MILWAUKEE, Aug. 7, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION (Nasdaq:STRT) today reported operating results for the fiscal fourth quarter and year ended July 1, 2012.

Fourth Quarter

Fiscal 2012 fourth quarter and full year net sales and income significantly improved over fiscal 2011, continuing the positive trend which began early in the Company's prior fiscal year. The Company's fiscal 2012 net sales reached a record high, exceeding the prior year record by approximately 7%.

Net sales for the fourth quarter ended July 1, 2012 were $76.4 million, compared to net sales of $74.2 million for the fourth quarter ended July 3, 2011. The 2012 fiscal fourth quarter was the typical 13 weeks while fiscal 2011's fourth quarter was 14 weeks. The impact of the additional week of customer shipments during the prior year quarter increased net sales by approximately $4.5 million. Net income was $3.2 million during the current quarter, compared to $2.7 million in the prior year quarter. Diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter were $.97 compared to $.81 in the prior year quarter.

Sales to STRATTEC's largest customers overall increased in the current quarter compared to the prior year quarter levels which included 14 weeks of customer shipments. Sales to Chrysler Group LLC were $25.0 million in the current quarter compared to $22.1 million in the prior year quarter. Sales to General Motors Company were $17.4 million in the current quarter compared to $17.6 million in the prior year quarter. Sales to Ford Motor Company were $9.2 million in the current quarter compared to $8.3 million in the prior year quarter. Sales to Hyundai/Kia were $3.3 million in the current quarter compared to $4.0 million in the prior year quarter.

Gross profit margins were 18.9 percent in the current quarter compared to 17.4 percent in the prior year quarter. The higher gross profit margin in the current year quarter was attributed to higher customer vehicle production volumes which increased overhead absorption of STRATTEC's manufacturing costs, the Company's ongoing cost reduction initiatives and a favorable Mexico Peso to U.S. dollar exchange rate affecting the Company's operations in Mexico. Negatively impacting the current quarter gross profit margins were higher expense provisions for the Company's incentive bonus plans as compared to the prior year quarter. 

Operating expenses were $9.0 million in the current quarter and prior year quarter. As noted above, the current quarter included higher expense provisions under the Company's incentive bonus plans while the prior year quarter included one extra week of operating expenses with the 14 week period.

Included in Other (Expense) Income in the current quarter compared to the prior year quarter were the following items (in thousands of dollars):

As reported in our previous fiscal 2012 quarterly operating results, the VAST LLC operations in China and Brazil both incurred relocation costs associated with moves to new facilities and start-up costs associated with a new product line. Both of these items resulted in STRATTEC incurring an equity loss from this joint venture in all four quarters of fiscal year 2012 compared to the same quarters in the prior year in which STRATTEC had equity earnings from the joint venture in each quarter. We anticipate these transition costs and losses to continue over the remaining 2012 calendar year relating to our VAST China operations. In addition, the current quarter equity loss also included STRATTEC's portion of a goodwill impairment charge of $284,000 relating to VAST China.

During the current quarter the Company contributed $500,000 to its Defined Benefit Pension Trust.

Full Year

For the 52 week fiscal year ended July 1, 2012, net sales were $279.2 million compared to net sales of $260.9 million in the 53 week prior year period. Net income was $8.8 million compared to net income of $5.4 million in the prior year period and diluted earnings per share for the current year were $2.64 compared to diluted earnings per share of $1.63 in the prior year.

STRATTEC designs, develops, manufactures and markets automotive Access Control Products, including mechanical locks and keys, electronically enhanced locks and keys, steering column and instrument panel ignition lock housings, latches, power sliding side door systems, power lift gate systems, power deck lid systems, door handles and related products. These products are provided to customers in North America, and on a global basis through a unique strategic relationship with WITTE Automotive of Velbert, Germany and ADAC Automotive of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Under this relationship, STRATTEC, WITTE and ADAC market our products to global customers under the "VAST" brand name. STRATTEC's history in the automotive business spans over 100 years.

The STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4700

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 (including fluctuations in the cost of raw materials). 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.

CONTACT: Pat Hansen
         Senior Vice President and
         Chief Financial Officer
         414-247-3435
         www.strattec.com