Form S-8 - Securities to be offered to employees in employee benefit plans

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 15, 2023

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

BioLife Solutions, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


Delaware						94-3076866
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)						(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

3303 Monte Villa Parkway, Suite 310

Bothell, Washington 98021

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

BioLife Solutions, Inc. 2023 Omnibus Performance Incentive Plan

(Full Title of the Plan)

Michael Rice

Chief Executive Officer

3303 Monte Villa Parkway, Suite 310

Bothell, Washington 98021

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

(425) 402-1400

(Telephone Number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:

Pamela L. Marcogliese, Esq.

Nicole F. Foster, Esq.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP

601 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10022

(212) 277-4000

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


Large accelerated filer ☐			Accelerated filer ☑
Non-accelerated filer ☐			Smaller reporting company ☐
			Emerging growth company ☐

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

Explanatory Note

The purpose of this Registration Statement on Form S-8 (this “Registration Statement”) is to register 4,665,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of BioLife Solutions, Inc., a Delaware Corporation (“BioLife”, “us”, “we”, “our”, or the “Company”), to be issued pursuant to our 2023 Omnibus Performance Incentive Plan, including 465,000 shares, which represents an estimated number of shares subject to equity awards outstanding under the Company’s Second Amended and Restated 2013 Performance Incentive Plan (which expired in accordance with its terms) that may be subsequently forfeited and not issued under such plan and will become available for issuance under the 2023 Omnibus Performance Incentive Plan. This Registration Statement has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

The 2023 Omnibus Performance Incentive Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company and became effective on June 1, 2023, subject to stockholder approval, which was obtained on July 21, 2023, in accordance with Nasdaq Stock Market Rule 5635(c).

PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS


Item 1.			Plan Information.*


Item 2.			Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.*


*			Pursuant to Form S-8 and Rule 428(b)(1) of the Securities Act, the documents containing the information specified in Part I of this Registration Statement will be sent or given to the plan participants as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) of the Securities Act. Such documents are not required to be filed, and are not filed, with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 of the Securities Act. These documents and the documents incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this Registration Statement, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


Item 3.			Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The Company hereby incorporates by reference into this Registration Statement the following documents previously filed with the Commission:

1.Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 as filed with the Commission on March 31, 2023;

2.Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 as filed with the Commission on May 11, 2023 and for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 as filed with the Commission on August 9, 2023;

3.Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on March 16, 2023 (excluding Item 2.02 of such Form 8-K which was furnished but not filed), March 23, 2023 (excluding Item 7.01 of such Form 8-K which was furnished but not filed), May 10, 2023 (excluding Item 2.02 of such Form 8-K which was furnished but not filed), May 19, 2023, June 6, 2023 and July 27, 2023; and

4.The description of our securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) as filed as Exhibit 4.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as filed with the Commission on March 31, 2023.

All reports and other documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding any information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K) subsequent to the filing of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which de-registers all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing such documents, except as to specific sections of such statements as set forth therein.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.


Item 4.			Description of Securities.

Not applicable.


Item 5.			Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

Not applicable.


Item 6.			Indemnification of Officers and Directors.

Pursuant to Section 102 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) we exculpate our directors from personal liability to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duties as directors, except to the extent that the DGCL prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability of directors.

Section 145 of the DGCL empowers a Delaware corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with

such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. Similar indemnity is authorized for such persons against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of any such threatened, pending or completed action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and provided further that (unless a court of competent jurisdiction otherwise provides) such person shall not have been adjudged liable to the corporation. Any such indemnification may be made only as authorized in each specific case upon a determination by the stockholders or disinterested directors or by independent legal counsel in a written opinion that indemnification is proper because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct.

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

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws require us to indemnify our directors to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law or any other applicable law in effect, but if such statute or law is amended, we may change the standard of indemnification only to the extent that such amended statute or law permits us to provide broader indemnification rights to our directors. We must indemnify such officers and employees in the same manner and to the same extent that we are required to indemnify our directors under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation limits the personal liability of a director to us or our stockholders to damages for breach of the director’s fiduciary duty.

Pursuant to indemnification agreements we entered into with each of our directors, we are further required to indemnify our directors to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law and our amended and restated bylaws; provided that each such director shall enjoy the greater of (i) the advancement and indemnification rights permitted under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws for directors and officers as of the date of such indemnification agreement or (ii) the benefits so afforded by amendments thereto.


Item 7.			Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.


Item 8.			Exhibits.


Number						Description
4.1*						BioLife Solutions, Inc. 2023 Omnibus Incentive Plan
5.1*						Opinion of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP, counsel to the Company, regarding the legality of the securities being offered hereby (including consent)
23.1*						Consent of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
23.2*						Consent of Grant Thornton LLP
23.3*						Consent of BDO
24.1*						Power of Attorney (included in the signature page to this Registration Statement)
107.1*						Filing Fee Table


*			Filed herewith


Item 9.			Undertakings.

(a) The Company hereby undertakes:

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

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

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

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement; provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(a) and (a)(1)(b) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Company pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

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

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

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

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

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Bothell, State of Washington, on August 15, 2023.


			BIOLIFE SOLUTIONS, INC.

			/s/ Michael Rice
			Name:			Michael Rice
			Title:			Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors
						(Principal Executive Officer)

POWER OF ATTORNEY

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

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement on Form S-8 has been signed by the following persons on August 15, 2023, on behalf of the Company in the capacities indicated.



