Form 4: Hayward Holdings CEO Exercises Stock Options and Sells Shares

Hayward Holdings, Inc. President and CEO, Kevin Holleran, reported exercising stock options and subsequently selling an equal number of common shares on June 16, 2025, as part of a pre-planned Rule 10b5-1 strategy.

Summary

• Kevin Holleran, President and CEO, and Director of Hayward Holdings, Inc. (HAYW), reported transactions on June 16, 2025.
• He exercised 60,574 stock options at an exercise price of $1.4 per share.
• Concurrently, he sold 60,574 shares of common stock at a weighted average price of $13.7118 per share.
• The sale price ranged from $13.58 to $13.850 per share.
• Following these transactions, Mr. Holleran directly owns 623,540 shares of common stock and indirectly owns 2,100 shares (700 shares each by three children).
• He also holds 2,877,997 stock options directly.
• The transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction, or written plan intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c).

Sentiment

Score: 5

Explanation: Neutral. This is a routine insider transaction (exercise and sell) which is common for executives managing their equity compensation. While a sale by a CEO can sometimes be viewed negatively, it's often part of a pre-planned Rule 10b5-1 strategy and doesn't necessarily indicate a negative outlook on the company.

Positives

• The exercise of options indicates the executive is realizing value from previously granted equity incentives.
• The sale price of $13.7118 is significantly higher than the exercise price of $1.4, indicating a substantial gain for the executive from the exercised options.

Negatives

• The sale of shares by a high-ranking executive (CEO) could be perceived negatively by some investors, as it reduces their direct ownership stake in the company's common stock, although it is a common practice for managing equity compensation.

Future Outlook

This Form 4 filing reports past transactions and does not contain forward-looking statements or guidance regarding the company's future outlook.

Management Comments

• The filing includes a standard undertaking by the Reporting Person to provide full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the reported range upon request from the Company, any security holder of the Company, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Industry Context

This filing is a routine insider transaction report and does not provide specific insights into broader industry trends or competitive landscape. It reflects an executive's personal financial planning related to equity compensation, often executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• As a standard Form 4 filing detailing an insider's equity transactions, there are no direct industry-specific financial or operational benchmarks for comparison.
• The transaction itself, an 'exercise and sell' (or 'cashless exercise' if the sale proceeds covered the exercise cost and taxes), is a common practice for executives managing their equity compensation and diversifying their personal portfolios.

Related Party Transactions

• Indirect beneficial ownership of 700 shares each by three children (total 2,100 shares) is disclosed.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The sale of shares by the CEO could be interpreted differently by investors; some might view it as routine personal financial management, especially given the 10b5-1 plan indication, while others might scrutinize the reduction in direct common stock ownership. The net effect on outstanding shares is zero as it's an exercise and sell.
• Employees, Customers, Suppliers, Creditors: No direct impact on these stakeholders is indicated by this specific filing, as it pertains to an executive's personal equity transactions.

Next Steps

• The filing itself does not mention any specific future actions or milestones for the company.
• The reporting person undertakes to provide further details on the sale prices if requested by the Company, security holders, or the SEC staff.

Key Dates

Keywords

Hayward Holdings, HAYW, Kevin Holleran, SEC Form 4, Insider Trading, Stock Options, Share Sale, CEO, Director, Beneficial Ownership, Rule 10b5-1