News Release

STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION Reports Fiscal Second Quarter Results

January 18, 2007 at 4:01 PM EST

MILWAUKEE, Jan. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION (Nasdaq: STRT) today reported operating results for the fiscal second quarter ended December 31, 2006.

Net sales for the Company's second quarter ended December 31, 2006 were $37.9 million, compared to net sales of $43.3 million for the second quarter ended January 1, 2006. Net income for the period was $1.1 million, compared to $2.7 million in the prior year quarter. Diluted earnings per share for the period were $.31 compared to $.71 in the prior year quarter.

The significant change in sales and profitability for the second quarter compared to last year is a continuation of the trend that impacted our first quarter operating results. First, the Company's largest customers continued to reduce their production schedules during the second quarter to match the unusually low sales demand for their products. Correspondingly, our overall sales volume for these customers was down 20% during the current quarter compared to the prior year. This sales decline had a minimal impact on our manufacturing efficiencies as we were able to effectively manage our operational costs at the lower production volume. The largest contributor to the second quarter's lower profitability was the cost of the primary raw materials (zinc and brass) used in our products which continued to escalate during the quarter and were approximately 107% higher than the prior year quarter, negatively impacting our gross profit margins by 6.3%. In addition, during the current quarter, the Company recorded a $366,000 ($231,000 after tax) charge to cover severance and separation costs related to the move of our service products assembly operation from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to our Juarez, Mexico facilities. The impact of this move is expected to reduce annual operating costs by approximately $1.5 million.

For the six months ended December 31, 2006, net sales were $76.0 million compared to net sales of $88.1 million in the prior year period. Net income was $1.8 million compared to net income of $4.4 million in the prior year period and diluted earnings per share were $.51 compared to $1.17. In comparing results for the current six months and the prior year six months it should be noted that the prior year operating results included 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 prior year 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 during the current quarter to $14.3 million compared to $13.1 million due to additional vehicle content. Sales to Ford Motor Company were $4.3 million compared to $6.8 million due to lower levels of vehicle production and pre-programmed price reductions. Sales to General Motors Corporation were $7.4 million compared to $7.9 million due to a combination of price reductions and lower levels of production. Sales to Delphi Corporation were $4.2 million compared to $7.1 million due to a combination of lower levels of production and reduced component content. Sales to Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America, Inc. were $560,000 compared to $1.3 million due to discontinued models and lower vehicle production volumes.

Gross profit margins were 13.3 % in the current quarter compared to 19.7 % in the prior year quarter. As stated earlier, the decrease in gross profit margin was primarily attributed to higher purchased material costs for zinc and brass that reduced gross profit margins by $2.4 million or approximately 6.3 % from the prior year quarter. The remaining decrease was attributed to lower production and the impact of the charge for severance and separation costs related to the move of service product assembly, offset by other favorable variances.

Operating expenses were $4.9 million in the current quarter, compared to $5.5 million in the prior year quarter.

The provision for income taxes in the current quarter includes a State refund claim recovery that positively impacted earnings per share by $.09. The prior year tax provision included a favorable foreign tax adjustment that positively impacted earnings per share by $.08.

During the current quarter, the Company contributed $1.5 million to its Pension Fund and repurchased 17,000 STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION shares under the Company's stock repurchase program at a cost of $596,000.

STRATTEC designs, develops, manufacturers and markets mechanical locks and keys, electronically enhanced locks and keys, steering column and instrument panel ignition lock housings, latches and related access control products for North American automotive customers, and for global automotive manufacturers through the VAST Alliance in which it participates with WITTE Automotive of Velbert, Germany and ADAC Plastics, Inc. of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Company's history in the automotive business spans nearly 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 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
                        December 31,   January 1,  December 31,  January 1,
                            2006         2006          2006        2006
                               (Unaudited)               (Unaudited)

    Net Sales             $ 37,913     $ 43,278     $ 75,963     $ 88,071

    Cost of Goods Sold      32,873       34,736       65,641       69,755

    Gross Profit             5,040        8,542       10,322       18,316

    Engineering, Selling &
    Administrative Expenses  4,852        5,494        9,908       10,779

