AEHAU Aesther Healthcare Acquisition Corporation

1. Description of Business and Going Concern Considerations

Description of Business

Ocean Biomedical, Inc. (“the Company”) is a biopharmaceutical company that is focused on discovering and developing therapeutic products in oncology, fibrosis, and infectious diseases.

Restatement of previously issued consolidated financial statements

Prior to filing its financial statements for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, presented in this Report, the Company reviewed its prior interpretation of the accounting guidance applicable to certain elements of the OTC Equity Prepaid Forward Transaction (the “Backstop Agreement”) and determined the prepayment amount of $51,606,389 (the “Prepayment”), previously recorded as a derivative asset on the condensed consolidated balance sheet, should be reclassified to the stockholders’ deficit section, and the remaining liability balance associated with the Backstop Agreement, including the Backstop Put Option Liability and the Fixed Maturity Consideration (both as defined in Note 2, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, should be reflected as noncurrent in the condensed consolidated balance sheet.

Business Combination

On February 14, 2023, Aesther Healthcare Acquisition Corp. (“AHAC”) completed the acquisition of Ocean Biomedical Holdings, Inc. (“Legacy Ocean”) pursuant to the definitive agreement dated August 31, 2022, and as amended on December 5, 2022 (the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among, AHAC, AHAC Merger Sub Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of AHAC, Aesther Healthcare Sponsor, LLC, Legacy Ocean, and Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria (the “Closing”). Upon Closing, AHAC Merger Sub Inc. merged with and into Legacy Ocean, with Legacy Ocean surviving the merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of AHAC. AHAC changed its name from “Aesther Healthcare Acquisition Corp.” to “Ocean Biomedical, Inc.” and is referred to herein as “the Company.” Unless context otherwise requires, reference to “AHAC” refers to the Company prior to Closing.

Under the Business Combination Agreement, the Company acquired all outstanding capital stock of Legacy Ocean for approximately $240,000,000, in aggregate consideration before transaction and other fees, which Legacy Ocean stockholders received in the form of shares of common stock of the Company (the consummation of the business combination and other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, collectively, the “Business Combination”).

The Business Combination was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization with Legacy Ocean as the accounting acquirer and AHAC as the acquired company for accounting purposes. Accordingly, all historical financial information presented in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements represents Legacy Ocean and its wholly-owned subsidiaries as Legacy Ocean is the predecessor to the Company. The wholly-owned subsidiaries include: (i) Ocean ChitofibroRx Inc., (ii) Ocean ChitoRx Inc., (iii) Ocean Sihoma Inc., and (iv) Ocean Promise, Inc.

The Company’s common stock and warrants commenced trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC under the symbols “OCEA” and “OCEAW,” respectively, on February 15, 2023. Refer to Note 3, Business Combination and Backstop Agreement, for additional details.

Going Concern Considerations

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP applicable to a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business.

The Company had no cash inflows from operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. As of September 30, 2023, the Company had cash of $31,008, restricted cash of $1,000,000, and a working capital deficiency of $29.8 million. The Company’s current operating plan indicates it will incur losses from operations and generate negative cash flows from operating activities, given anticipated expenditures related to research and development activities and its lack of revenue generating ability at this point in the Company’s lifecycle. These events and conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date the financial statements are issued.

The Company will need to raise additional funds in order to advance its research and development programs, operate its business, and meet its current and future obligations as they come due. Based on the Company’s current operational plans and assumptions, which may not be realized, the Company expects to use the net proceeds from the Backstop Agreement (as defined in Note 3, Business Combination and Backstop Agreement) and future debt and equity financings, including possibly under the Common Stock Purchase Agreement (as defined in Note 3, Business Combination and Backstop Agreement) and the SPA entered into in May 2023 (as defined in Note 7, Senior Secured Convertible Notes) as well as further deferrals of certain of its accrued expenses and contingency payments due upon the closing of future financings to fund operations. However, the Company’s ability to utilize certain of its in-place financing arrangements, such as the Backstop Agreement, or execute on new sources of liquidity are dependent on various factors outside of the Company’s control, including market conditions and the performance of the Company’s common stock.

There is no assurance that the Company will be successful in obtaining additional financing on terms acceptable to the Company, if at all, and the Company may not be able to enter into collaborations or other arrangements. If the Company is unable to obtain funding, the Company could be forced to delay, reduce, or eliminate its research and development programs, which could adversely affect its business prospects and its ability to continue operations.

