STOCK TITAN

Assembly Biosciences (ASMB) shareholders back directors, equity plan and ESPP share hikes

Filing Impact
(Moderate)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Assembly Biosciences, Inc. reported the results of its annual stockholder meeting held on June 4, 2026. Stockholders approved amendments to the company’s equity incentive and employee stock purchase plans, elected the full slate of director nominees, and ratified the independent auditor.

The amendment to the 2018 Stock Incentive Plan increases shares reserved for issuance from 1,478,333 to 2,678,333. The Employee Stock Purchase Plan reserve was increased from 225,000 to 515,000 shares. Stockholders also approved, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of the company’s named executive officers.

Positive

  • None.

Negative

  • None.
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers Governance
Key personnel changes including departures, elections, or appointments of directors and executive officers.
Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders Governance
Results of a shareholder vote on proposals at an annual or special meeting.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
2018 Plan reserve before amendment 1,478,333 shares Shares reserved under 2018 Stock Incentive Plan before Amendment No. 3
2018 Plan reserve after amendment 2,678,333 shares Shares reserved under 2018 Stock Incentive Plan after Amendment No. 3
ESPP reserve before amendment 225,000 shares Shares reserved under Employee Stock Purchase Plan before ESPP Amendment No. 2
ESPP reserve after amendment 515,000 shares Shares reserved under Employee Stock Purchase Plan after ESPP Amendment No. 2
Say-on-pay votes for 11,293,061 votes Non-binding advisory approval of named executive officer compensation
Auditor ratification votes for 12,382,746 votes Ratification of Ernst & Young LLP for fiscal year ending December 31, 2026
Director votes for (example nominee) 11,300,212 votes Votes for director nominee Anthony E. Altig
Broker non-votes on equity plan amendment 1,069,023 Broker non-votes on Amendment No. 3 to 2018 Plan
Amended and Restated 2018 Stock Incentive Plan financial
"Amendment No. 3 to the Assembly Biosciences, Inc. Amended and Restated 2018 Stock Incentive Plan"
Employee Stock Purchase Plan financial
"Second Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "ESPP") to increase the number of shares reserved"
An employee stock purchase plan is a company program that lets workers buy shares through small payroll deductions, often at a discount to the market price and after a set offering period. Think of it like a workplace savings plan that turns into ownership: it encourages employees to share in the company’s success and can create predictable buying or selling of stock that investors watch because it affects supply, demand and employee incentives.
non-binding advisory basis financial
"The stockholders approved, on a non-binding advisory basis, the Company's named executive officers' compensation"
A non-binding advisory basis is guidance or a recommendation offered for informational purposes that does not create legal obligations or guarantees; recipients can accept, modify, or ignore it without contractual consequences. Investors should treat it like a weather forecast for planning—useful for forming expectations and assessing risk, but not a firm promise—so they should verify assumptions, seek confirming information, and avoid relying on it as the sole basis for investment decisions.
broker non-votes financial
"Votes For | Votes Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes 11,293,061 | 5,401 | 18,379 | 1,069,023"
Broker non-votes occur when a brokerage firm is unable to vote on a shareholder’s behalf during a company election or decision because the shareholder has not given specific voting instructions, and the broker is not allowed or chooses not to vote on certain matters. They are important because they can affect the outcome of votes, especially when the results are close, by effectively reducing the total number of votes cast.
independent registered public accounting firm financial
"ratified the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm"
An independent registered public accounting firm is an outside accounting company officially registered with the government regulator to examine and report on a public company's financial records and controls. Investors treat its reports like an impartial inspector’s certificate — they add credibility to financial statements, help spot errors or misleading claims, and reduce the risk that shareholders are relying on unchecked or biased numbers.
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0001426800False00014268002026-06-042026-06-04

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 4, 2026

Assembly Biosciences, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware

001-35005

20-8729264

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

 

 

Two Tower Place, 7th Floor,

South San Francisco, California

94080

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (833) 509-4583

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.001

 

ASMB

 

The Nasdaq Global Select Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

 

 


 

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Amendment No. 3 to Amended and Restated 2018 Stock Incentive Plan

At the Assembly Biosciences, Inc. (the "Company") Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on June 4, 2026, (the "Annual Meeting"), the Company's stockholders approved Amendment No. 3 ("Amendment No. 3") to the Assembly Biosciences, Inc. Amended and Restated 2018 Stock Incentive Plan (the "2018 Plan") to increase the number of shares reserved for issuance thereunder from 1,478,333 to 2,678,333. A copy of Amendment No. 3 is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

A summary of the material terms of the 2018 Plan, as amended by Amendment No. 3, is set forth as a part of Proposal 4 in the Company's definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 22, 2026 (the "Proxy Statement") and is incorporated by reference herein. That summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 2018 Plan, incorporating Amendment No. 3, as set forth as Appendix B of the Proxy Statement, which is also incorporated by reference herein.

