News Release

STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION Reports Fiscal 2015 Third Quarter Results

April 23, 2015 at 4:01 PM EDT

MILWAUKEE, April 23, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION (Nasdaq:STRT) today reported operating results for the fiscal third quarter ended March 29, 2015.

Net sales for the Company's third quarter ended March 29, 2015 were $88.8 million, compared to net sales of $85.3 million for the third quarter ended March 30, 2014. Net income for the current year quarterly period was $4.4 million, compared to net income of $3.6 million in the prior year quarter. Diluted earnings per share for the current year quarterly period were $1.20 compared to diluted earnings per share of $1.00 in the prior year quarter.

For the nine months ended March 29, 2015, the Company's net sales were $313.0 million compared to net sales of $246.4 million in the prior year nine month period. Net income during the current year nine month period was $19.5 million compared to net income of $10.7 million in the prior year nine month period. Diluted earnings per share were $5.33 for the nine month period ended March 29, 2015 compared to diluted earnings per share of $3.00 during the nine month period ended March 30, 2014.

Net sales to each of our customers or customer groups in the current year quarter and prior year quarter were as follows (in thousands):

  Three Months Ended
   March 29, 2015 March 30, 2014
     
Chrysler Group LLC $ 26,151 $ 29,180
General Motors Company 17,015 18,221
Ford Motor Company 10,951 11,707
Tier 1 Customers 18,637 14,968
Commercial and Other OEM Customers 10,380 9,947
Hyundai / Kia 5,683 1,255
TOTAL $ 88,817 $ 85,278

Decreased sales to Chrysler Group LLC in the current year quarter were primarily due to Chrysler's temporary shutdown of its Windsor, Canada assembly plant to re-tool the new Chrysler minivan. The negative effect of the shutdown was partially offset by increased service sales in comparison to the prior year quarter. Decreased sales to General Motors Company in the current year quarter related primarily to a sales concession recorded during the current year quarter compared to the prior year quarter. Decreased sales to Ford Motor Company in the current year quarter were attributed primarily to lower vehicle production volumes on models for which we supply components, and in particular for components we supply on the F-150 pick-up trucks offset partially by higher latch product sales. Sales to Tier 1, Commercial and Other OEM Customers during the current year quarter increased in comparison to the prior year quarter. These customers primarily represent purchasers of vehicle access control products, such as latches, fobs, and driver controls, that have been developed in recent years to complement our historic core business of locks and keys. The increased sales to Hyundai / Kia in the current year quarter were principally due to the continued ramp-up of the new Kia Sedona minivan for which we supply components.

Gross profit margins were 17.7 percent in the current year quarter compared to 17.5 percent in the prior year quarter. The increase in gross profit margin was attributed to lower bonus expense provisions and a favorable Mexican Peso to US dollar exchanges rate affecting our Mexican operations offset by a customer sales concession.

Engineering, Selling and Administrative expenses as a percent of net sales in the current year quarter were 11.1% compared to 11.4% in the prior year quarter.

Included in Other Income, Net in the current year quarter compared to the prior year quarter were the following items (in thousands of dollars):

  March 29, March 30,
  2015 2014
     
Equity Earnings of VAST LLC Joint Venture  $ 301  $ 365
Equity Loss of STRATTEC Advanced Logic    
(formerly NextLock LLC) (508) (98)
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain  583 36
Rabbi Trust Gain 44 27
Other 71 8
  $ 491 $ 338

The lower income tax provision in the current year quarter occurred as a result of a reduction in our tax liability for unrecognized tax benefits and related interest associated with tax years that closed during the current period.

Frank Krejci, President & CEO commented: "I am pleased to report that we were able to continue to show modest sales growth in the current year quarter, despite the negative headwinds of a slower than anticipated ramp up in Ford's introduction of the new F-150 pick-up trucks and a reduction of about $8 million in sales due to Chrysler's temporary shutdown of its Windsor, Canada minivan assembly plant in order to change over to their newly designed models. The Chrysler Windsor assembly plant shutdown is expected to impact us in a similar manner in the next quarter before we begin to refill their pipeline.

During this quarter we, like many other companies, had to address the challenges presented to us as a result of the West Coast dock work slowdown and eventual contract settlement. It certainly had impacts on our efficiency, the costs of expediting parts and our inventory levels.

During the quarter, we celebrated our 20th anniversary since STRATTEC was spun off as an independent public company, yet we are mindful that our roots go back 107 years to the founding of Briggs & Stratton Corporation. Because of both our anniversary and the progress we have made, we were honored to be invited to ring the closing bell at NASDAQ on February 23, which only added to our collective pride and sense of accomplishment this year."

STRATTEC designs, develops, manufactures and markets automotive Access Control Products, including mechanical locks and keys, electronically enhanced locks and keys, steering column and instrument panel ignition lock housings, latches, power sliding side door systems, power lift gate systems, power deck lid systems, door handles and related products. These products are provided to customers in North America, and on a global basis through a unique strategic relationship with WITTE Automotive of Velbert, Germany and ADAC Automotive of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Under this relationship, STRATTEC, WITTE and ADAC market each company's products to global customers under the "VAST" brand name. STRATTEC's history in the automotive business spans over 100 years.

