Methode Electronics (MEI) 10-K2024 FY Annual report

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

For the fiscal year ended April 27, 2024

OR

Commission File Number 001-33731

METHODE ELECTRONICS, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number (including area code): (708) 867-6777

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

The aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant on October 27, 2023, the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was $452.6 million, and was based upon the closing price on that date as reported by the New York Stock Exchange.

Registrant had 35,324,385 shares of its common stock outstanding as of July 8, 2024.

METHODE ELECTRONICS, INC.

FORM 10-K

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 

PART I

As used herein, “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” or “Methode” means Methode Electronics, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report on Form 10-K (“this Annual Report”) includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that reflect, when made, our current views with respect to current events and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are subject to many risks, uncertainties and factors relating to our operations and business environment, which may cause our actual results to be materially different from any future results, expressed or implied, by such forward-looking statements. All statements that address future operating, financial or business performance or our strategies or expectations are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “projects,” “potential,” “outlook” or “continue,” and other comparable terminology. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following:

Additional details and factors are discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these events or how they may affect us. Any forward-looking statements made by us speak only as of the date on which they are made. We are under no obligation to, and expressly disclaim any obligation to, update or alter our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or otherwise.

Item 1. Business

Description of Business

We are a leading global supplier of custom engineered solutions with sales, engineering and manufacturing locations in North America, Europe, Middle East and Asia. We design, engineer and produce mechatronic products for Original Equipment Manufacturers (“OEMs”) utilizing our broad range of technologies for user interface, light-emitting diode (“LED”) lighting system, power distribution and sensor applications.

Our solutions are found in the end markets of transportation (including automotive, commercial vehicle, e-bike, aerospace, bus and rail), cloud computing infrastructure, construction equipment and consumer appliance.

Acquisition of Nordic Lights Group Corporation (“Nordic Lights”)

We acquired 92.2% of the outstanding shares of Nordic Lights on April 20, 2023. We acquired the remaining 7.8% of the outstanding shares of Nordic Lights in the year ended April 27, 2024. Accordingly, as of April 27, 2024, we own 100% of Nordic Lights. The results of operations of Nordic Lights are reported within the Industrial segment. See Note 3, “Acquisition and Disposition” to the consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report for further information.

Fiscal Year

We maintain our financial records on the basis of a 52 or 53-week fiscal year ending on the Saturday closest to April 30. Fiscal 2024 ended on April 27, 2024, fiscal 2023 ended on April 29, 2023 and fiscal 2022 ended on April 30, 2022, and each represented 52 weeks of results.

Operating Segments

Our business is managed, and our financial results are reported, based on the following four segments: Automotive, Industrial, Interface and Medical. See Note 15, “Segment Information and Geographic Area Information” to the consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report for further information.

The Automotive segment supplies electronic and electro-mechanical devices and related products to automobile OEMs, either directly or through their tiered suppliers. Products include integrated overhead and center consoles, hidden and ergonomic switches, transmission lead-frames, insert molded components, LED-based lighting and sensors, which incorporate magneto-elastic sensing and other sensing technologies that monitor the operation or status of a component or system.

The Industrial segment manufactures exterior and interior lighting solutions, industrial safety radio remote controls, braided flexible cables, current-carrying laminated busbars and devices, custom power-product assemblies, such as our PowerRail® solution, high-current high-voltage flexible power cabling systems and powder-coated busbars that are used in various markets and applications, including aerospace, commercial vehicles, data centers, industrial equipment, power conversion, military, telecommunications and transportation.

The Interface segment provides a variety of high-speed digital communication over copper media solutions for the data center and broadband markets, and interface panel solutions for the appliance market. Solutions include copper transceivers, distribution point units, and solid-state field-effect consumer touch panels.

The Medical segment was made up of our medical device business, Dabir Surfaces, with its surface support technology aimed at pressure injury prevention. In the first quarter of fiscal 2024, we made the decision to initiate the discontinuation of Dabir Surfaces. In October 2023, we sold certain assets of the Dabir Surfaces business. See Note 3, “Acquisition and Disposition” to the consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report for more information.

The following table reflects the percentage of net sales by segment for the last three fiscal years.

Sales and Marketing

The majority of our sales activities are directed by sales managers who are supported by field application engineers and other technical personnel who work with customers to design our products into their systems. Our field application engineers also help us identify emerging markets and new products. Our products are primarily sold through our in-house sales staff. We also utilize independent manufacturers’ and sales representatives with offices throughout the world. Information about our sales and operations in different geographic regions is summarized in Note 15, “Segment Information and Geographic Area Information” to the consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report. Sales are made primarily to OEMs, either directly or through their tiered suppliers, as well as to selling partners and distributors.

Sources and Availability of Materials

The principal materials that we purchase include application-specific integrated circuits, coil and bar stock, ferrous and copper alloy sheets, glass, LED displays, plastic molding resins, capacitors and resistors, precious metals, and silicon die castings. All of these items are available from several suppliers, and we generally rely on more than one supplier for each item.

Refer to Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report for risks related to our supply chain.

Intellectual Property

We generally rely on patents, trade secrets, trademarks, licenses, and non-disclosure agreements to protect our intellectual property and proprietary products. We have been granted a number of patents in the U.S., Europe and Asia and have additional domestic and international patent applications pending related to our products. Our existing patents expire on various dates between 2024 and 2044. We seek patents in order to protect our interest in unique and critical products and technologies, including our magneto-elastic torque/force sensing, current sensing, displacement sensing and radio-type products. We do not believe any single patent is material to our business, nor would the expiration or invalidity of any patent have a material adverse effect on our business or our ability to compete.

Seasonality

A significant portion of our business is dependent upon the automotive and commercial vehicle industries. Consequently, our Automotive and Industrial segments may experience seasonal fluctuations based on the sales and the production schedules of our customers.

Major Customers

During fiscal 2024, our five largest customers accounted for approximately 40% of our consolidated net sales. One customer in the Automotive segment represented more than 10% of our consolidated net sales at 14.6%. In general, these sales were for component parts used in particular vehicle models. Typically, our supply arrangement for each component part includes a blanket purchase order and production releases. In general, a blanket purchase order is issued for each part as identified by the customer part number. Each blanket purchase order includes standard terms and conditions, including price. In certain circumstances, we supply the requirements for a particular customer vehicle model for the life of the model, which can vary from three to seven years. Our customers order parts using production releases approved under the relevant blanket purchase order. The production releases include information regarding part quantities and delivery specifications.

Backlog

We manufacture products based on a combination of specific order requirements and forecasts of our customers’ demand. For many of our OEM customers, especially in the automotive and commercial vehicle markets, we have long-term supply arrangements where there is an expectation that we will supply products in future periods. However, these arrangements do not necessarily constitute firm orders and these OEM customers are not required to purchase any minimum amount of products from us and can sunset a program at any time. Firm orders are generally limited to authorized customer purchase orders which are typically based on customer release schedules. We fulfill these purchase orders as promptly as possible. We do not consider the dollar amount of such purchase order releases on hand and not processed at any point in time to be significant based upon the time frame involved. Accordingly, backlog at any given time might not be a meaningful indicator of future revenue.

Competition

The markets in which we operate are highly competitive and characterized by rapid changes due to technological improvements and developments. We compete with a large number of other manufacturers in each of our product areas and many of these competitors have greater resources and sales. Price, service and product performance are significant elements of competition in the sale of our products.

Research and Development

We maintain a research and development program involving a number of professional employees who devote a majority of their time to the enhancement of existing products and to the development of new products and processes. Research and development costs primarily relate to product engineering and design and development expenses and are classified as a component of costs of products sold on our consolidated statements of operations. Expenditures for such activities amounted to $49.1 million for fiscal 2024, $35.0 million for fiscal 2023 and $35.7 million for fiscal 2022.

Government Regulations

Our worldwide business activities are subject to various laws, rules, and regulations of the United States as well as of foreign governments. Compliance with these laws, rules, and regulations has not had a material effect upon our capital expenditures, results of operations, or competitive position, and we do not currently anticipate material capital expenditures for environmental control facilities. Nevertheless, compliance with existing or future governmental regulations, including, but not limited to, those pertaining to international operations, environmental matters (including climate change), export controls, business acquisitions, consumer and data protection, and employee health and safety, could have a material impact on our business in subsequent periods. Refer to Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report for a discussion of these potential impacts.

Human Capital

The Human Resources function at Methode is an active and visible partner to the business at all levels. Our Chief Human Resources Officer reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer and interacts frequently with our Board of Directors. In fiscal 2025, our human capital focus will continue to be on talent acquisition and development, diversity and inclusion and employee health and safety.

As of April 27, 2024, we employed approximately 7,500 employees worldwide, substantially all of whom were employed full time with approximately 95% of these employees located outside the U.S. Our U.S. employees are not subject to any collective bargaining agreements although certain international employees are covered by national or local labor agreements.

Our corporate culture includes a commitment to doing business with integrity, teamwork, and performance excellence. Our management team and all our employees are expected to exhibit the principles of fairness, honesty, and integrity in the actions we undertake. Our employees must adhere to our Code of Conduct that addresses topics such as anti-corruption, discrimination, harassment, privacy, appropriate use of company assets and protecting confidential information. Our employees participate in annual training on preventing, identifying, reporting, and stopping any type of unlawful discrimination or unethical actions.

Talent Acquisition, Development and Succession Planning

We strive to build a diverse and inclusive workforce through investments in talent development and retention strategies. Methode is an Equal Opportunity Employer and offers opportunities to all qualified job seekers. We focus significant attention on attracting and retaining talented and experienced individuals to manage and support our operations. When we hire new employees, we focus not just on the skills required for current positions, but the ever-changing complex skills and competencies that will be required as we move forward.

We have a global talent review and succession planning process designed to align our talent plans with the current and future strategies of the business. This includes the identification of key positions, assessment of internal talent and potential successors and plans for talent development. Our teams meet with leaders and team members across the company to develop action plans and goals focused on both personal and professional development.

Diversity and Inclusion

At Methode Electronics, we strive to maintain a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects our global customer base and the communities that we serve. We value every member of our workforce and want everyone to feel safe voicing their opinions and concerns. Our diversity goals apply to our entire organization, including leadership positions. We have diverse representation on our executive team and Board of Directors, with three out of ten Board members being women.

As highlighted in our Diversity & Inclusion Statement (available on our corporate website), diversity and inclusion are business imperatives that will enable us to build and empower our future workforce. We embrace the diversity of our employees, including their unique backgrounds, experiences, thoughts, and talents. We also strive for diversity in leadership, which has the power to drive innovation and to encompass a wide variety of perspectives in company decision-making. We believe that an increased focus on diversity and inclusion will make us a more desirable workplace and will lead to improved business performance.

Health and Safety

The success of our business is connected to the well-being of our employees. We strive to maintain a work environment with a safety culture grounded on the premise of eliminating workplace incidents, risks, and hazards. We have processes to help eliminate safety events and to reduce their frequency and severity. The safety of our employees is a top priority and vital to our success and our employees are trained on safety-related topics.

As a global business, the communication on Environmental, Health and Safety (“EHS”) matters is conducted at the local level and in the local language. All our manufacturing location’s structure compliance initiatives to adhere to their local environmental health and safety requirements. Site personnel provide new employee orientation and typically contractor induction training where relevant. Thereafter, relevant job-specific training is provided. Our site EHS personnel are also involved in the development of global EHS procedures and standards.

Benefits and Compensation

As part of our efforts to attract and motivate our employees, we offer competitive compensation and benefits that may vary by region and employee-type. We provide compensation packages that include base salary/wages, and short and long-term incentives. Depending on the jurisdiction, we also provide employee benefits such as life, disability, and health (medical, dental, and vision) insurance, a 401(k) plan with a company match, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, military leave, and holiday pay. We believe those benefits are competitive within our industry.

Available Information

Through our internet website at www.methode.com, we make available, free of charge, copies of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, amendments to those reports, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed or furnished to the SEC. Our filings are also available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Also posted on our website, among other documents, are our Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Business Conduct, Anti-Corruption Policy, Insider Trading Policy, Conflict Minerals Policy, Supplier Code of Conduct and other governance policies, and the charters of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Executive Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and Technology Committee. Copies of these documents are also available free of charge by sending a request to Methode Electronics, Inc., 8750 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Suite 1000, Chicago, Illinois 60631, Attention: Investor Relations Department. The references in this Annual Report to our website address or any third party’s website address, including but not limited to the SEC’s website, do not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained in those websites and should not be considered part of this document unless otherwise expressly stated.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Our business, financial condition and results of operations are subject to various risks, including, but not limited to, those set forth below, which could cause actual results to vary materially from recent results or from anticipated future results. These risk factors should be considered together with information included elsewhere in this Annual Report.

Operational and Industry Risks

We are susceptible to trends and factors affecting the automotive, commercial vehicle, and construction industries.

