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Contingencies
3 Months Ended
Aug. 02, 2025
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Contingencies

Note 12. Contingencies

Certain litigation arising in the normal course of business is pending against us. The Company is, from time-to-time, subject to various legal actions and claims incidental to our business, including those arising out of alleged defects, breach of contracts, employment-related matters, environmental matters and intellectual property matters. The Company has established loss provisions for matters in which losses are deemed probable and reasonably estimable. The Company considers insurance coverage and third-party indemnification, among other things, when determining required accruals for pending litigation and claims. Although the outcome of potential legal actions and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, it is the Company's opinion, based on the information available, that it has adequate reserves for these liabilities. However, the ultimate outcome of any matter could require payment in excess of any amount that the Company may have accrued.

Stockholder Litigation

On August 26, 2024, a putative class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of Company common stock between June 23, 2022 and March 6, 2024, inclusive, entitled Marie Salem v. Methode Electronics, Inc. et al. was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against the Company, a former Chief Executive Officer, President and director of the Company and a former Chief Financial Officer of the Company. The complaint alleges, among other things, that the defendants made false and/or misleading statements relating to the Company’s business, operations and prospects, including in respect of the Company’s transition to production of more specialized components for manufacturers of electric vehicles and the Company’s operations at its facility in Monterrey, Mexico, in violation of Sections 10(b) and 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder. The complaint seeks, among other things, unspecified money damages along with equitable relief and costs and expenses, including counsel fees and expert fees. Another purported shareholder filed a substantially similar action in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on October 7, 2024 against the same defendants and a former Chief Operating Officer of the Company, in a case entitled City of Cape Coral Municipal General Employees Retirement Plan v. Methode Electronics, Inc., et al. The second securities class action was filed on behalf of a broader putative class of purchasers of Company common stock between December 2, 2021 and March 6, 2024. In addition, two purported shareholders filed derivative lawsuits on November 26, 2024 and February 4, 2025, respectively. The derivative lawsuits were filed on behalf of the Company in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against the current members of the Company’s Board of Directors, as well as certain former directors and executives, alleging that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties by allowing the Company to issue various statements that are alleged to have been false or misleading for the same reasons alleged in the securities class action complaints. The derivative lawsuits are entitled Ray Homsi v. Donald Duda, et al. and Kevin D. Murphy v. Mark D. Schwabero, et al. (collectively with the Salem and City of Cape Coral matters, the “Stockholder Actions”).

The Company disagrees with and intends to vigorously defend against the Stockholder Actions. The Stockholder Actions could result in costs and losses to the Company, including potential costs associated with the indemnification of the other defendants. At this time, given the current status of the Stockholder Actions, the Company is unable to reasonably estimate an amount or range of reasonably possible loss, if any, that may result from the Stockholder Actions.

SEC Investigation

The Company received subpoenas from the SEC dated November 1, 2024 and March 12, 2025 seeking documents and information relating to, among other things, the Company’s operations in certain foreign countries, certain financial and accounting matters relating thereto, compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other anti-corruption laws, material weaknesses in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting previously reported in its public filings, deficiencies and significant deficiencies in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, accounting and finance policies and procedures and other accounting and finance matters including new business bookings, certain financial metrics and performance indicators, performance relative to targets and guidance for certain periods, executive compensation policies and amounts, hotline tips and complaints, and terminations or resignations of company executives. The Company is cooperating with the SEC. The subpoenas and related investigation or other future requests for information have resulted and could result in future costs to the Company, including the expenditure of financial and managerial resources. In addition, this request may lead to the assertion of claims or the commencement of legal proceedings against the Company, which in turn may lead to material fines, penalties or other liabilities. However, at this time, the Company is unable to reasonably estimate an amount or range of reasonably possible loss, if any, that may result from these matters.