Amendment No. 2 to Second Amended and Restated 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

At the Annual Meeting on June 4, 2026, the Company's stockholders approved Amendment No. 2 ("ESPP Amendment No. 2") to the Assembly Biosciences, Inc. Second Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "ESPP") to increase the number of shares reserved thereunder from 225,000 shares to 515,000 shares. A copy of ESPP Amendment No. 2 is attached herein as Exhibit 10.2 and is incorporated by reference herein.

A summary of the material terms and conditions of the ESPP, as amended by ESPP Amendment No. 2, is set forth as a part of Proposal 5 in the Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference. That summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the ESPP, incorporating ESPP Amendment No. 2, as set forth as Appendix D of the Proxy Statement, which is also incorporated by reference herein.

Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

On June 4, 2026, the matters listed below were submitted to a vote of the Company's stockholders at the Annual Meeting through the solicitation of proxies. Detailed descriptions of each of the proposals are included in the Proxy Statement.

1. The stockholders elected of the following to serve on the Company's Board of Directors until the Company's 2027 annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified: Anthony E. Altig; Tomas Cihlar, Ph.D.; Gina Consylman; Robert D. Cook II; Sir Michael Houghton, Ph.D.; Lisa R. Johnson-Pratt, M.D.; Susan Mahony, Ph.D.; John G. McHutchison, A.O., M.D.; and Jason A. Okazaki.

 

Director Nominee

Votes For

Votes Against

Abstain

Broker Non-Votes

Anthony E. Altig

11,300,212

16,008

621

1,069,023

Tomas Cihlar, Ph.D.

11,300,997

15,204

640

1,069,023

Gina Consylman

11,311,916

4,222

703

1,069,023

Robert D. Cook II

11,301,190

15,185

466

1,069,023

Sir Michael Houghton, Ph.D.

11,312,521

3,933

387

1,069,023

Lisa R. Johnson-Pratt, M.D.

11,296,644

3,662

16,535

1,069,023

Susan Mahony, Ph.D.

11,311,952

4,185

704

1,069,023

John G. McHutchison, A.O., M.D.

11,274,020

15,738

27,083

1,069,023

Jason A. Okazaki

11,310,730

5,729

382

1,069,023

2. The stockholders approved, on a non-binding advisory basis, the Company's named executive officers' compensation disclosed in the Proxy Statement.

 

Votes For

Votes Against

Abstain

Broker Non-Votes

11,293,061

5,401

18,379

1,069,023

3. The stockholders ratified the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026.

 

Votes For

Votes Against

Abstain

Broker Non-Votes

12,382,746

2,943

175

4. The stockholders approved Amendment No. 3 to the 2018 Plan to increase the number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2018 Plan by 1,200,000 shares.

1


 

 

Votes For

Votes Against

Abstain

Broker Non-Votes

11,290,805

24,242

1,794

1,069,023

5. The stockholders approved the ESPP Amendment No. 2 to increase the number of shares reserved under the ESPP to 515,000 shares.

 

Votes For

Votes Against

Abstain

Broker Non-Votes

11,305,253

9,343

2,245

1,069,023

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit

Number

Description

10.1

Amendment No. 3 to Assembly Biosciences, Inc. Amended and Restated 2018 Stock Incentive Plan.

10.2

Amendment No. 2 to Assembly Biosciences, Inc. Second Amended and Restated 2018 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

104

 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

2


 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

Assembly Biosciences, Inc.

Date: June 5, 2026

By:

/s/ John O. Gunderson

John O. Gunderson

VP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

 

3


FAQ

What did Assembly Biosciences (ASMB) stockholders approve at the 2026 annual meeting?

Stockholders approved amendments increasing share reserves for the 2018 Stock Incentive Plan and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, re-elected all board nominees, ratified Ernst & Young LLP as auditor, and approved named executive officer compensation on a non-binding advisory basis.

How many shares are now reserved under Assembly Biosciences’ 2018 Stock Incentive Plan?

The 2018 Stock Incentive Plan reserve increased to 2,678,333 shares from 1,478,333. This larger pool provides additional equity available for grants to directors, officers, and employees under the company’s long-term incentive program.

What change was made to Assembly Biosciences’ Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)?

The ESPP share reserve was increased to 515,000 shares from 225,000. This expansion allows more employee participation in share purchases through the plan, subject to its existing terms and eligibility rules described in the proxy materials.

Were Assembly Biosciences (ASMB) director nominees elected at the 2026 annual meeting?

All nine director nominees, including Anthony E. Altig and Jason A. Okazaki, were elected to serve until the 2027 annual meeting. Each nominee received over 11.27 million votes in favor, with relatively few votes cast against or abstaining.

Did Assembly Biosciences stockholders approve executive compensation for 2026?

Yes. Stockholders approved, on a non-binding advisory basis, the compensation of the company’s named executive officers. The say-on-pay proposal received 11,293,061 votes for, 5,401 against, and 18,379 abstentions, with 1,069,023 broker non-votes recorded.

Which audit firm did Assembly Biosciences stockholders ratify for fiscal year 2026?

Stockholders ratified Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026. The proposal received 12,382,746 votes for, 2,943 against, and 175 abstentions, with no broker non-votes reported.

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

3 documents