Methode Electronics, Inc. (the “Company” or “Methode”) is a leading global supplier of custom engineered solutions with sales, engineering and manufacturing locations in North America, Europe, Middle East and Asia. The Company designs, engineers and produces mechatronic products for Original Equipment Manufacturers (“OEMs”) utilizing its broad range of technologies for user interface, light-emitting diode (“LED”) lighting system, power distribution and sensor applications.

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

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the global economy, disrupted global supply chains, and created significant volatility and disruptions to capital and credit markets in the global financial markets. The Company began to see the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic at the beginning of its fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 at its China manufacturing facilities, which were initially closed after the Chinese New Year. The Company’s manufacturing facilities in China resumed operations later in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, but at lower capacity utilization. However, the major impact to the Company’s business from the COVID-19 pandemic began in mid-March 2020, as the Company’s operations in North America and Europe were adversely impacted by many customers suspending their manufacturing operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first quarter of fiscal 2021, the Company’s operations in North America and Europe gradually resumed operations, however production levels were still significantly reduced, resulting in lower capacity utilization. In the second quarter of fiscal 2021, production levels returned to pre-COVID levels as a result of increased demand from customers, which continued through the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021. However, towards the end of the Company’s third quarter of fiscal 2021, many automotive companies announced a slowdown in their production schedules due to a worldwide semiconductor supply shortage. The semiconductor supply shortage is also impacting the Company’s supply chain and its ability to meet demand at some of its customers as well. The Company expects this semiconductor shortage will impact its operating results and financial condition in fiscal 2022.

Various government programs have been enacted to provide assistance to businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The amount of assistance the Company received was $11.1 million and $1.7 million in fiscal 2021 and fiscal 2020, respectively, and has been reported in other income, net in the consolidated statements of income.

The Company assessed certain accounting matters that require consideration of forecasted financial information, including, but not limited to, its allowance for credit losses, the carrying value of the Company’s goodwill, identifiable intangible assets and other long-lived assets, and valuation allowances in context with the information reasonably available to the Company and the unknown future impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic as of May 1, 2021 and through the date of this report. As a result of these assessments, the Company concluded that there were no impairments or material increases in credit allowances or valuation allowances that impacted the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of May 1, 2021 and for the year ended May 1, 2021. However, the Company’s future assessment of the magnitude and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other factors, could result in material impacts to its consolidated financial statements in future reporting periods.

At this time, the ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be reasonably estimated due to the uncertainty about the extent and duration of the spread of the virus. Therefore, it is possible the COVID-19 pandemic could still have an adverse impact on the Company’s future business, operating results and financial condition.

Basis of presentation. The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”).

Principles of consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts and operations of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Financial reporting periods. The Company maintains its financial records on the basis of a 52 or 53-week fiscal year ending on the Saturday closest to April 30. Fiscal 2021 and 2019 represented 52 weeks and ended on May 1, 2021 and April 27, 2019, respectively. Fiscal 2020 represented 53 weeks and ended on May 2, 2020. The following discussions of comparative results among periods should be reviewed in that context.

Use of estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents include all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less.

Accounts receivable and allowance for doubtful accounts. Accounts receivable are customer obligations due under normal trade terms and are presented net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts based on the current expected credit loss impairment model (“CECL”). The Company elected to apply a historical loss rate based on historic write-offs to aging categories. The historical loss rate is adjusted for current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts of future losses as necessary. The Company may also record a specific reserve for individual accounts when it becomes aware of specific customer circumstances, such as in the case of a bankruptcy filing or deterioration in the customer's operating results or financial position. The allowance for doubtful accounts balance was $0.7 million and $0.7 million as of May 1, 2021 and May 2, 2020, respectively.

Sales to General Motors Company (“GM”) and Ford Motor Company (“Ford”) in the Automotive segment, either directly or through their tiered suppliers, represented a significant portion of the Company's business. As of May 1, 2021 and May 2, 2020, combined accounts receivable from GM and Ford (including tiered suppliers) were approximately $79.4 million and $32.4 million, respectively.

Inventories: Inventories are stated at the lower-of-cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method. Finished products and work-in-process inventories include direct material costs and direct and indirect manufacturing costs. The Company records reserves for inventory that may be obsolete or in excess of current and future market demand. See Note 5, “Inventory” for additional information.

Property, plant and equipment: Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation, with the exception of assets acquired through acquisitions, which are initially recorded at fair value. Equipment acquired under a finance lease is recorded at the present value of the future minimum lease payments. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of 5 to 40 years for buildings and building improvements and 3 to 15 years for machinery and equipment. Costs of additions and major improvements are capitalized, whereas maintenance and repairs that do not improve or extend the life of the asset are charged to expense as incurred. See Note 6, “Property, Plant and Equipment” for additional information.

