Company: HCWB
Filing Date: 2025-04-28
Form Type: DEF 14A
Source: 0000950170-25-058961
Chunk: 8

Company: HCW Biologics Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-04-28
Form: DEF 14A
Chunk 8
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 of the shares of our common stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting as of the Record Date must be present in person virtually or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting in order to hold the Annual Meeting and conduct business. This presence is called a quorum. Your shares are counted as present at the Annual Meeting if you are present and vote in person virtually at the Annual Meeting or if you have properly submitted a proxy.

Q: How are abstentions and broker non-votes treated?

A: Abstentions (i.e., shares present at the Annual Meeting and marked “abstain”) are deemed to be shares presented or represented by proxy and entitled to vote, and are counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present. Abstentions have no effect on Proposal One or Proposal Two.

A broker non-vote occurs when the beneficial owner of shares fails to provide the broker, bank or other nominee that holds the shares with specific instructions on how to vote on any “non-routine” matters brought to a vote at the stockholders meeting. In this situation, the broker, bank or other nominee will not vote on the “non-routine” matter. Broker non-votes are counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present and have no effect on the outcome of the matters voted upon.

Note that if you are a beneficial holder, brokers and other nominees will be entitled to vote your shares on “routine” matters without instructions from you. The only proposal that would be considered “routine” in such event is the proposal for the ratification of the appointment of Crowe LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025 (Proposal Two). A broker or other nominee will not be entitled to vote your shares on any “non-routine” matters, absent instructions from you. “Non-routine” matters include proposals other than Proposal Two, such as the election of directors. Accordingly, we encourage you to provide voting instructions to your broker or other nominee, regardless of whether or not you plan to attend the meeting.

Q: What is the vote required for each proposal?

A: The votes required to approve each proposal are as follows:

Proposal One: The directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person virtually or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors.

Proposal Two: Approval will be obtained if the number of votes cast “FOR” the proposal at the Annual Meeting exceeds the number of votes “AGAINST”