News Release

STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION Reports Fiscal Fourth Quarter and Year End

July 27, 2004 at 4:02 PM EDT

MILWAUKEE, July 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION (Nasdaq: STRT) today reported operating results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended June 27, 2004.

Net sales for the fourth quarter ended June 27, 2004 were $51.9 million, compared to net sales of $50.3 million for the fourth quarter ended June 29, 2003. Net income was $4.6 million, compared to $3.9 million in the prior year quarter. Diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter were $1.19 compared to $1.02 in the prior year quarter.

For the year ended June 27, 2004, net sales were $195.6 million, compared to net sales of $196.8 million in the prior year period. Net income was $17.3 million compared to $16.4 million and diluted earnings per share were $4.49 compared to $4.24.

Sales to STRATTEC's largest customers overall remained flat in the current quarter compared to the prior year quarter levels. Increased sales to the Company's aftermarket customers generated the overall increase in total sales in the current quarter compared to the prior year quarter. Sales to DaimlerChrysler Corporation increased significantly during the current quarter to $12.1 million compared to $9.5 million due to higher production volume and a more favorable vehicle content mix. Sales to Delphi Corporation were $7.5 million compared to $7.1 million due to increased production volumes on new vehicles. Sales to General Motors Corporation were $13.7 million compared to $15.4 million due to a combination of pre-programmed price reductions, discontinued models, and lower levels of production on certain General Motors vehicles. Sales to Ford Motor Company were $8.6 million compared to $9.3 million due to price reductions and lower production volumes on certain vehicles.

Continuing a trend experienced over the last two years, STRATTEC's sales to Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America, Inc. declined to $1.5 million in the current quarter compared to $2.4 million in the prior year quarter due to their reduced production volumes. On July 22, Mitsubishi publicly announced the discontinuation of second shift operations at their Normal, Illinois assembly plant by October 2004, thereby further reducing their production volumes to approximately 140,000 vehicles annually in North America. This will result in reduced STRATTEC sales to Mitsubishi in fiscal 2005 and 2006. In addition, due primarily to the economic pressures affecting Mitsubishi, they have informed STRATTEC that they intend to consolidate the purchase of their lock set requirements with their Japanese supplier for the 2007 model year. This will effectively end STRATTEC's supply of production requirements to Mitsubishi by the start of its 2007 fiscal year. Mitsubishi represented approximately 3.5% of STRATTEC's fiscal 2004 sales.

Gross profit margins were 24.5 percent in the current quarter compared to 22.7 percent in the prior year quarter. The higher margins in the current year quarter were a result of the Company's ongoing cost reduction initiatives, a more positive sales mix, along with a favorable Mexican Peso to U.S. Dollar exchange rate. These favorable items were partially offset by higher purchased raw material costs for brass and zinc.

Operating expenses were $5.6 million in the current quarter, compared to $5.4 million in the prior year quarter.

During the fourth quarter, the Company contributed $2.0 million to its Pension Fund and repurchased 15,500 STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION shares under the Company's stock repurchase program at a cost of approximately $1.0 million. For the year ended June 27, 2004, a total of 77,200 shares were repurchased at a cost of approximately $4.6 million.

STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION designs, develops, manufactures and markets mechanical locks, electro-mechanical locks and related access control products for North American and global automotive manufacturers.

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 costs of operations. 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)

                           Fourth Quarter Ended           Years Ended
                           June 27,     June 29,     June 27,     June 29,
                             2004         2003         2004         2003
                               (Unaudited)

    Net Sales              $51,946      $50,315     $195,646     $196,827
    Cost of Goods Sold      39,203       38,918      148,159      151,468
    Gross Profit            12,743       11,397       47,487       45,359

    Engineering, Selling
     & Administrative
     Expenses                5,591        5,388       20,624       19,613
    Income from Operations   7,152        6,009       26,863       25,746

    Interest Income            137           95          426          369
    Interest Expense             -            -            -            -
    Other Income
     (Expense), Net            125           71          362         (156)
                             7,414        6,175       27,651       25,959

    Provision for
     Income Taxes            2,780        2,285       10,369        9,605

    Net Income              $4,634       $3,890      $17,282      $16,354

    Earnings Per Share:
    Basic                    $1.21        $1.03        $4.56        $4.32
    Diluted                  $1.19        $1.02        $4.49        $4.24

    Average Basic
     Shares Outstanding      3,827        3,760        3,788        3,788

    Average Diluted
     Shares Outstanding      3,883        3,820        3,849        3,855

    Other
      Capital Expenditures   1,973        1,072        5,523        3,772
      Depreciation &
       Amortization          1,862        1,970        7,704        7,854


                        STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION

                         Condensed Balance Sheet Data
                                (In Thousands)

                                                     June 27,       June 29,
                                                       2004           2003
    ASSETS
      Current Assets:
        Cash and cash equivalents                    $54,231        $29,902
        Receivables, net                              30,931         31,173
        Inventories                                    8,361          7,884
        Other current assets                          10,903         12,127
          Total Current Assets                       104,426         81,086
      Deferred Income Taxes                                -          1,973
      Investment in Joint Venture                      1,336          1,141
      Property, Plant and Equipment, Net              31,428         33,894
                                                    $137,190       $118,094


    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
      Current Liabilities:
        Accounts Payable                             $18,787        $13,990
        Other                                         16,497         15,819
          Total Current Liabilities                   35,284         29,809
      Borrowings Under Revolving Credit Facility           -              -
      Deferred Income Taxes                              543              -
      Accrued Pension and Post
       Retirement Obligations (A)                     11,511         19,190
      Shareholders' Equity                           200,713        176,844
      Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss            (5,385)        (6,891)
      Less:  Treasury Stock                         (105,476)      (100,858)
          Total Shareholders' Equity                  89,852         69,095
                                                    $137,190       $118,094

     (A) Includes $4,446,000 and $6,932,000 of additional minimum pension
         liability recorded during the fourth quarter of 2004 and 2003.

SOURCE STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION
CONTACT: Pat Hansen, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION, +1-414-247-3435