Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)

Registration Statement No. 333-233912

The information contained in this preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell nor do they seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Subject to Completion, Dated July 1, 2020

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To prospectus dated October 4, 2019)

Shares of Common Stock

We are offering                shares of common stock at a purchase price of $               per share.

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “BLFS.” On June 30, 2020, the last reported sale price of the common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $16.35 per share.

Investing in our common stock involves risks that are described in the “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-6 of this prospectus supplement, page 5 of the accompanying prospectus and under similar headings in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

	Per Share		Total
Public offering price		$		$
Underwriting discounts(1)		$		$
Proceeds, before expenses and fees, to us		$		$

(1) See the section entitled “Underwriting” for additional disclosure regarding underwriter compensation and estimated offering expenses and fees.

The underwriters may also exercise their option to purchase up to an additional                shares from us, at the public offering price, less the underwriting discount, for 30 days after the date of this prospectus supplement.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The underwriters expect to deliver the shares to the investors on or about , 2020.

Joint Book-Running Managers

Cowen Oppenheimer & Co. Stephens Inc.

The date of this prospectus supplement is                     , 2020.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

	Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT	S-ii
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS	S-iii
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY	S-1
RISK FACTORS	S-6
USE OF PROCEEDS	S-10
DILUTION	S-11
UNDERWRITING	S-12
LEGAL MATTERS	S-17
EXPERTS	S-17
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION	S-17
INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE	S-17

	Page
About This Prospectus	1
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements	2
Prospectus Summary	3
Risk Factors	5
Use of Proceeds	6
Plan of Distribution	7
Description of Securities We May Offer	10
Forms of Securities	21
Experts	23
Legal Matters	23
Where You Can Find Additional Information	23
Incorporation of Documents By Reference	23

S-i

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

On September 24, 2019, we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-233912) utilizing a “shelf” registration process relating to the securities described in this prospectus supplement, which registration statement was declared effective on October 4, 2019. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer and sell, either individually or in combination, in one or more offerings, any of the securities described in the accompanying prospectus, for total gross proceeds of up to $75,000,000.

This prospectus supplement describes the specific terms of this offering of shares of our common stock and also adds to and updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein and into the accompanying prospectus. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, provides more general information. If the information in this prospectus supplement is inconsistent with the accompanying prospectus or any document incorporated by reference therein filed prior to the date of this prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement.

We and the underwriters have not authorized anyone to provide you with any information or to make any representations other than those included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and any relevant free writing prospectus. If you receive any information not authorized by us, we and the underwriters take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, such information. We are not making an offer to sell the shares of common stock in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or any relevant free writing prospectus is accurate as of any date other than its respective date, regardless of its time of delivery or any sale of shares of our common stock. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

It is important for you to read and consider all of the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in making your investment decision. This prospectus supplement contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. We include cross-references in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus to captions in these materials where you can find additional related discussions. The table of contents in this prospectus supplement provides the pages on which these captions are located. You should read both this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, together with the additional information described in the sections entitled “Where You Can Find Additional Information” on page S-17 and “Incorporation of Documents by Reference” on page S-17 of this prospectus supplement, before investing in our common stock.

We are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, shares of our common stock only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the offering of the common stock in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of the common stock and the distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus outside the United States. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus by any person in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful for such person to make such an offer or solicitation.

This prospectus supplement contains, or incorporates by reference, trademarks, tradenames, service marks and service names of BioLife Solutions, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

Unless the context otherwise requires, “BioLife Solutions,” “BLFS,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” and similar names refer to BioLife Solutions, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

S-ii

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

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

We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short term and long term business operations, and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in this prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein, and in particular, the risks discussed below and under the heading “Risk Factors” and those discussed in other documents we file with the SEC. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 and notes incorporated by reference therein. We undertake no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this prospectus supplement may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statement.

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

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

S-iii

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

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

Overview

We develop, manufacture and market bioproduction tools to the cell and gene therapy industry (or the C&GT industry), which are designed to improve quality and de-risk biologic manufacturing and delivery. Our products are used in basic and applied research and commercial manufacturing of biologic-based therapies. Customers use our products to maintain the health and function of biologic material during sourcing, manufacturing, storage, and distribution of cells and tissues.

We currently operate as one bioproduction tools business with product lines that support several steps in the biologic material manufacturing and delivery process. We have a diversified portfolio of tools that focus on biopreservation, frozen storage, and thawing of biologic materials. We have in-house expertise in cryobiology and continue to capitalize on opportunities to maximize the value of our product platform for our extensive customer base through both organic growth innovations and acquisitions.

Our Products

Our bioproduction tools are comprised of four main product lines:

● Biopreservation media

● Automated thawing devices

● Cloud connected “smart” shipping containers

● Freezer and storage technology and related components

Biopreservation media

Our proprietary biopreservation media products, HypoThermosol^® FRS and CryoStor^®, are formulated to mitigate preservation-induced, delayed-onset cell damage and death, which result when cells and tissues are subjected to reduced temperatures. Our technology can provide our C&GT customers with significant shelf life extension of biologic source material and final cell products, and can also greatly improve post-preservation cell and tissue viability and function. Our biopreservation media is serum-free, protein-free, fully defined, and manufactured under current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). We strive to source wherever possible, the highest available grade, multi-compendium raw materials. We estimate our media products have been incorporated in over 400 customer clinical applications, including numerous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell and other cell types. 

Stability (i.e. shelf-life) and functional recovery are crucial aspects of academic research and clinical practice in the biopreservation of biologic-based source material, intermediate derivatives, and isolated/derived/expanded cellular products and therapies. Limited stability is especially critical in the C&GT field, where harvested cells and tissues will lose viability over time, if not maintained appropriately at normothermic body temperature (37ºC) or stored in a hypothermic state in an effective preservation medium. Chilling (hypothermia) is used to reduce metabolism and delay degradation of harvested cells and tissues. However, subjecting biologic material to hypothermic environments induces damaging molecular stress and structural changes. Although cooling successfully reduces metabolism (i.e., lowers demand for energy), various levels of cellular damage and death occur when using suboptimal methods. Traditional biopreservation media range from simple “balanced salt” (electrolyte) formulations to complex mixtures of electrolytes, energy substrates such as sugars, osmotic buffering agents and antibiotics. The limited stability which results from the use of these traditional biopreservation media formulations is a significant shortcoming that our optimized proprietary products address with great success.

