STRATTEC SECURITY CORP - Quarter Report: 2008 March (Form 10-Q)

strattecmarch302008form10q.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q

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

For the quarterly period ended March 30, 2008

[ ] 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)

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 X NO ___

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

Large Accelerated filer _____ Accelerated filer X Non-accelerated filer _____ Smaller Reporting Company _____

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES NO X

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: 3,463,305 shares outstanding as of March 30, 2008.

STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION

FORM 10-Q

December 30, 2007

INDEX

Part I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

		Page
Item 1	Financial Statements
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income	3
	Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets	4
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	5
	Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	6-10
Item 2	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	11-17
Item 3	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	18
Item 4	Controls and Procedures	18

Part II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1	Legal Proceedings	19
Item 1A	Risk Factors	19
Item 2	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	19
Item 3	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	19
Item 4	Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders	19
Item 5	Other Information	19
Item 6	Exhibits	19

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,” “would,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “planned,” “potential,” “should,” “will” and “could.” 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 discussions of such matters and subject areas are 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, customer demand for the Company’s and its customers’ products, competitive and technological developments, customer purchasing actions, foreign currency fluctuations, costs of operations and other matters described under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section of this Form 10-Q and in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Form 10-K report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ended July 1, 2007.

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

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
	March 30, 2008			April 1, 2007			March 30, 2008	April 1, 2007
Net sales	$	38,428		$	45,647	$	121,075	$	121,610
Cost of goods sold		32,161			37,293		99,508		102,934
Gross profit		6,267			8,354		21,567		18,676
Engineering, selling and administrative expenses		6,109			4,974		17,740		14,882
Income from operations		158			3,380		3,827		3,794
Interest income		617			879		2,344		2,706
Other income (expense), net		(58	)		341		408		490
Minority interest		(48	)		25		70		25
Income before provision for income taxes		669			4,625		6,649		7,015
Provision for income taxes		223			1,711		2,461		2,266
Net income	$	446		$	2,914	$	4,188	$	4,749
Earnings per share:
Basic	$	0.13		$	0.82	$	1.20	$	1.33
Diluted	$	0.13		$	0.82	$	1.19	$	1.33
Average Shares Outstanding:
Basic		3,476			3,537		3,500		3,558
Diluted		3,482			3,541		3,506		3,561
Cash dividends per share	$	0.15			-	$	1.45		-

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated statements of income.

STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In Thousands, Except Share Amounts)

	March 30, 2008			July 1, 2007
ASSETS	(Unaudited)
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	59,130		$	65,491
Receivables, net		20,892			26,890
Inventories-
Finished products		3,653			2,660
Work in process		5,330			4,522
Purchased materials		5,390			4,813
LIFO adjustment		(4,329	)		(4,829	)
Total inventories		10,044			7,166
Other current assets		14,690			13,017
Total current assets		104,756			112,564
Deferred income taxes		1,890			2,117
Investment in joint ventures		3,456			2,813
Prepaid pension obligations		7,730			4,385
Other long-term assets		31			41
Property, plant and equipment		120,650			112,920
Less: accumulated depreciation		(90,801	)		(86,394	)
Net property, plant and equipment		29,849			26,526
	$	147,712		$	148,446

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	16,121		$	16,575
Accrued Liabilities:
Payroll and benefits		6,745			6,280
Environmental reserve		2,648			2,655
Other		7,096			5,971
Total current liabilities		32,610			31,481
Accrued pension obligations		3,097			2,855
Accrued postretirement obligations		10,583			10,576
Minority interest		813			574
Shareholders' Equity:
Common stock, authorized 12,000,000 shares, $.01 par value,
issued 6,887,757shares at March 30, 2008 and July 1, 2007		69			69
Capital in excess of par value		78,762			78,122
Retained earnings		164,975			165,928
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(14,054	)		(14,341	)
Less: treasury stock, at cost (3,424,452 shares at March 30,
2008 and 3,368,619 shares at July 1, 2007)		( 129,143	)		(126,818	)
Total shareholders' equity		100,609			102,960
	$	147,712		$	148,446

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)

	Nine Months Ended
		March 30, 2008			April 1, 2007
	(Unaudited)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$	4,188		$	4,749
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Minority interest		(111	)		(25	)
Depreciation and amortization		5,161			5,216
Tax benefit from stock based compensation		11			13
Stock based compensation expense		616			566
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables		6,013			(346	)
Inventories		(2,878	)		677
Other assets		(4,736	)		(6,174	)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		3			(449	)
Other, net		(368	)		(47	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		7,899			4,180

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Investment in joint ventures	-		(100	)
Purchase of property, plant and equipment	(8,487	)	(3,645	)
Proceeds received on sale of property, plant and equipment	-		21
Net cash used in investing activities	(8,487	)	(3,724	)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of treasury stock	(2,334	)	(3,922	)
Dividends paid	(4,609	)	-
Exercise of stock options and employee stock purchases	21		99
Loan from minority interest	800		-
Contribution from minority interest	349		274
Net cash used in financing activities	(5,773	)	(3,549	)

