MILWAUKEE, April 25, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION (Nasdaq:STRT) today reported operating results for the fiscal third quarter ended March 31, 2013.

Net sales for the Company's third quarter ended March 31, 2013 were $74.7 million, compared to net sales of $70.6 million for the third quarter ended April 1, 2012. The higher net sales for the current quarter can be primarily attributed to increased customer production volumes. Higher content on certain vehicles also contributed to the net sales improvement during the current quarter.

Net income for the current quarterly period was $1.1 million, compared to net income of $2.7 million in the prior year quarter. Diluted earnings per share for the current quarterly period were $.32 compared to diluted earnings per share of $.82 in the prior year quarter. The lower net income for the current year quarter was significantly affected by a pre-tax pension settlement charge of $2.1 million or $.42 diluted earnings per share relating to our Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. This settlement charge recognizes the prior unrealized actuarial losses which were cash settled during the current quarter. The charge had no current effect on our total shareholders' equity because the unrealized actuarial losses were already recognized during prior periods in "Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss" in shareholders' equity. Without the above charge, diluted earnings per share on an adjusted basis would have been $.74 in the current year quarter, as shown in the table presented under "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measure" below.

For the nine months ended March 31, 2013, the Company's net sales were $217.7 million compared to net sales of $202.9 million in the prior year nine month period. Net income during the current year nine month period was $6.2 million compared to net income of $5.6 million in the prior year nine month period. Diluted earnings per share were $1.80 (or $2.22 without the settlement charge as shown in the table below) for the nine month period ended March 31, 2013 compared to diluted earnings per share of $1.67 during the nine month period ended April 1, 2012.

In addition to the results reported in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") included in this release, the table above (as well as the information provided in this release) provides certain non-GAAP financial information, related to diluted earnings per share excluding the impact of a pension settlement charge (as described in more detail above). Management believes that the presentation of this non-GAAP financial measure provides useful information to investors because this information may allow investors to better evaluate ongoing business performance and certain components of the Company's results. In addition, the Company believes the presentation of diluted earnings per share excluding the impact of the pension settlement charge enhances an investor's ability to make period-to-period comparisons of the Company's operating results. This information should be considered in addition to the results presented in accordance with GAAP, and should not be considered a substitute for the GAAP results. The Company has reconciled the non-GAAP financial information included in this release to the nearest GAAP measure.

Net sales to each of our customers in the current year quarter and prior year quarter were as follows (in thousands):

Decreased sales to Chrysler Group LLC in the current quarter was primarily due to lower customer vehicle production volumes on models for which we supply components. The reduction in sales to General Motors Company in the current quarter was primarily attributed to business we lost to other suppliers during the latter half of the 2012 model year. Increased sales to Ford Motor Company in the current quarter was largely attributed to a combination of business won with new products and higher vehicle production volumes.  Increased sales to Tier 1, Commercial and Other OEM customers during the current quarter related primarily to market growth and the increasing impact of other vehicle access control products, such as latches, fobs, and driver controls, that have been developed in recent years to complement our historic core business of locks and keys. The reduction in sales to Hyundai / Kia in the current year quarter was principally due to lower customer vehicle production volume and the discontinuation of a vehicle model for which we had been supplying components.

Gross profit margins were 17.7 percent in the current year quarter compared to 18.5 percent in the prior year quarter.  The reduction in gross profit margin in the current year quarter were impacted by a less favorable product sales mix, an unfavorable Mexico Peso to U.S. Dollar exchange rate affecting our operations in Mexico, and higher expense provision for our frozen defined benefit pension plan. These negative items were partially offset by the benefits of higher production volumes and a lower provision for bonuses earned under our incentive bonus plans.  

Normal operating expenses (excluding the $2.1 million settlement charge) as a percent of net sales in the current year quarter decreased to 10.7% from 12.3% in comparison to the prior year quarter. The major contributor to the decrease was a lower provision for our incentive bonuses.  

STRATTEC is a partner in VAST LLC, a global alliance of companies involved in the design and manufacture of automotive access products. As reported in our prior earnings releases, VAST's operations in China incurred start-up costs associated with a new product line. We anticipate these start-up costs and the resulting losses to continue over the remainder of the current fiscal year.

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

On April 5, 2013, the Company acquired 51% ownership in NextLock, LLC, a newly formed company which will introduce a new generation of biometric security products based upon the designs of Actuator Systems LLC, our partner and owner of the remaining 49% of NextLock. Frank Krejci, President & CEO commented: "We are excited that this investment will be part of our strategy to grow and diversify our technology, products and markets within the broad definition of Access System Technology, particularly focused on security and motion control." 

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 each company's products to global customers under the "VAST" brand name.  STRATTEC's history in the automotive business spans over 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 fluctuations in our costs of operation (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