8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): January 10, 2020

VERTEX ENERGY, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Nevada	001-11476	94-3439569
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
1331 Gemini Street Suite 250 Houston, Texas 77058
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (866) 660-8156

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.001 Par Value Per Share	VTNR	The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (Nasdaq Capital Market)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 8.01   Other Events.

On January 10, 2020, Vertex Energy, Inc. (the “Company”, “we” and “us”), filed a press release announcing the successful completion of a pilot test associated with a planned joint venture partnership. A copy of the press release is included herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and the information in the press release is incorporated by reference into this Item 8.01.

Item 9.01   Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press Release of Vertex Energy, Inc., dated January 10, 2020

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

	VERTEX ENERGY, INC.
Date: January 10, 2020	By:	/s/ Chris Carlson
		Chris Carlson
		Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press Release of Vertex Energy, Inc., dated January 10, 2020

EX-99.1

Vertex Energy, Inc. 8-K

Exhibit 99.1

VERTEX ENERGY, INC. ANNOUNCES SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF PILOT TEST

-Pilot Test Validates Process To Produce High-Purity Base Oil from Used Motor Oil Feedstock-

HOUSTON, TX., January 10, 2020 -- Vertex Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: VTNR, “Vertex” or the “Company”), a leading specialty refiner and marketer of high-quality hydrocarbon products, today announced that it has successfully completed a pilot test program required to proceed with Phase Two of its planned joint venture partnership with San Francisco-based investment firm Tensile Capital (“Tensile”).

As first announced on July 31, 2019, Vertex and Tensile entered into a definitive joint venture agreement to accelerate the full development of the Company’s Ohio-based Heartland base oil refinery, subject to a successful pilot test designed to validate a process by which used motor oil is converted into high purity base oil.

In December 2019, the pilot test was successfully completed. Following the positive test results, Vertex and Tensile have recently commenced a formal review process and are negotiating final documentation relating to the planned Phase Two of the joint venture. While Vertex anticipates moving forward with Phase Two in the next few weeks, there can be no assurance that the parties will agree on final transaction terms or that Phase Two will proceed as planned.

About Vertex Energy

Houston-based Vertex Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: VTNR) is a specialty refiner of alternative feedstocks and marketer of high-purity petroleum products. Vertex is one of the largest processors of used motor oil in the U.S., with operations located in Houston and Port Arthur (TX), Marrero (LA) and Heartland (OH). Vertex also co-owns a facility, Myrtle Grove, located on a 41-acre industrial complex along the Gulf Coast in Belle Chasse, LA, with existing hydro-processing and plant infrastructure assets that include nine million gallons of storage. The Company has built a reputation as a key supplier of Group II+ and Group III base oils to the lubricant manufacturing industry throughout North America.

Cautionary Statement Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including information about management’s view of Vertex Energy’s future expectations, plans and prospects, within the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”). In particular, when used in the preceding discussion, the words “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” or “may,” and similar conditional expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act, and are subject to the safe harbor created by the Act. Any statements made in this news release other than those of historical fact, about an action, event or development, are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the results of Vertex Energy, its divisions and concepts to be materially different than those expressed or implied in such statements. These risk factors and others are included from time to time in documents Vertex Energy files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to, its Form 10-Ks, Form 10-Qs and Form 8-Ks. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on Vertex Energy’s future results. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. Vertex Energy cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Finally, Vertex Energy undertakes no obligation to update these statements after the date of this release, except as required by law, and takes no obligation to update or correct information prepared by third parties that are not paid for by Vertex Energy.

Investor/Media Contact

Noel Ryan, IRC

720.778.2415

IR@vertexenergy.com