Signature						Title

/s/ MICHAEL RICE						Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors
Michael Rice						(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ TROY WICHTERMAN						Chief Financial Officer
Troy Wichterman						(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

/s/ RODERICK DE GREEF						Director
Roderick De Greef

/s/ JOSEPH SCHICK						Director
Joseph Schick

/s/ RACHEL ELLINGSON						Director
Rachel Ellingson

/s/ AMY DUROSS						Director
Amy DuRoss

/s/ JOYDEEP GOSWAMI						Director
Joydeep Goswami

/s/ TIM MOORE						Director
Tim Moore

Exhibit 107.1

Calculation of Filing Fee Tables

Form S-8

(Form Type)

BioLife Solutions, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Table 1: Newly Registered Securities


Security Type	Security Class Title	Fee Calculation Rule	Amount Registered(1)	Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share			Maximum Aggregate Offering Price		Fee Rate	Amount of Registration Fee
Equity	Common Stock	Rules 457(c) and 457(h)	4,665,000	$	12.13	(2)	$	56,586,450	0.00011020	$	6,235.83
Total Offering Amounts							N/A			$	6,235.83
Total Fee Offsets										$	—
Net Fee Due										$	6,235.83


(1)			This Registration Statement covers shares of common stock issuable pursuant to BioLife Solutions, Inc.’s (the “Company’s”) 2023 Omnibus Performance Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), including 465,000 shares, which represents an estimated number of shares subject to equity awards outstanding under the Company’s Second Amended and Restated 2013 Performance Incentive Plan (which expired in accordance with its terms) that may be subsequently forfeited and not issued under such plan and will become available for issuance under the 2023 Omnibus Performance Incentive Plan. Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement on Form S-8 shall also cover any additional shares of the Company's common stock that become issuable in respect of the securities identified in the above table by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction effected without the Company's receipt of consideration which results in an increase in the number of the outstanding shares of the Company's common stock.


(2)			Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rules 457(c) and 457(h) of the Securities Act, based on $12.13, the average of the high and low sales price of a share of the Company’s common stock as reported on Nasdaq on August 11, 2023.

BIOLIFE SOLUTIONS, INC.
2023 OMNIBUS PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE PLAN

SECTION 1. Purpose. The purpose of this 2023 Omnibus Performance Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is to enable the Company (as defined below) to grant equity compensation awards and other types of incentive compensation. The Plan is intended to replace the Prior Plan (as defined below), which expired on April 25, 2023, as of the Effective Date (as defined below). Notwithstanding the foregoing, any awards granted under the Prior Plan shall remain in effect pursuant to their terms.

SECTION 2. Definitions. As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

“Affiliate” means (a) any entity that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by, controls or is under common control with, the Company and (b) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, in either case, as determined by the Committee.

“Applicable Exchange” means the Nasdaq Stock Market or any other national stock exchange or quotation system on which the Shares may be listed or quoted.

“Applicable Law” means legal requirements relating to the Plan under U.S. Federal and state corporate law, U.S. Federal and state securities law, the Code, the Applicable Exchange and the applicable laws of any foreign country or jurisdiction where Awards are, or will be, granted.

“Award” means any award that is permitted under Section 6 and granted under the Plan.

“Award Agreement” means any written or electronic agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing any Award.

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

“Cause” means, unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or employment or similar agreement entered into by and between the Participant and the Company or any of its Affiliates, termination of a Participant’s employment by the Company and its Affiliates based on the employer’s belief that any of the following has occurred:

(a)the continued refusal or omission by the Participant to perform any material duties required of such Participant by the Company or any of its Affiliates;

(b)any act or omission by the Participant involving malfeasance, misconduct, dishonesty or gross negligence in the performance of the Participant’s duties to, or material deviation from any of the policies or directives of, the Company or any of its Affiliates;

(c)the Participant engaged in conduct that constitutes a breach of any statutory or common law duty of loyalty to the Company or any of its Affiliates;

(d)the Participant engaged in a violation of any statute, rule, regulation or policy of the Company or any of its Affiliates, any of which in the judgment of the Company is harmful to the business or reputation of the Company or any of its Affiliates;

(e)the Participant’s commission or conviction of a felony or misdemeanor (other than a misdemeanor traffic violation) or any crime involving moral turpitude, including a

plea of guilty or failure to contest prosecution for a felony, misdemeanor or crime involving moral turpitude;

(f)any reason that would constitute Cause under the laws of the State of Washington; or

(g)the Participant’s breach of an employment or similar agreement entered into by and between the Participant and the Company or any of its Affiliates, including, without limitation, a breach of any restrictive covenants contained therein.

“Cash Incentive Award” means an Award that is settled in cash and the value of which is set by the Committee but is not calculated by reference to the Fair Market Value of a Share.

“Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

(a)the acquisition, directly or indirectly, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, by any person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) of the beneficial ownership of securities of the Company possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of all outstanding securities of the Company; provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (i) any such acquisition by the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (ii) any such acquisition by an employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (iii) in respect of an Award held by a particular Participant, any such acquisition by such Participant or any group including such Participant (or any entity controlled by such Participant or any group including such Participant); or (iv) any acquisition in which the holders of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition hold, directly or indirectly, as a result of holding securities of the Company prior to such acquisition, in the aggregate, securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of all outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately after such acquisition;

(b)A merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, whether or not the Company is the surviving entity in such transaction; provided, however, that the following shall not constitute a Change in Control: a transaction or series of related transactions in which the holders of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such merger or consolidation hold, directly or indirectly, as a result of holding securities of the Company prior to such transaction or series of related transaction, in the aggregate, securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of all outstanding voting securities of the Company or of the surviving entity immediately after such merger or consolidation;

(c)the sale, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company; or

(d)the approval by the stockholders of a plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any Award (or any portion of an Award) that provides for the deferral of compensation that is subject to Section 409A of the Code, to the extent required to avoid the imposition of additional taxes under Section 409A of the Code, the transaction or event described in subsection (a), (b), (c) or (d) with respect to such Award (or portion thereof) shall only constitute a Change in Control for purposes of the payment timing of such Award if such transaction also constitutes a “change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5).

The Board shall have full and final authority, which shall be exercised in its sole discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to the above definition, the date of the occurrence of such Change in Control and any incidental matters relating thereto; provided that any exercise of authority in conjunction with a determination of whether a Change in Control is a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) shall be consistent with such regulation.

“Clawback Policy” shall have the meaning specified in Section 7(b).

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute thereto, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

“Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or a subcommittee thereof, or such other committee of the Board as may be designated by the Board to administer the Plan.

“Company” means BioLife Solutions, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware, together with any successor thereto.

“Covered Person” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3(d).

“Data” shall have the meaning specified in Section 9(e).

“Director” means any member of the Board, but solely in his or her capacity as such a member of the Board.

“Director Pay Limit” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4(c).

“Effective Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 11.

