NanoString Technologies, Inc. Warrant to Purchase Common Stock

THIS WARRANT AND THE UNDERLYING SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED EXCEPT AS PERMITTED UNDER THE ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM. THE ISSUER OF THESE SECURITIES MAY REQUIRE AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER THAT SUCH OFFER, SALE, TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR HYPOTHECATION OTHERWISE COMPLIES WITH THE ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.

Warrant No.: 2017-1

Date of Issuance: August 4, 2017 ("Issuance Date")

NanoString Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby certifies that, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Lam Research Corporation, the registered holder hereof or its permitted assigns (the "Holder"), is entitled, subject to the terms set forth below, to purchase from the Company, at the Exercise Price (as defined below) then in effect, upon surrender of this Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (including any Warrants to Purchase Common Stock issued in exchange, transfer or replacement hereof, the "Warrant"), at any time or times on or after the Issuance Date (the "Exercisability Date"), but not after 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the Expiration Date (as defined below), a number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock (the "Warrant Shares") equal to (a) the product of (i) one million (1,000,000) and (ii)(A) and amount equal to the Actual Development Expenses paid to the Company pursuant to the Collaboration Agreement as determined in in accordance with Section 4.2.2 thereof divided by (B) fifty million (50,000,000) less (b) the aggregate number of shares delivered in connection with the exercise(s) hereof (including for purpose of this calculation the number of Warrant Shares withheld in connection with Cashless Exercise(s)), with any fractional share being rounded down to the nearest whole share. For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood and agreed that under no circumstances shall the Company be required to issue greater than one million (1,000,000) Warrant Shares (subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms herein). Except as otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms in this Warrant shall have the meanings set forth in Section 14 of this Warrant. This Warrant is the Warrant to Purchase Common Stock issued pursuant to that certain Collaboration Agreement, dated as of August 4, 2017 (the "Subscription Date"), by and among the Company and the Holder (the "Collaboration Agreement").

1.Exercise of Warrant.

(a)Mechanics of Exercise. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, this Warrant may be exercised by the Holder on any day on or after the Exercisability Date, in whole or in part (subject to adjustment in accordance herewith)), by (i) delivery of a written notice, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Exercise Notice"), of the Holder's election to exercise this Warrant and (ii)(A) payment to the Company of an amount equal to the applicable Exercise Price multiplied by the number of Warrant Shares as to which this Warrant is being exercised (the "Aggregate Exercise Price") in cash or by wire transfer of immediately available funds, or (B)  by notifying the Company that this Warrant is being exercised pursuant to a Cashless Exercise (as defined in Section 1(c)). Execution and delivery of the Exercise Notice with respect to less than all of the Warrant Shares shall have the same effect as cancellation of the original Warrant and issuance of a new Warrant evidencing the right to purchase the remaining number of Warrant Shares. On or before the second (2^nd) Business Day following the date on which the Company has received the Exercise Notice (or notice of a Cashless Exercise) (the "Exercise Delivery Documents"), the Company shall transmit by facsimile an acknowledgment of confirmation of receipt of the Exercise Delivery Documents to the Holder and the Company's transfer agent (the "Transfer Agent"). On or before the third (3rd) Business Day following the date on which the Company has received all of the Exercise Delivery Documents, but subject to the prior receipt by the Company of the Aggregate Exercise Price (the "Share Delivery Date"), the Company shall (X) provided that the Transfer Agent is participating in The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, upon the request of the Holder, credit such aggregate number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise to the Holder's or its designee's balance account with DTC through its Direct Registration System, or if the Warrant Shares will not bear a restrictive legend contemplated by Section 13(b) hereof, the Deposit Withdrawal Agent Commission system, or (Y) if the Transfer Agent is not participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, issue and dispatch by overnight courier to the address as specified in the Exercise Notice, a certificate, registered in the

