Commitments and Contingencies |
12 Months Ended |
|---|---|
May 02, 2026 | |
| Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | |
| Commitments and Contingencies | Note 12. Commitments and Contingencies Environmental mattersThe Company is not aware of any potential unasserted environmental claims that may be brought against us. The Company is involved in environmental investigations and/or remediation at two of its United States plant sites no longer used for operations and one currently operating site in Mexico. The Company uses environmental consultants to assist us in evaluating its environmental liabilities in order to establish appropriate accruals in its consolidated financial statements. Accruals are recorded when environmental remediation is probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. A number of factors affect the cost of environmental remediation, including the determination of the extent of contamination, the length of time remediation may require, the complexity of environmental regulations, and the advancement of remediation technology. Considering these factors, the Company has estimated (without discounting) the costs of remediation. Recovery from insurance or other third parties is not anticipated. The Company is not yet able to determine when such remediation activity will be complete, but estimates for certain remediation efforts are projected through fiscal 2026.
As of May 2, 2026 and May 3, 2025, the Company had accruals, primarily based upon independent estimates, for environmental matters of $0.8 million and $1.0 million, respectively. The accrual as of May 2, 2026 consists of $0.5 million classified in and the remainder was included in other long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. The accrual as of May 3, 2025 consists of $0.7 million classified in and the remainder was included in other long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company believes the provisions made for environmental matters are adequate to satisfy liabilities relating to such matters, however it is reasonably possible that costs could exceed accrued amounts if the selected methods of remediation do not reduce the contaminates at the sites to levels acceptable to federal and state regulatory agencies. In fiscal 2026, fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2024, the Company spent $0.2 million, $0.6 million and $0.9 million, respectively, on remediation cleanups and related studies. The costs associated with environmental matters as they relate to day-to-day activities were not material in fiscal 2026, fiscal 2025 or fiscal 2024. LitigationThe Company, from time to time, is subject to various legal actions and claims incidental to our business, including those arising out of alleged defects, breach of contracts, patent infringement claims, employment-related matters, and environmental matters. The Company considers insurance coverage and third-party indemnification when determining required accruals for pending litigation and claims. Although the outcome of potential legal actions and claims cannot be determined, it is the opinion of the Company’s management, based on the information available, that the Company has adequate reserves for these liabilities and that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Stockholder Litigation On August 26, 2024, a putative class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of Company common stock between June 23, 2022 and March 6, 2024, inclusive, entitled Marie Salem v. Methode Electronics, Inc. et al. was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against the Company, a former Chief Executive Officer, President and director of the Company and a former Chief Financial Officer of the Company. The complaint alleges, among other things, that the defendants made false and/or misleading statements relating to the Company’s business, operations and prospects, including in respect of the Company’s transition to production of more specialized components for manufacturers of electric vehicles and the Company’s operations at its facility in Monterrey, Mexico, in violation of Sections 10(b) and 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder. The complaint seeks, among other things, unspecified money damages along with equitable relief and costs and expenses, including counsel fees and expert fees. Another purported stockholder filed a substantially similar action in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on October 7, 2024 against the same defendants and a former Chief Operating Officer of the Company, in a case entitled City of Cape Coral Municipal General Employees Retirement Plan v. Methode Electronics, Inc., et al. The second securities class action was filed on behalf of a broader putative class of purchasers of Company common stock between December 2, 2021 and March 6, 2024. After the cases were consolidated and a lead plaintiff appointed, Defendants moved to dismiss the consolidated complaint in its entirety for failure to state a claim. On February 3, 2026, the judge presiding over the case granted Defendants’ motion to dismiss but allowed Plaintiff an opportunity to file an amended complaint and set a schedule for briefing on any motion to dismiss that amended complaint. Plaintiff subsequently filed a second amended complaint, which Defendants moved to dismiss in its entirety for failure to state a claim, and that motion remains pending. In addition, two purported stockholders filed derivative lawsuits on November 26, 2024 and February 4, 2025, respectively. The derivative lawsuits were filed on behalf of the Company in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against the current members of the Company’s Board of Directors, as well as certain former directors and executives, alleging that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties by allowing the Company to issue various statements that are alleged to have been false or misleading for the same reasons alleged in the securities class action complaints. The derivative lawsuits are entitled Ray Homsi v. Donald Duda, et al. and Kevin D. Murphy v. Mark D. Schwabero, et al. (collectively with the Salem and City of Cape Coral matters, the “Stockholder Actions”). The Company disagrees with and intends to vigorously defend against the Stockholder Actions. The Stockholder Actions could result in costs and losses to the Company, including potential costs associated with the indemnification of the other defendants. At this time, given the current status of the Stockholder Actions, the Company is unable to reasonably estimate an amount or range of reasonably possible loss, if any, that may result from the Stockholder Actions. SEC Investigation The Company received subpoenas from the SEC dated November 1, 2024 and March 12, 2025 seeking documents and information relating to, among other things, the Company’s operations in certain foreign countries, certain financial and accounting matters relating thereto, compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other anti-corruption laws, material weaknesses in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting previously reported in its public filings, deficiencies and significant deficiencies in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, accounting and finance policies and procedures and other accounting and finance matters including new business bookings, certain financial metrics and performance indicators, performance relative to targets and guidance for certain periods, executive compensation policies and amounts, hotline tips and complaints, and terminations or resignations of company executives. On May 14, 2026, the SEC informed the Company that the SEC had concluded its investigation and did not intend to pursue enforcement actions. |