Sono-Tek (SOTK) Insider Grant: 21,951 Options, $3.25 Strike

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Christopher Cichetti, a Vice President and director of Sono-Tek Corporation (SOTK), reported receipt of 21,951 stock options on 08/21/2025. The options have an exercise price of $3.25 per share, are exercisable beginning 08/21/2026 and expire on 08/21/2035. After this grant, Mr. Cichetti beneficially owns 79,763 shares of common stock on a direct basis. The Form 4 was signed and dated 08/22/2025.

Positive

• Equity alignment: Grant of 21,951 options aligns the officer/director with shareholder interests through long-term incentives
• Standard terms: One-year delay to exercisability and a long expiry date are typical and encourage retention

Negative

• Potential dilution: Exercise of 21,951 options would increase outstanding shares and dilute existing holders
• No vesting specifics disclosed: The filing states exercisability date but does not detail partial vesting or performance conditions

Insights

Securities Analyst

TL;DR: Insider received a standard option grant; this is routine compensation with limited immediate market impact.

The grant of 21,951 options at $3.25 appears to be an equity-based compensation event rather than an open-market purchase or sale. The options vest such that they become exercisable starting one year after grant and carry a long ten-year term to expiry, consistent with typical incentive awards designed to align executive interests with long-term shareholder value. Because this is a grant to an officer/director and not a sale, it does not signal insider liquidation. Impact on share count and potential dilution is quantifiable: the reported post-transaction beneficial ownership is 79,763 shares, including these options underlying shares if exercised.

Corporate Governance Expert

TL;DR: The filing documents routine executive compensation and raises standard governance monitoring items.

This Form 4 discloses an issuance of options to a named officer and director. Investors and governance committees typically monitor the size, exercise price, vesting schedule, and potential dilution from such awards. The exercise price of $3.25 sets the economic threshold for realizing value and the one-year delay to exercisability encourages retention. There is no indication in this filing of related-party transactions, accelerated vesting, or suspicious timing around material corporate events.

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^*

Cichetti Christopher

(Last) (First) (Middle)

SONO-TEK CORP., 2012 RT 9W

(Street)

MILTON NY 12547

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
SONO TEK CORP [ SOTK ]

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

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

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
08/21/2025

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

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
Sono-Tek Options	$3.25	08/21/2025		A		21,951		08/21/2026	08/21/2035	Sono-Tek Corp Common Stock	21,951	$3.25	79,763	D

Explanation of Responses:

Remarks:

	Christopher Cichetti	08/22/2025
	** 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.
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 Sono-Tek insider Christopher Cichetti report on Form 4 (SOTK)?

The Form 4 reports a grant of 21,951 options on 08/21/2025 with an exercise price of $3.25, exercisable from 08/21/2026 and expiring 08/21/2035.

How many shares does Christopher Cichetti beneficially own after the transaction?

The filing shows Mr. Cichetti beneficially owns 79,763 shares on a direct basis following the reported transaction.

Is this Form 4 a purchase, sale, or option grant for SOTK?

This filing documents an option grant (transaction code A) rather than an open-market purchase or sale.

When was the Form 4 signed and filed?

The Form 4 bears the reporting person’s signature dated 08/22/2025 documenting the 08/21/2025 transaction.

What is the exercise price and exercisability schedule of the options?

The options carry an exercise price of $3.25, are exercisable beginning 08/21/2026, and expire on 08/21/2035.