UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 28, 2024 |
METHODE ELECTRONICS, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware | 001-33731 | 36-2090085 | ||
(State or Other Jurisdiction | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer | ||
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8750 West Bryn Mawr Avenue |
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Chicago, Illinois |
| 60631-3518 | ||
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) |
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Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (708) 867-6777 |
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(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Common Stock, $0.50 Par Value |
| MEI |
| New York Stock Exchange |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
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. ☐
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
On August 28, 2024, Methode Electronics, Inc. (the “Company”) announced the appointment of Laura Kowalchik as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, effective October 1, 2024. Ms. Kowalchik will replace David Rawden, who has served as Interim Chief Financial Officer since July 12, 2024.
Ms. Kowalchik, age 55, joins the Company from Communications & Power Industries (“CPI”), a global manufacturer of electronic components and subsystems primarily within the communications and defense markets, where she served as Chief Financial Officer. From November 2019 until she joined CPI in February 2023, Ms. Kowalchik served as the Chief Financial Officer of Dayco Incorporated, a global manufacturer and distributor of engine drive systems and aftermarket services for automotive, heavy-duty, and industrial markets. From December 2018 to July 2019, Ms. Kowalchik served as the Chief Financial Officer of Kenwal Steel Corp., a flat rolled steel service center primarily for the automotive industry. Ms. Kowalchik has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Richmond and a Master of Business Administration from Indiana University.
In connection with her appointment, the Company and Ms. Kowalchik entered into an Offer Letter, dated as of August 27, 2024 (the “Offer Letter”), outlining the terms of her employment and certain compensatory arrangements. Under the Offer Letter, Ms. Kowalchik will be entitled to receive the following compensation:
Upon commencement of her employment, Ms. Kowalchik will also enter into a change of control agreement, on similar terms to those entered into with other executive officers, under which she would be eligible to receive two times her annual salary and target bonus in the event that she is terminated without cause within 24 months after a change of control of Methode, or if she resigns for good reason (as defined in that agreement) during the same period. Ms. Kowalchik would also be eligible under the same circumstances for Company-paid COBRA coverage (or cash in lieu thereof if COBRA is no longer available) for 24 months or, if earlier, the date she becomes eligible for coverage under another employer’s group health plan.
Upon commencement of her employment, Ms. Kowalchik will also enter into a severance agreement, on similar terms to those entered into with our Chief Executive Officer, providing that in the event her employment with the Company were to be terminated without cause, except under circumstances that would entitle her to a payment under her change of control agreement, she would be entitled to receive a severance payment equal to the sum of (i) her annualized salary in effect at the time of the termination plus (ii) her target bonus amount for the fiscal year in which the termination occurs, paid over a one-year period. In addition, Ms. Kowalchik would be entitled under the same circumstances to (a) Company-paid COBRA coverage for up to 12 months or, if earlier, the date she becomes eligible for coverage under another employer’s group health plan, and (b) an additional one-year credit for vesting on outstanding equity awards. In each case, the Company’s payment obligations would be contingent upon Ms. Kowalchik executing a general release and complying with any non-disclosure, non-solicitation, non-competition or similar obligations.
The foregoing description of the Offer Letter is a summary of the terms contained therein and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms of the Offer Letter, which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
There are no other understandings or arrangements between Ms. Kowalchik and any other person pursuant to which Ms. Kowalchik was appointed to serve as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. There are no existing relationships between Ms. Kowalchik and any person that would require disclosure pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K or any familial relationships that would require disclosure under Item 401(d) of Regulation S-K.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
Exhibit Number |
Description | |
10.1 |
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104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
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| Methode Electronics, Inc. |
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Date: | August 28, 2024 | By: | /s/ David Rawden |
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| David Rawden |