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10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q


☒	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024


☐	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission File Number 0-25150

STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


Wisconsin		39-1804239
(State of Incorporation)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

3333 West Good Hope Road, Milwaukee, WI 53209

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(414) 247-3333

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:


Title of each class	Trading Symbol	Name of exchange on which registered
Common stock, $.01 par value	STRT	The Nasdaq Global Stock Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.


Large Accelerated filer	☐	Accelerated filer	☒
Non-accelerated filer	☐	Smaller Reporting Company	☒
Emerging growth company	☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock as of the latest practicable date.

Common stock, par value $0.01 per share: 4,068,311 shares outstanding as of April 1, 2024 (which number includes all restricted shares previously awarded that have not vested as of such date).

STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION

FORM 10-Q

March 31, 2024

INDEX


		Page
Part I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1	Financial Statements
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited)	3
	Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)	4
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)	5
	Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)	6-20
Item 2	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	21-29
Item 3	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	30
Item 4	Controls and Procedures	30

Part II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1	Legal Proceedings	31
Item 1A	Risk Factors	31
Item 2	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities, Use of Proceeds, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities	31
Item 3	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	31
Item 4	Mine Safety Disclosures	31
Item 5	Other Information	31
Item 6	Exhibits	32

PROSPECTIVE INFORMATION

A number of the matters and subject areas discussed in this Form 10-Q 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,” or the negative of these terms or words of similar meaning. These statements include expected future financial results, product offerings, global expansion, liquidity needs, financing ability, planned capital expenditures, management’s or the Company’s expectations and beliefs, and similar matters discussed in this Form 10-Q. The discussion of such matters and subject areas contained herein is qualified by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations generally, and also may materially differ from the Company’s actual future experience.

The Company’s business, operations and financial performance are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could result in material differences in actual results from the Company’s current expectations. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, 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, changes in warranty provisions and customers’ product recall policies, work stoppages at the Company or at the location of its key customers as a result of labor disputes, foreign currency fluctuations, uncertainties stemming from U.S. trade policies, tariffs and reactions to same from foreign countries, delays and restrictions impacting the import of goods and components stemming from heightened security procedures implemented by the U.S. Government related to U.S.-Mexico border crossings, the volume and scope of product returns or customer cost reimbursement actions, changes in the costs of operations, warranty claims, adverse business and operational issues resulting from any material global supply chain and logistics disruption, the ongoing and lingering effects of the semiconductor chip supply shortages, matters adversely impacting the timing, availability and cost of material component parts and raw materials for the production of our products and the products of our customers, or the continuation or worsening thereof, matters related to pricing actions implemented by the Company and customer responses and concessions related to same, and other matters described in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Form 10-K report filed on September 7, 2023 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the year ended July 2, 2023.

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 Form 10-Q 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 Form 10-Q.

Item 1 Financial Statements

STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	March 31, 2024			April 2, 2023			March 31, 2024			April 2, 2023
Net sales	$	140,773		$	127,183		$	394,711		$	360,727
Cost of goods sold		126,089			117,182			347,810			330,843
Gross profit		14,684			10,001			46,901			29,884
Engineering, selling and administrative expenses		12,725			12,485			38,778			37,266
Income (loss) from operations		1,959			(2,484	)		8,123			(7,382	)
Equity earnings (loss) of joint ventures		—			819			(269	)		1,934
Interest expense		(222	)		(266	)		(661	)		(591	)
Interest income		143			—			337			—
Other (expense) income, net		(208	)		(1,223	)		1,028			(1,464	)
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes and non-controlling interest		1,672			(3,154	)		8,558			(7,503	)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		546			133			2,197			(1,638	)
Net income (loss)		1,126			(3,287	)		6,361			(5,865	)
Net loss attributable to non- controlling interest		(380	)		(1,031	)		(332	)		(1,895	)
Net income (loss) attributable to STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION	$	1,506		$	(2,256	)	$	6,693		$	(3,970	)

Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss)	$	1,126		$	(3,287	)	$	6,361		$	(5,865	)
Pension and postretirement plans, net of tax		46			350			139			490
Currency translation adjustments		1,043			3,451			1,408			3,198
Other comprehensive income, net of tax		1,089			3,801			1,547			3,688
Comprehensive income (loss)		2,215			514			7,908			(2,177	)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest		36			116			226			(223	)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION	$	2,179		$	398		$	7,682		$	(1,954	)

Earnings (loss) per share attributable to STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION:
Basic	$	0.38		$	(0.57	)	$	1.69		$	(1.01	)
Diluted	$	0.37		$	(0.57	)	$	1.67		$	(1.01	)

Weighted Average shares outstanding:
Basic		3,988			3,928			3,971			3,918
Diluted		4,017			3,928			3,996			3,918

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)


	March 31, 2024			July 2, 2023
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	9,594		$	20,571
Receivables, net		97,524			89,811
Inventories:
Finished products		13,024			15,935
Work in process		14,721			15,816
Purchased materials		50,867			45,846
Inventories, net		78,612			77,597
Customer tooling in progress, net		25,505			20,800
Value-added tax recoverable		19,272			7,912
Other current assets		10,423			9,091
Total current assets		240,930			225,782
Deferred income taxes		13,713			13,619
Other long-term assets		5,596			7,083
Property, plant and equipment		306,371			300,176
Less: accumulated depreciation		(218,061	)		(205,730	)
Net property, plant and equipment		88,310			94,446
	$	348,549		$	340,930
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	50,582		$	57,927
Accrued Liabilities:
Payroll and benefits		27,268			22,616
Value-added tax payable		8,906			6,499
Environmental		1,390			1,390
Warranty		8,905			9,725
Other		10,721			10,829
Total accrued liabilities		57,190			51,059
Borrowings under credit facilities – current		13,000			—
Total current liabilities		120,772			108,986
Borrowings under credit facilities – long-term		—			13,000
Accrued pension obligations		1,326			1,206
Accrued postretirement obligations		1,137			1,157
Other long-term liabilities		5,200			5,557
Shareholders’ Equity:
Common stock, authorized 18,000,000 shares, $.01 par value, 7,586,920 issued shares at March 31, 2024 and 7,530,170 issued shares at July 2, 2023		76			75
Capital in excess of par value		101,453			100,309
Retained earnings		240,992			234,299
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(13,205	)		(14,194	)
Less: treasury stock, at cost (3,598,834 shares at March 31, 2024 and 3,601,124 shares at July 2, 2023)		(135,489	)		(135,526	)
Total STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION shareholders’ equity		193,827			184,963
Non-controlling interest		26,287			26,061
Total shareholders’ equity		220,114			211,024
	$	348,549		$	340,930

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In Thousands)

(Unaudited)


	Nine Months Ended
	March 31, 2024			April 2, 2023
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss)	$	6,361		$	(5,865	)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation		12,774			13,145
Foreign currency transaction loss		126			2,114
Unrealized (gain) loss on peso forward contracts		(604	)		93
Stock-based compensation expense		1,224			1,139
Equity loss (earnings) of joint ventures		269			(1,934	)
Loss on settlement of pension obligation		—			217
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables		(7,507	)		(7,584	)
Inventories		(1,015	)		10,867
Other assets		(16,898	)		(17,518	)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(2,355	)		12,468
Other, net		402			370
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities		(7,223	)		7,512
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from sale of interest in VAST LLC		2,000			—
Investment in joint ventures		—			(237	)
Purchase of property, plant and equipment		(6,065	)		(13,724	)
Proceeds received on sale of property, plant and equipment		—			15
Net cash used in investing activities		(4,065	)		(13,946	)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Borrowings under credit facilities		2,000			13,000
Repayment of borrowings under credit facilities		(2,000	)		(3,000	)
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests of subsidiaries		—			(600	)
Exercise of stock options and employee stock purchases		55			164
Net cash provided by financing activities		55			9,564
Foreign currency impact on cash		256			182
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		(10,977	)		3,312

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Beginning of period		20,571			8,774
End of period	$	9,594		$	12,086
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid during the period for:
Income taxes	$	3,177		$	1,573
Interest	$	659		$	485
Non-cash investing activities:
Change in capital expenditures in accounts payable	$	(264	)	$	(1,207	)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

Basis of Financial Statements

STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION designs, develops, manufactures and markets automotive access control products including mechanical locks and keys, electronically enhanced locks and keys, fobs, passive entry passive start systems (PEPS), steering column and instrument panel ignition lock housings, latches, power sliding door systems, power tailgate systems, power lift gate systems, power deck lid systems, door handles and related products for primarily North American automotive customers. We also supply global automotive manufacturers through a unique strategic relationship with WITTE Automotive (“WITTE”) of Velbert, Germany, and ADAC Automotive (“ADAC”) of Grand Rapids, Michigan, which was restructured effective as of June 30, 2023 as described elsewhere herein. Under this relationship, STRATTEC, WITTE and ADAC market the products of each company to global customers as cooperating partners of the “VAST Automotive Group” brand name (as more fully described herein). STRATTEC products are shipped to customer locations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, South America, Korea, China and India, and we, along with WITTE and ADAC, provide full service and aftermarket support for each VAST Automotive Group partner’s products. As noted below, effective as of June 30, 2023, we sold our one-third ownership interest in Vehicle Access Systems Technologies LLC ("VAST LLC") to WITTE and entered into a cooperation framework agreement with WITTE related to VAST LLC which provides an ongoing framework for the parties to collaborate on global programs related to product development and manufacturing.

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements reflect the consolidated results of STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION, its wholly owned subsidiaries STRATTEC de Mexico and STRATTEC POWER ACCESS LLC ("SPA"), and its majority owned subsidiary, ADAC-STRATTEC, LLC. Effective June 30, 2023, SPA became a wholly owned subsidiary of STRATTEC as a result of the purchase of its remaining non-controlling interest by STRATTEC. Prior to June 30, 2023, STRATTEC owned 80 percent of SPA. STRATTEC is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. STRATTEC de Mexico is located in Juarez, Mexico. ADAC-STRATTEC, LLC and SPA have operations in El Paso, Texas and Juarez and Leon, Mexico. Effective June 30, 2023, we sold our equity investment in VAST LLC to WITTE. Prior to the sale, our equity investment in VAST LLC, for which we exercised significant influence but did not control and was not a variable interest entity of STRATTEC, was accounted for using the equity method. VAST LLC consisted primarily of four wholly owned subsidiaries in China, one wholly owned subsidiary in Brazil and one joint venture entity in India. The results of the VAST LLC foreign subsidiaries and joint venture were reported on a one-month lag basis. We have one reporting segment.

