ACME United director settles options, returns shares

ACME United Corp director Holden Richmond Y Jr reported an option exercise and share disposition.

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

ACME United Corp director Holden Richmond Y Jr reported an option exercise and share disposition. On September 5, 2025, he exercised employee stock options for 2,500 shares at $21.20 per share on a net cash settlement basis directly with the issuer, not involving issuance of any underlying common shares, and disposed of 2,500 common shares to the issuer at $44.36 per share. Following these transactions, he directly holds 15,250 common shares.

Insights

Securities Analyst

TL;DR: Routine director option exercise settled in cash; beneficial ownership updated but no new shares issued.

The Form 4 discloses a cash-settled exercise of 2,500 employee stock options at a $21.20 strike price executed 09/05/2025 by director Richmond Holden Y. Jr. The filer elected a net cash settlement directly with Acme United, and the explanatory note confirms no issuance of new shares. The report records both an acquisition line and a disposition line for the same 2,500-share amount, consistent with net settlement mechanics. Beneficial ownership figures are updated on both non-derivative and derivative lines, providing transparency on the director's current position.

Corporate Governance Expert

TL;DR: Disclosure is standard and complies with Section 16 reporting; net cash settlement avoids share issuance.

The filing identifies the reporting person as a director and lists the transaction date and mechanics clearly. The net cash settlement approach is explicitly stated, which is important for understanding that the transaction did not increase the company’s outstanding shares. The Form 4 appears complete for the disclosed transactions and updates the director's beneficial ownership on both non-derivative and derivative schedules as required.

Insider Trade Summary

2,500 shares exercised/converted

Exercise 3 txns

Insider HOLDEN RICHMOND Y JR

Role Director

Type	Security	Shares	Price	Value
Exercise	Employee Stock Option	2,500	$21.20	$53K
Exercise	Common Stock	2,500	$21.20	$53K
Disposition	Common Stock	2,500	$44.36	$111K

Holdings After Transaction: Employee Stock Option — 16,500 contracts (Direct); Common Stock — 15,250 shares (Direct)

Footnotes (1)

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.

Key Figures

Options exercised: 2,500 shares Disposition to issuer: 2,500 shares Exercise price: $21.20 per share +2 more

5 metrics

Options exercised 2,500 shares Employee stock options exercised on September 5, 2025 at $21.20 per share

Disposition to issuer 2,500 shares Common shares disposed to issuer on September 5, 2025 at $44.36 per share

Exercise price $21.20 per share Price for employee stock option exercise settled in cash with issuer

Disposition price $44.36 per share Price for common share disposition to issuer

Post-transaction holdings 15,250 shares Direct common stock holdings after reported transactions

Key Terms

Employee Stock Option, net cash settlement basis, Disposition to issuer

3 terms

Employee Stock Option financial

"security_title" : "Employee Stock Option""

An employee stock option is a promise that lets a worker buy company shares later at a predetermined price, often after they stay for a certain period or meet performance goals — think of it like a coupon that locks in today's price for a future purchase. It matters to investors because options align employees’ incentives with company performance, can increase the number of shares outstanding (dilution) when exercised, and represent a compensation cost that affects reported profits and shareholder value.

net cash settlement basis financial

"exercise of the subject option was effected on a net cash settlement basis"

Disposition to issuer financial

"transaction_action" : "issuer disposition""

FAQ

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

What did ACU director Holden Richmond Y Jr report in this transaction?

He exercised 2,500 employee stock options at $21.20 per share on a net cash settlement basis and disposed of 2,500 common shares to the issuer at $44.36 per share, leaving him with 15,250 shares directly held.

How many ACU shares does Holden Richmond Y Jr hold after the reported transactions?

After the September 5, 2025 transactions, Holden Richmond Y Jr directly holds 15,250 shares of ACME United Corp common stock, according to the reported post-transaction holdings data.

What were the prices involved in Holden Richmond Y Jr’s ACU transactions?

He exercised employee stock options at $21.20 per share and disposed of common stock to the issuer at $44.36 per share, both on September 5, 2025.

Did the ACU option exercise result in new shares being issued?

No. The option exercise was effected on a net cash settlement basis directly with ACME United Corp and did not involve the actual issuance of any shares of the underlying common stock.

What type of securities were involved in the ACU director’s Form 4 filing?

The filing reports an Employee Stock Option covering 2,500 underlying common shares and related Common Stock transactions, including disposition of 2,500 shares back to the issuer.

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

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Accepted by SEC EDGAR 09/08/2025 - 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^*

HOLDEN RICHMOND Y JR

(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		10% Owner
	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
09/05/2025

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	09/05/2025	09/05/2025	M		2,500	A	$21.2	17,750	D
Common Stock	09/05/2025	09/05/2025	D		2,500(1)	D	$44.36	15,250	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	$21.2	09/05/2025	09/05/2025	M			2,500	04/23/2019	04/22/2029	Common Stock	2,500	$21.2	16,500	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.

	/s/ Richmond Holden	09/08/2025
	** 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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