BioLife Solutions Announces Closing of Stirling Ultracold Acquisition and Expanded Partnership with Leading Global Biopharma CDMO
Stirling Named Preferred Provider of Ultra Low Temperature (ULT) Storage Across Multiple Business Units
Customer Uses BioLife's Entire Bioproduction Portfolio Including Biopreservation Media, Thaw Systems, Cold Chain Management, Cryogenic Freezers and Storage Services

BOTHELL, Wash., May 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BioLife Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLFS) ("BioLife" or the "Company"), a leading developer and supplier of a portfolio of class-defining bioproduction products and services for cell and gene therapies and the broader biopharma market, today announced that it has closed the previously announced acquisition of Stirling Ultracold ("Stirling"), a privately held manufacturer of ultra-low temperature ("ULT") mechanical freezers.  BioLife issued 6,646,870 shares of common stock in exchange for 100% of the outstanding shares of Stirling.

BioLife management has provided guidance for Stirling's 2021 post-closing revenue contribution to be $35 million to $37 million, with total 2021 revenue of $101 million to $110 million.

BioLife also announced that Stirling has expanded its existing partnership with a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) and has been selected by this customer as their preferred provider of ULT storage across their multiple business units.  Stirling will supply approximately 100 energy-efficient ULT mechanical freezers to support this customer's cold chain capabilities for biologics and emerging modalities. This augments the existing installed base of 200 Stirling freezers across this CDMO's worldwide facilities footprint.

Mike Rice, BioLife CEO, commented, "We welcome Dusty Tenney in his new role as BioLife's president and chief operating officer. Dusty and the entire Stirling team continue to deliver innovative solutions and stellar support to cell and gene therapy developers and contract manufacturing companies. We are realizing the cross-selling leverage we anticipated via our M&A strategy, as this customer uses our entire bioproduction tools and services portfolio. In addition to Stirling freezers, our proprietary CryoStor® biopreservation media, automated, water-free ThawSTAR® thaw systems, evo® cold chain management platform, CBS cryogenic freezers and SciSafe storage services are all used to optimized the manufacture, storage, transport and thawing of life-saving cell and gene therapies. We see a tremendous opportunity to cross-sell our entire bioproduction tools and services portfolio to companies in the cell and gene therapy and broader biopharma markets."

About Stirling Ultracold

Stirling Ultracold manufactures and sells environmentally sustainable ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers for the global market. Powered by the free-piston Stirling engine, and the first in the U.S. to use 100% natural refrigerants, these upright and undercounter ULT freezers use less than one-third the electricity of standard compressor-based ULT freezers, as validated by the industry's first ENERGY STAR® partnership for ULT freezers. The company also produces the industry's only portable ULT solution available for remote clinical trials and biologic drug delivery. For more information, please call (740) 274-7900, or visit www.StirlingUltracold.com.

About BioLife Solutions

BioLife Solutions is a leading supplier of class-defining cell and gene therapy bioproduction tools and services. Our tools portfolio includes our proprietary CryoStor® freeze media and HypoThermosol® shipping and storage media, ThawSTAR® family of automated, water-free thawing products, evo® cold chain management system,  Custom Biogenic Systems high capacity storage freezers, Stirling Ultracold mechanical freezers and SciSafe biologic storage services. For more information, please visit www.biolifesolutions.com, and follow BioLife on Twitter.