“Eligible Person” means any Director, officer, employee or consultant (including any prospective Director, officer, employee or consultant) of the Company or any of its Affiliates who is an “employee” within the meaning of Form S-8 under the Exchange Act, as in effect from time to time.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute thereto, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

“Exercise Price” means (a) in the case of each Option, the price specified in the applicable Award Agreement as the price per Share at which Shares may be purchased pursuant to such Option or (b) in the case of each SAR, the price specified in the applicable Award Agreement as the reference price per Share used to calculate the amount payable to the Participant pursuant to such SAR.

“Expiration Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 11.

“Fair Market Value” means, except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, (a) with respect to any property other than Shares, the fair market value of such property determined by such methods or procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Committee and (b) with respect to Shares, as of any date, (i) the closing per Share sales price of Shares as reported by the Applicable Exchange for such stock exchange for such date or if there were no sales on such date, on the closest preceding date on which there were sales of Shares or (ii) in the event there shall be no public market for the Shares on such date, the fair market value of the Shares as determined in good faith by the Committee.

“Incentive Stock Option” means an option to purchase Shares from the Company that (a) is granted under Section 6(b) of the Plan and (b) is intended to qualify for special Federal income tax treatment pursuant to Sections 421 and 422 of the Code, as now constituted or subsequently amended, or pursuant to a successor provision of the Code, and which is so designated in the applicable Award Agreement.

“ISO Limit” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4(a).

“Non-Employee Director” means a Director of the Company who is not an officer or employee (as determined in accordance with Section 3401(c) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder) of the Company or of any parent of the Company or Subsidiary.

“Nonqualified Stock Option” means an option to purchase Shares from the Company that (a) is granted under Section 6(b) of the Plan and (b) is not an Incentive Stock Option.

“Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option or both, as the context requires.

“Participant” means any Eligible Person who is selected by the Committee to receive an Award or who receives a Substitute Award.

“Performance Goals” means the goal or goals that the Committee shall select for purposes of any Award and shall be based on the attainment of specific levels of performance of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, Affiliates, divisions or operational units, or any combination of the foregoing, which may include any of the following: (a) share price; (b) net income or earnings before or after taxes (including earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and/or amortization); (c) operating income; (d) earnings per share (including specified types or categories thereof); (e) cash flow (including specified types or categories thereof); (f) revenues (including specified types or categories thereof); (g) return measures (including specified types or categories thereof); (h) shareholder return measures (including specified types or categories thereof); (i) sales or product volume; (j) working capital; (k) gross or net profitability/profit margins (including profitability of an identifiable business unit or product); (l) objective measures of productivity or operating efficiency; (m) costs (including specified types or categories thereof); (n) expenses (including specified types or categories thereof); (o) product unit and pricing targets; (p) credit rating or borrowing levels; (q) market share (in the aggregate or by segment); (r) level or amount of acquisitions; (s) economic, enterprise, book, economic book or intrinsic book value (including on a per share basis); (t) improvements in capital structure; (u) customer satisfaction survey results; and (v) implementation or completion of critical projects.

“Person” means a “person” or “group” within the meaning of Sections 3(a)(9), 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act.

“Plan” shall have the meaning specified in Section 1.

“Prior Plan” means the Company’s Second Amended and Restated 2013 Performance Incentive Plan, as amended by Amendment No. 1, Amendment No. 2 and Amendment No. 3 thereto.

“Restricted Share” means a Share that is granted under Section 6(d) of the Plan that is subject to certain transfer restrictions, forfeiture provisions and/or other terms and conditions specified herein and in the applicable Award Agreement.

“RSU” means a restricted stock unit Award that is granted under Section 6(d) of the Plan and is designated as such in the applicable Award Agreement and that represents an unfunded and unsecured promise to deliver Shares, cash, other securities, other Awards or other property, subject to the satisfaction of the applicable vesting conditions, in accordance with the terms of the applicable Award Agreement.

“Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act or any successor rule or regulation thereto as in effect from time to time.

“SAR” means a stock appreciation right Award that is granted under Section 6(c) of the Plan and that represents an unfunded and unsecured promise to deliver Shares, cash, other securities, other Awards or other property equal in value to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value per Share over the Exercise Price per Share of the SAR, subject to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto and shall include the staff thereof.

“Share Limit” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4(a).

“Shares” means shares of common stock of the Company, $0.001 par value, or such other securities of the Company (a) into which such shares shall be changed by reason of a recapitalization, merger, consolidation, split-up, combination, exchange of shares or other similar transaction or (b) as may be determined by the Committee pursuant to Section 4(d).

“Subsidiary” means any entity in which the Company, directly or indirectly, possesses fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of its stock.

“Substitute Awards” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4(e).

“Treasury Regulations” means all proposed, temporary and final regulations promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).

SECTION 3. Administration.

(a)Composition of the Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which shall be composed of one or more Directors, as determined by the Board; provided, however, that the Board may, in its discretion, administer the Plan with respect to awards granted to Non-Employee Directors and, in any such case, shall have all the authority and responsibility granted to the Committee herein. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, each of the members of the Committee shall be an “independent director” under the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded.

(b)Authority of the Committee. Subject to the terms of the Plan and Applicable Law, and in addition to the other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, the Committee shall have sole and plenary authority to administer the Plan, including the authority to (i) designate Participants, (ii) determine all terms and conditions of Awards, (iii) interpret, administer, reconcile any inconsistency in, correct any default in and supply any omission in, the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award made under, the Plan, (iv) establish, amend, suspend or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan, (v) accelerate

the vesting or exercisability of, payment for or lapse of restrictions on, Awards, and (vi) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.

(c)Committee Decisions. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award shall be within the sole and plenary discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all Persons, including the Company, any Affiliate, any Participant, any holder or beneficiary of any Award and any stockholder.

