Company: WHWK
Filing Date: 2025-04-28
Form Type: DEF 14A
Source: 0001628280-25-020311
Chunk: 20

Company: Whitehawk Therapeutics, Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-04-28
Form: DEF 14A
Chunk 20
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 of interest; and

• practical and mature business judgment.

Our Board evaluates each individual in the context of the Board as a whole, with the objective of assembling a group that can best maximize the success of the business and represent stockholder interests through the exercise of sound judgment using its diversity of experience in these various areas.

Director Independence

We are required under Nasdaq listing rules to maintain a board comprised of a majority of independent directors as determined affirmatively by our Board. Under Nasdaq listing rules, a director will only qualify as an independent director if, in the opinion of that listed company’s board of directors, the director does not have a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. In addition, the Nasdaq listing rules require that, subject to specified exceptions, each member of our audit, compensation and nominating and governance committees be independent.

Audit committee members must also satisfy the additional independence criteria set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and Nasdaq listing rules applicable to audit committee members. Compensation committee members must also satisfy the additional independence criteria set forth in Rule 10C-1 under the Exchange Act and Nasdaq listing rules applicable to compensation committee members.

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Our Board has undertaken a review of the independence of each of our directors. Based on information provided by each director concerning his or her background, employment and affiliations, our Board has determined that Dr. Castelein, Dr. Aghazadeh, Dr. Dalal, Dr. Hehenberger, Dr. Hirmand, Mr. Maroun, Ms. Reeve and Dr. Zhao, representing eight of our ten directors, do not have a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director and that each of these directors is an “independent director” as defined under the listing standards of Nasdaq. Dr. Lennon and Dr. Desai are not considered independent directors because Dr. Lennon is a current executive officer of our company and Dr. Desai was employed by the company within the last three years.

There are no family relationships among any of our directors, director nominees or executive officers.

Stockholder Recommendations

Stockholders may submit recommendations for director candidates to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee by sending the individual's name and qualifications in writing to our Secretary at Whitehawk Therapeutics, Inc., 2 Headquarters Plaza, East Building