_____________________________________ 

_____________________________________ 

(Mark One)

For the quarterly period ended April 1, 2018

For the transition period from __________ to __________

Commission file number 1-1370

________________________________________

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

_____________________________________ 

12301 West Wirth Street, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 53222

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(414) 259-5333

(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 has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes   x     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. (Check one):

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  x

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

BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX

BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

ASSETS

BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Continued)

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS' INVESTMENT

BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

1. Description of Business and General Information

Briggs & Stratton Corporation (the "Company") is a U.S. based producer of gasoline engines and outdoor power equipment. The Company's Engines Segment sells engines worldwide, primarily to original equipment manufacturers ("OEMs") of lawn and garden equipment and other gasoline engine powered equipment. The Company also sells related service parts and accessories for its engines. The Company's Products Segment designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of outdoor power equipment, job site products, and related accessories.

The majority of lawn and garden equipment is sold during the spring and summer months when most lawn care and gardening activities are performed. Engine sales in the Company's third fiscal quarter have historically been the highest, while sales in the first fiscal quarter have historically been the lowest. Sales of pressure washers and lawn and garden powered equipment are typically higher during the third and fourth fiscal quarters than at other times of the year. Sales of portable generators and snowthrowers are typically higher during the first and second fiscal quarters.

Inventory levels generally increase during the first and second fiscal quarters in anticipation of customer demand. Inventory levels begin to decrease as sales increase in the third fiscal quarter. This seasonal pattern results in high inventories and low cash flow for the Company in the first, second and the beginning of the third fiscal quarters. The pattern generally results in higher cash flow in the latter portion of the third fiscal quarter and in the fourth fiscal quarter as inventories are liquidated and receivables are collected.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and therefore do not include all information and footnotes necessary for a fair statement of financial position, results of operations and cash flows in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but also does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. However, in the opinion of the Company, adequate disclosures have been presented to prevent the information from being misleading, and all adjustments necessary to fairly present the results of operations and financial position have been included. All of these adjustments are of a normal recurring nature, except as otherwise noted.

Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. The information included in these condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto that were included in the Company's latest Annual Report on Form 10-K.

2. New Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2018-02, Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. ASU No. 2018-02 allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The guidance is effective beginning fiscal year 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this new accounting pronouncement on its financial position.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which simplifies how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Step 2 measures a goodwill impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of a reporting unit's goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. Under the amendments in ASU 2017-04, an entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The updated guidance requires a prospective adoption. The guidance is effective beginning fiscal year 2021. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this new accounting pronouncement on its results of operations and financial position.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash. ASU 2016-18 requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Therefore, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The guidance is effective, on a retrospective basis, beginning fiscal year 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this new accounting pronouncement on its consolidated statements of cash flows.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which is intended to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. Certain qualitative and quantitative disclosures are required, as well as a modified retrospective recognition and measurement of impacted leases. The guidance is effective beginning fiscal year 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this new accounting pronouncement on its results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (ASU No. 2016-01). ASU No. 2016-01 enhances the existing financial instruments reporting model by modifying fair value measurement tools, simplifying impairment assessments for certain equity instruments, and modifying overall presentation and disclosure requirements. The guidance is effective beginning fiscal year 2019, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption to have a material impact on the Company's results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Topic 606 also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to fulfill a contract. This guidance is effective beginning fiscal year 2019 under either full or modified retrospective adoption. The Company has begun its assessment of Topic 606 and has developed a comprehensive project plan that includes representatives from across the Company's business. The project plan includes analyzing the standard's impact on the Company's various revenue streams, comparing its historical accounting policies and practices to the requirements of the new standard, and identifying potential differences from applying the requirements of the new standard to its contracts. The Company is in the process of identifying and implementing appropriate changes to its business processes, systems and controls to support revenue recognition and disclosures under Topic 606. Subject to the potential effects of any new related ASUs issued by the FASB, as well as the Company's ongoing evaluation of transactions and contracts, the Company does not anticipate that the adoption of this standard will have a material impact on the company's consolidated financial statements. The Company anticipates adopting Topic 606 at the beginning of fiscal year 2019 using the modified retrospective approach.

3. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(1) Amounts reclassified to net income (loss) are included in net sales or cost of goods sold. See Note 8 for information related to derivative financial instruments.

(2) Amounts reclassified to net income (loss) are included in the computation of net periodic expense, which is presented in cost of goods sold or engineering, selling, general and administrative expenses. See Note 6 for information related to pension and postretirement benefit plans.

(1) Amounts reclassified to net income (loss) are included in net sales or cost of goods sold. See Note 8 for information related to derivative financial instruments.

(2) Amounts reclassified to net income (loss) are included in the computation of net periodic expense, which is presented in cost of goods sold or engineering, selling, general and administrative expenses. See Note 6 for information related to pension and postretirement benefit plans.

(1) Amounts reclassified to net income (loss) are included in net sales or cost of goods sold. See Note 8 for information related to derivative financial instruments.

(2) Amounts reclassified to net income (loss) are included in the computation of net periodic expense, which is presented in cost of goods sold or engineering, selling, general and administrative expenses. See Note 6 for information related to pension and postretirement benefit plans.

(1) Amounts reclassified to net income (loss) are included in net sales or cost of goods sold. See Note 8 for information related to derivative financial instruments.

(2) Amounts reclassified to net income (loss) are included in the computation of net periodic expense, which is presented in cost of goods sold or engineering, selling, general and administrative expenses. See Note 6 for information related to pension and postretirement benefit plans.

4. Earnings Per Share

The Company computes earnings per share using the two-class method, an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for each class of common stock and participating security according to dividends declared and participation rights in undistributed earnings. The Company's unvested grants of restricted stock, restricted stock units, and deferred stock awards contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends (whether paid or unpaid), which are required to be treated as participating securities and included in the computation of basic earnings per share.

