<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000921895-21-001648.txt : 20210615
<SEC-HEADER>0000921895-21-001648.hdr.sgml : 20210615
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20210615181957
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000921895-21-001648
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20210611
FILED AS OF DATE:		20210615
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20210615

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Olson Kenneth Fletcher
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001793360

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33957
		FILM NUMBER:		211019985

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O HARVARD BIOSCIENCE, INC.
		STREET 2:		84 OCTOBER HILL ROAD #10
		CITY:			HOLLISTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01746

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>form412799ols_06152021.xml
<DESCRIPTION>OWNERSHIP DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2021-06-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001793360</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Olson Kenneth Fletcher</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Operating Officer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-06-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>18378</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>169773</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-06-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6480</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.64</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>163293</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On June 11, 2020, the Reporting Person was granted an award of 36,756 restricted stock units with performance based vesting conditions, which vest in equal installments on June 11, 2021, 2022 and 2023, and are linked to the achievement of a relative total shareholder return of the Issuer's common stock from June 11, 2020 to the earlier of (i) June 11, 2021 or (ii) upon a change of control (measured relative to the Nasdaq Biotechnology index). The target number of the restricted stock units that may be earned was reported on the date of grant; the maximum amount is 150% of the number then reported. As a result of the Issuer's performance based on such performance targets, the Reporting Person earned 150% of the target amount, subject to continuation of employment through the remaining vesting dates. Accordingly, the reported transaction reflects the acquisition of 18,378 additional performance restricted stock units earned above the target grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes (a) 36,756 remaining restricted stock units that will vest on June 11, 2022 and 2023, (b) 32,805 restricted stock units that will vest in three equal installments on December 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, (c) 31,453 restricted stock units with performance based vesting conditions, (d) 27,567 remaining restricted stock units that will vest on December 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, (e) 10,057 remaining restricted stock units that will vest on November 1, 2021 and 2022, and (f) 31,135 shares of common stock beneficially owned by the Reporting Person (which includes 3,644 shares acquired under the Issuer's Employee Stock Purchase Plan).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The shares were disposed of to satisfy the Reporting Person's tax withholding obligation in connection with the performance restricted stock unit award previously granted to the Reporting Person that vested in part on June 11, 2021.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Includes (a) the shares and awards described in footnote (2) above, less (b) the disposition of shares reported in footnote (3) above.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David Sirois, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-06-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