In the opinion of management, the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets as of March 31, 2024 and July 2, 2023, which have been derived from our audited financial statements, and the related unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements included herein contain all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring items, necessary for their fair presentation in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and in accordance with Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

Interim financial results are not necessarily indicative of operating results for an entire year. The information included in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION 2023 Form 10-K, which was filed with the SEC on September 7, 2023.

During December 2022, management determined that a previously unrecorded liability for postretirement death benefits was required to be recognized in accordance with ASC 715. Eligible participants for this death benefit include all salaried retirees who retired prior to October 1, 2001 and all hourly retirees who were hired prior to June 27, 2005 and retired prior to January 1, 2010. As such, prior period amounts have been corrected to include the actuarially calculated liability and the unrecognized actuarial losses impacting Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Additionally, management identified a correction to the previously reported Investment in Joint Ventures amount reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. While prior period amounts have been corrected for comparability, the corrections, both individually and in total, were not material to the previously reported condensed consolidated financial statements.

The impact of the prior period corrections on the components of Stockholders’ Equity and the related components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss was as follows (thousands of dollars):


	July 3, 2022
	Previously Reported			Adjustment			As Reported
Retained earnings	$	241,504		$	(535	)	$	240,969
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(18,657	)		69			(18,588	)
Total STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION shareholders' equity		188,866			(466	)		188,400
Total shareholders' equity	$	220,413		$	(466	)	$	219,947

Accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	$	(16,723	)	$	(10	)	$	(16,733	)
Retirement and postretirement benefit plans		(1,934	)		79			(1,855	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	(18,657	)	$	69		$	(18,588	)

The correction of prior period amounts had no impact on amounts previously reported in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss) or in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows during the three-month and nine-month periods ended April 2, 2023. In conjunction with the correction of the prior period amounts, the Shareholders’ Equity and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss footnotes were impacted by the above adjustments.

Risks and Uncertainties

STRATTEC’s operating performance is subject to global economic conditions, inflationary pressures and levels of consumer spending specifically within the automotive industry. In our fiscal year 2023, the inflationary pressures negatively affected the areas of raw materials, purchased materials and wage rates in Mexico, resulting in increased raw material and purchase part costs in the year. While our results for the nine-month period ended March 2024 reflect reduced raw material costs as compared to prior year period, inflationary pressures on purchased materials and wage rates in Mexico persist, thus continuing to negatively impact our operating results for fiscal 2024.

Additionally, unforeseen global economic conditions may adversely impact our supply chain and operations, including impacting our customers, workforce and suppliers, any of which may disrupt and limit sourcing of critical supply chain components needed by us and our customers to meet expected production schedules. Moreover, these events may create added inflationary pressures on our operations, including further increases in wages and the prices of raw materials and purchased parts. All of these foregoing matters, including their scope and duration, are uncertain and cannot be predicted as to timing and cost impacts upon our operations. These changing conditions may also affect the estimates and assumptions made by our management in our financial statements. Such estimates and assumptions affect, among other things, our long-lived asset valuations, assessment of our annual effective tax rate, valuation of deferred income taxes, assessment of excess and obsolete inventory reserves, and assessment of collectability of trade receivables.

New Accounting Standards

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses. The update revises the methodology for measuring credit losses on financial instruments and the timing of when such losses are recorded. Originally, the update was effective for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. In November 2019, FASB issued ASU 2019-10, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses, Derivatives and Hedging, and Leases. This ASU defers the effective date of ASU 2016-13 for public companies that are considered smaller reporting companies as defined by the SEC to fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We adopted this standard in the first quarter of our fiscal 2024. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In October 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-06, Disclosure Improvements - Codification Amendments in Response to the SEC's Disclosure Update and Simplification Initiative. The update incorporates into the Codification several disclosures and presentation requirements currently residing in SEC Regulations S-X and S-K. The effective date of ASU 2023-06 will be the date that the SEC eliminates the corresponding disclosure requirement from Regulation S-X and Regulation S-K. All amendments must be applied prospectively. The adoption of this pronouncement is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280) - Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. The update enhances annual and interim reportable segment disclosures primarily by requiring disclosures about significant reportable segment expenses and provides new segment disclosure requirements for entities with a single reportable segment. ASU 2023-07 is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023 and for interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. This update is to be applied retrospectively to all periods presented in the financial statements. As a result of this update, we will be required to provide single reportable segment disclosure. Annual reporting under this update becomes effective for our 2025 fiscal year. Interim reporting under this update becomes effective for us in our fiscal 2026. We are currently assessing the required disclosure impacts of this update.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The update requires greater disaggregation of income tax disclosures related to the income tax rate reconciliation and income taxes paid. ASU 2023-09 is effective for public business entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. This update is to be applied on a prospective basis. Retrospective application is permitted. Annual reporting under this update becomes effective for us in our fiscal 2026. We are currently assessing the required disclosure impacts of this update.

Subsequent Event

Subsequent to March 31, 2024, we received customer approval for the reimbursement of $3.1 million of previously incurred engineering development costs. These costs were previously expensed and will be recorded as a reduction of engineering, selling and administrative expenses in our fiscal 2024 fourth quarter.

Value-Added Tax

Our Mexican entities are subject to value-added tax ("VAT"). VAT is paid on goods and services and collected on sales. A VAT certification generally allows for relief from VAT tax for temporarily imported goods. Our VAT recoverable and payable balances were increased as of July 2, 2023 due to several monthly tax periods being open to audit by the Mexican tax authority. As of March 31, 2024, the audits for periods prior to July 2023 have been closed. VAT recoverable balances increased $11.4 million during the nine-month period ended March 31, 2024 mostly due a temporary issue with our VAT tax certification. Although the certification issue was resolved during the quarter ended December 31, 2023, we were required to pay VAT on all parts temporarily imported into Mexico before seeking reimbursement for periods in which the certification issue was outstanding, which periods are now open to audit with the Mexican tax authority along with all periods subsequent to resolution of the certification issue. VAT payable balances increased $2.4 million during the nine-month period ended March 31, 2024 mostly due to all periods subsequent to resolution of the VAT certificate issue being under audit. We believe temporary increases in the VAT recoverable and payable balances will remain elevated until the periods under audit are closed.

Derivative Instruments

We own and operate manufacturing operations in Mexico. As a result, a portion of our manufacturing costs are incurred in Mexican pesos, which causes our earnings and cash flows to fluctuate due to changes in the U.S. dollar/Mexican peso exchange rate. During fiscal 2024, we entered into monthly Mexican peso currency forward contracts with Bank of Montreal for a portion of our estimated peso denominated operating costs during the period January 2024 through June 2024. We also had contracts with Bank of Montreal that provided for monthly Mexican peso currency forward contracts for a portion of our estimated peso denominated operating costs during our fiscal 2023. Our objective in entering into currency forward contracts is to minimize our earnings volatility resulting from changes in exchange rates affecting the U.S. dollar cost of our Mexican operations. The Mexican peso forward contracts are not used for speculative purposes and are not designated as hedges. As a result, all currency forward contracts are recognized in our accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements at fair value and changes in the fair value are reported in current earnings as part of Other (Expense) Income, net.

The following table quantifies the outstanding Mexican peso forward contracts as of March 31, 2024 (thousands of dollars, except with respect to the average forward contractual exchange rate):


	Effective Dates	Notional Amount		Average Forward Contractual Exchange Rate		Fair Value
Buy MXP/Sell USD	April 9, 2024 − June 11, 2024	$	6,000		18.366	$	604

The fair market value of all outstanding Mexican peso forward contracts in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of the dates specified was as follows (thousands of dollars):


	March 31, 2024		July 2, 2023
Not designated as hedging instruments:
Other current assets:
Mexican peso forward contracts	$	604	$	—

The pre-tax effects of the Mexican peso forward contracts are included in Other (Expense) Income, net on the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss) and consisted of the following for the periods indicated below (thousands of dollars):


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023		March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023
Not designated as hedging instruments:
Realized and unrealized gain, net	$	265	$	404	$	1,091	$	926

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The fair value of our cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and borrowings under our credit facilities approximated book value as of March 31, 2024 and July 2, 2023. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid for a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date.

The following table summarizes our financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2024 (in thousands):


	Fair Value Inputs
	Level 1 Assets: Quoted Prices In Active Markets		Level 2 Assets: Observable Inputs Other Than Market Prices		Level 3 Assets: Unobservable Inputs
Assets:
Rabbi trust assets:
Stock Index Funds:
Small cap	$	88	$	—	$	—
Mid cap		168		—		—
Large cap		336		—		—
International		396		—		—
Fixed income funds		455		—		—
Cash and cash equivalents		—		1,361		—
Mexican peso forward contracts		—		604		—
Total assets at fair value	$	1,443	$	1,965	$	—

The Rabbi Trust assets fund our Amended and Restated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. As of March 31, 2024, $1.2 million of the Rabbi Trust asset balance was included in Other Current Assets and $1.6 million was included in Other Long-Term Assets in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Investment in Joint Ventures and Majority Owned Subsidiaries

Prior to June 30, 2023, we participated in certain Alliance Agreements with WITTE and ADAC. WITTE is a privately held automotive supplier that designs, manufactures and markets automotive components, including hood latches, rear compartment latches, seat back latches, door handles and specialty fasteners. WITTE’s primary market for these products has been Europe. ADAC is a privately held automotive supplier and manufacturer of engineered products, including door handles and other automotive trim parts, utilizing plastic injection molding, automated painting and various assembly processes. ADAC's primary market for these products is North America.

The Alliance Agreements included a set of cross-licensing agreements for the manufacture, distribution and sale of WITTE products by STRATTEC and ADAC in North America, and the manufacture, distribution and sale of STRATTEC and ADAC products by WITTE in Europe. Additionally, VAST LLC, a joint venture company in which WITTE, STRATTEC and ADAC each held a one-third equity interest, existed to seek opportunities to manufacture and sell each company’s products in areas of the world outside of North America and Europe. As a result of these relationships, the entities involved purchased component products from each other for use in end products assembled and sold in their respective home markets. STRATTEC purchased such component parts from WITTE. These purchases totaled $240,000 and $515,000 during the three- and nine-month periods ended April 2, 2023. WITTE was no longer a related party as of July 2, 2023 as a result of the Equity Restructuring Agreement discussed below.

