News Release

STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION Reports Fiscal Second Quarter Results

January 17, 2008 at 4:02 PM EST

MILWAUKEE, Jan 17, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION (Nasdaq: STRT) today reported operating results for the fiscal second quarter ended December 30, 2007.

Net sales for the Company's second quarter ended December 30, 2007 were $39.9 million, compared to net sales of $37.9 million for the second quarter ended December 31, 2006. Net income for the period was $1.3 million, compared to $1.1 million in the prior year quarter. Diluted earnings per share for the period were $.38 compared to $.31 in the prior year quarter.

For the six months ended December 30, 2007, net sales were $82.6 million compared to net sales of $76.0 million in the prior year period. Net income was $3.7 million compared to net income of $1.8 million in the prior year period and diluted earnings per share were $1.06 compared to $.51.

Sales to STRATTEC's largest customers overall were flat in the current quarter compared to the prior year quarter. Sales to General Motors Corporation in the current quarter were $11.9 million compared to $7.4 million in the prior year quarter due to higher product content on certain GM vehicles and the takeover of certain passenger car locksets production from another supplier. Sales to Chrysler LLC were $10.0 million compared to $14.3 million and sales to Delphi Corporation were $3.8 million compared to $4.2 million due to reduced component content and lower vehicle production volumes. Sales to Ford Motor Company were $4.4 million compared to $4.3 million. Sales during the current quarter were weaker than initially anticipated for the above four customers due to their production cut backs. Subsequently, these customers announced additional production cuts that will effect both our sales and profitability for the third fiscal quarter ending March 30, 2008.

Gross profit margins were 17.3% in the current quarter compared to 13.3% in the prior year quarter. The year-over-year increase in gross profit margins was primarily attributed to lower purchased material costs for zinc and brass along with price increases to recover the higher purchased raw material costs we experienced last year. In addition, the prior year quarter included a charge for severance and separation costs related to the move of service product assembly from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Juarez, Mexico that reduced the gross profit margin by approximately 1%.

Operating expenses were $5.8 million in the current quarter, compared to $4.9 million in the prior year quarter. The increased spending is attributed to hiring additional engineering personnel along with costs associated with new product development.

The provision for income taxes in the current quarter was our normal 37% effective tax rate where as the prior year quarter included a State refund claim recovery that positively impacted earnings per share by $.09.

During the current quarter, the Company contributed $1.5 million to its Pension Fund and repurchased 25,500 STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION shares under the Company's stock repurchase program at a cost of $1,146,000.

STRATTEC designs, develops, manufactures 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)
                                 (Unaudited)

                         Second Quarter Ended          Six Months Ended
                       December 30,   December 31, December 30,  December 31,
                           2007          2006         2007          2006

    Net Sales            $39,908       $37,913      $82,647      $ 75,963

    Cost of Goods Sold    33,002        32,873       67,347        65,641

    Gross Profit           6,906         5,040       15,300        10,322

    Engineering, Selling
     & Administrative
     Expenses              5,838         4,852       11,631         9,908


    Income from
     Operations            1,068           188        3,669           414

    Interest Income          814           905        1,727         1,827

    Interest Expense           -             -            -             -

    Other Income, Net        158           121          466           149

    Minority Interest         69             -          118             -

                           2,109         1,214        5,980         2,390

    Provision for Income
     Taxes                   786           120        2,238           555


    Net Income            $1,323        $1,094       $3,742        $1,835

    Earnings Per Share:
    Basic                  $0.38         $0.31        $1.07         $0.51
    Diluted                $0.38         $0.31        $1.06         $0.51
    Average Basic
     Shares
     Outstanding           3,506         3,539        3,513         3,568

    Average Diluted
     Shares
     Outstanding           3,512         3,542        3,518         3,571


    Other
     Capital
      Expenditures        $2,728        $1,377       $4,474        $2,292
     Depreciation
      & Amortization      $1,758        $1,768       $3,496        $3,517



                        STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION

                         Condensed Balance Sheet Data
                                (In Thousands)

                                              December 30, 2007   July 1, 2007
                                                 (Unaudited)
    ASSETS
    Current Assets:
      Cash and cash equivalents                     $60,242         $65,491
      Receivables, net                               20,090          26,890
      Inventories                                    10,726           7,166
      Other current assets                           13,308          13,017
        Total Current Assets                        104,366         112,564
    Deferred Income Taxes                             2,420           2,117
    Investment in Joint Ventures                      3,201           2,813
    Prepaid Pension Cost                              6,948           4,385
    Other Long Term Assets                               35              41
    Property, Plant and Equipment, Net               27,479          26,526
                                                   $144,449        $148,446


    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
    Current Liabilities:
      Accounts Payable                              $12,524         $16,575
      Other                                          16,049          14,906
        Total Current Liabilities                    28,573          31,481
    Borrowings Under Line of Credit Facility              -               -
    Accrued Pension and Postretirement Obligations   13,639          13,431
    Minority Interest                                   775             574
    Shareholders' Equity                            243,755         244,119
    Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss            (14,333)        (14,341)
    Less: Treasury Stock                           (127,960)       (126,818)
        Total Shareholders' Equity                  101,462         102,960
                                                   $144,449        $148,446



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

                           Second Quarter Ended         Six Months Ended
                       December 30,   December 31,  December 30,  December 31,
                            2007           2006          2007         2006


    Cash Flows from
     Operating Activities:
    Net Income               $1,323        $1,094       $3,742       $ 1,835
    Adjustment to
     Reconcile
     Net Income to
      Cash Provided by
      Operating Activities:
        Minority Interest       (87)            -         (148)            -
        Depreciation          1,758         1,768        3,496         3,517
        Stock Based
         Compensation Expense   179           186          492           379
        Change in Operating
         Assets/Liabilities      19           852       (3,400)          986
        Other, net             (124)           33         (342)          132

    Net Cash Provided by
     Operating Activities     3,068         3,933        3,840         6,849

    Cash Flows from
     Investing Activities:
      Investment in
       Joint Ventures             -          (100)           -          (100)
      Additions to Property,
       Plant and Equipment   (2,728)       (1,377)      (4,474)       (2,292)
      Proceeds from Sale
       of Property, Plant
       and Equipment              -             -            -            21
    Net Cash Used in
     Investing Activities    (2,728)       (1,477)      (4,474)       (2,371)

    Cash Flow from
     Financing Activities:
      Purchase of Common
       Stock                 (1,146)         (596)      (1,146)       (3,922)
      Dividends Paid            (31)            -       (4,081)            -
      Contribution from
       Minority Interest          -             -          349             -
      Loan from
       Minority Interest        250             -          250             -
      Exercise of Stock
       Options and Employee
       Stock Purchases            6             8           13            17

    Net Cash Used in
     Financing Activities      (921)         (588)      (4,615)       (3,905)

    Net Increase (Decrease)
     in Cash & Cash
     Equivalents               (581)        1,868       (5,249)          573

    Cash and Cash Equivalents:
     Beginning of Period     60,823        64,417       65,491        65,712
     End of Period          $60,242       $66,285      $60,242       $66,285


SOURCE STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION

http://www.strattec.com