ACME UNITED (ACU) 10% Owner Walter C. Johnsen Exercises Options & Receives Award

What Happened

• Walter C. Johnsen, a reported 10% owner of ACME UNITED CORP (ACU), exercised stock options and received a stock award on July 29, 2026. He exercised 30,000 options with a $23.99 strike (gross cost $719,700) and was granted 25,000 shares (award value $1,497,500 at $59.90). To cover taxes/withholding, 20,361 shares were surrendered (disposed) at $59.90 (value $1,219,624). Based on the reported lines, the net new shares received appear to be 34,639 (30,000 − 20,361 + 25,000). The filing shows total reported value across lines of roughly $3.44 million.

Key Details

• Transaction date: July 29, 2026. Form 4 filed July 31, 2026 (appears timely).
• Option exercise: 30,000 shares exercised at $23.99; reported value $719,700.
• Tax/withholding: 20,361 shares disposed at $59.90; reported value $1,219,624.
• Award: 25,000 shares granted at $59.90; reported value $1,497,500.
• Footnote: F1 — the option exercise was effected on a net share settlement basis (shares were surrendered to cover tax/withholding).
• Shares owned after transaction: not stated in the supplied filing excerpt.

Context

• Net share settlement: The filing indicates a net settlement (tax withholding) rather than a separate cash payment for taxes — common when exercising options. That is why some shares were surrendered (disposed) immediately to cover tax liability.
• Derivative reporting: "M" code lines reflect option exercise/conversion. The "A" code is a grant/award (e.g., RSU/restricted stock or similar); the filing lists both an exercise and an award on the same date.
• Insider status: As a 10% owner, Johnsen is a significant shareholder (not necessarily an executive). These filings are factual disclosures of transactions and do not by themselves indicate the insider’s motives.