We derive a substantial portion of our revenues from customers in the automotive, commercial vehicle, and construction industries. Factors negatively affecting these industries also negatively affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Automotive sales and production are highly cyclical and, in addition to general economic conditions, also depend on other factors, such as consumer confidence and consumer preferences. Any adverse occurrence, including industry slowdowns, recession, rising interest rates, rising fuel costs, political instability, costly or constraining regulations, armed hostilities, terrorism, excessive inflation, prolonged disruptions in one or more of our customers’ production schedules or labor disturbances or work stoppages, that results in a significant decline in sales volumes in these industries, or in an overall downturn in the business and operations of our customers in these industries, could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our inability, or our customers’ inability, to effectively manage the timing, quality and cost of new program launches could adversely affect our financial performance.

In connection with the awarding of new business, we obligate ourselves to deliver new products that are subject to our customers' timing, performance and quality demands. Additionally, we must effectively coordinate the activities of numerous suppliers and our customers’ personnel in order for the program launches of certain of our products to be successful. Given the complexity of new program launches, we may experience difficulties managing product quality, timeliness and associated costs. In addition, new program launches require a significant ramp up of costs; however, our sales related to these new programs generally are dependent upon the timing and success of our customers' introduction of new products. Our inability, or our customers' inability, to effectively manage the timing, quality and costs of these new program launches could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

Over the last several fiscal years, we have booked many EV-related programs. If we are unable to launch new products in a timely and cost-effective manner, or our customers delay the launch of their new programs, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

Changes in EV demand could affect our business.

A significant portion of our business is derived from components for use in EV. Recently, there have been lower-than-anticipated industrywide EV adoption rates, which has led many OEMs across the entire industry to adjust spending, order volumes, and/or product launch timing to align with the current consumer demand. Electric vehicle adoption may also be impacted by, among other factors: perceptions about EV features, quality, safety, performance, reliability and cost relative to internal combustion engine (“ICE”) vehicles; the drivable range on a EV’s battery; the availability of charging infrastructure; the cost of petroleum-based fuel; and the uncertainty of governments investments and incentives in the EV market and its supporting infrastructure. If we do not accurately predict, prepare for, and respond to new kinds of market developments and changing customer needs, such as if OEMs significantly lower production or delay launches of EVs, our business could be materially and adversely impacted.

Additionally, certain of our EV customers are start-up or emerging companies which may present additional and different risks than with our more established customers. These customers do not have an extensive product history. As a result, there is less demonstration of market acceptance of their products, making it more difficult for us to forecast needs and requirements than with established customers. In addition, funding for such companies may be more difficult to obtain and these customer relationships may not continue or materialize to the extent we plan or previously experienced. This tightening of financing for start-up customers, together with many start-up customers’ lack of prior operations and unproven product markets increase our credit risk, especially in trade accounts receivable and inventories. Although we perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers and adjust our allowance for doubtful accounts receivable for all customers, including start-up customers and emerging companies, based on the information available, these allowances may not be adequate.

We manage our business based on projected future sales volume, which is highly dependent on information received from customers and general market data, and any inaccuracies or changes in such information could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We manage our business based upon projected future sales volumes, which are based upon many factors, including awarded business and assumptions of conversion rates thereof, customers’ forecasts and general macroeconomic and industry market data. Our product revenues generally are based upon purchase orders issued by our customers, with updated production schedules for volume adjustments, and our customers generally do not guarantee sales volumes. As such, we typically do not have a backlog of firm orders at any point in time. In addition, awarded business may include business under arrangements that our customers have the right to terminate without penalty at any time. Further, our customers’ forecasts are subject to numerous assumptions, and such forecasts often are changed rapidly with limited notice. Therefore, our actual sales volumes, and thus the ultimate amount of revenue that we derive from such sales, are not committed. We also must incur costs and make commitments well in advance of the receipt of orders and resulting revenues from customers. If actual production orders from our customers are not consistent with our projected future sales volumes, we could realize substantially less revenue and incur greater expenses over the life of vehicle programs. The receipt of orders and resulting revenues from customers is significantly affected by global automotive production levels.

Our inability to attract or retain key employees and a highly skilled workforce, along with recent executive turnover, may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our success depends upon the continued contributions of our executive officers and other key employees, many of whom have many years of experience with us and would be difficult to replace. We have recently experienced significant executive turnover, whether planned (through retirement) or otherwise, including the retirement of our former Chief Executive Officer, the departure of his replacement, the departure of our former Chief Operating Officer and the planned retirement in July 2024 of our Chief Financial Officer. On June 25, 2024, we announced the appointment of Jon DeGaynor as our new President and Chief Executive Officer, commencing as of July 15, 2024. If we are unable to manage this leadership transition effectively, including through our interim executive officer arrangements and on-boarding permanent replacements, our ability to implement our strategic initiatives may be impaired.

We must also attract and retain experienced and highly skilled engineering, sales and marketing and managerial personnel. Competition for qualified personnel is intense in our industries, and we may not be successful in hiring and retaining these people. If we lose the services of our executive officers or our other highly qualified and experienced employees and cannot attract and retain other qualified personnel, our business could suffer due to less effective management or less successful products due to a reduced ability to design, manufacture and market our products.

Our customers may cancel their orders, change production quantities (take rates) or locations or delay production.

We generally receive volume estimates, but not firm volume commitments from our customers, and may experience reduced or extended lead times in customer orders. Customers may cancel orders, change production quantities (take rates) and delay production for a number of reasons. Cancellations, reductions or delays by a significant customer or by a number of customers may harm our results of operations by reducing the volumes of products we manufacture and sell, as well as by causing a delay in the recovery of our expenditures for inventory in preparation for customer orders, or by reducing our asset utilization, resulting in lower profitability.

In addition, we make key decisions based on our estimates of customer requirements, including determining the levels of orders that we will seek and accept, production schedules, component procurement commitments, personnel needs and other resource requirements. Changes in demand for our customers’ products may reduce our ability to estimate future customer requirements accurately. This may make it difficult to schedule production and maximize utilization of our manufacturing capacity. Anticipated orders may not materialize leading to lowered take rates for our products and delivery schedules may be deferred as a result of changes in demand for our products or our customers’ products. We often increase staffing and capacity and incur other expenses to meet the anticipated demand of our customers. On occasion, customers may require rapid increases in production, which may stress our resources. Any significant decrease or delay in customer orders or take rates could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely impacted by the effects of inflation.

Inflation has the potential to adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations by increasing our overall cost structure. There have been ongoing significant inflationary trends in the cost of components, materials, labor, freight costs and other expenses. These inflationary pressures have affected wages, the cost and availability of components and materials, and our ability to meet customer demand. Inflation may further exacerbate other risk factors discussed in this Annual Report, including customer demand, supply chain disruptions, availability of financing sources, and risks of international operations and the recruitment and retention of talent. Although we have taken actions to mitigate the impact of inflation, including commercial negotiations with our customers and suppliers, these actions have not historically and may not in the future fully offset our cost increases.

We are dependent on the availability and price of raw materials.

We require substantial amounts of materials, including application-specific integrated circuits, coil and bar stock, ferrous and copper alloy sheets, extrusions, glass, LED displays, plastic molding resins, precious metals, silicon die castings and wire. The availability and prices of materials may be subject to curtailment or change due to, among other things, inflation, new laws or regulations, suppliers’ allocations to other purchasers, supply chain disruptions, changes in exchange rates and worldwide price levels. Any change in the availability of, lead times for, or price for, these materials could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The loss or insolvency of our major customers, or a significant decline in the volume of products purchased by these customers, would adversely affect our future results.

Our five largest customers accounted for approximately 40% of our consolidated net sales in fiscal 2024. One customer in the Automotive segment represented 14.6% of our consolidated net sales in fiscal 2024. In certain cases, the sales to these customers are concentrated in a single product. The arrangements with our major customers generally provide for supplying their requirements for particular models, rather than for manufacturing a specific quantity of products. Such supply arrangements cover a period from one year to the life of the model, which is generally three to seven years. The loss of our major customers, or a decline in the production levels of these customers or particular models, could reduce our sales and thereby adversely affect our financial condition, operating results and cash flows. We also compete to supply products for successor models for our major customers and are subject to the risk that the customer will not select us to produce products on any such successor model, which could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, operating results and cash flows. For example, a significant program for a major EV customer rolled-off in fiscal 2024 and we expect a major automotive center console program to roll-off prior to the end of fiscal 2025.

The inability of our supply chain, or the supply chain of our customers, to deliver key components, such as semiconductors, could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and cause us to incur significant cost increases.

We have experienced and may in the future experience supplier price increases that could negatively affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. The price increases are often driven by raw material pricing and availability, component or part availability, manufacturing capacity, industry allocations, logistics capacity, military conflicts, natural disasters or pandemics, and significant changes in the financial or business condition of our suppliers.

Our products contain a significant number of components that we source globally. If our supply chain fails to deliver products to us, or to our customers, in sufficient quality and quantity on a timely basis, we will be challenged to meet our production schedules or could incur significant additional expenses for expedited freight and other related costs. Similarly, many of our customers are dependent on an ever-greater number of global suppliers to manufacture their products. These global supply chains have been, and may continue to be, adversely impacted by events outside of our control, including macroeconomic events, trade restrictions, economic recessions, energy prices and availability, political crises, labor relations issues, liquidity constraints, or natural occurrences. Any significant disruptions to such supply chains could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Many of the industries we supply, including the automotive, commercial vehicle, and construction industries, are reliant on competitive and supply constrained components. For example, there is still some disruption in procuring certain semiconductors including capacity constraints and increasing order lead times required for some components. We have worked and will continue to work closely with our suppliers and customers to minimize any potential adverse impacts of supply shortages and monitor the availability of component parts and raw materials, customer production schedules and any other supply chain inefficiencies that may arise. However, if we are not able to mitigate any direct or indirect supply chain disruptions may have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The global nature of our operations subjects us to political, economic and social risks that could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Sales to customers outside of the U.S. represented a substantial portion of our fiscal 2024 net sales. We expect our net sales in international markets to continue to represent a significant portion of our consolidated net sales. In addition, we have significant personnel, property, equipment and operations in a number of countries outside of the U.S., including Belgium, Canada, China, Egypt, Finland, India, Malta, Mexico and the United Kingdom. As of April 27, 2024, approximately 95% of our employees were located outside of the U.S. Our international operations subject us to a variety of political, economic, social and other risks, including:

Many of the laws and regulations listed above are complex and often difficult to interpret and violations could result in significant criminal penalties or sanctions. Any of these factors may have an adverse effect on our international operations which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

A catastrophic event or other significant business interruption at any of our facilities could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Weather conditions, natural disasters or other catastrophic events could cause significant disruptions at our manufacturing facilities or those of our major suppliers or customers. In such event, losses could be incurred and significant recovery time could be required to resume operations and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

War, terrorism, geopolitical uncertainties (including the current military conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, and between Israel and Hamas), public health emergencies, and other business interruptions have caused and could cause damage or disruption to international commerce and the global economy, and thus could have a strong negative effect on us, our suppliers, logistics providers, and customers. Our business operations could be subject to interruption by power shortages, terrorist attacks and other hostile acts, labor disputes, population lockdowns and other events beyond our control. Such events could decrease demand for our products or make it difficult or impossible for us to produce and deliver products to our customers, or to receive components from our suppliers. Should major public health issues, including pandemics, arise or worsen, we could be negatively affected by shutdowns, shelter in place orders, more stringent travel restrictions, additional limitations in freight services, governmental actions limiting the movement of products between regions, and disruptions in the operations of our manufacturing partners and component suppliers. Any such business interruptions could materially affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the resulting economic sanctions imposed by the international community impacted the global economy and gave rise to potential global security issues that may adversely affect international business and economic conditions. Given our manufacturing operations in the Middle East and Asia, the continuation of the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the escalation or expansion of the Israel-Hamas war, or renewed terrorist attacks on Red Sea shipping such as those by the Houthi could lead to other supply chain disruptions, increased inflationary pressures, and volatility in global markets and industries that could negatively impact our operations.

Future price reductions and increased quality standards may reduce our profitability and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our supply arrangements with our customers typically require us to provide our products at predetermined prices. In some cases, these prices decline over the course of the arrangement and may require us to meet certain productivity and cost reduction targets. In addition, our customers may require us to share productivity savings in excess of our cost reduction targets. The costs that we incur in fulfilling these orders may vary substantially from our initial estimates. Unanticipated cost increases or the inability to meet certain cost reduction targets may occur as a result of several factors, including increases in the costs of labor, components or materials. In some cases, we are permitted to pass on to our customers the cost increases associated with specific materials. However, cost overruns that we cannot pass on to our customers could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Certain of our customers have exerted and continue to exert considerable pressure on us to reduce prices and costs, improve quality and provide additional design and engineering capabilities. We may be unable to generate sufficient production cost savings in the future to offset required price reductions. Future price reductions, increased quality standards and the cost of adding additional engineering capabilities may reduce our profitability and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. These factors also create challenges in developing accurate internal forecasts or financial models that we use as a basis for making strategic, operational and capital allocation decisions, and our inability to accurately forecast future financial results may create inefficiencies and have an adverse effect on our business.

Our businesses and the markets in which we operate are highly competitive and constantly evolving. If we are unable to compete effectively, our sales and profitability could decline.

The markets in which we operate are highly competitive. We compete with a large number of other manufacturers in each of our product areas and many of these competitors have greater resources and sales. Price, service and product performance are significant elements of competition in the sale of our products. Competition may intensify further if more companies enter the markets in which we operate. Our failure to compete effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The global transportation industry is increasingly focused on the development of more fuel-efficient solutions, including electrification, to meet demands from consumers and governments worldwide to address climate change and an increased desire for environmentally sustainable solutions. If we do not respond appropriately, the evolution toward electrification and other energy sources could adversely affect our business. The evolution of the industry toward electrification has also attracted increased competition from entrants outside of the traditional automotive and commercial vehicle industries, some of whom may seek to provide products which compete with ours. Failure to innovate and to develop or acquire new and compelling products that capitalize upon new technologies in response to these evolving consumer preferences and demands could adversely affect our financial condition, operating results and cash flows.

Our ability to market our automotive and commercial vehicle products is subject to a lengthy sales cycle, which requires significant investment prior to reporting significant sales revenues, and there is no assurance that our products will be implemented in any particular vehicle.

The sales cycles for our automotive and commercial vehicle products are lengthy because the manufacturers must develop high degrees of assurance that the products they buy will meet their needs, interface correctly with the other parts of a vehicle and with the manufacturer’s production and assembly process, and have minimal warranty, safety and service problems. While we currently have active development programs with various OEMs for a variety of our products, no assurance can be given that our products will be implemented in any particular vehicles. If our products are not selected after a lengthy development process, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

Our supply agreements with our OEM customers are generally requirements contracts, and a decline in the production requirements of any of our customers, and in particular our largest customers, could adversely impact our revenues and profitability.

We receive OEM purchase orders for specific components supplied for particular vehicles. In most instances our OEM customers agree to purchase their requirements for specific products but are not required to purchase any minimum amount of products from us. The contracts we have entered into with most of our customers have terms ranging from one year to the life of the model (usually three to seven years), although customers often reserve the right to terminate for convenience. Therefore, a significant decrease in demand for certain key models or group of related models sold by any of our major customers or the ability of a manufacturer to re-source and discontinue purchasing from us, for a particular model or group of models, could have a material adverse effect on us. For example, a significant program for a major EV customer rolled-off in fiscal 2024 and we expect a major automotive center console program to roll-off prior to the end of fiscal 2025. To the extent that we do not maintain our existing level of business with our largest customers because of a decline in their production requirements or because the contracts expire or are terminated for convenience, we will need to attract new customers or win new business with existing customers, or our results of operations and financial condition will be adversely affected.

Part of our workforce is unionized which could subject us to work stoppages.

A portion of our workforce is unionized, primarily in Mexico, Malta and Finland. A prolonged work stoppage or strike at any facility with unionized employees could increase costs and prevent us from supplying customers. In addition, upon the expiration of existing collective bargaining agreements, we may not reach new agreements without union or works council action in certain jurisdictions, and any such new agreements may not be on terms satisfactory to us. If we are unable to negotiate acceptable collective bargaining agreements, we may become subject to union-initiated work stoppages, including strikes. Moreover, additional groups of currently non-unionized employees may seek union or works council representation in the future.

Our inability to capitalize on prior or future acquisitions or any decision to strategically divest one or more current businesses may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We have completed acquisitions and divestitures in the past, including most recently the acquisition of Nordic Lights in April 2023. We may seek other acquisitions to grow our businesses and may divest operations to focus on our core businesses. We may fail to derive significant benefits from such transactions. Also, if we fail to achieve sufficient financial performance from an acquisition, certain long-lived assets, such as property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, could become impaired and result in the recognition of an impairment loss. The success of our acquisitions depends on our ability to:

Integration of acquisitions may take longer than we expect and may never be achieved to the extent originally anticipated. Acquisitions may also increase our debt levels. This could result in lower than expected business growth or higher than anticipated costs. In addition, acquisitions or strategic divestitures may:

Our profitability will suffer if we are unable to successfully integrate an acquisition, if the acquisition does not further our business strategy as we expected or if we do not achieve sufficient revenue to offset the increased expenses associated with any acquisition. We may overpay for, or otherwise not realize the expected return on, our investments, which could adversely affect our operating results and potentially cause impairments to assets that we record as a part of an acquisition including intangible assets and goodwill.

Financial Risks

We have incurred indebtedness, and our level of indebtedness and restrictions under our indebtedness could adversely affect our operations and liquidity and impair our ability to respond to changing business and economic conditions.

Our primary sources of liquidity are cash generated from operations and availability under our $500 million revolving credit facility. As of April 27, 2024, $333.0 million was outstanding under the revolving credit facility. Our senior secured credit agreement provides for variable rates of interest based on the currency of the borrowing and our consolidated leverage ratio and contains customary representations and warranties, financial covenants, restrictive covenants and events of default. The obligations under our senior secured credit agreement are secured by a lien on substantially all of the personal property of the Company and our U.S. subsidiaries that are guarantors, including 100% of the equity interests of their respective U.S. subsidiaries and 65% of the equity interests of their respective foreign subsidiaries (or such greater amount to the extent such pledge could not reasonably cause adverse tax consequences).

Our senior secured credit agreement provides an option to increase the size of our revolving credit facility by an additional $250 million, subject to customary conditions and approval of the lenders providing the new commitments. There can be no assurance that lenders will approve additional commitments under current or future circumstances.

Our senior secured credit agreement imposes various restrictions and covenants regarding the operation of our business, including covenants that require us to obtain the lenders’ consent before we can, among other things and subject to certain exceptions: (i) incur additional indebtedness or additional liens on our property; (ii) consummate certain acquisitions, dispositions, mergers or consolidations; (iii) make any material change in the nature of our business; (iv) enter into certain transactions with our affiliates; or (v) repurchase or redeem any outstanding shares of our common stock or pay cash dividends to our stockholders when a default exists or certain financial covenants are not maintained. Our senior secured credit agreement also imposes various other restrictions and covenants on the Company (including covenants requiring us to maintain compliance with a minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio and a maximum consolidated leverage ratio, in each case as of the end of each fiscal quarter of the Company). In addition, our senior secured credit agreement includes an “anti-cash hoarding” requirement, applicable during the period from the effective date of the Second Amendment until the earlier to occur of (a) the delivery of financial statements and a compliance certificate for the fiscal quarter ending July 25, 2025 and (b) the delivery of compliance certificates for two consecutive fiscal quarters demonstrating that our consolidated leverage ratio as of the last day of such fiscal quarters was less than 3.00:1.00, that if we have cash on hand (subject to certain exceptions) of more than $65 million for 10 consecutive business days, we shall prepay the indebtedness under our senior secured credit agreement by the amount of such excess. These restrictions and covenants could (1) limit our ability to plan for or react to market conditions or meet capital needs or otherwise restrict our activities or business plans and (2) adversely affect our liquidity and ability to finance our operations, strategic acquisitions, investments or other capital needs or to engage in other business activities that may be in our interest.

Further, the amount of our outstanding indebtedness could have an adverse effect on our operations and liquidity, including by, among other things: (i) making it more difficult for us to pay or refinance our debts as they become due during adverse economic and industry conditions, because we may not have sufficient cash flows to make our scheduled debt payments; (ii) causing us to use a larger portion of our cash flows to fund interest and principal payments, thereby reducing the availability of cash to fund working capital, product development, capital expenditures and other business activities; (iii) making it more difficult for us to take advantage of significant business opportunities, such as acquisition opportunities or other strategic transactions, and to react to changes in market or industry conditions; and (iv) limiting our ability to borrow additional monies in the future to fund the activities and expenditures described above and for other general corporate purposes as and when needed, which could force us to suspend, delay or curtail business prospects, strategies or operations.

We cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain compliance with the covenants and other restrictions in our senior secured credit agreement in the future or that we will be able to obtain waivers from the lenders or amend the covenants if needed or desirable. As of January 27, 2024, we were not in compliance with the consolidated leverage ratio covenant contained in the then-current version of the credit agreement for our revolving credit facility. Although we were able to enter into an amendment that, among other things, waived any default or event of default that may have occurred due to the non-compliance with such consolidated leverage ratio covenant for the quarter ended January 27, 2024, there can be no assurance that we would be able to negotiate waivers for any future covenant breaches. In addition, any such future waivers or amendments could cause us to incur significant costs, fees and expenses.

Our failure to comply with the covenants or other restrictions contained in our senior secured credit agreement, or in any future debt arrangements, could result in an event of default. In the event of a default, the holders of our indebtedness could elect to declare such indebtedness to be due and payable and/or elect to exercise other rights, such as the lenders under our senior secured credit agreement terminating their commitments thereunder or instituting foreclosure proceedings against their collateral, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and our business, financial condition and results of operations. If any such acceleration or foreclosure action occurs, we may not have sufficient assets to repay that indebtedness or be able to borrow sufficient funds to refinance it. Even if we are able to obtain new financing, it may not be on commercially reasonable terms or on terms acceptable to us.

Variable rate indebtedness subjects us to interest rate risk, which could cause our debt service obligations to increase.

Borrowings under our senior secured credit agreement are at variable rates of interest and expose us to interest rate risk. If interest rates continue to increase, our debt service obligations on any variable rate indebtedness could increase even if the amount borrowed remained the same, which could adversely impact our results of operations. In order to manage our exposure to interest rate risk, we have entered into, and may continue to enter into, derivative financial instruments, typically interest rate swaps, involving the exchange of floating for fixed rate interest payments. If we are unable to enter into interest rate swaps, it may adversely impact our results of operations, and, even if we use these instruments to selectively manage risks, there can be no assurance that we will be fully protected against material interest rate fluctuations.

Restructuring activities may lead to additional costs and material adverse effects.

In the past, we have taken actions to restructure and optimize our production and manufacturing capabilities and efficiencies through relocations, consolidations, facility closings or asset sales. We expect to take additional restructuring actions which may include the consolidating or closing of facilities, the movement of production from one geographic region to another, and logistics and sourcing optimization measures. These actions could result in impairment charges and various charges for such items as idle capacity, disposition costs and severance costs, in addition to normal or attendant risks and uncertainties. We may be unsuccessful in any of our current or future efforts to restructure or consolidate our business, improve margins and realize efficiencies. Plans to minimize or eliminate any loss of revenues during restructuring or consolidation may not be achieved. These activities may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We have recognized significant impairment charges for our goodwill and may be required to recognize additional impairment charges in the future for goodwill and other intangible assets. Future impairment of these assets could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

A significant portion of our long-term assets consists of goodwill and other intangible assets recorded as a result of past acquisitions. We do not amortize goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, but rather review them for impairment on an annual basis or more frequently whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying value may not be recoverable. The process of evaluating the potential impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets requires significant judgment. In fiscal 2024, we recorded a $105.9 million non-cash goodwill impairment charge.

Negative industry or economic trends, including reduced estimates of future cash flows, disruptions to our business, slower growth rates, or lack of growth in our relevant business units, could lead to further impairment charges against our goodwill and other intangible assets. In the event that we determine that our goodwill or other intangible assets are impaired, we may be required to record a significant charge to earnings that could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

If we fail to maintain proper and effective internal controls over financial reporting, our financial results may not be accurately reported.

As disclosed in Item 9A, “Controls and Procedures,” of this Annual Report, in fiscal 2023, we identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting related to revenue at one of our business units. This material weakness was remediated in fiscal 2024. However, new material weaknesses were identified in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 related to information technology general controls, goodwill impairment and application of GAAP to non-routine events and conditions. The material weaknesses did not result in any material identified misstatements to the consolidated financial statements, and there were no changes to previously issued financial results. We are actively developing remediation plans designed to address the material weaknesses; however, we cannot guarantee that these steps will be sufficient or that we will not have a material weakness in the future. The material weaknesses, or difficulties encountered in implementing new or improved controls or remediation, could prevent us from accurately reporting our financial results, result in material misstatements in our financial statements or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. Failure to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 could negatively affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

A significant fluctuation between the U.S. dollar and other currencies could adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We transact business in various foreign countries. We present our consolidated financial statements in U.S. dollars, but a portion of our revenues and expenditures are transacted in other currencies. As a result, we are exposed to fluctuations in foreign currencies. Additionally, we have currency fluctuation exposure arising from funds held in local currencies in foreign countries. Volatility in the exchange rates between the foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Changes in our effective tax rate may adversely impact our results of operations.

A number of factors may increase our effective tax rate, which could reduce our net income, including:

Our judgments regarding the accounting for tax positions and the resolution of tax disputes may impact our results of operations and financial condition.