NET DECREASE IN CASH AND
CASH EQUIVALENTS			(6,361	)			(3,093	)

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Beginning of period		65,491		65,712
End of period	$	59,130	$	62,619

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Income taxes paid	$	2,814	$	2,848
Interest paid		-		-

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 mechanical locks and keys, electronically enhanced locks and keys, steering column and instrument panel ignition lock housings, latches, door handles and related access control products for North American automotive customers, and for global automotive manufacturers through the VAST Alliance in which we participate with WITTE Automotive of Velbert, Germany and ADAC Automotive of Grand Rapids, Michigan. STRATTEC’s history in the automotive business spans nearly 100 years. The accompanying financial statements reflect the consolidated results of STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION, its wholly owned Mexican subsidiaries, STRATTEC de Mexico and STRATTEC Componentes Automotrices, and its majority owned subsidiary, ADAC-STRATTEC, LLC. STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. STRATTEC de Mexico and STRATTEC Componentes Automotrices are located in Juarez, Mexico. ADAC-STRATTEC, LLC has operations in El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico. Equity investments in China and Brazil relating to the VAST Alliance for which we exercise significant influence but do not control and are not the primary beneficiary are accounted for using the equity method.

In the opinion of management, the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of July 1, 2007, which has been derived from our audited financial statements, and the related unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements 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”). 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 Management’s Discussion and Analysis and the financial statements and notes thereto included in the STRATTEC SECURITY CORPORATION 2007 Annual Report, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to our Form 10-K on August 30, 2007.

Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2007 interim financial statements to conform to the 2008 presentation.

In December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – an amendment to ARB No. 51”. SFAS No. 160 establishes accounting and reporting standards that require the ownership interest in subsidiaries held by parties other than the parent be clearly identified and presented in the consolidated balance sheets within equity, but separate from the parent’s equity, the amount of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and the noncontrolling interest be clearly identified and presented on the face of the consolidated statements of income, and changes in a parent’s ownership interest while the parent retains its controlling financial interest in its subsidiary be accounted for consistently. This statement is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and will be effective for us beginning in our fiscal 2010. We do not expect the new standard to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

Income Taxes

We adopted the provisions for FASB Interpretation No. 48 (FIN 48), Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, on July 2, 2007. As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, we did not recognize a significant change in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits. The total liability for unrecognized tax benefits was $1.1 million as of July 2, 2007. This liability includes approximately $87,000 of accrued interest. The liability does not include an amount for accrued penalties. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate is approximately $760,000. We recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the provision for income taxes. We do not expect a significant increase or decrease to the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits within the next 12 months. There was no material change in the amount of unrecognized tax benefits during the nine months ended March 30, 2008.

We or one of our subsidiaries files income tax returns in the United States (Federal), Wisconsin (state), Michigan (state) and various other states, Mexico and other foreign jurisdictions. We are not currently subject to income tax examinations in any of our significant tax jurisdictions. Tax years open to examination by tax authorities under the statute of limitations include fiscal 2005 through 2007 for Federal, fiscal 2003 through 2007 for most states and calendar 2003 through 2007 for foreign jurisdictions.

The provision for income taxes for the three and nine month periods ended April 1, 2007 includes a state refund claim recovery. The claim recovery, net of the federal income tax impact, was approximately $329,000.

Earnings Per Share (EPS)

Basic earnings per share is computed on the basis of the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed on the basis of the weighted average number of shares of common stock plus the dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period using the treasury stock method. Dilutive potential common shares include outstanding stock options and 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 30, 2008						April 1, 2007
	Net Income		Weighted Average Shares		Per-Share Amount		Net Income		Weighted Average Shares		Per-Share Amount
Basic Earnings Per Share	$	446		3,476	$	0.13	$	2,914		3,537	$	0.82
Stock-Based Compensation				6						4
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$	446		3,482	$	0.13	$	2,914		3,541	$	0.82

	Nine Months Ended
	March 30, 2008						April 1, 2007
	Net Income		Weighted Average Shares		Per-Share Amount		Net Income		Weighted Average Shares		Per-Share Amount
Basic Earnings Per Share	$	4,188		3,500	$	1.20		4,749		3,558	$	1.33
Stock-Based Compensation				6						3
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$	4,188		3,506	$	1.19	$	4,749		3,561	$	1.33

As of March 30, 2008, options to purchase 184,680 shares of common stock at a weighted-average exercise price of $59.13 were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive. As of April 1, 2007, options to purchase 238,820 shares of common stock at a weighted-average exercise price of $59.08 were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive.

