ACME United (NYSE: ACU) CFO logs 15,000-share option grant and netted stock exercise

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

ACME United Corp Chief Financial Officer Paul G. Driscoll reported option awards and related transactions in company stock. On March 2, 2026, he received an employee stock option for 15,000 shares at an exercise price of $44.77 per share. According to the vesting schedule, 3,750 option shares will vest on each of March 2, 2027, March 2, 2028, March 2, 2029, and March 2, 2030.

On February 27, 2026, Driscoll exercised 15,000 employee stock options at $21.49 per share and simultaneously disposed of 15,000 shares of common stock to the issuer at $45.88 per share. The option exercise was effected on a net cash settlement basis directly with the company, without the actual issuance of any new shares of underlying common stock. After these transactions, he held 50,398 shares of common stock directly.

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

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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^*

DRISCOLL PAUL G

(Last) (First) (Middle)

1 WATERVIEW DRIVE

(Street)

SHELTON CT 06484

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
ACME UNITED CORP [ ACU ]

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

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

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/27/2026

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	02/27/2026	02/27/2026	M		15,000	A	$21.49	65,398	D
Common Stock	02/27/2026	02/27/2026	D		15,000(1)	D	$45.88	50,398	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
Employee Stock Option	$21.49	02/27/2026	02/27/2026	M			15,000	08/03/2020	08/03/2026	Common Stock	15,000	$21.49	145,000	D
Employee Stock Option	$44.77	03/02/2026	03/02/2026	A		15,000(2)		03/02/2030	03/02/2036	Common Stock	15,000	$44.77	160,000	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. The exercise of the subject option was effected on a net cash settlement basis in a transaction directly with the issuer not involving the actual issuance of any shares of the underlying common stock.

2. 3,750 shares will vest on March 2, 2027. 3,750 shares will vest on March 2, 2028. 3,750 shares will vest on March 2, 2029. 3,750 shares will vest on March 2, 2030.

	/s/ Paul G. Driscoll	03/03/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
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FAQ

What insider transactions did ACU CFO Paul G. Driscoll report on this Form 4?

Paul G. Driscoll reported a 15,000-share employee stock option grant and a 15,000-share option exercise paired with a 15,000-share disposition to ACME United Corp. The exercise used net cash settlement, so no new common shares were actually issued in that transaction.

What are the key terms of the new stock option grant to ACU’s CFO?

The grant covers 15,000 employee stock options with an exercise price of $44.77 per share. Vesting occurs in four equal installments of 3,750 options on March 2 of 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030, tying the award to multi‑year service.

How did the February 27, 2026 transactions affect ACU common shares for the CFO?

On February 27, 2026, Driscoll exercised 15,000 options at $21.49 and disposed of 15,000 common shares to the issuer at $45.88. The option exercise used net cash settlement, so the paired transactions did not result in additional common shares being issued into the market.

What does net cash settlement mean in the ACU CFO’s option exercise?

Net cash settlement means the option was settled directly with ACME United Corp in cash value rather than through delivery of new common shares. The filing specifies that no actual issuance of the underlying common stock occurred in this exercise to complete the transaction.

How many ACU common shares does the CFO hold after these reported transactions?

After the February 27, 2026 transactions, Paul G. Driscoll directly held 50,398 shares of ACME United Corp common stock. This total reflects the exercise and disposition reported, while the new option grant adds potential future stock exposure once tranches vest and are exercisable.

When will the ACU CFO’s newly granted stock options vest?

The 15,000 newly granted options vest in four equal installments. 3,750 options vest on March 2, 2027, followed by 3,750 on March 2, 2028, another 3,750 on March 2, 2029, and the final 3,750 options on March 2, 2030, if service conditions are met.