Significant judgment is required to determine our effective tax rate and evaluate our tax positions. We provide for uncertain tax positions when such tax positions do not meet the recognition thresholds or measurement criteria prescribed by applicable accounting standards. Fluctuations in federal, state and foreign taxes or a change to uncertain tax positions, including related interest and penalties, may impact our effective tax rate and results of operations. Additionally, we are subject to audits in the various taxing jurisdictions in which we conduct business. Based on the status of these audits and the protocol of finalizing audits by the relevant tax authorities, it is not possible to estimate the impact of changes, if any, to previously recorded uncertain tax positions. Any negative or unexpected outcomes of these examinations and audits could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition.

Technology and Intellectual Property Risks

Our operations could be negatively impacted by IT service interruptions, data corruption or misuse, cyber-based attacks, or network security breaches.

We face certain security threats relating to the confidentiality and integrity of our information technology (“IT”) systems. Despite implementation of security measures, our IT systems may be vulnerable to damage from computer viruses, cyber-attacks and other unauthorized access, and these security breaches could result in a disruption to our operations. A material network breach of our IT systems could involve the theft of our and our customers' intellectual property or trade secrets which may be used by competitors to develop competing products. To the extent that any security breach results in a loss or damage to data, or inappropriate disclosure of confidential or proprietary information, it could cause significant damage to our reputation, affect our customer relations, lead to claims against us, increase our costs to protect against future damage and could result in a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Any such disruption or security breach, as well as any action by us or our employees or contractors that might be inconsistent with the rapidly evolving data privacy and security laws and regulations applicable within the U.S. and elsewhere where we conduct business, could result in enforcement actions by U.S. states, the U.S. Federal government or foreign governments, liability or sanctions under data privacy laws that protect personally identifiable information, regulatory penalties, other legal proceedings such as but not limited to private litigation, the incurrence of significant remediation costs, disruptions to our development programs, business operations and collaborations, diversion of management efforts and damage to our reputation, which could harm our business and operations. Because of the rapidly changing nature of technology and the increasing sophistication of cybersecurity threats, our measures to prevent, respond to and minimize such risks may be unsuccessful. While we have secured cyber insurance to potentially cover certain risks associated with cyber incidents, there can be no assurance it will be sufficient to cover any such liability.

In particular, the General Data Privacy Regulation (“GDPR”) of the European Union creates a range of compliance obligations applicable to the collection, use, retention, security, processing and transfer of personal data in the European Union. The GDPR, which is wide-ranging in scope, imposes several requirements relating to the consent of the individuals to whom the personal data relates, the information provided to the individuals, the security and confidentiality of the personal data, data breach notification and the use of third-party processors in connection with the processing of the personal data. The GDPR also imposes strict rules on the transfer of personal data out of the European Union to countries such as the U.S., enhances enforcement authority and imposes large penalties for noncompliance.

We may be unable to keep pace with rapid technological changes, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The technologies relating to some of our products have undergone, and are continuing to undergo, rapid and significant changes. Specifically, end-markets for electronic components and assemblies are characterized by technological change, frequent new product introductions and enhancements, changes in customer requirements and emerging industry standards. These changes could render our existing products unmarketable before we can recover any or all of our research, development and other expenses. Furthermore, the life cycles of our products vary, may change and are sometimes difficult to estimate. If we are unable, for technological or other reasons, to develop and market new products or product enhancements in a timely and cost-effective manner, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

If we are unable to protect our intellectual property or we infringe, or are alleged to infringe, on another person’s intellectual property, our competitive position and results of operations may be adversely impacted.

We have numerous U.S. and foreign patents, trade secrets and license agreements covering certain of our products and manufacturing processes. Our ability to compete effectively with other companies depends, in part, on our ability to maintain the proprietary nature of our technology. Although we have been awarded, have filed applications for, or have been licensed under numerous patents in the U.S. and other countries, there can be no assurance concerning the degree of protection afforded by these patents or the likelihood that pending patents will be issued. The loss of certain patents and trade secrets could adversely affect our sales, margins or profitability.

We have been involved and may become involved in the future in litigation to protect our intellectual property or because others may allege that we infringe on their intellectual property. These claims and any resulting lawsuits could subject us to liability for damages and invalidate our intellectual property rights. If an infringement claim is successfully asserted by a holder of intellectual property rights, we may be required to cease marketing or selling certain products, pay a penalty for past infringement and spend significant time and money to develop a non-infringing product or process or to obtain licenses for the technology, process or information from the holder. We may not be successful in the development of a non-infringing alternative, or licenses may not be available on commercially acceptable terms, if at all, in which case we may lose sales and profits. In addition, any litigation could be lengthy and costly and could materially adversely affect us even if we are successful in the litigation.

Legal, Regulatory and Compliance Risks

We are subject to government regulations, including environmental, health, and safety (“EHS”) laws and regulations, that expose us to potential financial liability.

Our operations are regulated by a number of federal, state, local and international government regulations, including those pertaining to EHS that govern, among other things, air and water emissions, worker protection, and the handling, storage and disposal of hazardous materials. If we violate EHS laws and regulations, we could be liable for substantial fines, penalties, and costs of mandated remedial actions. Our environmental permits could also be revoked or modified, which could require us to cease or limit production at one or more of our facilities, thereby materially adversely affecting our business, financial condition and results of operations. EHS laws and regulations have generally become more stringent over time and could continue to do so, particularly in response to climate change concerns, imposing greater compliance costs and increasing risks and penalties associated with any violation, which also could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We operate our business on a global basis and changes to trade policy, including tariffs and customs regulations, could have a material and adverse effect on our business.

We manufacture and sell our products globally and rely on a global supply chain to deliver the required raw materials, components, and parts, as well as the final products to our customers. Existing free trade laws and regulations, such as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, provide certain duties and tariffs for qualifying imports and exports, subject to compliance with the applicable classification and other requirements. Changes in laws or policies governing the terms of foreign trade, and in particular increased trade restrictions, tariffs or taxes on imports from countries where we manufacture products, such as China, Egypt and Mexico, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results. The U.S. and Chinese governments have imposed a series of significant incremental retaliatory tariffs to certain imported products. Most notably with respect to the automotive and commercial vehicle industries, the U.S. imposed tariffs on imports of electric vehicles and certain steel, aluminum and automotive components, and China imposed retaliatory tariffs on imports of U.S. vehicles and certain automotive components. Depending upon their continued duration and potential expansion, these tariffs and other regulatory actions could materially affect our business, including in the form of an increase in cost of goods sold, decreased margins, increased pricing for customers, and reduced sales.

An emphasis on global climate change and other Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) matters by various stakeholders could adversely impact our business and results of operations.

Increased public awareness and concern regarding environmental risks, including global climate change, may result in more international, regional and/or federal requirements, customer requirements, or industry standards to reduce or mitigate global warming and other environmental risks. These requirements, regulations or standards could mandate more restrictive requirements, such as stricter limits on greenhouse gas emissions and production of single use plastics and could increase costs relating to monitoring and reporting emissions data. In addition, the risks of climate change may impact manufacturing, product demand, the availability and cost of materials and natural resources, and sources and supply of energy, and could increase insurance and other operating costs. If environmental laws or regulations or industry standards are either changed or adopted and impose significant operational restrictions and compliance requirements upon us, our operations, our products or our customers, or if our operations are disrupted due to physical impacts of climate change, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

Products we manufacture may contain design or manufacturing defects that could result in reduced demand for our products or services and warranty liability claims against us.

Despite our quality control and quality assurance efforts, defects may occur in the products we manufacture due to a variety of factors, including design or manufacturing errors, component failure or counterfeit parts. Product defects may result in delayed shipments and reduced demand for our products. We have incurred warranty liability claims and may be subject to increased costs due to warranty claims on defective products. Product defects may result in product liability claims against us where defects cause, or are alleged to cause, property damage, bodily injury or death. We may be required to participate in a recall involving products that are, or are alleged to be, defective. We carry insurance for certain legal matters involving product liability, however, we do not have coverage for all costs related to product defects or recalls and the costs of such claims, including costs of defense and settlement, may exceed our available coverage. Any such product defects or product liability claims could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

Item 1C. Cybersecurity

Risk management and strategy

We depend on information systems and technology in substantially all aspects of our business, including running our manufacturing operations and communicating among our employees, suppliers and customers. Such uses of information systems and technology give rise to cybersecurity risks, including risk of system disruption, security breach, ransomware, theft, espionage and inadvertent release of information. We have a risk-based cybersecurity program, dedicated to protecting our data and information technology systems. These cybersecurity threats and related risks make it imperative that we remain vigilant and apprised of developments in the information security field, and we expend considerable resources on cybersecurity. With Board of Directors and Audit Committee oversight, as part of our annual enterprise-wide risk management process, we assess and manage the material risks associated with cybersecurity.

We work with industry-leading third parties that assist us to identify, assess, and manage cybersecurity risks, including professional services firms, legal advisors, threat intelligence service providers, and penetration testing firms. We conduct periodic internal and third-party assessments to evaluate our cybersecurity posture and test and assess our incident response plan, incident roles and responsibilities, material impact evaluation, and decision-making processes in the event of a cybersecurity incident. We use our risk and security assessments to enhance our information security capabilities.

We rely heavily on our supply chain to deliver our products and services to our customers, and a cybersecurity incident at a supplier, subcontractor or third-party partner could materially adversely impact us. To address this, our vendor management process involves different levels of assessment depending on the services provided by the vendor, the sensitivity of the related information systems and data, and the identity of the provider. It is designed to help identify cybersecurity risks associated with a vendor and work with the vendor to address or mitigate those risks.

While we have experienced threats to our data and systems, to date, we have not experienced a cybersecurity incident that has materially affected our business strategy, results of operations, or financial condition. That said, a significant cybersecurity incident may materially impact our business strategy, results of operations and financial condition in the future. For further information regarding cybersecurity risks, see Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report.

Governance

Our Board of Directors, as a whole, has oversight responsibility for our strategic and operational risks, including cybersecurity. The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for regularly reviewing with management our cybersecurity practices and policies. The Audit Committee regularly reports risks and compliance actions to the Board. As part of its oversight role, the Audit Committee receives regular reporting about our strategy, programs, incidents and threats, and other developments and action items related to cybersecurity regularly throughout the year, including through quarterly updates from the Chief Information Officer (“CIO”) who is also our Chief Information Security Officer. In addition, on at least an annual basis, the full Board of Directors receives reports, summaries or presentations related to cybersecurity threats, risk, mitigation and related processes from our CIO.

Our cybersecurity program and related initiatives are managed by the CIO, and our IT team is responsible for enterprise-wide informational technology, coordinating with various functions and business groups to ensure they are following best practices.

Our CIO, who has more than 25 years of experience in technology and information security risk management across a number of organizations, is responsible for overseeing the risks related to cybersecurity. He is responsible for cybersecurity incident preparedness, approving cybersecurity processes, reviewing security assessments and other security-related reports, and providing the senior leadership with regular updates on cybersecurity-related matters.

Our security operation center monitors the prevention, detection, mitigation, and remediation of cybersecurity risks and incidents through various means, which may include briefings with internal security personnel, threat intelligence and other information obtained from governmental, public or private sources, including external consultants engaged by us, and alerts and reports produced by security tools deployed in the information technology environment.

In the event of a suspected incident, we intend to follow our incident response plan, which outlines the steps to be followed from incident detection to mitigation, recovery and notification, including notifying the CIO and functional areas (e.g. legal) as appropriate. The CIO will make any required communications to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and other senior leadership, with the CIO making any required communications to the Board and Audit Committee. Our CEO, Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel and CIO are responsible for assessing such incidents for materiality, ensuring that any required notification, disclosure or communication occurs and determining, among other things, whether any prohibition on the trading of our common stock by insiders should be imposed prior to the disclosure of information about a material cybersecurity event.

Item 2. Properties

Our corporate headquarters is located in Chicago, Illinois. As of April 27, 2024, we leased or owned 34 operating facilities. We believe our facilities are in good condition and adequate to meet our current and reasonably anticipated future needs. The following table provides details regarding our significant properties as of April 27, 2024:

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

From time to time, we have and may become involved in various litigation matters, including administrative proceedings, regulatory proceedings, environmental matters, and commercial disputes. The impact and outcome of litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and an adverse result in these or other matters may arise from time to time that could harm our business. We are not currently aware of any legal proceedings or claims to which we are a party or to which our property is subject that we believe will have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

Supplementary Item: Information about our Executive Officers

All executive officers are elected by the Board of Directors and serve a term of one year or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. As part of his regular employment, Mr. Nystrom has acted on assignment at a number of companies implementing restructuring plans, including through the United States bankruptcy laws, most recently Aero Group Holdings, an airline, from March 2022 through April 2024. We do not believe such events are material to an evaluation of the ability or integrity of Mr. Nystrom to serve as an interim executive officer of the Company.

On June 25, 2024, we announced the appointment of Jon DeGaynor as our new President and Chief Executive Officer, beginning July 15, 2024. Mr. DeGaynor, age 58, currently serves as non-employee Executive Chairman of Racing and Performance, Inc., an automotive ‎performance systems supplier in the aftermarket space. He previously served as President and CEO of Stoneridge, ‎Inc., a publicly traded global designer and manufacturer of highly engineered electrical and electronic systems, ‎components, and modules for the automotive, commercial, off-highway and agricultural vehicle markets, from ‎‎2015 to 2023. ‎

PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Market Information

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “MEI”. As of July 8, 2024, we had 343 holders of record of our common stock. This does not include persons whose stock is in nominee or “street name” accounts held by banks, brokers and other nominees.

