UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549



FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  October 26, 2023


STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION


(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)



Wisconsin


(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)


0-25150

39-1804239
(Commission File Number)

(I.R.S. Employer I.D. Number)

3333 West Good Hope Road
Milwaukee, WI

53209
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(Zip Code)


(414) 247-3333


(Registrant’s telephone number; including area code)


Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class
Trading symbol(s)
Name of exchange on which registered
Common stock, $.01 par value
STRT
The Nasdaq Global Stock Market

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):


Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)


Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)


Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))


Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).


Emerging Growth Company 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐



Section 2 – Financial Information

Item 2.02.
Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On October 26, 2023, STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION issued a press release (the “Press Release”) announcing results for the fiscal first quarter ended October 1, 2023.  A copy of the Press Release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this report.  The attached Exhibit 99.1 is furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 of Form 8-K.

The information in this Form 8-K and the Exhibit attached hereto shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Section 9 - Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01.
Financial Statements and Exhibits.


(d)
Exhibits

99.1 – 
Press Release of STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION, issued October 26, 2023.


104 –
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION
Date:  October 26, 2023



By:
 /s/ Dennis Bowe



Dennis Bowe, Vice President and CFO




Exhibit 99.1



FOR RELEASE AT 3:00 PM CDT


Contact:  Dennis Bowe
Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
414-247-3399
www.strattec.com


STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION
REPORTS FISCAL 2024 FIRST QUARTER
OPERATING RESULTS

Milwaukee, Wisconsin – October 26, 2023 -- STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION (“STRATTEC” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ:STRT) today reported operating results for the fiscal first quarter ended October 1, 2023.

Net sales for the first quarter ended October 1, 2023 were $135.4 million, compared to net sales of $120.4 million for the first quarter ended October 2, 2022.  Net income was $4.2 million in the current year first quarter, compared to net income of $125,000 in the prior year first quarter.  Diluted earnings per share for the current year quarter were $1.05 and for the prior year first quarter were $0.03.


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

   
Three Months Ended
 
   
October 1, 2023
   
October 2, 2022
 
             
General Motors Company
 
$
40,505
   
$
38,150
 
Stellantis
   
27,297
     
17,155
 
Ford Motor Company
   
26,909
     
24,616
 
Tier 1 Customers
   
18,122
     
17,309
 
Commercial and Other OEM Customers
   
14,197
     
14,826
 
Hyundai / Kia
   
8,376
     
8,304
 
TOTAL
 
$
135,406
   
$
120,360
 

The higher revenues this quarter reflect $10.8 million of negotiated pricing relief, $8.0 million of which relates to one-time retroactive pricing for parts shipped in the prior fiscal year, while the remaining $2.8 million is attributable to ongoing increases in current part prices.  In addition, the company benefited from increased sales to Ford Motor Company of new power end gate content for their new F-Series Super Duty Pickup.  The same vehicle also drove increased sales of new door hardware sold through Tier 1 Customers.  Higher sales to Stellantis reflects increased vehicle production of their minivan, while sales to Commercial and Other OEM Customers declined year-over-year due to the ending of a door handle program with Honda.

Gross Profit margins improved to 13.8% compared with 10.4% in the prior year driven primarily by the pricing relief achieved, of which 4.7 percentage points was one-time retroactive pricing related.  Major offsetting items to the positive margin effect of pricing in the quarter were an unfavorable U.S. dollar to Mexican Peso exchange rate combined with a mandatory 20% Mexican minimum wage increase in 2023 and higher freight costs.


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


 
October 1,
   
October 2,
 

 
2023
   
2022
 

           
Equity (Loss) Earnings of VAST LLC Joint Venture
 
$
(265
)
 
$
527
 
Net Foreign Currency Transaction Gain
   
226
     
132
 
Other
   
(92
)
   
(425
)

 
$
(131
)
 
$
234
 

Effective June 30, 2023, STRATTEC sold its one-third interest in VAST LLC in an agreement that bolstered our balance sheet with $18.5 million of cash, captured the remaining 20% ownership of STRATTEC Power Access Group not owned by STRATTEC and created greater flexibility for STRATTEC to enter new segments and markets in the future.  The current year quarter equity loss of the joint venture was the result of additional professional fees incurred during the current period related to the VAST transaction.

Frank Krejci, President and CEO commented: “I am very proud of our entire team for the results in the quarter.  The team was able to capture inflationary price increases in the form of one-time recoveries as well as enhanced margins for the future.   Additionally, the higher sales beyond the pricing relief achieved in the quarter reflected our ability to increase the reach of our most successful products across the product line-ups of our customers.  And in support of our effort to protect margins, we implemented a salaried staff reduction in our Mexican operations.  Like everyone connected to the auto industry, we are concerned about the UAW strike. While the strike only modestly affected our sales in September, the situation has changed considerably in October as the strike escalated to include the manufacturing of high-volume pickup trucks and SUVs for our three major customers.    We will continue to adjust our execution to whatever the outcome, however, our earnings will be negatively impacted until the strike ends, at which time we will work in earnest with our customers to try and recover lost sales and profitability.  Fortunately, our exit of a long-standing joint venture arrangement at the end of our prior fiscal year has meaningfully strengthened our balance sheet while providing greater focus on our core business.  Now with greater control over our business, we look forward to the future.”


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 as cooperating partners of the “VAST Automotive Group” brand name.  STRATTEC’s history in the automotive business spans over 110 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, changes in warranty provisions and customer product recall policies, work stoppages at the Company or at the location of its key customers as a result of labor disputes, foreign currency fluctuations, uncertainties stemming from U.S. trade policies, tariffs and reactions to same from foreign countries, the volume and scope of product returns, adverse business and operational issues resulting from the continuing effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, matters adversely impacting the timing and availability of component parts and raw materials needed for the production of our products and the products of our customers 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
Condensed Results of Operations
(In Thousands except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)

   
First Quarter Ended
 
   
October 1,
2023
   
October 2,
2022
 
             
Net Sales
 
$
135,406
   
$
120,360
 
                 
Cost of Goods Sold
   
116,686
     
107,864
 
                 
Gross Profit
   
18,720
     
12,496
 
                 
Engineering, Selling & Administrative Expenses
   
12,614
     
12,700
 
                 
Income (Loss) from Operations
   
6,106
     
(204
)
                 
Interest Expense
   
(220
)
   
(129
)
                 
Interest Income
   
87
     
-
 
                 
Other (Expense) Income, net
   
(131
)
   
234
 
                 
Income (Loss) Before Provision for Income Taxes and Non- Controlling Interest
   
5,842
     
(99
)
                 
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes
   
1,387
     
(36
)
                 
Net Income (Loss)
   
4,455
     
(63
)
                 
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Non-Controlling Interest
   
290
     
(188
)
                 
Net Income Attributable to STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION
 
$
4,165
   
$
125
 
                 
Earnings Per Share:
               
Basic
 
$
1.05
   
$
0.03
 
Diluted
 
$
1.05
   
$
0.03
 
                 
Average Basic Shares Outstanding
   
3,948
     
3,899
 
                 
Average Diluted Shares Outstanding
   
3,974
     
3,929
 
                 
Other
               
Capital Expenditures
 
$
2,920
   
$
4,718
 
Depreciation
 
$
4,385
   
$
4,497
 


STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION
Condensed Balance Sheet Data
(In Thousands)
(Unaudited)

   
October 1, 2023
   
July 2, 2023
 
             
ASSETS
           
Current Assets:
           
Cash and Cash Equivalents
 
$
15,665
   
$
20,571
 
Receivables, net
   
87,470
     
89,811
 
Inventories, net
   
81,367
     
77,597
 
Customer Tooling in Progress, net
   
22,673
     
20,800
 
Value Added Tax Recoverable
   
15,054
     
7,912
 
Other Current Assets
   
5,622
     
9,091
 
Total Current Assets
   
227,851
     
225,782
 
Other Long-term Assets
   
20,452
     
20,702
 
Property, Plant and Equipment, net
   
92,316
     
94,446
 
   
$
340,619
   
$
340,930
 
                 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Current Liabilities:
               
Accounts Payable
 
$
50,297
   
$
57,927
 
Value Added Tax Payable
   
8,473
     
6,499
 
Borrowings Under Credit Facility - Current
   
13,000
     
-
 
Other
   
45,624
     
44,560
 
Total Current Liabilities
   
117,394
     
108,986
 
Accrued Pension and Postretirement Obligations
   
2,392
     
2,363
 
Borrowings Under Credit Facility - Long-Term
   
-
     
13,000
 
Other Long-term Liabilities
   
5,532
     
5,557
 
Shareholders’ Equity
   
339,261
     
334,683
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
   
(14,527
)
   
(14,194
)
Less: Treasury Stock
   
(135,514
)
   
(135,526
)
Total STRATTEC SECURITY
               
CORPORATION Shareholders’ Equity
   
189,220
     
184,963
 
Non-Controlling Interest
   
26,081
     
26,061
 
Total Shareholders’ Equity
   
215,301
     
211,024
 
   
$
340,619
   
$
340,930
 


STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION
Condensed Cash Flow Statement Data
(In Thousands)
(Unaudited)

   
First Quarter Ended
 
   
October 1,
2023
   
October 2,
2022
 
             
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
           
Net Income (Loss)
 
$
4,455
   
$
(63
)
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to
               
Cash (Used in) Provided by Operating Activities:
               
Depreciation
   
4,385
     
4,497
 
Equity Loss (Earnings) in Joint Ventures
   
265
     
(527
)
Foreign Currency Transaction (Gain) Loss
   
(226
)
   
71
 
Unrealized Gain on Peso Forward Contracts
   
-
     
35
 
Stock Based Compensation Expense
   
505
     
611
 
Change in Operating Assets/Liabilities
   
(13,156
)
   
(45
)
Other, net
   
(100
)
   
122
 
                 
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Operating Activities
   
(3,872
)
   
4,701
 
                 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
               
Proceeds from Sale of Interest in VAST LLC
   
2,000
     
-
 
Additions to Property, Plant & Equipment
   
(2,920
)
   
(4,718
)
                 
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
   
(920
)
   
(4,718
)
                 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
               
Borrowings on Line of Credit Facility
   
2,000
     
5,000
 
Payments on Line of Credit Facility
   
(2,000
)
   
(3,000
)
Dividends Paid to Non-Controlling Interest of Subsidiary
   
-
     
(600
)
Exercise of Stock Options and Employee Stock Purchases
   
17
     
126
 
                 
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities
   
17
     
1,526
 
                 
Effect of Foreign Currency Fluctuations on Cash
   
(131
)
   
47
 
                 
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash & Cash Equivalents
   
(4,906
)
   
1,556
 
                 
Cash & Cash Equivalents:
               
Beginning of Period
   
20,571
     
8,774
 
End of Period
 
$
15,665
   
$
10,330