Hayward Holdings, Inc.

Previous report

Our use of artificial intelligence technologies may not be successful and may present business, intellectual property, compliance and reputational risks.

Previous report

We use artificial intelligence (“AI”) and automated decision-making technologies (collectively, “AI Technologies”) in our business. As with many technological innovations, there are meaningful risks involved in developing, maintaining, and deploying these technologies, and there can be no assurance that the usage of or our investments in such technologies will always enhance our products or services or be beneficial to our business, including our efficiency or profitability.

Previous report

In particular, if AI Technologies in our business are incorrectly designed or implemented; trained or reliant on incomplete, biased or otherwise poor quality data; used without sufficient oversight and governance to ensure their responsible use; and/or adversely impacted by unforeseen defects, technical challenges, cybersecurity threats or material performance issues, the performance of our products, services and business, as well as our reputation could suffer.

Previous report

Further, the use of AI Technologies may unintentionally compromise confidential or sensitive information, put our intellectual property at risk, or subject us to data privacy or intellectual property claims. Additionally, the regulatory framework for AI Technologies is rapidly evolving, and existing laws and regulations may be interpreted in ways that would affect the operation of our AI Technologies, or could be rescinded or amended. As a result, implementation standards and enforcement practices are likely to remain uncertain for the foreseeable future, and we cannot yet completely determine the impact future laws, regulations, standards or market perception of their requirements may have on our business.

Previous report

We may be negatively impacted by litigation and other claims, including intellectual property, product liability or warranty claims, and health and safety concerns, including product recalls.

Previous report

We have been, and in the future may be, made a party to litigation arising in the ordinary course of our business, including those relating to commercial or contractual disputes with suppliers, customers or parties to acquisitions and divestitures, intellectual property matters, product liability, the use or installation of our products, consumer matters, employment and labor matters, violations of securities laws and environmental, health and safety matters, including claims based on alleged exposure to asbestos-containing product components. The outcome of such legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, and some may be disposed of unfavorably to us. Regardless of the outcome, legal proceedings can have an adverse impact on us because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources and other factors. In addition, we have agreed to provide indemnification in connection with prior acquisitions or dispositions for certain of these matters, and we cannot provide any assurance that material indemnification claims will not be brought against us in the future. Relatedly, we have been, and in the future may be, subject to lawsuits or other actions related to products produced by companies we have acquired.

Previous report

We have in the past and may in the future implement a voluntary recall or market withdrawal or may be required to do so by a government/regulatory authority. A recall or market withdrawal of one of our products would be costly and would divert management resources. A recall or withdrawal of one of our products, or a similar product processed by another entity, also could impair sales of our products because of confusion concerning the scope of the recall or withdrawal, or because of the damage to our reputation for quality and safety.

Previous report

If our products are, or are alleged to be, defectively (or non-compliantly) designed, manufactured or labeled, contain or are alleged to contain, defective components or components containing hazardous materials, such as asbestos, or are misused, we may become subject to costly litigation initiated by pool owners as well as government/regulatory enforcement actions. Product liability claims (and/or claims/actions for non-compliance) could harm our reputation, divert management’s attention from our core business, be expensive to defend, reduce product sales and may result in sizable damage awards against us. Although we maintain product liability insurance, we may not have sufficient insurance coverage for future product liability claims, and claims brought against us, with or without merit, could increase our product liability insurance rates or prevent us from securing continuing coverage. In addition, successful product liability claims made against one of our competitors could cause claims to be made against us or expose us to a perception that we are vulnerable to similar claims. In at least some jurisdictions, non-compliance with applicable regulations may amount to a criminal offense in which the Company may be subject to fines or other sanctions.

Previous report

The Company had no repurchases of its common stock, par value $0.001 per share, in the quarter ended September 27, 2025.

Previous report — wording carried elsewhere

Under the Share Repurchase Program, the Company may purchase shares of its common stock on a discretionary basis from time to time and may be conducted through privately negotiated transactions, including with our significant stockholders, as well as through open market repurchases or other means, including through Rule 10b5-1(c) trading plans or through the use of other techniques such as accelerated share repurchases. The amount and timing of future repurchases may vary depending on market conditions and the level of operating, financing and other investing activities.