    Provision for Doubtful
     Accounts                    -            -            -        3,200

    Income from Operations     188        3,048          414        4,337

    Interest Income            905          574        1,827        1,063

    Interest Expense             -            -            -            -

    Other Income, Net          121          124          149          164

                             1,214        3,746        2,390        5,564

    Provision for Income
     Taxes                     120        1,090          555        1,168


    Net Income              $1,094       $2,656       $1,835       $4,396

    Earnings Per Share:
    Basic                    $0.31         $.71        $0.51        $1.17
    Diluted                  $0.31         $.71        $0.51        $1.17
    Average Basic
     Shares Outstanding      3,539        3,744        3,568        3,745

    Average Diluted
     Shares Outstanding      3,542        3,748        3,571        3,751


    Other
      Capital Expenditures  $1,377       $2,260       $2,292       $3,840
      Depreciation &
       Amortization         $1,768       $1,808       $3,517       $3,632



                        STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION

                         Condensed Balance Sheet Data
                                (In Thousands)

                                           December 31, 2006   July 2, 2006
                                                  (Unaudited)
    ASSETS
      Current Assets:
        Cash and cash equivalents                    $66,285        $65,712
        Receivables, net                              18,292         25,357
        Inventories                                    8,140          9,337
        Other current assets                          10,601         10,468
          Total Current Assets                       103,318        110,874
      Investment in Joint Ventures                     2,495          2,202
      Prepaid Pension Obligations                      9,847          7,602
      Other Long Term Assets                             191            197
      Property, Plant and Equipment, Net              26,584         27,764
                                                    $142,435       $148,639

    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
      Current Liabilities:
        Accounts Payable                             $13,551        $17,701
        Other                                         11,060         11,825
          Total Current Liabilities                   24,611         29,526
      Borrowings Under Line of Credit                      -              -
      Deferred Income Taxes                            4,266          4,266
      Accrued Postretirement Obligations               4,592          4,572
      Shareholders' Equity                           237,214        234,989
      Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss            (2,578)        (2,958)
      Less: Treasury Stock                          (125,670)      (121,756)
    Total Shareholders' Equity                       108,966        110,275
                                                    $142,435       $148,639



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

                            Second Quarter Ended       Six Months Ended
                         December 31,  January 1,  December 31,  January 1,
                             2006        2006          2006         2006
                               (Unaudited)                (Unaudited)

    Cash Flows from
     Operating Activities:
    Net Income             $ 1,094      $ 2,656      $ 1,835      $ 4,396
    Adjustment to
     Reconcile Net
     Income to
     Cash Provided by
     Operating Activities:
       Depreciation          1,768        1,808        3,517        3,632
       Stock Based
        Compensation
        Expense                186          351          379          560
       Tax Benefit from
        Options Exercised        -            -            -           61
       Provision for
        Doubtful Accounts        -            -            -        3,200
       Change in Operating
        Assets/Liabilities     852        4,701          986       (9,712)
       Other, net               33          149          132           65

    Net Cash Provided by
     Operating Activities    3,933        9,665        6,849        2,202

    Cash Flows from
     Investing Activities:
       Investment in Joint
        Ventures              (100)         (50)        (100)         (50)
       Additions to
        Property, Plant
        and Equipment       (1,377)      (2,260)      (2,292)      (3,840)
       Proceeds from Sale of
        Property, Plant
        and Equipment            -           22           21           22
    Net Cash Used in
     Investing Activities   (1,477)      (2,288)      (2,371)      (3,868)

    Cash Flow from
     Financing Activities:
       Purchase of Common
        Stock                 (596)           -       (3,922)      (1,196)
       Exercise of Stock
        Options and Employee
        Stock Purchases          8           20           17        1,080

    Net Cash (Used in)
     Provided by Financing
     Activities               (588)          20       (3,905)        (116)

    Net Increase (Decrease)
     in Cash &
     Cash Equivalents        1,868        7,397          573       (1,782)

    Cash and Cash
     Equivalents:
       Beginning of Period  64,417       47,771       65,712       56,950
       End of Period       $66,285      $55,168      $66,285      $55,168

SOURCE STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION