GitLab chair converts Class B shares to Class A

GitLab Inc. announced that Executive Chair Sytse Sijbrandij converted all of his Class B common stock into Class A common stock on May 14, 2026.

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

GitLab Inc. announced that Executive Chair Sytse Sijbrandij converted all of his Class B common stock into Class A common stock on May 14, 2026. The company states this move was for personal tax planning and not connected to any purchase or sale of GitLab shares.

Class B shares carried 10 votes per share, while Class A shares carry one vote per share, so the conversion reduces the voting power attached to his holdings. GitLab also notes that a pre-established Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted in December 2025 executed a transaction on May 18, 2026. Sijbrandij remains Executive Chair and the largest individual Class A shareholder.

Insights

Corporate governance analyst

GitLab’s chair shifts from super-voting to single-vote stock while retaining his role and large ownership.

The disclosure explains that Executive Chair Sytse Sijbrandij converted all of his Class B common stock, which carried 10 votes per share, into Class A stock with one vote per share. The company explicitly ties this to personal tax planning and separates it from any purchase or sale of shares.

This change reduces his concentrated voting power while keeping his economic stake. The filing also highlights that a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted in December 2025 executed a transaction on May 18, 2026, framing related trading activity as pre-planned. Sijbrandij remains Executive Chair and the largest individual Class A shareholder, so control and leadership continuity are emphasized.

8-K Event Classification

Item 7.01 — Regulation FD Disclosure

1 item

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure Disclosure

Material non-public information disclosed under Regulation Fair Disclosure, often investor presentations or guidance.

Key Figures

Class B voting power: 10 votes per share Class A voting power: 1 vote per share Conversion date: May 14, 2026 +3 more

6 metrics

Class B voting power 10 votes per share Each share of Class B common stock

Class A voting power 1 vote per share Each share of Class A common stock

Conversion date May 14, 2026 Date Sytse Sijbrandij converted all Class B to Class A

Form 4 filing date May 18, 2026 Date Form 4 reporting the conversion was filed

10b5-1 plan adoption December 2025 Month and year Sijbrandij entered Rule 10b5-1 plan

10b5-1 trade execution May 18, 2026 Date a transaction under the trading plan executed

Key Terms

Class B common stock, Class A common stock, Regulation FD Disclosure, Rule 10b5-1, +1 more

5 terms

Class B common stock financial

"he converted all of his GitLab Inc. Class B common stock into Class A common stock"

A class B common stock is one of multiple types of a company’s ordinary shares that carries specific rights—often different voting power or dividend priority—compared with other classes. For investors it matters because those differences affect how much influence you have over company decisions, the income you might receive, and how freely the shares trade; think of it like owning a car with different keys: some keys let you start the engine and open the trunk, others only unlock the door.

Class A common stock financial

"Each share of the Company’s Class B common stock entitles its holder to cast 10 votes per share, compared to one vote per share for the Class A common stock"

Class A common stock is a category of a company’s shares that carries a specific set of ownership rights—most commonly defined voting power and claims on dividends—set out in the company’s charter. For investors it matters because the class determines how much influence you have over corporate decisions, the share’s likely dividend and trading behavior, and how it compares in value to other share classes, like choosing a particular seat with different privileges at the company’s decision-making table.

Regulation FD Disclosure regulatory

"Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure."

Regulation FD disclosure requires public companies to share important, market-moving information with everyone at the same time instead of tipping off analysts or large investors first. Think of it as making sure all players on a field hear the same announcement simultaneously; that fairness helps investors trust that stock prices reflect the same information and reduces the risk of sudden, unfair trading advantages or regulatory penalties for selective leaks.

Rule 10b5-1 regulatory

"entered into a trading plan compliant with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934"

Rule 10b5-1 is a regulation that allows company insiders to buy or sell their shares at predetermined times, even if they have access to non-public information. It acts like setting a schedule in advance for transactions, helping prevent accusations of unfair trading. This rule provides a way for insiders to plan trades transparently, giving investors confidence that these transactions are not based on hidden information.

