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RICHARDSON ELECTRONICS, LTD. (RELL) Business

Verbatim Item 1 Business section from RICHARDSON ELECTRONICS, LTD.'s latest 10-K. Filing date: 2025-08-04. Accession: 0000950170-25-101785.

This page reproduces the company's own Item 1 Business text from the linked SEC filing. It is filer text, not grepcent analysis, scoring, or investment advice.

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Extracted from Item 1 Business to the first Item 1A/1B/1C/2 boundary after HTML sanitization. Confidence: high. Source form: 10-K. Character span: 23669-42871.

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ITEM 1. Business

General

Richardson Electronics, Ltd. (the "Company," "we," "our") is a leading global manufacturer of engineered solutions, green energy products, power grid and microwave tubes, and related consumables; power conversion and RF and microwave components including green energy solutions; tubes for diagnostic imaging equipment; and customized display solutions. More than 55% of our products are manufactured in LaFox, Illinois, Marlborough, Massachusetts, or Donaueschingen, Germany, or by one of our manufacturing partners throughout the world. All of our partners manufacture to our strict specifications and per our supplier code of conduct. We serve customers in the alternative energy, healthcare, aviation, broadcast, communications, industrial, marine, medical, military, scientific, and semiconductor markets. The Company’s strategy is to provide specialized technical expertise and “engineered solutions” based on our core engineering and manufacturing capabilities. The Company provides solutions and adds value through design-in support, systems integration, prototype design and manufacturing, testing, logistics, and aftermarket technical service and repair through its global infrastructure.

On January 24, 2025, the Company sold a substantial portion of the assets of its Healthcare business to DirectMed Imaging, LLC (“DirectMed”), a Delaware limited liability company, and entered into an exclusive 10-year global supply agreement in which Richardson will supply DirectMed with repaired Siemens CT X-ray tubes. Additionally, the Company will continue manufacturing a limited quantity of ALTA CT X-ray tubes exclusively for DirectMed under a supply agreement. A description of this transaction, which resulted in a total loss of $5.1 million being recorded for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2025 is provided in Note 11, Disposal of Healthcare Assets and Other Charges, of the notes to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Our fiscal year 2025 began on June 2, 2024 and ended on May 31, 2025, our fiscal year 2024 began on May 28, 2023 and ended on June 1, 2024 and our fiscal year 2023 began on May 29, 2022 and ended on May 27, 2023. Unless otherwise noted, all references to a particular year in this document shall mean the fiscal year for such period.

Government Regulations

We are subject to a variety of federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulatory requirements relating to our operations. These laws and regulations, which differ among jurisdictions, include, among others, those related to financial and other disclosures, accounting standards, privacy and data protection, cybersecurity, intellectual property, corporate governance, tax, trade, antitrust, employment, import/export, anti-corruption, and environmental regulatory compliance. Expenditures relating to such regulations are made in the ordinary course of our business and do not ordinarily represent material expenditures. Though we do not currently expect that compliance with such laws and regulations will require us to make material additional expenditures in the future, there is no assurance that existing or future laws and regulations applicable to our operations, products, and services will not have a material adverse effect on our business.

We are subject to a variety of data protection laws that change frequently and have requirements that vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Specifically, we are subject to significant compliance obligations under privacy laws such as the General Data Protection Regulation in the European Union and an expanding list of comprehensive state privacy and/or cybersecurity laws in the United States. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations subjects us to potential regulatory enforcement activity, fines, private litigation including class actions, reputational impacts, and other costs. Our efforts to comply with privacy and data security laws and regulations complicate our operations and add to our costs.

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We are also subject to various domestic and international export, trade and anti-corruption laws, such as the Arms Export Control Act, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (“ITAR”), the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”), anti-money laundering laws and regulations and the trade and trade sanctions laws and regulations administered by the Office of the United States Trade Representative and the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. Violations of these laws and regulations may result in severe criminal or civil sanctions and penalties.

Our operations also are subject to numerous laws and regulations governing the health and safety aspects of our operations, or otherwise relating to environmental protection. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in the assessment of administrative, civil and criminal penalties, imposition of remedial or corrective action requirements, and the imposition of injunctions to prohibit certain activities or force future compliance.

Certain of the Company’s products are manufactured in China and are imported into the United States. Our importation of products into the United States from China is subject to tariffs instituted and imposed from time to time by The Office of the United States Trade Representative. Management works with suppliers and customers to mitigate the impact of such tariffs on customer markets. Our sales and gross margins on certain products could be negatively impacted if we are unable to successfully pass through the additional cost of applicable tariffs, or if higher prices reduce demand for the Company's products.

