Director Brian Barker of Acme United Corp filed a Form 4 on November 4, 2026, disclosing transactions dated November 3, 2026, involving the exercise of employee stock options and a net share settlement in Acme United common stock.

Key Highlights

  • Option exercise: Brian Barker, a director, exercised 5,000 employee stock options at an exercise price of $21.75 per share on November 3, 2026, using transaction code M.
  • Net share settlement: 1,565 shares were withheld (transaction code F) at $69.50 per share to cover the settlement, as noted in the filing's explanation of responses.
  • Resulting common stock ownership: Following the transactions, Barker directly held 3,435 shares of common stock.
  • Remaining derivative securities: Barker beneficially owned 12,500 employee stock options with an exercise price of $21.75 following the reported transaction.
  • Issuer: Acme United Corp, trading on NYSE:ACU, is the issuer named in the filing.

Barker's November 2026 Option Exercise and Net Share Settlement at Acme United

According to the Form 4 filed with the SEC on November 4, 2026, director Brian Barker of Acme United Corp (NYSE:ACU) exercised 5,000 employee stock options on November 3, 2026. The options carried a conversion or exercise price of $21.75 per share. The filing records this exercise under transaction code M in both Table I and Table II, with the acquired shares listed as 5,000 common shares.

Simultaneously, the filing reports a disposition of 1,565 shares under transaction code F at a price of $69.50 per share. The filing's explanation of responses states: "The exercise of the subject option was effected on a net share settlement basis." Following this disposition, Barker directly held 3,435 shares of Acme United common stock, according to the filing.

In Table II, the filing discloses that Barker disposed of 5,000 employee stock options through the exercise (transaction code M), leaving him with 12,500 employee stock options beneficially owned directly after the reported transactions. The options that were exercised carried an exercise price of $21.75. All reported ownership forms are listed as direct (D) in the filing.

What Was Disclosed

Director Brian Barker disclosed the exercise of 5,000 employee stock options at $21.75 per share and the net share settlement withholding of 1,565 shares at $69.50 per share on November 3, 2026, resulting in direct ownership of 3,435 common shares and 12,500 remaining options.