Hayward Holdings $19.85M Securities Settlement, Did You Buy HAYW Stock Between 2021 and 2022? Here Is How to Claim Your Payment Before June 19

Hayward Holdings, Inc. agreed to pay $19,850,000 to settle a securities class action lawsuit alleging its executives made materially false and misleading statements and omissions regarding inventory, growth, and demand trends for the company’s pool products. If you purchased or acquired Hayward Holdings common stock (ticker symbol HAYW) between October 27, 2021 and July 28, 2022, you may be eligible for a cash payment — but you must file your claim by June 19, 2026.

Field	Detail
Settlement Amount	$19,850,000
Claim Deadline	June 19, 2026 (online or postmarked)
Who Qualifies	Anyone who purchased or acquired HAYW common stock between October 27, 2021 and July 28, 2022, inclusive
Payout Per Person	TBD — pro rata based on Recognized Claim calculations after all valid claims are processed
Proof Required	Yes — brokerage confirmations or account statements for all transactions
Settlement Status	Preliminarily Approved — Final Approval Hearing set for July 28, 2026
Claims Administrator	A.B. Data, Ltd.
Official Website	www.HAYWSecuritiesLitigation.com
Administrator Phone	866-302-5581 (Mon–Fri)
Opt-Out / Objection Deadline	May 20, 2026
Final Approval Hearing	July 28, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET — U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
Last Updated	May 20, 2026

Current Status of the Hayward Settlement

• The Court preliminarily approved the Settlement Agreement dated January 23, 2026, and scheduled the Final Approval Hearing for July 28, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time before the Honorable William J. Martini in Newark, New Jersey.
• The claim deadline of June 19, 2026 falls before the Final Approval Hearing — you must file before that date even though the court has not yet granted final approval.
• The opt-out and objection deadlines already passed on May 20, 2026. If you did not exclude yourself by that date, you remain a Settlement Class Member and are eligible to file a claim.
• Payments will be issued only after final court approval and resolution of any appeals — processing takes additional time after the hearing.

What Is the Hayward Holdings Lawsuit About? City of Southfield Fire and Police Retirement System v. Hayward Holdings, Inc., No. 2:23-cv-04146 (D.N.J.)

Hayward Holdings is one of the biggest names in the U.S. pool equipment industry — the company makes pumps, filters, automation systems, and related products under well-known brands including AquaVac, OmniLogic, and Super Pump. It went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2021, backed by private equity sponsors CCMP Capital and MSD Partners.

The lawsuit alleges that between October 2021 and July 2022, Hayward engaged in what investors call “channel stuffing” — pushing excess inventory to distribution partners — leading to an undisclosed inventory glut. During earnings calls, executives allegedly described demand as “sustained,” “robust,” and “healthy” while concealing that the distribution channel was already clogged with unsold product.

According to the complaint, Hayward’s executives sugarcoated slumping sales and increasing inventory backlogs during several earnings calls between fiscal year 2021 and 2022. Judge Martini noted in his ruling that the allegations support the claim that statements denying excess channel inventory, downplaying the improvement of order backlogs, and portraying demand as “sustained” or “robust” or “healthy” were false or misleading.

The lawsuit alleges Defendants violated Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5. The corrective information reached the market in three waves: January 24, 2022, May 2, 2022 (after market close), and July 28, 2022 (before market open) — each disclosure allegedly removing a portion of the artificial inflation from the stock price.

When the full truth emerged in July 2022, Hayward’s stock price dropped 18%. Investors who bought at inflated prices during the class period and held through those disclosures are the people this settlement is designed to compensate.

The defendants named include Hayward Holdings, Inc.; CEO Kevin Holleran; CFO Eifion Jones; the CCMP Capital entities; the MSD Defendants; and individual directors Mark McFadden, Greg Brenneman, Timothy Walsh, Christopher Bertrand, and Kevin Brown. Defendants deny all allegations of wrongdoing or liability.

Do You Qualify for the Hayward Settlement? How to Know If HAYW Stock You Owned Is Eligible

This settlement covers stock investors, not consumers. Here is exactly how to know if this settlement includes you.

You may qualify if:

• You purchased or acquired Hayward Holdings, Inc. common stock (HAYW) on the NYSE at any point between October 27, 2021 and July 28, 2022, inclusive
• You held those shares through at least one of the three corrective disclosure dates — January 24, 2022, May 3, 2022, or July 28, 2022 — and suffered a loss as a result
• You are an individual investor, institutional fund, pension plan, IRA or 401(k) holder, trust, estate, or corporation that held HAYW shares during the class period
• If you are the legal representative or fiduciary of a person or entity that acquired HAYW stock — for example, the trustee of a trust — the trust is the Settlement Class Member and may be bound by your decisions

You do NOT qualify if:

• You are a named defendant in the case, a current or former executive officer or director of Hayward Holdings, or an immediate family member of the individual defendants
• You purchased HAYW stock only after July 28, 2022 — purchases outside the class period are not eligible
• You sold all your HAYW shares before the opening of trading on January 24, 2022 — the recognized loss for such shares is zero under the Plan of Allocation
• Your only exposure to Hayward was through short selling — recognized loss amounts on short positions are zero under this settlement

If you are unsure, contact the claims administrator at 866-302-5581 or email [email protected] — it is free and the staff can help you determine eligibility.

How Much Can You Get From the Hayward Settlement?

There is no fixed payout per person. Your individual payment depends on three things: the size of the net settlement fund after fees, how many valid claims are filed, and the calculation of your specific “Recognized Claim.”

Plaintiff’s Counsel will apply for attorneys’ fees of up to 33⅓% of the Settlement Fund, plus litigation expenses not to exceed $270,000, plus a Lead Plaintiff service award of up to $10,000. All of these come out of the $19,850,000 fund before individual payments are distributed.

Your payout is calculated using Recognized Loss Amounts tied to the alleged artificial inflation in the stock on your purchase date. The alleged artificial inflation per share during the class period breaks down as follows:

• October 27, 2021 – January 21, 2022: $6.76 per share
• January 24, 2022 – May 2, 2022: $4.89 per share
• May 3, 2022 – July 27, 2022: $2.86 per share
• July 28, 2022 onwards: $0.00 per share

In plain English: if you bought HAYW at the height of the alleged inflation and held through the July 28, 2022 drop, your recognized loss per share could be as high as $6.76. The actual payment you receive will be that loss calculated pro rata against everyone else’s valid claims in the fund. No distribution will be made to any claimant whose calculated payment is less than $10.00.

The more shares you held and the earlier in the class period you purchased them, the larger your potential claim. Run your brokerage records now to identify all HAYW transactions during the class period.

How to File Your Hayward Holdings Claim Before June 19, 2026

Step 1 — Visit the official claims website Go to www.HAYWSecuritiesLitigation.com and click on the Proof of Claim link.

Step 2 — Enter your claimant information Provide your full name, mailing address, email, phone number, last four digits of your Social Security or Taxpayer ID number, and your brokerage account number.

Step 3 — Complete your transaction schedule List all HAYW purchases and acquisitions from October 27, 2021 through July 28, 2022, all sales from October 27, 2021 through October 25, 2022, shares held as of October 26, 2021 (the day before the class period started), and shares held as of October 25, 2022. Report every transaction — including ones that resulted in a gain.

Step 4 — Attach your documentation You must attach copies of broker confirmations or other documentation for every transaction listed. Failure to provide this documentation could delay verification or result in rejection of your claim. Pull these from your brokerage’s trade history — most online brokerages allow you to export trade confirmations directly.

Step 5 — Sign the release and submit You must sign the release section of the Proof of Claim. Failure to sign the release may result in a delay in processing or the rejection of your claim.

Step 6 — Save your confirmation The Claims Administrator will acknowledge receipt of your claim by mail within 45 days. Your claim is not deemed filed until you receive an acknowledgment postcard. If you do not receive one within 45 days, contact the administrator at [email protected].

Estimated time to complete: 15–30 minutes if your brokerage records are readily accessible.

You can also mail a paper claim to: Hayward Holdings, Inc. Securities Litigation, c/o A.B. Data Ltd., P.O. Box 173127, Milwaukee, WI 53217 The mailed claim must be postmarked no later than June 19, 2026.

Key Deadlines — Hayward Holdings Settlement

Milestone	Date
Settlement Agreement Signed	January 23, 2026
Preliminary Approval Order	February 28, 2026
Opt-Out / Objection Deadline	May 20, 2026 (PASSED)
Claim Filing Deadline	June 19, 2026
Final Approval Hearing	July 28, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET
Expected Payment Date	TBD — after final approval, resolution of any appeals, and processing of all claims

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a lawyer to file a Hayward settlement claim? 

No. The Court appointed Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP as Lead Counsel to represent all Settlement Class Members. You do not need to hire your own lawyer to file a claim, though you are free to do so at your own expense. The Proof of Claim form is straightforward and available free at the official settlement website.

Is the Hayward Holdings settlement legitimate?

 Yes. The settlement was authorized by the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, before the Honorable William J. Martini. The notice was sent pursuant to a Court order. It is not a solicitation from a lawyer. The $19,850,000 fund is held by the Claims Administrator, A.B. Data, Ltd.

When will I receive my Hayward settlement payment?

 The Court will hold the Final Approval Hearing on July 28, 2026. If the Court approves the Settlement, there may be appeals, and it also takes time for the Claims Administrator to process all Proofs of Claim. Please be patient. Realistically, payments are unlikely before late 2026 at the earliest.

I missed the Hayward opt-out deadline. Can I still exclude myself?

 No. The opt-out deadline was May 20, 2026. If you did not timely submit a written exclusion request postmarked by that date, you remain a Settlement Class Member and are bound by the Settlement and the Court’s judgment, whether or not you file a claim.

What if I missed the claim deadline of June 19, 2026?

 If you miss the June 19, 2026 claim deadline, you will not receive a payment from the Settlement Fund. However, because you did not opt out, you are still bound by the release — meaning you cannot sue Hayward or the other defendants over the same claims in a separate lawsuit. Filing on time is critical to protecting both your right to compensation and your legal options.

Will my Hayward settlement payment be taxable? 

Settlement payments in securities class actions are generally treated as a return of capital or a capital gain depending on your specific tax situation and how long you held the stock. Consult a tax professional for guidance specific to your circumstances. The Claims Administrator will send a Form 1099 if required.

What was Hayward Holdings accused of doing?

The lawsuit alleged that Hayward Holdings, its CEO and CFO, private equity sponsors CCMP Capital and MSD Partners, and several individual directors made materially false and misleading statements and omissions regarding inventory, growth, and demand trends for Hayward’s pool products, in violation of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5. Defendants deny all wrongdoing.

How do I contact the Hayward settlement administrator?

 Contact A.B. Data, Ltd. by phone at 866-302-5581 (Monday through Friday), by email at [email protected], or by mail at Hayward Holdings, Inc. Securities Litigation, c/o A.B. Data Ltd., P.O. Box 173127, Milwaukee, WI 53217.

Sources & References

• Official Long-Form Notice — City of Southfield Fire and Police Retirement System v. Hayward Holdings, Inc., No. 2:23-cv-04146 (D.N.J.) — haywardsecuritieslitigation.com
• Official Proof of Claim and Release Form — haywardsecuritieslitigation.com

Prepared by the AllAboutLawyer.com Editorial Team and reviewed for factual accuracy against the official Court-authorized Long-Form Notice and Proof of Claim documents for Case No. 2:23-cv-04146 (D.N.J.), dated February 28, 2026. Last Updated: May 20, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.