Form 4: Hayward Holdings CEO Executes Pre-Arranged Stock Option Exercise and Share Sale

Hayward Holdings, Inc. President and CEO Kevin Holleran exercised stock options and subsequently sold an equivalent number of common shares on July 3, 2025, under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.

Summary

• Kevin Holleran, President and CEO, and Director of Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW), reported transactions on July 3, 2025.
• Exercised 60,571 stock options at an exercise price of $1.4 per share.
• Sold 60,571 shares of common stock at a weighted average price of $14.1953 per share. The sales occurred in a price range from $14.10 to $14.345.
• The transactions were conducted pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 pre-arranged trading plan.
• Following these transactions, Kevin Holleran directly beneficially owns 623,540 shares of common stock and 2,817,426 stock options.
• Additionally, 700 shares are indirectly beneficially owned by Child A, 700 by Child B, and 700 by Child C.

Sentiment

Score: 6

Explanation: The sentiment is slightly positive as the CEO profited significantly from the option exercise and sale, which is a positive for the individual. The transaction itself is routine and pre-planned, mitigating any negative market perception of insider selling.

Positives

• The CEO realized a significant profit from exercising options at $1.4 and selling shares at an average of $14.1953, indicating a profitable return on his equity compensation.
• The transaction was executed under a Rule 10b5-1 plan, which suggests a pre-scheduled sale not based on new, non-public information, enhancing transparency.

Negatives

• The sale of shares by a key executive, even under a pre-arranged plan, could be perceived negatively by some investors, though this is mitigated by the 10b5-1 plan.

Risks

• While the sale was pre-arranged, significant insider selling, even under a 10b5-1 plan, can sometimes be interpreted by the market as a lack of confidence, potentially leading to minor downward pressure on the stock.

Future Outlook

The document does not provide any forward-looking statements or guidance regarding the company's future performance or strategic direction.

Management Comments

• The transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction, or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c).

Industry Context

This Form 4 filing is a routine disclosure of an insider's equity transaction and does not provide broader industry context or trends. It reflects an individual executive's compensation and personal financial planning rather than a strategic industry move.

Corporate Governance

Related Party Transactions

• Indirect beneficial ownership of 700 shares each by Child A, Child B, and Child C, totaling 2,100 shares, is disclosed.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The transaction is a routine insider sale under a pre-arranged plan, which typically has minimal direct impact on shareholders beyond the disclosure of an executive's personal equity management.
• Employees: No direct impact on employees is indicated by this filing.
• Customers/Suppliers/Creditors: No direct impact on these stakeholders is indicated by this filing.

Next Steps

• The document does not specify any future actions, events, or milestones for the company or the reporting person beyond the reported transaction.

Key Dates

Keywords

Hayward Holdings, HAYW, Form 4, insider trading, stock options, CEO, Kevin Holleran, share sale, equity compensation, 10b5-1 plan, beneficial ownership