For more information on risks related to the laws and regulations to which we are subject, see the relevant discussions throughout Item 1A, Risk Factors of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Geography

We currently have operations in the following major geographic regions: North America, Asia/Pacific, Europe and Latin America. Selected financial data attributable to each segment and geographic region for fiscal 2025, fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2023 is set forth in Note 12, Segment and Geographic Information, of the notes to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Business Segments

The Company reports its financial performance on the operating and reportable segments defined as follows:

Power and Microwave Technologies ("PMT") combines our core engineered solutions capabilities, power grid and microwave tube business with new disruptive RF, Wireless and Power technologies. As a designer, manufacturer, technology partner and authorized distributor, PMT’s strategy is to provide specialized technical expertise and engineered solutions based on our core engineering and manufacturing capabilities on a global basis. We provide solutions and add value through design-in support, systems integration, prototype design and manufacturing, testing, logistics and aftermarket technical service and repair - all through our existing global infrastructure. PMT’s focus is on products for power, RF and microwave applications for customers in 5G, aviation, broadcast, communications, industrial, marine, medical, military, scientific and semiconductor markets. PMT focuses on various applications including broadcast transmission, CO2 laser cutting, diagnostic imaging, dielectric and induction heating, high energy transfer, high voltage switching, plasma, power conversion, radar and radiation oncology. PMT also offers its customers technical services for both microwave and industrial equipment.

PMT represents leading manufacturers of electron tubes and RF, Microwave and power components used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment, RF and wireless and industrial power applications. Among the suppliers PMT supports are Amperex, CDE, CPI, Draloric, Eimac, General Electric, Hitachi, Jennings, L3, MACOM, National, NJRC, Ohmite, Qorvo, Thales, Toshiba and Vishay.

PMT’s inventory levels reflect our commitment to maintaining an inventory of a broad range of products for customers who are buying products for the replacement of components used in critical equipment and designing in new technologies. PMT also sells a number of products representing trailing edge technology. While the market for these trailing edge technology products is declining, PMT is increasing its market share. PMT often buys products it knows it can sell ahead of any supplier price increases and extended lead times. As manufacturers for these products exit the business, PMT has the option to purchase a substantial portion of their remaining inventory.

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PMT has distribution agreements with many of its suppliers; most of these agreements provide exclusive distribution rights that often include global coverage. The agreements are typically long term, and usually contain provisions permitting termination by either party if there are significant breaches that are not cured within a reasonable period. Although some of these agreements allow PMT to return inventory periodically, others do not, in which case PMT may have obsolete inventory that they cannot return to the supplier.

PMT’s suppliers provide warranty coverage for the products and allow the return of defective products, including those returned to PMT by its customers. For information regarding the warranty reserves, see Note 4, Significant Accounting Policies and Disclosures, of the notes to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

In addition to third party products, we sell proprietary products principally under certain trade names we own including Amperex®, Cetron® and National®. Our proprietary products include thyratrons and rectifiers, power tubes, ignitrons, magnetrons, phototubes, microwave generators, Ultracapacitor modules and liquid crystal display monitors. The materials used in the manufacturing process consist of glass bulbs and tubing, nickel, stainless steel and other metals, plastic and metal bases, ceramics and a wide variety of fabricated metal components. These materials are generally readily available, but some components may require long lead times for production, and some materials are subject to shortages or price fluctuations based on supply and demand.

Green Energy Solutions ("GES") combines our key technology partners and engineered solutions capabilities to design and manufacture innovative products for the fast-growing energy storage market and power management applications. As a designer, manufacturer, technology partner and authorized distributor, GES’s strategy is to provide specialized technical expertise and engineered solutions using our core design engineering and manufacturing capabilities on a global basis. We provide solutions and add value through design-in support, systems integration, prototype design and manufacturing, testing, logistics and aftermarket technical service and repair - all through our existing global infrastructure. GES’s focus is on products for numerous green energy applications such as wind, solar, hydrogen and Electric Vehicles, and other power management applications that support green solutions such as synthetic diamond manufacturing.

Canvys provides customized display solutions serving the corporate enterprise, financial, healthcare, industrial and medical original equipment manufacturers markets. Our engineers design, manufacture, source and support a full spectrum of solutions to match the needs of our customers. We offer long-term availability and proven custom display solutions that include touch screens, protective panels, custom enclosures, All-In-One computers, specialized cabinet finishes and application specific software packages and certification services. We partner with both private label manufacturing companies and leading branded hardware vendors to offer the highest quality display and touch solutions and customized computing platforms.

We have long-standing relationships with key component and finished goods manufacturers and several key ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 certified Asian display manufacturers that manufacture products to our specifications. We believe supplier relationships, combined with our engineering design and manufacturing capabilities and private label partnerships, allow us to maintain a well-balanced and technologically advanced offering of customer specific display solutions.