(d)Indemnification. No member of the Board, the Committee or any employee of the Company (each such person, a “Covered Person”) shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken or any determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award. Each Covered Person shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from and against (i) any loss, cost, liability or expense (including attorneys’ fees) that may be imposed upon or incurred by such Covered Person in connection with or resulting from any action, suit or proceeding to which such Covered Person may be a party or in which such Covered Person may be involved by reason of any action taken or omitted to be taken under the Plan or any Award Agreement and (ii) any and all amounts paid by such Covered Person, with the Company’s approval, in settlement thereof, or paid by such Covered Person in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding against such Covered Person; provided that the Company shall have the right, at its own expense, to assume and defend any such action, suit or proceeding, and, once the Company gives notice of its intent to assume the defense, the Company shall have sole control over such defense with counsel of the Company’s choice. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be available to a Covered Person to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment or other final adjudication, in either case not subject to further appeal, determines that the acts or omissions of such Covered Person giving rise to the indemnification claim resulted from such Covered Person’s bad faith, fraud or willful criminal act or omission or that such right of indemnification is otherwise prohibited by law or by the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, in each case, as may be amended from time to time. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which Covered Persons may be entitled under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any other power that the Company may have to indemnify such persons or hold them harmless.

(e)Delegation of Authority to Senior Officers. Subject to the terms of Applicable Law, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, the Committee may delegate to one or more Directors or officers of the Company the authority to make grants of Awards to current and prospective Eligible Persons and all necessary and appropriate decisions and determinations with respect thereto, subject to any conditions or requirements imposed by the Committee on the exercise of such delegated authority; provided that in no event shall an officer of the Company be delegated the authority to grant Awards to, or amend Awards held by, the following individuals: (i) individuals who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, or (ii) officers of the Company (or Directors) to whom authority to grant or amend Awards has been delegated hereunder.

SECTION 4. Shares Subject to the Plan.

(a)Share Limits.

(i)Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(d), the maximum number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to Awards shall be equal to the sum of: (x) 4,200,000 and (y) any Shares, which as of the Effective Date, are subject to awards under

the Prior Plan, which are forfeited or lapse unexercised and which following the Effective Date are not issued under the Prior Plan (the “Share Limit”).

(ii)Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(d), the maximum number of Shares that may be delivered upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options shall be equal to 4,200,000 (the “ISO Limit”).

(b)Share Usage. If, after the Effective Date, (A) any Award is forfeited, or otherwise expires, terminates or is canceled without the issuance of all Shares subject thereto or (B) any Award is settled other than wholly by issuance of Shares (including cash settlement), then, in each such case, the number of Shares subject to such Award that were not issued, or were tendered or substituted, with respect to such Award shall not be treated as issued for purposes of reducing the Share Limit; provided, however, that Shares (W) surrendered or tendered to the Company in payment of the Exercise Price of an Option, (X) surrendered or tendered to the Company in payment of any taxes withheld in respect of an Award, (Y) subject to a SAR that are not issued in connection with its stock settlement on exercise with respect to the Exercise Price thereof, or (Z) reacquired by the Company on the open market or otherwise using cash proceeds from the exercise of Options shall, in the case of clauses (W), (X), (Y) and (Z), shall be deemed issued for purposes of the Share Limit. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4(b), no Shares may again be optioned, granted or awarded if such action would cause an Incentive Stock Option to fail to qualify as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code.

(c)Non-Employee Director Limit. No Non-Employee Director may be paid or granted, in any fiscal year, cash compensation and equity awards (including any Awards issued under the Plan) with an aggregate value greater than (i) $1,000,000, in the case of any Non-Employee Director who also serves as the Chairperson of the Board, and (ii) $750,000, in the case of any other Non-Employee Director (in each case, with the value of each Award (or any other equity award) based on its grant date fair value (determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles)) (such limits, collectively, the “Director Pay Limit”). Any such compensation that is deferred will be counted toward the Director Pay Limit for the year in which it was first earned, and not when paid or settled (if later). Any cash compensation paid or Awards (or any other equity awards) granted to an individual for such individual’s services as an employee or consultant (other than as a Director), will not be subject to the Director Pay Limit.

(d)Adjustments for Changes in Capitalization and Similar Events.

(i)In the event of any extraordinary dividend or other extraordinary distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities or other property), recapitalization, rights offering, stock split, reverse stock split, split-up or spin-off, the Committee shall equitably adjust, in the manner the Committee determines appropriate, any or all of (A) the number of Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted, including the Share Limit and the ISO Limit, and (B) the terms of any outstanding Award so as to prevent the enlargement or diminishment of the benefits provided thereunder, including (1) the number of Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or property) subject to such Award or to which such Award relates, (2) the Exercise Price, if applicable, with respect to such Award and (3) the vesting terms (including performance goals) applicable to such Award.

(ii)Subject to Section 4(d)(i), in the event of any reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, repurchase or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Shares or other securities of the Company or other similar corporate transaction or event or other unusual, extraordinarily or non-recurring event (including a change in Applicable Law or accounting standards) that affects the Shares, the Company, its Affiliates or the Company’s financial statements, the Committee may

(A) equitably adjust any or all of (1) the number of Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted, including the Share Limit and the ISO Limit, and (2) the terms of any outstanding Award, including (X) the number of Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or property) subject to such Award or to which such Awards relates (including through the assumption of such Award by another entity or substitution of such Award for an award issued by another entity), (Y) the Exercise Price, if applicable, with respect to such Award and (Z) the vesting terms (including performance goals) applicable to such Award, (B) make provision for a cash payment to the holder of an outstanding Award in consideration for the cancelation of such Award, including, in the case of an outstanding Option or SAR, a cash payment to the holder of such Option or SAR in consideration for the cancelation of such Option or SAR in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value (as of a date specified by the Committee) of the Shares subject to such Option or SAR over the aggregate Exercise Price of such Option or SAR, (C) cancel and terminate any Option or SAR having a per-Share Exercise Price equal to, or in excess of, the Fair Market Value of a Share subject to such Option or SAR without any payment or consideration therefor or (D) in the case of an outstanding Option or SAR, establishing a date upon which such Award will expire unless exercised prior thereto.

(e)Substitute Awards. Awards may be granted under the Plan in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by the Company or any of its Affiliates or a company acquired by the Company or any of its Affiliates or with which the Company or any of its Affiliates combines (“Substitute Awards”); provided, however, that in no event may any Substitute Award be granted in a manner that would violate the prohibitions on repricing of Options and SARs set forth in Section 7(c). The number of Shares underlying any Substitute Awards shall not be counted against the Share Limit; provided, however, that Substitute Awards issued or intended as Incentive Stock Options shall be counted against the ISO Limit.

