Methode Electronics, Inc. and SBE, Inc. Announce Marketing and Technology Partnership

February 2, 2012

Methode Electronics, Inc. (NYSE: MEI) and SBE, Inc. (DBA SB Electronics) announced today a marketing and technology partnership. As part of this agreement, SBE, Inc. will provide leading edge film capacitors with the highest performance for electric vehicle and energy conversion inverters and systems. Methode Electronics’ Power Solution Group will supply state-of-the-art bus bar architectures and thermal management solutions in combination with local design capabilities and global manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Europe and China.

Together, the two companies are creating fully integrated sub-system solutions for the power electronics industry.

Speaking about the partnership, SBE President and CEO Ed Sawyer commented, “SBE is very pleased to solidify this new topology approach to next generation inverter and power stage design by teaming our industry leading capacitor capabilities with a global leader in bus bar architectures and cooling solutions. This agreement will allow our two organizations to be an efficient and cost competitive supplier and partner to innovative companies in this industry.”

Andrew Urda, Methode Electronics’ Power Solutions Group general manager, commented, “Methode Electronics’ Power Solutions Group and SBE can now provide the power electronics industry with new, innovative, high efficiency integrated power distribution solutions. Our combined solution will provide customers a next generation solution - today.”

Methode Electronics and SBE will display the latest versions of their joint development efforts at the APEC Conference in Orlando, Fla., February 6 to 9, 2012.

About Methode Electronics

Methode Electronics, Inc. (NYSE: MEI) is a global developer of custom engineered and application specific products and solutions with manufacturing, design and testing facilities in China, Germany, India, Lebanon, Malta, Mexico, the Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Methode designs manufactures and markets devices employing electrical, electronic, wireless, safety radio remote control, sensing and optical technologies to control and convey signals through sensors, interconnections and controls. Our business is managed on a segment basis, with those segments being Automotive, Interconnect, Power Products and Other. Our components are in the primary end markets of the automobile, computer, information processing and networking equipment, voice and data communication systems, consumer electronics, appliances, aerospace vehicles and industrial equipment industries. Further information can be found at Methode's website at www.methode.com.

About SBE

SBE Inc. is a leading developer and manufacturer of film capacitor solutions that provide a much higher degree of reliability, higher power density, and simpler cooling infrastructure in demanding applications, particularly for automotive/transportation, alternative energy, utilities, power supplies/laser and military/aerospace. Originally a Sprague Electric Plant, SBE has been manufacturing capacitors for over 50 years; producing over a billion capacitors, including the renowned Orange Drop®. With the newer development of its DC Link Power Ring Film Capacitor™, SBE Inc. was recently awarded a $9.1 Million grant by the Department of Energy to build a world class facility for the manufacture of this line of capacitors used in drive train inverters for plug-in hybrid and electric drive vehicles. The company’s headquarters, engineering, product development center and manufacturing operation are located in Barre, Vermont. Further information can be found at SBE's website at www.sbelectronics.com.

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