VAST LLC had investments in Sistema de Acesso Veicular Ltda, VAST China (Taicang), VAST Jingzhou Co. Ltd., VAST Shanghai Co., VAST Fuzhou and Minda-VAST Access Systems. The operations under VAST Fuzhou closed during our fiscal 2021. Sistema de Acesso Veicular Ltda was located in Brazil and serviced customers in South America. VAST LLC disposed of Sistema de Acesso Veicular Ltda in June 2023. VAST China (Taicang), VAST Jingzhou Co. Ltd, and VAST Shanghai Co. (collectively known as VAST China), provided a base of operations to service each VAST partner’s automotive customers in the Asian market. Minda-VAST Access Systems is based in Pune, India and is a 50:50 joint venture between VAST LLC and Minda Management Services Limited, an affiliate of both Minda Corporation Limited and Spark Minda, Ashok Minda Group of New Delhi, India (collectively “Minda”). Minda and its affiliates cater to the needs of all major car, motorcycle, commercial vehicle, tractor and off-road vehicle manufacturers in India. VAST LLC also maintained branch offices in South Korea and Japan in support of customer sales and engineering requirements.

Effective June 30, 2023, we entered into and completed transactions contemplated by an Equity Restructuring Agreement ("Restructuring Agreement") between STRATTEC and WITTE. Pursuant to the terms of the Restructuring Agreement, STRATTEC sold its one-third interest in VAST LLC to WITTE and STRATTEC purchased WITTE's 20 percent non-controlling interest in SPA along with the net assets of VAST LLC's Korea branch office. As of June 30, 2023, the Korean branch office is wholly owned by STRATTEC and its subsequent financial results are consolidated with the financial results of STRATTEC. We believe the Restructuring Agreement positions STRATTEC to redeploy assets, both financial and technical, to create greater focus on STRATTEC-specific strategic growth opportunities in North America and around the world. We also expect that this transaction allows STRATTEC to be well-positioned to take advantage of new opportunities, including more of our product applications on Electric Vehicles, growing consumer demand for Power Access products, expansion of electronics capabilities and other new automotive products. Moreover, we expect it to also give us greater resources to further explore diversification of markets, complimentary technology and regions outside of North America. As part of the Restructuring Agreement, STRATTEC also entered into a cooperation framework agreement with WITTE related to VAST LLC which provides a framework for the parties to collaborate on global automotive programs related to product development and manufacturing.

Prior to the restructuring agreement, VAST LLC investments were accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Results of the VAST LLC foreign subsidiaries and joint venture were reported on a one-month lag basis. The activities of the VAST LLC foreign subsidiaries and joint ventures resulted in equity loss of joint ventures of $269,000 during the nine-month period ended March 31, 2024, which loss was the result of additional professional fees incurred related to the Restructuring Agreement. The current year period loss is an adjustment to the gain on sale of VAST LLC of $110,000, which was recorded in our fiscal 2023. Our adjusted loss on sale of VAST LLC totals $159,000 as of March 31, 2024. During July 2023, STRATTEC received the final $2.0 million net purchase price due under the Restructuring Agreement. The activities of the VAST LLC foreign subsidiaries and joint ventures resulted in equity earnings of joint ventures to STRATTEC of approximately $1.9 million during the nine-month period ended April 2, 2023. During the nine-month period ended April 2, 2023, capital contributions totaling $711,000 were made to VAST for purposes of funding operations in Brazil. STRATTEC's portion of the capital contributions totaled $237,000. As of June 30, 2023, STRATTEC had no continuing involvement in VAST LLC other than under the cooperation framework agreement described above.

SPA was formed in fiscal year 2009 to supply the North American portion of the power sliding door, lift gate, tail gate and deck lid system access control products which were acquired from Delphi Corporation. Prior to the Restructuring Agreement, SPA was 80 percent owned by STRATTEC and 20 percent owned by WITTE. As a result of the Restructuring Agreement, STRATTEC purchased the remaining 20 percent interest in SPA, and SPA became a wholly owned subsidiary of STRATTEC. An additional Mexican entity, STRATTEC POWER ACCESS de Mexico, is wholly owned by SPA. The financial results of SPA are consolidated with the financial results of STRATTEC.

ADAC-STRATTEC LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, was formed in fiscal year 2007 to support injection molding and door handle assembly operations in Mexico. ADAC-STRATTEC LLC was 51 percent owned by STRATTEC and 49 percent owned by ADAC for all periods presented in this report. An additional Mexican entity, ADAC-STRATTEC de Mexico, is wholly owned by ADAC-STRATTEC LLC. ADAC-STRATTEC LLC’s financial results are consolidated with the financial results of STRATTEC and resulted in increased net sales to STRATTEC of approximately $98.8 million with no impact to net income during the nine-month period ended March 31, 2024 and increased net sales and reduced net income to STRATTEC of approximately $89.4 million and $1.8 million, respectively, during the nine-month period ended April 2, 2023.

ADAC charges ADAC STRATTEC LLC an engineering, research and design fee as well as a sales fee. Such fees are calculated as a percentage of net sales and are included in the consolidated results of STRATTEC. Additionally, ADAC-STRATTEC LLC sells production parts to ADAC. Sales to ADAC are included in the consolidated results of STRATTEC. The following table summarizes these related party transactions for the periods indicated below (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023		March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023
Engineering, research and design fee charged to ADAC-STRATTEC LLC	$	2,514	$	2,158	$	6,918	$	6,257
Sales to ADAC	$	2,460	$	3,119	$	7,315	$	8,440

Equity Earnings (Loss) of Joint Ventures

As discussed above within Investment in Joint Ventures and Majority Owned Subsidiaries, effective June 30, 2023, we sold our one-third ownership interest in VAST LLC, for which we exercised significant influence but did not control. VAST LLC was not a variable interest entity of STRATTEC. Until the effective date of the sale, our investment in VAST LLC was accounted for using the equity method. Prior to the effective date of the sale, the results of the VAST LLC foreign subsidiaries and joint venture were reported on a one-month lag basis.

The following are summarized statements of operations for VAST LLC (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023		March 31, 2024			April 2, 2023
Net sales	$	—	$	44,989	$	—		$	168,088
Cost of goods sold		—		36,471		—			138,222
Gross profit		—		8,518		—			29,866
Engineering, selling and administrative expenses		—		6,872		—			24,631
Income from operations		—		1,646		—			5,235
Other income, net		—		1,167		—			1,625
Income before provision for income taxes		—		2,813		—			6,860
Provision for income taxes		—		360		—			1,110
Net income	$	—	$	2,453	$	—		$	5,750
STRATTEC's share of VAST LLC net income		—		818		—			1,917
Intercompany profit elimination		—		1		—			17
STRATTEC’s equity earnings of VAST LLC prior to impact of sale of VAST LLC		—		819		—			1,934
Loss on sale of VAST LLC		—		—		(269	)		—
STRATTEC’s equity earnings (loss) of VAST LLC	$	—	$	819	$	(269	)	$	1,934

We had sales of component parts to VAST LLC, purchases of component parts from VAST LLC, expenses charged to VAST LLC for engineering and accounting services and expenses charged to us from VAST LLC for general headquarters expenses. As a result of the sale of our VAST LLC ownership interest to WITTE, VAST LLC was no longer a related party as of June 30, 2023. The following table summarizes these related party transactions with VAST LLC for the periods indicated below (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023		March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023
Sales to VAST LLC	$	—	$	6	$	—	$	33
Purchases from VAST LLC	$	—	$	12	$	—	$	39
Expenses charged to VAST LLC	$	—	$	59	$	—	$	301
Expenses charged from VAST LLC	$	—	$	191	$	—	$	643

Leases

Our right-of-use operating lease assets are recorded at the present value of future minimum lease payments, net of amortization. We have an operating lease for our El Paso, Texas finished goods and service parts distribution warehouse. This lease has a current lease term through December 2028 and does not include any options to extend the lease term beyond such timeframe. We have two operating leases for office space at our Korean branch office. Both of these leases have a lease term through June 2024 with automatic renewal. For purposes of calculating operating lease obligations, we included an extension of four years after June 2024 as it is reasonably certain that we will exercise such automatic renewals. Our leases do not contain material residual value guarantees or restrictive covenants. Operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

As the leases do not provide an implicit rate, we used our incremental borrowing rate at lease commencement to determine the present value of our lease payments. The incremental borrowing rate is an entity-specific rate which represents the rate of interest we would pay to borrow over a similar term with similar payments. The operating lease asset and obligation related to our operating leases included in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets are presented below (in thousands):


	March 31, 2024
Right-of use asset under operating lease:
Other long-term assets	$	3,983
Lease obligation under operating lease:
Current liabilities: Accrued liabilities: other	$	722
Other long-term liabilities		3,586
	$	4,308

Future minimum lease payments, by our fiscal year, including options to extend that are reasonably certain to be exercised, under these non-cancelable leases are as follows as of March 31, 2024 (in thousands):


2024 (for the remaining three months)	$	239
2025		979
2026		1,026
2027		1,075
2028		1,127
Thereafter		558
Total future minimum lease payments		5,004
Less: Imputed interest		(696	)
Total lease obligations	$	4,308

Cash flow information related to the operating lease is shown below (in thousands):


	Nine Months Ended
	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023
Operating cash flows:
Cash paid related to operating lease obligation	$	530	$	372

The weighted average lease term and discount rate for our operating leases are shown below:


	March 31, 2024
Weighted average remaining lease term (in years)		4.7
Weighted average discount rate		6.2	%

Operating lease expense was as follows for the periods presented below (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023		March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023
Operating lease expense	$	247	$	125	$	742	$	372

Credit Facilities

Outstanding borrowings under the credit facilities were as follows (in thousands):


	March 31, 2024		July 2, 2023
STRATTEC Credit Facility	$	—	$	—
ADAC-STRATTEC Credit Facility		13,000		13,000
	$	13,000	$	13,000

Average outstanding borrowings and the weighted average interest rate under each credit facility referenced above were as follows for each period presented (in thousands):


	Nine Months Ended
	Average Outstanding Borrowings				Weighted Average Interest Rate
	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023		March 31, 2024			April 2, 2023
STRATTEC Credit Facility	$	44	$	3,755		8.5	%		5.1	%
ADAC-STRATTEC Credit Facility	$	13,000	$	12,234		6.7	%		4.9	%

Commitments and Contingencies

We are from time to time subject to various legal actions and claims incidental to our business, including those arising out of alleged defects, alleged breaches of contracts, product warranties, intellectual property matters and employment related matters. It is our opinion that the outcome of such matters will not have a material adverse impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. With respect to warranty matters, although we cannot ensure that future costs of warranty claims by customers will not be material, we believe our established reserves are adequate to cover potential warranty settlements.

