News Release

STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION Reports Fiscal Fourth Quarter Results

August 9, 2011 at 4:01 PM EDT

MILWAUKEE, Aug 9, 2011 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION (Nasdaq:STRT) today reported operating results for the fiscal fourth quarter and year ended July 3, 2011.

Fiscal 2011 fourth quarter and full year net sales and income significantly improved over fiscal 2010, continuing the positive trend which began early in the Company's prior fiscal year. The Company's fiscal 2011 net sales reached a record high, exceeding the previous record by approximately 16%.

Net sales for the fourth quarter ended July 3, 2011 were $74.2 million, compared to net sales of $61.4 million for the fourth quarter ended June 27, 2010. The 2011 fiscal fourth quarter was 14 weeks while 2010's fourth quarter was the typical 13 weeks. The impact of the additional week of customer shipments during the current year quarter increased sales by approximately $4.5 million. Net income was $2.7 million during the current quarter, compared to $853,000 in the prior year quarter. Diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter were $.81 compared to $.26 in the prior year quarter.

Sales to STRATTEC's largest customers overall increased in the current quarter compared to the prior year quarter levels. Sales to Chrysler Group LLC were $22.1 million in the current quarter compared to $21.9 million in the prior year quarter. Sales to General Motors Company were $17.6 million in the current quarter compared to $16.0 million in the prior year quarter. Included in the prior quarter sales to General Motors were $1.9 million of sales to Nexteer Automotive, formerly a unit of General Motors. Sales to Ford Motor Company were $8.3 million in the current quarter compared to $5.1 million in the prior year quarter. Sales to Hyundai/Kia were $4.0 million in the current quarter compared to $3.1 million in the prior year quarter.

Gross profit margins were 17.4 percent in the current quarter compared to 15.9 percent in the prior year quarter. The higher gross profit margin in the current year quarter was primarily the result of a combination of higher content on certain new products we supply and higher customer vehicle production volumes which increased overhead absorption of STRATTEC's manufacturing costs. Also favorably impacting the current quarter were lower expense provisions for the Company's incentive bonus plans as compared to the prior year quarter. Items negatively impacting the current quarter were higher purchased raw material costs for zinc and brass along with an unfavorable Mexico Peso to U.S. dollar exchange rate affecting the Company's operations in Mexico, which items collectively reduced the current quarter gross profit margin by 1.7 percentage points.

Operating expenses were $9.0 million in the current quarter, compared to $8.7 million in the prior year quarter. This increase was primarily due to the extra week of expense offset by lower expense provisions under the Company's incentive bonus plans incurred in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010.

The provision for income taxes in both the current and previous year quarters included a favorable adjustment primarily relating to foreign taxes.

For the fiscal year ended July 3, 2011, net sales were $260.9 million compared to net sales of $208.0 million in the prior year period. Net income was $5.4 million compared to net income of $3.4 million in the prior year period and diluted earnings per share for the current year were $1.63 compared to diluted earnings per share of $1.04 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.

                       STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Results of Operations
                 (In Thousands except per share amounts)

                             Fourth Quarter Ended       Years Ended

                                           June
                               July 3,      27,      July 3,    June 27,
                                2011       2010       2011        2010
                             -----------  -------  -----------  --------
                             (Unaudited)           (Unaudited)

  Net Sales                      $74,222  $61,360     $260,933  $207,964

  Cost of Goods Sold              61,304   51,630      218,770   174,922
                             -----------  -------  -----------  --------
  Gross Profit                    12,918    9,730       42,163    33,042

  Engineering, Selling &
   Administrative Expenses         9,007    8,665       33,443    29,939
   Impairment Charge                  --       --           --       223
   Environmental                      --       --           --   (1,125)
   Recovery of Doubtful
    Accounts                          --       --           --     (421)
                             -----------  -------  -----------  --------
  Income from Operations           3,911    1,065        8,720     4,426

  Interest Income                     35       28          119        86
  Interest Expense-Related
   Parties                          (41)     (54)        (175)     (225)

  Other Income, Net                  567      354        1,466     1,320
                             -----------  -------  -----------  --------
                                   4,472    1,393       10,130     5,607

  Provision for Income
   Taxes                           1,146      276        2,540     1,666
                             -----------  -------  -----------  --------


  Net Income                      $3,326   $1,117       $7,590    $3,941
                             ===========  =======  ===========  ========

  Net Income Attributed
   to Non-Controlling
    Interest                         628      264        2,172       520
                             -----------  -------  -----------  --------
  Net Income Attributed
   to STRATTEC SECURITY
    CORPORATION                  $ 2,698     $853       $5,418    $3,421
                             ===========  =======  ===========  ========

  Earnings Per Share:

  Basic                            $0.82    $0.26        $1.65     $1.05
                             ===========  =======  ===========  ========

  Diluted                          $0.81    $0.26        $1.63     $1.04
                             ===========  =======  ===========  ========
  Average Basic
  Shares Outstanding               3,288    3,275        3,285     3,271

  Average Diluted
   Shares Outstanding              3,326    3,296        3,323     3,280