Business combinations. The Company accounts for business combinations using the acquisition method. The purchase price of an acquired business is allocated to its identifiable assets and liabilities based on estimated fair values. Determining the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed requires management’s judgment, the utilization of independent appraisal firms and often involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions with respect to the timing and amount of future cash flows, market rate assumptions, actuarial assumptions, and appropriate discount rates, among other items. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired, including the amount assigned to identifiable intangible assets. Identifiable intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their useful lives. Acquisition-related costs are expensed in the periods in which the costs are incurred. The results of operations of acquired businesses are included in the consolidated financial statements from the acquisition date.

Goodwill. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment on at least an annual basis. Goodwill is evaluated at the reporting unit level by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount including goodwill. An impairment of goodwill exists if the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value. The impairment loss is the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.

In performing the goodwill impairment test, the Company may first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the estimated fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount, or if the Company elects not to perform a qualitative assessment of a reporting unit, the Company then compares the fair value of the reporting unit to the related net book value. See Note 7, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” for additional information regarding the Company’s goodwill impairment assessment for fiscal 2021.

Amortizable intangible assets. Amortizable intangible assets consist primarily of fair values assigned to customer relationships and trade names. Amortization is recognized over the useful lives of the intangible assets, generally up to 20 years, using the straight-line method. See Note 7, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” for additional information.

Impairment of long-lived assets. The Company evaluates whether events and circumstances have occurred which indicate that the remaining estimated useful lives of its intangible assets, excluding goodwill, and other long-lived assets, may warrant revision or that the remaining balance of such assets may not be recoverable. If impairment indicators exist, the Company performs an impairment analysis by comparing the undiscounted cash flows resulting from the use of the asset group to the carrying amount. If the carrying amount exceeds the undiscounted cash flows, an impairment loss is recognized based on the excess of the asset’s carrying amount over its fair value.

Pre-production costs related to long-term supply arrangements. The Company incurs pre-production tooling costs related to products produced for its customers under long-term supply arrangements. Engineering, testing and other costs incurred in the design and development of production parts are expensed as incurred, unless the costs are reimbursable by the customer. As of May 1, 2021 and May 2, 2020, the Company had $25.0 million and $37.1 million, respectively, of pre-production tooling costs related to customer-owned tools for which reimbursement is contractually guaranteed by the customer or for which the customer has provided a non-cancelable right to use the tooling.

Costs for molds, dies and other tools used in products produced for its customers under long-term supply arrangements for which the Company has title are capitalized in property, plant and equipment and amortized over the shorter of the life of the arrangement or over the estimated useful life of the assets. Company owned tooling was $17.0 million and $19.0 million as of May 1, 2021 and May 2, 2020, respectively.

Leases. The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Right-of-use (“ROU”) assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term, and lease liabilities represent its obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As most of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company estimates the incremental borrowing rate to discount the lease payments based on information available at lease commencement. The Company’s lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise such options. The Company utilizes certain practical expedients, including the election not to reassess its prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs, as well as the election not to separate lease and non-lease components for arrangements where the Company is a lessee. The Company elects to recognize a right-of-use asset and related lease liability for leases with a lease term of 12 months or less for all classes of underlying assets. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. See Note 3, “Leases” for additional information.

Derivative financial instruments. The Company uses derivative financial instruments, including swaps and forward contracts, to manage exposures to changes in currency exchange rates and interest rates. The Company does not enter into or hold derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. See Note 8, “Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities” for additional information.

Income taxes. Income taxes are calculated using the asset and liability method, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on temporary differences between the financial statement amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, the Company considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is primarily dependent upon the generation of future taxable income. In determining whether an uncertain tax position exists, the Company determines, based solely on its technical merits, whether the tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, and if so, a tax benefit is measured on a cumulative probability basis that is more likely than not to be realized upon the ultimate settlement. In determining the provision for income taxes for financial statement purposes, the Company makes certain estimates and judgments which affect its evaluation of the carrying value of its deferred tax assets, as well as its calculation of certain tax liabilities. See Note 11, “Income Taxes” for additional information.

Revenue recognition. Revenue is recognized in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers.” Revenue is measured based on consideration specified in a contract with a customer. The Company recognizes revenue when it satisfies a performance obligation by transferring control over a product or service to a customer. From time to time, customers may negotiate annual price downs. Management has evaluated these price downs and determined that in some instances, these price downs give rise to a material right. In instances that a material right exists, a portion of the transaction price is allocated to the material right and recognized over the life of the contract.

Across all products, the amount of revenue recognized corresponds to the related purchase order and is adjusted for variable consideration (such as discounts). Sales and other taxes collected concurrent with revenue-producing activities are excluded from revenue.

The Company’s performance obligations are typically short-term in nature. As a result, the Company has elected the practical expedient that provides an exemption from the disclosure requirements regarding information about remaining performance obligations on contracts that have original expected durations of one year or less. See Note 2, “Revenue” for further information.