Company's share register in the name of the Holder or its designee, for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise. The Holder acknowledges and agrees that to the extent it elects to exercise this Warrant other than pursuant to a Cashless Exercise, the certificate or book entry evidencing such Warrant Shares delivered upon such exercise will be bear the restrictive legend contemplated by Section 13(b) and be subject to restrictions on resale under applicable securities law. Upon delivery of the Exercise Delivery Documents and, if applicable, the Aggregate Exercise Price, the Holder shall be deemed for all corporate purposes to have become the holder of record of the Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant has been exercised, irrespective of the date such Warrant Shares are credited to the Holder's DTC account or the date of delivery of the certificates evidencing such Warrant Shares, as the case may be. If this Warrant is submitted in connection with any exercise pursuant to this Section 1(a) and the number of Warrant Shares represented by this Warrant submitted for exercise is greater than the number of Warrant Shares being acquired upon an exercise, then the Company shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than five (5) Business Days after any exercise and at its own expense, issue a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 6(d) ) representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares purchasable immediately prior to such exercise under this Warrant, less the number of Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant is exercised. No fractional shares of Common Stock are to be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant, but rather the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number. The Company shall pay any and all taxes which may be payable with respect to the issuance and delivery of Warrant Shares upon exercise of this Warrant; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax that may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the registration of Warrants or Warrant Shares in a name other than that of the Holder. It is understood and agreed by the Holder that Holder shall be responsible for all other tax liabilities that may arise as a result of holding or transferring this Warrant or receiving Warrant Shares upon exercise thereof.

(b)Exercise Price. For purposes of this Warrant, "Exercise Price" means $16.75 subject to adjustment as provided herein.

(c)Cashless Exercise. The Holder may, in its sole discretion, exercise this Warrant in whole or in part and, in lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to the Company upon such exercise in payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price, elect instead to receive upon such exercise the "Net Number" of shares of Common Stock determined according to the following formula (a "Cashless Exercise"):

Net Number = (A x B) - (A x C)

B

For purposes of the foregoing formula:

If on the Expiration Date the Net Number exceeds zero, this Warrant shall be deemed to be automatically exercised via a Cashless Exercise pursuant to this Section 1(c).

(d)Rule 144. For purposes of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), as in effect on the date hereof, it is intended that the Warrant Shares issued in a Cashless Exercise shall be deemed to have been acquired by the Holder, and the holding period for the Warrant Shares shall be deemed to have commenced, on the date this Warrant was originally issued.

(e)Disputes. In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Exercise Price or the arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares, the Company shall promptly issue to the Holder the number of Warrant Shares that are not disputed.

(f)Company’s Failure to Timely Deliver Securities. If the Company shall fail for any reason or for no reason to issue to the Holder on the Share Delivery Date in compliance with the terms of this Section 1, a certificate for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled and register such shares of Common Stock on the Company’s share register or to credit the Holder’s balance account with DTC for such number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s exercise of this Warrant, then the Holder shall be entitled, but not required, to

rescind the previously submitted Exercise Notice and the Company shall return all consideration paid by Holder for such shares upon such rescission. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to make any cash payments to the Holder in lieu of issuance of the Warrant Shares.

2.Adjustment of Exercise Price and Number of Warrant Shares. If the Company at any time on or after the Subscription Date subdivides (by any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, scheme, arrangement or otherwise) one or more classes of its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares, the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such subdivision will be proportionately reduced and the number of Warrant Shares will be proportionately increased. If the Company at any time on or after the Subscription Date combines (by any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, scheme, arrangement or otherwise) one or more classes of its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such combination will be proportionately increased and the number of Warrant Shares will be proportionately decreased. Any adjustment under this Section 2 shall become effective at the close of business on the date the subdivision or combination becomes effective.

3.Rights Upon Distribution of Assets. If the Company shall declare or make any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to all holders of shares of Common Stock for no consideration, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction (other than stock or securities in which an adjustment is being made pursuant to Section 2 hereof)) (a "Distribution"), at any time after the issuance of this Warrant, then, in each such case, the Holder shall be entitled to participate in such Distribution to the same extent that the Holder would have participated therein if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant immediately before the date on which a record is taken for such Distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the participation in such Distribution.

4.Fundamental Transactions.

(a)Purchase Rights. Except as set forth in Section 2 above, if at any time the Company grants or issues for no consideration any options, warrants, or securities (other than pursuant to any rights plan in effect from time to time) pro rata to the record holders of any class of shares of Common Stock (the "Purchase Rights"), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights.

