Overview
- A putative securities class action has been filed on behalf of investors who bought Avis securities during the period February 20, 2025 through April 21, 2026 alleging market manipulation and a short squeeze.
- The complaint names Pentwater Capital Management LP and founder Matthew Halbower as defendants and alleges their aggressive purchases of Avis stock triggered rapid price spikes that benefited Pentwater.
- Plaintiffs say Pentwater held about a 51 percent total economic interest in Avis by March 2026 through share holdings and cash-settled swaps, a claim they use to argue the firm had outsized control and exposure.
- Several plaintiff firms have issued notices to recruit class members and potential lead plaintiffs and they say investors can join on a contingency-fee basis without up-front costs.
- The case is at an early procedural stage with no class certified and investors must move to be lead plaintiff by September 29, 2026 which will determine who directs the litigation and may affect any future recovery.