In 1995, we recorded a provision for estimated costs to remediate an environmental contamination site at our Milwaukee facility. The facility was contaminated by a solvent spill, which occurred in 1985, from a former above ground solvent storage tank located on the east side of the facility. The reserve was originally established based on third party estimates to adequately cover the cost for active remediation of the contamination. Due to changing technology and related costs associated with active remediation of the contamination, in fiscal years 2010, 2016, and 2021, we obtained updated third party estimates of projected costs to adequately cover the cost for active remediation of this contamination and adjusted the reserve as needed. We monitor and evaluate the site with the use of groundwater monitoring wells. An environmental consultant samples these wells one or two times a year to determine the status of the contamination and the potential for remediation of the contamination by natural attenuation, the dissipation of the contamination over time to concentrations below applicable standards. If such sampling evidences a sufficient degree of and trend toward natural attenuation of the contamination at the site, we may be able to obtain a closure letter from the regulatory authorities resolving the issue without the need for active remediation. If a sufficient degree and trend toward natural attenuation is not evidenced by sampling, a more active form of remediation beyond natural attenuation may be required. The sampling has not yet satisfied all of the requirements for closure by natural attenuation. As a result, sampling continues and the reserve remains at an amount to reflect our estimated cost of active remediation. The reserve is not measured on a discounted basis. We believe, based on findings-to-date and known environmental regulations, that the environmental reserve of $1.4 million at March 31, 2024 is adequate.

Shareholders’ Equity

A summary of activity impacting shareholders’ equity for the three- and nine-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023 were as follows (in thousands):


	Three months ended March 31, 2024
	Total Shareholders’ Equity		Common Stock		Capital in Excess of Par Value		Retained Earnings		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss			Treasury Stock			Non-Controlling Interest
Balance, December 31, 2023	$	217,641	$	76	$	101,207	$	239,486	$	(13,878	)	$	(135,501	)	$	26,251
Net income		1,126		—		—		1,506		—			—			(380	)
Translation adjustments		1,043		—		—		—		627			—			416
Stock based compensation		240		—		240		—		—			—			—
Pension and postretirement adjustment, net of tax		46		—		—		—		46			—			—
Employee stock purchases		18		—		6		—		—			12			—
Balance, March 31, 2024	$	220,114	$	76	$	101,453	$	240,992	$	(13,205	)	$	(135,489	)	$	26,287


	Three months ended April 2, 2023
	Total Shareholders’ Equity			Common Stock		Capital in Excess of Par Value		Retained Earnings			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss			Treasury Stock			Non-Controlling Interest
Balance, January 1, 2023	$	217,676		$	75	$	102,520	$	239,255		$	(19,226	)	$	(135,556	)	$	30,608
Net loss		(3,287	)		—		—		(2,256	)		—			—			(1,031	)
Translation adjustments		3,451			—		—		—			2,304			—			1,147
Stock based compensation		265			—		265		—			—			—			—
Pension and postretirement adjustment, net of tax		350			—		—		—			350			—			—
Employee stock purchases		18			—		4		—			—			14			—
Balance, April 2, 2023	$	218,473		$	75	$	102,789	$	236,999		$	(16,572	)	$	(135,542	)	$	30,724


	Nine months ended March 31, 2024
	Total Shareholders’ Equity			Common Stock		Capital in Excess of Par Value			Retained Earnings		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss			Treasury Stock			Non-Controlling Interest
Balance, July 2, 2023	$	211,024		$	75	$	100,309		$	234,299	$	(14,194	)	$	(135,526	)	$	26,061
Net income		6,361			—		—			6,693		—			—			(332	)
Translation adjustments		1,408			—		—			—		850			—			558
Purchase of SPA non- controlling interest		(97	)		—		(97	)		—		—			—			—
Stock based compensation		1,224			—		1,224			—		—			—			—
Pension and postretirement adjustment, net of tax		139			—		—			—		139			—			—
Employee stock purchases		55			1		17			—		—			37			—
Balance, March 31, 2024	$	220,114		$	76	$	101,453		$	240,992	$	(13,205	)	$	(135,489	)	$	26,287


	Nine months ended April 2, 2023
	Total Shareholders’ Equity			Common Stock		Capital in Excess of Par Value		Retained Earnings			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss			Treasury Stock			Non-Controlling Interest
Balance, July 3, 2022	$	219,947		$	75	$	101,524	$	240,969		$	(18,588	)	$	(135,580	)	$	31,547
Net loss		(5,865	)		—		—		(3,970	)		—			—			(1,895	)
Dividend declared – non- controlling Interests of subsidiaries		(600	)		—		—		—			—			—			(600	)
Translation adjustments		3,198			—		—		—			1,526			—			1,672
Stock based compensation		1,139			—		1,139		—			—			—			—
Pension and postretirement adjustment, net of tax		490			—		—		—			490			—			—
Stock option exercises		109			—		109		—			—			—			—
Employee stock purchases		55			—		17		—			—			38			—
Balance, April 2, 2023	$	218,473		$	75	$	102,789	$	236,999		$	(16,572	)	$	(135,542	)	$	30,724

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

We generate revenue from the production of parts sold to automotive and light-truck Original Equipment Manufacturers (“OEMs”), or Tier 1 suppliers at the direction of the OEM, under long-term supply agreements supporting new vehicle production. Such agreements also require related production of service parts subsequent to the initial vehicle production periods. Additionally, we generate revenue from the production of parts sold in aftermarket service channels and to non-automotive commercial customers.

Contract Balances:

We have no material contract assets or contract liabilities as of March 31, 2024 or July 2, 2023.

Revenue by Product Group and Customer:

Revenue by product group for the periods presented was as follows (thousands of dollars):


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023		March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023
Door handles & exterior trim	$	35,909	$	30,834	$	98,831	$	89,384
Power access		35,116		31,046		93,851		82,332
Keys & locksets		25,973		27,625		80,885		81,006
Latches		18,976		14,150		49,249		42,570
User interface controls		12,462		9,989		34,476		27,727
Aftermarket & OE service		9,232		11,345		29,164		31,486
Other		3,105		2,194		8,255		6,222
	$	140,773	$	127,183	$	394,711	$	360,727

Revenue by customer or customer group for the periods presented was as follows (thousands of dollars):


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023		March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023
General Motors Company	$	42,713	$	37,537	$	119,735	$	111,221
Ford Motor Company		30,794		23,293		82,337		70,058
Stellantis		18,461		21,610		58,958		55,760
Tier 1 Customers		20,916		19,742		57,093		53,134
Commercial and Other OEM Customers		14,734		13,839		43,383		41,799
Hyundai / Kia		13,155		11,162		33,205		28,755
	$	140,773	$	127,183	$	394,711	$	360,727

Other (Expense) Income, net

Net other (expense) income included in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss) primarily included foreign currency transaction gains and losses, realized and unrealized gains and losses on our Mexican peso currency forward contracts, the components of net periodic benefit cost other than the service cost component related to our pension and postretirement plans and Rabbi Trust gains and losses. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses resulted from activity associated with foreign denominated assets and liabilities held by our Mexican subsidiaries. The Rabbi Trust assets fund our Amended and Restated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. The investments held in the Trust are considered trading securities. We entered into the Mexican peso currency forward contracts to reduce earnings volatility resulting from changes in exchange rates affecting the U.S. dollar cost of our Mexican operations. Unrealized gains and losses on the peso forward contracts recognized as a result of mark-to-market adjustments as of March 31, 2024 may or may not be realized in future periods. Pension and postretirement plan costs include the components of net periodic benefit cost other than the service cost component.

The impact of these items for each of the periods presented was as follows (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	March 31, 2024			April 2, 2023			March 31, 2024			April 2, 2023
Foreign currency transaction loss	$	(475	)	$	(1,529	)	$	(126	)	$	(2,114	)
Realized and unrealized gain on peso forward contracts, net		265			404			1,091			926
Pension and postretirement plans cost		(99	)		(344	)		(296	)		(604	)
Rabbi trust gain		83			108			186			131
Other		18			138			173			197
	$	(208	)	$	(1,223	)	$	1,028		$	(1,464	)

Warranty

We have a warranty reserve recorded on our accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets related to our known and potential exposure to warranty claims in the event our products fail to perform as expected and in the event we may be required to participate in the repair costs incurred by our customers for such products. The recorded warranty reserve balance involves judgment and estimates. Our reserve estimate is based on an analysis of historical warranty data as well as current trends and information. As additional information becomes available, actual results may differ from recorded estimates, which may require us to adjust the amount of our warranty provision. Changes in the warranty reserve for the three- and nine-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023 were as follows (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	March 31, 2024			April 2, 2023			March 31, 2024			April 2, 2023
Balance, beginning of period	$	9,083		$	7,760		$	9,725		$	8,100
Provision Charged to expense		276			1,331			323			1,511
Payments		(454	)		(151	)		(1,143	)		(671	)
Balance, end of period	$	8,905		$	8,940		$	8,905		$	8,940

Income Taxes

Our effective tax rate was 32.7 percent and (4.2) percent for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023, respectively. Our effective tax rate was 25.7 percent and 21.8 percent for the nine-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023, respectively. The effective rate estimate for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 increased as compared to the prior year quarter as a result of a shift in our global earnings mix. The effective tax rate for the three-month period ended April 2, 2023 was impacted by an increase in our fiscal year 2023 pre-tax net loss estimate as of the end of our April 2, 2023 quarter as compared to our estimate as of our January 1, 2023 quarter. The change in our effective tax rate between three-month and nine-month periods was also impacted by the sale of our interest in VAST LLC and the purchase of the remaining non-controlling interest in SPA, which were both effective June 30, 2023. Our prior year period effective tax rate differs from the statutory tax rate due to the application of the Global Intangible Low Taxed Income (GILTI) tax provisions, our available R&D tax credit and the non-controlling interest portion of our pre-tax income. The non-controlling interest portion impacts the effective tax rate as ADAC-STRATTEC LLC is taxed as a partnership for U.S. tax purposes. SPA was taxed as a partnership in our fiscal 2023.

