<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000921895-21-000618.txt : 20210303
<SEC-HEADER>0000921895-21-000618.hdr.sgml : 20210303
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20210303173126
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000921895-21-000618
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20210301
FILED AS OF DATE:		20210303
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20210303

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Green James W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001400121

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33957
		FILM NUMBER:		21710723

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		12525 CHADRON AVENUE
		CITY:			HAWTHORNE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90250

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HARVARD BIOSCIENCE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001123494
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	LABORATORY ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS [3826]
		IRS NUMBER:				043306140
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		84 OCTOBER HILL RD
		CITY:			HOLLISTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01746
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5088938999

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		84 OCTOBER HILL ROAD
		CITY:			HOLLISTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01746
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form412799gre_03032021.xml
<DESCRIPTION>OWNERSHIP DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2021-03-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001123494</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HARVARD BIOSCIENCE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HBIO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001400121</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Green James W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O HARVARD BIOSCIENCE, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>84 OCTOBER HILL ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOLLISTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01746</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-03-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>194698</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2128104</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-03-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>186674</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2314778</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents an award of 194,698 restricted stock units that will vest in three equal installments on December 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, subject to the terms set forth in an award agreement between the Issuer and the Reporting Person.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes (a) the award described in footnote (1) above, (b) 163,606 remaining restricted stock units that will vest on December 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, (c) 243,072 restricted stock units that will fully vest on July 8, 2021, (d) 209,180 remaining restricted stock units that will vest on January 1, 2022 and 2023, (e) 636,502 restricted stock units with performance based vesting conditions tied to relative total shareholder return, and (f) 681,046 shares of common stock beneficially owned by the Reporting Person.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents an award of 186,674 restricted stock units with performance based vesting conditions. These restricted stock units will vest upon the achievement of a relative total shareholder return of the Issuer's common stock during the period from March 1, 2021 to the earlier of (i) December 31, 2023, and (ii) the date of a change of control (the &quot;Measurement Period&quot;), measured relative to the Russell 2000 index and based on the 20-day trading average beginning on the first day of the Measurement Period and ending on the last day of the Measurement Period, subject to the terms set forth in an award agreement between the Issuer and the Reporting Person. The target number of these restricted stock units that may be earned is reported above; the maximum amount is 150% of the number reported.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Includes (a) the shares and awards described in footnote (2) above, and (b) the award described in footnote (3) above.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David Sirois, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-03-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