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

Impacts of Market Conditions on Our Business

Disruption of global financial markets and a recession or market correction, including certain ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the related sanctions imposed against Russia, the effects of Hamas’ attack of Israel and the ensuing war, and other global macroeconomic factors such as inflation and rising interest rates, could reduce the Company’s ability to access capital, which could in the future negatively affect the Company’s liquidity and could materially affect the Company’s business and the value of its common stock.

2. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

3. Business Combination and Backstop Agreement

Business Combination

On February 14, 2023, the Company consummated its Business Combination pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement.

Upon consummation of the Business Combination and other transactions (or immediately prior to, where indicated), the following occurred:

Earnout Shares

In addition, pursuant to Business Combination Agreement, Legacy Ocean’s stockholders prior to the Closing (the “Legacy Ocean Stockholders”) are entitled to receive from the Company, in the aggregate, up to an additional 19,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Earnout Shares”) as follows: (a) in the event that the volume-weighted average price (the “VWAP”) of the Company’s common stock exceeds $15.00 per share for twenty (20) out of any thirty (30) consecutive trading days beginning on the Closing date until the 36-month anniversary of the Closing, the Legacy Ocean Stockholders shall be entitled to receive an additional 5,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, (b) in the event that the VWAP of the Company’s common stock exceeds $17.50 per share for twenty (20) out of any thirty (30) consecutive trading days beginning on the Closing date until the 36-month anniversary of the Closing, the Legacy Ocean Stockholders shall be entitled to receive an additional 7,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock and (c) in the event that the VWAP of the Company’s common stock exceeds $20.00 per share for twenty (20) out of any thirty (30) consecutive trading days beginning on the Closing date until the 36-month anniversary of the Closing, the Legacy Ocean Stockholders shall be entitled to receive an additional 7,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. In addition, for each issuance of Earnout Shares, the Company will also issue to Sponsor an additional 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock.

The Company has concluded that the Earnout Shares represent a freestanding equity-linked financial instrument as the arrangement (i) can be indexed to the Company’s stock and (ii) meets all of the criteria for equity classification within ASC 815-40. The Company performed the two-step analysis described within ASC 815-40-15 to determine indexation and noted that while the arrangement does contain contingencies, these contingencies are based on the market for the Company’s stock and do not preclude indexation.

Upon Closing, the fair value of the Earnout Shares was accounted for as a deemed dividend as of the Closing date. Since the entries to recognize the fair value of the Earnout Shares offset within additional paid-in capital, there is no inherent impact to the condensed consolidated financial statements. Since the Earnout Shares are contingent on the Company’s stock price, there will be no impact to outstanding shares and will not represent participating securities until the time at which the contingencies have been met.

Backstop Agreement

As discussed in Note 2, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, on August 31, 2022, AHAC and Legacy Ocean entered into the Backstop Agreement with Vellar in connection with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the Backstop Agreement and its subsequent amendments, Vellar agreed to purchase up to 8,000,000 shares of AHAC’s Class A common stock in the open market in exchange for up to $80,000,000, including from other stockholders that elected to redeem in connection with the Closing and subsequently revoked their prior elections to redeem their shares, following the expiration of AHAC’s redemption offer.

On February 13, 2023, AHAC, Vellar and Legacy Ocean entered into an assignment and novation agreement with Meteora Special Opportunity Fund I, LP, Meteora Select Trading Opportunities Master, LP and Meteora Capital Partners, LP (collectively “Meteora”) (the “Meteora Agreement”), pursuant to which Vellar assigned its obligation to purchase 2,666,667 shares of the Company’s common stock under the Backstop Agreement to Meteora. In addition, on February 13, 2023, AHAC, Vellar and Legacy Ocean entered into an assignment and novation agreement with Polar Multi-Strategy Master Fund (“Polar” and, collectively with Vellar and Meteora, the “Backstop Parties”) (the “Polar Agreement”), as amended on October 2, 2023, pursuant to which Vellar assigned its obligations to 2,667,667 shares of common stock of the Company to be purchased under the Backstop Agreement to Polar.