(b)Fundamental Transactions; Parent Entities. It shall be a condition to the Company's entry into a Fundamental Transaction that, at the Holder’s election, (i) if the Successor Entity is a publicly traded corporation whose common stock is quoted on or listed for trading on an Eligible Market, the Successor Entity assumes in writing (or remains bound by) all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant, including agreements (if necessary) to deliver to each holder of Warrants in exchange for such Warrants a written instrument issued by the Successor Entity substantially similar in form and substance to this Warrant, including, without limitation, an exercise price equal to the value for the shares of Common Stock reflected by the terms of such Fundamental Transaction, and exercisable for a corresponding number of shares of capital stock equivalent to the shares of Common Stock acquirable and receivable upon exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant) prior to such Fundamental Transaction, (ii) if the Successor Entity is not a publicly traded corporation whose common stock is quoted on or listed for trading on an Eligible Market, the Successor assumes in writing (or remains bound by) all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant pursuant to written agreements, including (if necessary) agreements to deliver to each holder of Warrants in exchange for such Warrants a written instrument issued by the Successor Entity substantially similar in form and substance to this Warrant exercisable for the consideration that would have been issuable in the Fundamental Transaction in respect of the Warrant Shares had this Warrant been exercised immediately prior to the consummation of the Fundamental Transaction, or (iii) regardless of whether the Successor Entity is a publicly traded corporation whose common stock is quoted on or listed for trading on an Eligible Market, the Holder shall have the right to purchase and receive upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions herein specified, and in lieu of the Warrant Shares immediately theretofore issuable upon exercise of this Warrant, such shares of stock, securities or assets as would have been issuable or payable with respect to or in exchange for a number of Warrant Shares equal to the number of Warrant Shares immediately theretofore issuable upon exercise of this Warrant, had such Fundamental Transaction not taken place, and in any such case appropriate provision shall be made with respect to the rights and interests of the Holder to the end that the provisions hereof (including, without limitation, provision for adjustment of the Exercise Price) shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly equivalent as may be practicable in relation to any share of stock, securities or assets thereafter deliverable upon the exercise thereof, and the Successor Entity shall assume the obligation to deliver to the Holder, at the last address of the Holder appearing on the books of the Company, such shares of stock, securities or assets as, in accordance with the foregoing

provision, the Holder may be entitled to purchase, and the other obligations under this Warrant. The Company shall provide a notice to the Holder at least twenty (20) Trading Days prior to the expected closing date of such Fundamental Transaction, after which the Holder shall have ten (10) Trading Days to notify the Company of its election for treatment of the Warrant upon the closing of the Fundamental Transaction in accordance with this Section. The provisions of this Section shall apply similarly and equally to successive Fundamental Transactions and shall be applied without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant.

In the event that any person becomes a Parent Entity of the Company not in connection with a Fundamental Transaction, such person shall assume all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant with the same effect as if such person had been named as the Company herein.

5.Warrant Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Holder, solely in such Person's capacity as a holder of this Warrant, shall not be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of share capital of the Company for any purpose, nor shall anything contained in this Warrant be construed to confer upon the Holder, solely in such Person's capacity as the Holder of this Warrant, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote, give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether any reorganization, issue of stock, reclassification of stock, consolidation, merger, conveyance or otherwise), receive notice of meetings, receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, prior to the issuance to the Holder of the Warrant Shares which such Person is then entitled to receive upon the due exercise of this Warrant. In addition, nothing contained in this Warrant shall be construed as imposing any liabilities on the Holder to purchase any securities (upon exercise of this Warrant or otherwise) or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liabilities are asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.

6.Reissuance of Warrants.

(a)Transfer of Warrant. If this Warrant is to be transferred, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company together with such other information, documents and instruments related to such transfer that the Company shall reasonably request (including without limitation those required by the Collaboration Agreement or Section 13 hereof), whereupon the Company will forthwith issue and deliver upon the order of the Holder a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 6(d)), registered as the Holder may request, representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares being transferred by the Holder and, if less than the total number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant is being transferred, a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 6(d)) to the Holder representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares not being transferred.