Our scientific research activities over the last 20+ years enabled a detailed understanding of the molecular basis for the hypothermic and cryogenic (low-temperature induced) damage/destruction of cells through apoptosis and necrosis. This research led directly to the development of our HypoThermosol^® FRS and CryoStor^® technologies. Our proprietary biopreservation media products are specifically formulated to:

● Minimize cell and tissue swelling

● Reduce free radical levels upon formation

● Maintain appropriate low temperature ionic balances

● Provide regenerative, high energy substrates to stimulate recovery upon warming

● Avoid the creation of an acidic state (acidosis)

● Inhibit the onset of apoptosis and necrosis

S-1

A key feature of our biopreservation media products is their “fully-defined” profile. All of our cGMP products are serum-free, protein-free and are formulated and filled using aseptic processing. We strive to use USP/Multicompendial grade or the highest quality available synthetic components. All of these features benefit prospective customers by facilitating the qualification process required to incorporate our products into their regulatory filings.

The results of independent testing demonstrate that our biopreservation media products significantly extend shelf-life and improve cell and tissue post-thaw viability and function. Our products have demonstrated improved biopreservation outcomes, including greatly extended shelf-life and post-thaw viability, across a broad array of cell and tissue types.

Competing biopreservation media products are often formulated with simple isotonic media cocktails, animal serum, potentially a single sugar or human protein. A key differentiator of our proprietary HypoThermosol FRS formulation is the engineered optimization of the key ionic component concentrations for low temperature environments, as opposed to normothermic body temperature around 37°C, as found in culture media or saline-based isotonic formulas. Competing cryopreservation freeze media is often comprised of a single permeating cryoprotectant such as dimethyl sulfoxide, or DMSO. Our CryoStor formulations incorporate multiple permeating and non-permeating cryoprotectant agents which allow for multiple mechanisms of protection and reduces the dependence on a single cryoprotectant. We believe that our products offer significant advantages over in-house formulations, or commercial “generic” preservation media, including, time saving, improved quality of components, more rigorous quality control release testing, more cost effective and improved preservation efficacy.

We estimate that annual revenue from each customer commercial application in which our products are used could range from $0.5 million to $2.0 million, if such application is approved and our customer commences large scale commercial manufacturing of the biologic based therapy.

Automated, Water-Free Thawing Products

In April 2019, we acquired Astero Bio Corporation, or Astero, to expand our bioprocessing tools portfolio and diversify our revenue streams. The Astero ThawSTAR^® line includes automated vial and cryobag thawing products that control the heat and timing of the thawing process of biologic material. Our customizable, automated, water-free thawing products use algorithmic programmed heating plates to consistently bring biologic material from a frozen state to a liquid state in a controlled and consistent manner. This helps reduce damage during the temperature transition. The ThawSTAR products can reduce risks of contamination versus using a traditional water bath.

evo^® Cloud Connected Shipping Containers

In August 2019, we acquired the remaining shares of SAVSU Technologies, Inc., or SAVSU, that we did not previously own. SAVSU is a leading developer and supplier of next generation cold chain management tools for cell and gene therapies. The evo.is cloud app allows biologic products to be traced and tracked in real time. Our evo platform consists of rentable cloud-connected shippers and include technologies that provide real-time information on geolocation, payload temperature, ambient temperature, tilt of shipper, humidity, altitude, and real-time alerts when a shipper has been opened. Our internally developed evo.is software allows customers to customize alert notifications both in data measurements and user requirements. The evo Dry Vapor Shipper (DVS) is specifically marketed to cell and gene therapies. The evo DVS has improved form factor and ergonomics over the traditional dewar, including extended thermal performance, reduced liquid nitrogen recharge time, improved payload extractors and ability to maintain temperature for longer periods on its side.

We utilize couriers who already have established logistic channels and distribution centers. Our strategy greatly reduces the cash needed to build out specialized facilities around the world. Our partnerships with several white glove couriers allow us to scale our sales and marketing effort by utilizing their salesforce. Our courier partnerships market our evo platform to their existing cell and gene therapy customers as a cost effective and innovative solution. We also market directly to our existing and prospective customers who can utilize the evo platform through our courier partnerships.     

Liquid Nitrogen Freezer and Storage Devices

In November 2019, we acquired Custom Biogenic Systems, Inc., or CBS, a global leader in the design and manufacture of state-of-the-art liquid nitrogen laboratory freezers, cryogenic equipment and accessories. The addition of CBS allows for product line growth, diversification of revenue and reduction of supply chain costs for our evo dry vapor shippers.

Included in CBS’s product line of liquid nitrogen freezers are the Isothermal LN2 freezers, constructed with a patented system which stores liquid nitrogen in a jacketed space in the walls of the freezer. This dry storage method eliminates liquid nitrogen contact with stored specimens, reduces the risk of cross-contamination and provides increased user safety in a laboratory setting. To accommodate customer requirements, we offer customizable features including widened bodies and extended height.

Our freezer offerings also include high capacity rate freezers which are fully customizable to customer needs with temperature range of -180°C to +50°C and freezing rates of 0.01 to 99.9 per minute. Password protected software aids in compliance with 21 CFR Part 11 and with unlimited programming capability, these high capacity rate freezers provide a searchable database for freeze run history and allow freeze data to be saved.

S-2

To accompany the offerings of cryogenic freezer equipment, we supply equipment for storing critically important biological materials. This storage equipment includes upright freezer racks, chest freezer racks, liquid nitrogen freezer racks, canisters/cassettes and frames as well as laboratory boxes and dividers. Due to our onsite design and manufacturing capability, racks and canisters can be customized to address customers’ varying requirements.

In order to provide customers with a proactive approach to safety and monitoring of equipment containing liquefied gas, CBS offers Versalert, a patented wireless remote asset monitoring system that can monitor and record temperatures from -200°C to +50°C, and monitor and record two additional variables using 0-5v or 4-20mA inputs. With an intelligent mesh network with three times the range of competing products, the system enables customers to view current equipment conditions and receive alarm notification on smartphones, tablets or personal computers and maintain permanent electronic records for regulatory compliance and legal verification.

Our Market Opportunity and Competition

The C&GT market has been rapidly expanding, treating diseases once thought incurable. According to the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM) there were currently over 1,000 ongoing clinical trials utilizing regenerative medicine at the end of 2019. ARM also states there were over $9.8 billion in total global financings in the regenerative market in 2019. The FDA predicts five to ten cell and gene therapies per year will be approved. These technologies change the way physicians treat patients. The manufacturing, distribution and the delivery process is significantly different from those of many other types of medicines and therapies. We believe we are well positioned to address many of the manufacturing difficulties in the process of producing cell and gene therapies.