Further, the Backstop Agreement grants the Backstop Parties the right to purchase additional shares from the Company (the “Additional Shares” and, together with the Recycled Shares (defined below), the “Backstop Shares”) up to an amount equal to the difference between the number of Recycled Shares and the maximum number of shares of 8,000,000.

As further discussed in Note 2, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, the Company agreed to purchase the unsold portion of the Backstop Shares from the Backstop Parties on a forward basis upon the Maturity Date. The purchase price payable by the Company includes a Prepayment from the proceeds released from the trust account related to those shares. Upon the Maturity Date, the Company is obligated to pay the Backstop Parties an amount equal to the product of (i) the maximum number of shares of 8,000,000 less the number of Terminated Shares by (ii) $2.50, defined as the Maturity Consideration in the Backstop Agreement. The Company can pay the Maturity Consideration in cash or shares of the Company’s common stock if certain conditions are met.

On February 14, 2023, (i) pursuant to the Backstop Agreement, the Backstop Parties purchased 3,535,466 shares of AHAC’s Class A common stock for $10.56 per share (the “Recycled Shares”) and (ii) pursuant to Polar’s exercise of its right to purchase Additional Shares, AHAC, Legacy Ocean and Polar entered into a subscription agreement pursuant to which Polar purchased 1,350,000 newly issued shares of the Company’s common stock at a per share purchase price of approximately $10.56 (the “Polar Subscription”). Under the Backstop Agreement, the Additional Shares are subject to the same terms as the Recycled Shares, including with regard to repayment and repurchase.

Subsequent to Closing, the Prepayment amount was equal to $51,606,389, consisting of $37,345,985 for the Recycled Shares and $14,260,404 for the Polar Subscription shares. As the $14,260,404 was a netted transaction between the Company and Polar, only $37,345,985 was paid out of the funds the Company received from AHAC’s trust account. This net impact from the payment outflow to Backstop Parties for the Backstop Agreement of $51,606,389 and the proceeds inflow from the issuance of common stock pursuant to the Backstop Agreement and Polar Subscription of $14,260,404 are reported in the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of cash flows. The Prepayment amount was accounted for as a reduction to equity to reflect the substance of the overall arrangement as a net purchase of the Backstop Shares.

The Backstop Agreement consists of two financial instruments that are accounted for as follows:

The Prepayment is accounted for as a reduction to equity to reflect the substance of the overall arrangement as a net purchase of the Backstop Shares and sales of shares to the Backstop Parties.

At any time prior to the Maturity Date, and in accordance with the terms of the Backstop Agreement, the Backstop Parties may elect an Optional Early Termination to sell some or all of the Backstop Shares. If the Backstop Parties sell any shares prior to the Maturity Date, the pro-rata portion of the Prepayment amount is due back to the Company. As of September 30, 2023, the Backstop Parties have sold 143,261 Backstop Shares, for which the Company has received net proceeds of $1,443,854, after paying related fees to the Backstop Parties. Depending on the manner in which the Backstop Agreement is settled, the Company may never have access to the full Prepayment.

On May 23, 2023 the Company received an Equity Prepaid Forward Transaction - Valuation Date Notice (“Notice”) from Vellar stating that due to the Company’s alleged failure to timely register the shares held by Vellar, Vellar had the right to terminate the Backstop Agreement as to their portion of the shares and Vellar claimed that it is entitled to receive Maturity Consideration (as defined in the Backstop Agreement) equal to $6,667,667, which at the Company’s discretion may be paid in cash or by offset to the shares currently held by Vellar. Management takes issue with multiple aspects of the Notice including, but not limited to, Vellar’s right to terminate their portion of the Backstop Agreement and their asserted Maturity Consideration calculation. As such, the Company is consulting with advisors and other parties and is considering the potential resources and remedies it may elect to pursue and intends to assert its rights should this matter not be resolved. After a review of all applicable documents related to the Backstop Agreement, the Company believes its position with respect to the terms of the Backstop Agreement and intent of the parties is supported by the Backstop Agreement and facts and circumstances under which it was entered into. Further, given the early stage of this matter and the uncertainty inherent in litigation and investigations, the Company does not currently believe it is (i) probable to incur losses or (ii) possible to develop estimates of reasonably possible losses (or a range of possible losses) for this matter.

