News Release

STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION Reports Fiscal Fourth Quarter Results

July 31, 2007 at 4:02 PM EDT

MILWAUKEE, July 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION (Nasdaq: STRT) today reported operating results for the fiscal fourth quarter ended July 1, 2007.

Net sales for the Company's three months ended July 1, 2007 were $46.1 million, compared to net sales of $46.6 million for the three months ended July 2, 2006. Net income for the period was $3.4 million, compared to $4.0 million in the prior year quarter. Diluted earnings per share for the period were $.97 compared to $1.08 in the prior year quarter. During the prior year quarter, the Company received a $961,000 ($605,000 after tax) customer reimbursement for costs incurred related to a production capacity constraints that the Company had expensed during previous reporting periods. This reimbursement increased the prior year quarterly diluted earnings per share by $.17. In addition, both the current year quarter and the prior year quarter results included favorable income tax adjustments that increased diluted earnings per share by $.31 and $.22, respectively.

For the fiscal year ended July 1, 2007, net sales were $167.7 million compared to net sales of $181.2 million in the prior year period. Net income was $8.2 million compared to $12.5 million and diluted earnings per share were $2.30 compared to $3.35 in the prior year.

Sales to STRATTEC's largest customers overall decreased in the current quarter compared to the prior year quarter levels. Sales to DaimlerChrysler Corporation were essentially flat between years at $15.4 million in the current quarter compared to $15.2 million in the prior year quarter. Sales to General Motors Corporation were $10.9 million compared to $8.3 million due to higher product content on certain GM vehicles and takeover of certain passenger car lockset production from another supplier. Sales to Delphi Corporation were $4.9 million compared to $6.7 million due primarily to reduced component content and lower production volumes. Sales to Ford Motor Company were $6.4 million compared to $7.0 million due to lower Ford vehicle production volumes. Sales to Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America were $89,000 compared to $1.2 million due to the previously announced phase-out of this customer relationship.

Gross profit margins were 17.0 percent in the current quarter compared to 20.6 percent in the prior year quarter. The lower gross profit margins in the current year quarter compared to the prior year quarter were primarily the result of the customer reimbursement previously noted that favorably increased the prior year gross profit margin by 2.1%. The remaining decrease was attributed to lower overhead absorption of our manufacturing costs due to reduced production related to modest customer demand and a reduction in inventory between the current quarter compared to the prior year quarter.

Operating expenses were $5.3 million in the current quarter, compared to $5.8 million in the prior year quarter.

Provision for income taxes in both the current and previous year quarters were not our normal effective income tax rate of 37%. The current year quarter included a favorable adjustment primarily relating to foreign taxes that positively impacted diluted earnings per share by $.31 and the prior year quarter included a State refund claim recovery and a favorable foreign tax adjustment that increased diluted earnings per share by $.22.

During the fourth quarter, the Company repurchased 24,313 STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION shares under the Company's stock repurchase program at a cost of $1,153,000. For the year ended July 1, 2007, a total of 126,213 shares were repurchased at a cost of $5,075,000.

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)


                        Fourth Quarter Ended               Years Ended
                    July 1, 2007  July 2, 2006     July 1, 2007   July 2, 2006
                            (Unaudited)             (Unaudited)

    Net Sales          $ 46,097    $ 46,551          $ 167,707     $ 181,197
    Cost of Goods
     Sold                38,279      36,943            141,213       144,151
    Gross Profit          7,818       9,608             26,494        37,046

    Engineering,
     Selling &
     Administrative
     Expenses             5,307       5,821             20,189        22,067
    Provision for
     Doubtful Accounts        -           -                  -         1,622
    Income from
     Operations           2,511       3,787              6,305        13,357

    Interest Income         905         830              3,611         2,563
    Interest Expense          -           -                  -             -
    Other Income
     (Expense), Net         225         388                715           960
    Minority Interest        50           -                 75             -
                          3,691       5,005             10,706        16,880

    Provision for
     Income Taxes           257       1,040              2,523         4,403

    Net Income         $  3,434     $ 3,965            $ 8,183     $  12,477

    Earnings Per Share:
    Basic              $    .97     $  1.08            $  2.30     $    3.36
    Diluted            $    .97     $  1.08            $  2.30     $    3.35
    Average Basic
      Shares
       Outstanding        3,536       3,650              3,552         3,716