The Bioproduction Process

Our products currently fulfill several steps in the bioproduction process for cell and gene therapies. See the diagram below from an illustration of this process and our product roles. We now offer products that integrate into the critical steps of preservation, thawing, fixed storage, and transportable storage under controlled conditions.

Our Strategy

We intend to aggressively leverage the numerous relationships with the leading cell and gene therapy companies that use our media products to offer our expanded product portfolio of bioproduction tools. Over the last several years, we have built a strong reputation as a trusted supplier of critical tools used in cell and gene therapy manufacturing. We believe that our relationships and reputation could enable us to drive incremental revenue growth through the sale of additional products to a captive customer base.

Recent Developments

COVID-19

On or about March 10, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic. The virus and actions taken to mitigate its spread have had and are expected to continue to have a broad adverse impact on the economies and financial markets of many countries, including the geographical areas in which the Company operates and conducts its business. In particular, the Seattle area, including the location of our corporate headquarters and our media production facility and warehouse, is at one of the epicenters of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. We are currently following the recommendations of local health authorities to minimize exposure risk for our team members and visitors. However, the scale and scope of this pandemic is unknown and the duration of the business disruption and related financial impact cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. While we have implemented specific business continuity plans to reduce the potential impact of COVID-19 and believe that we have sufficient biopreservation media inventory to meet previously forecasted demand for approximately the next six months, there is no guarantee that our continuity plan, once in place, will be successful or that our inventory will meet forecasted or actual demand.

S-3

We have already experienced certain disruptions to our business such as temporary closure of our offices and similar disruptions may occur for our customers or suppliers that may materially affect our ability to obtain supplies or other components for our products, produce our products or deliver inventory in a timely manner. This would result in lost product revenue, additional costs, or penalties, or damage our reputation. Similarly, COVID-19 could impact our customers and/or suppliers as a result of a health epidemic or other outbreak occurring in other locations which could reduce their demand for our products or their ability to deliver needed supplies for the production of our products. The extent to which COVID-19 or any other health epidemic may impact our results will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information which may emerge concerning the severity of COVID-19 and the actions to contain COVID-19 or treat its impact, among others. Accordingly, COVID-19 could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.

There are many uncertainties regarding the current pandemic of the novel coronavirus, and the Company is closely monitoring the impact of COVID-19 on all aspects of its business, including how it will impact its customers, employees, suppliers, vendors, business partners and distribution channels. While COVID-19 did not materially affect the Company’s financial results and business operations in the Company’s first quarter ended March 31, 2020, there are significant uncertainties regarding the impact that COVID-19 may have on its financial position and operations moving forward. We estimate that we received approximately $1.5 million in incremental media revenue resulting from what we believe were safety stock purchases of media. These estimates may change as new events occur and additional information is obtained, and actual results could differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. The Company will continue to assess the evolving impact of COVID-19 and will make adjustments to its operations as necessary.

Preliminary Second Quarter Revenue

On July 1, 2020, we announced that we had estimated revenue of approximately $9.6 million to $9.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, which represents a 43% to 46% increase over revenue generated for the quarter ended June 30, 2019. We further announced that, giving effect to our estimated revenue for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, we had revenue growth of approximately 74% to 76% for the six months ended June 30, 2020 as compared to the same period in 2019. In addition, we announced that in the six months ended June 30, 2020, our biopreservation media products were embedded in 23 new clinical trials and we acquired three new patents and 57 new customers.

Principal Offices

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

The Offering

Common stock offered by us	shares of common stock.
Option to purchase additional shares	We have granted the underwriters an option for a period of 30 days after the date of this prospectus supplement to purchase up to an additional             shares of common stock at the public offering price, less the underwriting discount.
Common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering	shares of common stock (or         shares of common stock if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full), based the public offering price of $ per share.
Use of proceeds	We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, which includes, without limitation, potentially investing in or acquiring companies that are synergistic with or complementary to our technologies, and working capital. See “Use of Proceeds” on page S-10.
Risk factors	This investment involves a high degree of risk. You should read the description of risks set forth under “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-6 of this prospectus supplement or otherwise incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement for a discussion of factors to consider before deciding to purchase our securities.
Nasdaq Capital Market symbol	“BLFS”

S-4

The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering is based on 25,982,367 shares outstanding as of June 29, 2020 and gives effect to the sale of      shares of common stock in this offering, based the public offering price of $ per share, and excludes:

●  1,897,159 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding vested and unvested stock options under our 2013 Performance Incentive Plan, 1998 Stock Option Plan and non-plan stock option agreements, having a weighted average exercise price of $1.85;

●  828,576 shares of common stock issuable upon vesting of restricted stock awards issued under our 2013 Performance Incentive Plan (assuming that market-based and performance-based restricted stock awards will vest at 100% of the number of restricted stock awards granted to recipients); and

●  85,600 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants, having a weighted average exercise price of $4.75 per share, other than the shares of common stock that may be issued upon exercise of the warrants.

S-5

RISK FACTORS

Investing in our common stock involves risk. Before deciding whether to invest in our common stock, you should consider carefully the risks and uncertainties described below. You should also consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2020 and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, each as incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, any amendment or update thereto reflected in subsequent filings with the SEC, including in our annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and all other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (referred to herein as the Exchange Act). There may be other unknown or unpredictable economic, business, competitive, regulatory or other factors that could have material adverse effects on our future results. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, business prospects, financial condition or results of operations could be seriously harmed. This could cause the trading price of our common stock to decline, resulting in a loss of all or part of your investment. Please also read carefully the section above entitled “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

Risks Related to this Offering

We have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds from this offering and our existing cash and may not use them effectively.

Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering, including for any of the purposes described in the section entitled “Use of Proceeds,” as well as our existing cash and cash equivalents, and you will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding such application. You will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to assess whether the net proceeds are being used appropriately. Because of the number and variability of factors that will determine our use of the net proceeds from this offering, their ultimate use may vary substantially from their currently intended use. Our management might not apply the net proceeds or our existing cash in ways that ultimately increase the value of your investment. If we do not invest or apply the net proceeds from this offering or our existing cash and cash equivalents in ways that enhance stockholder value, we may fail to achieve expected business and financial results, which could cause our stock price to decline. Pending their use, we may invest the net proceeds from this offering in short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing securities. These investments may not yield a favorable return to our stockholders.

You will experience immediate dilution in the book value per share of the securities you purchase in this offering.

