News Release

STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION Reports Fiscal Third Quarter Results

April 12, 2005 at 4:01 PM EDT

MILWAUKEE, April 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION (Nasdaq: STRT) today reported operating results for the fiscal third quarter ended March 27, 2005.

Net sales for the Company's three months ended March 27, 2005 were $46.1 million, compared to net sales of $49.3 million for the three months ended March 28, 2004. Net income for the period was $3.7 million, compared to $4.4 million in the prior year quarter. Diluted earnings per share for the period were $.98 compared to $1.15 in the prior year quarter.

For the nine months ended March 27, 2005, net sales were $139.1 million compared to net sales of $143.7 million in the prior year period. Net income was $11.8 million compared to $12.6 million and diluted earnings per share were $3.07 compared to $3.30 in the prior year.

Overall sales to STRATTEC's largest customers decreased in the current quarter compared to the prior year quarter levels. Sales to DaimlerChrysler Corporation increased significantly during the current quarter to $13.1 million compared to $11.5 million due to additional product content. Sales to General Motors Corporation were $9.8 million compared to $11.9 million due to a combination of price reductions, discontinued models and lower production volumes on certain vehicles. Sales to Delphi Corporation were $6.8 million compared to $7.6 million due to pre-programmed price reductions and lower vehicle production volumes. Sales to Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America were $1.1 million compared to $1.6 million due to lower vehicle production volumes. Sales to Ford Motor Company were $8.3 million compared to $8.8 million due to pre-programmed price reductions and lower vehicle production volumes. Sales to AutoAlliance International, Ford Motor Company's joint venture assembly plant with Mazda, were $667,000 in the current quarter. AutoAlliance is a new customer for STRATTEC. Reduced aftermarket and industrial sales represent the remaining decrease in the current quarter's overall sales.

Gross profit margins were 22.1 percent in the current quarter compared to 24.7 percent in the prior year quarter. The lower gross profit margins in the current year quarter were primarily the result of higher raw material costs for brass, zinc and magnesium, lower production volumes and a less favorable overall sales mix.

Operating expenses were $4.8 million in the current quarter, compared to $5.1 million in the prior year quarter.

Provision for income taxes in the current quarter includes a State refund claim recovery that positively impacted earnings per share by $.03.

During the third quarter, STRATTEC repurchased 44,800 shares of its common stock under the Company's stock repurchase program at a cost of approximately $2.6 million.

STRATTEC designs, develops, manufacturers and markets mechanical locks, electro-mechanical locks, latches, and related access control products for global automotive manufacturers. Its products are shipped to customers in the United States, Mexico, Europe and South America. The Company's history in the automotive business spans more than 95 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 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)

                            Third Quarter Ended        Nine Months Ended
                           March 27,   March 28,    March 27,    March 28,
                             2005        2004         2005          2004
                               (Unaudited)               (Unaudited)

    Net Sales              $46,102      $49,266     $139,129     $143,700

    Cost of Goods Sold      35,892       37,082      106,700      108,956

    Gross Profit            10,210       12,184       32,429       34,744

    Engineering, Selling &
     Administrative Expenses 4,822        5,132       14,836       15,033

    Income from Operations   5,388        7,052       17,593       19,711

    Interest Income            326          112          742          289

    Interest Expense             -            -            -            -

    Other Income (Expense),
     Net                       (50)         (49)         109          237

                             5,664        7,115       18,444       20,237

    Provision for Income
     Taxes                   1,933        2,668        6,662        7,589


    Net Income              $3,731       $4,447      $11,782     $ 12,648

    Earnings Per Share:
     Basic                   $ .98        $1.17        $3.10        $3.35
     Diluted                 $ .98        $1.15        $3.07        $3.30

    Average Basic
     Shares Outstanding      3,798        3,802        3,803        3,775

    Average Diluted
     Shares Outstanding      3,815        3,873        3,836        3,838

    Other
     Capital Expenditures   $1,435         $528       $3,455       $3,550
     Depreciation &
      Amortization          $1,759       $1,883       $5,440       $5,842



                        STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION
                         Condensed Balance Sheet Data
                                (In Thousands)

                                               March 27, 2005   June 27, 2004
                                                  (Unaudited)
    ASSETS
      Current Assets:
        Cash and cash equivalents                    $51,357        $54,231
        Receivables, net                              28,793         30,931
        Inventories                                   11,759          8,361
        Other current assets                           9,943         10,903
          Total Current Assets                       101,852        104,426
      Investment in Joint Venture                      1,349          1,336
      Prepaid Pension Obligation                         605              -
      Property, Plant and Equipment, Net              29,327         31,428
                                                    $133,133       $137,190

    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
      Current Liabilities:
        Accounts Payable                             $16,409        $18,787
        Other                                         13,852         16,497
          Total Current Liabilities                   30,261         35,284
      Borrowings Under Revolving Credit Facility           -              -
      Deferred Income Taxes                              543            543
      Accrued Pension and Post Retirement Obligations  5,096         11,511
      Shareholders' Equity                           216,874        200,713
        Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss          (5,348)        (5,385)
      Less: Treasury Stock                          (114,293)      (105,476)
        Total Shareholders' Equity                    97,233         89,852
                                                    $133,133       $137,190

SOURCE  STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION
    -0-                             04/12/2005
    /CONTACT:  Pat Hansen, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION, +1-414-247-3435/
    /Web site:  http://www.strattec.com /
    (STRT)

CO:  STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION
ST:  Wisconsin
IN:  AUT CPR
SU:  ERN

JR-JK
-- CGTU061 --
8039 04/12/2005 16:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com