News Release

STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION Reports Fiscal Third Quarter Results

April 17, 2008 at 4:02 PM EDT

MILWAUKEE, Wis., April 17, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION (Nasdaq:STRT) today reported operating results for the fiscal third quarter ended March 30, 2008.

Net sales for the Company's third quarter ended March 30, 2008 were $38.4 million, compared to net sales of $45.6 million for the third quarter ended April 1, 2007. Net income for the period was $446,000, compared to $2.9 million in the prior year quarter. Diluted earnings per share for the period were $.13 compared to $.82 in the prior year quarter. The lower sales and net income for the quarter reflect the negative impact of several factors depressing the demand for new vehicles in North America, and the effects of a prolonged strike against a major supplier to General Motors Corporation. These factors have resulted in significantly lower vehicle production and correspondingly reduced sales of STRATTEC's products.

For the nine months ended March 30, 2008, net sales were $121.1 million compared to net sales of $121.6 million in the prior year period. Net income was $4.2 million compared to net income of $4.7 million in the prior year period and diluted earnings per share were $1.19 compared to $1.33.

Overall, sales to STRATTEC's largest customers were significantly lower in the current quarter compared to the prior year quarter. However, sales to General Motors Corporation in the current quarter were slightly higher, at $10.1 million compared to $9.5 million in the prior year quarter due to higher product content on certain GM vehicles and the takeover of some passenger car lockset production from another supplier. These sales gains were partially offset by reduced sales directly related to a strike called by the UAW against a major General Motors supplier which caused General Motors to close several of its assembly plants supplied by STRATTEC. Sales to Chrysler LLC were $9.7 million compared to $15.9 million and sales to Delphi Corporation were $3.8 million compared to $4.8 million due to reduced component content and lower vehicle production volumes. Sales to Ford Motor Company were $5.0 million compared to $5.7 million due to lower production volumes.

Sales during the current quarter were generally in line with previously announced production cuts by STRATTEC's three largest customers. However, the impact of the strike referenced earlier was not expected and reduced sales to General Motors and Delphi Corporation by approximately $1.2 million in the current quarter. As this strike has continued into April, we expect a similar reduction in our sales to these two customers during our fiscal fourth quarter.

Gross profit margins were 16.3% in the current quarter compared to 18.3% in the prior year quarter. The decrease in gross profit margins was primarily attributed to the reduction in customer vehicle production volumes somewhat offset by lower purchased raw material cost for zinc in comparison to last year.

Operating expenses were $6.1 million in the current quarter, compared to $5.0 million in the prior year quarter. The increased spending is attributed to hiring additional engineering personnel along with costs associated with new product development important to STRATTEC's future and more near-term customer programs that are anticipated to launch during the later part of our fiscal fourth quarter.

During the current quarter, the Company contributed $1.0 million to its Pension Fund and repurchased 30,805 STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION shares under the Company's stock repurchase program at a cost of $1,187,000.

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 Automotive 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)


                            Third Quarter Ended     Nine Months Ended
                            March 30,   April 1,  March 30,   April 1,
                               2008      2007       2008        2007
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                 (Unaudited)           (Unaudited)

 Net Sales                  $  38,428  $  45,647  $ 121,075  $ 121,610
 Cost of Goods Sold            32,161     37,293     99,508    102,934
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 Gross Profit                   6,267      8,354     21,567     18,676

 Engineering, Selling &
  Administrative
  Expenses                      6,109      4,974     17,740     14,882
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------

 Income from Operations           158      3,380      3,827      3,794

 Interest Income                  617        879      2,344      2,706
 Other Income (Expense),
  Net                            (58)        341        408        490
 Minority Interest               (48)         25         70         25
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                  669      4,625      6,649      7,015

 Provision for Income
  Taxes                           223      1,711      2,461      2,266
                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 Net Income                 $     446  $   2,914  $   4,188  $   4,749
                            =========  =========  =========  =========

 Earnings Per Share:
 Basic                      $    0.13  $    0.82  $    1.20  $    1.33
                            =========  =========  =========  =========
 Diluted                    $    0.13  $    0.82  $    1.19  $    1.33
                            =========  =========  =========  =========

 Average Basic
  Shares Outstanding            3,476      3,537      3,500      3,558

 Average Diluted
  Shares Outstanding            3,482      3,541      3,506      3,561

