<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000921895-21-001485.txt : 20210525
<SEC-HEADER>0000921895-21-001485.hdr.sgml : 20210525
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20210525162645
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000921895-21-001485
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20210521
FILED AS OF DATE:		20210525
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20210525

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:		21960923

	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>form412799001_05252021.xml
<DESCRIPTION>OWNERSHIP DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2021-05-21</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>2021-05-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>24312</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.63</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2304090</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-05-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>24312</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.14</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2279778</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.63</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-05-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>24312</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2027-06-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>24312</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>352690</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes (a) 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, (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) 823,176 restricted stock units with performance based vesting conditions tied to relative total shareholder return, and (f) 670,358 shares of common stock beneficially owned by the Reporting Person.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This transaction was executed in multiple trades at prices ranging from $7.04 to $7.20, inclusive. The price reported above reflects the weighted average sale price. The Reporting Person hereby undertakes to provide upon request to the SEC staff, the Issuer or a security holder of the Issuer full information regarding the number of shares and prices at which the transaction was effected.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes (a) the shares and awards described in footnote (1) above, less (b) the disposition of shares reported in footnote (2) above.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The options vest in four equal installments on December 31, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David Sirois, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-05-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