Earnings (Loss) Per Share

Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed on the basis of the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the applicable period. Diluted earnings per share is computed on the basis of the weighted average number of shares of common stock plus the potential dilutive common shares outstanding during the applicable period using the treasury stock method. Potential dilutive common shares include outstanding stock options and unvested restricted stock awards.

A reconciliation of the components of the basic and diluted per-share computations follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):


	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2024						April 2, 2023
	Net Income		Shares		Per-Share Amount		Net Loss			Shares		Per-Share Amount
Basic earnings (loss) per share	$	1,506		3,988	$	0.38	$	(2,256	)		3,928	$	(0.57	)
Stock option and restricted stock awards		—		29				—			—
Diluted earnings (loss) per share	$	1,506		4,017	$	0.37	$	(2,256	)		3,928	$	(0.57	)


	Nine Months Ended
	March 31, 2024						April 2, 2023
	Net Income		Shares		Per-Share Amount		Net Loss			Shares		Per-Share Amount
Basic earnings (loss) per share	$	6,693		3,971	$	1.69	$	(3,970	)		3,918	$	(1.01	)
Stock option and restricted stock awards		—		25				—			—
Diluted earnings (loss) per share	$	6,693		3,996	$	1.67	$	(3,970	)		3,918	$	(1.01	)

The calculation of earnings (loss) per share excluded 8,270 share-based payment awards as of March 31, 2024 and 125,871 share-based payment awards as of April 2, 2023 because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive.

Stock-based Compensation

We maintain an omnibus stock incentive plan. This plan provides for the granting of stock options, shares of restricted stock and stock appreciation rights. As of March 31, 2024, the Board of Directors had designated 2,250,000 shares of common stock available for the grant of awards under the plan. Remaining shares available to be granted under the plan as of March 31, 2024 were 360,185. Awards that expire or are canceled without delivery of shares become available for re-issuance under the plan. We issue new shares of common stock to satisfy stock option exercises.

Nonqualified and incentive stock options and shares of restricted stock have been granted to our officers, outside directors and specified associates under our stock incentive plan. Stock options granted under the plan may not be issued with an exercise price less than the fair market value of the common stock on the date the option is granted. Stock options become exercisable as determined at the date of grant by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. The options expire 10 years after the grant date unless an earlier expiration date is set at the time of grant. The options vest 1 to 4 years after the date of grant as determined by the Compensation Committee. Shares of restricted stock granted under the plan are subject to vesting criteria determined by the Compensation Committee at the time the shares are granted and have a minimum vesting period of one year from the date of grant. Unvested restricted shares granted have voting rights, regardless of whether the shares are vested or unvested, but only have the right to receive cash dividends after such shares become vested. Restricted stock grants vest 1 to 3 years after the date of grant as determined by the Compensation Committee.

The fair value of each stock option grant was estimated as of the date of grant using the Black-Scholes pricing model. The fair value of each restricted stock grant was based on the market price of the underlying common stock as of the date of grant. The resulting compensation cost for fixed awards with graded vesting schedules is amortized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period for the entire award.

A summary of stock option activity under our stock incentive plan for the nine-month period ended March 31, 2024 follows:


	Shares			Weighted Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (years)		Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands)
Balance, July 2, 2023		32,561		$	48.88
Expired		(24,491	)	$	38.71
Balance, March 31, 2024		8,070		$	79.73		0.4		—
Exercisable, March 31, 2024		8,070		$	79.73		0.4		—

The intrinsic value of stock options exercised and the fair value of stock options that vested during the three- and nine-month periods presented below were as follows (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023		March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023
Intrinsic Value of Options Exercised	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	31
Fair Value of Stock Options Vesting	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—

No options were granted during the three- and nine-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023.

A summary of restricted stock activity under our stock incentive plan for the nine-month period ended March 31, 2024 follows:


	Shares			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested Balance, July 2, 2023		87,900		$	32.09
Granted		51,675		$	22.16
Vested		(56,750	)	$	30.12
Forfeited		(2,600	)	$	30.34
Nonvested Balance, March 31, 2024		80,225		$	27.22

As of March 31, 2024, all compensation cost related to outstanding stock options granted under our omnibus stock incentive plan has been recognized. As of March 31, 2024, there was approximately $1.2 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested restricted stock grants outstanding under the plan. This cost is expected to be recognized over a remaining weighted average period of .9 years. Total unrecognized compensation cost will be adjusted for any future changes in estimated and actual forfeitures of awards granted under our omnibus stock incentive plan.

Pension and Postretirement Benefits

We have a noncontributory Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”), which is a nonqualified defined benefit plan. The SERP is funded through a Rabbi Trust with TMI Trust Company. Under the SERP, as amended December 31, 2013, participants received an accrued lump-sum benefit as of December 31, 2013, which was credited to each participant’s account. Subsequent to December 31, 2013, each eligible participant receives a supplemental retirement benefit equal to the foregoing lump sum benefit, plus an annual benefit accrual equal to 8 percent of the participant’s base salary and cash bonus, plus annual credited interest on the participant’s account balance. All then current participants as of December 31, 2013 are fully vested in their account balances with any new individuals participating in the SERP effective on or after January 1, 2014 being subject to a five year vesting period. The SERP, which is considered a nonqualified defined benefit plan under applicable rules and regulations of the Internal Revenue Code, will continue to be funded through use of a Rabbi Trust to hold investment assets to be used in part to fund any future required lump sum benefit payments to participants. The Rabbi Trust assets had a value of $2.8 million at March 31, 2024 and $2.6 million at July 2, 2023. At March 31, 2024, $1.2 million of the Rabbi Trust asset balance was included in Other Current Assets and $1.6 million was included in Other Long-Term Assets in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. At July 2, 2023, the $2.6 million Rabbi Trust asset balance was included in Other Long-Term Assets in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

We also sponsor a postretirement health care plan for all current and future eligible U.S. retirees hired prior to June 1, 2001. The expected cost of retiree health care benefits is recognized during the years the associates who are covered under the plan render service. Effective January 1, 2010, an amendment to the postretirement health care plan limited the benefit for future eligible retirees to $4,000 per plan year and the benefit is further subject to a maximum five-year coverage period based on the associate’s retirement date and age. The postretirement health care plan is unfunded. Additionally, we sponsor a postretirement life plan for all U.S. salaried retirees who retired prior to October 1, 2001 and all U.S. hourly retirees who were hired prior to June 27, 2005 and retired prior to January 1, 2010. The benefit provides for a death benefit of $8,000, which is increased to $70,000 for disability retirees until reaching the age of 65, in which case the death benefit thereafter decreases back to $8,000. The postretirement life plan is unfunded. See "Basis of Financial Statements" above for additional information regarding certain matters related to recording a liability adjustment for the death benefit owed to eligible participants under the postretirement life plan.

The service cost component of the net periodic benefit costs under these plans is allocated between Cost of Goods Sold and Engineering, Selling and Administrative Expenses while the remaining components of the net periodic benefit costs are included in Other (Expense) Income, net in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

The following tables summarize the net periodic benefit cost recognized for each of the periods indicated under these plans (in thousands):


	SERP Benefits				Postretirement Benefits
	Three Months Ended				Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023		March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023
Service cost	$	21	$	21	$	2	$	3
Interest cost		22		24		16		16
Plan Settlements		—		217		—		—
Amortization of unrecognized net loss		12		25	49			61
Net periodic benefit cost	$	55	$	287	$	67	$	80


	SERP Benefits				Postretirement Benefits
	Nine Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023		March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023
Service cost	$	63	$	60	$	7	$	8
Interest cost		67		71		47		47
Plan settlements		—		217		—		—
Amortization of unrecognized net loss		35		87		147		182
Net periodic benefit cost	$	165	$	435	$	201	$	237

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

The following tables summarize the changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss (“AOCL”) for each period presented (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended March 31, 2024
	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments			Retirement and Postretirement Benefit Plans			Total
Balance, December 31, 2023	$	12,805		$	1,073		$	13,878
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		(1,043	)		—			(1,043	)
Net other comprehensive income before reclassifications		(1,043	)		—			(1,043	)
Reclassifications:
Unrecognized net loss (A)		—			(61	)		(61	)
Income tax		—			15			15
Net reclassifications		—			(46	)		(46	)
Other comprehensive income		(1,043	)		(46	)		(1,089	)
Other comprehensive income attributable to non- controlling interest		(416	)		—			(416	)
Balance, March 31, 2024	$	12,178		$	1,027		$	13,205


	Three Months Ended April 2, 2023
	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments			Retirement and Postretirement Benefit Plans			Total
Balance, January 1, 2023	$	17,511		$	1,715		$	19,226
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		(3,451	)		(371	)		(3,822	)
Income tax		—			87			87
Net other comprehensive income before reclassifications		(3,451	)		(284	)		(3,735	)
Reclassifications:
Unrecognized net loss (A)		—			(86	)		(86	)
Income tax		—			20			20
Net reclassifications		—			(66	)		(66	)
Other comprehensive income		(3,451	)		(350	)		(3,801	)
Other comprehensive income attributable to non- controlling interest		(1,147	)		—			(1,147	)
Balance, April 2, 2023	$	15,207		$	1,365		$	16,572


	Nine Months Ended March 31, 2024
	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments			Retirement and Postretirement Benefit Plans			Total
Balance, July 2, 2023	$	13,028		$	1,166		$	14,194
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		(1,408	)		—			(1,408	)
Income tax		—			—			-
Net other comprehensive income before reclassifications		(1,408	)		—			(1,408	)
Reclassifications:
Unrecognized net loss (A)		—			(182	)		(182	)
Income tax		—			43			43
Net reclassifications		—			(139	)		(139	)
Other comprehensive income		(1,408	)		(139	)		(1,547	)
Other comprehensive income attributable to non- controlling interest		(558	)		—			(558	)
Balance, March 31, 2024	$	12,178		$	1,027		$	13,205


	Nine Months Ended April 2, 2023
	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments			Retirement and Postretirement Benefit Plans			Total
Balance, July 3, 2022	$	16,733		$	1,855		$	18,588
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications		(3,198	)		(371	)		(3,569	)
Income tax		—			87			87
Net other comprehensive income before reclassifications		(3,198	)		(284	)		(3,482	)
Reclassifications:
Unrecognized net loss (A)		—			(269	)		(269	)
Income tax		—			63			63
Net reclassifications		—			(206	)		(206	)
Other comprehensive income		(3,198	)		(490	)		(3,688	)
Other comprehensive income attributable to non- controlling interest		(1,672	)		—			(1,672	)
Balance, April 2, 2023	$	15,207		$	1,365		$	16,572

(A) Amounts reclassified are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost, which is included in Other (Expense) Income, net in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss). See Pension and Postretirement Benefits note to these Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements above.