(f)Sources of Shares Deliverable Under Awards. Any Shares delivered pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Shares, treasury Shares or Shares reacquired by the Company in any manner.

SECTION 5. Eligibility. Any Eligible Person shall be eligible to receive an Award.

SECTION 6. Awards.

(a)Types of Awards. Awards may be made under the Plan in the form of (i) Options (including Incentive Stock Options), (ii) SARs, (iii) Restricted Shares, (iv) RSUs, (v) Cash Incentive Awards or (vi) other equity based or equity related Awards that the Committee determines are consistent with the purpose of the Plan and the interests of the Company. The Committee shall determine all terms and conditions of each Award (including any Performance Goals applicable thereto), which shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

(b)Options.

(i)General. Each Option shall be a Nonqualified Stock Option unless the applicable Award Agreement expressly states that the Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option. In the case of Incentive Stock Options, the terms and conditions of such Awards shall be subject to and comply with such rules as may be prescribed by Section 421 and 422 of the Code and any regulations related thereto, as may be amended from time to time. If, for any reason, an Option intended to be an Incentive Stock Option (or any portion thereof) shall not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, then, to the extent of such nonqualification, such Option

(or portion thereof) shall be regarded as a Nonqualified Stock Option appropriately granted under the Plan.

(ii)Exercise Price. The Exercise Price of each Share covered by each Option shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such Share (determined as of the date the Option is granted); provided, however, that in the case of each Incentive Stock Option granted to an employee who, at the time of the grant of such Option, owns stock representing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Affiliate, the per-Share Exercise Price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of the grant.

(iii) Vesting and Exercise. Except as otherwise specified in the applicable Award Agreement, each Option may only be exercised to the extent that it has vested at the time of exercise. Each Option shall be deemed to be exercised when notice of such exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the terms of the applicable Award Agreement and full payment pursuant to Section 6(b)(iv) for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised has been received by the Company.

(iv) Payment. No Shares shall be delivered pursuant to any exercise of an Option until payment in full of the aggregate Exercise Price therefor is received by the Company. Such payments may be made in cash (or its equivalent) or, in the Committee’s discretion, through any other method (or combination of methods) approved by the Committee.

(v)Expiration. Except as otherwise set forth in the applicable Award Agreement or required by Applicable Law, each Option shall expire immediately, without any payment, upon the earlier of (A) the tenth anniversary of the date the Option is granted and (B) three months after the date the Participant who is holding the Option ceases to be a Director, officer, employee or consultant of the Company or one of its Affiliates.

(c)SARs.

(i)Exercise Price. The Exercise Price of each Share covered by a SAR shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such Share (determined as of the date the SAR is granted).

(ii)Rights on Exercise. Except as otherwise specified in the applicable Award Agreement, each SAR may only be exercised to the extent that it has vested at the time of exercise. Each SAR shall entitle the Participant to receive an amount upon exercise equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise of the SAR over the Exercise Price thereof.

(iii) Expiration. Except as otherwise set forth in the applicable Award Agreement or required by Applicable Law, each SAR shall expire immediately, without any payment, upon the earlier of (A) the tenth anniversary of the date the SAR is granted and (B) three months after the date the Participant who is holding the Option ceases to be a Director, officer, employee or consultant of the Company or one of its Affiliates.

(d)Restricted Shares and RSUs.

(i)Restricted Shares. Each Restricted Share shall be subject to the transfer restrictions and vesting and forfeiture provisions set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. If certificates representing Restricted Shares are registered in the name of the applicable Participant, such certificates shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Shares, and the Company may, at its

discretion, retain physical possession of such certificates until such time as all applicable restrictions lapse.

(ii)RSUs. Each RSU shall be granted with respect to a specified number of Shares (or a number of Shares determined pursuant to a specified formula) or shall have a value equal to the Fair Market Value of a specified number of Shares (or a number of Shares determined pursuant to a specified formula). RSUs shall be paid in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, upon the vesting thereof or such other date (or upon such other event) specified in the applicable Award Agreement.

(e)Cash Incentive Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee shall have authority to grant to Participants Cash Incentive Awards and other equity-based or equity-related Awards (whether payable in cash, equity or otherwise), including fully vested Shares, in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine.

SECTION 7. General Award Terms.

(a)Dividends and Dividend Equivalents. Any Award (other than an Option, SAR or Cash Incentive Award) may provide the Participant with dividends or dividend equivalents, payable in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, on a current or deferred or vested or unvested basis, including (i) payment directly to the Participant, (ii) withholding of such amounts by the Company subject to vesting of the Award or (iii) reinvestment in additional Shares, Restricted Shares or other Awards; provided, however, that any dividends or dividend equivalents with respect to Awards subject to vesting requirements shall be accumulated in a manner determined by the Committee until such Award is earned and such dividends and dividend equivalents shall not be paid if such vesting requirements of the underlying Award are not satisfied.

(b)Recoupment of Awards. Awards shall be subject to the Company’s compensation recoupment policy as may be established or amended from time to time (the “Clawback Policy”). The Company may require a Participant to forfeit, return or reimburse the Company all or a portion of the Award and any amounts paid thereunder (i) pursuant to the terms of the Clawback Policy, (ii) for failure to comply with the Company’s policy on confidential information and proprietary business information, as may be in effect from time to time, or (iii) as necessary or appropriate to comply with Applicable Laws.

(c)Repricing. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event may any Option or SAR (i) be amended to decrease the Exercise Price thereof, (ii) be canceled at a time when its Exercise Price exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares in exchange for another Award, award under any other equity- compensation plan or any cash payment or (iii) be subject to any action that would be treated, for accounting purposes, as a “repricing” of such Option or SAR, unless such amendment, cancelation or action is approved by the Company’s stockholders. For the avoidance of doubt, an adjustment to the Exercise Price of an Option or SAR that is made in accordance with Section 4(d) shall not be considered a reduction in Exercise Price or “repricing” of such Option or SAR.

