<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 21
SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT METHODE ELECTRONICS, INC.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SUBSIDIARY (1) JURSDICTION OF INCORPORATION
-------------- ----------------------------
<S> <C>
Adam Technologies, Inc. Delaware
Bandwidth Semiconductor, LLC Delaware
Duel Systems, Inc. Delaware
Graphic Research, Inc. California
Intertrace Technology, Inc. Delaware
Magna-lastic Devices, Inc. Delaware
Merit-Malta North America, Inc. Michigan
Meritronic Malta
Methode of California (2) California
Methode Communication Modules (3) Delaware
Methode Development Company Delaware
Methode Electronics China PTE, Ltd. Singapore
Methode Electronics Europe, Ltd. Scotland
Methode Electronics Far East Pte., Ltd. Singapore
Methode Electronics Foreign Sales Corporation U.S. Virgin Islands
Methode Electronics Ireland Limited Ireland
Methode Electronics Malta Ltd. Malta
Methode Fibre Optic Products PTY, Ltd. Australia
Methode Fibre Optics U.K. Ltd. United Kingdom
Methode International, GmbH Germany
Methode New England Co., Inc. Delaware
Methode Technical Components Delaware
MP Optical Communications, LLC Illinois
MP Optical Communications (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. P.R. China
Optokon Company, Ltd. Czech Republic
Stratos Lightwave, Inc. Delaware
Stratos Lightwave, LLC Delaware
Stratos, Ltd. United Kingdom
Sentorque, Inc. Delaware
</TABLE>
(1) All subsidiaries 100% owned, except Optokon, Magna-lastic Devices, Inc. and
Sentorque, Inc. which are 75% owned, and MP Optical Communications, LLC and MP
Optical Communications (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. which are 60% owned.
(2) Business also done under the names Trace Laboratories Central and Trace
Laboratories East.
(3) Business also done under the names Polycore Technologies and Stratos
Micro Systems.
31