April 17, 2024
Via Edgar
United States Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporation Finance
Office of Manufacturing
Washington, DC 20549
Attn: Charles Eastman
Claire Erlanger
re: Methode Electronics, Inc.
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 29, 2023
Form 10-Q for the Quarter Ended January 27, 2024
File No. 001-33731
Dear Mr. Eastman and Ms. Erlanger:
This letter sets forth the response of Methode Electronics, Inc. (the “Company”) to the comments of the Staff (the “Staff”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) set forth in your letter, dated April 4, 2024, with respect to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 29, 2023, and the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 27, 2024.
For your convenience, the Staff’s comment is reprinted in bold below, followed by the Company’s response thereto.
Form 10-Q for the Quarter Ended January 27, 2024
Notes to the Financial Statements
Note 3. Acquisition and Disposition, page 11
recognized in earlier periods and then fall to a materially reduced level in later years. In this regard, please tell us what consideration was given to using an accelerated method of amortization for purposes of amortizing your customer relationship intangibles to expense, as it appears that this may result in a more systematic allocation of the intangibles cost to the periods benefited. Refer to ASC 350-30-35-3 and 35-6.
Response
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and advises the Staff that it determined a useful life of 20 years for the customer relationships intangible asset based primarily on the period of time over which the majority of the cumulative present value of cash flows from the intangible asset are expected to be realized. These cash flows were estimated based primarily on the historical customer attrition rate observed and the expected rate of long-term sales growth. With the assistance of an internationally recognized valuation firm, the Company calculated a 97.5% expected customer retention rate based on revenue-by-customer information of the acquired business. Based on the valuation estimates, it was determined that 90% of the asset’s present value would be realized over a period of approximately 20 years.
The Company further advises the Staff that when determining the method of amortization for customer relationships, it considered the cash flow forecasts that were used in the valuation. The projected undiscounted cash flows were stable over the projected life of the intangible asset. As a result, the Company determined that the straight-line method of amortization was the most appropriate methodology as it most accurately reflects the consistent pattern in which the economic benefits of the customer relationships intangible asset are expected to be consumed.
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 29, 2023
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Results of operations
Interface
Net Sales, page 23
Response
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and advises the Staff that customer cost recoveries represent reimbursements the Company receives from customers for incremental costs associated with spot purchases of raw materials and premium freight incurred in fulfilling its performance obligation to the customer. Given these cost recoveries are generally negotiated after contract inception, the Company accounts for these cost recoveries as a modification to the existing contract. The Company recognizes cost recoveries as revenue when (or as) the remaining performance obligations per the contract are satisfied, or on the modification date if all performance obligations under the contract have been previously satisfied. In future filings, the Company will include additional disclosure in its revenue recognition policy regarding customer cost recoveries.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates, page 26
Response
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment. In the Company’s upcoming Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending April 27, 2024, the Company will enhance its disclosure of critical accounting policies and estimates by providing greater clarity into the estimation uncertainty and the impact these estimates have had or are reasonably likely to have on its financial condition and results of operations, including quantitative information where applicable, to the extent material and reasonably available. The Company will also, to the extent material, discuss how much each of these estimates and/or assumptions have changed over the relevant period, and will include the sensitivity of its reported amounts to methods, assumptions and estimates underlying its calculations.
Please do not hesitate to call me at (708) 867-6777, if you have any questions or would like any additional information regarding this matter.
Sincerely,
Methode Electronics, Inc.
/s/ Ronald L.G. Tsoumas
Ronald L.G. Tsoumas
Chief Financial Officer