STOCK TITAN

Direct Digital Holdings (NASDAQ: DRCT) approves 1,200,000-share equity plan increase

(Moderate)
(Neutral)
Form Type
8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Direct Digital Holdings, Inc. held its 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders on July 31, 2026, where stockholders representing 425,635 votes, or approximately 51% of the 834,910 votes entitled to be cast, were present, constituting a quorum. Six directors were elected to serve until the 2027 annual meeting, and BDO USA, P.C. was ratified as independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026.

Stockholders also approved an amendment to the Company’s 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan, increasing the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable under the plan by 1,200,000 shares. The amendment had been previously approved by the Board of Directors subject to stockholder approval and became effective upon that approval.

Positive

  • None.

Negative

  • None.

Filing Explained

The stockholder-approved amendment became effective July 31, 2026, expanding the 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan by 1,200,000 Class A shares. That increases the company’s capacity for future plan-based share issuance; this filing does not report those shares as issued.

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.
Equity plan share increase 1,200,000 shares Additional Class A Common Stock issuable under the 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan amendment
Class A shares outstanding 739,531 shares Class A Common Stock outstanding and eligible to vote as of June 18, 2026 record date
Class B shares outstanding 42,160 shares Class B Common Stock outstanding and eligible to vote as of June 18, 2026 record date
Series A Preferred shares 27,077 shares Series A Convertible Preferred Stock outstanding, representing 53,219 votes on an as-converted basis
Votes entitled to be cast 834,910 votes Aggregate votes eligible to be cast at the 2026 Annual Meeting
Votes represented at meeting 425,635 votes Votes present in person or by proxy, approximately 51% of eligible votes, constituting a quorum
Auditor ratification votes for 416,368 votes Votes cast in favor of ratifying BDO USA, P.C. as auditor for year ending December 31, 2026
2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan financial
"approved an amendment to the Company’s 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended"
Broker Non-Votes regulatory
"Director | Votes For | Votes Withheld | Broker Non-Votes"
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.
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock financial
"27,077 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (which on an as-if-converted"
Series A convertible preferred stock is a class of shares sold in an early funding round that gives investors a mix of protection and upside: it pays a priority claim over common shares if the company is sold or closes, but can be converted into ordinary shares to share in future growth. Think of it like a hybrid between a safer stake and a ticket to ownership; it matters to investors because it affects who controls the company, how future gains are split, and how much their investment is protected from downside.
independent registered public accounting firm financial
"the ratification of the appointment of BDO USA, P.C. 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.
quorum regulatory
"were represented in person or by proxy, constituting a quorum"
A quorum is the minimum number of members needed to officially hold a meeting or make decisions. It ensures that decisions are made with enough participation to represent the group’s interests, much like a majority must be present for a vote to be valid. For investors, understanding quorum is important because it affects when and how important company or organization decisions can be legally made.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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FAQ

What key proposals did Direct Digital Holdings (DRCT) stockholders approve at the 2026 Annual Meeting?

Stockholders approved three proposals: electing six directors through the 2027 meeting, ratifying BDO USA, P.C. as auditor for 2026, and amending the 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan to add 1,200,000 Class A shares issuable under the plan.

How many shares were entitled to vote at Direct Digital Holdings (DRCT)’s 2026 Annual Meeting?

In total, 834,910 votes were entitled to be cast: 739,531 Class A shares, 42,160 Class B shares, and 27,077 Series A Convertible Preferred shares representing 53,219 votes on an as-converted basis. All classes voted together on the meeting’s proposals.

What quorum was achieved at Direct Digital Holdings (DRCT)’s 2026 Annual Meeting?

Stockholders representing 425,635 votes, or approximately 51% of the 834,910 votes entitled to be cast, were represented in person or by proxy. This voting presence constituted a quorum, allowing all three proposals to be considered and approved.

What change was made to Direct Digital Holdings (DRCT)’s 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan?

Stockholders approved an amendment increasing the Class A Common Stock issuable under the plan by 1,200,000 shares. The Board had previously approved this amendment subject to stockholder approval, and it became effective upon the favorable vote at the Annual Meeting.

Who was elected to Direct Digital Holdings (DRCT)’s board at the 2026 Annual Meeting?

