Concerned Vermillion Stockholders Send Letter to the Board of Vermillion, Inc.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- On October 22, 2012, George Bessenyei, Gregory V. Novak and Robert S. Goggin (the "Concerned Vermillion Stockholders" or "Group") sent a letter to the board of Vermillion, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRML) (the "Company"). The text of the letter follows:

Board of Directors
Vermillion, Inc.
12117 Bee Caves Road
Austin, TX 78738

Dear Members of the Board of Directors:

On October 2, 2012, an investment banker (the "Banker") representing a diagnostic company ("Proponent") contacted a representative of the Group. The Banker stated that the Proponent was potentially interested in a merger or acquisition transaction involving the Company and the Proponent and/or exploring alternative ways of helping to realize value with regards to OVA1 (the Company's FDA approved ovarian cancer test). The Banker further stated that he had been trying repeatedly - without success - to reach the Company to initiate a dialogue between the Company and the Proponent.

On October 5, 2012, a member of the Group spoke directly with the Banker and learned that the Banker/Proponent had also been trying repeatedly to reach the Company directly to discuss the prospects of a transaction, leaving no fewer than four unreturned voicemails.

On October 18, 2012, the Banker again contacted the Group to say that still no one from Vermillion had returned the calls from the Banker. The Banker stated that Gail Page, the Company's departing CEO, failed to attend a call which was affirmatively scheduled for October 11^th.

This inaction cannot be justified.

Need we remind you that since emerging from bankruptcy in July of 2010, that the Company's stock is down more than 88% destroying over $200M in market value? We believe this inaction is another example of the Board disregarding stockholders and a breach of your fiduciary duties as directors.

Please explain to your stockholders – immediately – why you have refused to engage with a qualified Proponent.

Sincerely,

Concerned Vermillion Stockholders

Stockholders please contact Okapi Partners LLC
Patrick McHugh / Geoff Sorbello
(212) 297-0720

Concerned Vermillion Stockholders
(561) 444-8180
Email: [email protected]

THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE GROUP'S SOLICITATION OF PROXIES CONSIST OF ONLY MR. BESSENYEI, MR. NOVAK AND MR. GOGGIN (THE MEMBERS OF THE GROUP) AT THIS TIME. THE GROUP TODAY HAS FILED SOLICITING MATERIALS, INCLUDING THIS PRESS RELEASE, WITH THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON SCHEDULE 14A PURSUANT TO RULE 14a-12 OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS PROMULGATED UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED.  STOCKHOLDERS OF VERMILLION CAN OBTAIN COPIES OF THIS FILING, AS WELL AS PRIOR FILINGS BY THE GROUP PURSUANT TO RULE 14a-12, WHICH TOGETHER CONTAIN THE REQUIRED INFORMATION UNDER SUCH RULE  REGARDING THE IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GROUP, AND A DESCRIPTION OF THEIR DIRECT OR INDIRECT INTERESTS, BY SECURITY HOLDINGS AND OTHERWISE, AT NO CHARGE AT THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION'S WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV.

SECURITY HOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE SOLICITATION OF PROXIES BY MEMBERS OF THE GROUP FROM THE STOCKHOLDERS OF VERMILLION, INC. FOR USE AT ITS 2012 ANNUAL MEETING WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION, INCLUDING INFORMATION RELATING TO THE PARTICIPANTS IN SUCH PROXY SOLICITATION.  WHEN COMPLETED, A DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT AND FORM OF PROXY WILL BE MAILED TO STOCKHOLDERS OF VERMILLION, INC AND ALSO WILL BE AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE AT THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION'S WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV.

SOURCE Concerned Vermillion Stockholders