Healthcare manufactures, repairs, refurbishes and distributes high value replacement parts and equipment for the healthcare market including hospitals, medical centers, asset management companies, independent service organizations and multi-vendor service providers. Products include diagnostic imaging replacement parts for CT and MRI systems; replacement CT and MRI tubes; CT service training; MRI and RF amplifiers; hydrogen thyratrons, klystrons, magnetrons; flat panel detector upgrades; pre-owned CT systems; and additional replacement solutions currently under development for the diagnostic imaging service market. Through a combination of newly developed products and partnerships, service offerings and training programs, we believe we can help our customers improve efficiency while lowering the cost of healthcare delivery. After the January 2025 sale of certain assets to DirectMed, the Company manufactures and repairs CT tubes and sells them exclusively to DirectMed under a supply agreement.

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Sales and Product Management

We have employees, as well as authorized representatives who are not our employees, selling our products primarily in regions where we do not have a direct sales presence.

We offer various credit terms to qualifying customers as well as cash in advance and credit card terms. We establish credit limits for each customer and routinely review delinquent and aging accounts.

Distribution

We maintain over 100,000 part numbers in our product inventory database and we estimate that more than 90% of orders received by 6:00 p.m. local time are shipped complete the same day for in-stock product. Customers can access our products on our websites, www.rell.com, www.canvys.com, www.rellpower.com, www.relltubes.com and www.rellaser.com, through electronic data interchange, or by telephone. Customer orders are processed by our regional sales offices and supported primarily by one of our distribution facilities in LaFox, Illinois; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Marlborough, Massachusetts; Donaueschingen, Germany; or Singapore, Singapore. We also have satellite warehouses in Sao Paulo, Brazil; Shanghai, China; Bangkok, Thailand; and Hook, United Kingdom. Our data processing network provides on-line, real-time interconnection of all sales offices and central distribution operations, 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Information on stock availability, pricing in local currency, cross-reference information, customers and market analyses are obtainable throughout the entire distribution network. The content of our websites is not deemed to be incorporated by reference in this report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

International Sales

During fiscal 2025, we made approximately 56% of our sales outside the United States. We continue to pursue new international sales to further expand our geographic reach.

Major Customers

No single customer accounted for more than 10 percent of the Company’s consolidated net sales for fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2024. Sales to one customer in our PMT segment totaled $31.2 million, which accounted for 12 percent of the Company’s consolidated net sales in fiscal 2023. See Note 12, Segment and Geographic Information, of the notes to our consolidated financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information on our customer concentration.

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Human Capital

Recruitment & Staffing

The Company’s key human capital management objectives are to hire, retain and develop the talent for the execution of the Company’s strategy. Our talent needs include highly skilled technical, management and sales personnel. Key attributes of our personnel include: customer focus, integrity, continuous improvement and a results-driven mindset. The skills, experience and industry knowledge of our employees significantly benefit our operations and performance. Competition for such personnel is intense and the salary, benefits and other costs to employ the right personnel may impact our results and performance.

The Company offers employees a competitive compensation program, designed to recognize and reward both individual and company performance through base pay, variable compensation programs, and health, well-being and retirement programs to meet the needs of our employees.

Employees

As of May 31, 2025, we employed 431 individuals, 396 of whom were employed on a full-time basis and 35 of whom were employed on a part-time basis. Of these, 272 full-time and 16 part-time employees were in the United States and 124 full-time and 19 part-time employees were located internationally. All our employees are non-union.

Culture

We are an international company with offices and personnel located around the world. We understand, respect, and value the similarities as well as the differences of our employees. Our human capital is a critical asset that enables us to serve and support our global customer base. Our effectiveness in maximizing the talents of people of different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives is key to our continued global success. Fostering, cultivating, and preserving a positive work culture is a key priority for the Company. We seek to embrace and encourage the individual characteristics that make our employees unique.

Website Access to SEC Reports

We maintain an Internet website at www.rell.com. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 are accessible through our website, free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after these reports are filed electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Interactive Data Files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T, of these filing dates, formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (“XBRL”) are accessible as well. To access these reports, go to our website at www.rell.com. Information relating to our corporate governance, including our Code of Conduct (including any related amendments or waivers) and information concerning our executive officers, directors and committees of the Board (including committee charters) is also available on our website. The foregoing information regarding our website is provided for convenience and the content of our website is not deemed to be incorporated by reference in this report filed with the SEC. Additionally, the SEC maintains an internet site through which our reports, proxy and information statements and our other SEC filings can be located; the address of that site is http://www.sec.gov.