(b)Lost, Stolen or Mutilated Warrant. Upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant, and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of any indemnification undertaking by the Holder to the Company in customary form and, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of this Warrant, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Holder a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 6(d)) representing the right to purchase the Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant.

(c)Exchangeable for Multiple Warrants. This Warrant is exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by the Holder at the principal office of the Company, for a new Warrant or Warrants (in accordance with Section 6(d)) representing in the aggregate the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant, and each such new Warrant will represent the right to purchase such portion of such Warrant Shares as is designated by the Holder at the time of such surrender; provided, however, that no Warrants for fractional shares of Common Stock shall be given.

(d)Issuance of New Warrants. Whenever the Company is required to issue a new Warrant pursuant to the terms of this Warrant, such new Warrant (i) shall be of like tenor with this Warrant, (ii) shall represent, as indicated on the face of such new Warrant, the right to purchase the Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant (or in the case of a new Warrant being issued pursuant to Section 6(a) or Section 6(c), the Warrant Shares designated by the Holder which, when added to the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the other new Warrants issued in connection with such issuance, does not exceed the number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant), (iii) shall have an issuance date, as indicated on the face of such new Warrant which is the same as the Issuance Date, and (iv) shall have the same rights and conditions as this Warrant.

7.Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and in English and shall be deemed given and effective if (a) delivered by hand or by overnight courier with tracking capabilities, (b) mailed postage prepaid by first class, registered, or certified mail, or (c) delivered by facsimile or electronic mail, and followed by a confirmation copy delivered via either of the methods set forth in Sections 7(a) and (b), in each case, addressed as set forth in Section 12.2 of the Collaboration Agreement. Any such notice shall be deemed given on the date received. The Company or Holder may add, delete, or change the person or address to which notices should be sent at any time upon written notice delivered to the other party’s notices in accordance with Section 12.2 of the Collaboration Agreement.

8.Transfer Agent Fees. The Company shall pay all fees of its transfer agent in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the exercise of the Warrants and the issuance of the Warrant Shares.

9.Amendment and Waiver. Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this Warrant may be amended and the Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any action herein required to be performed by it, only if the Company has obtained the prior written consent of the Holder.

10.Governing Law. This Warrant shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with, and all questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and performance of this Warrant shall be governed by, the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware.

11.Construction; Headings. This Warrant shall be deemed to be jointly drafted by the Company and the Holder and shall not be construed against any person as the drafter hereof. The headings of this Warrant are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Warrant.

12.Remedies, Other Obligations, Breaches and Injunctive Relief. The remedies provided in this Warrant shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Warrant, at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief), and nothing herein shall limit the right of the Holder to pursue actual damages for any failure by the Company to comply with the terms of this Warrant.

13.Restrictions on Transfer of the Warrant and Warrant Shares; Compliance with Securities Laws.

(a)Restrictions on Transfers. Subject to paragraph (b) of Exhibit B-1 of the Collaboration Agreement, this Warrant may not be transferred or assigned in whole or in part without the Company’s prior written consent (which consent may be withheld by the Company in its sole discretion until the third anniversary of the Issuance Date, unless the Collaboration Agreement has been terminated, in which case consent may not be unreasonably withheld by the Company, and, following the third anniversary of the Issuance Date, such consent may not be unreasonably withheld), and any attempt by Holder to transfer or assign any rights, duties or obligations that arise under the Warrant without such permission shall be void. For the avoidance of doubt, this Warrant may be transferred without the consent of the Company pursuant to the transactions described in clauses (B) and (C) of paragraph (b) of Exhibit B-2. Any transfer of this Warrant or the Warrant Shares (the “Securities”) must be in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws. The Holder agrees not to make any sale, assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition of all or any portion of the Securities, or any beneficial interest therein, unless and until the transferee thereof has agreed in writing for the benefit of the Company to take and hold such Securities subject to, and to be bound by, the terms and conditions set forth herein and in Exhibit B-1 to the Collaboration Agreement to the same extent as if the transferee were the original Holder hereunder, and

(b)there is then in effect a registration statement under the Securities Act covering such proposed disposition and such disposition is made in accordance with such registration statement, or