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income is presented in the following table (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended					Nine Months Ended
	March 30, 2008		April 1, 2007			March 30, 2008		April 1, 2007
Net Income	$	446	$	2,914		$	4,188	$	4,749
Change in Cumulative Translation Adjustments, net		279		(134	)		287		246
Total Comprehensive Income	$	725	$	2,780		$	4,475	$	4,995

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. The Board of Directors has designated 1,700,000 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 30, 2008 were 380,463. 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 under the plan to satisfy stock option exercises.

Nonqualified and incentive stock options and shares of restricted stock have been granted to our officers and specified employees 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 5 to 10 years after the grant date unless an earlier expiration date is set at the time of grant. The options vest 1 to 3 years after the date of grant. Shares of restricted stock granted under the plan are subject to vesting criteria determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors at the time the shares are granted and have a minimum vesting period of three years from the date of grant. Restricted shares granted have voting and dividend rights. The restricted stock grants issued to date vest 3 years after the date of grant.

We account for stock options and restricted stock issued under our stock incentive plan in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (‘SFAS’) No. 123(R), “Share-based Payments”. The fair value of each stock option grant was estimated as of the date of grant using the Black-Scholes pricing model. 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. 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 is amortized on a straight line basis over the vesting period.

A summary of stock option activity under the plan for the nine months ended March 30, 2008 is as follows:

	Shares			Weighted Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (years)		Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands)
Outstanding, July 1, 2007		235,420		$	58.71
Granted		-			-
Exercised		-			-
Expired		(47,640	)	$	58.59
Forfeited		-			-
Outstanding, March 30, 2008		187,780		$	58.74		3.6	$	18
Exercisable, March 30, 2008		148,440		$	58.09		3.9	$	18

The intrinsic value of stock options exercised and the fair value of stock options vesting during the three and nine month periods presented is as follows (in thousands):

	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	March 30, 2008		April 1, 2007		March 30, 2008		April 1, 2007
Intrinsic Value of Options Exercised	$	-	$	36	$	-	$	36
Fair Value of Stock Options Vesting	$	76	$	104	$	273	$	762

A summary of restricted stock activity under the plan for the nine months ended March 30, 2008 is as follows:

	Shares		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested Balance, July 1, 2007		19,400	$	45.56
Granted		10,000	$	47.78
Vested		-		-
Forfeited		-		-
Nonvested Balance, March 30, 2008		29,400	$	46.32

As of March 30, 2008, there was $27,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options granted under the plan. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.7 months. As of March 30, 2008, there was $555,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock grants under the plan. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1 year. Total unrecognized compensation cost will be adjusted for any future changes in estimated and actual forfeitures of awards granted under the plan.

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

We have a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan covering substantially all U.S. associates. Benefits are based on years of service and final average compensation. Our policy is to fund at least the minimum actuarially computed annual contribution required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Plan assets consist primarily of listed equity and fixed income securities. We have a noncontributory supplemental executive retirement plan (SERP), which is a nonqualified defined benefit plan. The SERP will pay supplemental pension benefits to certain key employees upon retirement based upon the employees’ years of service and compensation. The SERP is being funded through a rabbi trust with M&I Trust Company. We also sponsor a postretirement health care plan for all of our U.S. associates hired prior to June 2, 2001. The expected cost of retiree health care benefits is recognized during the years that the associates who are covered under the plan render service. The postretirement health care plan is unfunded.

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

	Pension Benefits						Postretirement Benefits
	Three Months Ended						Three Months Ended
	March 30, 2008			April 1, 2007			March 30, 2008			April 1, 2007
COMPONENTS OF NET PERIODIC BENEFIT COST:
Service cost	$	505		$	494		$	55		$	55
Interest cost		1,170			1,087			179			172
Expected return on plan assets		(1,553	)		(1,337	)		-			-
Amortization of prior service cost		16			16			(94	)		(94	)
Amortization of unrecognized net loss		161			118			176			160
Net periodic benefit cost	$	299		$	378		$	316		$	293

	Pension Benefits						Postretirement Benefits
	Nine Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	March 30, 2008			April 1, 2007			March 30, 2008			April 1, 2007
COMPONENTS OF NET PERIODIC BENEFIT COST:
Service cost	$	1,514		$	1,481		$	165		$	165
Interest cost		3,510			3,261			538			516
Expected return on plan assets		(4,658	)		(4,011	)		-			-
Amortization of prior service cost		48			48			(283	)		(283	)
Amortization of unrecognized net loss		482			354			527			480
Net periodic benefit cost	$	896		$	1,133		$	947		$	878

Voluntary contributions made to the qualified pension plan totaled $4.0 million during the nine month period ending March 30, 2008 and $7 million during the nine month period ending April 1, 2007. An additional voluntary contribution of $1 million was made in April 2008. No additional mandatory contributions are required to be made during the remainder of fiscal 2008.

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 2007 Annual Report which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to our Form 10-K on August 30, 2007. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to years refer to fiscal years.