    Average Diluted
      Shares
      Outstanding         3,539       3,653              3,555         3,720

    Other
      Capital
       Expenditures    $  2,103     $ 1,043            $  5,748    $   5,766
      Depreciation
       & Amortization  $  1,772     $ 1,766            $  6,988    $   7,155



                        STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION

                         Condensed Balance Sheet Data
                                (In Thousands)


                                                 July 1, 2007   July 2, 2006
                                                 (Unaudited)
    ASSETS
      Current Assets:
        Cash and cash equivalents                    $65,491        $65,712
        Receivables, net                              26,890         28,254
        Inventories                                    7,166          9,337
        Other current assets                          13,017         10,468
          Total Current Assets                       112,564        113,771
      Deferred Income Taxes                            2,117              -
      Investment in Joint Venture                      2,813          2,202
      Prepaid Pension Cost (A)                         4,385         10,358
      Other Long Term Assets                              41            197
      Property, Plant and Equipment, Net              26,526         27,764
                                                    $148,446       $154,292


    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
      Current Liabilities:
        Accounts Payable                             $16,575        $17,701
        Other                                         14,906         15,806
          Total Current Liabilities                   31,481         33,507
      Borrowings Under Line of Credit Facility             -              -
      Deferred Income Taxes                                -          4,266
      Accrued Pension and Post
       Retirement Obligations (A)                     13,431          6,244
      Minority Interest                                  574              -
      Shareholders' Equity                           244,119        234,989
      Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss           (14,341)        (2,958)
      Less: Treasury Stock                          (126,818)      (121,756)
          Total Shareholders' Equity                 102,960        110,275
                                                    $148,446       $154,292

    (A) Includes $19.2 million of unrecognized pension and postretirement
        liabilities recorded at year end 2007 in accordance with SFAS No. 158
        and $242,000 of additional minimum pension liability recorded during
        the fourth quarter of 2006.



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

                                 Fourth Quarter Ended      Years Ended
                                  July 1,     July 2,   July 1,   July 2,
                                    2007        2006      2007      2006
                                       (Unaudited)    (Unaudited)

    Cash Flows from
     Operating Activities:
    Net Income                     $ 3,434    $ 3,965    $ 8,183  $ 12,477
    Adjustment to Reconcile
     Net Income to Cash Used in
     Operating Activities:
        Minority Interest              (50)         -        (75)        -
        Depreciation and
         Amortization                1,772      1,766      6,988     7,155
        Deferred Income Taxes         (359)       350       (359)      350
        Stock Based Compensation
         Expense                       172        257        738     1,118
        Tax Benefit from
         Options Exercised              10          -         23        61
        Provision for Doubtful
         Accounts                        -          -          -     1,622
        Change in Operating
         Assets/Liabilities            685      1,148     (5,609)   (3,322)
        Other, net                     (50)      (172)       (95)     (166)

    Net Cash Provided by
     Operating Activities            5,614      7,314      9,794    19,295

    Cash Flows from
     Investing Activities:
      Investment in Joint Ventures       -       (519)      (100)     (569)
      Additions to Property, Plant
       and Equipment                (2,103)    (1,043)    (5,748)   (5,766)
      Proceeds from Sale of
       Property, Plant and
       Equipment                         -          -         21        22
    Net Cash Used in Investing
     Activities                     (2,103)    (1,562)    (5,827)   (6,313)

    Cash Flow from Financing
     Activities:
      Purchase of Common Stock      (1,153)    (2,313)    (5,075)   (5,306)
      Contribution from
       Minority Interest               375          -        649         -
      Reissue/Exercise of
       Stock Options                   139          9        238     1,086

    Net Cash Used in
     Financing Activities             (639)    (2,304)    (4,188)   (4,220)

    Net Increase (Decrease) in
     Cash & Cash Equivalents         2,872      3,448       (221)    8,762

    Cash and Cash Equivalents:
      Beginning of Period           62,619     62,264     65,712    56,950
      End of Period                $65,491    $65,712    $65,491   $65,712
SOURCE  STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION
    -0-                             07/31/2007
    /CONTACT:  Pat Hansen, Senior 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 HTS
SU:  ERN

SM-AM
-- AQTU152 --
3920 07/31/2007 16:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com