Dividends

While we currently expect that quarterly cash dividends will continue to be paid in the future, such payments are at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon many factors, including our results of operations, liquidity position and compliance with debt covenants.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

On March 31, 2021, as subsequently amended on June 16, 2022, the Board of Directors authorized the purchase of up to $200.0 million of our outstanding common stock through June 14, 2024 (the “2021 Buyback Program”). On June 13, 2024, the Board of Directors authorized a new share buyback program, commencing on June 17, 2024, for the purchase of up to $200.0 million (the “2024 Buyback Program”) of our outstanding common stock through June 17, 2026. Purchases under these programs may be made on the open market, in private transactions or pursuant to purchase plans designed to comply with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. As of April 27, 2024, we had purchased and retired $133.1 million of common stock under the 2021 Buyback Program.

The following table provides information about our purchases of equity securities during the three months ended April 27, 2024:

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

See Item 12, “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters,” of this Annual Report for certain information relating to our equity compensation plans.

Stock Performance

The following graph shows the cumulative total stockholder return on our common stock over the period spanning April 27, 2019 to April 27, 2024, as compared with that of the Russell 2000 Index, and our Fiscal 2024 Peer Group. We have assumed that dividends have been reinvested and that $100 was invested on April 27, 2019. The stock price performance included in this graph is historical and not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.

The Fiscal 2024 Peer Group consists of the following fifteen public companies:

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors reviews the peer group annually and from time to time changes the composition of the peer group where changes are appropriate. No changes were made in fiscal 2024.

Item 6. [Reserved]

Not applicable.

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. You should read the following discussion and analysis in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this Annual Report. This discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements because of a variety of factors, including those set forth under Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of this Annual Report. We undertake no duty to update any such forward-looking statements to conform to actual results or changes in our expectations.

Overview

Our Business

We are a leading global supplier of custom engineered solutions with sales, engineering and manufacturing locations in North America, Europe, Middle East and Asia. We design, engineer and produce mechatronic products for OEMs utilizing our broad range of technologies for user interface, LED lighting system, power distribution and sensor applications.

Our solutions are found in the end markets of transportation (including automotive, commercial vehicle, e-bike, aerospace, bus and rail), cloud computing infrastructure, construction equipment and consumer appliance. Our business is managed on a segment basis, with those segments being Automotive, Industrial, Interface and Medical. For more information regarding the business and products of these segments, see Item 1, “Business” of this Annual Report.

In the first quarter of fiscal 2024, we made the decision to initiate the discontinuation of the Dabir Surfaces business in the Medical segment. In October 2023, we sold certain assets of the Dabir Surfaces business, and no longer operate this business. For further information, see Note 3, “Acquisition and Disposition” to the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report.

On April 20, 2023, we acquired 92.2% of the outstanding shares of Nordic Lights. We acquired the remaining 7.8% of the outstanding shares of Nordic Lights in fiscal 2024. Accordingly, as of April 27, 2024, we own 100% of Nordic Lights. The results of operations of Nordic Lights are reported within the Industrial segment from the date of acquisition and were immaterial for fiscal 2023. See Note 3, “Acquisition and Disposition” to the consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report for further information.

On June 25, 2024, we announced the appointment of Jon DeGaynor as our new President and Chief Executive Officer, beginning July 15, 2024. Mr. DeGaynor, age 58, currently serves as non-employee Executive Chairman of Racing and Performance, Inc., an automotive ‎performance systems supplier in the aftermarket space. He previously served as President and CEO of Stoneridge, ‎Inc., a publicly traded global designer and manufacturer of highly engineered electrical and electronic systems, ‎components, and modules for the automotive, commercial, off-highway and agricultural vehicle markets, from ‎‎2015 to 2023. ‎

Trends Affecting Our Business

The following trends significantly impact the indicators discussed above, as well as our business and operating results. See the risk factors identified under Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of this Annual Report for more information.

Macroeconomic Conditions

The global economy continues to experience volatile disruptions including to the commodity, labor and transportation markets, arising from a combination of geopolitical events and various economic and financial factors. These disruptions have affected our operations and may continue to affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. As a result of continued inflation, we have implemented measures to mitigate certain adverse effects of higher costs. However, we have been unable to fully mitigate or pass through the increases in our costs to our customers, which will likely continue in the future.

Geopolitical Conditions

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the resulting economic sanctions imposed by the international community impacted the global economy and gave rise to potential global security issues that may adversely affect international business and economic conditions. Given our manufacturing operations in the Middle East and Asia, the continuation of the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the escalation or expansion of the Israel-Hamas war, or renewed terrorist attacks on Red Sea shipping, such as those by the Houthi, could lead to other supply chain disruptions, increased inflationary pressures, and volatility in global markets and industries that could negatively impact our operations. The full impact of the conflicts on our business operations and financial performance remains uncertain and will depend on future developments, including the severity and duration of the conflicts and their impact on regional and global economic conditions. We will continue to monitor the conflicts and assess the related restrictions and other effects on our employees, customers, suppliers and business.

Global Supply Chain Disruptions

Although we saw improvements in our supply chain in fiscal 2024, including easing of the worldwide semiconductor supply shortage, new supply chain disruptions may occur in the future. In addition, we have experienced, and may continue to experience, business interruptions, including customer shutdowns and increased material and logistics costs and labor shortages. We continue to work closely with suppliers and customers to minimize the potential adverse impact from global supply chain disruptions. However, if we are not able to mitigate any direct or indirect supply chain disruptions, this may have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Consolidated Results of Operations

A detailed comparison of our results of operations between fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022 can be found in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our fiscal 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on June 27, 2023.

The table below compares our results of operations between fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2023:

Net sales

Net sales decreased $65.1 million, or 5.5%, to $1,114.5 million in fiscal 2024, compared to $1,179.6 million in fiscal 2023. The decrease was primarily due to lower sales in the Automotive segment, partially offset by the acquisition of Nordic Lights, which contributed $85.1 million of net sales to the Industrial segment, and favorable foreign currency translation of $4.3 million. Net sales included customer cost recoveries from spot buys of materials and premium freight costs of $2.2 million in fiscal 2024, compared to $20.9 million in in fiscal 2023. Excluding the impact of Nordic Lights, foreign currency translation and customer cost recoveries, net sales decreased $135.8 million, or 11.7%.

Cost of products sold

Cost of products sold increased $20.2 million, or 2.2%, to $935.7 million (84.0% of net sales) in fiscal 2024, compared to $915.5 million (77.6% of net sales) in fiscal 2023. The acquisition of Nordic Lights and foreign currency translation accounted for $62.6 million and $3.0 million, respectively, of the increase. Excluding Nordic Lights and foreign currency translation, cost of products sold decreased $45.4 million. The decrease was primarily due to lower material costs as a result of a decrease in sales volumes, partially offset by higher wages, product launch costs, freight and restructuring and impairment charges. Restructuring and impairment charges included within cost of products sold were $1.7 million in fiscal 2024, compared to $0.4 million in fiscal 2023.

Gross profit margin

Gross profit margin was 16.0% of net sales in fiscal 2024, compared to 22.4% of net sales in fiscal 2023. The decrease in gross profit margin was primarily a result of lower sales and operational inefficiencies in the Automotive segment. The operational inefficiencies were caused mainly by planning deficiencies, inventory shortages, unrecoverable spot purchases and premium freight, and delayed shipments.

Selling and administrative expenses

Selling and administrative expenses increased $6.0 million, or 3.9%, to $160.9 million (14.4% of net sales) in fiscal 2024, compared to $154.9 million (13.1% of net sales) in fiscal 2023. The acquisition of Nordic Lights and foreign currency translation accounted for $9.6 million and $1.7 million, respectively, of the increase. Excluding Nordic Lights and foreign currency translation, selling and administrative expenses decreased $5.3 million. The decrease was primarily due to lower acquisition costs related to Nordic Lights and lower stock-based compensation expense, partially offset by higher professional fees and restructuring and impairment charges. In fiscal 2024, acquisition costs for Nordic Lights were $0.5 million, compared to $6.8 million in fiscal 2023. Stock-based compensation expense was lower due to a $3.6 million reversal of expense due to forfeitures in fiscal 2024 and a reduction in the number of restricted stock units subject to expense in fiscal 2024. The increase in professional fees was due to higher audit and consulting fees. Restructuring and impairment charges included within selling and administrative expenses were $2.0 million in fiscal 2024, compared to $0.5 million in fiscal 2023.

Goodwill impairment

In fiscal 2024, we recognized goodwill impairment of $105.9 million in the Automotive segment. For further information, see Note 6, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” to the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report.

Amortization of intangibles

Amortization of intangibles increased $5.2 million, or 27.7%, to $24.0 million in fiscal 2024, compared to $18.8 million in fiscal 2023. The increase was due to the recognition of amortization expense associated with the acquisition of Nordic Lights.

Interest expense, net

Interest expense, net was $16.7 million in fiscal 2024, compared to $2.7 million in fiscal 2023. The increase was due to higher borrowings and increased interest rates.

Other income, net

Other income, net was $0.6 million in fiscal 2024, compared to $2.4 million in fiscal 2023. The decrease was due to lower international government assistance, partially offset by net gains on sale of assets and lower foreign exchange losses.

In fiscal 2024, we received $0.5 million of international government assistance, compared to $9.7 million in fiscal 2023. Fiscal 2023 international government assistance includes $6.3 million related to the COVID-19 pandemic and $3.4 million related to maintaining certain employment levels.

The net gain on sale of assets included a $2.4 million gain on sale of the company aircraft and a $0.6 million loss on the sale of certain assets of Dabir Surfaces.

Net foreign exchange loss was $2.2 million in fiscal 2024, compared to $7.1 million in fiscal 2023. Net foreign exchange losses were lower in fiscal 2024 due to higher efficiency in our foreign currency balance sheet remeasurement hedging program. In addition, net foreign exchange loss in fiscal 2023 included the recognition of $2.1 million of a foreign exchange loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income as the result of a reorganization of a foreign owned subsidiary.

Income tax (benefit) expense

Income tax benefit was $4.8 million in fiscal 2024, compared to income tax expense of $13.0 million in fiscal 2023. Our effective tax rate decreased to 3.7% in fiscal 2024, compared to 14.4% in fiscal 2023. In fiscal 2024, the effective tax rate was favorably impacted by pre-tax losses in operations, the amount of income earned in foreign jurisdictions with lower tax rates of $5.1 million and research and development expenditures of $1.5 million. These were partially offset by non-deductible goodwill impairments of $22.7 million, withholding taxes of $3.2 million, and U.S. tax on foreign income of $3.5 million of which global intangible low-tax income is the main component. In fiscal 2023, the effective income tax rate was favorably impacted by the amount of income earned in foreign jurisdictions with lower tax rates and a tax benefit of $7.3 million associated with the reorganization of a foreign owned subsidiary, partially offset by a reduction in foreign investment tax credits of $5.0 million and non-deductible acquisition costs of $1.4 million.

Net (loss) income

Net loss was $123.3 million in fiscal 2024, compared to net income of $77.1 million in fiscal 2023. The acquisition of Nordic Lights contributed $3.9 million of net income and the impact of foreign currency translation increased net income by $0.3 million. Excluding Nordic Lights and foreign currency translation, net income decreased $204.3 million as a result of the reasons described above.

Operating Segments

Automotive

Net sales

Automotive segment net sales decreased $138.0 million, or 18.7%, to $598.2 million in fiscal 2024, compared to $736.2 million in fiscal 2023. Excluding foreign currency translation and customer cost recoveries, net sales decreased $127.7 million, or 17.7%.

Net sales in North America decreased $83.4 million, or 23.9%, to $265.6 million in fiscal 2024, compared to $349.0 million in fiscal 2023. Excluding customer cost recoveries, net sales decreased $73.8 million primarily due to lower sales volumes from program roll-offs, including a major center console program. Net sales in EMEA decreased $15.0 million, or 6.5%, to $216.2 million in fiscal 2024, compared to $231.2 million in fiscal 2023. The stronger euro, relative to the U.S. dollar, increased net sales in EMEA by $7.6 million. Excluding foreign currency translation and customer cost recoveries, net sales in EMEA decreased $19.8 million primarily due to lower sales volumes of sensor products. Net sales in Asia decreased $39.6 million, or 25.4%, to $116.4 million in fiscal 2024, compared to $156.0 million in fiscal 2023. The weaker Chinese renminbi, relative to the U.S. dollar, decreased net sales in Asia by $4.9 million. Excluding foreign currency translation and customer cost recoveries, net sales in Asia decreased $34.1 million primarily due to a program roll-off and lower overhead console sales volumes.