Cautions Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Except for historical information contained herein, this presentation contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the expected financial performance of the company following the completion of its acquisition of Global Cooling and its 2019 and 2020 acquisitions and giving effect to the COVID-19 pandemic, the company's ability to implement its business strategy and anticipated business and operations, in particular following its acquisition of Global Cooling, the expected synergies between the company and Global Cooling, the company's ability to realize all or any of the anticipated benefits associated with the acquisition of Global Cooling, the company's ability to implement its business strategy and anticipated business and operations, including its ability to cross-sell its product offerings, the potential utility of and market for the company's products and services, guidance for financial results for 2021, including regarding Global Cooling's contribution of revenue, and potential revenue growth and market expansion, including with consideration to its 2019, 2020 and 2021 acquisitions and giving effect to the COVID-19 pandemic, the company's anticipated future growth strategy, including the acquisition of synergistic cell and gene therapy manufacturing tools and services or technologies, the potential utility of and market for our products and services, potential revenue growth and market expansion, regulatory approvals and/or commercial manufacturing of our customers' products, and potential customer revenue. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, including among other things, uncertainty regarding unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the acquisition of Global Cooling (or from the company's 2019 and 2020 acquisitions), market adoption of the company's products (including the company's recently acquired products); the ability of company's 2019, 2020 and 2021 acquisitions to be accretive on the company's financial results; the ability of the company to continue to implement its business strategy; uncertainty regarding third-party market projections; market volatility; competition; litigation; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; and those other factors described in our risk factors set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. We undertake no obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained herein or to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof, other than as may be required by applicable law.

Media & Investor Relations
Roderick de Greef
Chief Financial Officer & Chief Operating Officer
(425) 686-6002
rdegreef@biolifesolutions.com 

 

 

SOURCE BioLife Solutions, Inc.

We believe the promise of cell and gene therapies starts with the integrity of a single cell

Advancing the future of cell and gene therapy

The human body can heal itself. Cell and gene therapies are designed to augment the patient’s ability to fight disease but only if the living cells behind those therapies remain viable and functional throughout the production processes. At BioLife Solutions, our mission is to protect the integrity of cells and provide trusted tools, services, and expertise that can enable our customers to advance the development and delivery of cell and gene therapies. We believe the future of cell and gene therapies hinges on the integrity of every single cell and we are here to protect that promise.

We understand the technical demands of bioprocessing in this field, and our advanced biopreservation expertise, cell culture optimization products, innovative storage systems, and closed-system manufacturing solutions are designed to enhance process efficiency, maintain cellular viability, and ensure reproducibility at every stage. Whether scaling up from R&D, navigating clinical trials or optimizing cryopreservation protocols for commercial production, we provide the tools and experience to streamline your workflow and safeguard your therapies.

Work with experts who understand your biopreservation challenges

Notch-Right-25px
Notch-Bottom-25px

Collaborative and comprehensive CDMO support

At BioLife Solutions, we partner with leading contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) to enhance their biopreservation and cell processing capabilities. By providing advanced tools, regulatory support, and process optimization strategies, we empower CDMOs to better serve therapy developers, ensuring quality, consistency, and scalability in cell therapy manufacturing.

Regulatory
readiness

Navigating the complex regulatory landscape of cell and gene therapy requires a proactive approach. BioLife Solutions offers experienced regulatory support to help prepare your biopreservation and cell processing methods to meet global standards. From IND and BLA submissions to compliance with GMP, FDA, and EMA guidelines, our solutions help streamline approval pathways.

Notch-Left-25px
Notch-Bottom-25px

STORE

CellSeal®
CryoCase

Alleviate CGT container challenges like fracture risk, bag burping or high rates of particulates

Notch-Right-25px
Notch-Bottom-25px

Data-driven
decision making

Stay ahead with our comprehensive Evidence Library, a curated collection of scientific publications, white papers, and case studies demonstrating the efficacy of BioLife Solutions’ technologies. Access peer-reviewed research, real-world application data, and expert insights to support your bioprocessing and regulatory strategies.

Insights

May 21, 2025

Designing the Ideal Cryostorage Container for CGT

April 18, 2025

The Cell Summit ’25: A Must-Attend Event for Innovators in Cell & Gene Therapy

March 27, 2025

Optimizing Biopreservation Strategies for Apheresis-Derived Cells in Immunotherapeutic Applications

February 19, 2025

How to prepare early for regulatory submissions from IND to BLA

Preserve, protect and expand cell performance

Mastering
Biopreservation

Ensure Regulatory Submission Readiness

Automate & Close
CGT Processes

Protect & Expand
Cell Performance