Shipping and handling fees and costs. Shipping and handling fees billed to customers are included in net sales, and the related costs are included in cost of products sold.

Restructuring expense. Restructuring expense includes costs directly associated with exit or disposal activities. Such costs include employee severance and termination benefits, asset impairment charges, contract termination fees, and other exit or disposal costs. Employee termination benefits are accrued upon the commitment to a termination plan and when the benefit arrangement is communicated to affected employees, or when liabilities are determined to be probable and estimable. Asset impairment charges relate to the impairment of ROU lease assets and equipment. Contract termination costs are recorded when notification of termination is given to the other party. See Note 4, “Restructuring” for additional information.

Foreign currency translation. The functional currencies of the majority of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are their local currencies. The results of operations of these foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars using average monthly rates, while the assets and liabilities are translated using period-end exchange rates. The resulting translation adjustments are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”). Gains and losses arising from transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency, except certain long-term intercompany transactions, are included in the consolidated statements of income in other income, net.

Government grants. The Company recognizes grant income in other income, net in the consolidated statements of income when it is considered that there is reasonable assurance that the grant will be received and the necessary qualifying conditions, as stated in the grant agreement, are met. The international government grants are generally paid over a period of years and are recorded at amortized cost on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. As of May 1, 2021 and May 2, 2020, grant receivables outstanding were $18.6 million and $18.7 million, respectively. The short-term and long-term portion of grant receivables are recorded on the consolidated balance sheets within accounts receivable and other current assets and other long-term assets, respectively. Additionally, as of May 1, 2021 and May 2, 2020, the Company has no deferred grant income.

Research and development costs. Costs associated with the enhancement of existing products and the development of new products are charged to expense when incurred. Research and development expenses primarily relate to product engineering and design and development expenses and are classified as a component of cost of goods sold on the consolidated statements of income. Research and development costs were $37.1 million, $34.9 million and $41.2 million for fiscal 2021, fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019, respectively.

Stock-based compensation. The Company recognizes compensation expense for the cost of awards of equity compensation using a fair value method in accordance with ASC 718, “Stock-based Compensation.” See Note 13, “Shareholders’ Equity” for additional information.

Product warranty. The Company’s warranties are standard, assurance-type warranties only. The Company does not offer any additional service or extended term warranties to its customers. As such, warranty obligations are accrued when its probable that a liability has been incurred and the related amounts are reasonably estimable.

Fair value measurement. ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurement,” provides a framework for measuring fair value, which is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy under ASC 820 requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs. The Company groups assets and liabilities at fair value in three levels as follows:

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Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

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Level 2 - Observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

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Level 3 - Unobservable inputs in which little or no market activity exists, requiring the Company to develop its own assumptions that market participants would use to value the asset or liability.

Assets and liabilities are classified based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurements. The Company reviews the fair value hierarchy classification on a quarterly basis. Changes to the observability of valuation inputs may result in a reclassification of levels for certain securities within the fair value hierarchy.

The carrying values of the Company’s short-term financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable, approximate their fair values because of the short maturity of these instruments.

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326) - Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” The guidance in ASU 2016-13 requires the measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets held at amortized cost. It replaces the existing incurred loss impairment model with an expected loss methodology, which will result in more timely recognition of credit losses. The Company adopted this guidance as of May 3, 2020, and the adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, “Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract.” The guidance in ASU 2018-15 clarifies the accounting for implementation costs in cloud computing arrangements. The Company adopted this guidance prospectively as of May 3, 2020, and the impact was immaterial to its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) – Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement.” The guidance in ASU 2018-13 changes disclosure requirements related to fair value measurements as part of the disclosure framework project. The disclosure framework project aims to improve the effectiveness of disclosures in the notes to the financial statements by focusing on requirements that clearly communicate the most important information to users of the financial statements. The Company adopted this guidance as of May 3, 2020, and there was no impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting.” ASU 2020-04 provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contract modifications and hedging relationships that reference LIBOR or another rate that is expected to be discontinued, subject to meeting certain criteria. ASU 2020-04 was effective upon issuance and generally can be applied prospectively through December 31, 2022. The Company does not expect a material effect from the adoption of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Income Taxes - Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (Topic 740),” which simplifies the accounting for income taxes. The new guidance removes certain exceptions to the general principles in ASC 740, such as recognizing deferred taxes for equity investments, the incremental approach to performing intraperiod tax allocation and calculating income taxes in interim periods. The standard also simplifies accounting for income taxes under GAAP by clarifying and amending existing guidance, including the recognition of deferred taxes for goodwill, the allocation of taxes to members of a consolidated group and requiring that an entity reflect the effect of enacted changes in tax laws or rates in the annual effective tax rate computation in the interim period that includes the enactment date. This guidance is effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2022. The Company does not expect this guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.