[Form 4] Acme United Corporation Insider Trading Activity

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

On August 12-13, 2025, Richmond Y. Holden Jr., a director of Acme United Corp (ACU), exercised employee stock options and completed related transactions. He exercised 2,500 options with a $43.40 exercise price (exercisable and executed 08/12/2025) producing 2,500 underlying shares, and exercised 2,500 options with a $22.60 exercise price (executed 08/13/2025) producing 2,500 underlying shares. Concurrently, 2,500 shares were acquired at $22.66 and 2,500 shares were disposed of via a net cash settlement at an effective price of $44.58, reflecting an exercise settled without issuing shares. Following these transactions, Mr. Holden beneficially owned 21,500 shares from derivative holdings and 15,250 shares direct after the net settlement, per the reporting table.

Positive

• Timely disclosure of director option exercises and resulting ownership changes via Form 4
• Explanation provided that one exercise was settled on a net cash basis directly with the issuer

Negative

• Partial sale via net cash settlement reduced direct share count to 15,250, indicating insider liquidity
• No new share issuance for the net-settled exercise may limit transparency on exact proceeds beyond reported effective price

Insights

Securities Analyst

TL;DR: Director exercised options and partially sold shares via net cash settlement; holdings shifted but no new shares issued.

The filing shows option exercises at two strike prices and a net cash settlement sale. The $43.40 option exercise on 08/12/2025 converted 2,500 options into 2,500 shares. The $22.60 option exercise on 08/13/2025 shows acquisition of 2,500 shares at $22.66 and a separate reported disposition of 2,500 shares via net cash settlement at an effective $44.58 price, with the issuer handling the settlement without issuing underlying shares. Total derivative-based beneficial ownership increased to 21,500 shares while direct beneficial ownership reported after settlement is 15,250. This is a routine insider liquidity/compensation event rather than an operational development.

Corporate Governance Expert

TL;DR: Standard Section 16 disclosure of option exercises and net settlement; no governance red flags present.

The report is a timely Form 4 disclosing a director-level transaction pursuant to employment awards. The signature certifies accuracy and an explanatory note clarifies the net cash settlement method. There is no indication of extraordinary dilution or related-party transactions beyond typical executive option exercise mechanics. The filing fulfills disclosure obligations and clarifies post-transaction beneficial ownership levels.

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^*

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)
08/12/2025

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	08/13/2025	08/13/2025	M		2,500	A	$22.66	17,750	D
Common Stock	08/13/2025	08/13/2025	D		2,500(1)	D	$44.58	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	$43.4	08/12/2025	08/12/2025	A		2,500		08/13/2025	08/12/2035	Common Stock	2,500	$43.4	21,500	D
Employee Stock Option	$22.6	08/13/2025	08/13/2025	M			2,500	08/09/2018	08/08/2028	Common Stock	2,500	$22.66	19,000	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.

	/s/ Richmond Y. Holden Jr.	08/14/2025
	** 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).
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FAQ

What transactions did Richmond Y. Holden Jr. report on Form 4 for ACU?

The filing reports exercise of 2,500 options at $43.40 (08/12/2025) and exercise/acquisition of 2,500 shares related to $22.60 options (08/13/2025), plus a net cash-settled disposition of 2,500 shares.

How many ACU shares does Mr. Holden beneficially own after these transactions?

Following the reported transactions, the filing shows 21,500 shares from derivative holdings and 15,250 shares reported as direct beneficial ownership after the net settlement.

What prices are shown for the option exercises and settlement?

The filing lists a $43.40 exercise price for one option grant, a $22.66 acquisition price for shares on 08/13/2025, and an effective net cash-settlement price of $44.58 for the disposed shares.

Was any exercise settled without issuing shares?

Yes. The filing explains that the exercise resulting in the 2,500-share disposition was effected on a net cash settlement basis directly with the issuer, so no actual shares were issued for that exercise.

When were these transactions executed and when was the Form 4 signed?

Transactions are dated 08/12/2025 and 08/13/2025. The Form 4 is signed by Richmond Y. Holden Jr. on 08/14/2025.