Item 2

STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis should be read in conjunction with STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION’s accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto and its 2023 Form 10-K, which was filed with the SEC on September 7, 2023. Also, refer to discussion of prior period corrections under Basis of Financial Statements included in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-Q. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to quarters and years refer to fiscal quarters and fiscal years.

Outlook

The key highlight of our fiscal year-to-date results has been $25.8 million of customer pricing increases, equating to $21.3 million gross margin improvement after factoring in the $4.5 million paid to key suppliers for negotiated price increases. Furthermore, of this $21.3 million gross margin improvement, $13.2 million is considered “ongoing” as it relates to present program price increases that will carry forward to subsequent years. For full fiscal year 2024, we now anticipate an annualized increase in “ongoing” pricing, net of higher costs paid to suppliers, to exceed the higher end of our originally targeted range of $10.0 million to $15.0 million. We do not anticipate any further material one-time retroactive pricing adjustments for the remainder of the fiscal year.

When excluding the $7.0 million of customer pricing from our third quarter net sales growth over prior year, we saw an increase in sales of 5.2% primarily driven by the launch of new product programs. We anticipate such growth will continue into the fourth quarter and into fiscal 2025.

From a cost of sales perspective, we anticipate continued cost pressures on our Mexican operations due to the current strength of the Mexican Peso relative to the U.S. Dollar and higher wages in Mexico driven by the Mexican government’s minimum wage increases, which have increased manufacturing costs fiscal year-to-date by $7.9 million and $4.6 million respectively. Additionally, we have experienced higher shipping costs fiscal year-to-date of $3.1 million, primarily driven by expedited shipping associated with the launch of new product programs. We expect some continuation of these higher costs while we implement the launch of the remaining new products.

To help offset the increased costs of our Mexican operations, we implemented a salaried staffing reduction in our Mexican operations in the 2024 first quarter that is projected to reduce costs by an annualized amount of approximately $800,000. Additionally, we anticipate our focus on reducing non-employee cost of sales will generate between $4 million and $5 million in savings in the full fiscal year, excluding the aforementioned higher shipping costs, driven by improved cost of raw materials and production efficiencies.

Regarding the balance sheet, we expect the balance of reimbursable customer tooling will begin to decrease significantly in the fourth quarter and continue decreasing in the first half of fiscal 2025 as we normalize to near historical levels by the end of the calendar year 2024 with the completed launch of the associated programs. We expect the Mexican VAT (see Note on page 8) will return to historical levels in first half of fiscal 2025 with the closing of the periods under audit. As for net inventory, we reduced our inventory balance by $10.8 million in the third quarter as we worked to reverse the inventory build that occurred in the first half of the fiscal year due to delays in new product launches and lower than anticipated sales. We remain committed to improving our inventory turn over the coming quarters. Lastly, we plan on renewing our ADAC-STRATTEC credit facility in the fourth quarter.

For our fiscal 2024 capital expenditures, we continue to anticipate to spend between $9 million to $12 million.

Analysis of Results of Operations

Three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended April 2, 2023


	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023
Net sales (in millions)	$	140.8	$	127.2

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


	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023
General Motors Company	$	42.7	$	37.5
Ford Motor Company		30.8		23.4
Stellantis		18.5		21.6
Tier 1 Customers		20.9		19.7
Commercial and Other OEM Customers		14.7		13.9
Hyundai / Kia		13.2		11.1
	$	140.8	$	127.2

The quarter-over-quarter sales increase of $13.6 million reflects net price increases from our major OEM customers of $7.0 million, which is primarily attributed to ongoing increases in current part prices. In addition to the net price increases, the following items specifically impacted sales to the noted customer groups between quarters:

Sales to General Motors Company were positively impacted by a favorable shift in product mix with increased sales of higher priced power access and user interface control products and reduced sales of lower priced key and lockset products.

Sales to Ford Motor Company were positively impacted by added power end gate content we supply on the F-Series Super Duty Pickup and by new tailgate latch content supplied on the Ford F-Series Pickups.

Sales to Stellantis were negatively impacted by reduced customer vehicle production volumes and reduced content we supply for the Dodge Ram Pickup and several passenger car programs ending.

Sales to Tier 1 Customers improved in the current year quarter compared to the prior year quarter due to new door hardware content on the F-Series Super Duty Pickup, which is sold to a Tier 1 customer.

Sales to Commercial and Other OEM Customers, which are comprised of aftermarket products and vehicle access control products, such as latches, fobs, driver controls and door handles, were positively impacted by sales for new business awarded from Aston Martin.

Sales to Hyundai / Kia were positively impacted due to an overall increase in customer vehicle production volumes between quarters.


	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2024					April 2, 2023
	Millions of Dollars		Percent of Net Sales			Millions of Dollars		Percent of Net Sales
Direct material costs	$	79.8		56.7	%	$	76.3		60.0	%
Labor and overhead costs		46.3		32.9			40.9		32.1
Total cost of goods sold	$	126.1		89.6	%	$	117.2		92.1	%

Prior year quarter reclassifications have been made for consistency with current year quarter presentation.

Total cost of goods sold increased $8.9 million between quarterly periods. The quarter-over-quarter increase in direct material costs of $3.5 million was the result of the net increase in sales volumes and content we supply, as discussed above, and $1.2 million of negotiated material price increases paid to key suppliers, which were primarily attributable to ongoing operations. These unfavorable impacts were partially offset by reduced zinc costs of approximately $850,000 in the current year quarter as compared to the prior year quarter. The quarter-over-quarter increase in labor and overhead costs of $5.4 million was impacted by the following:

Cost Increases:

The U.S. dollar value of our Mexican operations was negatively impacted by approximately $2.1 million in the current year quarter as compared to the prior year quarter due to an unfavorable Mexican peso to U.S. dollar exchange rate between periods. The average U.S. dollar / Mexican peso exchange rate decreased to approximately 16.97 pesos to the dollar in the current year quarter from approximately 18.56 pesos to the dollar in the prior year quarter.

Mexico wages and benefits increased $1.8 million in the current year quarter as compared to the prior year quarter as a result of annual wage increases, including a January 1, 2024 20 percent government mandated minimum wage increase.

The current year quarter includes expense provisions of $942,000 under our incentive bonus plan. No bonus expense provisions were recorded in the prior year quarter.

Freight costs increased $778,000 between quarterly periods due to a change in shipping terms with a major supplier that occurred in June 2023 and an increase in expedited shipments.

Current year quarter reductions in our finished and work in process inventories resulted in unfavorable absorption of labor and overhead costs in the current year quarter as compared to the prior year quarter.

Cost Decreases:

The prior year quarter included a $1.3 million warranty provision associated with a customer's specific warranty claim involving our product.

Mexico wages and benefits decreased by $384,000 due to a September 2023 salaried staff reduction in Mexico and current year period production efficiencies that controlled headcount and hours worked.


	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2024			April 2, 2023
Gross profit (in millions)	$	14.7		$	10.0
Gross profit as a percentage of net sales		10.4	%		7.9	%

Gross profit margin improvement between quarterly periods was driven by pricing increases achieved during the current year quarter, as discussed above, reduced zinc and warranty costs between quarterly periods and production efficiencies in Mexico. These favorable impacts were partially offset by an unfavorable U.S. dollar to Mexican peso exchange rate combined with Mexico wage increases, higher freight costs, bonus expense provisions recorded in the current year quarter and unfavorable absorption of our fixed overhead costs in the current year quarter as compared to the prior year quarter, all as discussed above.

Engineering, selling and administrative expenses in the current year quarter and prior year quarter were as follows:


	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2024			April 2, 2023
Expenses (in millions)	$	12.7		$	12.5
Expenses as a percentage of net sales		9.0	%		9.8	%

Engineering, selling and administrative expenses were consistent between quarterly periods. Reductions in new product development costs with third-party vendors in the current year quarter as compared to the prior year quarter were offset by current year quarter expense provisions of $817,000 under our incentive bonus plan. No bonus expense provisions were recorded in the prior year quarter.

Income from operations was $2.0 million in the current year quarter compared to loss from operations of $2.5 million in the prior year quarter due to improvement in gross profit margin dollars as discussed above.

Equity earnings of joint ventures was $819,000 in the prior year quarter. Effective June 30, 2023, STRATTEC sold its one-third interest in VAST LLC to WITTE. Refer to the discussion of the Equity Restructuring Agreement within Joint Ventures and Majority Owned Subsidiaries included in the Notes to Financial Statements within this Form 10-Q for additional information regarding the sale of STRATTEC's VAST LLC interest to WITTE Automotive.

Included in Other (Expense) Income, net in the current year quarter and prior year quarter were the following items (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2023			April 2, 2023
Foreign currency transaction loss	$	(475	)	$	(1,529	)
Realized and unrealized gain on peso forward contracts, net		265			404
Pension and postretirement plan cost		(99	)		(344	)
Rabbi trust gain		83			108
Other		18			138
	$	(208	)	$	(1,223	)

Set forth below is a discussion of the items comprising certain of the components of our Other (Expense) Income, net:

Foreign currency transaction gains and losses resulted from activity associated with foreign denominated assets held by our Mexican subsidiaries.

The Rabbi Trust assets fund our amended and restated supplemental executive retirement plan. The investments held in the Trust are considered trading securities.

We entered into the Mexican peso currency forward contracts to reduce earnings volatility resulting from changes in exchange rates affecting the U.S. dollar cost of our Mexican operations. Unrealized gains and losses on the peso forward contracts recognized as a result of mark-to-market adjustments as of March 31, 2024 may or may not be realized in future periods, depending on actual Mexican peso to U.S. dollar exchange rates experienced during the balance of the contract period.

Pension and postretirement plan costs include the components of net periodic benefit cost other than the service cost component.

Our effective tax rate was 32.7 percent and (4.2) percent for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023, respectively. The effective rate estimate for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 increased as compared to the prior year quarter as a result of a shift in our global earnings mix. The effective tax rate for the three-month period ended April 2, 2023 was impacted by an increase in our fiscal year 2023 pre-tax net loss estimate as of the end of our April 2, 2023 quarter as compared to our estimate as of our January 1, 2023 quarter. The change in our effective tax rate between quarterly periods was also impacted by the sale of our interest in VAST LLC and the purchase of the remaining non-controlling interest in SPA, which were both effective June 30, 2023. Our prior year period effective tax rate differs from the statutory tax rate due to the application of the Global Intangible Low Taxed Income (GILTI) tax provisions, our available R&D tax credit and the non-controlling interest portion of our pre-tax income. The non-controlling interest portion impacts the effective tax rate as ADAC-STRATTEC LLC is taxed as a partnership for U.S. tax purposes. SPA was taxed as a partnership in our fiscal 2023.

Nine months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the nine months ended April 2, 2023


	Nine Months Ended
	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023
Net sales (in millions)	$	394.7	$	360.7

Net sales to each of our customers or customer groups in the current year period and prior year period were as follows (in millions):


	Nine Months Ended
	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023
General Motors Company	$	119.7	$	111.2
Ford Motor Company		82.3		70.1
Stellantis		59.0		55.8
Tier 1 Customers		57.1		53.1
Commercial and Other OEM Customers		43.4		41.8
Hyundai / Kia		33.2		28.7
	$	394.7	$	360.7

The period-over-period sales increase of $34.0 million reflects net price increases from our major OEM customers of $25.8 million of which $15.9 million is attributed to ongoing increases in current part prices and $9.9 million relates to one-time retroactive price increases for parts shipped in the prior fiscal year for which the price increases were finalized during the current year-to-date period. Period-over-period sales were not materially impacted by the UAW strike. In addition to the net price increases, the following items specifically impacted sales to the noted customer groups between year-to-date periods:

Excluding the impact of net price increases described above, sales to Stellantis were negatively impacted by several passenger car programs ending during the current year period, customer plant shutdowns during the current year period negatively impacting Chrysler Pacifica minivan production, and reduced customer vehicle production volumes and reduced content we supply on the Dodge Ram Pickup.

Sales to Tier 1 Customers improved in the current year period compared to the prior year period due to new door hardware content on the F-Series Super Duty Pickup, which is sold to a Tier 1 customer.

Sales to Hyundai / Kia were positively impacted due to an overall increase in customer vehicle production volumes between year-to-date period.


	Nine Months Ended
	March 31, 2024					April 2, 2023
	Millions of Dollars		Percent of Cost of Goods Sold			Millions of Dollars		Percent of Cost of Goods Sold
Direct material costs	$	220.4		55.8	%	$	215.6		59.8	%
Labor and overhead costs		127.4		32.3			115.2		31.9
Total cost of goods sold	$	347.8		88.1	%	$	330.8		91.7	%

Prior year period reclassifications have been made for consistency with current year period presentation.

Total cost of goods sold increased $17.0 million between year-to-date periods. The period-over-period increase in direct material costs of $4.8 million was the result of the net increase in sales volumes and content we supply, as discussed above, and $4.5 million of negotiated material price increases paid to key suppliers. Price increases paid to suppliers attributed to ongoing operations totaled $2.7 million while the remaining $1.8 million relates to one-time retroactive price increases. The impact of material price increases paid to suppliers was partially offset by reduced zinc costs of approximately $2.4 million in the current year period as compared to the prior year period. The period-over-period increase in labor and overhead costs of $12.2 million was impacted by the following:

Cost Increases:

The U.S. dollar value of our Mexican operations was negatively impacted by approximately $7.9 million in the current year period as compared to the prior year period due to an unfavorable Mexican peso to U.S. dollar exchange rate between periods. The average U.S. dollar / Mexican peso exchange rate decreased to approximately 17.13 pesos to the dollar in the current year period from approximately 19.44 pesos to the dollar in the prior year period.

Mexico wages and benefits increased $4.6 million in the current year period as compared to the prior year period as a result of annual wage increases, including January 1, 2023 and January 1, 2024 20 percent government mandated minimum wage increases.

Freight costs increased $3.1 million between year-to-date periods due to an increase in shipments from foreign vendors, a change in shipping terms with a major supplier that occurred in June 2023, and an increase in expedited shipments.

The current year period includes expense provisions of $942,000 under our incentive bonus plan. No bonus expense provisions were recorded in the prior year period.

Cost Decreases:

Mexico wages and benefits decreased by $1.5 million due to a September 2023 salaried staff reduction in Mexico and current year period production efficiencies that controlled headcount and hours worked.

The prior year period included a $1.3 million warranty provision associated with a customer's specific warranty claim involving our product.

Absorption of our labor and overhead costs was favorable in the current year period as compared to the prior year period due to larger reductions in finished and work in process inventories in the prior year period.


	Nine Months Ended
	March 31, 2024			April 2, 2023
Gross profit (in millions)	$	46.9		$	29.9
Gross profit as a percentage of net sales		11.9	%		8.3	%

Gross profit margin improvement between year-to-date periods was driven by pricing increases achieved during the current year period as discussed above. The net impact of one-time retroactive customer and supplier pricing in the current year period increased the gross profit margin percentage by 1.8 percentage points. Additional current year period favorable impacts to the gross profit margin included ongoing customer price increases and other sales increases, as discussed above, reduced zinc and warranty costs between year-to-date periods, favorable absorption resulting from increased production and production efficiencies in Mexico. These favorable impacts were partially offset by ongoing price increases paid to suppliers, an unfavorable U.S. dollar to Mexican peso

exchange rate combined with the mandatory Mexican minimum wage increase in 2023, higher freight costs, and bonus expense provisions recorded in the current year period, all as discussed above.

Engineering, selling and administrative expenses in the current year quarter and prior year quarter were as follows:


	Nine Months Ended
	March 31, 2024			April 2, 2023
Expenses (in millions)	$	38.8		$	37.3
Expenses as a percentage of net sales		9.8	%		10.3	%

Engineering, selling and administrative expenses increased $1.5 million between year-to-date periods. The current year period includes one-time charges of approximately $1 million associated with the transition of our Chief Executive Officer and expense provisions of $817,000 under our incentive bonus plan. No bonus expense provisions were recorded in the prior year period.

Income from operations was $8.1 million in the current year period compared to loss from operations of $7.4 million in the prior year period due to improvement in gross profit margin dollars partially offset by an increase in engineering, selling and administrative expenses as discussed above.

Effective June 30, 2023, STRATTEC sold its one-third interest in VAST LLC to WITTE. Refer to the discussion of the Equity Restructuring Agreement within Joint Ventures and Majority Owned Subsidiaries included in the Notes to Financial Statements within this Form 10-Q for additional information regarding the sale of STRATTEC's VAST LLC interest to WITTE Automotive. The equity loss of joint ventures was $269,000 in the current year period compared to equity earnings of joint ventures of $1.9 million in the prior year period. The current year period equity loss of joint ventures was the result of additional professional fees incurred during the period related to the sale of STRATTEC's interest in VAST LLC. The $269,000 is an adjustment to the gain on sale of VAST LLC of $110,000, which was recorded in our fiscal 2023. Our adjusted loss on sale of VAST LLC totals $159,000.

Included in Other (Expense) Income, net in the current year period and prior year period were the following items (in thousands):


	Nine Months Ended
	March 31, 2024			April 2, 2023
Foreign currency transaction loss	$	(126	)	$	(2,114	)
Realized and unrealized gain on peso forward contracts		1,091			926
Pension and postretirement plan cost		(296	)		(604	)
Rabbi trust gain		186			131
Other		173			197
	$	1,028		$	(1,464	)

Set forth below is a discussion of the items comprising certain of the components of our Other (Expense) Income, net:

Foreign currency transaction gains and losses resulted from activity associated with foreign denominated assets held by our Mexican subsidiaries.

The Rabbi Trust assets fund our amended and restated supplemental executive retirement plan. The investments held in the Trust are considered trading securities.

Pension and postretirement plan costs include the components of net periodic benefit cost other than the service cost component.

Our effective tax rate was 25.7 percent and 21.8 percent for the nine-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and April 2, 2023, respectively. The change in our effective tax rate between periods was impacted by the sale of our interest in VAST LLC and the purchase of the remaining non-controlling interest in SPA, which were both effective June 30, 2023. Our prior year period effective tax rate differs from the statutory tax rate due to the application of the Global Intangible Low Taxed Income (GILTI) tax provisions, our available R&D tax credit and the non-controlling interest portion of our pre-tax income. The non-controlling interest portion impacts the effective tax rate as ADAC-STRATTEC LLC is taxed as a partnership for U.S. tax purposes. SPA was taxed as a partnership in our fiscal 2023.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Working Capital (in millions)


	March 31, 2024		July 2, 2023
Current assets	$	240.9	$	225.8
Current liabilities		120.8		109.0
Working capital	$	120.1	$	116.8

Outstanding Receivable Balances from Major Customers

Our primary source of cash flow is from our major customers, which include General Motors Company, Stellantis and Ford Motor Company. As of the date of filing this Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission, all of our major customers are making payments on their outstanding accounts receivable in accordance with the payment terms included on their purchase orders. A summary of our outstanding receivable balances from our major customers as of March 31, 2024 was as follows (in millions):


General Motors Company	$	28.5
Ford Motor Company	$	18.9
Stellantis	$	13.9

Cash Balances in Mexico

We earn a portion of our operating income in Mexico. As of March 31, 2024, $1.7 million of our $9.6 million cash and cash equivalents balance was held in Mexico. These funds are available for repatriation as deemed necessary.