Because the price per share of our common stock being offered is substantially higher than the net tangible book value per share of our common stock, you will suffer substantial dilution in the net tangible book value of the common stock you purchase in this offering. Based on the public offering price of $ per share, and a net tangible book value per share of our common stock of $1.94 as of March 31, 2020 giving effect to the issuance on May 14, 2020 of 1,904,762 shares of our common stock for gross proceeds of approximately $20,000,000 and the issuance of an aggregate of 2,747,970 shares of our common stock upon exercise on May 14, 2020 via a “cashless” exercise of 3,871,405 warrants, if you purchase shares of common stock in this offering, you will suffer immediate and substantial dilution of $ per share in the net tangible book value of the common stock you purchase. Any exercise of outstanding stock options, warrants or other equity awards will result in further dilution. See “Dilution” for a more detailed discussion of the dilution you will incur if you purchase our securities in this offering.

Certain Risks Related to our Business and Strategy

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

As of June 29, 2020, based on our review of public filings and the Company’s records, three of our existing stockholders, (i) Taurus4757 GmbH (the chairman of Taurus, Mr. Girschweiler, is a member of our board of directors), (ii) WAVI Holdings AG and (iii) Casdin Capital, LLC, owned, collectively, approximately 11.8 million shares of our common stock, representing approximately 45% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock (Taurus also own options to purchase 68,000 shares of our common stock). Accordingly, these stockholders have had, and will continue to have, significant influence in determining the outcome of any corporate transaction or other matter submitted to the stockholders for approval, including mergers, consolidations and the sale of all or substantially all our assets, election of directors and other significant corporate actions. In addition, without the consent of these stockholders, we could be prevented from entering into transactions that could be beneficial to us.

S-6

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

In 2019, we acquired three companies and made investments in two other companies. We are continuing to actively evaluate opportunities to grow our portfolio of cell and gene therapy tools. In the event we engage in an acquisition or strategic transaction, including by making an investment in another company, we may need to acquire additional financing. Obtaining financing through the issuance or sale of additional equity and/or debt securities, if possible, may not be at favorable terms and may result in additional dilution to our current stockholders. Additionally, any such transaction may require us to incur non-recurring or other charges, may increase our near and long-term expenditures and may pose significant integration challenges or disrupt our management or business, which could adversely affect our operations and financial results. For example, an acquisition or strategic transaction may entail numerous operational and financial risks, including the risks outlined above and additionally:

● exposure to unknown liabilities;

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

● higher than expected acquisition and integration costs;

● write-downs of assets or goodwill or impairment charges;

● increased amortization expenses;

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

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

● inability to retain key employees of any acquired businesses.

Accordingly, although there can be no assurance that we will undertake or successfully complete any transactions of the nature described above, any transactions that we do complete could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.

Our acquisitions expose us to risks that could adversely affect our business, and we may not achieve the anticipated benefits of acquisitions of businesses or technologies.

As a part of our growth strategy, we may make selected acquisitions of complementary products and/or businesses. Any acquisition involves numerous risks and operational, financial, and managerial challenges, including the following, any of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations:

• difficulties in integrating new operations, technologies, products, and personnel;

• problems maintaining uniform procedures, controls and policies with respect to our financial accounting systems;

• lack of synergies or the inability to realize expected synergies and cost-savings;

• difficulties in managing geographically dispersed operations, including risks associated with entering foreign markets in which we have no or limited prior experience;

• underperformance of any acquired technology, product, or business relative to our expectations and the price we paid;

• negative near-term impacts on financial results after an acquisition, including acquisition-related earnings charges;

• the potential loss of key employees, customers, and strategic partners of acquired companies;

• claims by terminated employees and shareholders of acquired companies or other third parties related to the transaction;

• the assumption or incurrence of additional debt obligations or expenses, or use of substantial portions of our cash;

• the issuance of equity securities to finance or as consideration for any acquisitions that dilute the ownership of our stockholders;

• the issuance of equity securities to finance or as consideration for any acquisitions may not be an option if the price of our common stock is low or volatile which could preclude us from completing any such acquisitions;

• diversion of management’s attention and company resources from existing operations of the business;

• inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures, and policies;

• the impairment of intangible assets as a result of technological advancements, or worse-than-expected performance of acquired companies;

• assumption of, or exposure to, historical liabilities of the acquired business, including unknown contingent or similar liabilities that are difficult to identify or accurately quantify; and

• risks associated with acquiring intellectual property, including potential disputes regarding acquired companies’ intellectual property.

In addition, the successful integration of acquired businesses requires significant efforts and expense across all operational areas, including sales and marketing, research and development, manufacturing, finance, legal, and information technology. There can be no assurance that any of the acquisitions we may make will be successful or will be, or will remain, profitable. Our failure to successfully address the foregoing risks may prevent us from achieving the anticipated benefits from any acquisition in a reasonable time frame, or at all.

S-7

If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may not be able to accurately report financial results or prevent fraud. If we fail to remediate our existing material weakness or fail to identify a new material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting, our ability to meet our reporting obligations and the trading price of our stock could be negatively affected.

As described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, in connection with the restatement of our Consolidated Financial Statements, we identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting with regard to having sufficient technical resources to appropriately analyze and account for complex financial instruments and complex share-based awards, specifically with regard to our prior interpretation of ASC 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity,” as it related to the initial classification and subsequent accounting of certain of our outstanding warrants as equity instruments dating back to March 2014. Upon a reassessment, we determined that we should have accounted for these warrants as liabilities instead of equity. This material weakness with regard to lacking sufficient technical resources also affected our ability to appropriately value and account for share based payment instruments with market-based vesting provisions under ASC 718, “Stock Compensation.”  We determined that we should have used a Monte Carlo simulation to value share based payment instruments with a market-based vesting condition. Given this material weakness, management concluded that we did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019.

Effective internal controls are necessary to provide reliable financial reports and to assist in the effective prevention of fraud. Any inability to provide reliable financial reports or prevent fraud could harm our business. We regularly review and update our internal controls, disclosure controls and procedures, and corporate governance policies. In addition, we are required under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to report annually on our internal control over financial reporting. Any system of internal controls, however well designed and operated, is based in part on certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurances that the objectives of the system are met. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Accordingly, a material weakness increases the risk that the financial information we report contains material errors.

