Company: OCEA
Filing Date: 2025-02-14
Form Type: PRE 14A
Source: 0001493152-25-006994
Chunk: 50

Company: Ocean Biomedical, Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-02-14
Form: PRE 14A
Chunk 50
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oitte LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, and has further directed that management submit the selection of the independent registered public accounting firms for ratification by our stockholders at the Annual Meeting. Services provided to us and our subsidiaries by Berkowitz Pollock Brant, CPAs for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 are described below and within the section of this Proxy Statement titled “ Audit Committee Report.”

Neither our governing documents nor applicable law require stockholder ratification of the selection of Berkowitz Pollock Brant, CPAsas our independent registered public accounting firm. However, our Board is submitting the selection of Berkowitz Pollock Brant, CPAs to our stockholders for ratification as a matter of good corporate practice. If our stockholders fail to ratify the selection, our Audit Committee will reconsider whether to continue retaining Marcum LLP. Even if the selection is ratified, our Audit Committee, in its discretion, may direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time if it determines that such a change would be in our and our stockholders’ best interests.

Berkowitz Pollock Brant, CPAs has audited our financial statements since 2021. Representatives of Berkowitz Pollock Brant, CPAs are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting. They will have an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Auditor Fees and Services

The following table summarizes the aggregate fees for professional audit services and other services rendered by Berkowitz Pollock Brant, CPAs for the year ended December 31, 2024 and Deloitte LLP for the year ended December 31, 2023:

|                    | Category of Fees | Year Ended December 31, |    2024 |     |     |      2023 |
|:-------------------|:-----------------|:------------------------|--------:|:----|:----|----------:|
| Audit Fees         |                  |                         | 140,000 |     |     | 1,800,000 |
| Audit-Related Fees |                  |                         |         |     |     |           |
| Tax Fees           |                  |                         |         |     |     |           |
| All Other Fees     |                  |                         |         |     |     |           |
| Total:             |                  |                         | 140,000 |     |