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): February 1, 2023

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)	(IRS 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 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

On February 1, 2023, Vertex Energy, Inc. (the “Company”, “we”, “us”, “Vertex” or “Vertex Energy”) issued a press release announcing the closing of the Sale Agreement (as defined below). A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, and is incorporated into this Item 7.01 by reference.

The information contained in this Item 7.01 and Exhibit 99.1 shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On February 1, 2023, HPRM LLC (“HPRM”), which is indirectly wholly-owned by the Company, entered into a Sale and Purchase Agreement (the “Sale Agreement”) with GFL Environmental Services USA, Inc. (“GFL”) whereby HPRM agreed to sell to GFL, and GFL agreed to purchase from HPRM, all of HPRM’s equity interest in Vertex Refining OH, LLC (“VROH”). Vertex Energy Operating, LLC (“Vertex Operating”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and GFL Environmental Inc. (“GFL Environmental”), an affiliate of GFL, were also parties to the Sale Agreement, solely for the purpose of providing certain guarantees of the obligations of HPRM and GFL as discussed in greater detail below.

Pursuant to the Sale Agreement, HPRM agreed to sell GFL all of its equity interests in VROH, which owns our Heartland refinery located in Columbus, Ohio (the “Heartland Refinery”). The sale will also include all property and assets owned by VROH, including inventory associated with the Heartland Refinery, and all real and leased property and permits owned by VROH, and all used motor oil collection and recycling assets and operations owned by VROH (collectively with the Heartland Refinery, the “Heartland Assets and Operations”).

The transactions contemplated by the Sale Agreement closed on February 1, 2023.

The purchase price for the transaction was $90 million (the “Purchase Price”), subject to certain customary adjustments for net working capital, taxes and assumed liabilities. We also entered into a transition services agreement, restrictive covenant agreement and, through our subsidiary Vertex Refining LA, LLC, a used motor oil supply agreement with GFL in connection with the sale.

The Sale Agreement includes representations and warranties, confidentiality obligations, and covenants of the parties customary for a transaction of this nature and size. The Sale Agreement also provides for indemnification rights of the parties with respect to, among other things, breaches of representations, warranties or covenants by the parties; failures to perform covenants or agreements; transfer taxes; and pre (HPRM)-and-post (GFL) closing operations of the Heartland Refinery, subject to certain limitations, caps and minimum thresholds.

Vertex Operating guaranteed all of the obligations of HPRM pursuant to the terms of the Sale Agreement and GFL Environmental guaranteed all of the obligations of GFL pursuant to the terms of the Sale Agreement.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit

No.

Description

99.1

Press release dated February 1, 2023

104

Inline XBRL for the cover page of this Current Report on Form 8-K

Forward-Looking Statements

This Current Report on Form 8-K, including the press release furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and, as such, may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions. You can identify these forward-looking statements by words such as “may,” “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan” and other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements relate to the Company’s current expectations and are subject to the limitations and qualifications set forth in the press release and presentation as well as in the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, that actual events and/or results may differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. These statements also involve known and unknown risks, which may cause the results of the Company, its divisions and concepts to be materially different than those expressed or implied in such statements, including those referenced in the press release. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include comments as to the Company’s beliefs and expectations as to future financial performance, events and trends affecting its business and are necessarily subject to uncertainties, many of which are outside the Company’s control. More information on potential factors that could affect the Company’s financial results is included from time to time in the “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of the Company’s periodic and current filings with the SEC, including the Form 10-Qs and Form 10-Ks, filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov and in the “Investor Relations” – “SEC Filings” section of the Company’s website at www.vertexenergy.com, and including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2022. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise that occur after that date, except as otherwise provided by law.

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: February 1, 2023	By:	/s/ Chris Carlson
		Chris Carlson
		Chief Financial Officer

Vertex Energy Inc filed SEC Form 8-K: Regulation FD Disclosure, Other Events, Financial Statements and Exhibits