While we plan on addressing our material weakness as disclosed herein, elements of our remediation plan can only be accomplished over time and we can offer no assurance that these initiatives will ultimately have the intended effects. Any failure to maintain such internal controls could adversely impact our ability to report our financial results on a timely and accurate basis. If our financial statements are not accurate, investors may not have a complete understanding of our operations or may lose confidence in our reported financial information. Likewise, if our financial statements are not filed on a timely basis as required by the SEC and The Nasdaq Stock Market, we could face severe consequences from those authorities. In either case, it could result in a material adverse effect on our business or have a negative effect on the trading price of our common stock. Further, if we fail to remedy this deficiency (or any other future deficiencies) or maintain the adequacy of our internal controls, we could be subject to regulatory scrutiny, civil or criminal penalties or shareholder litigation. We can give no assurance that the measures we have taken and plan to take in the future will remediate the material weakness identified or that any additional material weaknesses or restatements of our financial statements will not arise in the future due to a failure to implement and maintain adequate internal control over financial reporting or circumvention of those controls.

Further, in the future, if we cannot conclude that we have effective internal control over our financial reporting, or if our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to provide an unqualified opinion regarding the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, investors could lose confidence in the reliability of our financial statements, which could lead to a decline in our stock price. Failure to comply with reporting requirements could also subject us to sanctions and/or investigations by the SEC, The Nasdaq Stock Market or other regulatory authorities.

Our financial condition and results of operations for 2020 may be adversely affected by the recent COVID-19 outbreak.

The Seattle area, including the location of our corporate headquarters and our media production facility and warehouse, was an early location of coronavirus cases in the U.S. We are currently following the recommendations of local health authorities to minimize exposure risk for our team members and visitors.  However, the scale and scope of this pandemic is unknown and the duration of the business disruption and related financial impact cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. While we have implemented specific business continuity plans to reduce the potential impact of COVID-19 and believe that we have sufficient biopreservation media inventory to meet previously forecasted demand for the next six months, there is no guarantee that our continuity plan will be successful or that our inventory will meet forecasted or actual demand.

We have already experienced certain disruptions to our business such as temporary closure of our offices and similar disruptions may occur for our customers or suppliers that may materially affect our ability to obtain supplies or other components for our products, produce our products or deliver inventory in a timely manner. This would result in lost product revenue, additional costs, or penalties, or damage our reputation. Similarly, COVID-19 could impact our customers and/or suppliers as a result of a health epidemic or other outbreak occurring in other locations which could reduce their demand for our products or their ability to deliver needed supplies for the production of our products. Further, as a result of the impact of COVID-19, we filed our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 on a delayed basis in accordance with the order promulgated by the Commission on March 25, 2020 in Release No. 34-88465 relating to the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The extent to which COVID-19 or any other health epidemic may impact our results will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information which may emerge concerning the severity of COVID-19 and the actions to contain COVID-19 or treat its impact, among others. Accordingly, COVID-19 could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.

S-8

The restatement of our historical financial statements has consumed a significant amount of our time and resources and may continue to do so. 

As described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, we have restated our Consolidated Financial Statements for the periods discussed therein. The restatement process was highly time and resource-intensive and involved substantial attention from management, as well as significant legal and accounting costs. Although we have now completed the restatement, we cannot guarantee that we will have no further inquiries from the SEC or The Nasdaq Stock Market regarding our restated Consolidated Financial Statements or matters relating thereto.

Any future inquiries from the SEC or The Nasdaq Stock Market as a result of the restatement of our historical financial statements will, regardless of the outcome, likely consume a significant amount of our resources in addition to those resources already consumed in connection with the restatement itself.

Further, many companies that have been required to restate their historical financial statements have experienced a decline in stock price and stockholder lawsuits related thereto.

We are and may become the subject of various claims, litigation or investigations which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or price of our common stock.

We are and may become subject to various claims (including “whistleblower” complaints), litigation or investigations, including commercial disputes and employee claims, and from time to time may be involved in governmental or regulatory investigations or similar matters. Any claims asserted against us or our management, regardless of merit or eventual outcome, could harm our reputation and have an adverse impact on our relationship with our clients, distribution partners and other third parties and could lead to additional related claims. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that we will be successful in defending ourselves in pending or future litigation or similar matters under various laws. Any judgments or settlements in any pending litigation or future claims, litigation or investigation could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and price of our common stock.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We intend to use the net proceeds from these sales for general corporate purposes, which includes, without limitation, investing in or acquiring companies that are synergistic with or complementary to our technologies, and working capital. The amounts and timing of these expenditures will depend on numerous factors, including the development of our current business initiatives. As of the date of this prospectus supplement, we cannot specify with certainty all of the particular uses for the net proceeds from this offering. The amounts and timing of our actual expenditures will depend on numerous factors, including our continued integration of our 2019 acquisitions and other factors described under “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein. Pending the use of the net proceeds described above, we plan to invest the net proceeds from this offering in a variety of capital preservation investments, including short- and intermediate-term, interest-bearing obligations, investment-grade instruments, certificates of deposit or direct or guaranteed obligations of the U.S. government.

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DILUTION

If you purchase shares of our common stock in this offering, your interest will be immediately diluted to the extent of the difference between the public offering price per share of our common stock and the net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after this offering. Our net tangible book value as of March 31, 2020 was $12.9 million, or $0.61 per share of common stock. “Net tangible book value” is total assets minus the sum of liabilities and intangible assets. “Net tangible book value per share” is net tangible book value divided by the total number of shares of common stock outstanding.

After giving effect to (i) the issuance on May 14, 2020 of 1,904,762 shares of our common stock for gross proceeds of approximately $20,000,000 and (ii) the issuance of an aggregate of 2,747,970 shares of our common stock upon exercise on May 14, 2020 via a “cashless” exercise of 3,871,405 warrants our historical, adjusted net tangible book value as of March 31, 2020 was $50.1 million, or $1.94 per share of common stock. After giving effect to the sale by us of shares of common stock in this offering, based on the public offering price of $ per share, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses and fees that we will pay, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of March 31, 2020, would have been approximately $ million, or $ per share of common stock. This amount represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $ per share to existing stockholders and an immediate dilution in tangible book value of $ per share to purchasers of our common stock in this offering.

The following table illustrates the dilution:

Public offering price per share of common stock			$
Historical, adjusted net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2020	$	1.94
Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to this offering
As adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering
Dilution per share to investors in this offering			$

If the underwriters exercise their option to purchase up to                 additional shares in full at the public offering price of $ per share, the as adjusted net tangible book value will increase to $ per share, representing an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $ per share of our common stock to existing stockholders and an immediate dilution of $ per share to purchasers of our common stock in this offering.