SECTION 8. Change in Control.

(a)Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan and unless the Committee determines otherwise, in the event a Change in Control occurs and the surviving entity or successor corporation in such Change in Control does not assume or substitute outstanding Awards (or any portion thereof), then immediately prior to such Change in Control such outstanding Awards, to the extent not assumed or substituted, shall become fully vested

and, as applicable, exercisable and all forfeiture, repurchase and other restrictions on such Awards shall lapse immediately prior to such transaction, provided that, to the extent the vesting of any such Award is subject to the satisfaction of specified Performance Goals, such Award shall vest at either (as the Committee may determine) (i) the target level of performance, which may be pro-rated based on the period elapsed between the beginning of the applicable performance period and the date of the Change in Control, or (ii) the actual performance level as of the most recent practicable date prior to the Change in Control (as determined by the Committee) with respect to all applicable Performance Goals (and the vesting pursuant to this clause (ii) shall constitute “full vesting” for purposes of this Section 8(a)). Upon, or in anticipation of, a Change in Control, the Committee may cause any and all Awards outstanding hereunder to terminate at a specific time in the future, including but not limited to the date of such Change in Control, and shall give each Participant the right to exercise such Awards during a period of time as the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall determine. For the avoidance of doubt, if the value of an Award that is terminated in connection with this Section 8(a) is zero or negative at the time of such Change in Control (which value shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and its determination shall be conclusive and binding), such Award shall be terminated upon the Change in Control without payment of consideration therefor.

(b)For purposes of this Section 8, an Award shall be considered assumed or substituted if, following the Change in Control, the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether shares, cash or other securities or property) received in the Change in Control by holders of Shares for each Share held on the effective date of the Change in Control (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Change in Control was not solely common shares of the successor corporation or its parent, the Committee may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of the Award, for each Share subject to an Award, to be solely common shares of the successor corporation or its parent substantially equal in fair market value to the per-share consideration received by holders of Shares in the Change in Control. In cases where an Award is subject to Performance Goals at the time of a Change in Control, such Award shall be considered assumed or substituted if, following the Change in Control, the Award is converted assuming achievement of the Performance Goals at target levels or as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, which may provide that the Award shall convert on a pro rata basis based on achievement of the Performance Goals through the period immediately prior to the Change in Control. The determination of whether an Award shall be considered substituted or assumed and whether fair market value is substantially equal shall be made by the Committee in its sole discretion and its determination shall be conclusive and binding.

(c)Unless the Committee determines otherwise, in the event an Award continues in effect or is assumed or substituted by the surviving entity or successor corporation in connection with a Change in Control, and a Participant’s employment or service is terminated without Cause upon or within twelve (12) months following such Change in Control, then any such continued, assumed or substituted Awards held by such Participant immediately prior to such termination shall become fully vested and, as applicable, exercisable and all forfeiture, repurchase and other restrictions shall lapse immediately prior to such termination.

SECTION 9. General Provisions.

(a)Nontransferability. During the Participant’s lifetime, each Award (and any rights and obligations thereunder) shall be exercisable only by the Participant, or, if

permissible under Applicable Law, by the Participant’s legal guardian or representative, and no Award (or any rights and obligations thereunder) may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate; provided that the designation of a beneficiary shall not constitute an assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance. All terms and conditions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreements shall be binding upon any permitted successors and assigns.

(b)Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Plan, and any Award granted or awarded to any individual who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act and any amendments thereto) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Plan and Awards granted or awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.

(c)No Rights to Awards. No Participant or other Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants or holders or beneficiaries of Awards. The terms and conditions of Awards and the Committee’s determinations and interpretations with respect thereto need not be the same with respect to each Participant and may be made selectively among Participants, whether or not such Participants are similarly situated.

(d)Share Certificates. All certificates for Shares or other securities of the Company or any Affiliate delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan, the applicable Award Agreement or the rules, regulations and other requirements of the SEC, the Applicable Exchange and any Applicable Law and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, unless otherwise determined by the Committee or required by any Applicable Law, the Company shall not deliver to any Participant certificates evidencing Shares issues in connection with any Award and instead such Shares shall be recorded in the books of the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator).

(e)Data Privacy. As a condition of receipt of any Award, each Participant explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of personal data as described in this Section 9(e) by and among, as applicable, the Company and its Subsidiaries for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing the Participant’s participation in the Plan. The Company and its Subsidiaries may hold certain personal information about a Participant, including but not limited to, the Participant’s name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social security or insurance number or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title(s), any shares of stock held in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, details of all Awards, in each case, for the purpose of implementing, managing and administering the Plan and Awards (the “Data”). The Company and its Subsidiaries may transfer the Data amongst themselves as necessary for the purpose of implementation, administration and management of a Participant’s participation in the Plan, and the Company and its Subsidiaries may each further transfer the Data to any third parties assisting the Company and its Subsidiaries in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan. These recipients may be located in the Participant’s country, or elsewhere, and the Participant’s country may have different data privacy laws and protections than the recipients’

country. Through acceptance of an Award, each Participant authorizes such recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing the Participant’s participation in the Plan, including any requisite transfer of such Data as may be required to a broker or other third party with whom the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the Participant may elect to deposit any Shares. The Data related to a Participant will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer, and manage the Participant’s participation in the Plan. A Participant may, at any time, view the Data held by the Company with respect to such Participant, request additional information about the storage and processing of the Data with respect to such Participant, recommend any necessary corrections to the Data with respect to the Participant or refuse or withdraw the consents herein in writing, in any case without cost, by contacting the Participant’s local human resources representative. The Company may cancel the Participant’s ability to participate in the Plan and, in the Committee’s discretion, the Participant may forfeit any outstanding Awards if the Participant refuses or withdraws such Participant’s consents as described herein. For more information on the consequences of refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, Participants may contact their local human resources representative.