Gross profit

Automotive segment gross profit decreased $95.8 million, or 75.9%, to $30.4 million in fiscal 2024, compared to $126.2 million in fiscal 2023. Excluding the impact of foreign currency translation, gross profit decreased $96.7 million. Gross profit margins decreased to 5.1% in fiscal 2024, from 17.1% in fiscal 2023. The decrease in gross profit margins was due to lower sales volumes, increased costs for product launches, and operational inefficiencies in North America which led to planning deficiencies, inventory shortages, unrecoverable spot purchases and premium freight.

(Loss) income from operations

Automotive segment loss from operations was $140.2 million in fiscal 2024, compared to income from operations of $67.0 million in fiscal 2023. Loss from operations in fiscal 2024 includes goodwill impairment of $105.9 million. Excluding goodwill impairment and the impact of foreign currency translation, income from operations decreased $101.0 million. The decrease was primarily due to lower gross profit and slightly higher selling and administrative expenses. Selling and administrative expenses increased due to higher salary and incentive compensation expense, and outbound freight expense.

Industrial

Net sales

Industrial segment net sales increased $75.2 million, or 19.5%, to $460.1 million in fiscal 2024, compared to $384.9 million in fiscal 2023. The increase was primarily due to the acquisition of Nordic Lights, which contributed $85.1 million of net sales, and favorable foreign currency translation of $1.6 million, partially offset by lower customer cost recoveries from spot buys of materials and premium freight costs of $3.9 million. Excluding the impact of Nordic Lights, foreign currency translation and customer cost recoveries, net sales decreased $7.6 million, or 2.0%, primarily due to lower demand for power distribution products in the electric vehicle and data center markets and lower sales volumes of commercial vehicle lighting solutions products.

Gross profit

Industrial segment gross profit increased $9.9 million, or 7.7%, to $137.7 million in fiscal 2024, compared to $127.8 million in fiscal 2023. The increase was due to the acquisition of Nordic Lights, which contributed $22.5 million of gross profit, and $0.4 million of favorable foreign currency translation. Excluding the impact of Nordic Lights and foreign currency translation, gross profit decreased $13.0 million. Gross profit margins decreased to 29.9% in fiscal 2024, compared to 33.2% in fiscal 2023. Gross profit margins were impacted by lower sales volumes and higher operating expenses.

Income from operations

Industrial segment income from operations decreased $4.3 million, or 4.6%, to $88.8 million in fiscal 2024, compared to $93.1 million in fiscal 2023. The acquisition of Nordic Lights and favorable foreign currency translation accounted for $7.4 million and $0.2 million, respectively, of income from operations. Excluding Nordic Lights and the impact of foreign currency translation, income from operations decreased $11.9 million. The decrease was primarily due to lower gross profit, partially offset by slightly lower selling and administrative expenses. The decrease in selling and administrative expenses was primarily due to lower legal fees.

Interface

Net sales

Interface segment net sales decreased $1.1 million, or 2.0%, to $53.8 million in fiscal 2024, compared to $54.9 million in fiscal 2023. Excluding customer cost recoveries, net sales increased $0.7 million, or 1.3%. The increase was primarily due to higher sales volumes of appliance products, partially offset by lower sales volumes of data solutions products.

Gross profit

Interface segment gross profit increased $1.0 million, or 10.8%, to $10.3 million in fiscal 2024, compared to $9.3 million in fiscal 2023. Gross profit margin increased to 19.1% in fiscal 2024, from 16.9% in fiscal 2023. The increase in gross profit margins was primarily due to higher sales volumes of appliance products.

Income from operations

Interface segment income from operations increased $1.4 million, or 25.5%, to $6.9 million in fiscal 2024, compared to $5.5 million in fiscal 2023. The increase was due to higher gross profit and lower selling and administrative expenses, primarily professional fees.

Medical

In the first quarter of fiscal 2024, we made the decision to initiate the discontinuation of the Dabir Surfaces business (which accounts for all of the Medical segment’s financial results). Towards the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2024, we sold certain assets of the Dabir Surfaces business and have now exited this business, which accounts for the variances in the table above.

Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our liquidity requirements are primarily to fund our business operations, including capital expenditures and working capital requirements, as well as to fund debt service requirements, dividends and stock repurchases. Our primary sources of liquidity are cash flows from operations, existing cash balances and borrowings under our senior secured credit agreement. We believe our liquidity position will be sufficient to fund our existing operations and current commitments for at least the next twelve months. However, if economic conditions remain impacted for longer than we expect due to supply chain disruptions, inflationary pressure or other geopolitical risks, or if we are unable to maintain compliance with our debt covenants, our liquidity position could be severely impacted.

At April 27, 2024, we had $161.5 million of cash and cash equivalents, of which $53.4 million was held in subsidiaries outside the U.S. Cash held by these subsidiaries is used to fund operational activities and can be repatriated, primarily through the payment of dividends and the repayment of intercompany loans, without creating material additional income tax expense.

Share Buyback Programs

On March 31, 2021, as subsequently amended on June 16, 2022, the Board of Directors authorized the purchase of up to $200.0 million of our outstanding common stock through June 14, 2024 (the “2021 Buyback Program”). On June 13, 2024, the Board of Directors authorized a new share buyback program, commencing on June 17, 2024, for the purchase of up to $200.0 million (the “2024 Buyback Program”) of our outstanding common stock through June 17, 2026. Purchases may be made on the open market, in private transactions or pursuant to purchase plans designed to comply with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. As of April 27, 2024, a total of 3,417,961 shares had been purchased under the 2021 Buyback Program at a total cost of $133.1 million since the commencement of that program. As of April 27, 2024, $66.9 million remained available under the 2021 Buyback Program to repurchase shares. Upon adoption of the 2024 Buyback Program, no further repurchases will be made under the 2021 Buyback Program.

Amended Credit Agreement

On October 31, 2022, we entered into a Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer, and the Lenders and other parties named therein. The Credit Agreement amended and restated the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated September 12, 2018 and as previously amended (the “Prior Credit Agreement”), with Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender, and L/C Issuer, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as L/C Issuer, and the Lenders and other parties named therein. Among other things, the Credit Agreement (i) increased the multicurrency revolving credit commitments under the Prior Credit Agreement to $750 million (which commitments were subsequently reduced, as discussed below), (ii) refinanced in full and terminated the term loan facility under the Prior Credit Agreement, and (iii) made certain other changes to the covenants, terms, and conditions under the Prior Credit Agreement.

As of January 27, 2024, we were not in compliance with the original consolidated leverage ratio covenant contained in the Credit Agreement for the quarter ended January 27, 2024. On March 6, 2024, we entered into a First Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “First Amendment”) with Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer, the other Lenders party thereto and other parties thereto. Among other things, the First Amendment (i) amended the consolidated leverage ratio covenant for the quarter ended January 27, 2024 and each subsequent fiscal quarter through the quarter ending October 26, 2024, (ii) amended certain interest rate provisions and (iii) waived any default or event of default that may have occurred due to the non-compliance with the consolidated leverage ratio covenant for the quarter ended January 27, 2024 that was in effect prior to the First Amendment. Following the effectiveness of the First Amendment, we were in compliance with the consolidated leverage ratio covenant for the quarter ended January 27, 2024.

On July 9, 2024, we entered into a Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and First Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Guaranty (the “Second Amendment”) with Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer, the other Lenders party thereto and other parties thereto. Among other things, the Second Amendment (i) reduced the revolving credit commitments from $750 million to $500 million, (ii) granted a security interest in substantially all of the personal property of the Company and our U.S. subsidiaries that are guarantors, including 100% of the equity interests of their respective U.S. subsidiaries and 65% of the equity interests of their respective foreign subsidiaries (or such greater amount to the extent such pledge could not reasonably cause adverse tax consequences), (iii) amended the consolidated interest coverage ratio covenant for the quarters ending July 27, 2024, October 26, 2024, January 25, 2025 and April 26, 2025, (iv) amended the consolidated leverage ratio covenant for the quarter ending July 27, 2024 and each subsequent fiscal quarter, (v) amended certain interest rate provisions, (vi) added a requirement to provide monthly financial statements to the lenders through the period ending July 25, 2025, (vii) decreased the general basket exceptions to certain covenants restricting certain Company investments, liens and indebtedness for specified periods of time, (viii) increased, for fiscal year 2025, the general basket exception to a covenant restricting certain Company dispositions of property, (ix) added an “anti-cash hoarding” requirement, applicable during the period from the effective date of the Second Amendment until the earlier to occur of (a) the delivery of financial statements and a compliance certificate for the fiscal quarter ending July 25, 2025 and (b) the delivery of compliance certificates for two consecutive fiscal quarters demonstrating that the our consolidated leverage ratio as of the last day of such fiscal quarters was less than 3.00:1.00, that if we have cash on hand (subject to certain exceptions) of more than $65 million for 10 consecutive business days, we shall prepay the indebtedness under the credit facility by the amount of such excess and (x) made certain other changes to the investment, restricted payment and indebtedness baskets. We were in compliance with the consolidated leverage ratio covenant and consolidated interest coverage ratio covenant for the quarter ended April 27, 2024, both prior to and after giving effect to the Second Amendment.

The Credit Agreement, as amended by the First Amendment and the Second Amendment, is referred to herein as the “Amended Credit Agreement.”

The Amended Credit Agreement provides for a secured multicurrency revolving credit facility of $500 million. In addition, the Amended Credit Agreement permits us to increase the revolving commitments and/or add one or more tranches of term loans under the Amended Credit Agreement from time to time by up to an amount equal to (i) $250 million plus (ii) an additional amount so long as the consolidated leverage ratio would not exceed 3.00:1.00 on a pro forma basis, subject to, among other things, the receipt of additional commitments from existing and/or new lenders. The Amended Credit Agreement matures on October 31, 2027.

As of April 27, 2024, the outstanding balance under the revolving credit facility was $333.0 million, which included $294.0 million (€275.0 million) of euro-denominated borrowings. The Amended Credit Agreement contains various representations and warranties, financial covenants (including covenants requiring us to maintain compliance with a minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio and a maximum consolidated leverage ratio, in each case as of the end of each fiscal quarter of the Company), restrictive and other covenants, and events of default. The covenants in the Amended Credit Agreement include an “anti-cash hoarding” requirement, as discussed above. As of April 27, 2024, we were in compliance with all the covenants in the Amended Credit Agreement, both prior to and after giving effect to the Second Amendment. For further information, see Note 10, “Debt” to the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report.

Although we currently anticipate, based on our current projections and analyses, that we will be in compliance with the financial covenants contained in the Amended Credit Agreement, no assurance can be given that we will be and remain in compliance with such covenants in the future. Factors that could increase our risk of future non-compliance include those identified in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of this Annual Report.

Cash Flows

Operating activities

Net cash provided by operating activities decreased $85.3 million to $47.5 million in fiscal 2024, compared to $132.8 million in fiscal 2023. The decrease was due to lower net income adjusted for non-cash items, partially offset by higher cash inflows related to changes in operating assets and liabilities. The $23.8 million of cash inflows for operating assets and liabilities in fiscal 2024 was primarily due to lower accounts receivable, partially offset by higher inventory.

Investing activities

Net cash used in investing activities was $17.5 million in fiscal 2024, compared to $153.1 million in fiscal 2023. In fiscal 2023, we paid $114.6 million of cash, net of cash acquired, for the acquisition of Nordic Lights. Capital expenditures in fiscal 2024 were $50.2 million, compared to $42.0 million in fiscal 2023. We received $21.3 million of cash from the sale of assets in fiscal 2024 compared to $3.5 million in fiscal 2023. In fiscal 2024, we redeemed life insurance policies and received cash proceeds of $10.8 million.

Financing activities

Net cash used in financing activities was $18.9 million in fiscal 2024, compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $3.2 million in fiscal 2023. In fiscal 2024, we paid $13.7 million of cash for share repurchases, compared to $48.1 million in fiscal 2023. We paid cash dividends of $19.9 million in fiscal 2024, compared to $19.8 million in fiscal 2023. In fiscal 2024, we had net borrowings of $30.7 million, compared to $73.7 million in fiscal 2023. Fiscal 2023 net borrowings were primarily to fund the acquisition of Nordic Lights. In fiscal 2024, we paid $10.9 million to redeem a noncontrolling interest.

Contractual Obligations

The following table summarizes our significant known contractual cash obligations and commercial commitments as of April 27, 2024:

(1) Assumes the outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility will be repaid upon maturity of the credit agreement in October 2027.

(2) Based on interest rates in effect as of April 27, 2024 (including the impact of interest rate swaps).

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined under SEC rules.

Legal Matters

For several years, Hetronic Germany-GmbH and Hydronic-Steuersysteme-GmbH (the “Fuchs companies”) served as our distributors for Germany, Austria and other central and eastern European countries pursuant to their respective intellectual property licenses and distribution and assembly agreements. We became aware that the Fuchs companies and their managing director, Albert Fuchs, had materially violated those agreements. As a result, we terminated all of our agreements with the Fuchs companies. On June 20, 2014, we filed a lawsuit against the Fuchs companies in the Federal District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma alleging material breaches of the distribution and assembly agreements and seeking damages, as well as various forms of injunctive relief. The defendants filed counterclaims alleging breach of contract, interference with business relations and business slander. On April 2, 2015, we amended our complaint against the Fuchs companies to add additional unfair competition and Lanham Act claims and to add additional affiliated parties.

