Form 4: Aqua Metals CFO Eric West Withholds Shares for Tax

Aqua Metals' Chief Financial Officer, Eric West, disposed of 720 shares of common stock to cover tax liabilities related to a restricted share grant vesting.

Summary

• Eric West, Chief Financial Officer of Aqua Metals, Inc. (AQMS), reported a disposition of common stock.
• On November 20, 2025, 720 shares of common stock were withheld and returned to the plan.
• This transaction was to cover the tax liability associated with the vesting of a previously granted restricted share award.
• The deemed price for the disposition was $9.8 per share.
• Following this transaction, Eric West beneficially owns 38,745 shares, which includes 37,703 unvested Restricted Stock Units (RSUs).

Sentiment

Score: 5

Explanation: The filing reports a routine, non-discretionary transaction related to executive compensation and tax obligations, which is neutral in sentiment.

Positives

• The transaction is a routine, expected event related to the vesting of restricted stock, indicating the executive is receiving compensation as planned.

Negatives

• No specific negative aspects are identified as this is a routine tax-related transaction.

Risks

• No specific risks are mentioned in this filing.

Future Outlook

No forward-looking statements or guidance are provided in this filing.

Industry Context

This filing details a routine insider transaction related to executive compensation and tax obligations, which is common across all industries for publicly traded companies with equity compensation plans. It does not provide broader industry trends or competitive insights.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• Not applicable, as this filing reports a routine individual insider transaction for tax purposes, not company performance or project results.

Management Changes

Corporate Governance

Legal Proceedings

• No litigation or regulatory matters are mentioned in this filing.

Related Party Transactions

• The transaction involves the disposition of shares to the issuer to cover tax liability related to executive compensation, which is a standard arrangement and not typically considered an unusual related party transaction in this context.

Stakeholder Impact

• Minimal impact on shareholders as this is a routine, small-scale transaction for tax purposes by an executive.
• No direct impact on employees, customers, suppliers, or creditors is indicated by this filing.

Next Steps

• No specific future actions, events, or milestones are mentioned in this filing beyond the reported transaction.

Key Dates

Keywords

Aqua Metals, AQMS, Eric West, CFO, Form 4, Insider Transaction, Restricted Stock Units, Tax Withholding, Share Disposition