Common Stock Purchase Agreement

The Company is subject to the terms and conditions of (i) a common stock purchase agreement, dated September 7, 2022, and as amended on October 4, 2023 (the “Common Stock Purchase Agreement”) and (ii) a registration rights agreement, dated September 7, 2022 (the “White Lion Registration Rights Agreement”), that AHAC entered into with White Lion Capital LLC (“White Lion”). Pursuant to the Common Stock Purchase Agreement, the Company has the right from time to time at its option to sell to White Lion up to $75,000,000 in aggregate gross purchase price of newly issued shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Equity Line Shares”), subject to certain limitations and conditions set forth in the Common Stock Purchase Agreement. These limitations stipulate, among other things, that the Company may not sell, and White Lion may not purchase, shares of the Company common stock that would result in White Lion owning more than 9.99% of the outstanding common stock of the Company. The Common Stock Purchase Agreement expires after two years.

In accordance with ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, the Company has determined that the right to sell additional shares represents a freestanding put option, and as such, the financial instrument was classified as a derivative asset with a nominal fair value.

In consideration for the commitments of White Lion to purchase Equity Line Shares, the Common Stock Purchase Agreement included 75,000 initial commitment shares to White Lion, which had a fair value of $493,500 upon issuance. The $493,500 in commitment costs was recorded in other income/(expense) in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Sponsor Promissory Notes

Upon consummation of the Business Combination, the Company assumed two of AHAC’s loans, totaling $2,100,000, one of which accrued interest at 8% per annum and the other accrued interest at 15% per annum. Both loans were due within five days of Closing. $500,000 was paid down at Closing, with the remaining paid down in May 2023 via the proceeds received from the initial Note under the Ayrton Convertible Note Financing. Refer to Note 7, Senior Secured Convertible Notes, for further detail on the Notes.

In connection with the assumption of AHAC’s loans and pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement described above, the Company issued 1,365,000 shares of its common stock to the Sponsor as consideration for providing the loans to the Company (the “Sponsor Extension Shares”). In addition, pursuant to the terms of an amendment entered into prior to the paydown of the loans, the Company issued a total of 200,000 shares of its common stock in exchange for extensions of the maturity date.

The Company recognized a loss on extinguishment of debt of $224,000 and $1,208,000 in its condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, for the 200,000 shares issued in exchange for extensions of the maturity date, based on the grant date fair value of the shares issued. In addition, the Company recognized a loss on extinguishment of debt of $13,595,400 in its condensed consolidated statements of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 for the issuance of the Sponsor Extension Shares, based on the grant date fair value. Further, the Company recorded interest expense of $0 and $36,852 in its condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively.

Deferred Underwriting Commissions

At Closing, the underwriters for AHAC’s initial public offering (“IPO”) agreed to defer payment of $3,150,000 of deferred underwriting discounts otherwise due to them until November 14, 2023, pursuant to the terms of a promissory note. The deferred amounts bear interest at 9% per annum and 24% per annum following an event of default under the promissory note. The Company has a right to pay up to fifty percent (50%) of the principal and interest due on this promissory note using the common stock of the Company at a price per share of $10.56. The remaining fifty percent (50%) of the principal and interest due on this promissory note must be paid in cash. The amount is recorded as a short-term loan in the condensed consolidated financial statements. The Company recorded $72,450 and $180,338 of interest expense on the outstanding balance in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023.

4. Fair Value Measurements

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, there were no transfers between Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3.

Valuation of Backstop Put Option Liability and Fixed Maturity Consideration

The Company utilized a Monte-Carlo simulation to value the Backstop Put Option Liability and Fixed Maturity Consideration. The key inputs and assumptions used in the Monte-Carlo Simulation, including volatility, expected term, expected future stock price, and various simulated paths, were utilized to estimate the fair value of the associated derivative liabilities. The value of the Backstop Put Option Liability and Fixed Maturity were calculated as the average present value over 50,000 simulated paths. The Company measures the fair value at each reporting period, with subsequent fair values to be recorded within other income/(expense) in its condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Valuation of the 2023 Convertible Note and SPA Warrant