The above discussion and table are based on 21,148,771 shares of our common stock outstanding on March 31, 2020 and excludes, as of such date:

●  2,039,659 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding vested and unvested stock options under our 2013 Performance Incentive Plan, 1998 Stock Option Plan and non-plan stock option agreements, having a weighted average exercise price of $1.86;

●  861,140 shares of common stock issuable upon vesting of restricted stock awards issued under our 2013 Performance Incentive Plan (assuming that market-based and performance-based restricted stock awards will vest at 100% of the number of restricted stock awards granted to recipients); and

●  3,957,005 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants, having a weighted average exercise price of $4.33 per share, other than the shares of common stock that may be issued upon exercise of the warrants.

As noted above, the foregoing table does not give effect to the exercise of any outstanding options. To the extent options are exercised or restricted shares vest, there may be further dilution to new investors.

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UNDERWRITING

We and the underwriters for the offering named below have entered into an underwriting agreement with respect to the common stock being offered. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase from us the number of shares of our common stock set forth opposite its name below. Cowen and Company, LLC, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. and Stephens Inc. are the representatives of the underwriters, or the Representatives.

Underwriter	Number of Shares
Cowen and Company, LLC
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.
Stephens Inc.
Total

The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters are subject to certain conditions precedent and that the underwriters have agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase all of the shares sold under the underwriting agreement if any of these shares are purchased, other than those shares covered by the option to purchase additional shares described below. If an underwriter defaults, the underwriting agreement provides that the purchase commitments of the non-defaulting underwriters may be increased or the underwriting agreement may be terminated.

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against specified liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (referred to herein as the Securities Act), and to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof.

Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “BLFS.”

The underwriters are offering the shares, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel and other conditions specified in the underwriting agreement. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.

Option to Purchase Additional Shares. We have granted to the underwriters an option to purchase up to                  additional shares of common stock at the public offering price, less the underwriting discount. This option is exercisable for a period of 30 days. To the extent that the underwriters exercise this option, the underwriters will purchase additional shares from us in approximately the same proportion as shown in the table above.

Discounts and Commissions. The following table shows the public offering price, underwriting discount and commissions and proceeds, before expenses and fees to us. These amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares.

	Total
	Per Share	Without Option	With Option
Public offering price
Underwriting discount
Proceeds, before expenses and fees, to us

The underwriters propose to offer the shares of common stock to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus. The underwriters may offer the shares of common stock to securities dealers at the public offering price less a concession not in excess of $         per share. If all of the shares are not sold at the public offering price, the underwriters may change the offering price and other selling terms.

Expenses. We estimate that the total expenses of the offering, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $           and are payable by us. We also have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for up to $ for their FINRA counsel fee. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5110, this reimbursed fee is deemed underwriting compensation for this offering.

Advisory Fees. We have agreed to pay XMS Capital Partners, LLC, our financial advisor, a financial advisory fee of $ for its services related to this offering.

Discretionary Accounts. The underwriters do not intend to confirm sales of the shares to any accounts over which they have discretionary authority.

Stabilization. In connection with this offering, the underwriters may engage in stabilizing transactions, short sales, syndicate covering transactions, penalty bids and purchases to cover positions created by short sales.

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● Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase shares of common stock so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum, and are engaged in for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the common stock while the offering is in progress.

● Short sales involve sales by the underwriters of shares of common stock in excess of the number of shares the underwriters are obligated to purchase. This creates a syndicate short position which may be either a covered short position or a naked short position. In a covered short position, the number of shares over-allotted by the underwriters is not greater than the number of shares that they may purchase in the option to purchase additional shares. In a naked short position, the number of shares involved is greater than the number of shares in the option to purchase additional shares. The underwriters may close out any short position by exercising their option to purchase additional shares and/or purchasing shares in the open market.

● Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of common stock in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. In determining the source of shares to close out the short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared with the price at which they may purchase shares through exercise of the option to purchase additional shares. If the underwriters sell more shares than could be covered by exercise of the option to purchase additional shares and, therefore, have a naked short position, the position can be closed out only by buying shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that after pricing there could be downward pressure on the price of the shares in the open market that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering.

● Penalty bids permit the Representatives to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the common stock originally sold by that syndicate member is purchased in stabilizing or syndicate covering transactions to cover syndicate short positions.

These stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our common stock or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our common stock. As a result, the price of our common stock in the open market may be higher than it would otherwise be in the absence of these transactions. Neither we nor the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our common stock. These transactions may be effected on the Nasdaq Stock Market, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

Passive Market Making. In connection with this offering, underwriters and selling group members may engage in passive market making transactions in our common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act during a period before the commencement of offers or sales of common stock and extending through the completion of the distribution. A passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid of that security. However, if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, such bid must then be lowered when specified purchase limits are exceeded.

Lock-Up Agreements. Pursuant to certain “lock-up” agreements, we and our executive officers, directors and certain of our other stockholders, have agreed, subject to certain exceptions, not to offer, sell, assign, transfer, pledge, contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of or announce the intention to otherwise dispose of, or enter into any swap, hedge or similar agreement or arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, the economic consequence of ownership of, directly or indirectly, or make any demand or request or exercise any right with respect to the registration of, or file with the SEC a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any common stock without the prior written consent of Cowen and Company, LLC, for a period of 90 days after the date of the pricing of the offering.

This lock-up provision applies to common stock and to securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for common stock. It also applies to common stock owned now or acquired later by the person executing the agreement or for which the person executing the agreement later acquires the power of disposition. The exceptions permit us, among other things and subject to restrictions, to: (a) issue common stock or options pursuant to employee benefit plans, (b) issue common stock upon exercise of outstanding options or warrants or (c) file registration statements on Form S-8. The exceptions permit parties to the “lock-up” agreements, among other things and subject to restrictions, to: (a) make certain gifts, (b) if the party is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, make transfers to any shareholders, partners, members of, or owners of similar equity interests in, the party, or to an affiliate of the party, if such transfer is not for value, (c) if the party is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, make transfers in connection with the sale or transfer of all of the party’s capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests or other similar equity interests, as the case may be, or all or substantially all of the party’s assets, in any such case not undertaken for the purpose of avoiding the restrictions imposed by the “lock-up” agreement, (d) sell common stock pursuant to and in accordance with a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act, existing on the date hereof and (e) transfer common stock to satisfy tax withholding obligations pursuant to our equity incentive plans. In addition, the lock-up provision will not restrict broker-dealers from engaging in market making and similar activities conducted in the ordinary course of their business.