Analysis of Results of Operations

Three months ended March 30, 2008 compared to the three months ended April 1, 2007

Net sales for the three months ended March 30, 2008 were $38.4 million compared to net sales of $45.6 million for the three months ended April 1, 2007. Sales to our largest customers overall were significantly lower in the current quarter compared to the prior year quarter. Sales to General Motors Corporation were $10.1 million in the current quarter compared to $9.5 million in the prior year quarter. The increase is due to higher product content on certain General Motors’ vehicles and the takeover of certain vehicle lockset production from another supplier. These increases were offset by production reductions as a direct result of a strike called by the UAW against a major General Motors supplier. Sales to Chrysler LLC were $9.7 million during the current quarter compared to $15.9 million in the prior year quarter. Sales to Delphi Corporation were $3.8 million in the current quarter compared to $4.8 million in the prior year quarter. Sales to Chrysler LLC and Delphi Corporation were impacted by reduced component content and lower production volumes. The reduction in sales to Delphi Corporation was partially offset by price adjustments received to partially recover raw material cost increases, which we experienced last year. Sales to Ford Motor Company were $5.0 million in the current quarter and $5.7 million in the prior year quarter. Sales during the current quarter were anticipated to be weaker for the above four customers due to their previously announced production cut-backs. However, the unanticipated impact of the above mentioned strike reduced sales to General Motors and Delphi Corporation by approximately $1.2 million in the current quarter.

Gross profit as a percentage of net sales was 16.3 percent in the current quarter compared to 18.3 percent in the prior year quarter. The reduction in the gross profit margin is primarily attributed to the reduction in customer vehicle production volumes and was somewhat offset by lower purchased raw material costs for zinc in comparison to the prior year quarter and price increases to recover the higher purchased raw material costs we experienced last year. The average zinc price paid per pound decreased to $1.49 in the current quarter from $1.87 in the prior year quarter. During the current quarter, we used approximately 1.9 million pounds of zinc. This resulted in decreased zinc costs of approximately $725,000 in the current quarter compared to the prior year quarter. The average brass price paid per pound increased to $3.81 in the current quarter from $3.39 in the prior year quarter. During the current quarter, we used approximately 290,000 pounds of brass. This resulted in increased brass costs of approximately $120,000 in the current quarter compared to the prior year quarter.

Engineering, selling and administrative expenses were $6.1 million in the current quarter compared to $5.0 million in the prior year quarter. This increased expense is primarily attributed to costs associated with hiring additional engineering personnel and new product development important to our future and more near-term customer programs that are anticipated to launch during the later part of our fiscal fourth quarter of 2008.

Income from operations decreased to $158,000 in the current quarter from $3.4 million in the prior year quarter. This decrease is the result of the decrease in sales and gross profit margin and the increase in engineering, selling and administrative expenses as discussed above.

The effective income tax rate for the current quarter was 33.3 percent compared to 37.0 percent in the prior year quarter. The overall effective tax rate differs from the Federal statutory tax rate primarily due to the effects of state income taxes.

Nine months ended March 30, 2008 compared to the nine months ended April 1, 2007

Net sales for the nine months ended March 30, 2008 were $121.1 million compared to net sales of $121.6 million for the nine months ended April 1, 2007. Sales to our largest customers overall decreased in the current period compared to the prior year period primarily due to our third quarter results. Sales to General Motors Corporation increased to $34.4 million in the current period from $24.8 million in the prior year period. The increase is due to higher product content on certain General Motors’ vehicles, the takeover of certain vehicle lockset production from another supplier and price adjustments received to partially recover raw material cost increases, which we experienced last year. These increases were partially offset by production reductions as a direct result of a strike called by the UAW against a major General Motors supplier. Sales to Ford Motor Company were $14.9 million in the current period compared to $14.7 million in the prior year period. Sales to Chrysler LLC decreased during the current period to $30.3 million from $42.7 million in the prior year period due to reduced component content and lower vehicle production volumes. Sales to Delphi Corporation were $11.6 million in the current period compared to $13.5 million in the prior year period. This decrease is primarily due to reduced component content and lower production volumes, somewhat offset by price adjustments received to partially recover raw material cost increases experienced last year. Sales during the period September 2007 through December 2007 were weaker as anticipated for the above four customers due to announced production cut-backs. Subsequently, these customers announced additional production cut-backs and sales during our third quarter of 2008. However, the unanticipated impact of the above mentioned strike further reduced sales to General Motors and Delphi Corporation by approximately $1.2 million in our third quarter. Sales of ignition lock housings to other Tier 1 suppliers increased $3.0 million in the current period compared to the prior year period, and sales related to our joint venture with ADAC Automotive totaled $2.6 million in the current year period. This joint venture was not in full operation during the prior year period.

