ESS Tech (NYSE: GWH) grants CEO 550,000 options at $1.68

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

ESS Tech reported a new stock option grant to its CEO and director, Drew P. Buckley. On January 28, 2026, he received options to purchase 550,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.68 per share, held as direct ownership.

These options expire on January 28, 2036. According to the vesting schedule, 25% of the shares will vest on February 20, 2027, and the remaining shares will vest in 1/16 increments each quarter, as long as he continues as a service provider through each vesting date.

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^*

Buckley Drew P

(Last) (First) (Middle)

C/O ESS TECH, INC

26440 SW PARKWAY AVE

(Street)

WILSONVILLE OR 97070

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
ESS Tech, Inc. [ GWH ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

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

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
01/28/2026

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

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
Stock Option (right to buy)	$1.68	01/28/2026		A		550,000		(1)	01/28/2036	Common Stock	550,000	$0	550,000	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. 25 % of the shares subject to the option will vest on February 20, 2027 and 1/16th of the shares subject to the option shall vest quarterly thereafter, subject to the Reporting Person remains as Service Provider to the issuer through each such vest date.

Remarks:

	/s/ Kate Suhadolnik, by power of attorney	01/29/2026
	** 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.

FAQ

What did ESS Tech (GWH) report in this Form 4 filing?

ESS Tech reported a stock option grant to its CEO. On January 28, 2026, CEO and director Drew P. Buckley received options for 550,000 shares of common stock, reflecting a new equity-based compensation award reported as direct beneficial ownership.

How many ESS Tech (GWH) shares are covered by the CEO’s new stock options?

The CEO received options for 550,000 shares of common stock. These derivative securities are stock options giving Drew P. Buckley the right to buy 550,000 ESS Tech shares if and when the options vest and are exercised in the future.

What is the exercise price of the ESS Tech (GWH) CEO’s stock options?

The stock options have an exercise price of $1.68 per share. This means Drew P. Buckley can purchase ESS Tech common stock at $1.68 per share upon vesting and exercise, subject to the option terms and continued service conditions.

When do the ESS Tech (GWH) CEO’s stock options start vesting?

Vesting begins on February 20, 2027. At that time, 25% of the option shares vest. The remaining shares vest in 1/16 increments each quarter, provided Drew P. Buckley continues as a service provider through each scheduled vesting date.

What is the full vesting schedule for ESS Tech (GWH) CEO’s options?

25% of the options vest on February 20, 2027. After this initial cliff, 1/16 of the total option shares vest quarterly. Vesting is conditioned on Drew P. Buckley remaining a service provider to ESS Tech through each vesting date.

When do the ESS Tech (GWH) CEO’s stock options expire?

The stock options expire on January 28, 2036. After this expiration date, any unexercised portion of the 550,000-share option grant can no longer be exercised, regardless of whether the options had previously vested under the award’s schedule.