A trial with respect to the matter began in February 2020. During the trial, the defendants dismissed their one remaining counterclaim with prejudice. On March 2, 2020, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the Company. The verdict included approximately $102 million in compensatory damages and $11 million in punitive damages. On April 22, 2020, the District Court entered a permanent injunction barring defendants from selling infringing products and ordering them to return Hetronic’s confidential information. Defendants appealed entry of the permanent injunction. On May 29, 2020, the District Court held defendants in contempt for violating the permanent injunction and entered the final judgment. Defendants appealed entry of the final monetary judgment as well. The appeal of the permanent injunction and the appeal of the final judgment were consolidated into a single appeal before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. On August 24, 2021, the Tenth Circuit issued a decision affirming the lower court’s ruling with the exception that it instructed the District Court to modify the injunction from the entire world to all of the countries in which Hetronic sells its products. On April 20 and 21, 2022, the District Court held a hearing related to modifying the injunction pursuant to the Tenth Circuit’s opinion, and the parties filed post-hearing briefs. The defendants also filed a petition for certiorari with the United States Supreme Court seeking to further appeal the extraterritorial application of the Lanham Act in this case. The Company opposed that petition. The Supreme Court requested the views of the Solicitor General on the petition for certiorari, and the Solicitor General recommended granting the petition. On November 4, 2022, the Supreme Court granted the petition. The Supreme Court heard arguments in this matter on March 21, 2023. On June 29, 2023, the Supreme Court vacated the Tenth Circuit’s August 2021 decision and remanded the matter back to the Tenth Circuit for further proceedings. On September 1, 2023, the Tenth Circuit requested supplemental briefing from the parties regarding the effect of the Supreme Court’s decision on the appeal and the proper course of further proceedings. That briefing was thereafter submitted, and the Tenth Circuit heard argument in this matter on January 24, 2024. On April 23, 2024, the Tenth Circuit issued an opinion affirming the District Court’s final judgment on the state law breach of contract and tort claims (this affirmed final judgment amount represents only approximately $22.5 million of the vacated original $113 million final judgment that had been entered in 2020) and remanding for further non-trial proceedings with respect to the appropriate remedies for the Lanham Act claims in light of the Supreme’s Court ruling that the Lanham Act does not apply extraterritorially. On May 17, 2024, the District Court held a status conference and requested further briefing from the parties about the appropriate remedies for the Lanham Act claims.

Like any judgment, particularly a judgment involving defendants outside of the United States, there is no guarantee that the Company will be able to collect all or any portion of the judgment. Furthermore, defendants Abitron Germany and Hetronic Germany filed for insolvency in German court in September and October 2023 respectively, and the Germany insolvency court then appointed a receiver. These insolvency proceedings could potentially adversely impact our ability to enforce or collect upon the judgment or portions of the judgment or otherwise pursue or enforce claims or rights against those defendants.

We incurred legal fees of $2.5 million, $3.9 million and $3.3 million in fiscal 2024, fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022, respectively, related to the lawsuits. These amounts are included in the selling and administrative expenses and as part of the Industrial segment.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires that we make estimates and assumptions that can affect amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements. In preparing our consolidated financial statements, we have made our best estimates and judgments of certain amounts included in the consolidated financial statements. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable. To the extent that there are differences between these estimates and actual results, our consolidated financial statements may be materially affected. We believe that of the significant accounting policies described in Note 1, “Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to the consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report, the following involve a significant level of estimation uncertainty.

Goodwill. As described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report, goodwill is tested for impairment on at least an annual basis, or more frequently if a triggering event indicates that an impairment may exist. In qualitatively assessing impairment, the primary qualitative factors include, but are not limited to, the results of prior year fair value calculations, changes in our market capitalization, the reporting unit and overall financial performance, and macroeconomic and industry conditions. We consider the qualitative factors and weight of the evidence obtained to determine if it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than the carrying amount.

For the quantitative assessment, we utilize either of, or a combination of, the income approach and market approach to estimate the fair value of the reporting unit. The income approach uses a discounted cash flow method and the market approach uses valuation multiples observed for the reporting unit’s guideline public companies. The determination of discounted cash flows are based on management’s estimates of revenue growth rates and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) margin, taking into consideration business and market conditions for the countries and markets in which the reporting unit operates. We calculate the discount rate based on a market-participant, risk-adjusted weighted average cost of capital, which considers industry specific rates of return on debt and equity capital for a target industry capital structure, adjusted for risks associated with business size, geography and other factors specific to the reporting unit. Revenue growth rates and EBITDA margin, especially in the outer years of a forecast, involve a greater degree of uncertainty. Further, a future change in the discount rate, as a result of a change in economic conditions or otherwise, could result in the carrying values of the reporting units exceeding their respective fair values.

We performed our annual goodwill impairment analysis for each of our reporting units at the beginning of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024. Based on this analysis, we determined that the fair value of each of our reporting units was in excess of its carrying value. However, as noted in Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report, the fair value of the Nordic Lights and North American Automotive (“NAA”) reporting units exceeded their carrying value by less than 10%. As discussed below, the NAA reporting unit goodwill was fully impaired as of April 27, 2024. We performed a sensitivity analysis for the significant assumptions used in the goodwill impairment testing analysis for the Nordic Lights reporting unit. The sensitivities were calculated in isolation using the income approach and keeping all other assumptions constant. The cash flow sensitivities do not consider the offsetting impact of a lower discount rate assumption to reflect the reduced risk in estimated future cash flow growth used under the income approach or the related impacts on pricing multiples used under the market approach.

In addition to our annual goodwill impairment analysis, we identified impairment triggering events at interim evaluation dates in fiscal 2024, which were associated with a sustained decrease in our publicly quoted share price, market capitalization and lower than expected operating results. We quantitatively assessed certain reporting units which performed substantially below the forecast used in our last quantitative impairment test. The reporting units that were quantitatively assessed were NAA and European Automotive (“EA”), and we determined the carrying value of these reporting units exceeded their fair value. As a result, in fiscal 2024, we recognized a total non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $105.9 million ($99.8 million for NAA and $6.1 million for EA) that reflected a full impairment of the related goodwill balances.

Impairment of long-lived assets. We evaluate whether events and circumstances have occurred which indicate that the remaining estimated useful lives of our intangible assets, excluding goodwill, and other long-lived assets, may warrant revision or that the remaining balance of such assets may not be recoverable. Determination of recoverability of long-lived assets is based on the lowest level of identifiable estimated future undiscounted cash flows resulting from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. Measurement of any impairment loss is based on the excess of the carrying value of the asset group over its fair value. Assumptions and estimates about future values and the remaining useful lives are complex and subjective. They can be affected by a variety of factors, including external factors such as industry and economic trends, and internal factors such as changes in our business strategy and our internal forecasts.

Income taxes. We are subject to income taxes in the U.S. and numerous foreign jurisdictions. In calculating our effective income tax rate, we make judgments regarding certain tax positions, including the timing and amount of deductions and allocations of income among various tax jurisdictions. When determining whether we will be able to realize deferred tax assets, judgment is used to evaluate the positive and negative evidence, including forecasting taxable income using historical and future operating results.

The amount of income taxes we pay is subject to ongoing audits by federal, state and foreign tax authorities. Our estimate of the potential outcome of any uncertain tax issue is subject to management’s assessment of relevant risks, facts, and circumstances existing at that time. We use a more-likely-than-not threshold for financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. We record a liability for the difference between the benefit recognized and measured and tax position taken or expected to be taken on our tax return. To the extent that our assessment of such tax positions changes, the change in estimate is recorded in the period in which the determination is made.

We record a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. We evaluate our ability to realize the tax benefits associated with deferred tax assets by assessing the adequacy of future expected taxable income, including the reversal of existing temporary differences, historical and projected operating results, and the availability of prudent and feasible tax planning strategies. As of April 27, 2024, we had a valuation allowance of $5.8 million. In the event our operating performance improves or deteriorates in a filing jurisdiction or entity, future assessments could conclude a smaller or larger valuation allowance will be needed. Due to the complexity of some of these uncertainties, the ultimate resolution may be materially different from the current estimate.

Some or all of management’s judgments are subject to review by the taxing authorities. If one or more of the taxing authorities were to successfully challenge our right to realize some or all of the tax benefit we have recorded, and we were unable to realize this benefit, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial results and cash flows. Further, if we are unable to generate sufficient future taxable income, there is a material change in the actual effective tax rates, a change to the time period within which the underlying temporary differences become taxable or deductible, or if the tax laws change unfavorably, then we could be required to increase the valuation allowance against deferred tax assets, resulting in an increase in income tax expense and the effective tax rate.

Business combinations. As described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report, we account for business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting whereby the identifiable assets and liabilities of the acquired business, as well as any noncontrolling interest in the acquired business, are recorded at their estimated fair values as of the date that we obtain control of the acquired business. Determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed requires management's judgment and often involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions, including assumptions with respect to future cash inflows and outflows and discount rates, among other items.

We determine the fair values of intangible assets acquired generally in consultation with third-party valuation advisors. The fair value determination requires a number of judgments, particularly around forecasted revenue growth rates, customer attrition, and discount rates. For example and as discussed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report, we recorded a customer relationships intangible asset in connection with the Nordic Lights acquisition of $77.3 million. We performed a sensitivity analysis for the significant assumptions used in the measurement of the customer relationships intangible asset. The sensitivities were calculated in isolation using the income approach and keeping all other assumptions constant. The sensitivity for the customer attrition rate does not consider the offsetting impact of a lower discount rate assumption to reflect the reduced risk in estimated future cash flow growth used under the income approach.

If actual results are materially different than the assumptions we used to determine fair value of the assets and liabilities acquired through a business combination, it is possible that adjustments to the carrying values of such assets and liabilities will have an impact on net income.

New Accounting Pronouncements

For more information regarding new applicable accounting pronouncements, see Note 1, “Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We are exposed to market risks from foreign currency exchange, interest rates, and commodity prices, which could affect our operating results, financial position and cash flows. We manage a portion of these risks through use of derivative financial instruments in accordance with our policies. We do not enter into derivative financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes.

Foreign currency risk

We are exposed to foreign currency risk on sales, costs and assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. We seek to manage our foreign exchange risk largely through operational means, including matching revenue with same-currency costs and assets with same-currency liabilities. We currently transact business in eight primary currencies worldwide, of which the most significant are the U.S. dollar, the euro, the Chinese renminbi and the Mexican peso.

A portion of our balance sheet is exposed to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, which may result in non-operating foreign currency exchange gains or losses upon remeasurement. We use foreign currency forward contracts to provide an economic hedge against balance sheet exposure to certain monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the subsidiary. The forward contracts have a maturity of less than three months and are not designated as hedging instruments. As of April 27, 2024, the notional value of these outstanding contracts was $110.9 million. These hedges are intended to reduce, but may not entirely eliminate, foreign currency exchange risk. The impact of a change in the foreign currency exchange rates on our foreign currency forward contracts will generally be offset against the gain or loss from the re-measurement of the underlying balance sheet exposure.

The translation of the assets and liabilities of our international subsidiaries is made using the foreign currency exchange rates as of the end of the reporting period. Translation adjustments are not included in determining net income but are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within shareholders’ equity on the consolidated balance sheets until a sale or substantially complete liquidation of the net investment in the international subsidiary takes place. As of April 27, 2024, the cumulative net currency translation adjustments decreased shareholders’ equity by $36.5 million. As described in Note 8, “Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities” to our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report, in order to manage certain translational exposure to the euro, we have designated euro-denominated borrowings of $294.0 million as a net investment hedge in our euro-denominated subsidiaries. We have also entered into a euro-denominated cross-currency swap which is designated as a net investment hedge in our euro-denominated subsidiaries. The effective portion of the gains or losses designated as net investment hedges are recognized within the cumulative translation adjustment component in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income to offset changes in the value of the net investment in these foreign currency-denominated operations.

Interest rate risk

We are exposed to interest rate risk on borrowings under our Credit Agreement which are based on variable rates. As of April 27, 2024, we had $333.0 million of borrowings under our Credit Agreement. We manage our interest rate exposures through the use of interest rate swaps to effectively convert a portion of our variable-rate debt to a fixed rate. The notional amount of our interest rate swaps was $141.3 million as of April 27, 2024. Based on borrowings outstanding under our Credit Agreement at April 27, 2024, net of the interest rate swaps, we estimate that a 1% increase in interest rates would result in increased annual interest expense of $1.5 million.

Commodity price risk

We are exposed to commodity price risk primarily on our raw material purchases. These raw materials are not rare or unique to our industry. The cost of copper, resins, and other commodities, such as fuel and energy, has fluctuated in recent years due to changes in global supply and demand. Our gross margins could be affected if these types of costs continue to fluctuate. We actively manage these raw material costs through global sourcing initiatives and price increases on our products where possible. However, in the short-term, further increases in raw material costs can be very difficult to fully offset with price increases because of contractual agreements with our customers, which would unfavorably impact our gross margins.