Gross profit as a percentage of net sales was 17.8 percent in the current period compared to 15.4 percent in the prior year period. The increase in the gross profit margin is primarily attributed to price increases received from some of our customers to recover the higher purchased raw material costs we experienced last year as discussed above in connection with our net sales, lower purchased raw material costs for zinc and cost reductions resulting from the move of our service product assembly operation from our Milwaukee, Wisconsin facility to our Juarez, Mexico facilities. In addition, the prior year period included a charge for severance and separation costs related to the service product assembly operation move and reduced the gross profit margin by $366,000. The move of the service product assembly operation took place in January 2007. The overall increase in the gross profit margin was negatively impacted by reductions in customer vehicle production volumes during our third quarter. The average zinc price paid per pound decreased to $1.56 in the current period from $1.76 in the prior year period. During the current period, we used approximately 6.3 million pounds of zinc. This resulted in decreased zinc costs of approximately $1.3 million in the current period compared to the prior year period. The average brass price paid per pound increased to $3.81 in the current period from $3.67 in the prior year period. During the current period, we used approximately 1.0 million pounds of brass. This resulted in increased brass costs of approximately $140,000 in the current period compared to the prior year period.

Engineering, selling and administrative expenses were $17.7 million in the current period compared to $14.9 million in the prior year period. This increased expense is primarily attributed to costs associated with hiring additional engineering personnel and new product development important to our future and more near-term customer programs that are anticipated to launch during the later part of our fiscal fourth quarter of 2008.

Income from operations was $3.8 million in both the current period and the prior year period.

The effective income tax rate for the current period was 37 percent compared to 32.3 percent in the prior year period. The prior year period income tax provision included a state refund claim recovery. The claim recovery, net of the federal income tax impact, was $329,000. The overall effective tax rate differs from the Federal statutory tax rate primarily due to the effects of state income taxes.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash flow generated from operating activities was $7.9 million during the nine months ended March 30, 2008 compared to $4.2 million during the nine months ended April 1, 2007. The increase in operating cash flow is primarily due to higher contributions to the qualified pension fund in the prior year period. Contributions to the qualified pension fund totaled $4 million during the current period and $7 million in the prior year period.

Accounts receivable balances decreased $6.0 million from the July 1, 2007 balances. This decrease is primarily the result of decreased sales during the current period as compared to the quarter ended July 1, 2007. LIFO inventory balances increased $2.9 million from the July 1, 2007 balances. This increase is primarily due to weaker than anticipated customer production schedules and the effects of a prolonged UAW strike against a major supplier to General Motors.

Capital expenditures during the nine months ended March 30, 2008, were $8.5 million compared to expenditures of $3.6 million during the nine months ended April 1, 2007. We anticipate that capital expenditures will be approximately $9 million to $10 million in fiscal 2008, primarily relating to expenditures in support of requirements for new product programs, the upgrade and replacement of existing equipment and the construction of a new building in Juarez, Mexico to replace our leased facility.

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 3,639,395 at March 30, 2008. A total of 3,441,005 shares have been repurchased as of March 30, 2008, at a cost of approximately $129.4 million. During the three months ended March 30, 2008, 30,805 shares were repurchased at a cost of approximately $1.2 million. Funding for the repurchases was provided by cash flow from operations. Additional repurchases may occur from time to time and are expected to continue to be funded by cash flow from operations.

On August 21, 2007, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per common share and a special one-time cash dividend of $1.00 per common share, both payable on October 1, 2007 to shareholders of record as of September 14, 2007. This dividend totaled approximately $4.1 million. The dividend was funded on September 28, 2007 from current cash balances. On December 4, 2007 and February 12, 2008, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per common share payable on January 2, 2008 and April 1, 2008. The dividend declared on December 4, 2007 totaled approximately $528,000 and was funded on December 31, 2007, during our fiscal third quarter, from current cash balances. The dividend declared on February 12, 2008 totaled approximately $524,000 and was funded on March 31, 2008, during our fiscal fourth quarter, from current cash balances.

We have a $50.0 million unsecured line of credit (the “Line of Credit”), which expires October 31, 2008. There were no outstanding borrowings under the Line of Credit at March 30, 2008 or July 1, 2007. Interest on borrowings under the Line of Credit is at varying rates based on the London Interbank Offering Rate or the bank’s prime rate. We believe that the Line of Credit is adequate, along with cash flow from operations, to meet our anticipated capital expenditure, working capital and operating expenditure requirements.

Up until the past 2 years, we had not been significantly impacted by general inflationary pressures. However, in addition to rising health care costs, which have increased our cost of employee medical coverage, we have been impacted by increases in the market price of zinc, brass and magnesium over the past 2 years and inflation in Mexico, which impacts the U.S. dollar costs of our Mexican operations. We do not hedge against our Mexican peso exposure.

Joint Ventures

We participate in certain Alliance Agreements with WITTE Automotive (“WITTE”) and ADAC Automotive (“ADAC”). WITTE, of Velbert, Germany, is a privately held automotive supplier. WITTE designs, manufactures and markets components including locks and keys, hood latches, rear compartment latches, seat back latches, door handles and specialty fasteners. WITTE’s primary market for these products has been Europe. ADAC, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a privately held automotive supplier and manufactures engineered products, including door handles and other automotive trim parts, utilizing plastic injection molding, automated painting and various assembly processes.

The Alliance provides 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, a joint venture company, Vehicle Access Systems Technology LLC (“VAST LLC”), in which WITTE, STRATTEC and ADAC each hold a one-third interest, exists to seek opportunities to manufacture and sell the companies’ products in areas of the world outside of North America and Europe.

VAST LLC participates in joint ventures in Brazil and China. VAST do Brasil, a joint venture between VAST LLC and Ifer do Brasil Ltda., was formed to service customers in South America. VAST Fuzhou and VAST Great Shanghai, joint ventures between VAST LLC, Fortitude Corporation and a unit of Elitech Technology Co. Ltd. of Taiwan, are the base of operations to service our automotive customers in the Asian market.

The VAST investments are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. The activities related to the joint ventures resulted in a gain to STRATTEC of approximately $450,000 during the nine months ended March 30, 2008 and a gain of approximately $210,000 during the nine months ended April 1, 2007.

In 2007, we entered into a joint venture with ADAC, in which STRATTEC holds a 50.1 percent interest and ADAC holds a 49.9 percent interest. The joint venture was created to establish injection molding and door handle assembly operations in Mexico. ADAC-STRATTEC, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, was formed on October 27, 2006. An additional Mexican entity, ADAC-STRATTEC de Mexico, which is wholly owned by ADAC-STRATTEC, LLC, was formed on February 21, 2007. ADAC-STRATTEC de Mexico production activities began in July 2007. ADAC-STRATTEC, LLC’s financial results are consolidated with the financial results of STRATTEC and resulted in a net loss to STRATTEC of $112,000 during the nine months ended March 30, 2008.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – an amendment to ARB No. 51”. SFAS No. 160 establishes accounting and reporting standards that require the ownership interest in subsidiaries held by parties other than the parent be clearly identified and presented in the consolidated balance sheets within equity, but separate from the parent’s equity, the amount of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and the noncontrolling interest be clearly identified and presented on the face of the consolidated statements of income, and changes in a parent’s ownership interest while the parent retains its controlling financial interest in its subsidiary be accounted for consistently. This statement is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and will be effective for us beginning in fiscal 2010. We do not expect the new standard to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

Critical Accounting Policies

The Company believes the following represents its critical accounting policies:

Pension and Postretirement Health Benefits– Pension and postretirement health obligations and costs are developed from actuarial valuations. The determination of the obligation and expense for pension and postretirement health benefits is dependent on the selection of certain assumptions used by actuaries in calculating such amounts. Those assumptions are described in the Notes to Financial Statements in our 2007 Annual Report and include, among others, the discount rate, expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, retirement age and rates of increase in compensation and health care costs. Actual results that differ from these assumptions are deferred and, under certain circumstances, amortized over future periods. While we believe that the assumptions used are appropriate, significant differences in the actual experience or significant changes in the assumptions may materially affect our pension and postretirement health obligations and future expense.

Other Reserves– We have reserves such as an environmental reserve, an incurred but not reported claim reserve for self-insured health plans, a workers’ compensation reserve, an allowance for doubtful accounts related to trade accounts receivable and a repair and maintenance supply parts reserve. These reserves require the use of estimates and judgment with regard to risk exposure, ultimate liability and net realizable value. We believe such reserves are estimated using consistent and appropriate methods. However, changes to the assumptions could materially affect the recorded reserves.

Stock-Based Compensation– We account for stock-based compensation in accordance with SFAS No. 123(R), “Share-based Payments.” Under the fair value recognition provisions of this statement, share-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the value of the award and is recognized as expense over the vesting period. Determining the fair value of share-based awards at the grant date requires judgment, including estimating future volatility of our stock, the amount of share-based awards that are expected to be forfeited and the expected term of awards granted. We estimate the fair value of stock options granted using the Black-Scholes option valuation model. We amortize the fair value of all awards on a straight-line basis over the vesting periods. The expected term of awards granted represents the period of time they are expected to be outstanding. We determine the expected term based on historical experience with similar awards, giving consideration to the contractual terms and vesting schedules. We estimate the expected volatility of our common stock at the date of grant based on the historical volatility of our common stock. The volatility factor used in the Black-Scholes option valuation model is based on our historical stock prices over the most recent period commensurate with the estimated expected term of the award. We base the risk-free interest rate used in the Black-Scholes option valuation model on the implied yield currently available on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with a remaining term commensurate with the expected term of the award. We use historical data to estimate pre-vesting option forfeitures. We record stock-based compensation only for those awards that are expected to vest. If actual results differ significantly from these estimates, stock-based compensation expense and our results of operations could be materially impacted.

Risk Factors

We recognize we are subject to the following risk factors based on our operations and the nature of the automotive industry in which we operate:

Loss of Significant Customers, Vehicle Content, Vehicle Models and Market Share – Sales to General Motors Corporation, Ford Motor Company, Chrysler LLC and Delphi Corporation represent approximately 80 percent of our annual net sales. The contracts with these customers provide for supplying the customer’s requirements for a particular model. The contracts do not specify a specific quantity of parts. The contracts typically cover the life of a model, which averages approximately four to five years. Components for certain customer models may also be “market tested” annually. Therefore, the loss of any one of these customers, the loss of a contract for a specific vehicle model, reduction in vehicle content, early cancellation of a specific vehicle model, technological changes or a significant reduction in demand for certain key models could occur, and if so, could have a material adverse effect on our existing and future revenues and net income.

Our major customers also have significant underfunded legacy liabilities related to pension and postretirement health care obligations. The future impact of these items along with a continuing loss in their North American automotive market share to the “New Domestic” automotive manufacturers (primarily the Japanese automotive manufacturers) may have a significant impact on our future sales and collectibility risks. For example, on October 8, 2005, Delphi Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. As a result, we wrote-off $1.6 million of uncollectible pre-petition Chapter 11 accounts receivable due from Delphi Corporation. This directly reduced our pre-tax net income during fiscal 2006.

Cost Reduction – There is continuing pressure from our major customers to reduce the prices we charge for our products. This requires us to generate cost reductions, including reductions in the cost of components purchased from outside suppliers. If we are unable to generate sufficient production cost savings in the future to offset pre-programmed price reductions, our gross margin and profitability will be adversely affected.

Cyclicality and Seasonality in the Automotive Market – The automotive market is highly cyclical and is dependent on consumer spending and to a certain extent on customer sales incentives. Economic factors adversely affecting consumer demand for automobiles and automotive production, such as rising fuel costs, could adversely impact our net sales and net income. We typically experience decreased sales and operating income during the first fiscal quarter of each year due to the impact of scheduled customer plant shut-downs in July and new model changeovers.

Foreign Operations – As discussed under Joint Ventures, we have joint venture investments in Mexico, Brazil and China. These operations are currently not material. However, as these operations expand, their success will depend, in part, on our and our partners’ ability to anticipate and effectively manage certain risks inherent in international operations including: enforcing agreements and collecting receivables through certain foreign legal systems, payment cycles of foreign customers, compliance with foreign tax laws, general economic and political conditions in these countries and compliance with foreign laws and regulations.

Currency Exchange Rate Fluctuations – We incur a portion of our expenses in Mexican pesos. Exchange rate fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and the Mexican peso could have an adverse effect on our financial results.

Sources of and Fluctuations in Market Prices of Raw Materials – Our primary raw materials are high-grade zinc, brass, magnesium, aluminum, steel and plastic resins. These materials are generally available from a number of suppliers, but we have chosen to concentrate our sourcing with one primary vendor for each commodity or purchased component. We believe our sources of raw materials are reliable and adequate for our needs. However, the development of future sourcing issues related to using alternative raw materials and to the availability of these materials as well as significant fluctuations in the market prices of these materials may have an adverse affect on our financial results if the increased raw material costs cannot be recovered from our customers.

Disruptions Due to Work Stoppages and Other Labor Matters – Our major customers and many of their suppliers have unionized work forces. Work stoppages or slow-downs experienced by our customers or their suppliers could result in slow-downs or closures of assembly plants where our products are included in assembled vehicles. For example, strikes by the United Auto Workers led to a shut-down of most of General Motors Corporation’s North American assembly plants in June and July of 1998. A material work stoppage experienced by one or more of our customers could have an adverse effect on our business and our financial results. In addition, all production associates at our Milwaukee facility are unionized. A sixteen-day strike by these associates in June 2001 resulted in increased costs as all salaried associates worked with additional outside resources to produce the components necessary to meet customer requirements. The current contract with the unionized associates is effective through June 29, 2008. We may encounter further labor disruption after the expiration date of this contract and may also encounter unionization efforts in our other plants or other types of labor conflicts, any of which could have an adverse effect on our business and our financial results.

Environmental and Safety Regulations – We are subject to federal, state, local and foreign laws and other legal requirements related to the generation, storage, transport, treatment and disposal of materials as a result of our manufacturing and assembly operations. These laws include the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (as amended), the Clean Air Act (as amended) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (as amended). We have an environmental management system that is ISO-14001 certified. We believe that our existing environmental management system is adequate for current and anticipated operations and we have no current plans for substantial capital expenditures in the environmental area. An environmental reserve was established in 1995 for estimated costs to remediate a site at our Milwaukee facility. The site was contaminated by a former above-ground solvent storage tank, located on the east side of the facility. The contamination occurred in 1985. This is being monitored in accordance with federal, state and local requirements. We do not currently anticipate any material adverse impact on our results of operations, financial condition or competitive position as a result of compliance with federal, state, local and foreign environmental laws or other legal requirements. However, risk of environmental liability and changes associated with maintaining compliance with environmental laws is inherent in the nature of our business and there is no assurance that material liabilities or changes could not arise.

Highly Competitive Automotive Supply Industry – The automotive component supply industry is highly competitive. Some of our competitors are companies, or divisions or subsidiaries of companies, that are larger than STRATTEC and have greater financial and technology capabilities. Our products may not be able to compete successfully with the products of these other companies, which could result in loss of customers and, as a result, decreased sales and profitability. Some of our major customers have also announced that they will be reducing their supply base. This could potentially result in the loss of these customers and consolidation within the supply base. The loss of any of our major customers could have a material adverse effect on our existing and future net sales and net income.

In addition, our competitive position in the North American automotive component supply industry could be adversely affected in the event that we are unsuccessful in making strategic acquisitions, alliances or establishing joint ventures that would enable us to expand globally. We principally compete for new business at the beginning of the development of new models and upon the redesign of existing models by our major customers. New model development generally begins two to five years prior to the marketing of such new models to the public. The failure to obtain new business on new models or to retain or increase business on redesigned existing models could adversely affect our business and financial results. In addition, as a result of relatively long lead times for many of our components, it may be difficult in the short-term for us to obtain new sales to replace any unexpected decline in the sale of existing products. Finally, we may incur significant product development expense in preparing to meet anticipated customer requirements which may not be recovered.

Program Volume and Pricing Fluctuations – We incur costs and make capital expenditures for new program awards based upon certain estimates of production volumes over the anticipated program life for certain vehicles. While we attempt to establish the price of our products for variances in production volumes, if the actual production of certain vehicle models is significantly less than planned, our net sales and net income may be adversely affected. We cannot predict our customers’ demands for the products we supply either in the aggregate or for particular reporting periods.

Investments in Customer Program Specific Assets – We make investments in machinery and equipment used exclusively to manufacture products for specific customer programs. This machinery and equipment is capitalized and depreciated over the expected useful life of each respective asset. Therefore, the loss of any one of our major customers, the loss of specific vehicle models or the early cancellation of a vehicle model could result in impairment in the value of these assets and may have a material adverse effect on our financial results.

Item 3 Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Our exposure to market risk is limited to foreign currency exchange rate risk associated with STRATTEC’s foreign operations. We do not utilize financial instruments for trading purposes and hold no derivative financial instruments which would expose us to significant market risk. We have not had outstanding borrowings since December 1997. To the extent that we incur future borrowings under our line of credit, we would be subject to interest rate risk related to such borrowings. There is, therefore, currently no significant exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates. However, we are subject to foreign currency exchange rate exposure related to the U.S. dollar costs of our Mexican operations. A material increase in the value of the Mexican peso relative to the U.S. dollar would increase our expenses and, therefore, could adversely affect our profitability.

Item 4 Controls and Procedures

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 the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). 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 in recording, processing, summarizing and reporting, on a timely basis, information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file with or submit to the Securities and Exchange Commission. 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 and, based on the evaluation described above, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at reaching that level of reasonable assurance.

There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) 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 in our risk factors from those disclosed in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors,” of our 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Please refer to that section for disclosures regarding the risks and uncertainties relating to our business.

Item 2 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds –

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 under the program. The program currently authorizes the repurchase of up to 3,639,395 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 30, 2008, a total of 3,441,005 shares have been repurchased at a cost of approximately $129.4 million.

	Total Number Of Shares Purchased		Average Price Paid Per Share		Total Number Of Shares Purchased As Part of Publicly Announced Program		Maximum Number Of Shares that May Yet be Purchased Under the Program
Period
December 31, 2007 – February 3, 2008		13,605	$	39.15		13,605		215,590
February 4, 2008 – March 2, 2008		14,100	$	38.06		14,100		201,490
March 3, 2008 – March 30, 2008		3,100	$	37.91		3,100		198,390
Total		30,805	$	38.53		30,805		198,390

Item 3 Defaults Upon Senior Securities - None

Item 4 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders – None

Item 5 Other Information - None

Item 6 Exhibits

(a)

Exhibits

31.1

Rule 13a-14(a) Certification for Harold M. Stratton II, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

31.2

Rule 13a-14(a) Certification for Patrick J. Hansen, Chief Financial Officer

32 (1)

18 U.S.C. Section 1350 Certifications

(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: April 30, 2008

By /s/ Patrick J. Hansen

Patrick J. Hansen

Senior Vice President,

Chief Financial Officer,

Treasurer and Secretary

(Principal Accounting and Financial Officer)