JOHNSEN WALTER C 4

What Happened
Walter C. Johnsen, a 10% owner of ACME UNITED CORP (ACU), exercised options to acquire 30,000 shares at $23.99 per share (total exercise cost $719,700) on 2026-05-13. To cover the exercise price and tax liability, 24,166 shares were withheld/sold at $40.53 per share (proceeds $979,448). After the net-share settlement, Johnsen received a net 5,834 shares (30,000 exercised − 24,166 withheld). The Form 4 shows both the option exercise (acquisition) and the share disposition tied to tax/price settlement.

Key Details

• Transaction date: 2026-05-13. Form filed: 2026-05-15 (timely filing).
• Option exercise: 30,000 shares exercised @ $23.99 = $719,700 (code M).
• Tax/withholding disposition: 24,166 shares disposed @ $40.53 = $979,448 (code F). Footnote: exercise was effected on a net share settlement basis.
• Net shares received: 5,834 shares.
• Shares owned after transaction: not specified in the provided excerpt of the filing.
• Insider status: Johnsen is reported as a 10% owner (principal), not an executive-level title in this filing.

Context
This was an option exercise with net share settlement (a common method where some shares are withheld or sold to cover exercise costs and taxes). The withholding/disposition does not necessarily signal a market view — it’s a routine way to meet tax and exercise obligations. Transaction codes: M = option exercise; F = payment of exercise price or tax liability.