News Release

STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION Reports Fiscal Second Quarter Results

January 19, 2006 at 4:02 PM EST

MILWAUKEE, Jan. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION (Nasdaq: STRT) today reported operating results for the fiscal second quarter ended January 1, 2006.

Net sales for the Company's second quarter ended January 1, 2006 were $43.3 million, compared to net sales of $48.4 million for the second quarter ended December 26, 2004. Based on the timing of the Company's quarter end and holiday shutdown, the 2006 fiscal second quarter had 12 customer shipping weeks while 2005 fiscal second quarter had 13 weeks. The impact of one less week of customer shipments during the current quarter reduced sales by approximately $2.4 million. Net income for the period was $2.7 million, compared to $4.4 million in the prior year quarter. Diluted earnings per share for the period were $.71 compared to $1.15 in the prior year quarter.

For the six months ended January 1, 2006, net sales were $88.1 million compared to net sales of $93.0 million in the prior year period. Net income was $4.4 million compared to net income of $8.1 million in the prior year period and diluted earnings per share were $1.17 compared to $2.09. The current six months operating results includes a $3.2 million ($2.02 million after tax) charge to increase the Company's reserve for uncollectible trade accounts receivable related to the filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection by Delphi Corporation. This reduced the first quarter and six months earnings per share by $.54.

Overall sales to STRATTEC's largest customers decreased in the current quarter compared to the prior year quarter levels. Sales to DaimlerChrysler Corporation increased slightly during the current quarter to $13.1 million compared to $12.8 million due to a more favorable vehicle content mix. Sales to Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America, Inc. were $1.3 million compared to $1.0 million due to higher vehicle production volumes and product content. Sales to Ford Motor Company were $6.8 million compared to $8.5 million due to pre-programmed price reductions, discontinued models and lower levels of vehicle production. Sales to General Motors Corporation were $7.9 million compared to $10.8 million due to a combination of price reductions, discontinued models and lower levels of production on General Motors full-size SUV's due to change-over to new models and inventory balancing on certain other vehicles. Sales to Delphi Corporation were $7.1 million compared to $8.0 million due to pre-programmed price reductions and lower levels of production.

Gross profit margins were 19.7 percent in the current quarter compared to 23.7 percent in the prior year quarter. The gross profit margin decline during the current quarter was attributed to lower production volumes, higher purchased material costs for brass, zinc, and magnesium along with an unfavorable Mexico peso to U.S. dollar exchange rate affecting the Company's Mexico Operations.

Operating expenses were $5.5 million in the current quarter, compared to $4.8 million in the prior year quarter. Increase in operating expense during the current quarter was attributed primarily to recognizing stock based compensation expense under Financial Accounting Standard 123(R). The impact of adopting this new financial accounting standard at the beginning of fiscal year 2006 reduced current quarter earnings per share by $.06.

The provision for income taxes in the current quarter includes a favorable foreign tax adjustment that positively impacted earnings per share by $.08.

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)

                             Second Quarter Ended       Six Months Ended
                           January 1,  December 26,  January 1,  December 26,
                              2006         2004         2006         2004
                                 (Unaudited)               (Unaudited)

    Net Sales                $43,278      $48,436      $88,071      $93,027

    Cost of Goods Sold        34,736       36,947       69,755       70,768

    Gross Profit               8,542       11,489       18,316       22,259

    Engineering, Selling &
     Administrative
     Expenses                  5,494        4,848       10,779       10,014

    Provision for
     Doubtful Accounts             -           43        3,200           40

    Income from Operations     3,048        6,598        4,337       12,205

    Interest Income              574          233        1,063          416

    Interest Expense               -            -            -            -

    Other Income, Net            124          196          164          159

                               3,746        7,027        5,564       12,780

    Provision for
     Income Taxes              1,090        2,600        1,168        4,729

    Net Income                $2,656       $4,427       $4,396       $8,051

    Earnings Per Share:
    Basic                       $.71        $1.16        $1.17        $2.12
    Diluted                     $.71        $1.15        $1.17        $2.09

    Average Basic
      Shares Outstanding       3,744        3,806        3,745        3,806

    Average Diluted
      Shares Outstanding       3,748        3,840        3,751        3,847


    Other
      Capital Expenditures    $2,260       $1,322       $3,840       $2,020
      Depreciation &
       Amortization           $1,808       $1,817       $3,632       $3,681



                        STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION

                         Condensed Balance Sheet Data
                                (In Thousands)

                                             January 1, 2006   July 3, 2005
                                               (Unaudited)

    ASSETS
    Current Assets:
      Cash and Cash Equivalents                      $55,168        $56,950
      Receivables, net                                20,588         26,053
      Inventories                                     12,337         11,654
      Other Current Assets                            11,244         10,030
        Total Current Assets                          99,337        104,687
    Deferred Income Taxes                              1,796          1,796
    Investment in Joint Venture                        1,614          1,412
    Other Long Term Assets                               596            603
    Property, Plant and Equipment, Net                29,648         29,592
                                                    $132,991       $138,090


    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
    Current Liabilities:
      Accounts Payable                               $14,742        $17,218
      Other                                           10,054         12,850
        Total Current Liabilities                     24,796         30,068
    Borrowings Under Line of Credit                        -              -
    Accrued Pension and Post Retirement Obligations   11,471         16,271
    Shareholders' Equity                             226,339        220,261
    Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss             (11,962)       (12,047)
    Less: Treasury Stock                            (117,653)      (116,463)
    Total Shareholders' Equity                        96,724         91,751
                                                    $132,991       $138,090



                        STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION

                      Condensed Cash Flow Statement Data
                                (In Thousands)

                            Second Quarter Ended        Six Months Ended
                           January 1,  December 26,  January 1,  December 26,
                             2006         2004          2006        2004
                                (Unaudited)                (Unaudited)

    Cash Flows from
     Operating
     Activities:
    Net Income               $2,656      $4,427        $4,396       $8,051
    Adjustment to Reconcile
     Net Income to Cash Used
     in Operating Activities:
      Depreciation            1,808       1,817          3,632       3,681
      Stock Based Compensation
       Expense                  351           -            560           -
      Tax Benefit from
       Options Exercised          -         267             61         672
      Change in Operating
       Assets/Liabilities     4,701        (823)        (6,512)    (11,479)
      Other, net                149         208             65         224

    Net Cash Provided by
     Operating Activities     9,665       5,896          2,202       1,149

    Cash Flows from
     Investing Activities:
      Investment in
       Joint Ventures           (50)          -            (50)        (75)
      Additions to Property,
       Plant and Equipment   (2,260)     (1,322)        (3,840)     (2,020)
      Proceeds from Sale
       of Property, Plant
       and Equipment             22           -             22           -
    Net Cash Used in
     Investing Activities    (2,288)     (1,322)        (3,868)     (2,095)

    Cash Flow from
     Financing Activities:
      Purchase of Common Stock    -        (787)        (1,196)     (6,254)
      Reissue/Exercise of
       Stock Options             20       1,083          1,080       3,132

    Net Cash Provided by
     (Used in) Financing
     Activities                  20         296           (116)     (3,122)

    Net Increase (Decrease)
     in Cash & Cash
     Equivalents              7,397       4,870         (1,782)     (4,068)

    Cash and Cash
     Equivalents:
      Beginning of Period    47,771      45,293         56,950      54,231
      End of Period         $55,168     $50,163        $55,168     $50,163

SOURCE: STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION
CONTACT: Pat Hansen, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
of STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION, +1-414-247-3435
Web site: http://www.strattec.com