Hayward Told Investors Its Pool Business Was Booming — Then the Stock Collapsed. Now There’s a $19.85M Settlement Deadline, June 19, 2026

Hayward Holdings told investors its pool equipment business was thriving even as the real picture deteriorated. When the truth came out, the stock dropped — and investors lost money. A class action followed, and Hayward, its CEO and CFO, private equity sponsors CCMP Capital and MSD Partners, and several directors have agreed to pay $19.85 million to settle. If you purchased or otherwise acquired Hayward Holdings Inc. common stock between October 27, 2021 and July 28, 2022, you may be entitled to a payment — but only if you file a valid claim by June 19, 2026.

Field	Detail
Case Name	City of Southfield Fire and Police Retirement System v. Hayward Holdings, Inc., et al.
Case Number	2:23-cv-04146
Court	U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
Judge	Hon. William J. Martini
Settlement Amount	$19,850,000
Class Period	October 27, 2021 – July 28, 2022
Claim Deadline	June 19, 2026
Opt-Out / Objection Deadline	May 20, 2026
Fairness Hearing	July 28, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET
Proof Required	Yes — brokerage records required
Payout Per Person	Pro rata; varies by shares held and loss calculation
Administrator	A.B. Data, Ltd.
Official Website	haywsecuritieslitigation.com

Where things stand right now:

• The opt-out and objection deadlines are both May 20, 2026 — those come before the claim deadline.
• The court will hold a Settlement Hearing on July 28, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time before Judge Martini in Newark, New Jersey.
• Payments go out only after final court approval, resolution of any appeals, and processing of all claims — no confirmed payment date yet.

What Hayward Was Telling Wall Street While Its Inventory Picture Was Getting Worse

Hayward Holdings makes pool pumps, heaters, filters, and automation systems — the equipment behind backyard pools across North America. The company went public in 2021 on the back of a pandemic-era surge in pool construction and renovation.

The lawsuit alleges that during the class period of October 27, 2021 through July 28, 2022, Hayward, its CEO, and CFO made materially false and misleading statements and omissions regarding inventory, growth, and demand trends for Hayward’s pool products. In plain terms: the company was publicly painting an optimistic picture of demand and inventory while the actual situation was heading in the opposite direction.

The plaintiffs claimed these statements artificially inflated Hayward’s stock price and caused investor losses when corrective information entered the market. When the real inventory and demand numbers became public, the stock fell — and investors who had bought during the class period were left holding shares worth far less than what they paid.

The action further alleges that CCMP Capital, MSD Partners, and certain individual directors affiliated with those entities are liable as control persons under Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act. That means it is not just the executives in the crosshairs — the private equity firms that controlled Hayward around the time of its IPO are also named defendants.

The defendants denied all allegations of wrongdoing but agreed to settle to avoid the costs, risks, and delays of continued litigation.

Related article: A Brand New Juul Antitrust Lawsuit This One Is About Price-Fixing, Not Addiction. Here’s Where You Stand Claim Deadline June 13, 2026

You Bought HAYW Stock in That Nine-Month Window — You Likely Qualify

You are potentially a member of the Settlement Class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Hayward Holdings Inc. common stock between October 27, 2021 and July 28, 2022, inclusive.

You may qualify if:

• You purchased or acquired HAYW common stock at any point between October 27, 2021 and July 28, 2022
• You held shares that lost value when corrective disclosures about inventory and demand came out
• You are an individual investor, institutional investor, pension fund, or other entity that acquired shares during the class period
• Joint purchasers may also file — but all joint purchasers or acquirers must sign the claim form
• Executors, administrators, guardians, conservators, and trustees may submit claims on behalf of others but must provide proof of authority

You do not qualify if you are one of the defendants, their immediate family members, or certain affiliates — see Paragraph 8 of the official notice at haywsecuritieslitigation.com for the full exclusion list.

How Much You Receive Depends on When You Bought, When You Sold, and How Many Others File

This is a pro rata settlement — there is no flat payout per claimant. At this time, it is not possible to determine how much any individual class member may receive. After deductions for taxes, court-approved attorneys’ fees and expenses, the lead plaintiff’s service award, and costs of claims administration, the balance of the net settlement fund will be distributed pro rata in accordance with a Plan of Allocation.

The settlement administrator will calculate each class member’s payment based on the recognized loss amount assigned to each transaction, using different formulas depending on when shares were purchased and sold:

• Sold before January 24, 2022: Recognized loss is $0 — these investors do not recover under the plan.
• Sold between January 24, 2022 and July 28, 2022: Recognized loss is the lesser of the difference in artificial inflation between purchase and sale dates, or the actual out-of-pocket loss.
• Sold after July 28, 2022 through October 25, 2022: Recognized loss is the least of the artificial inflation at purchase, the purchase price minus the average closing price up to the sale date, or the out-of-pocket loss.
• Still held as of October 25, 2022: Recognized loss is the lesser of the artificial inflation at purchase or the purchase price minus $10.35 — the 90-day lookback average closing price.

The settlement administrator will set any recognized loss that calculates to a negative number to $0. Class members whose calculated payment would be less than $10 will not receive a payout.

From the $19,850,000 fund, attorneys can seek up to $6,616,667 in fees plus up to $270,000 in expenses, and the lead plaintiff can receive up to $10,000 as a service award.

How to File Your Claim — Brokerage Records Are Required

Step 1 — Go to haywsecuritieslitigation.com and click “File Online Claim Form,” or download the PDF proof of claim from the site and mail it.

Step 2 — Gather your brokerage records. Acceptable proof includes broker confirmation slips, broker account statements, or other documentation containing the transactional information found in a confirmation slip. Self-prepared summaries alone are not sufficient.

Step 3 — Enter your transaction details. You must provide the number of shares held as of the close of trading on October 26, 2021; trade dates for all purchases, acquisitions, and sales from October 27, 2021 through October 25, 2022; number of shares purchased, acquired, or sold; total purchase, sale, or acquisition price; and shares held as of the close of trading on October 25, 2022.

Step 4 — Provide your last four digits of your SSN or TIN. All class members must include this regardless of which claim tier they fall into.

Step 5 — Submit online or by mail. Proofs of claim must be postmarked or submitted electronically to the claims administrator by June 19, 2026. The mailing address is: Hayward Holdings Inc. Securities Litigation, c/o A.B. Data, Ltd., P.O. Box 173127, Milwaukee, WI 53217.

Step 6 — Save your confirmation number and monitor haywsecuritieslitigation.com for updates on approval and payment timing.

Estimated time to complete: 15–30 minutes, depending on how quickly you can locate brokerage records.

Opt Out by May 20 If You Want to Sue Separately — That’s a Month Before the Claim Deadline

Milestone	Date
Class Period Begins	October 27, 2021
Class Period Ends	July 28, 2022
Case Filed	2023 (D.N.J., Case No. 2:23-cv-04146)
Opt-Out Deadline	May 20, 2026
Objection Deadline	May 20, 2026
Claim Filing Deadline	June 19, 2026
Fairness Hearing	July 28, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET
Expected Payment Date	TBD — after final approval and appeals

Important: The opt-out deadline is May 20, 2026 — a full month before the claim deadline. If you want to preserve the right to pursue your own lawsuit against Hayward, you must act before May 20, not before June 19.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a lawyer to file a claim? 

No. Individual investors can file directly through haywsecuritieslitigation.com without retaining an attorney. The online claim form walks you through each step. If your holdings are complex — multiple accounts, institutional portfolios, or estate situations — you may want legal guidance, but it is not required.

Is this settlement legitimate?

 Yes. This official website is maintained by the claims administrator under the supervision of lead counsel in the action entitled City of Southfield Fire and Police Retirement System v. Hayward Holdings, Inc., et al., No. 2:23-cv-04146, pending in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Lead counsel is Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP. The claims administrator is A.B. Data, Ltd., a nationally recognized securities claims firm.

When will I receive my payment? 

No confirmed payment date exists. Payments will be made only if the court approves the settlement, and only after resolution of any appeals and the review and processing of all proofs of claim. The fairness hearing is July 28, 2026 — payments could follow several months after that.

What if I missed the claim deadline? 

The June 19, 2026 deadline is firm. Late claims are typically rejected. If you want to pursue independent legal action, you must opt out by May 20, 2026 — that deadline is earlier and cannot be extended by filing a late claim.

Will this settlement payment affect my taxes? 

Securities class action settlement payments are generally considered taxable income in the year received, though the specific tax treatment can depend on how the loss was originally treated on your returns. The settlement administrator will issue appropriate tax forms. Consult a tax professional regarding your individual situation.

What if I held HAYW through a broker or retirement account?

 You still qualify — the class includes anyone who purchased or acquired HAYW stock during the class period regardless of account type. Your broker’s confirmation slips and account statements serve as the required documentation. For retirement accounts, consult your account custodian about how to obtain the transaction records.

I bought HAYW before October 27, 2021 — can I still file? 

Only shares purchased or acquired during the class period — October 27, 2021 through July 28, 2022 — are eligible. However, you must also report shares held as of the close of trading on October 26, 2021 on your claim form, because that holding figure factors into the recognized loss calculation.

What is the difference between opting out and objecting?

 Opting out means you leave the settlement entirely and keep the right to sue Hayward independently — but you receive no payment. Objecting means you stay in the class, can still file a claim and receive payment, but you formally tell the court you disagree with some aspect of the settlement terms. You can object and still collect.

Sources & References

• Official settlement website: haywsecuritieslitigation.com
• Long-form class notice: haywsecuritieslitigation.com/media/ukvpzke4/hayward-long-form-notice.pdf
• PACER docket: U.S. District Court, D.N.J., Case No. 2:23-cv-04146
• Lead counsel contact: Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP — Cornelia Gordon, [email protected], (619) 798-5303

Last Updated: March 31, 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.