Aqua Metals (NASDAQ: AQMS) officer cancels RSUs and PSUs grants

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Aqua Metals, Inc. filed a Form 4 for Chief Engineering and Operating Officer Benjamin S. Taecker reporting voluntary cancellations of equity awards. On January 7, 2026, he agreed to forfeit and cancel unvested restricted stock units (RSUs) previously granted, which is shown as a disposition of 13 shares of common stock at a price of $0. Following this adjustment, he beneficially owned 36,480 shares of common stock, including 30,543 shares underlying RSUs that are not yet vested and deliverable.

The filing also reports that he voluntarily agreed to forfeit and cancel all outstanding performance share units (PSUs). These included several PSU awards covering 443 shares each and one award covering 1,329 shares of common stock, all recorded as derivative securities with a $0 exercise price and reduced to zero units held after the transactions. These changes represent internal modifications to his equity compensation rather than open-market share sales.

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^*

Taecker Benjamin S.

(Last) (First) (Middle)

5370 KIETZKE LN

SUITE 201

(Street)

RENO NV 89511

(City) (State) (Zip)

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 Eng and Opr Officer

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
01/07/2026

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	01/07/2026		D(1)		13	D	$0	36,480(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
Performance Share Units	$0	01/07/2026		D(3)			443	12/31/2025	12/31/2025	Common Stock	443	$0	0	D
Performance Share Units	$0	01/07/2026		D(3)			443	12/31/2026	12/31/2026	Common Stock	443	$0	0	D
Performance Share Units	$0	01/07/2026		D(3)			443	12/31/2027	12/31/2027	Common Stock	443	$0	0	D
Performance Share Units	$0	01/07/2026		D(3)			1,329	12/31/2027	12/31/2027	Common Stock	1,329	$0	0	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Represents voluntary agreement to forfeit and cancel unvested restricted stock units ("RSUs") previously granted and reported on Table I.

2. Includes 30,543 shares underlying restricted stock units ("RSUs") that are not yet vested and deliverable.

3. Represents voluntary agreement to forfeit and cancel all outstanding performance stock units ("PSUs") previously granted and reported on Table II.

	/s/ Eric West, by power of attorney	01/09/2026
	** 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).
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FAQ

Who is the insider in Aqua Metals (AQMS) involved in this Form 4?

The Form 4 relates to Benjamin S. Taecker, who serves as Chief Engineering and Operating Officer of Aqua Metals, Inc.

What equity awards did the Aqua Metals (AQMS) officer cancel on January 7, 2026?

On January 7, 2026, the officer voluntarily agreed to forfeit and cancel unvested restricted stock units (RSUs) reported in Table I and all outstanding performance stock units (PSUs) reported in Table II.

How many Aqua Metals (AQMS) common shares does the officer hold after the reported Form 4 transactions?

After the reported transactions, the officer beneficially owned 36,480 shares of Aqua Metals common stock, which includes 30,543 shares underlying RSUs that are not yet vested and deliverable.

Were the Aqua Metals (AQMS) Form 4 transactions open-market sales?

No. The Form 4 describes voluntary forfeitures and cancellations of unvested RSUs and PSUs at a price of $0, rather than open-market purchases or sales.

What do the performance share unit (PSU) entries in the Aqua Metals (AQMS) Form 4 represent?

The PSU entries show several performance share unit awards tied to common stock, with underlying amounts of 443 shares and 1,329 shares each. All are reported as derivative securities with a $0 exercise price and were voluntarily forfeited and canceled, leaving 0 units beneficially owned after the transactions.

What is the significance of the 13 Aqua Metals (AQMS) common shares disposed at $0?

The disposition of 13 shares of common stock at $0 is explained as part of a voluntary agreement to forfeit and cancel unvested RSUs that had been previously granted and reported on Table I.