 Other
   Capital Expenditures     $   4,013  $   1,353  $   8,487  $   3,645
   Depreciation &
    Amortization            $   1,665  $   1,699  $   5,161  $   5,216


                     STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION
                     -----------------------------
                     Condensed Balance Sheet Data
                            (In Thousands)

                                       March 30, 2008    July 1, 2007
                                       --------------   --------------
                                         (Unaudited)

 ASSETS
  Current Assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents           $       59,130   $       65,491
   Receivables, net                            20,892           26,890
   Inventories                                 10,044            7,166
   Other current assets                        14,690           13,017
                                       --------------   --------------
     Total Current Assets                     104,756          112,564
  Deferred Income Taxes                         1,890            2,117
  Investment in Joint Ventures                  3,456            2,813
  Prepaid Pension Cost                          7,730            4,385
  Other Long Term Assets                           31               41
  Property, Plant and Equipment,
   Net                                         29,849           26,526
                                       --------------   --------------
                                       $      147,712   $      148,446
                                       ==============   ==============


 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS'
   EQUITY
  Current Liabilities:
    Accounts Payable                    $      16,121   $       16,575
    Other                                      16,489           14,906
                                        -------------   --------------
     Total Current Liabilities                 32,610           31,481
  Borrowings Under Line of
   Credit Facility                                 --               --
  Accrued Pension and
   Postretirement Obligations                  13,680           13,431
  Minority Interest                               813              574
  Shareholders' Equity                        243,806          244,119
  Accumulated Other
   Comprehensive Loss                        (14,054)         (14,341)
  Less: Treasury Stock                      (129,143)        (126,818)
                                        -------------   --------------
     Total Shareholders' Equity               100,609          102,960
                                        -------------   --------------
                                        $     147,712   $      148,446
                                        =============   ==============


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

                             Third Quarter Ended    Nine Months Ended
                             March 30,   April 1,  March 30,  April 1,
                               2008        2007     2008        2007
                             -------------------  -------------------
                                 (Unaudited)            (Unaudited)

 Cash Flows from Operating
  Activities:
 Net Income                  $     446   $  2,914  $  4,188   $  4,749
 Adjustment to Reconcile
  Net Income to Cash Used
  in Operating Activities:
     Minority Interest              37       (25)     (111)       (25)
     Depreciation and
      Amortization               1,665      1,699     5,161      5,216
     Stock Based
      Compensation Expense         124        187       616        566
     Tax Benefit from
      Options Exercised             --         13        --         13
     Change in Operating
      Assets/Liabilities         1,802    (7,280)   (1,598)    (6,294)
     Other, net                   (15)      (177)     (357)       (45)
                              --------   --------  --------   --------

 Net Cash Provided (Used)
  by Operating Activities        4,059    (2,669)     7,899      4,180

 Cash Flows from Investing
  Activities:
   Investment in Joint
    Ventures                        --         --        --      (100)
   Additions to Property,
    Plant and Equipment        (4,013)    (1,353)   (8,487)    (3,645)
   Proceeds from Sale of
    Property, Plant and
    Equipment                       --         --        --         21
                              --------   --------  --------   --------
 Net Cash Used in
  Investing Activities         (4,013)    (1,353)   (8,487)    (3,724)

 Cash Flow from Financing
  Activities:
   Purchase of Common Stock    (1,188)         --   (2,334)    (3,922)
   Dividends Paid                (528)         --   (4,609)         --
   Contribution from
    Minority Interest               --        274       349        274
   Loan from Minority
    Interest                       550         --       800         --
   Reissue/Exercise of Stock
    Options                          8         82        21         99
                              --------   --------  --------   --------

 Net Cash Provided (Used)
  by Financing Activities      (1,158)        356   (5,773)    (3,549)
                              --------   --------  --------   --------

 Net Decrease in Cash &
  Cash Equivalents             (1,112)    (3,666)   (6,361)    (3,093)

 Cash and Cash Equivalents:
  Beginning of Period           60,242     66,285    65,491     65,712
                              --------   --------  --------   --------
  End of Period               $ 59,130   $ 62,619  $ 59,130   $ 62,619
                              ========   ========  ========   ========
CONTACT: STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION
Pat Hansen, Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
414-247-3435
www.strattec.com