Six directors were elected to serve until the 2027 annual meeting: Mark D. Walker, Keith W. Smith, Richard Cohen, Antoinette Leatherberry, Mistelle Locke, and Ohad Harlev. Each candidate received more votes for than withheld, with broker non-votes reported separately.

Which auditor did Direct Digital Holdings (DRCT) stockholders ratify for the 2026 fiscal year?

Stockholders ratified BDO USA, P.C. as the independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026. The ratification vote totaled 416,368 votes for, 8,509 against, and 758 abstentions at the 2026 Annual Meeting.
FALSE000188061300018806132025-06-092025-06-09

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): July 31, 2026
Direct Digital Holdings, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware001-4126187-2306185
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission
File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
1177 West Loop South, Suite 1310
Houston, Texas
77027
(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (832) 402-1051
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 Exchange Act:
Title of each classTrading
Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange
on which registered
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.001 per shareDRCTThe Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
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 (the “Exchange Act”) (§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; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory
Arrangements of Certain Officers.

As described under Item 5.07 of this Current Report on Form 8-K (the “Current Report”), on July 31, 2026, at the Annual Meeting (as defined below), the stockholders of Direct Digital Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) approved an amendment to the Company’s 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended, to increase the number of authorized shares of Class A Common Stock issuable thereunder by 1,200,000 shares (the “Equity Plan Amendment”).

The Company’s Board of Directors previously approved the Equity Plan Amendment subject to stockholder approval at the Annual Meeting. The Equity Plan Amendment became effective at the time of stockholder approval.

A copy of the Equity Plan Amendment is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report and is incorporated by reference in this Item 5.02. The material terms of the 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan and the Equity Plan Amendment are described in the Company’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A for the Annual Meeting, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 23, 2026, as amended (the “Proxy Statement”).

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

On July 31, 2026, the Company held its 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) at 9:30 a.m. Central Time by means of an online virtual meeting platform. As of June 18, 2026, the record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting, 739,531 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock were outstanding and eligible to vote, 42,160 shares of the Company’s Class B Common Stock were outstanding and eligible to vote, and 27,077 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (which on an as-if-converted-to-Class-A-Common-Stock basis as of the record date represent 53,219 shares that are entitled to vote on any matter presented to the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock at the Annual Meeting) were outstanding and eligible to vote, for an aggregate of 834,910 votes. Stockholders representing 425,635 votes by holders of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, the Company’s Class B Common Stock and the Company’s Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, or approximately 51%, of the votes entitled to be cast at the Annual Meeting as of the record date, were represented in person or by proxy, constituting a quorum.

At the Annual Meeting, the following three proposals were approved: (i) the election of six directors to hold office until the 2027 annual meeting of stockholders; (ii) the ratification of the appointment of BDO USA, P.C. as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026; and (iii) the approval of an amendment to the Company’s 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock issuable thereunder by 1,200,000 shares. The three proposals are described in detail in the Proxy Statement.

Proposal 1

The votes with respect to the election of six directors to hold office until the 2027 annual meeting of stockholders were as follows:

Director
Votes For
Votes Withheld
Broker Non-Votes
Mark D. Walker
188,3987,980229,257
Keith W. Smith
188,1278,251229,257
Richard Cohen
187,5688,810229,257
Antoinette Leatherberry
187,7328,646229,257
Mistelle Locke
187,9698,409229,257
Ohad Harlev188,7917,587229,257

Proposal 2

The vote with respect to the ratification of BDO USA, P.C. as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026 was as follows:

Total Votes For
Total Votes Against
Abstentions
416,3688,509758




Proposal 3

The vote with respect to the approval of an amendment to the Company’s 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan to increase the number of shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock issuable thereunder by 1,200,000 shares was as follows:

Total Votes For
Total Votes Against
Abstentions
Broker Non-Votes
171,93024,036412229,257

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No.Description
10.1
Amendment to Direct Digital Holdings, Inc. 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended
104Cover Page Interactive Data File, formatted in Inline Extensible Business Reporting Language (iXBRL).




SIGNATURE
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 hereunto duly authorized.
July 31, 2026
(Date)
Direct Digital Holdings, Inc.
(Registrant)
/s/ DIANA P. DIAZ
Diana P. Diaz
Chief Financial Officer







Filing Exhibits & Attachments

4 documents