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
OMB APPROVAL
OMB Number: 3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response: 0.5
  
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 & President
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
04/23/2014
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 04/23/2014 M 80,000 A $0.5 2,812,364 D
Common Stock 4,796,761 I Through B&S Cowart II Family LP
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 Options $0.5 04/23/2014 M 20,000 07/15/2010 07/15/2014 Common Stock 20,000 $0(1) 185,000(2) D
Stock Options $0.5 04/23/2014 M 20,000 07/15/2011 07/15/2014 Common Stock 20,000 $0(1) 165,000(2) D
Stock Options $0.5 04/23/2014 M 20,000 07/15/2012 07/15/2014 Common Stock 20,000 $0(1) 145,000(2) D
Stock Options $0.5 04/23/2014 M 20,000 07/15/2013 07/15/2014 Common Stock 20,000 $0(1) 125,000(2) D
Explanation of Responses:
1. On July 15, 2009, the Issuer's Board of Directors approved the grant of 80,000 Stock options to Benjamin P. Cowart in consideration for services rendered as a Director of the Issuer.
2. Only includes stock options granted in consideration for services rendered and does not include warrants acquired in connection with the closing of the Issuer's April 2009 merger.
/s/ Benjamin P. Cowart 04/24/2014
** 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).
** 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.