(f)Withholding. A Participant may be required to pay to the Company or any Affiliate, and the Company or any Affiliate shall have the right and is hereby authorized to withhold from any Award, from any payment due or transfer made under any Award or under the Plan or from any compensation or other amount owing to a Participant, the amount (in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property) of any applicable withholding taxes in respect of an Award, its exercise or any payment or transfer under an Award or under the Plan and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Committee or the Company to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such taxes, except to the extent such withholding would result in penalties under Section 409A of the Code. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, subject to the Committee’s prior approval, a Participant may satisfy, in whole or in part, such withholding liability by having the Company withhold from the number of Shares otherwise issuable pursuant to the Award, a number of Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to such withholding liability; provided that, in the event Shares are so withheld in connection with the vesting of an Award of Restricted Shares, such withheld Shares shall be immediately cancelled by the Company, shall count against the Share Limit and shall not constitute treasury Shares.

(g)Section 409A.

(i)It is intended that the provisions of the Plan comply with Section 409A of the Code, and all provisions of the Plan shall be construed and interpreted in a manner consistent with the requirements for avoiding taxes or penalties under Section 409A of the Code.

(ii)No Participant or the creditors or beneficiaries of a Participant shall have the right to subject any deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) payable under the Plan to any anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment or garnishment. Except as permitted under Section 409A of the Code, any deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) payable to any Participant or for the benefit of any Participant under the Plan may not be reduced by, or offset against, any amount owing by any such Participant to the Company or any of its Affiliates.

(iii) If, at the time of a Participant’s separation from service (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code), (A) such Participant shall be a specified employee (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and using the identification methodology selected by the Company from time to time) and (B) the Company shall make a good faith determination that an amount payable pursuant to an Award constitutes deferred compensation

(within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) the payment of which is required to be delayed pursuant to the six-month delay rule set forth in Section 409A of the Code in order to avoid taxes or penalties under Section 409A of the Code, then the Company shall not pay such amount on the otherwise scheduled payment date but shall instead pay it on the first business day after such six-month period. Such amount shall be paid without interest, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, or as otherwise provided in any applicable employment agreement between the Company and the relevant Participant. For purposes of Section 409A of the Code, any right to a series of installment payments under any Award shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments.

(iv) Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in light of the uncertainty with respect to the proper application of Section 409A of the Code, the Company reserves the right to make amendments to any Award as the Company deems necessary or desirable to avoid the imposition of taxes or penalties under Section 409A of the Code. In any case, a Participant shall be solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may be imposed on such Participant or for such Participant’s account in connection with an Award (including any taxes and penalties under Section 409A of the Code), and neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates shall have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold such Participant harmless from any or all of such taxes or penalties.

(h)Non-U.S. Holders. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in order to comply with the laws in countries other than the United States in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate or have Eligible Person, or in order to comply with the requirements of any foreign securities exchange or other Applicable Law, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to: (i) determine which Subsidiaries shall be covered by the Plan; (ii) determine which Eligible Persons outside the United States are eligible to participate in the Plan; (iii) modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to Eligible Persons outside the United States to comply with Applicable Law (including, without limitation, applicable foreign laws or listing requirements of any foreign securities exchange); (iv) establish subplans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent such actions may be necessary or advisable; provided, however, that no such subplans and/or modifications shall increase the Share Limit or the Director Pay Limit; and (v) take any action, before or after an Award is made, that it deems advisable to obtain approval or comply with any necessary local governmental regulatory exemptions or approvals or listing requirements of any foreign securities exchange.

(i)Award Agreements. Each Award hereunder shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement, which shall be delivered to the Participant and shall specify the terms and conditions of the Award and any rules applicable thereto.

(j)No Limit on Other Compensation Arrangements. Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company or any Affiliate from adopting or continuing in effect other compensation arrangements (including other equity-based awards and cash incentive awards), and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

(k)No Right to Employment. The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained as a Director, officer, employee or consultant of or to the Company or any Affiliate, nor shall it be construed as giving a Participant any rights to continued service on the Board. Further, the Company or an Affiliate may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment or discontinue any directorship or consulting relationship, free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in any Award Agreement.

(l)No Rights as Stockholder. No Participant or holder or beneficiary of any Award shall have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares to be distributed under the Plan until the Participant or holder or beneficiary, as applicable, has become the holder of such Shares. In connection with each grant of Restricted Shares, except as provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the Participant shall be entitled to the rights of a stockholder (including the right to vote) in respect of such Restricted Shares. Except as otherwise provided in Section 4(d) or the applicable Award Agreement, no adjustments shall be made for dividends or distributions on (whether ordinary or extraordinary, and whether in cash, Shares, other securities or other property), or other events relating to, Shares subject to an Award for which the record date is prior to the date such Shares are delivered.

(m)Governing Law. The validity, construction and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan and any Award Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington except for matters of corporate law, in which case the provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law shall govern, in each case, without giving effect to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.

(n)Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any Person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the Applicable Laws, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be construed or deemed stricken as to such jurisdiction, Person or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.

(o)Other Laws; Restrictions on Transfer of Shares. The Committee may refuse to issue or transfer any Shares or other consideration under an Award if it determines that the issuance or transfer of such Shares or such other consideration might violate any Applicable Law or entitle the Company to recover the same under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, and any payment tendered to the Company by a Participant, other holder or beneficiary in connection with the exercise of such Award shall be promptly refunded to the relevant Participant, holder or beneficiary.

(p)No Trust or Fund Created. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate, on one hand, and a Participant or any other Person, on the other. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company or such Affiliate.

(q)No Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash, other securities or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated or otherwise eliminated.

(r)Headings and Construction. Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof. Whenever the words “include”, “includes” or “including” are used in the Plan, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “but not limited to”, and the word “or” shall not be deemed to be exclusive.

(s)Paperless Administration. In the event that the Company establishes, for itself or using the services of a third party, an automated system for the documentation, granting or exercise of Awards, such as a system using an internet website or interactive voice response, then the paperless documentation, granting or exercise of Awards by a Participant may be permitted through the use of such an automated system.

(t)Effect of Plan upon Other Compensation Plans. The adoption of the Plan shall not affect any other compensation or incentive plans in effect for the Company or any Subsidiary. Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to limit the right of the Company or any Subsidiary: (a) to establish any other forms of incentives or compensation for any Eligible Person, or (b) to grant or assume options or other rights or awards otherwise than under the Plan in connection with any proper corporate purpose including without limitation, the grant or assumption of options in connection with the acquisition by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of the business, stock or assets of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, firm or association.