Emerging growth company regulatory

"Emerging growth company"

An emerging growth company is a recently public or smaller public firm that qualifies for temporary, lighter regulatory and disclosure rules to reduce the cost and effort of being public. For investors, it means the company may provide less historical financial detail and face fewer reporting requirements than larger firms, so it can grow more quickly but also carries higher uncertainty—like buying a promising early-stage product with fewer user reviews.

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What governance change did GitLab (GTLB) disclose regarding Sytse Sijbrandij?

GitLab disclosed that Executive Chair Sytse Sijbrandij converted all his Class B common stock into Class A common stock on May 14, 2026. This shifts his holdings from 10-vote-per-share stock to one-vote-per-share stock while keeping his economic stake and board role unchanged.

Why did Sytse Sijbrandij convert GitLab Class B shares to Class A?

The company states Sytse Sijbrandij converted his Class B common stock to Class A common stock for personal tax planning reasons. GitLab emphasized the conversion was not connected to any purchase or sale of GitLab stock and was not driven by disagreement with the company.

How do GitLab Class A and Class B shares differ in voting power?

Each GitLab Class B common share entitles its holder to 10 votes per share, while each Class A common share carries one vote per share. By converting all of his Class B shares to Class A, Sytse Sijbrandij reduced the voting power attached to his holdings but kept ownership.

Does Sytse Sijbrandij remain in leadership at GitLab after the share conversion?

Yes. The filing states that Sytse Sijbrandij’s position as Executive Chair of GitLab’s Board of Directors remains unchanged after the conversion. It also notes he remains the largest individual shareholder of the company’s Class A common stock, underscoring his continuing involvement.

What did GitLab disclose about Sytse Sijbrandij’s Rule 10b5-1 trading plan?

GitLab noted that, as previously disclosed, Sytse Sijbrandij adopted a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan in December 2025 for personal financial planning. The filing adds that this plan executed a transaction on May 18, 2026, framing it as pre-planned rather than discretionary trading activity.

Was Sytse Sijbrandij’s GitLab share conversion tied to a disagreement with the company?

No. The company explicitly states the conversion was undertaken for personal tax planning and was not the result of any disagreement with GitLab. This language is intended to separate the governance-related share change from any potential conflict with management or the board.

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

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Accepted by SEC EDGAR 05/18/2026 - 06:06 PM Learn about SEC filing dates

0001653482FALSE00016534822026-05-182026-05-18

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): May 18, 2026

______________________________

GITLAB INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

____________________________________ 

Delaware

001-40895

47-1861035

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

Address Not Applicable1

Zip Code Not Applicable1

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(Zip Code)

 Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: Not Applicable

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

Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0000025 per share

GTLB

The 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 (§ 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.

☐

__________________________

1 We are a remote-only company. Accordingly, we do not maintain a headquarters. For purposes of compliance with applicable requirements of the Securities Act and Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, any stockholder communication required to be sent to our principal executive offices may be directed to the agent for service of process at Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, Delaware 19808, or to the email address: reach.gitlab@gitlab.com.

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

Sytse Sijbrandij filed a Form 4 on May 18, 2026 disclosing that he converted all of his GitLab Inc. (the “Company”) Class B common stock into Class A common stock on May 14, 2026. The conversion was not made in connection with a purchase or sale of GitLab stock.

Each share of the Company’s Class B common stock entitles its holder to cast 10 votes per share, compared to one vote per share for the Class A common stock.

The conversion was undertaken by Mr. Sijbrandij for personal tax planning matters and was not the result of any disagreement with the Company. In addition, as previously disclosed, Mr. Sijbrandij entered into a trading plan compliant with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, in December of 2025 to help support his personal financial planning needs which executed a transaction on May 18, 2026. Mr. Sijbrandij's position as Executive Chair of the Company's Board of Directors remains unchanged. Mr. Sijbrandij also remains the largest individual shareholder of the Company’s Class A common stock.

SIGNATURES

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

									GitLab Inc.
Dated: May 18, 2026						By:			/s/ Jessica P. Ross
									Jessica P. Ross
									Chief Financial Officer

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

3 documents

Other Documents

• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION SCHEMA DOCUMENT 1.7 KB
• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION LABEL LINKBASE DOCUMENT 16.0 KB
• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION PRESENTATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT 9.1 KB