Aqua Metals (NASDAQ: AQMS) CFO reports routine tax-withholding share disposition

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Aqua Metals, Inc. Chief Financial Officer Eric West reported a routine tax-withholding disposition related to a vesting equity award. On the April 13, 2026 vesting of a previously granted restricted share award, 863 shares of common stock were withheld and returned to the company’s plan to cover associated tax liabilities at a value of $3.92 per share. Following this non‑market transaction, West directly holds 65,058 shares of common stock, including 32,803 shares underlying restricted stock units that are not yet vested and deliverable.

Insider Trade Summary

1 transaction reported

Mixed 1 txn

Insider West Eric

Role Chief Financial Officer

Type	Security	Shares	Price	Value
Tax Withholding	Common Stock	863	$3.92	$3K

Holdings After Transaction: Common Stock — 65,058 shares (Direct)

Footnotes (1)

1. Represents the number of shares withheld and returned to the plan to cover the tax liability of the April 13, 2026 vesting of a previously reported restricted share grant represented in Table I. Includes 32,803 shares underlying restricted stock units ("RSUs") that are not yet vested and deliverable.

Key Figures

Tax-withheld shares: 863 shares Implied share value for withholding: $3.92 per share Shares held after transaction: 65,058 shares +1 more

4 metrics

Tax-withheld shares 863 shares Withheld and returned to plan on April 13, 2026

Implied share value for withholding $3.92 per share Value used for 863-share tax-withholding disposition

Shares held after transaction 65,058 shares Eric West direct common stock holdings following transaction

Unvested RSUs included in holdings 32,803 shares Underlying restricted stock units not yet vested and deliverable

Key Terms

tax liability, restricted share grant, restricted stock units ("RSUs"), withheld and returned to the plan

4 terms

tax liability financial

"to cover the tax liability of the April 13, 2026 vesting"

restricted share grant financial

"vesting of a previously reported restricted share grant represented in Table I"

restricted stock units ("RSUs") financial

"Includes 32,803 shares underlying restricted stock units ("RSUs") that are not yet vested"

Restricted stock units (RSUs) are a company promise to give an employee shares of stock (or cash equivalent) in the future, but only after certain conditions—usually staying with the company for a set time or hitting performance goals—are met. Investors watch RSUs because when they vest they increase the number of shares outstanding and can lead insiders to sell shares, affecting share price, company dilution and the true cost of employee pay.

withheld and returned to the plan financial

"Represents the number of shares withheld and returned to the plan"

Form 4 Insider Transactions: What Each Field Means →

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^*

West Eric

(Last) (First) (Middle)

5370 KIETZKE LN

SUITE 201

(Street)

RENO NEVADA 89511

(City) (State) (Zip)

UNITED STATES

(Country)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Aqua Metals, Inc. [ AQMS ]

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

2a. Foreign Trading Symbol

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
04/13/2026

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

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	04/13/2026		F(1)		863	D	$3.92	65,058(2)	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

Explanation of Responses:

1. Represents the number of shares withheld and returned to the plan to cover the tax liability of the April 13, 2026 vesting of a previously reported restricted share grant represented in Table I.

2. Includes 32,803 shares underlying restricted stock units ("RSUs") that are not yet vested and deliverable.

	/s/ Eric West	04/15/2026
	** 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.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.
* Form 4: SEC 1474 (03-26)

FAQ

What insider transaction did Aqua Metals (AQMS) disclose for Eric West?

Aqua Metals reported that CFO Eric West had 863 shares of common stock withheld on April 13, 2026 to cover tax liabilities from a vesting restricted share grant. The shares were returned to the company’s equity plan rather than sold on the open market.

Was the Aqua Metals (AQMS) Form 4 transaction an open-market sale?

No, the Form 4 shows a tax-withholding disposition, not an open-market sale. 863 shares were withheld and returned to the company’s plan to pay taxes due on a vesting restricted share grant, so no discretionary market trading occurred.

How many Aqua Metals (AQMS) shares does CFO Eric West hold after this filing?

After the April 13, 2026 tax-withholding transaction, Eric West directly holds 65,058 shares of Aqua Metals common stock. This includes 32,803 shares underlying restricted stock units that are granted but not yet vested or deliverable to him.

What does the 863-share tax withholding mean for Aqua Metals (AQMS) investors?

The 863-share withholding is a routine administrative step tied to equity compensation. Shares were returned to the plan to cover Eric West’s tax liability on a vesting award, so it does not signal discretionary buying or selling activity in Aqua Metals stock.

What are the unvested RSUs mentioned in the Aqua Metals (AQMS) Form 4?

The filing notes that Eric West’s holdings include 32,803 shares underlying restricted stock units (RSUs) that are not yet vested and deliverable. These RSUs represent future potential share deliveries, contingent on meeting vesting conditions and continued service.