Walther, et al. v. Wood, et al., Case No. 23-cv-00294
80/20 ERISA Settlement
US District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, Fort Wayne Division
PLEASE READ THE SETTLEMENT NOTICE CAREFULLY.
This is a Notice of a proposed class action Settlement in the above-referenced Lawsuit. If you are a member of the Class, the Settlement will affect your legal rights. This is not a solicitation from a lawyer. You have not been sued.
A Settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit concerning the 80/20, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the “Plan”). The class action lawsuit involves whether the Plan was administered and terminated by Defendants John Wood, Brian Eagle, Patrick Buesching, Patrice Mauk, and Rodney Strack in accordance with certain provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), as well as whether Defendants MPE Partners II, L.P., MPE Partners III, L.P., and Pareto Efficient Solutions, LLC knowingly participated in violations of ERISA. ERISA is the federal law that regulates and sets minimum standards for the administration of most retirement plans in the private sector, including the Plan. Defendants deny all claims, and nothing in the Settlement is an admission or concession on Defendants’ part of any fault or liability whatsoever.
The Settlement will provide, among other things, for a $7 million Settlement Fund that will be allocated to eligible Settlement Class Members after any Court-approved deductions for Attorneys’ Fees and Costs, Administrative Expenses, and Class Representative Service Awards.
The terms and conditions of the Settlement are set forth in the Settlement Agreement dated March 9, 2026. Capitalized terms used in the Notice but not defined in this Notice have the meanings assigned to them in the Settlement Agreement. Certain other documents also posted on website. You should visit the Settlement Documents page if you would like more information. All papers filed in this lawsuit are also available for review via the Public Access to Court Electronic Records System (PACER).
The Settlement Class (whose members are “Settlement Class Members”) includes all Participants at the time of the Plan’s termination who were issued a Termination Distribution, and their Beneficiaries or Alternate Payees of record, excluding Defendants.
Your rights and the choices available to you—and the applicable deadlines to act—are explained in the Notice. Please note that neither 80/20 nor any employees, attorneys, or representatives of 80/20 may advise you as to what the best choice is for you or how you should proceed.
Rights and Choices
PAYMENT OPTION ONE: ROLLOVER TO AN INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR QUALIFIED EMPLOYER PLAN
This Lawsuit concerns a retirement plan. You have the option of receiving your share of the Settlement in the form of a direct rollover to an individual retirement account or qualified employer plan. To do this, you must submit the enclosed Rollover Form on or before July 14, 2026. A Rollover Form may also be obtained by calling the Settlement Administrator at 1-800-416-6807 or by clicking ROLLOVER FORM. Rollovers will be effectuated only if and when the Court gives final approval to the Settlement and the Settlement becomes effective. For additional information, see Item 6 under FAQs.
Payments distributed in the form of a rollover will not be subject to automatic withholding.
PAYMENT OPTION TWO: ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER (EFT) TO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT
You have the option to receive your share of the Settlement by electronic funds transfer (“EFT”) to your bank account. To choose this payment method, submit your request by clicking EFT FORM. EFTs will be made only if and when the Court gives final approval to the Settlement and the Settlement becomes effective. For additional information, see Item 6 under FAQs.
Payments made directly by EFT to your bank account are subject to automatic tax withholding and tax reporting, as determined by the Settlement Administrator.
PAYMENT OPTION THREE: CHECK MAILED DIRECTLY TO YOU
If you do nothing in response to the Notice, the Settlement Administrator will attempt to mail your share of the Settlement directly to you by check. Checks will be distributed only if and when the Court gives final approval to the Settlement and the Settlement becomes effective. If you would like to provide us with your current address, submit your request by clicking ADDRESS UPDATE. For additional information, see Item 6 under FAQs.
Payments made directly by check are subject to automatic tax withholding and tax reporting, as determined by the Settlement Administrator.
YOU CAN OBJECT (NO LATER THAN JUNE 23, 2026)
If you wish to object to any part of the Settlement, or to the requested Attorneys’ Fees and Costs, Administrative Expenses, or Class Representative Service Awards, you must file and postmark your objection and any supporting documents with the Clerk of the Court, and mail copies to Class Counsel and Defense Counsel (as identified in Item 11, under FAQs), at least 21 calendar days before the Fairness Hearing. Please note that you will not be permitted to make an objection to the Settlement if you do not comply with the requirements for making objections.
The Court still has to decide whether to give its final approval to the Settlement. Payments under the Settlement will be made only if the Court finally approves the Settlement, and that final approval is upheld in the event of any appeal.
The Fairness Hearing
A Fairness Hearing will take place on July 14, 2026, at10:00 am, before the Honorable Gretchen S. Lund, United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, 5400 Federal Plaza, Hammond, Indiana 46320, in Courtroom 1 (Fourth Floor), to determine whether to grant final approval of the Settlement and approve the requested Attorneys’ Fees and Costs, Administrative Expenses, and Class Representative Service Awards. If the Fairness Hearing is rescheduled, or if it is held by video conference or telephone, a Notice will be posted on this website. If you wish to attend the hearing and speak at the hearing, you must provide Class Counsel and Defense Counsel (as identified in Item 11 in FAQs) with notice of your intent to appear postmarked at least June 23, 2026 before the Fairness Hearing. Please note that you will not be permitted to speak at the Fairness Hearing if you do not comply with the requirements for making an objection.