The Company utilized a Monte-Carlo simulation at inception to value the 2023 Convertible Note and SPA Warrant. The Monte-Carlo simulation is calculated as the average present value over all simulated paths. The key inputs and assumptions used in the Monte-Carlo Simulation, including volatility, estimated market yield, risk-free rate, the probability of various scenarios, including subsequent placement and change in control, and various simulated paths, were utilized to estimate the fair value of the associated liabilities. The value of the 2023 Convertible Note and SPA Warrant was calculated as the average present value over 50,000 simulated paths. The Company will continue to measure the fair value at each reporting period, with subsequent fair values to be recorded within other income/(expense) in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Valuation of the Ayrton Note Purchase Option

The Company utilized the Black-Scholes Merton model to value the Ayrton Note Purchase Option. The key inputs and assumptions used in the Black-Scholes Merton model, including volatility and risk-free rate, were utilized to estimate the fair value of the associated liability. The Company will continue to measure the fair value at each reporting period, with subsequent fair values to be recorded within other income/(expense) in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations.

5. Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses

6. Loan Agreements

EF Hutton Note

On February 14, 2023, Aesther Healthcare Acquisition Corp. (predecessor to the Ocean Biomedical, Inc. (collectively, the “Company”) executed and delivered a $3.15 million principal amount promissory note (“Note”) to Benchmark Investments LLC (former name of EF Hutton LLC, “EFH”). The terms of the Note call for a 9% annual interest rate, with a 24% default interest rate. The Note matured on November 14, 2023 (with interest payable since that date at 24% per annum). Under the Note, the Company is required to pay EFH 50% of the principal amount and interest thereon in cash, and has the right to convert up to 50% of the principal amount and interest due thereon into Company common stock at a per share conversion price of $10.56 (the “Convertible Portion”).

The issue at hand is how to account for the Convertible Portion. Historically, the Company has recorded the entire amount as a debt instrument for $3.15M. This was accounted for as debt as a result of an analysis of the applicable accounting guidance. Under ASU2020-06, convertible debt shall be accounted for as debt unless either the convertible instrument contains features which require bifurcation as a derivative under ASC 815 or the instrument was issued at a substantial premium. The Note does not contain features which require bifurcation as a derivative under ASC 815.

On March 4, 2024, the Company converted the Convertible Portion into 169,582 restricted shares of its common stock.

Short-term Loan Agreements

Second Street Capital Loans

Second Street Loan

In February 2022, the Company entered into a loan agreement (the “Second Street Loan”) with Second Street Capital, pursuant to which the Company borrowed $600,000. The Second Street Loan accrues interest at the rate of 15% per annum, with principal and interest due at maturity. In connection with the loan, the Company issued a warrant to purchase 312,500 shares of the Company’s common stock, with an exercise price of $11.00 per share, exercisable until February 22, 2026. For a period of 180 days from the closing of the Company’s next financing, Second Street Capital has the right to put the warrants to the Company in exchange for a payment of $250,000. The accounting treatment for the warrants is discussed within Note 10, Warrants.

Second Street Loan 2

In April 2022, the Company entered into a second loan agreement with Second Street Capital (the “Second Street Loan 2”) to borrow $200,000, which was later amended in January 2023 to borrow an additional $200,000. The Second Street Loan 2 accrues interest at the rate of 15% per annum, with principal and interest due at maturity. In connection with this loan, the Company issued a warrant to purchase 62,500 shares of the Company’s common stock, with an exercise price of $11.00 per share, exercisable until February 22, 2026. There is no put option associated with this loan. The accounting treatment for the warrants is discussed within Note 10, Warrants.

March Second Street Loan

In March 2023, the Company entered into a new loan agreement with Second Street Capital (the “March Second Street Loan” and together with the Second Street Loan and Second Street Loan 2, the “Second Street Loans”) pursuant to which the Company could borrow up to $1,000,000 to pay certain accrued expenses. Of this amount, the Company borrowed $700,000. The loan bears interest at 15% per annum. The Company issued a warrant to Second Street Capital for 200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, exercisable for five years at an exercise price of $10.34 and will pay up to $150,000 in loan fees at maturity. Since the Company only advanced $700,000, the loan fee of $105,000 is due at maturity. The accounting treatment for the warrants is discussed within Note 10, Warrants.

Second Street Capital Loan Amendments

In connection with amendments to the Second Street Loans, an additional 225,000 and 75,000 warrants to purchase the Company’s common stock were issued in 2023 and 2022, respectively. The terms of the warrants and respective accounting treatments are summarized in Note 10, Warrants.