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

The consolidated financial statements and supplementary data are filed within this Annual Report under Item 15, “Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.”

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

None.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, under the supervision and with the participation of our Interim Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of April 27, 2024. As defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, disclosure controls and procedures are controls and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s applicable rules and forms. Based upon this evaluation, our Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective at the reasonable assurance level as of April 27, 2024 due to material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting, as described below.

Notwithstanding the ineffectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures due to the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting as of April 27, 2024, we believe there are no material inaccuracies or omissions of material fact in this Form 10-K and, to the best of our knowledge, we believe that the consolidated financial statements in this Form 10-K fairly present in all material aspects our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows in conformity with GAAP.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Under the supervision of our Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of April 27, 2024, based on the guidelines established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013 Framework) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Our internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP.

A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

Management identified a material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting associated with ineffective information technology general controls (ITGCs) over one of its information technology (IT) systems that is relevant to the preparation of the financial information at a substantial portion of the Company’s subsidiaries throughout the year ended April 27, 2024, which resulted in ineffective business process controls (automated and IT-dependent manual controls) that could result in misstatements potentially impacting significant financial statement accounts and disclosures. Specifically, management did not design and execute program change management controls to provide reasonable assurance that IT program changes affecting financial applications are authorized, tested, and implemented appropriately. As a result, business process controls (automated and IT-dependent manual controls) that are reliant on the affected ITGCs, or that use data produced from the affected systems, were deemed ineffective at April 27, 2024.

Management also identified a material weakness associated with ineffective controls over its impairment analyses for goodwill. Specifically, management did not retain sufficient contemporaneous documentation to demonstrate the operation of sufficiently precise review controls over certain significant assumptions used in the determination of fair value of its reporting units.

Management also identified a material weakness associated with ineffective controls related to the application of GAAP to non-routine events and conditions. Specifically, we did not design and maintain controls to properly evaluate all of the events and conditions relevant to the Company’s going concern evaluation, including the assessment and disclosure of management’s plans in accordance with GAAP.

Because of these material weaknesses, management concluded that we did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of April 27, 2024. Management reviewed the results of its assessment with the Audit Committee. Our independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP, has issued an attestation report on our internal control over financial reporting. This report is included on page F-4 of this Annual Report.

Previously Reported Material Weakness

As previously reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 29, 2023, management had identified a material weakness in its control environment related to revenue at a business unit in our Automotive segment. Specifically, we did not maintain effective review, approval and validation controls over pricing data entered into the business unit's financial system and non-standard contract terms.

Our management, under the oversight of the Audit Committee, implemented several measures as part of our remediation efforts that included, among other items, (1) executing a new control and enhancing the design and operating effectiveness of existing internal controls over the review, approval and validation of customer pricing data and non-standard contract terms; and (2) developing and deploying additional training programs around the operation and importance of internal controls. These measures have resulted in the remediation of the previously reported material weakness. However, to the degree that business process controls that were executed as part of our remediation efforts use data produced from the system affected by the ineffective ITGCs discussed above, those controls which use or rely upon that data are included in consideration of the ITGC material weakness described above.

Remediation Plan for Material Weakness in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We and our Board of Directors treat the controls surrounding, and the integrity of, our financial statements with the utmost priority. Management is committed to the planning and implementation of remediation efforts to address control deficiencies and any other identified areas of risk. These remediation efforts are intended to both address the identified material weaknesses and to enhance our overall financial control environment. We will not consider the material weaknesses remediated until the enhanced controls are operational for a sufficient period of time and tested, enabling us to conclude that the enhanced controls are operating effectively.

We are committed to maintaining a strong internal control environment. Our remediation efforts will include, among other items, (1) enhancing the design and operating effectiveness of internal controls over IT change management, review of significant assumptions used in goodwill impairment analyses, and the application of GAAP to non-routine events and conditions; and (2) developing and deploying additional training programs around the operation and importance of these controls. As we continue to evaluate and work to improve our internal control over financial reporting, management may determine to take additional measures to strengthen controls or to modify the remediation plan described above.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Except for the remediation efforts implemented in connection with the previously reported material weakness described above, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15 that was conducted during the last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Inherent Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls

Our management, including our Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, do not expect that our disclosure controls or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people or by a management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

Item 9B. Other Information

Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and First Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Guaranty

Because we are filing this Annual Report within four business days after the triggering event, we are making the following disclosure under this Item 9B, “Other Information” instead of filing a Current Report on Form 8-K under Item 1.01, Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement, and Item 2.03, Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

On July 9, 2024, the Company entered into a Second Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and First Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Guaranty (the “Second Amendment”) among the Company, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer, the other Lenders party thereto and other parties thereto.

The Second Amendment amended the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 31, 2022, and as previously amended pursuant to that certain First Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of March 6, 2024 (which credit agreement, as previously amended by such first amendment, is referred to in this Item 9B, “Other Information” section of this Annual Report as the “Credit Agreement”), among the Company, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer, the other Lenders party thereto and the other parties thereto. The Second Amendment, among other things:

(i) reduced the revolving credit commitments from $750 million to $500 million;

(ii) granted a security interest in substantially all of the personal property of the Company and its U.S. subsidiaries that are guarantors, including 100% of the equity interests of their respective U.S. subsidiaries and 65% of the equity interests of their respective foreign subsidiaries (or such greater amount to the extent such pledge could not reasonably cause adverse tax consequences);

(iii) amended the financial covenant that had required that the Company’s consolidated interest coverage ratio as of the end of each fiscal quarter not be less than 3.50:1.00 to instead require that the Company’s consolidated interest coverage ratio not be less than (a) 2.95:1.00 as of the end of the fiscal quarter ending July 27, 2024, (b) 2.45:1.00 as of the end of the fiscal quarter ending October 26, 2024, (c) 2.65:1.00 as of the end of the fiscal quarter ending January 25, 2025, (d) 3.15:1.00 as of the end of the fiscal quarter ending April 26, 2025 and (e) 3.50:1.00 as of the end of any fiscal quarter ending thereafter;

(iv) amended the financial covenant that had required (subject to certain exceptions) that the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio be no more than (a) 4.00:1.00 as of the end of the fiscal quarters ending July 27, 2024 and October 26, 2024 and (b) 3.25:1.00 as of the end of any fiscal quarter ending thereafter to instead require (subject to certain exceptions) that the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio be no more than (a) 4.60:1.00 as of the end of the fiscal quarter ending July 27, 2024, (b) 5.00:1.00 as of the end of the fiscal quarter ending October 26, 2024, (c) 5.00:1.00 as of the end of the fiscal quarter ending January 25, 2025, (d) 4.25:1.00 as of the end of the fiscal quarter ending April 26, 2025 and (e) 3.75:1.00 as of the end of any fiscal quarter ending thereafter;

(v) increased the interest rate during any period that the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio is greater than 4.50:1.00 until a compliance certificate is delivered showing a lower consolidated leverage ratio and provided that such increased interest rate shall in any event apply from the effective date of the Second Amendment until the compliance certificate is delivered for the fiscal quarter ending April 26, 2025, so that during those periods (a) loans denominated in US dollars will bear interest at either (x) an adjusted base rate plus 2.00% or (y) an adjusted term SOFR rate or term SOFR daily floating rate (in each case, as determined in accordance with the provisions of the Credit Agreement, as amended by the Second Amendment), in each case plus 3.00% and (b) loans denominated (I) in euros will bear interest at the Euro Interbank Offered Rate, (II) in pounds sterling will bear interest at the Sterling Overnight Index Average Reference Rate, (III) in Singapore dollars will bear interest at the Singapore Interbank Offered Rate, (IV) in Canadian dollars will bear interest at the forward-looking term rate based on the Canadian Overnight Repo Rate Average and (V) in Hong Kong dollars will bear interest at the Hong Kong Interbank Offered Rate (in each case, as determined in accordance with the provisions of the Credit Agreement, as amended by the Second Amendment), in each case plus 3.00%;

(vi) added a requirement to provide monthly financial statements to the lenders through the period ending on July 25, 2025;

(vii) decreased from $50 million to $25 million, for the period from the effective date of the Second Amendment to the date the Company’s financial statements are delivered for the fiscal quarter ending July 25, 2025, the general basket exceptions to certain covenants restricting certain Company investments, liens and indebtedness;

(viii) increased from 15% of consolidated tangible assets to 20% of consolidated tangible assets, for fiscal year 2025, the general basket exception to a covenant restricting certain Company dispositions of property;

(ix) added an “anti-cash hoarding” requirement, applicable during the period from the effective date of the Second Amendment until the earlier to occur of (a) the delivery of financial statements and a compliance certificate for the fiscal quarter ending July 25, 2025 and (b) the delivery of compliance certificates for two consecutive fiscal quarters demonstrating that the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio as of the last day of such fiscal quarters was less than 3.00:1.00, that if the Company has cash on hand (subject to certain exceptions) of more than $65 million for 10 consecutive business days, the Company shall prepay the indebtedness under the credit facility by the amount of such excess; and

(x) amended the investment, restricted payment and indebtedness baskets (1) that had allowed for unlimited investments, restricted payments and indebtedness, as applicable, during the period to and including the date of reporting for the fiscal quarter ending on January 25, 2025, so long as the Company’s pro forma consolidated leverage ratio is no greater than 3.50:1.00 (or 3.00:1.00 in the case of restricted payments), to instead provide that such applicable period will be to and including the date of reporting for the fiscal quarter ending on July 25, 2025 (instead of January 25, 2025), and (2) that had allowed for unlimited investments, restricted payments and indebtedness, as applicable, after the date of reporting for the fiscal quarter ending on January 25, 2025, so long as the Company’s pro forma consolidated leverage ratio is at least 0.25:1.00 lower than the maximum ratio permitted under the applicable financial covenant, to instead provide that such applicable period will be after the date of reporting for the fiscal quarter ending on July 25, 2025 (instead of January 25, 2025).

The foregoing description of the Second Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Second Amendment, which is filed as Exhibit 10.44 to this Annual Report and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections

Not applicable.

PART III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

The information required by this item regarding our directors and corporate governance matters is incorporated by reference herein to the definitive proxy statement for our 2024 annual meeting under the captions “Proposal One Election of Directors” and “Corporate Governance.” The information required by this item regarding our executive officers appears as a supplementary item following Item 4 under Part I of this Annual Report. The information required by this item regarding compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and information regarding our Audit Committee is incorporated by reference herein to the definitive proxy statement for our 2024 annual meeting under the captions “Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports” and “Audit Committee Matters,” respectively.

Our Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Business Conduct (the “Code”) that applies to our directors, our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller and persons performing similar functions, as well as other employees. The Code is publicly available on our website at www.methode.com. If we make any substantive amendments to the Code or grant any waiver, including any implicit waiver, from a provision of the Code to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar functions, we will disclose the nature of such amendment or waiver on our website or in a report on Form 8-K in accordance with applicable rules and regulations. The information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report.

Our Board of Directors has adopted insider trading policies and procedures governing the purchase, sale and other dispositions of our securities by directors, officers and employees, that are reasonably designed to promote compliance with insider trading laws, rules and regulations, and any listing standards applicable to us. Our insider trading policy has been filed as Exhibit 19 to this Annual Report. Our insider trading policy does not apply directly to repurchases of stock by the Company, but our practice in the past has generally been to follow the policy’s guidelines in connection with stock repurchases by effecting trades either during open window periods under the policy or through adoption, during an open window period, of a pre-arranged trading plan that satisfies the affirmative defense requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act. We reserve the right to purchase securities outside of the scope of the insider trading policy subject to compliance with applicable laws.

Item 11. Executive Compensation

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference herein to the definitive proxy statement for our 2024 annual meeting under the captions “Compensation Discussion and Analysis”, “Compensation Committee Report”, “Executive Compensation Tables”, “CEO Pay Ratio”, “Pay for Performance” and “Director Compensation.”

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference herein to the definitive proxy statement for our 2024 annual meeting under the caption “Security Ownership.”

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table provides information about our equity compensation plans as of April 27, 2024. All outstanding awards relate to our common stock. Shares issued under all of the following plans may be from our treasury, newly issued or both.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference herein to the definitive proxy statement for our 2024 annual meeting under the captions “Corporate Governance” and “Transactions with Related Persons.”

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

The information required by this item is incorporated by reference herein to the definitive proxy statement for our 2024 annual meeting under the caption “Audit Committee Matters.”

PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

Reference is made to the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements on Page F-1.

(2) Consolidated Financial Statement Schedule.

Reference is made to the Index to Financial Statement Schedule on Page F-1.

(3) Exhibits.

EXHIBIT INDEX

* Management Compensatory Plan

** Indicates that the exhibit is being furnished with this report and not filed as part of it.

Item 16. Form 10-K Summary

None.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this annual report on Form 10-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Dated: July 11, 2024

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this annual report on Form 10-K has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.