Note 15 - Acquisitions

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2022

Notes to Financial Statements

Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block]

15. Acquisitions

Sexton acquisition

General terms and effects

On August 9, 2021, BioLife entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Sexton Merger Agreement”) with BLFS Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Sexton Merger Sub”), Fortis Advisors LLC, in its capacity as the representative of the stockholders of Sexton (the “Sexton Seller Representative”) and Sexton, a Delaware corporation. The acquisition strengthens BioLife’s offerings in the cell and gene therapy and broader biopharma markets.

On September 1, 2021, the Company completed the merger of Sexton Merger Sub with and into Sexton and Sexton became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Sexton Merger”). As consideration for the Sexton Merger (the “Sexton Merger Consideration”), holders of common stock, preferred stock and options of Sexton, other than the Company (collectively, the “Sexton Participating Holders”), are entitled to receive an aggregate of 530,502 newly issued shares of the Company’s common stock, subject to certain post-closing adjustments, of which 477,452 shares of Common Stock were issued to the Sexton Participating Holders at the Closing, and 53,050 shares of Common Stock, or approximately 10% of the Merger consideration, were deposited into an escrow account for indemnification and post-closing purchase price adjustment purposes. Prior to the merger, the Company held preferred stock in Sexton, which was accounted for using a measurement alternative that measures the securities at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable process changes in orderly transactions for identical or similar investments of the same issuer. The Company accounted for the merger as a step acquisition, which required remeasurement of the Company’s existing ownership in Sexton to fair value prior to completing the acquisition method of accounting. Using step acquisition accounting, the Company increased the value of its existing equity interest to its fair value, resulting in the recognition of a non-cash gain of $6.5 million. The Company utilized a market-based valuation approach to determine the fair value of the existing equity interest based on the total merger consideration offered and the Company’s stock price at acquisition.

Total consideration transferred (in thousands, except number of shares and stock price):

Merger consideration shares		530,502
BioLife stock price (as of September 1, 2021)	$	60.50
Value of issued shares	$	32,095
Plus: Fair value of BioLife’s existing investment in Sexton	$	7,951
Less: Net working capital adjustment	$	(118	)
Merger Consideration	$	39,928

Transaction costs related to the acquisition are expensed as incurred and are not included in the calculation of consideration transferred.

Fair value of net assets acquired

Under the acquisition method of accounting, the assets acquired and liabilities assumed from Sexton were calculated as of the merger date, at their respective fair values, and consolidated with those of BioLife. The gross contractual accounts receivable acquired in the acquisition was $509,000. Of the acquired accounts receivable, $17,000 is estimated to be uncollectable. The fair value calculations required critical estimates, including, but not limited to, future expected cash flows, revenue and expense projections, discount rates, revenue volatility, and royalty rates.

The table below represents the fair value of the net assets acquired and liabilities assumed, which were recorded as of the merger date (amounts in thousands).

Cash	$	1,516
Accounts receivable, net		492
Inventories		1,310
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		670
Property, plant and equipment, net		737
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net		470
Developed technology		4,132
Customer relationships		2,276
Tradenames		2,324
Non-compete agreements		90
Goodwill		28,470
Accounts payable		(291	)
Lease liabilities, operating		(470	)
Deferred tax liability		(1,482	)
Other liabilities		(316	)
Fair value of net assets acquired	$	39,928

We recorded a measurement period adjustment in the fourth quarter of the year ended December 31, 2021 of $198,000 to the fair value of goodwill and the deferred tax liability. This adjustment related to the tax attributes of the business combination.

The fair value of Sexton’s identifiable intangible assets and useful lives are as follows (amounts in thousands, except years):

	Fair Value		Useful Life (Years)
Developed technology	$	4,132		5	-	9
Customer relationships		2,276		2
Tradenames		2,324		11
Non-compete agreements		90		1
Total identifiable intangible assets	$	8,822

Fair value measurement methodologies used to calculate the value of any asset can be broadly classified into one of three approaches, referred to as the cost, market and income approaches. In any fair value measurement analysis, all three approaches must be considered, and the approach or approaches deemed most relevant will then be selected for use in the fair value measurement of that asset. The estimated fair values of developed technology were estimated using a multi-period excess earnings approach. The estimated fair values of customer relationships and non-compete agreements were estimated using a “with and without” approach, comparing projected cash flows under scenarios assuming the customer relationships and non-compete agreements were and were not in place. The estimated fair value of the tradenames is based on the relief from royalty method, which estimates the value of the trade names based on the hypothetical royalty payments that are saved by owning the asset.