(u)Compliance with Laws. The Plan, the granting and vesting of Awards under the Plan and the issuance and delivery of Shares and the payment of money under the Plan or under Awards granted or awarded hereunder are subject to compliance with all Applicable Law (including but not limited to state, federal and foreign securities law and margin requirements), and to such approvals by any listing, regulatory or governmental authority as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, be necessary or advisable in connection therewith. Any securities delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such restrictions, and the person acquiring such securities shall, if requested by the Company, provide such assurances and representations to the Company as the Company may deem necessary or desirable to assure compliance with all Applicable Law. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may take whatever actions it deems necessary or appropriate to effect compliance with Applicable Law, including, without limitation, placing legends on share certificates and issuing stop-transfer notices to agents and registrars. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Committee may not take any actions hereunder, and no Awards shall be granted, that would violate Applicable Law. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Plan and Awards granted or awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to Applicable Law.

(v)Unfunded Status of Awards. The Plan is intended to be an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall give the Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company or any Subsidiary.

(w)Relationship to Other Benefits. No payment pursuant to the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or other benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary except to the extent otherwise expressly provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.

SECTION 10. Amendment and Termination

(a)Amendments to the Plan. Subject to any Applicable Law, the Plan may be amended, modified or terminated by the Board without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, except that stockholder approval shall be required for any amendment that would (i) increase the Plan Share Limit or the Plan ISO Limit (in either case, except for increases pursuant to an adjustment under Section 4(d)) , (ii) expand the class of employees or other individuals eligible to participate in the Plan, (iii) extend the Expiration Date or (iv) result in any amendment, cancellation or action described in Section 7(c) being permitted without the

approval of the Company’s stockholders. No amendment, modification or termination of the Plan may, without the consent of the Participant to whom any Award shall previously have been granted, materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant (or the Participant’s transferee) under such Award, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement.

(b)Amendments to Awards. The Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate any Award previously granted, prospectively or retroactively; provided, however, that, except as set forth in the Plan, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancelation or termination that would materially and adversely impair the rights of any Participant or any holder or beneficiary of any Award previously granted shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the applicable Participant, holder or beneficiary.

SECTION 11. Term of the Plan. The Plan shall be effective as of the date of its adoption by the Board, subject to approval by the Company’s stockholders (the “Effective Date”). No Award shall be granted under the Plan during any period of suspension or after the tenth anniversary of the earlier of (a) the date on which the Plan was adopted by the Board or (b) the date the Plan was approved by the Company’s stockholders (such anniversary, the “Expiration Date”). Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in an applicable Award Agreement, any Award granted hereunder, and the authority of the Board or the Committee to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue or terminate any such Award or to waive any conditions or rights under any such Award, shall nevertheless continue thereafter. Any awards that are outstanding under the Plan as of the Expiration Date shall continue to be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and an applicable Award Agreement.

New York

601 Lexington Avenue, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10022

T +1 (212) 277-4000

www.freshfields.com

BioLife Solutions, Inc.
3303 Monte Villa Parkway
Bothell, WA 98021

August 15, 2023

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are acting as counsel to BioLife Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) of a registration statement on Form S-8 (as amended from time to time, the Registration Statement), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), relating to the registration of 4,665,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the Common Stock), of the Company, issuable pursuant to the BioLife Solutions, Inc. 2023 Omnibus Performance Incentive Plan (the Shares), including 465,000 Shares, which represents an estimated number of Shares subject to equity awards outstanding under the Company’s Second Amended and Restated 2013 Performance Incentive Plan (which expired in accordance with its terms) that may be subsequently forfeited and not issued under such plan and will become available for issuance under the 2023 Omnibus Performance Incentive Plan.

This opinion is confined to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as currently in effect. Accordingly, we express no opinion herein with regard to any other laws. The opinion expressed herein is limited to the matters stated herein, and no opinion is implied or may be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated herein. We do not undertake to advise you of changes in law or facts that may come to our attention after the date of this letter.

We have examined and have relied as to matters of fact upon such corporate and other records, agreements, documents and other instruments and certificates or comparable documents of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company and such other persons, and we have made such other investigations, as we have deemed relevant and necessary as a basis for the opinion expressed below.

In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity with authentic originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. As to any facts material to the opinion expressed herein that we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied, without independent verification, upon oral or written statements and representations of public officials, officers and other representatives of the Company. We have also assumed the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents by all persons other than the Company where due authorization, execution and delivery are prerequisites to the effectiveness thereof. We have also assumed that the individual grants or awards under the 2023 Omnibus Performance Incentive Plan have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and duly granted or awarded and exercised in accordance with the requirements of law and the 2023 Omnibus Performance Incentive Plan (and the agreements and awards duly adopted hereunder and in accordance therewith).

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to limitations, qualifications and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been authorized by the Company and, when the Shares are issued by the Company in accordance with the terms of the 2023 Omnibus Performance Incentive Plan and the applicable award agreements

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is an international legal practice operating through Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (a partnership registered in Hong Kong), Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Law office, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Foreign Law Office, Studio Legale associato a Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater PartG mbB, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Rechtsanwälte PartG mbB and other associated entities and undertakings. For further regulatory information please refer to www.freshfields.com/support/legal-notice.

pursuant to which the awards related to the Shares are made, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

Sincerely yours,

/s/ Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We have issued our reports dated March 31, 2023, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting of BioLife Solutions, Inc. included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, which are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement. We consent to the incorporation by reference of the aforementioned reports in this Registration Statement.

GRANT THORNTON LLP (manually)

Bellevue, Washington

August 15, 2023

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

BioLife Solutions, Inc.

Bothell, Washington

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus constituting a part of this Registration Statement of our report dated March 31, 2022, relating to the consolidated financial statements of BioLife Solutions, Inc. appearing in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.

/s/ BDO USA, P.A.

Seattle, Washington

August 15, 2023

BDO USA, P.A., a Delaware professional service corporation, is the U.S. member of BDO International Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, and forms part of the international BDO network of independent member firms.

BDO is the brand name for the BDO network and for each of the BDO Member Firms.

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