $746,956, compared to $589,434 in 2010. Interest expense increased due to the additional borrowing of $1,095,000 in 2011.
 
For the full year 2011, the Company reported a net loss of $1,956,639, or $(0.03) per share, compared with a net loss of $1,983,630, or $(0.03) per share in 2010. Loss from operations in 2011 was $1,209,683, which was 13% lower when compared to the $1,394,196 loss from operations in 2010.
 
Outlook for 2012
 
In 2012, BioLife management expects revenue to increase by at least 50% to approximately $4.1 MM. Revenue drivers include:
 
  
Sales to the Company’s contract manufacturing customers; the new agreement BioLife executed in late 2011 is expected to generate $1MM - $2MM in annual contract manufacturing revenue. Shipments are expected to commence in the second quarter of 2012.
 
  
Continued steady increases in revenue shipments to existing and new direct customers, specifically in the regenerative medicine market segment, as the Company’s customers continue to move their cell and tissue based therapies and products through the clinical trial and regulatory approval processes. Management estimates that a typical regenerative medicine customer could contribute $1MM - $2MM in annual revenue if its product is approved for worldwide commercialization.  While this segment is still in an early stage, and it is impossible to predict when or if any of BioLife’s customers will receive marketing and regulatory approvals, this segment represents significant upside in the Company’s business model.
 
  
Throughout 2011 and the first quarter of 2012, BioLife executed non-exclusive agreements with several new distributors outside the US, and expects its indirect channel revenue to continue to grow at a strong rate.
 
 
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Management expects slightly lower gross margin as a percentage of revenue in 2012 as a result of increased contract manufacturing, in addition to increased operating expenses associated with selling and product development activity.  The Company believes it will achieve positive cash flow from operations in 2012 and that cash generated from customer collections will provide sufficient funds to operate its business.
 
The Company will file its Form 10-K annual report for 2011 on Thursday, March 29, 2012.

About BioLife Solutions
 
BioLife Solutions develops, manufactures and markets patented hypothermic storage and cryopreservation solutions for cells and tissues.  The Company’s proprietary HypoThermosol® and CryoStor® platform of solutions are marketed to academic and commercial organizations involved in cell therapy, tissue engineering, cord blood banking, drug discovery, and toxicology testing. BioLife’s products are serum-free and protein-free, fully defined, and are formulated to reduce preservation-induced, delayed-onset cell damage and death.  BioLife’s enabling technology provides academic and clinical researchers significant improvements in post-thaw cell, tissue, and organ viability and function.  For more information please visit www.biolifesolutions.com, and follow BioLife on Twitter.

This news release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements include any statements that relate to the intent, belief, plans or expectations of the Company or its management, or that are not a statement of historical fact.  Any forward-looking statements in this news release are based on current expectations and beliefs and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Some of the specific factors that could cause BioLife Solutions’ actual results to differ materially are discussed in the Company’s recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  BioLife Solutions disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.
 
# # # #

 
Media Relations:
Investor Relations:
 
Len Hall
Matt Clawson
 
Allen & Caron Inc
Allen & Caron Inc
 
(949) 474-4300
(949) 474-4300
 
len@allencaron.com
matt@allencaron.com
 

 
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BioLife Solutions, Inc.
 
Statement of Operations

   
Three Months
Ended December 31,
   
Twelve Months
Ended December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Revenue
                       
         Product sales
  $ 804,564     $ 570,994     $ 2,738,729     $ 2,061,565  
         Licensing revenue
    5,000       5,000       20,000       20,000  
Total revenue
    809,564       575,994       2,758,729       2,081,565  
Cost of product sales
    352,500       368,724       1,355,571       1,225,177  
     Gross profit
    457,064       207,270       1,403,158       856,388  
  Gross margin %
    56 %     36 %     51 %     41 %
                                 
Operating expenses
                               
Research and development
    125,368       72,113       516,454       318,897  
Sales and marketing
    69,197       99,608       267,080       431,007  
General and administrative
    473,085       350,867       1,829,307       1,500,680  
Total operating expenses
    667,650       522,588       2,612,841       2,250,584  
                                 
Operating loss
    (210,586 )     (315,318 )     (1,209,683 )     (1,394,196 )
                                 
Total other income (expenses)
    (200,584 )     (155,320 )     (746,956 )     (589,434 )
                                 
Net Loss
  $ (411,170 )   $ (470,638 )   $ (1,956,639 )   $ (1,983,630 )
                                 
Basic and diluted net loss per common share
  $ (0.01 )   $ (0.01 )   $ (0.03 )   $ (0.03 )
                                 
Basic and diluted weighted average common shares used to calculate net loss per common share
    69,679,854       69,679,854       69,679,854       69,679,854  
 
 
Selected Balance Sheet Data
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
 
2011
 
2010
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
16,864
   
$
3,211
 
Accounts receivable
   
547,143
     
338,899
 
Inventories
   
505,956
     
410,486
 
Total current assets
   
1,160,407
     
814,973
 
Total current liabilities
   
579,248
     
340,702
 
Promissory notes payable, related parties
   
10,128,127
     
9,033,127
 
Accrued interest, related parties
   
2,025,961
     
1,354,975
 
Total liabilities
   
12,842,503
     
10,857,971
 
Total shareholders' equity (deficiency)
   
(11,180,486
)
   
(9,548,912
 
 
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