Some of the more significant assumptions inherent in the development of intangible asset fair values, from the perspective of a market participant, include, but are not limited to (i) the amount and timing of projected future cash flows (including revenue and expenses), (ii) the discount rate selected to measure the risks inherent in the future cash flows, (iii) the assessment of the asset’s life cycle, and (iv) the competitive trends impacting the asset.

Acquired goodwill

The goodwill of $28.5 million represents future economic benefits expected to arise from synergies from combining operations and commercial organizations to increase market presence and the extension of existing customer relationships. The goodwill recorded is not deductible for income tax purposes.

Global Cooling acquisition

General terms and effects

On March 19, 2021, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “GCI Merger Agreement”) with BLFS Merger Subsidiary, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“GCI Merger Sub”), Global Cooling, a Delaware corporation and Albert Vierling and William Baumel, in their capacity as the representatives of the stockholders of GCI (collectively, the “GCI Seller Representative”). The acquisition strengthens BioLife’s offerings in the cell and gene therapy and broader biopharma markets.

On May 3, 2021, pursuant to the GCI Merger Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, the transactions contemplated by the GCI Merger Agreement were consummated (the “GCI Closing”), GCI Merger Sub merged with and into GCI (the “GCI Merger” and, together with other transactions contemplated by the GCI Merger Agreement, the “GCI Transactions”), with GCI continuing as the surviving corporation in the GCI Merger and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. In the GCI Merger, all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of GCI immediately prior to the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (other than those properly exercising any applicable dissenter’s rights under Delaware law) were converted into the right to receive the GCI Merger Consideration (as defined below). The Company paid the GCI Merger Consideration to the holders of common stock and preferred stock of GCI (collectively, the “GCI Stockholders”).

Merger consideration

The aggregate merger consideration paid pursuant to the GCI Merger Agreement to the GCI Stockholders was 6,646,870 newly issued shares of common stock, provided, however, that the GCI Merger Consideration otherwise payable to GCI Stockholders is subject to the withholding of the GCI Escrow Shares (as defined below) and is subject to reduction for indemnification obligations. The GCI Merger Consideration allocable to one GCI stockholder was reduced by 10,400 shares to satisfy an outstanding note receivable of $374,000. In accordance with ASC 805, the Company recognized the settlement of pre-existing relationships in the forms of cash deposits, trade receivables, and trade payables, which are included in the consideration transferred. The GCI Merger Consideration is not subject to any purchase price adjustments.

Total consideration transferred (in thousands, except number of shares, stock price, and consideration percentage):

BioLife shares outstanding (as of March 19, 2021)		33,401,359
Merger consideration percentage		19.9	%
Merger consideration shares		6,646,870
less: Merger consideration shares withheld to satisfy outstanding GCI stockholder obligations to GCI		10,400
Subtotal		6,636,470
BioLife stock price (as of May 3, 2021)	$	35.07
Value of issued shares	$	232,741
plus: Settlement of BioLife prepaid deposits	$	2,152
plus: Net settlement of BioLife accounts receivable	$	16
Merger Consideration	$	234,909

Transaction costs related to the acquisition are expensed as incurred and are not included in the calculation of consideration transferred.

Escrow shares

At the GCI Closing, approximately nine percent (9%) of the GCI Merger Consideration (the “Escrow Shares”, along with any other dividends, distributions or other income on the GCI Escrow Shares, the “GCI Escrow Property”) otherwise issuable to the GCI Stockholders (allocated pro rata among the GCI Stockholders based on the GCI Merger Consideration otherwise issuable to them at the GCI Closing), was deposited into a segregated escrow account in accordance with an escrow agreement to be entered into in connection with the GCI Transactions (the “GCI Escrow Agreement”).

The GCI Escrow Property will be held for a period of up to twenty-four (24) months after the GCI Closing as the sole and exclusive source of payment for any post-GCI Closing indemnification claims (other than fraud claims), unless earlier released in accordance with the terms of the GCI Escrow Agreement.

Fair value of net assets acquired

Under the acquisition method of accounting, the assets acquired and liabilities assumed from Global Cooling were calculated as of the merger date, at their respective fair values, and consolidated with those of BioLife. The gross contractual accounts receivable acquired in the acquisition was $7.1 million. Of the acquired accounts receivable, $53,000 was estimated to be uncollectable. The fair value calculations required critical estimates, including, but not limited to, future expected cash flows, revenue and expense projections, discount rates, revenue volatility, and royalty rates.