  Other
   Capital Expenditures           $3,804   $1,958       $9,531    $6,903
   Depreciation &
    Amortization                  $1,715   $1,808       $6,619    $7,143


               STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION
  ------------------------------------------------------

               Condensed Balance Sheet Data
                      (In Thousands)


                                   July 3,     June 27,
                                    2011         2010
                                 -----------  ----------
                                 (Unaudited)
  ASSETS
   Current Assets:
     Cash and cash equivalents      $ 17,250    $ 21,867
     Restricted Cash (A)                  --       2,100
     Receivables, net                 39,649      36,084
     Inventories                      22,135      17,086

     Other current assets             15,368      12,871
                                 -----------  ----------
      Total Current Assets            94,402      90,008
   Deferred Income Taxes               3,639      10,534
   Loan to Joint Venture               1,500       1,500
   Investment in Joint Venture         7,276       5,176
   Other Long Term Assets                635         733
   Property, Plant and
    Equipment, Net                    40,636      37,051
                                 -----------  ----------

                                   $ 148,088   $ 145,002
                                 ===========  ==========

  LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS'
   EQUITY
   Current Liabilities:
     Accounts Payable               $ 22,851    $ 21,192

     Other                            28,137      25,038
                                 -----------  ----------
      Total Current Liabilities       50,988      46,230
   Borrowings Under Line of
    Credit Facility                       --          --
   Accrued Pension and Post
    Retirement Obligations             7,036      22,982
   Shareholders' Equity              243,974     242,115
   Accumulated Other
    Comprehensive Loss              (21,750)    (31,941)

   Less: Treasury Stock            (136,009)   (136,047)
                                 -----------  ----------
      Total STRATTEC SECURITY
       CORPORATION
        Shareholders' Equity          86,215      74,127

     Non-Controlling Interest          3,849       1,663
                                 -----------  ----------

   Total Shareholders' Equity         90,064      75,790
                                 -----------  ----------

                                   $ 148,088   $ 145,002
                                 ===========  ==========

  NOTE A: Represents a commercial guarantee by STRATTEC
   SECURITY CORPORATION relating to a
  promissory note issued by Vehicle Access Systems
   Technology, LLC (VAST, LLC). This guarantee was
  canceled in October 2010.


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

                                          Fourth Quarter Ended        Years Ended

                                           July 3,     June 27,    July 3,     June 27,
                                            2011         2010       2011         2010
                                         -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------
                                         (Unaudited)             (Unaudited)

  Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
  Net Income                                  $3,326     $1,117       $7,590     $3,941
  Adjustment to Reconcile Net Income to
  Cash Provided by Operating
   Activities:
   Equity Earnings in Joint Venture            (246)      (369)      (1,246)    (1,008)
   Depreciation and Amortization               1,715      1,808        6,619      7,143
   Foreign Currency Transaction Loss
    (Gain)                                       278       (42)          836        283
   Unrealized Gain on Foreign Currency
     Option Contracts                          (359)         --        (245)         --
   Deferred Income Taxes                       (177)        170        (177)      3,428
   Stock Based Compensation Expense              168        128          621        468
   Provision (Recovery) for Doubtful
    Accounts                                      --         --           --      (421)
   Curtailment Loss                               --         --           --        505
   Impairment Charge                              --         --           --        223
   Environmental                                  --         --           --    (1,125)
   Change in Operating
    Assets/Liabilities                         4,011      5,737      (5,639)    (3,425)

   Other, net                                   (37)         18           12         53
                                         -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------

  Net Cash Provided by Operating
   Activities                                  8,679      8,567        8,371     10,065

  Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
   Investment in Joint Ventures                (150)         --        (450)      (100)
   Purchase of Additional Interest in
    Minority
     Owned Subsidiaries                           --         --         (22)         --
   Restricted Cash                                --         --        2,100    (2,100)
   Loan to Joint Venture                          --         --           --    (2,500)
   Proceeds from Repayment of Loan to
    Joint Venture                                 --         --           --      1,000
   Additions to Property, Plant and
    Equipment                                (3,804)    (1,958)      (9,531)    (6,903)
   Proceeds from Sale of Property,
    Plant

     and Equipment                                90         11          111         21
                                         -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------
  Net Cash Used in Investing Activities      (3,864)    (1,947)      (7,792)   (10,582)

  Cash Flow from Financing Activities:
   Dividends Paid                                 --         --      (3,989)         --
   Repayment of Loan to Related Parties        (300)         --      (1,150)      (225)
   Excess Tax Benefits from Stock Based
    Compensation                                  12          9           12          9
   Exercise of Stock Options and
    Employee

     Stock Purchases                              48         39           90         72
                                         -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------

  Net Cash (Used in) Provided by
   Financing Activities                        (240)         48      (5,037)      (144)


  Foreign Currency Impact on Cash                (5)          1        (159)      (236)
                                         -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------

  Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash &
   Cash Equivalents                            4,570      6,669      (4,617)      (897)

  Cash and Cash Equivalents:

   Beginning of Period                        12,680     15,198       21,867     22,764
                                         -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------

   End of Period                            $ 17,250   $ 21,867     $ 17,250   $ 21,867
                                         ===========  =========  ===========  =========

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SOURCE: STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION

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