Cowen and Company, LLC, in its sole discretion, may release our common stock and other securities subject to the lock-up agreements described above in whole or in part at any time. When determining whether to release our common stock and other securities from lock-up agreements, Cowen and Company, LLC will consider, among other factors, the holder’s reasons for requesting the release, the number of shares for which the release is being requested and market conditions at the time of the request.

S-13

Canada. The shares of common stock may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the shares of common stock must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus supplement (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

Switzerland. The securities will not be offered, directly or indirectly, to the public in Switzerland and this prospectus does not constitute a public offering prospectus as that term is understood pursuant to article 652a or 1156 of the Swiss Federal Code of Obligations.

European Economic Area and the United Kingdom. In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom (each, a “Member State”), no shares have been offered or will be offered pursuant to the offering to the public in that Member State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the shares which has been approved by the competent authority in that Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Member State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation, except that offers of shares may be made to the public in that Member State at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Regulation:

A. to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under the Prospectus Regulation;

B. to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under the Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the underwriters; or

C. in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation,

provided that no such offer of shares shall require us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation and each person who initially acquires any shares or to whom any offer is made will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed to and with each of the underwriters and with us that it is a “qualified investor” within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation.

In the case of any shares being offered to a financial intermediary as that term is used in Prospectus Regulation, each such financial intermediary will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that the shares acquired by it in the offer have not been acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in circumstances which may give rise to an offer of any shares to the public other than their offer or resale in a Member State to qualified investors as so defined or in circumstances in which the prior consent of the underwriters has been obtained to each such proposed offer or resale.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to shares in any Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any shares, and the expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.

References to the Prospectus Regulation includes, in relation to the United Kingdom, the Prospectus Regulation as it forms part of the United Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act of 2018.

United Kingdom. In addition, in the United Kingdom, this document is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, and any offer subsequently made may only be directed at persons who are “qualified investors” (as defined in the Prospectus Regulation) (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Order”) and/or (ii) who are high net worth companies (or persons to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated) falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order and/or (iii) to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”) in circumstances which have not resulted and will not result in an offer to the public of the shares in the United Kingdom within the meaning of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

S-14

Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on the information included in this document or use it as basis for taking any action. In the United Kingdom, any investment or investment activity that this document relates to may be made or taken exclusively by relevant persons.

Hong Kong. The shares of common stock have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold in Hong Kong, by means of any document, other than (a) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (the “SFO”) of Hong Kong and any rules made thereunder; or (b) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong) (the “CO”), or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the CO. No advertisement, invitation or document relating to the shares has been or may be issued or has been or may be in the possession of any person for the purposes of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public of Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to shares which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the SFO and any rules made thereunder.

Singapore. Each underwriter has acknowledged that this prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, each underwriter has represented and agreed that it has not offered or sold any shares or caused the shares to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase and will not offer or sell any shares or cause the shares to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, and has not circulated or distributed, nor will it circulate or distribute, this prospectus or any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the shares, whether directly or indirectly, to any person in Singapore other than:

A. to an institutional investor (as defined in Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289) of Singapore, as modified or amended from time to time (the “SFA”)) pursuant to Section 274 of the SFA;

B. to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA; or

C. otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where the shares are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is:

A. a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or

B. a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor,

securities or securities-based derivatives contracts (each term as defined in Section 2(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (however described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the shares pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:

(i) to an institutional investor or to a relevant person, or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA;

(ii) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;

(iii) where the transfer is by operation of law;

(iv) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or

(v) as specified in Regulation 37A of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Securities and Securities-based Derivatives Contracts) Regulations 2018.

Singapore SFA Product Classification — In connection with Section 309B of the SFA and the CMP Regulations 2018, unless otherwise specified before an offer of shares, we have determined, and hereby notify all relevant persons (as defined in Section 309A(1) of the SFA), that the shares are “prescribed capital markets products” (as defined in the CMP Regulations 2018) and Excluded Investment Products (as defined in MAS Notice SFA 04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS Notice FAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products).

Israel. In the State of Israel this prospectus shall not be regarded as an offer to the public to purchase shares of common stock under the Israeli Securities Law, 5728 – 1968, which requires a prospectus to be published and authorized by the Israel Securities Authority, if it complies with certain provisions of Section 15 of the Israeli Securities Law, 5728 – 1968, including, inter alia, if: (i) the offer is made, distributed or directed to not more than 35 investors, subject to certain conditions (the “Addressed Investors”); or (ii) the offer is made, distributed or directed to certain qualified investors defined in the First Addendum of the Israeli Securities Law, 5728 – 1968, subject to certain conditions (the “Qualified Investors”). The Qualified Investors shall not be taken into account in the count of the Addressed Investors and may be offered to purchase securities in addition to the 35 Addressed Investors. We have not and will not take any action that would require us to publish a prospectus in accordance with and subject to the Israeli Securities Law, 5728 – 1968. We have not and will not distribute this prospectus or make, distribute or direct an offer to subscribe for our common stock to any person within the State of Israel, other than to Qualified Investors and up to 35 Addressed Investors.

S-15

Qualified Investors may have to submit written evidence that they meet the definitions set out in the First Addendum to the Israeli Securities Law, 5728 – 1968. In particular, we may request, as a condition to be offered common stock, that Qualified Investors will each represent, warrant and certify to us and/or to anyone acting on our behalf: (i) that it is an investor falling within one of the categories listed in the First Addendum to the Israeli Securities Law, 5728 – 1968; (ii) which of the categories listed in the First Addendum to the Israeli Securities Law, 5728 – 1968 regarding Qualified Investors is applicable to it; (iii) that it will abide by all provisions set forth in the Israeli Securities Law, 5728 – 1968 and the regulations promulgated thereunder in connection with the offer to be issued common stock; (iv) that the shares of common stock that it will be issued are, subject to exemptions available under the Israeli Securities Law, 5728 – 1968: (a) for its own account; (b) for investment purposes only; and (c) not issued with a view to resale within the State of Israel, other than in accordance with the provisions of the Israeli Securities Law, 5728 – 1968; and (v) that it is willing to provide further evidence of its Qualified Investor status. Addressed Investors may have to submit written evidence in respect of their identity and may have to sign and submit a declaration containing, inter alia, the Addressed Investor’s name, address and passport number or Israeli identification number.

We have not authorized and do not authorize the making of any offer of securities through any financial intermediary on our behalf, other than offers made by the underwriters and their respective affiliates, with a view to the final placement of the securities as contemplated in this document. Accordingly, no purchaser of the shares, other than the underwriters, is authorized to make any further offer of shares on our behalf or on behalf of the underwriters.

