May 1, 2001

Dear Methode Stockholder:

As of April 28, 2001, Methode Electronics, Inc. distributed a dividend of all of the shares of common stock of Stratos Lightwave, Inc. owned by Methode to holders of record of Methode Class A and Class B common stock as of the close of business on April 5, 2001 (or, as applicable, their successors in interest). You received approximately 1.5113 shares of Stratos common stock for each share of Methode Class A or Class B common stock owned by you (or, as applicable, your predecessor in interest) as of the record date.

No certificates or scrip representing fractional shares were issued. Instead, Mellon Investor Services LLC, our distribution agent, aggregated all fractional shares into whole shares and sold them in the open market on behalf of Methode stockholders who otherwise would be entitled to receive fractional shares. The total net proceeds of such sales are being distributed in cash to those Methode stockholders who would otherwise be entitled to receive fractional shares on a pro rata basis.

Methode received a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service that our distribution of whole shares of Stratos common stock to Methode Class A and Class B stockholders in this distribution is tax-free for U S. federal income tax purposes. If you sell your shares of Stratos common stock, you will have taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between your sales proceeds and your tax basis in those shares.

You must first determine the tax basis of your Methode Class A and Class B common stock.In order to determine the tax basis of your Methode Class A and Class B common stock, you must determine: (1) the date on which you acquired your Methode Class A and Class B common stock, and (2) the cost of your shares of Methode Class A and Class B common stock on that date. Because Methode has declared stock dividends and splits in the past, your tax basis in any Methode common stock acquired prior to a stock dividend or split must be divided between the shares you held prior to the stock dividend or split and the shares you received pursuant to the stock dividend or split.

Once you have determined your tax basis in your Methode Class A and Class B common stock, you will then have to allocate that tax basis between your Methode Class A and Class B common stock and your shares of Stratos common stock based on their relative fair market values on April 28, 2001, the distribution date. One method of valuing your Methode Class A and Class B common stock and your Stratos common stock for purposes of allocating tax basis is to use the opening prices at which the Methode Class A and Class B common stock and the Stratos common stock trade on the NASDAQ National Market on April 30, 2001, the first day of trading after the distribution. On April 30, 2001, the prices at which Methode Class A and Class B common stock opened on the NASDAQ National Market were $6.85 and $6.90 respectively, and the price at which Stratos common stock opened on the NASDAQ National Market was $7.58. Using these valuations, 37.42% of your pre-distribution tax basis in your shares of Methode Class A common stock should be allocated to your Methode Class A shares, and the remaining 62.58% should be allocated to your Stratos shares (including any fractional share interest) and 37.59% of your pre-distribution tax basis in your shares of Methode Class B common stock should be allocated to your Methode Class B shares, and the remaining 62.41% should be allocated to your Stratos shares (including any fractional share interest).

We urge you to consult your tax advisor to determine the method of allocating tax basis that best meets your particular circumstances. The following sample calculation is based on the opening prices of Methode Class A common stock and Statos common stock on the NASDAQ National Market on April 30, 2001:

Assume you own 1,000 shares of Methode Class A common stock with a $15 per share tax basis for a total tax basis of $15,000, and you received 1,511 whole shares of Stratos common stock (and cash representing .3 fractional shares) as a result of the distribution. Your total tax basis in your Methode Class A common stock would be reduced to $5,613.00 (37.42% of $15,000), or $5.613 per share ($5,613.00 divided by 1,000 shares). Your total tax basis in your Stratos common stock (including your .3 fractional share interest) would be $9,387.00 (62.58% of $15,000), or $6.2112 per share ($9,387.00 divided by 1,511.3 shares).

The receipt of cash in lieu of fractional shares will result in the recognition of gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes, measured by the difference between the cash you receive for such fractional shares and your tax basis in such fractional shares (determined under the methodology described above), as described more fully in the Information Statement dated April 12, 2001, previously mailed to Methode stockholders. You may also obtain a copy of the Information Statement at http: www.methode.com.

Even if you do not dispose of any of your Methode Class A or Class B common stock or Stratos common stock during the taxable year in which you receive the Stratos common stock, you will still need to perform the calculation described above so that you will know what your tax basis is in your Methode Class A and Class B common stock and your Statos common stock for the future and so that you can determine the amount of gain or loss required to be recognized as a result of your receipt of cash in lieu of fractional shares. For example, using the figures in the sample calculation set forth above, in which the total tax basis in Stratos common stock (including the .3 fractional share interest) equaled $9,387.00, the tax basis of the .3 fractional share interest would be approximately $1.88.

If you acquired shares of Methode Class A or Class B common stock on more than one occasion, you will need to perform this calculation separately for each group of shares.

All stockholders who received Stratos common stock should make this tax basis allocation, even if some or all of their Methode Class A or Class B common stock was sold after the record date and before the distribution date of Stratos common stock.

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