Company: OCEA
Filing Date: 2025-02-14
Form Type: PRE 14A
Source: 0001493152-25-006994
Chunk: 52

Company: Ocean Biomedical, Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-02-14
Form: PRE 14A
Chunk 52
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 the independence requirements applicable to Audit Committee members under applicable SEC rules. In addition, our Board has determined that the Chair of our Audit Committee qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” under applicable SEC rules.

Management is responsible for the preparation of our financial statements and financial reporting process, including our system of internal controls. Berkowitz Pollack Grant, CPAs, our independent registered public accounting firm, is responsible for performing an independent audit of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (the “PCAOB”), and expressing an opinion on whether our consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, our financial position and results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented in conformity with US generally accepted accounting principles. Our Audit Committee’s responsibility is to monitor and oversee these processes.

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In connection with these responsibilities, our Audit Committee will meet with management and Berkowitz Pollock Brant, CPAs to review and discuss the December 31, 2024 audited consolidated financial statements and obtained from management their representation that our financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (and did so with Deloitte, LLP with respect to our December 31, 2023 audited consolidated financial statements).

With regard to our 2023 annual financial statements, our Audit Committee also discussed with Deloitte LLP the matters required by Auditing Standard No. 1301, “Communications with Audit Committees” of the PCAOB, which includes, among other items, information regarding the conduct of the integrated audit of our audited consolidated financial statements. Our Audit Committee has received the written communications from Deloitte, LLP required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding Deloitte, LLP communication with our Audit Committee concerning independence and has discussed with Deloitte, LLP its independence.

Our Audit Committee operates under a written charter, which was adopted by our Board and is assessed annually for adequacy by our Audi Committee. Our Audit Committee held four meetings during year ended December 31, 2024, including meetings with Deloitte LLP and Berkowitz Pollock Brant CPAs, and with and without management present. In performing its functions, our Audit Committee acts only in an oversight capacity. It is not the responsibility of our Audit Committee to determine that our financial statements are complete and accurate, are presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles or present fairly our results of operations for the periods presented, or that we maintain appropriate internal controls