The most recent amendment, effective as of May 2023, included the following terms:

Second Street Capital Loans – Interest Expense

During the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company recognized $106,383 and $61,210 of interest expense on the Second Street Loans, respectively, including $41,216 and $25,556, respectively, related to the amortization of debt issuance costs. During the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company recognized $592,000 and $126,164 of interest expense on the Second Street Loans, respectively, including $425,000 and $54,167, respectively, related to the amortization of debt issuance costs.

McKra Investments III Loan

In March 2023, the Company entered into a Loan Agreement with McKra Investments III (“McKra”) pursuant to which the Company borrowed $1,000,000, which bears interest at 15% per annum (the “McKra Loan”). The Company is required to pay a $150,000 loan and convenience fee due upon repayment of the loan. The Company issued a warrant to purchase 200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, with an exercise price of $10.34 per share, exercisable until March 27, 2028. The accounting treatment for the warrants is discussed within Note 10, Warrants.

The McKra Loan was amended, effective as of May 2023, including the following terms:

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company recognized $52,072 and $252,917 of interest expense on the McKra Loan, respectively, including $13,739 and $175,000, respectively, related to the amortization of debt issuance costs.

Underwriter Promissory Note

For a discussion of an outstanding note due to the underwriters in AHAC’s IPO, see Note 3, Business Combination and Backstop Agreement.

7. Senior Secured Convertible Notes

Senior Secured Convertible Notes

In May 2023, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “SPA”) with an accredited investor (the “Investor”) for the sale of up to three Senior Secured Convertible Notes (each, a “Note” and collectively, the “Notes”), which Notes are convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock, in an aggregate principal amount of up to $27,000,000, in a private placement (the “Ayrton Convertible Note Financing”). In May 2023, the Company consummated the closing for the sale of (i) the initial note in the principal amount of $7,560,000 (the “2023 Convertible Note”) and (ii) a warrant to initially acquire up to 552,141 additional shares of the Company’s common stock with an initial exercise price of $11.50 per share of common stock, subject to adjustment, exercisable immediately and expiring five years from the date of issuance (the “SPA Warrant”). Each Note will be sold at an original issue discount of 8%. Future issuances of Notes (“Additional Closings”) are subject to satisfaction of certain conditions. At the closing of the first Additional Closing, $8,640,000 in principal amount of Notes will be issued (the “First Additional Closing Date”) and $10,800,000 in principal amount of Notes will be issued at the closing of the second Additional Closing. So long as any Notes remain outstanding, the Company and each of its subsidiaries are prohibited from effecting or entering into an agreement to effect any subsequent placement involving a Variable Rate Transaction, as defined within the SPA, other than pursuant to the White Lion Common Stock Purchase Agreement.

The interest rate applicable to each Note is, as of any date of determination, the lesser of (i) 8% per annum and (ii) the greater of (x) 5% per annum and (y) the sum of (a) the “secured overnight financing rate,” which from time to time is published in the “Money Rates” column of The Wall Street Journal (Eastern Edition, New York Metro), in effect as of such date of determination and (b) 2% per annum. Each Note will mature on the first anniversary of its issuance.

All or any portion of the principal amount of each Note, plus accrued and unpaid interest is convertible at any time, in whole or in part, at the noteholder’s option, into shares of the Company’s common stock at an initial fixed conversion price of $10.34 per share, subject to certain adjustments and alternative conditions. A noteholder will not have the right to convert any portion of a Note, to the extent that, after giving effect to such conversion, the noteholder (together with certain of its affiliates and other related parties) would beneficially own in excess of 9.99% of the shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion. Upon a change of control of the Company, noteholders may require the Company to redeem all, or any portion, of the Notes at a price stipulated by certain conditions as discussed within the SPA.

The Notes provide for certain events of default, including, among other things, any breach of the covenants described in the SPA and any failure of Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria to be the chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors. In connection with an event of default, the noteholders may require the Company to redeem all or any portion of the Notes, at a premium set forth in the SPA.

