News Release

STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION Reports Fiscal Second Quarter Results

January 27, 2011 at 4:01 PM EST

MILWAUKEE, Jan 27, 2011 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION (Nasdaq:STRT) today reported operating results for the fiscal second quarter ended December 26, 2010.

Net sales for the Company's second quarter ended December 26, 2010 were $61.2 million, compared to net sales of $52.5 million for the second quarter ended December 27, 2009. Net income for the period was $1.2 million, compared to net income of $844,000 in the prior year quarter. Diluted earnings per share for the period were $.37 compared to diluted earnings per share of $.26 during the prior year quarter. The higher sales and profitability for the quarter were primarily the result of increased customer production volumes.

For the six months ended December 26, 2010, net sales were $121.1 million compared to net sales of $93.7 million during the prior year period. Net income during the current year period was $2.7 million compared to net income of $1.8 million during the prior year period and diluted earnings per share were $.80 compared to diluted earnings per share of $.55.

Sales to STRATTEC's largest customers overall increased in the current quarter compared to the prior year quarter levels. Sales to Chrysler Group LLC were $17.6 million in the current quarter compared to $16.5 million in the prior year quarter. Sales to General Motors Company were $16.3 million compared to $12.3 million. Sales to Ford Motor Company were $6.1 million compared to $5.2 million. However sales to Hyundai/Kia decreased to $3.4 million compared to $4.3 million in the prior year quarter.

Gross profit margins were 16.3 percent in the current quarter compared to 14.6 percent in the prior year quarter. The higher gross profit margin in the current year quarter was primarily the result of favorable customer vehicle production volumes, offset by an unfavorable Mexico Peso to U.S. dollar exchange rate affecting the Company's operations in Mexico. The prior year quarter included a significant amount of premium freight costs and overtime incurred during the months of October and November 2009 to meet significantly increased production requirements from the Company's largest customers as they rebuilt retail inventories following the U.S. Government's "Cash for Clunkers" program that ended in August 2009.

Operating expenses were $8.3 million in the current quarter, compared to $7.5 million in the prior year quarter. The increase in operating expenses during the current quarter was primarily attributed to higher spending for new product development. Additionally, expenses in the prior year period were lower due to temporary actions implemented with respect to the U.S. salaried work force to help conserve cash during the recession. These actions included reductions in wages and the Company 401(k) match.

Included in the prior year quarter results were the following non-recurring items:

  --  A $505,000 curtailment loss to immediately recognize the prior service
      cost associated with freezing STRATTEC's defined benefit retirement plan
      effective December 31, 2009;

  --  A $223,000 impairment charge to write off the goodwill recorded as part
      of the acquisition of STRATTEC POWER ACCESS in November 2008;

  --  A $1,125,000 favorable adjustment to an environmental reserve resulting
      from a re-evaluation of the potential remaining cost to satisfy
      outstanding environmental remediation issues at the Milwaukee production
      facility dating back to 1985; and

  --  A $201,000 recovery of the allowance for doubtful accounts recorded in
      the third quarter of fiscal 2009, relating to Chrysler LLC's bankruptcy
      filing on April 30, 2009.


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

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

Certain statements contained in this release contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "expect," "intend," "may," "planned," "potential," "should," "will," and "would." Such forward-looking statements in this release are inherently subject to many uncertainties in the Company's operations and business environment. These uncertainties include general economic conditions, in particular, relating to the automotive industry, consumer demand for the Company's and its customers' products, competitive and technological developments, customer purchasing actions, foreign currency fluctuations, and costs of operations (including fluctuations in the cost of raw materials). Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made herein are only made as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release. In addition, such uncertainties and other operational matters are discussed further in the Company's quarterly and annual filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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

                              Second Quarter
                                   Ended         Six Months Ended

                            December  December  December  December
                            26, 2010  27, 2009  26, 2010  27, 2009
                            --------  --------  --------  --------

  Net Sales                  $61,212   $52,540  $121,061   $93,721


  Cost of Goods Sold          51,239    44,887   100,935    79,270
                            --------  --------  --------  --------

  Gross Profit                 9,973     7,653    20,126    14,451

  Engineering, Selling &
  Administrative Expenses      8,318     7,455    16,483    13,654

  Impairment Charge               --       223        --       223

  Environmental                   --   (1,125)        --   (1,125)


  Recovery of Bad Debts           --     (201)        --     (421)
                            --------  --------  --------  --------

  Income from Operations       1,655     1,301     3,643     2,120

  Interest Income                 25        19        48        42

  Interest Expense              (45)      (59)      (96)     (115)


  Other Income, Net              438       306     1,059       790
                            --------  --------  --------  --------

                               2,073     1,567     4,654     2,837

  Provision for Income
   Taxes                         331       721     1,132     1,062
                            --------  --------  --------  --------

  Net Income                   1,742       846     3,522     1,775

  Net Income Attributable
  to Non-Controlling
   Interest                    (495)       (2)     (857)        12
                            --------  --------  --------  --------

  Net Income Attributable
   to
  STRATTEC SECURITY

  CORPORATION                 $1,247      $844    $2,665    $1,787
                            ========  ========  ========  ========

  Earnings Per Share:

  Basic                        $0.38     $0.26     $0.81     $0.55
                            ========  ========  ========  ========

  Diluted                      $0.37     $0.26     $0.80     $0.55
                            ========  ========  ========  ========
  Average Basic
  Shares Outstanding           3,286     3,272     3,283     3,269

  Average Diluted
  Shares Outstanding           3,329     3,272     3,314     3,271


  Other
  ------------------------
   Capital Expenditures       $1,706    $1,342    $3,482    $3,104
   Depreciation &
    Amortization              $1,589    $1,827    $3,227    $3,578


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

              Condensed Balance Sheet Data
                     (In Thousands)


                                 December     June 27,
                                 26, 2010       2010
                                -----------  ---------
                                (Unaudited)
  ASSETS
   Current Assets:
     Cash and Cash Equivalents      $17,811    $21,867
     Restricted Cash (A)                 --      2,100
     Receivables, Net                33,397     36,084
     Inventories                     22,415     17,086

     Other Current Assets            14,798     12,871
                                -----------  ---------
      Total Current Assets           88,421     90,008
   Deferred Income Taxes             10,534     10,534
   Loan to Joint Venture              1,500      1,500
   Investment in Joint Venture        6,302      5,176
   Other Long Term Assets               684        733
   Property, Plant and
    Equipment, Net                   37,539     37,051
                                -----------  ---------

                                   $144,980   $145,002
                                ===========  =========

  LIABILITIES AND
   SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
   Current Liabilities:
     Accounts Payable               $23,082    $21,192

     Other                           22,858     25,038
                                -----------  ---------
      Total Current
       Liabilities                   45,940     46,230
   Borrowings Under Line of
    Credit Facility                      --         --
   Accrued Pension and Post
    Retirement Obligations           22,868     22,982
   Shareholders' Equity             241,115    242,115
   Accumulated Other
    Comprehensive Loss             (31,421)   (31,941)

   Less: Treasury Stock           (136,029)  (136,047)
                                -----------  ---------
     Total STRATTEC SECURITY
      CORPORATION
       Shareholders' Equity          73,665     74,127

     Non-Controlling Interest         2,507      1,663
                                -----------  ---------

   Total Shareholders' Equity        76,172     75,790
                                -----------  ---------

                                   $144,980   $145,002
                                ===========  =========

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


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

                                         Second Quarter
                                              Ended         Six Months Ended

                                       December  December  December  December
                                       26, 2010  27, 2009  26, 2010  27, 2009
                                       --------  --------  --------  --------

  Cash Flows from Operating
   Activities:
  Net Income                             $1,742      $846    $3,522    $1,775
  Adjustment to Reconcile Net Income
   to
   Cash Provided by Operating
    Activities:
     Equity Earnings in VAST LLC
      Joint Venture                       (381)     (383)     (803)     (479)
     Depreciation and Amortization        1,589     1,827     3,227     3,578
     Foreign Currency Transaction
      Loss                                  160       222       190       157
     Stock Based Compensation Expense       156        98       298       204
     Recovery of Doubtful Accounts           --     (201)        --     (421)
     Deferred Tax Provision                  --     3,258        --     3,258
     Curtailment Loss                        --       505        --       505
     Impairment Charge                       --       223        --       223
     Environmental                           --   (1,125)        --   (1,125)
     Change in Operating
      Assets/Liabilities                  1,256     (289)   (4,197)   (1,540)

     Other, net                              11      (10)        17        22
                                       --------  --------  --------  --------

  Net Cash Provided by Operating
   Activities                             4,533     4,971     2,254     6,157

  Cash Flows from Investing
   Activities:
   Investment in Joint Ventures           (150)     (100)     (150)     (100)
   Loan to Joint Venture                     --   (1,500)        --   (1,500)
   Restricted Cash                        2,100   (2,100)     2,100   (2,100)
   Purchase of Additional Interest in
     ADAC-STRATTEC LLC                       --        --      (22)        --
   Additions to Property, Plant and
    Equipment                           (1,706)   (1,342)   (3,482)   (3,104)
   Proceeds from Sale of Property,
    Plant

   and Equipment                             --        10        --        10
                                       --------  --------  --------  --------
  Net Cash Provided by (Used in)
   Investing Activities                     244   (5,032)   (1,554)   (6,794)

  Cash Flow from Financing
   Activities:
   Dividends Paid                       (3,989)        --   (3,989)        --
   Repayment of Loan to Related
    Parties                               (250)        --     (750)        --
   Exercise of Stock Options and

    Employee Stock Purchases                 15        12        28        23
                                       --------  --------  --------  --------

  Net Cash Provided by (Used in)
   Financing Activities                 (4,224)        12   (4,711)        23

  Effect of Foreign Currency
   Fluctuations on Cash                    (64)     (165)      (45)     (134)
                                       --------  --------  --------  --------

  Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash &
   Cash Equivalents                         489     (214)   (4,056)     (748)

  Cash and Cash Equivalents:

   Beginning of Period                   17,322    22,230    21,867    22,764
                                       --------  --------  --------  --------

   End of Period                        $17,811   $22,016   $17,811   $22,016
                                       ========  ========  ========  ========


This news release was distributed by GlobeNewswire, www.globenewswire.com

SOURCE: STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION

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