Company Update

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): December 16, 2025 Ascent Industries Co. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 0-19687 57-0426694 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) 20 N. Martingale Rd, Suite 430, Schaumburg, Illinois 60173 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) (630) 884-9181 (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) Not applicable (Former name or former address if changed since last report) 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 (see General Instruction A.2. below): ☐     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 Name of exchange on which registered Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share ACNT NASDAQ Global Market Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §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 December 16, 2025, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a new share repurchase program. The new share repurchase program allows for repurchase of up to 2.0 million shares of the Company's outstanding common stock over 24 months. The shares will be purchased from time to time at prevailing market prices, through open market or privately negotiated transactions, depending on market conditions. Under the program, the purchases will be funded from available working capital, and the repurchased shares will be returned to the status of authorized, but unissued shares of common stock or held in treasury. There is no guarantee as to the exact number of shares that will be repurchased by the Company, if any, and the Company may discontinue purchases at any time that management determines additional purchases are not warranted. On December 18, 2025, the Company issued a press release announcing the new share repurchase program which is included as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference On December 19, 2025, Ascent Industries Co. (the “Company”) adopted a written trading plan under Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”). The trading plan will include purchases up to the total amount of 2.0 million shares executed daily based on specified price targets. This written trading plan will take effect on December 19, 2025 and will cease on March 4, 2026. Adopting a trading plan that satisfies the conditions of Rule 10b5-1 allows a company to repurchase its shares at times when it might otherwise be prevented from doing so due to self-imposed trading blackout periods or pursuant to insider trading laws. A broker selected by the Company will have the authority under the terms and limitations specified in the plan to repurchase shares on the Company’s behalf in accordance with the terms of the plan. After the expiration of the current trading plan, the Company may from time to time enter into subsequent trading plans under Rule 10b5-1 to facilitate the repurchase of its common stock pursuant to its stock repurchase program. Information regarding stock repurchases will be available in the Company’s periodic reports on Form 10-Q and 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as required by the applicable rules of the Exchange Act. Item 9.01.    Financial Statements and Exhibits (d) Exhibits Exhibit Number Description of Exhibit 99.1 Ascent Industries Co. Press Release dated December 18, 2025 104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. ASCENT INDUSTRIES CO. Dated: December 19, 2025 By: /s/ Ryan Kavalauskas Ryan Kavalauskas Chief Financial Officer