The Company is subject to certain customary affirmative and negative covenants regarding the rank of the Notes, the incurrence of indebtedness, the existence of liens, the repayment of indebtedness and the making of investments, the payment of cash in respect of dividends, distributions or redemptions, the transfer of assets, the maturity of other indebtedness, and transactions with affiliates, among other customary matters. The Company is also subject to financial covenants requiring that (i) the amount of the Company’s available cash equals or exceeds $3,000,000 at the time of each Additional Closing; (ii) the ratio of (a) the outstanding principal amount of the Notes, accrued and unpaid interest thereon, and accrued and unpaid late charges to (b) the Company’s average market capitalization over the prior ten trading days, not exceeding 35%; and (iii) at any time any Notes remain outstanding, with respect to any given calendar month (each, a “Current Calendar Month”) (x) the available cash on the last calendar day in such Current Calendar Month shall be greater than or equal to the available cash on the last calendar day of the month prior to such Current Calendar Month less $1,500,000.

The Company has elected to account for the Notes at fair value under the fair value option, under which the Notes will be initially measured at fair value and subsequently re-measured during each reporting period. Changes in fair value will be reflected within other income/(expense) in the condensed consolidated financial statements, except for the portions, if any, related to the instrument specific credit risk which would be recorded in other comprehensive income.

Further, the Company concluded that the right to acquire additional Notes is separately exercisable from the 2023 Convertible Note and the SPA Warrant. If and when the additional Notes are issued, the Company will evaluate whether to account for such additional Notes at (a) fair value under the fair value option or (b) an amortized cost.

In addition, the Company determined that the SPA Warrant was (i) freestanding from the 2023 Convertible Note and (ii) classified as a derivative liability. Accordingly, upon issuance the SPA Warrant was measured at fair value with an offset to cash proceeds from the 2023 Convertible Note, with the remainder of $626,600 recorded to other income/(expense) on the condensed consolidated statements of operations. The Company reassess the classification of the SPA Warrant at each reporting period and records any changes to fair value as necessary. To date, there have been no changes to the classification of the SPA Warrant.

In addition to the liabilities recorded for the 2023 Convertible Note and the SPA Warrant, the Company also recorded a liability for the Ayrton Note Purchase Option, which gives the Investor, at its option through 2025, the right to purchase from the Company additional Notes (up to the sum of the aggregate principal amount) at one or more Additional Closings. The initial recognition of this liability was measured at fair value utilizing the Black-Scholes Merton model and the fair value of $461,000 was recorded to other income/(expense) on the condensed consolidated statements of operations. The liability is recorded within current liabilities on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2023. The liability is remeasured at each reporting period and the Company records any changes to fair value as necessary.

The Company issued 24,477 shares of its common stock to the Investor during the third quarter of 2023 as interest payments. A total of $109,816 was recorded to other income/(expense) for the shares issued based on the grant date fair values.

8. Commitments and Contingencies

Litigation

Heller v. Ocean Biomedical, Inc. et al., Case No. 1:23cv212. On May 23, 2023, Jonathan Heller (“Heller”) filed a civil action against the Company, Poseidon Bio LLC, Chirinjeev Kathuria and Elizabeth Ng (collectively, the “Defendants”) in the District Court of Rhode Island. Heller has asserted claims alleging that he is entitled to earned salary and various other payments following his resignation from the Company. On July 27, 2023, Defendants filed their Answer and Affirmative Defenses. Defendants intend to vigorously defend against Heller’s claims. Given the early stage of this matter and the uncertainty inherent in litigation and investigations, the Company does not currently believe it is (i) probable to incur losses or (ii) possible to develop estimates of reasonably possible losses (or a range of possible losses) for this matter.

License Fees

The Company entered into license agreements with its academic research institution partners. Under these license agreements, the Company is required to make annual fixed license maintenance fee payments. The Company is also required to make payments upon successful completion and achievement of certain milestones as well as royalty payments upon sales of products covered by such licenses. The payment obligations under the license and collaboration agreements are contingent upon future events such as achievement of specified development, clinical, regulatory, and commercial milestones. As the timing of these future milestone payments are not known, the Company has not included these fees in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.

For further discussion on license fees recorded during the period, refer to Note 12, License and Manufacturing Agreements.

Contingent Compensation and Other Contingent Payments

The Company currently has approximately $14,590,121 in contingently issuable payments that are triggered upon its first cumulative capital raise of at least $50,000,000 and consists of $12,403,625 of contingent compensation and bonuses to certain members of senior management, $2,050,000 of contingent vendor payments, and $136,496 of related party expense.