(c)(A) such Holder shall have given prior written notice to the Company of such Holder’s intention to make such disposition, (B) the transferee shall have confirmed to the satisfaction of the Company that the Securities are being acquired (i) solely for the transferee’s own account and not as a nominee for any other party, (ii) for investment and (iii) not with a view toward distribution or resale, and shall have confirmed such other matters related thereto as may be reasonably requested by the Company, and (C) if requested by the Company, such Holder shall have furnished the Company, at the Holder’s expense, with (i) an opinion of counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that such disposition will not require registration of such Securities under the Securities Act or (ii) a “no action” letter from the Securities and Exchange Commission to the effect that the transfer of such Securities without registration will not result in a recommendation by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission that action be taken with respect thereto, whereupon such Holder shall be entitled to transfer such Securities in accordance with the terms of the notice delivered by the Holder to the Company.

(d)Securities Law Legend. Each certificate, instrument or book entry evidencing the Securities shall (unless otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Warrant) be notated with a legend substantially similar to the following (in addition to any legend required by state securities laws):

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF CERTAIN STATES. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED EXCEPT AS PERMITTED UNDER THE ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM. THE ISSUER OF THESE SECURITIES MAY REQUIRE AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE ISSUER THAT

SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR HYPOTHECATION OTHERWISE COMPLIES WITH THE ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THIS CERTIFICATE MUST BE SURRENDERED TO THE COMPANY OR ITS TRANSFER AGENT AS A CONDITION PRECEDENT TO THE SALE, TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR HYPOTHECATION OF ANY INTEREST IN ANY OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY.

(e)Market Stand-off Legend. Unless otherwise agreed by the Company, until the third anniversary of the Subscription Date, the Warrant and Warrant Shares will be subject to restrictions set forth in paragraph (b) of Exhibit B-1 of the Collaboration Agreement. As long as the Warrant and Warrant Shares are subject to such restrictions, each certificate, instrument or book entry evidencing the Warrant Shares issued upon exercise hereof shall also be notated with a legend in substantially the following form:

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY AND RESALE, INCLUDING A LOCK-UP PERIOD, AS SET FORTH IN THE WARRANT PURSUANT TO WHICH THESE SHARES WERE ISSUED, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THE COMPANY.

(f)Instructions Regarding Transfer Restrictions. The Holder consents to the Company making a notation on its records and giving instructions to any transfer agent in order to implement the restrictions on transfer established in this Section 13.

(g)Removal of Legend. The legend referring to federal and state securities laws identified in Section 13(b) notated on any certificate or book entry evidencing the Warrant Shares and the stock transfer instructions and record notations with respect to such securities shall be removed, and the Company shall issue a certificate without such legend to the holder of such securities (to the extent the securities are certificated), if (i) such securities are registered under the Securities Act, or (ii) such holder provides the Company with an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Company to the effect that a sale or transfer of such securities may be made without registration, qualification or legend.

14.Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Warrant, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(a)"Business Day" means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed.

(b)"Closing Bid Price" and "Closing Sale Price" means, for any security as of any date, the last closing bid price and last closing trade price, respectively, for such security on the Principal Market, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if the Principal Market begins to operate on an extended hours basis and does not designate the closing bid price or the closing trade price, as the case may be, then the last bid price or the last trade price, respectively, of such security prior to 4:00:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if the Principal Market is not the principal securities exchange or trading market for such security, the last closing bid price or last trade price, respectively, of such security on the principal securities exchange or trading market where such security is listed or traded as reported by Bloomberg, or if the foregoing do not apply, the last closing bid price or last trade price, respectively, of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such security as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no closing bid price or last trade price, respectively, is reported for such security by Bloomberg, the average of the bid prices, or the ask prices, respectively, of any market makers for such security as reported in the "pink sheets" by OTC Pink Markets, Inc. (formerly the National Quotation Bureau, Inc.). If the Closing Bid Price or the Closing Sale Price cannot be calculated for a security on a particular date on any of the foregoing bases, the Closing Bid Price or the Closing Sale Price, as the case may be, of such security on such date shall be the fair market value as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company. All such determinations to be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination or other similar transaction during the applicable calculation period.

(c)"Common Stock" means (i) the Company's shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and (ii) any share capital into which such Common Stock shall have been changed or any share capital resulting from a reclassification of such Common Stock.

(d)"Eligible Market" means the Principal Market, The New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the NASDAQ Global Select Market, or The NASDAQ Capital Market.

(e)"Expiration Date" means the date seven (7) years after the Issuance Date. If such date falls on a day other than a Business Day or on which trading does not take place on the Principal Market (a "Holiday"), then the Expiration Date shall be the next date that is a Business Day and is not a Holiday.

(f)"Fundamental Transaction" means any of the following transactions that occur prior to the Expiration Date: (i) any “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, other than the Company, its direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries and the Company’s or such subsidiaries’ employee benefit plans,

files a Schedule TO or any schedule, form or report under the Exchange Act that discloses that such person or group has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of the Company’s common equity representing more than 50% of the voting power of the Company’s common equity (or the Company becomes aware that such a filing is required but has not been made); or (ii) the consummation of (A) any recapitalization, reclassification or change in Common Stock (other than changes resulting from a subdivision or combination) as a result of which the Common Stock would be converted into, or exchanged for, stock, other securities, other property or assets other than any transaction covered by clause (B) below; (B) any share exchange, consolidation or merger of the Company pursuant to which the Common Stock will be converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property or assets; (C) any sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or a series of transactions of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person other than one of the Company’s direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries; provided however, that a transaction described in clause (B) in which the holders of all classes of the Company’s common equity immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of all classes of common equity of the continuing or surviving corporation or transferee or the Parent Entity thereof immediately after such transaction in substantially the same proportions as such ownership immediately prior to such transaction shall not be a fundamental change pursuant to this clause (ii).

(g)"Parent Entity" of a Person means an entity that, directly or indirectly, controls the applicable Person and whose common stock or equivalent equity security is quoted or listed on an Eligible Market, or, if there is more than one such Person or Parent Entity, the Person or Parent Entity with the largest public market capitalization as of the date of consummation of the Fundamental Transaction.

(h)"Person" means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity and a government or any department or agency thereof.

(i)"Principal Market" means The NASDAQ Global Market.

(j)"Successor Entity" means the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) formed by, resulting from or surviving any Fundamental Transaction or the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) with which such Fundamental Transaction shall have been entered into.

(k)"Trading Day" means any day on which the Common Stock is traded on the Principal Market, or, if the Principal Market is not the principal trading market for the Common Stock, then on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which the Common Stock are then traded; provided that "Trading Day" shall not include any day on which the Common Stock are scheduled to trade on such exchange or market for less than 4.5 hours or any day that the Common Stock are suspended from trading during the final hour of trading on such exchange or market (or if such exchange or market does not designate in advance the closing time of trading on such exchange or market, then during the hour ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York time).

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to Purchase Common Stock to be duly executed as of the Issuance Date set out above.

By:     /s/ R. Bradley Gray    

Name: R. Bradley Gray

Title: President & CEO

Acknowledged and agreed

By: /s/ Gary Bultman    

Name: Gary Bultman

Title: Senior Vice President

The undersigned holder hereby exercises the right to purchase __________ of the shares of Common Stock ("Warrant Shares") of NanoString Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), evidenced by the attached Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (the "Warrant"). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Warrant.

1.Form of Exercise Price. The Holder intends that payment of the Exercise Price shall be made as:

________    a "Cash Exercise" with respect to _____________ Warrant Shares; and/or

________    a "Cashless Exercise" with respect to _____________ Warrant Shares.

2.Payment of Exercise Price. In the event that the holder has elected a Cash Exercise with respect to some or all of the Warrant Shares to be issued pursuant hereto, the holder shall pay the Aggregate Exercise Price in the sum of $_________ to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Warrant.

3.Delivery of Warrant Shares. The Company shall deliver to the Holder _____________ Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms of the Warrant.

4.     The undersigned, in [his/her] capacity as an officer of the Holder, hereby certify that (a) the representations and warranties made by Partner in paragraph (d) of Exhibit B-1 of the Collaboration Agreement are true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof as if made on such date rather than on the date of the Collaboration Agreement and (b) the Holder has performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by the Collaboration Agreement and the Warrant to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the Holder at or prior to the date hereof.

Date: ___________ __, ____

        

Name of Registered Holder

By:         

Name:

Title: