# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0000890447
**File Stem:** 0001839882-23-007385
**Filing Date:** 2023-3
**Character Count:** 8438
**Document Hash:** 7cf27de8346b008ed79b3ee03c393e6d
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001839882-23-007385.hdr.sgml**: 20230323

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001839882-23-007385

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 4

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 1

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20230316

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20230323

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20230323

**REPORTING-OWNER**: 

**OWNER DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** Stratton Christopher Allen
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001470954

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 4
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 001-11476
- **FILM NUMBER:** 23756393

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 1331 GEMINI STREET
- **STREET 2:** #250
- **CITY:** HOUSTON
- **STATE:** TX
- **ZIP:** 77058
**ISSUER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** Vertex Energy Inc.
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0000890447
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** PETROLEUM REFINING [2911]
- **IRS NUMBER:** 943439569
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** NV
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1231

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 1331 GEMINI STREET
- **STREET 2:** SUITE 250
- **CITY:** HOUSTON
- **STATE:** TX
- **ZIP:** 77058
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 866-660-8156

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 1331 GEMINI STREET
- **STREET 2:** SUITE 250
- **CITY:** HOUSTON
- **STATE:** TX
- **ZIP:** 77058

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** WORLD WASTE TECHNOLOGIES INC
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 20040830

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** VOICE POWERED TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL INC
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 19940831

### UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
**Washington, D.C. 20549**

## FORM 4

### STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

[ ] 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**<sup>*</sup><br>Stratton Christopher Allen<br><sub>(Last) (First) (Middle)</sub><br>1331 GEMINI STREET<br>SUITE 250<br><sub>(Street)</sub><br>HOUSTON, TX 77058<br><sub>(City) (State) (Zip)</sub> | **3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)**<br>2023-03-16 | **5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer**<br>(Check all applicable)<br>[X] Director [ ] 10% Owner<br>[ ] Officer (give title below) [ ] Other (specify below)<br>_ _ |
| **2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol**<br>Vertex Energy Inc. [ VTNR ] | **4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)**<br>  | **6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)**<br>[X] Form filed by One Reporting Person<br>[ ] Form filed by More than One Reporting Person |

---

## Table I - Non-Derivative Securities

---

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Title of Security | 2. Transaction Date | 2A. Deemed Execution Date | 3. Transaction Code (V) | 3. Transaction Code (V) | 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned | 6. Ownership Form | 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| 1. Title of Security | 2. Transaction Date | 2A. Deemed Execution Date | Code | V | Amount | (A) or (D) | Price | 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned | 6. Ownership Form | 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| Common Stock | 2023-03-16 |  | M<sup>(1)</sup> |  | 60000 | A | $1.26 | 126913 | D |  |
| Common Stock | 2023-03-16 |  | F<sup>(1)</sup> |  | 9193 | D | $8.22 | 117720 | D |  |
| Common Stock | 2023-03-16 |  | M<sup>(2)</sup> |  | 45000 | A | $1.45 | 162720 | D |  |
| Common Stock | 2023-03-16 |  | F<sup>(2)</sup> |  | 7934 | D | $8.22 | 154786 | D |  |
| Common Stock | 2023-03-16 |  | M<sup>(3)</sup> |  | 15000 | A | $1.92 | 169786 | D |  |
| Common Stock | 2023-03-16 |  | F<sup>(3)</sup> |  | 3502 | D | $8.22 | 166284 | D |  |

---

## Table II - Derivative Securities

---

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Title of Derivative Security | 2. Conversion or Exercise Price | 3. Transaction Date | 3A. Deemed Execution Date | 4. Transaction Code (V) | 4. Transaction Code (V) | 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date | 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date | 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities | 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities | 8. Price of Derivative Security | 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned | 10. Ownership Form | 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| 1. Title of Derivative Security | 2. Conversion or Exercise Price | 3. Transaction Date | 3A. Deemed Execution Date | Code | V | (A) | (D) | Date Exercisable | Expiration Date | Title | Amount or Number of Shares | 8. Price of Derivative Security | 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned | 10. Ownership Form | 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| Option to Purchase Common Stock | $1.26 | 2023-03-16 |  | M |  |  | 60000 | <sup>(4)</sup> | 2026-12-13 | Common Stock | 60000 | $0 | 0 | D |  |
| Option to Purchase Common Stock | $1.45 | 2023-03-16 |  | M |  |  | 45000 | <sup>(5)</sup> | 2029-05-20 | Common Stock | 45000 | $0 | 15000<sup>(7)</sup> | D |  |
| Option to Purchase Common Stock | $1.92 | 2023-03-16 |  | M |  |  | 15000 | <sup>(6)</sup> | 2031-05-14 | Common Stock | 15000 | $0 | 45000<sup>(8)</sup> | D |  |

---

### Footnotes:

(1) Represents a "net exercise" of outstanding stock options. The reporting person received 50,807 shares of common stock upon the net exercise of options to purchase 60,000 shares of common stock. The Company withheld 9,193 shares of common stock underlying the portion of the option exercised for payment of the exercise price, using the fair market value on March 16, 2023, pursuant to the terms of the applicable option agreement.

(2) Represents a "net exercise" of outstanding stock options. The reporting person received 37,066 shares of common stock upon the net exercise of options to purchase 45,000 shares of common stock. The Company withheld 7,934 shares of common stock underlying the portion of the option exercised for payment of the exercise price, using the fair market value on March 16, 2023, pursuant to the terms of the applicable option agreement.

(3) Represents a "net exercise" of outstanding stock options. The reporting person received 11,498 shares of common stock upon the net exercise of options to purchase 15,000 shares of common stock. The Company withheld 3,502 shares of common stock underlying the portion of the option exercised for payment of the exercise price, using the fair market value on March 16, 2023, pursuant to the terms of the applicable option agreement.

(4) A total of 15,000 of the options vested on each of December 13, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

(5) A total of 15,000 of the options vested on each of May 20, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

(6) The 15,000 options vested on May 14, 2022.

(7) These options vest on May 20, 2023, subject to the Reporting Person's continued service to the Issuer on such date.

(8) These options vest at the rate of 15,000 of such options on each of May 14, 2023, 2024 and 2025, subject to the Reporting Person's continued service to the Issuer on such dates.

**Signature:** /s/ Christopher Allen Stratton  
**Date:** 2023-03-23

### Remarks:

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.**