Biopool International Announces Restructuring.

VENTURA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 23, 1997--Biopool International Inc. (Nasdaq:BIPL) Tuesday announced that the company will be restructuring its operations by closing its facilities in Canada and consolidating the operations of its subsidiary, Biopool Canada, with the operations conducted at the company's facilities in Ventura.

Michael D. Bick, Ph.D., chairman and chief executive officer of Biopool, stated: "This is a matter that our board of directors has been reviewing for quite some time. The manufacturing processes, raw materials and products at Biopool Canada are to a large extent duplicative of our resources in Ventura, and the needs of our customers can be serviced effectively from the Ventura facilities.

"Combining these operations will also create economies of scale in manufacturing, eliminate certain overhead costs and make the company more cost-efficient and competitive. Although we will incur significant one-time charges to accomplish the consolidation, we will benefit from considerable annual savings well into the future."

Bick continued, "We anticipate the consolidation to be completed, and all manufacturing technology of Biopool Canada to be fully transferred, by the end of June 1998."

The company expects to incur a restructuring charge of approximately $400,000, roughly $300,000 of which will be taken in the fourth quarter of 1997. Management believes that the potential cost savings will offset these charges in less than two years.

Founded in 1987, Biopool International develops, manufactures and markets a full range of test kits to assess and diagnose disorders of blood coagulation, thrombotic risk factors, fibrinolysis, platelet function and the vascular system; specialty chemistry controls used to monitor and measure the presence of drugs of abuse; and blood group serology products used to screen for antibodies and group and type whole blood.

The company's product line of more than 150 FDA-approved products are sold to hospitals, blood bank facilities, and clinical and reference laboratories on a worldwide basis through an extensive network of distributors. -0- NOTE: This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding facility closure costs, future expected economies, anticipated time to complete the consolidation of facility operations, and anticipated time when costs are expected to be offset by future savings which are based upon current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, technological innovations of competitors, changes in health-care regulations, litigation claims, foreign currency fluctuation, product acceptance or changes in government regulation of the company's products, as well as other factors discussed in the company's last Report on Form 10-K-SB under "Risk Factors."

CONTACT: Biopool International Inc., Ventura

Michael D. Bick/Carol Hill, 805/654-0643