Certain statements contained in this release contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "expect," "intend," "may," "planned," "potential," "should," "will," and "would."   Such forward-looking statements in this release are inherently subject to many uncertainties in the Company's operations and business environment. These uncertainties include general economic conditions, in particular, relating to the automotive industry, consumer demand for the Company's and its customers' products, competitive and technological developments, customer purchasing actions, foreign currency fluctuations, and fluctuations in our costs of operation (including fluctuations in the cost of raw materials). Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made herein are only made as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release. In addition, such uncertainties and other operational matters are discussed further in the Company's quarterly and annual filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION
Results of Operations
(In Thousands except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
         
  Third Quarter Ended Nine Months Ended
  March 29, 2015 March 30, 2014 March 29, 2015 March 30, 2014
Net Sales  $ 88,817 $85,278  $ 313,049 $246,357
         
Cost of Goods Sold 73,066 70,386 250,789 201,007
         
Gross Profit 15,751 14,892 62,260 45,350
         
Engineering, Selling &        
Administrative Expenses 9,847 9,757 33,524 28,477
         
Income from Operations 5,904 5,135 28,736 16,873
         
Interest Income 61 37 126 64
         
Interest Expense (17) (8) (39) (37)
         
Other Income, Net 491 338 3,171 1,154
         
Income before Provision for Income        
Taxes and Non-Controlling Interest 6,439 5,502 31,994 18,054
         
Provision for Income Taxes 1,064 1,285 9,378 5,302
         
Net Income 5,375 4,217 22,616 12,752
         
Net Income Attributable        
to Non-Controlling Interest (999) (616) (3,162) (2,067)
         
Net Income Attributable to        
STRATTEC SECURITY        
CORPORATION  $ 4,376  $ 3,601  $ 19,454  $ 10,685
         
Earnings Per Share:        
Basic  $ 1.23  $ 1.03  $ 5.47  $ 3.07
Diluted  $ 1.20  $ 1.00  $ 5.33  $ 3.00
Average Basic        
Shares Outstanding 3,520 3,443 3,511 3,413
         
Average Diluted        
Shares Outstanding 3,603 3, 534 3,603 3,494
         
Other        
Capital Expenditures  $ 4,696  $ 2,931  $ 21,651  $ 9,381
Depreciation & Amortization  $ 2,206  $ 2,046  $ 6,467  $ 6,213
 
STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION
     
Condensed Balance Sheet Data
(In Thousands)
     
  March 29, 2015 June 29, 2014
  (Unaudited)  
ASSETS    
Current Assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents  $ 28,035  $ 19,756
Receivables, net 62,224 68,822
Inventories, net 35,835 30,502
Other current assets 14,546 16,559
Total Current Assets 140,640 135,639
Investment in Joint Ventures 10,865 9,977
Other Long Term Assets 13,400 11,639
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net 69,534 55,781
   $ 234,439  $ 213,036
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY    
Current Liabilities:    
Accounts Payable  $ 28,836  $ 36,053
Other 31,560 29,210
Total Current Liabilities 60,396 65,263
Accrued Pension and Post Retirement Obligations 3,487 3,842
Borrowings Under Credit Facility 11,000 2,500
Deferred Income Taxes 5,644 5,127
Other Long-term Liabilities 207 1,401
Shareholders' Equity 301,534 281,623
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (23,313) (20,198)
Less: Treasury Stock (135,907) (135,919)
Total STRATTEC SECURITY    
CORPORATION Shareholders' Equity 142,314 125,506
Non-Controlling Interest 11,391 9,397
Total Shareholders' Equity 153,705 134,903
   $ 234,439  $ 213,036
 
STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION
Condensed Cash Flow Statement Data
(In Thousands)
(Unaudited)
         
  Third Quarter Ended Nine Months Ended
  March 31, 2015 March 30, 2014 March 31, 2015 March 30, 2014
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:        
Net Income  $ 5,375 $ 4,217  $ 22,616 $ 12,752
Adjustment to Reconcile Net Income to        
Cash Provided by Operating Activities:        
Equity Loss (Earnings) in        
Joint Ventures 207 (267) 138 (858)
Depreciation and Amortization 2,206 2,046 6,467 6,213
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (583) (36) (3,004) (74)
Stock Based Compensation Expense 313 250 1,013 880
Change in Operating Assets/Liabilities (1,622) (3,705) (3,807) (9,715)
Other, net 15 40 172 114
         
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities 5,911 2,545 23,595 9,312
         
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:        
Investment in Joint Ventures -- --  (384)  --
Additions to Property, Plant and Equipment (4,696) (2,931) (21,651) (9,381)
Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant        
and Equipment -- 25 -- 46
Other -- (285) (215) (285)
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities (4,696) (3,191) (22,250) (9,620)
         
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:        
Borrowings Under Credit Facility 7,500 500 9,000 1,250
Repayment of Borrowings Under Credit Facility -- (1,000) (500) (1,000)
Dividends Paid to Non-Controlling        
Interests of Subsidiaries --  --  (882)  (984)
Dividends Paid (428) (388) (1,282) (1,152)
Exercise of Stock Options and        
Employee Stock Purchases 20 1,639 734 2,428
         
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities 7,092 751 7,070 542
         
Effect of Foreign Currency Fluctuations on Cash (115) 1 (136) (47)
         
Net Increase in Cash & Cash Equivalents 8,192 106 8,279 187
         
Cash and Cash Equivalents:        
Beginning of Period 19,843 20,388 19,756 20,307
End of Period  $ 28,035  $ 20,494  $ 28,035 $ 20,494
CONTACT: Pat Hansen
         Senior Vice President and
         Chief Financial Officer
         414-247-3435
         www.strattec.com

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STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION