Data Storage EVP Thomas Kempster boosts stake to 865k shares

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Data Storage Corp (DTST) Form 4: EVP, director and 10 % owner Thomas Kempster exercised two previously granted stock-option tranches on 04-Aug-2025, acquiring a total of 26,470 common shares.

The options, issued on 01-Mar-2023 and 10-Apr-2023, were exercised at strike prices of $2.00 (16,666 shares) and $1.96 (9,804 shares). Both transactions are coded “M” (option exercise) and are reported as acquisitions (A); no shares were sold.

After the exercise Kempster directly owns 865,582 DTST shares. His remaining option balances on the respective grants fall to 8,334 and 4,902 units. The filing signals ongoing insider accumulation and creates marginal dilution through newly issued shares, but does not involve open-market activity or sales.

Positive

• Insider increased direct ownership by 26,470 shares, signalling confidence in DTST’s outlook

Negative

• None.

Insights

Financial Analyst

TL;DR – Insider adds 26.5k shares via option exercise; signal modestly bullish.

Kempster’s exercise adds ~3 % to his stake, pushing total holdings to 865k shares. Exercising in-the-money options without selling suggests confidence in future appreciation. Cash brought in per share is low (<$2), so dilution impact to other holders is minor given DTST’s 13 m share base (latest 10-Q). No direct effect on earnings, but insider accumulation can be viewed favorably by the market.

Corporate Governance Expert

TL;DR – Routine Form 4; governance risk unchanged.

The transaction complies with Rule 16a reporting and is coded correctly. Option grants were disclosed previously; use of cash exercise (vs. cashless) avoids immediate resale optics. Remaining unexercised options are modest, limiting future dilution. No red flags on timing or 10b5-1 status; overall governance impact is neutral.

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL

OMB Number:			3235-0287
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hours per response:			0.5

Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Kempster Thomas

(Last) (First) (Middle)

C/O DATA STORAGE CORPORATION

225 BROADHOLLOW ROAD, SUITE 307

(Street)

MELVILLE NY 11747

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Data Storage Corp [ DTST ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

X	Director	X	10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	EVP

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
08/04/2025

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock	08/04/2025		M		16,666(1)	A	$2	855,778	D
Common Stock	08/04/2025		M		9,804(2)	A	$1.96	865,582	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option	$2	08/04/2025		M			16,666(1)	04/10/2024	04/09/2028	Common Stock	16,666	$0	8,334	D
Stock Option	$1.96	08/04/2025		M			9,804(2)	03/01/2024	02/28/2028	Common Stock	9,804	$0	4,902	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Represents the shares of the Issuer's common stock underlying the vested portion of a stock option grant issued to the Reporting Person on March 1, 2023, that was exercised by the Reporting Person on August 4, 2025.

2. Represents the shares of the Issuer's common stock underlying the vested portion of a stock option grant issued to the Reporting Person on April 10, 2023, that was exercised by the Reporting Person on August 4, 2025.

	/s/ Wendy Schmittzeh, Attorney-in-fact	08/05/2025
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
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FAQ

Who is the insider in DTST's latest Form 4?

Thomas Kempster, EVP, director and 10 % owner of Data Storage Corp.

How many DTST shares were acquired in the August 4 2025 transaction?

A total of 26,470 common shares were acquired through option exercise.

What were the option strike prices disclosed?

The options were exercised at $2.00 and $1.96 per share.

What is the insider’s new shareholding after the Form 4 filing?

Kempster now directly owns 865,582 DTST shares.

How many options remain unexercised after the transaction?

He retains 8,334 and 4,902 options from the two respective grants.