Electronic Offer, Sale and Distribution of Shares. A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the websites maintained by one or more of the underwriters or selling group members, if any, participating in this offering and one or more of the underwriters participating in this offering may distribute prospectuses electronically. The Representatives may agree to allocate a number of shares to underwriters and selling group members for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the underwriters and selling group members that will make internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations. Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on these websites is not part of this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been approved or endorsed by us or any underwriter in its capacity as underwriter, and should not be relied upon by investors.

Other Relationships. Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates have provided, and may in the future provide, various investment banking, commercial banking and other financial services for us and our affiliates for which they have received, and may in the future receive, customary fees.

S-16

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the common stock being offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP. Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP is acting as counsel for the underwriters in connection with certain legal matters related to this offering. 

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of BioLife Solutions, Inc. as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019 and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019 incorporated by reference in this prospectus have been so incorporated by reference in reliance on the reports of BDO USA, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm (the report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting expresses an adverse opinion on the effectiveness of the company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019) incorporated by reference herein, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

The financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2018, consisting of our balance sheet as of December 31, 2018, and the related statements of operations, shareholders' equity, and cash flows for the years then ended, incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 have been audited by Peterson Sullivan LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, to the extent and for the periods set forth in their report, incorporated by reference herein, and are included in reliance upon such report given upon the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.   

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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

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

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

INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

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

1.	Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 as filed with the SEC on May 15, 2020, as amended by our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2019 as filed with the SEC on June 18, 2020;
2.	Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 as filed with the SEC on May 29, 2020;
3.	Our Current Reports on Form 8-K and Form 8-K/A as filed with the SEC on January 27, 2020, January 28, 2020, March 16, 2020, April 24, 2020, April 30, 2020, May 11, 2020, May 14, 2020 (Item 8.01), May 18, 2020 and May 27, 2020;
4.	The information specifically incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 from our definitive proxy statement Schedule 14A (other than information furnished rather than filed) filed with the SEC on May 29, 2020; and
5.	The description of the Company’s common stock contained in the Company’s registration statement on Form 8-A, as filed with the Commission on March 19, 2014 under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

All reports and other documents (other than current reports furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits filed in such forms that are related to such items unless such Form 8-K expressly provides to the contrary) we subsequently file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the termination of this offering, will also be incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and deemed to be part of this prospectus supplement from the date of the filing of such reports and documents.

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

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

S-17

Prospectus 

___________________________

$75,000,000

COMMON STOCK

PREFERRED STOCK

PURCHASE CONTRACTS

WARRANTS

SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS

DEPOSITARY SHARES

DEBT SECURITIES

UNITS

We may offer and sell from time to time, in one or more series, any one of the following securities of our company, for total gross proceeds of up to $75,000,000:

● common stock;

● preferred stock;

● purchase contracts;

● warrants to purchase our securities;

● subscription rights to purchase any of the foregoing securities;

● depositary shares;

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

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

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

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

This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell securities without a prospectus supplement which includes a description of the method and terms of this offering.

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

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

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

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

The date of this Prospectus is October 4, 2019. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	Page
About This Prospectus	1
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements	2
Prospectus Summary	3
Risk Factors	5
Use of Proceeds	6
Plan of Distribution	7
Description of Securities We May Offer	10
Forms of Securities	21
Experts	23
Legal Matters	23
Where You Can Find Additional Information	23
Incorporation of Documents By Reference	23

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

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

We urge you to read carefully this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, together with the information incorporated herein by reference as described under the heading “Incorporation of Documents by Reference,” before investing in any of the securities being offered. You should rely only on the information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, along with the information contained in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different or additional information. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the securities offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so.

The information appearing in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front of the document and any information we have incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus, or any sale of a security.

This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under the section entitled “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”

This prospectus contains, or incorporates by reference, trademarks, tradenames, service marks and service names of BioLife Solutions, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

1

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

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

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

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

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

2

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

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

Overview

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

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

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

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

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

Recent Developments

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

3

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

Principal Offices

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

4

RISK FACTORS

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

5

USE OF PROCEEDS

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

6

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

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

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

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

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

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

● the terms of the offering;

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

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

● any delayed delivery requirements;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

● at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or

● at negotiated prices.

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

Underwriters and Agents; Direct Sales

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

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

7

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

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

Dealers

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

Institutional Purchasers

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

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

Indemnification; Other Relationships

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

Market-Making; Stabilization and Other Transactions

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

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

8

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

Fees and Commissions

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

9

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

General

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

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

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

● common stock;

● preferred stock;

● purchase contracts;

● warrants to purchase our securities;

● subscription rights to purchase our securities;

● depositary shares;

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

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

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

Common Stock

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

Dividend Rights

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

Voting Rights

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

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Election of Directors

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

Liquidation

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

Redemption

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

Preemptive Rights

Holders of the common stock do not have preemptive rights.

Other Rights

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

Right to Amend Bylaws

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

Change in Control

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

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

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

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

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

Market, Symbol and Transfer Agent

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

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Preferred Stock

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

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

● the title and stated value;

● the number of shares we are offering;

● the liquidation preference per share;

● the purchase price;

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

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

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

● the procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any;

● the provisions for a sinking fund, if any;

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

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

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

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

● voting rights, if any, of the preferred stock;

● preemptive rights, if any;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Series A Preferred Stock

Dividends

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

Voting; Ranking

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

Redemption

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

Liquidation Preference

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

Purchase Contracts

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

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

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

● whether the purchase contracts are to be prepaid or not;

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

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

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

Warrants

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

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

● the title of the warrants;

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

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

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

● the aggregate number of warrants;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Subscription Rights

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

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

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

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

● the exercise price;

● the conditions to completion of the rights offering;

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

● any applicable federal income tax considerations.

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

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

Depositary Shares

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

● all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed; or

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

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

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

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

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

Debt Securities

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

● the basis for calculating interest;

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

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

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

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

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

● the rate or rates of amortization of the debt securities;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

● what subordination provisions will apply to the debt securities;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Units

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

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

● the title of the series of units;

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

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

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

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

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

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FORMS OF SECURITIES

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

Registered Global Securities

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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LEGAL MATTERS

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

EXPERTS

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

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

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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

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

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

INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shares of Common Stock

Joint Book-Running Managers

Cowen Oppenheimer & Co. Stephens Inc.

    July 1, 2020