The table below represents the fair value of the net assets acquired and liabilities assumed, which were recorded as of the merger date (amounts in thousands).

Cash	$	43
Accounts receivable, net		7,076
Inventories		15,547
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		639
Property, plant and equipment, net		3,512
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net		1,741
Financing lease right-of-use assets, net		114
Long-term deposits and other assets		4
Developed technology		18,140
Customer relationships		7,020
Tradenames		26,640
Non-compete agreements		1,240
In-process research and development		67,440
Goodwill		137,822
Accounts payable		(9,837	)
Line of credit		(4,231	)
Lease liabilities, operating		(1,880	)
Lease liabilities, financing		(114	)
Long-term debt		(4,410	)
Deferred tax liability		(24,133	)
Other liabilities		(7,464	)
Fair value of net assets acquired	$	234,909

We recorded a measurement period adjustment in the fourth quarter of the year ended December 31, 2021 of $607,000 to the fair value of goodwill and the deferred tax liability. This adjustment related to the tax attributes of the business combination.

The fair value of Global Cooling’s identifiable intangible assets and useful lives are as follows (amounts in thousands, except years):

	Fair Value		Useful Life (Years)
Developed technology	$	18,140		6
Customer relationships		7,020		12
Tradenames		26,640		15
Non-compete agreements		1,240		4
In-process research and development		67,440		N/A
Total identifiable intangible assets	$	120,480

Fair value measurement methodologies used to calculate the value of any asset can be broadly classified into one of three approaches, referred to as the cost, market and income approaches. In any fair value measurement analysis, all three approaches must be considered, and the approach or approaches deemed most relevant will then be selected for use in the fair value measurement of that asset. The fair values of developed technology and in-process research and development were estimated using a multi-period excess earnings approach. The fair values of customer relationships were estimated using the “distributor method”. The fair value of the tradenames is based on the relief from royalty method, which estimates the value of the trade names based on the hypothetical royalty payments that are saved by owning the asset. The fair values of non-compete agreements were estimated using a “with and without” approach, comparing projected cash flows under scenarios assuming the non-compete agreements were and were not in place. The fair value of inventory and property, plant and equipment were determined using the “market approach”.

Some of the more significant assumptions inherent in the development of intangible asset fair values, from the perspective of a market participant, include, but are not limited to (i) the amount and timing of projected future cash flows (including revenue and expenses), (ii) the discount rate selected to measure the risks inherent in the future cash flows, (iii) the assessment of the asset’s life cycle, and (iv) the competitive trends impacting the asset.

In July 2022, the Company abandoned an in-process research and development project within the asset group acquired in the acquisition of Global Cooling and revised its forecasts for net income and net cash flows to be generated by that asset group. The Company determined that these events constituted interim triggering events that required further analysis with respect to potential impairment to indefinite-lived intangibles and definite-lived intangibles. The Company performed an interim quantitative impairment test as of the June 30, 2022 balance sheet date, noting that the values of indefinite-lived intangibles and definite-lived intangibles were impaired by $58.9 million and $11.0 million, respectively. See Note 8 – “Goodwill and intangible assets” for details.

Acquired goodwill

The goodwill of $137.8 million represents future economic benefits expected to arise from synergies from combining operations and commercial organizations to increase market presence and the extension of existing customer relationships. The goodwill recorded is not deductible for income tax purposes.

Pro forma presentation

The following unaudited pro forma financial information presents the combined results of operations of Sexton as if the acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2021 after giving effect to certain pro forma adjustments. These pro forma adjustments include intangible amortization, stock-based compensation expense and salary expense related to a key employee, and the income tax effect of the adjustments made:

	Three Months Ended September 30,			Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021			2021
(In thousands)	(unaudited)			(unaudited)
Total revenue	$	34,524		$	85,189
Net (loss) income	$	(685	)	$	4,612

The following unaudited pro forma financial information presents the combined results of operations of Global Cooling as if the acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2021 after giving effect to certain pro forma adjustments. These pro forma adjustments include intangible amortization, amortization of increased inventory basis, depreciation expense, lease expense, transaction costs, interest expense, stock-based compensation expense and salary expense related to a key employee, and the income tax effect of the adjustments made:

	Three Months Ended September 30,		Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2021		2021
(In thousands)	(unaudited)		(unaudited)
Total revenue	$	33,800	$	106,427
Net (loss) income	$	79	$	(1,939	)