Vertex Energy (VTNRQ) Form 4 Vertex Energy / Benjamin P Cowart ownership change

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

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

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Cowart Benjamin P

(Last) (First) (Middle)

1331 GEMINI STREET

SUITE 250

(Street)

HOUSTON TX 77058

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Vertex Energy Inc. [ VTNR ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

X	Director	X	10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
CEO and President

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
05/14/2021

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock	04/09/2021		G	V	152,817	D	$0	1,864,458	D
Common Stock								174,085	I	Through spouse
Common Stock								70,214	I	Through The Shelley T. Cowart 2016 Grantor Retained Annuity Trust
Common Stock								4,796,761	I	Through B&S Cowart II Family LP
Common Stock								7,500	I	Through Vertex Holdings, Inc.
Common Stock								100,765	I	Through VTX Inc.

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option(1)	$2.12	05/14/2021		A		24,130		05/14/2022	05/14/2026	Common Stock	24,130	(2)	24,130	D
Stock Option(1)	$2.12	05/14/2021		A		24,130		05/14/2023	05/14/2026	Common Stock	24,130	(2)	24,130	D
Stock Option(1)	$2.12	05/14/2021		A		24,130		05/14/2024	05/14/2026	Common Stock	24,130	(2)	24,130	D
Stock Option(1)	$2.12	05/14/2021		A		24,130		05/14/2025	05/14/2026	Common Stock	24,130	(2)	24,130	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Stock options granted pursuant to the Registrant's 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, in a transaction exempt from Section 16 under Rule 16b-3.

2. Granted in consideration for services rendered and to be rendered as an officer of the Issuer.

	/s/ Benjamin P. Cowart	05/24/2021
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
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).
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