Data Storage Corp DEFA14A, filed Aug 14, 2025
Data Storage Corp (DTST)
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): August 14, 2025
DATA STORAGE CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(Former Name of Registrant)
| Nevada | 001-35384 | 98-0530147 | ||
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification Number) |
225 Broadhollow Road, Suite 307
Melville, New York 11747
(Address of principal executive offices) (zip code)
212-564-4922
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):
☐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-4I under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13I(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 per share | DTST | The Nasdaq Capital Market | ||
| Warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share | DTSTW | The Nasdaq Capital 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 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
On August 14, 2025, Data Storage Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), issued a press release that included financial information for its quarter ended June 30, 2025. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
The information contained in this Item 2.02, including Exhibit 99.1 hereto, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section or Sections 11 and 12(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The information contained in this Item 2.02 and in the press release attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K shall not be incorporated by reference into any filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission made by the Company, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
| (d) | Exhibits. |
| Exhibit Number |
Description | |
| 99.1 | Press Release issued by Data Storage Corporation, dated August 14, 2025 | |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the XBRL document) |
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 hereunto duly authorized.
| Dated: August 14, 2025 | DATA STORAGE CORPORATION | |
| By: | /s/ Charles M. Piluso | |
| Name: | Charles M. Piluso | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
EXHIBIT 99.1
DTST Reports 2025 Second Quarter Financial Results
and
Provides Business Update
Conference Call to be Held Today at 11:00 am ET
MELVILLE, N.Y., August 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Data Storage Corporation (Nasdaq: DTST) (the “Company”), today provided a business update and reported financial results for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2025.
Second Quarter 2025 Highlights:
| ● | Revenue was $5.1 million, up 4.8% from the same period in 2024, driven by continued growth in subscription-based cloud and Nexxis services | |
| ● | Gross profit totaled $2.5 million, maintaining consistent margin levels | |
| ● | Cash and marketable securities were $11.1 million, with no long term debt |
“We continue to see strong growth in our core business, particularly in our higher-margin, recurring subscription sales,” said Chuck Piluso, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Data Storage Corporation. “Building on this momentum, a central development is the proposed $40 million sale of CloudFirst Technologies Corporation, representing a substantial premium to our market capitalization prior to the announcement. If the transaction is approved by our shareholders and we consummate the transaction, we anticipate net proceeds of approximately $24 million, after fees, taxes, and other adjustments.”
“In connection with the proposed transaction if approved by our shareholders and consummated, our Board of Directors has authorized a tender offer to repurchase up to 85% of our outstanding common stock, using 85% of cash on hand at the time the tender offer is commenced. This cash on hand will include net proceeds from the proposed transaction. This structure is intended to deliver a meaningful return of capital to shareholders while retaining 15% of cash for acquisitions, innovation, and expansion.”
“CloudFirst has delivered consistent year-over-year EBITDA growth and remains a valuable business. Assuming approval by our shareholders, we expect the proposed transaction to unlock this value, convert it into tangible returns, and allow us to focus resources on high-growth technology sectors such as, but not limited to, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and AI vertical SaaS. If the proposed transaction is not approved by our shareholders, CloudFirst will remain a core part of our operations, and we will continue to invest in its performance while pursuing new strategic opportunities.”
“Regardless of the outcome, our long-term plan is clear: to continue evolving Data Storage Corporation into a technology-driven enterprise that capitalizes on market trends and emerging opportunities. As part of this transformation, we are evaluating a full corporate rebranding to align our identity with our strategic direction. We will also continue to operate Nexxis Inc. as a portfolio asset and seek opportunities where our operational expertise can unlock additional value.”
“The proposed sale of CloudFirst Technologies Corporation is subject to shareholder approval at our annual meeting scheduled to be held on September 10, 2025. We encourage all shareholders to review the proxy materials, which detail the transaction terms, the Board’s rationale, and our broader growth strategy,” concluded Mr. Piluso.
