ACME United CEO reports option grant, exercise

ACME United Corp director and CEO Walter C. Johnsen reported multiple equity compensation transactions.

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

ACME United Corp director and CEO Walter C. Johnsen reported multiple equity compensation transactions. On March 2, 2026, he received a grant of 25,000 employee stock options at an exercise price of $44.77 per share. According to a footnote, 6,250 options vest on each of March 2, 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030.

On February 27, 2026, he exercised 30,000 employee stock options at $21.49 per share and acquired 30,000 shares of common stock through this derivative exercise. The same day, he disposed of 30,000 common shares to the issuer at $45.88 per share. A footnote states this option exercise was settled on a net cash basis directly with the issuer and did not involve the actual issuance of any underlying common shares.

Insider Trade Summary

30,000 shares exercised/converted

Exercise 4 txns

Insider JOHNSEN WALTER C

Role Chairman and CEO

Type	Security	Shares	Price	Value
Grant/Award	Employee Stock Option	25,000	$44.77	$1.12M
Exercise	Employee Stock Option	30,000	$21.49	$645K
Exercise	Common Stock	30,000	$21.49	$645K
Disposition	Common Stock	30,000	$45.88	$1.38M

Holdings After Transaction: Employee Stock Option — 802,000 contracts (Direct); Common Stock — 314,999 shares (Direct)

Footnotes (2)

1. F1. 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. F2. 6,250 shares will vest on March 2, 2027. 6,250 shares will vest on March 2, 2028. 6,250 shares will vest on March 2, 2029. 6,250 shares will vest on March 2, 2030.

FAQ

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What insider transactions did ACU Chairman and CEO Walter C. Johnsen report?

Walter C. Johnsen reported an option grant, an option exercise, and a related share disposition. He received 25,000 employee stock options, exercised 30,000 options into common stock, and disposed of 30,000 common shares back to the issuer in a net cash settlement transaction.

What are the terms of Walter C. Johnsen’s new stock option grant at ACU?

Johnsen received 25,000 employee stock options at an exercise price of $44.77 per share. A footnote explains vesting: 6,250 options vest on March 2 in each of 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030, creating a four-year vesting schedule.

How many ACU options did Walter C. Johnsen exercise and at what price?

He exercised 30,000 employee stock options on February 27, 2026 at an exercise price of $21.49 per share. This derivative exercise converted options into 30,000 shares of common stock as part of the reported equity compensation activity.

What happened to the 30,000 ACU common shares after the option exercise?

On the same date as the exercise, 30,000 common shares were disposed of to the issuer at $45.88 per share. A footnote states the option exercise used net cash settlement directly with the issuer and did not involve actual issuance of any underlying shares.

How do the vesting dates for ACU CEO Walter C. Johnsen’s new options break down?

The 25,000 new options vest in four equal installments. Footnote disclosure states that 6,250 options will vest on March 2, 2027, another 6,250 on March 2, 2028, 6,250 on March 2, 2029, and the final 6,250 on March 2, 2030.

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

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Accepted by SEC EDGAR 03/03/2026 - 04:30 PM Learn about SEC filing dates

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
Estimated average burden
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^*

JOHNSEN WALTER C

(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)

X	Director	X	10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	Chairman and CEO

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		30,000	A	$21.49	344,999	D
Common Stock	02/27/2026	02/27/2026	D		30,000(1)	D	$45.88	314,999	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			30,000	08/03/2020	08/03/2026	Common Stock	30,000	$21.49	388,500	D
Employee Stock Option	$44.77	03/02/2026	03/02/2026	A		25,000(2)		03/02/2030	03/02/2036	Common Stock	25,000	$44.77	413,500	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. 6,250 shares will vest on March 2, 2027. 6,250 shares will vest on March 2, 2028. 6,250 shares will vest on March 2, 2029. 6,250 shares will vest on March 2, 2030.

	/s/ Walter C. Johnsen	03/03/2026
	** 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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