Cash Flow Analysis (in millions)


	Nine Months Ended
	March 31, 2024			April 2, 2023
Cash flows from (in millions):
Operating activities	$	(7.2	)	$	7.5
Investing activities	$	(4.1	)	$	(13.9	)
Financing activities	$	—		$	9.6

The reduction in cash provided by operating activities between periods was due to an increase in working capital requirements between periods partially offset by improved profitability in the current year period as compared to the prior year period. Working capital requirement changes between periods were comprised of the following items (in millions):


	Increase (Decrease) in Working Capital Requirements
	Nine Months Ended
	March 31, 2024		April 2, 2023			Change
Accounts receivable	$	7.5	$	7.6		$	(0.1	)
Inventory	$	1.0	$	(10.9	)	$	11.9
Other assets	$	16.9	$	17.5		$	(0.6	)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$	2.4	$	(12.5	)	$	14.9

Set forth below is a summary of the items impacting the change in our working capital requirements between periods:

Accounts receivable balances increased in the current year period and in the prior year period. The increases reflect increased sales levels as of the end of our third quarter during both fiscal periods.

The change in inventory levels reflected a decrease during the prior year period as a result of efforts to align inventory balances with historical customer production patterns during the March 2023 quarter.

The change in other assets includes an increase in balances during both the current and prior year to date periods. Customer tooling balances and value-added tax recoverable balances related to our operations in Mexico increased during both periods. Customer tooling balances changed due to the timing of tooling development spending required to meet customer production requirements and the timing of related customer billings for tooling cost reimbursement. Value-added tax recoverable balances increased $11.4 million during the current year period due to a temporary issue with our Mexican tax certification. Although the certification issue was resolved during the quarter ended December 31, 2023, we were required to pay VAT on all parts temporarily imported into Mexico before seeking reimbursement for periods in which the certification issue was outstanding, which periods are now open to audit with the Mexican tax authority. The temporary increases in the VAT recoverable balance will remain elevated until the periods under audit are closed. Value-added tax recoverable balances increased during the prior year period due to filed returns that were under audit and pending settlement. The prior year audits have since been closed.

Accounts payable and accrued liability balances increased in the prior year period. The increased accounts payable balances reflected the timing of purchases and payments with our vendors based on normal, established payment terms. Additionally, the accrued liability balances included an increase in value-added tax payable balances related to our operations in Mexico due to filed returns that were under audit and pending settlement. The prior year audits have since been closed.

Net cash used in investing activities during the current year period of $4.1 million included capital expenditures made in support of requirements for new product programs and the upgrade and replacement of existing equipment of $6.1 million, offset by $2.0 million in proceeds received from the sale of our investment in VAST LLC, which sale was effective during the fourth quarter of our fiscal 2023. Net cash used in investing activities during the prior year period of $13.9 million included capital expenditures made in support of requirements for new product programs and the upgrade and replacement of existing equipment of $13.7 million and investments in our VAST LLC joint venture of $237,000.

Net cash provided by financing activities of $55,000 during the current year period included $2 million of borrowings under our credit facility, which borrowings were repaid during the period resulting in no net impact to the change in cash during the period, and $55,000 received for purchases under our employee stock purchase plan. Net cash provided by financing activities of $9.6 million during the prior year period included $13 million of additional borrowings under our credit facility and $164,000 received for the exercise of stock options under our stock incentive plan and purchases under our employee stock purchase plan, partially offset by $3.0 million of repayments of borrowings under our credit facilities and $600,000 of dividend payments to non-controlling interests in our subsidiaries.

We anticipate total capital expenditures will be approximately $9 million to $12 million in fiscal 2024, of which $6.1 million has been made through March 31, 2024, in support of requirements for new product programs and the upgrade and replacement of existing equipment.

Stock Repurchase Program

Our Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase program to buy back outstanding shares of our common stock. Shares authorized for buy back under the program totaled 3,839,395 at March 31, 2024. A total of 3,655,322 shares have been repurchased over the life of the program through March 31, 2024, at a cost of approximately $136.4 million. No shares were repurchased during the nine-month periods ended March 31, 2024 or April 2, 2023. Additional repurchases may occur from time to time and are expected to continue to be funded by cash flow from operations and current cash balances. Based on the current economic environment and our preference to conserve cash for other uses, we anticipate modest or no stock repurchase activity for the remainder of fiscal year 2024.

Credit Facilities

STRATTEC has a $40 million secured revolving credit facility (the “STRATTEC Credit Facility”) with BMO Harris Bank N.A. ADAC-STRATTEC LLC has a $25 million secured revolving credit facility (the “ADAC-STRATTEC Credit Facility”) with BMO Harris Bank N.A., which is guaranteed by STRATTEC. The STRATTEC Credit Facility expires August 1, 2026. The ADAC-STRATTEC Credit Facility expires August 1, 2024. We are working with BMO Harris Bank on a renewal of the ADAC-STRATTEC Credit Facility for completion in our fiscal 2024. Borrowings under either credit facility are secured by our U.S. cash balances, accounts receivable, inventory, and fixed assets. Interest on borrowings under the STRATTEC Credit Facility were at varying rates based, at our option, on the bank's prime rate or LIBOR plus 1.25 percent through February 22, 2023, SOFR plus 1.35 percent for the period February 23, 2023 through September 5, 2023, and SOFR plus 1.85 percent subsequent to September 5, 2023. Interest on borrowings under the ADAC-STRATTEC Credit Facility were at varying rates based, at our option, on the bank's prime rate or LIBOR plus 1.25 percent through February 6, 2023 and SOFR plus 1.35 percent subsequent to February 6, 2023. Both credit facilities contain a restrictive financial covenant that requires the applicable borrower to maintain a minimum net worth level. The ADAC-STRATTEC Credit Facility includes an additional restrictive financial covenant that requires the maintenance of a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio. As of March 31, 2024, we were in compliance with all financial covenants required by these credit facilities. There were no outstanding borrowings under the STRATTEC Credit Facility at March 31, 2024 or July 2, 2023. The average outstanding borrowings and weighted average interest rate on the STRATTEC Credit Facility loans were approximately $44,000 and 8.5 percent, respectively, during the nine-month period ended March 31, 2024. Outstanding borrowings under the ADAC-STRATTEC Credit Facility totaled $13.0 million at March 31, 2024 and at July 2, 2023. The average outstanding borrowings and weighted average interest rate on the ADAC-STRATTEC Credit Facility loans were approximately $13.0 million and 6.7 percent, respectively, during the nine-month period ended March 31, 2024.

Joint Ventures and Majority Owned Subsidiaries

Refer to the discussion of Investment in Joint Ventures and Majority Owned Subsidiaries and discussion of Equity Earnings (Loss) of Joint Ventures included elsewhere in Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements within this Form 10-Q.

Item 3 Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Not applicable.

Item 4 Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")), that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act, are recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act are accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the end of such period, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at reaching a level of reasonable assurance. It should be noted that in designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. We have designed our disclosure controls and procedures to reach a level of reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives.

There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during our most recently completed fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Part II

Other Information

Item 1 Legal Proceedings

In the normal course of business, we may be involved in various legal proceedings from time to time. We do not believe we are currently involved in any claim or action the ultimate disposition of which would have a material adverse effect on our financial statements.

Item 1A—Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in our Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 7, 2023.

Item 2 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities, Use of Proceeds, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities—

Our Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program on October 16, 1996, and the program was publicly announced on October 17, 1996. The Board of Directors has periodically increased the number of shares authorized for repurchase under the program, most recently in August 2008. The program currently authorizes the repurchase of up to 3,839,395 shares of our common stock from time to time, directly or through brokers or agents, and has no expiration date. Over the life of the repurchase program through March 31, 2024, a total of 3,655,322 shares have been repurchased at a cost of approximately $136.4 million. No shares were repurchased during the nine-month period ended March 31, 2024.

Item 3 Defaults Upon Senior Securities—None

Item 4 Mine Safety Disclosures—None

Item 5 Other Information—

During the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2024, no director or officer of the Company adopted or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” as each term is defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K, nor did the Company during such fiscal quarter adopt or terminate any “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement”.

Item 6 Exhibits

(a)

Exhibits


3.1		Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 to the Form 10-K filed on September 7, 2017.)

3.2		Amendment to Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 to the Form 10-Q report filed on November 7, 2019.)

3.3		Amendment to Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 to the Form 8-K report filed on October 21, 2021.)

3.4		Amended By-laws of the Company (Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 99.3 to the Form 8-K filed on October 7, 2005.)

31.1		Rule 13a-14(a) Certification for Rolando J. Guillot, Interim Chief Executive Officer

31.2		Rule 13a-14(a) Certification for Dennis Bowe, Chief Financial Officer

32 (1)		18 U.S.C. Section 1350 Certifications

101		The following materials from STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2024 formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) and furnished electronically herewith: (i) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss); (ii) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets; (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (iv) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. XBRL Instance Document – the XBRL Instance Document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.

104		The cover page from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, formatted in Inline XBRL (included in Exhibit 101).

(1)

This certification is not "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


	STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION (Registrant)

Date: May 9, 2024	By:	/s/ Dennis Bowe
		Dennis Bowe
		Vice President,
		Chief Financial Officer,
		Treasurer and Secretary
		(Principal Accounting and Financial Officer)

EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Rolando J. Guillot, certify that:

I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION;

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a)

designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b)

designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c)

evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)

disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)

all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)

any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: May 9, 2024

/s/ Rolando J. Guillot

Rolando J. Guillot,

Interim Chief Executive Officer

EX-31.2

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Dennis Bowe, certify that:

I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION;

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(a)

(b)

any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: May 9, 2024

/s/ Dennis Bowe

Dennis Bowe,

Chief Financial Officer

EX-32

Exhibit 32

Certification of Periodic Financial Report

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, each of the undersigned officers of STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION (the "Company") certifies that the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and information contained in that Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.


Dated: May 9, 2024		/s/ Rolando J. Guillot
		Rolando J. Guillot,
		Interim Chief Executive Officer


Dated: May 9, 2024		/s/ Dennis Bowe
		Dennis Bowe,
		Chief Financial Officer

This certification is made solely for purpose of 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, subject to the knowledge standard contained therein, and not for any other purpose.