Chris Panagiotakos, Chief Financial Officer of Data Storage Corporation, added, “In the second quarter, we delivered total sales of $5.1 million, up 4.8% from last year, driven by continued growth in our subscription-based cloud and Nexxis services, partially offset by lower equipment and software sales. For the first half of 2025, sales totaled $13.2 million, reflecting strength in recurring revenue despite declines in non-recurring equipment sales. We ended the quarter with $11.1 million in cash, and marketable securities, providing a solid liquidity position to fund our strategic growth initiatives.”
Conference Call
The management will host a conference call at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time today, August 14, 2025, to discuss the Company’s progress and the financial results for the second quarter of 2025, which ended June 30, 2025.
The conference call will be available via telephone by dialing toll-free 877-407-9219 for U.S. callers or for international callers +1-412-652-1274. A webcast of the call may be accessed at DSC Q2 2025 Earnings Call or on the Company’s News & Events section of the website, www.dtst.com/news-events.
A webcast replay of the call will be available on the Company’s website (www.dtst.com/news-events) through February 14, 2026. A telephone replay of the call will be available approximately three hours following the call, through August 21, 2025, and can be accessed by dialing 877-660-6853 for U.S. callers or + 1-201-612-7415 for international callers and entering conference ID: 13755236.
The press release is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell securities. The Offer for the shares of Common Stock described in this press release has not commenced. At the time the Offer is commenced, the Company will file a tender offer statement on Schedule TO with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
THE TENDER OFFER MATERIALS (INCLUDING AN OFFER TO PURCHASE, A RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND CERTAIN OTHER TENDER OFFER DOCUMENTS) WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. HOLDERS OF SHARES OF THE COMPANY’S COMMON STOCK ARE URGED TO READ THESE DOCUMENTS CAREFULLY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE (AS EACH MAY BE AMENDED OR SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME) BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT HOLDERS OF SHARES OF THE COMPANY’S COMMON STOCK SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE MAKING ANY DECISION REGARDING TENDERING THEIR SHARES.
The Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal and certain other tender offer documents will be made available to all holders of shares of the Company’s Common Stock at no expense to them. The tender offer materials will be made available for free at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or by accessing the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.dtst.com.
About Data Storage Corporation
Data Storage Corporation (Nasdaq: DTST) through its subsidiaries, is focused on providing solutions that ensure business continuity, improvement in business processes, and efficiency, while striving to build shareholder value.
For more information, please visit www.dtst.com or follow us on X @DataStorageCorp.
Safe Harbor Provision
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created thereby. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “projects,” “estimates,” “plans” and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would,” “may” and “could” are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts, although not all forward-looking statements include the foregoing. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can provide no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release and include statements regarding the proposed $40 million sale of CloudFirst Technologies Corporation, representing a substantial premium to the Company’s market capitalization prior to the announcement; approval of the proposed sale by the Company’s shareholders; consummation of the proposed sale and, in connection therewith, our receipt of net proceeds of approximately $24 million, after fees, taxes, and other adjustments; commencement of a tender offer by the Company to repurchase up to 85% of its outstanding common stock, using 85% of cash on hand at the time the tender offer is commenced, including net proceeds from the proposed transaction; the proposed transaction delivering a meaningful return of capital to shareholders while retaining 15% of cash for acquisitions, innovation, and expansion; the proposed transaction unlocking value of CloudFirst, converting it into tangible returns, and allowing the Company to focus resources on high-growth technology sectors such as, but not limited to, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and AI vertical SaaS; CloudFirst remaining a core part of the Company’s operations and the Company continuing to invest in its performance while pursuing new strategic opportunities if the proposed transaction is not approved by its shareholders; continuing to evolve Data Storage Corporation into a technology-driven enterprise that capitalizes on market trends and emerging opportunities; continuing to operate Nexxis Inc. as a portfolio asset and seeking opportunities where the Company’s operational expertise can unlock additional value; the Company’s annual meeting being held on September 10, 2025;and the potential to drive continued growth and success. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include approval of the proposed sale by the Company’s shareholders; consummation of the proposed sale; the proposed transaction delivering a meaningful return of capital to shareholders; the ability of the Company to continue to evolve Data Storage Corporation into a technology-driven enterprise that capitalizes on market trends and emerging opportunities; and the ability of the Company to continue to operate Nexxis Inc. as a portfolio asset and seek opportunities where the Company’s operational expertise can unlock additional value; the Company’s ability to create sustained long-term value and drive continued growth and success. These risks should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read together with the other cautionary statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it was initially made. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.
Contact:
Crescendo Communications, LLC
212-671-1020
DTST@crescendo-ir.com
| DATA STORAGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES |
| CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS |
| June 30, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | |||||||
| ASSETS | (Unaudited) | |||||||
| Current Assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 611,323 | $ | 1,070,097 | ||||
| Accounts receivable, net of allowance for expected credit losses of $16,305 and $31,472, as of June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively | 1,727,111 | 2,225,458 | ||||||
| Marketable securities | 10,510,179 | 11,261,006 | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 1,913,094 | 859,502 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 14,761,707 | 15,416,063 | ||||||
| Property and Equipment: | ||||||||
| Property and equipment | 10,078,502 | 9,598,963 | ||||||
| Less: Accumulated depreciation | (6,740,363 | ) | (6,159,307 | ) | ||||
| Property and equipment, net | 3,338,139 | 3,439,656 | ||||||
| Other assets: | ||||||||
| Goodwill | 4,238,671 | 4,238,671 | ||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | 525,416 | 575,380 | ||||||
| Other assets | 263,778 | 183,439 | ||||||
| Intangible assets, net | 1,293,435 | 1,427,006 | ||||||
| Total long-term assets | 6,321,300 | 6,424,496 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 24,421,146 | $ | 25,280,215 | ||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
| Current Liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | 2,349,999 | $ | 3,183,379 | ||||
| Deferred revenue | 227,204 | 212,390 | ||||||
| Finance leases payable | — | 17,641 | ||||||
| Finance leases payable related party | — | 33,879 | ||||||
| Operating lease liabilities short term | 105,750 | 98,860 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 2,682,953 | 3,546,149 | ||||||
| Operating lease liabilities | 468,432 | 523,070 | ||||||
| Deferred tax liability | 39,031 | 39,031 | ||||||
| Total long-term liabilities | 507,463 | 562,101 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 3,190,416 | 4,108,250 | ||||||
| Commitments and contingencies (Note 7) | ||||||||
| Stockholders’ equity: | ||||||||
| Preferred stock, Series A par value $0.001; 10,000,000 shares authorized; 0 and 0 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2025, and December 31, 2024, respectively | — | — | ||||||
| Common stock, par value $0.001; 250,000,000 shares authorized; 7,230,619 and 7,045,108 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2025, and December 31, 2024, respectively | 7,231 | 7,045 | ||||||
| Additional paid in capital | 41,094,738 | 40,417,813 | ||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (19,691,560 | ) | (18,982,589 | ) | ||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | 64,015 | (23,214 | ) | |||||
| Total Data Storage Corp stockholders’ equity | 21,474,424 | 21,419,055 | ||||||
| Non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiary | (243,694 | ) | (247,090 | ) | ||||
| Total stockholders’ equity | 21,230,730 | 21,171,965 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 24,421,146 | $ | 25,280,215 | ||||
| The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated Financial Statements. |
DATA STORAGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES |
| CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS |
| (Unaudited) |
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |||||||||||||
| Sales | $ | 5,146,922 | $ | 4,910,492 | $ | 13,230,678 | $ | 13,146,239 | ||||||||
| Cost of sales | 2,610,168 | 2,502,599 | 7,834,028 | 7,771,874 | ||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 2,536,754 | 2,407,893 | 5,396,650 | 5,374,365 | ||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative | 3,332,421 | 2,796,679 | 6,284,826 | 5,549,356 | ||||||||||||
| Loss from operations | (795,667 | ) | (388,786 | ) | (888,176 | ) | (174,991 | ) | ||||||||
| Other income (expense): | ||||||||||||||||
| Interest income | 103,267 | 152,441 | 224,173 | 295,810 | ||||||||||||
| Interest expense | (16,236 | ) | (10,260 | ) | (18,245 | ) | (21,520 | ) | ||||||||
| Other expense | (23,327 | ) | — | (23,327 | ) | — | ||||||||||
| Total other income | 63,704 | 142,181 | 182,601 | 274,290 | ||||||||||||
| Income (loss) before provision for income taxes | (731,963 | ) | (246,605 | ) | (705,575 | ) | 99,299 | |||||||||
| Income taxes | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | (731,963 | ) | (246,605 | ) | (705,575 | ) | 99,299 | |||||||||
| (Income) loss in non-controlling interest of consolidated subsidiary | (1,086 | ) | 2,365 | (3,396 | ) | 13,563 | ||||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders | $ | (733,049 | ) | $ | (244,240 | ) | $ | (708,971 | ) | $ | 112,862 | |||||
| Earnings (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders – basic | $ | (0.10 | ) | $ | (0.04 | ) | $ | (0.10 | ) | $ | 0.02 | |||||
| Earnings (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders – diluted | $ | (0.10 | ) | $ | (0.04 | ) | $ | (0.10 | ) | $ | 0.02 | |||||
| Weighted average number of shares - basic | 7,155,464 | 6,973,068 | 7,119,102 | 6,902,138 | ||||||||||||
| Weighted average number of shares - diluted | 7,155,464 | 6,973,068 | 7,119,102 | 7,499,839 | ||||||||||||
| The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated Financial Statements. |
| DATA STORAGE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES |
| CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS |
| (Unaudited) |
| Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Cash Flows from Operating Activities: | ||||||||
| Net (loss) income | $ | (705,575 | ) | $ | 99,299 | |||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 713,899 | 634,509 | ||||||
| Stock-based compensation | 638,844 | 379,172 | ||||||
| Change in expected credit losses | 66,055 | 21,816 | ||||||
| Changes in Assets and Liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts receivable | 432,292 | (666,603 | ) | |||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | (1,133,931 | ) | (308,211 | ) | ||||
| Right of use asset | 49,964 | 78,206 | ||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | (756,101 | ) | 315,636 | |||||
| Deferred revenue | 14,814 | (127,257 | ) | |||||
| Operating lease liability | (47,748 | ) | (71,776 | ) | ||||
| Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities | (727,487 | ) | 354,791 | |||||
| Cash Flows from Investing Activities: | ||||||||
| Capital expenditures | (478,811 | ) | (902,571 | ) | ||||
| Purchase of marketable securities | (224,173 | ) | (295,810 | ) | ||||
| Sale of marketable securities | 975,000 | 400,000 | ||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | 272,016 | (798,381 | ) | |||||
| Cash Flows from Financing Activities: | ||||||||
| Repayments of finance lease obligations related party | (33,879 | ) | (142,774 | ) | ||||
| Repayments of finance lease obligations | (17,641 | ) | (133,473 | ) | ||||
| Proceeds from stock option exercises | 38,267 | 71,093 | ||||||
| Net cash used in financing activities | (13,253 | ) | (205,154 | ) | ||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash | 9,950 | — | ||||||
| Decrease in cash and cash equivalents | (458,774 | ) | (648,744 | ) | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 1,070,097 | 1,428,730 | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | 611,323 | $ | 779,986 | ||||
| Supplemental cash flow disclosures: | ||||||||
| Cash paid for interest | $ | 17,239 | $ | 14,303 | ||||
| Cash paid for income taxes | $ | — | $ | — | ||||
| Non-cash investing and financing activities: | ||||||||
| Assets acquired by operating lease | $ | — | $ | 647,958 | ||||
| The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated Financial Statements. |