Information on earnings per share is as follows (in thousands, except per share data):

The dilutive effect of the potential exercise of outstanding stock-based awards to acquire common shares is calculated using the treasury stock method. The following options to purchase shares of common stock were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share as the exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares:

On April 21, 2016, the Board of Directors authorized up to $50 million in funds for use in the common share repurchase program with an expiration date of June 29, 2018. As of April 1, 2018 , the total remaining authorization was approximately $21.8 million . Subsequent to the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2018, the Board of Directors authorized an additional $50 million under the share repurchase program with an expiration date of June 30, 2020.

The common share repurchase program authorizes the purchase of shares of the Company's common stock on the open market or in private transactions from time to time, depending on market conditions and certain governing debt covenants. During the nine months ended April 1, 2018 , the Company repurchased 382,806 shares on the open market at an average price of $22.76 per share, as compared to 916,040 shares purchased on the open market at an average price of $19.57 per share during the nine months ended April 2, 2017 .

5. Investments

Investments represent the Company's investments in unconsolidated affiliated companies.

Financial information of the unconsolidated affiliated companies is accounted for by the equity method, generally on a lag of one month or less. The following table sets forth the unaudited results of operations of unconsolidated affiliated companies for the three and nine months ended April 1, 2018 and April 2, 2017 (in thousands):

The following table sets forth the unaudited balance sheets of unconsolidated affiliated companies as of April 1, 2018 and July 2, 2017 (in thousands):

The Company concluded that its equity method investments are integral to its business. The equity method investments provide manufacturing and distribution functions, which are important parts of its operations. Net sales to equity method investees were approximately $65.1 million and $75.9 million for the nine months ended April 1, 2018 and April 2, 2017 , respectively. Purchases of finished products from equity method investees were approximately $86.8 million and $82.3 million million for the nine months ended April 1, 2018 and April 2, 2017 , respectively.

6. Pension and Postretirement Benefits

The Company has noncontributory defined benefit retirement plans and postretirement plans covering certain employees. The following tables summarize the plans' income and expense for the periods indicated (in thousands):

The Company expects to make benefit payments of $3.3 million attributable to its non-qualified pension plans for the full year of fiscal 2018. During the first nine months of fiscal 2018, the Company made payments of approximately $2.9 million for its non-qualified pension plans. The Company anticipates making benefit payments of approximately $10.1 million for its other postretirement benefit plans for the full year of fiscal 2018. During the first nine months of fiscal 2018, the Company made payments of $7.5 million for its other postretirement benefit plans.

During the first nine months of fiscal 2018, the Company made $30.0 million in voluntary cash contributions to the qualified pension plan. Based upon current regulations and actuarial studies the Company is required to make no minimum contributions to the qualified pension plan in fiscal 2018. The Company may be required to make further required contributions in future years or the future expected funding requirements may change depending on a variety of factors including the actual return on plan assets, the funded status of the plan in future periods, and changes in actuarial assumptions or regulations.

7. Stock Incentives

Stock based compensation expense is calculated by estimating the fair value of incentive stock awards granted and amortizing the estimated value over the awards' vesting period. Stock based compensation expense was $1.4 million and $5.3 million for the three and nine months ended April 1, 2018 . For the three and nine months ended April 2, 2017 , stock based compensation expense was $1.7 million and $4.6 million , respectively.

8. Derivative Instruments & Hedging Activities

The Company enters into derivative contracts designated as cash flow hedges to manage certain interest rate, foreign currency and commodity exposures. Company policy allows derivatives to be used only for identifiable exposures and, therefore, the Company does not enter into derivative instruments for trading purposes where the sole objective is to generate profits.

The Company formally designates the financial instrument as a hedge of a specific underlying exposure and documents both the risk management objectives and strategies for undertaking the hedge. The Company formally assesses, both at the inception and at least quarterly thereafter, whether the financial instruments that are used in hedging transactions are effective at offsetting changes in the forecasted cash flows of the related underlying exposure. Because of the high degree of effectiveness between the hedging instrument and the underlying exposure being hedged, fluctuations in the value of the derivative instruments are generally offset by changes in the forecasted cash flows of the underlying exposures being hedged. Derivative financial instruments are recorded within the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as assets or liabilities, measured at fair value. The effective portion of gains or losses on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges are reported as a component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (AOCI) and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. Any ineffective portion of a financial instrument's change in fair value is immediately recognized in earnings.

The Company discontinues hedge accounting prospectively when it determines that the derivative is no longer effective in offsetting cash flows attributable to the hedged risk, the derivative expires or is sold, terminated, or exercised, the cash flow hedge is dedesignated because a forecasted transaction is not probable of occurring, or management determines to remove the designation of the cash flow hedge.

In all situations in which hedge accounting is discontinued and the derivative remains outstanding, the Company continues to carry the derivative at its fair value on the balance sheet and recognizes any subsequent changes in its fair value in earnings. When it is probable that a forecasted transaction will not occur, the Company discontinues hedge accounting and recognizes immediately in earnings gains and losses that were accumulated in other comprehensive income related to the hedging relationship.

The Company enters into interest rate swaps to manage a portion of its interest rate risk from financing certain dealer and distributor inventories through a third party financing source. The swaps are designated as cash flow hedges and are used to effectively fix the interest payments to third party financing sources, exclusive of lender spreads, ranging from 0.98% to 2.00% for a notional principal amount of $110.0 million with expiration dates ranging from May 2019 through December 2021 .

The Company periodically enters into foreign currency contracts to hedge the risk from forecasted third party and intercompany sales or payments denominated in foreign currencies. Our primary foreign currency exposures are the Australian Dollar, the Brazilian Real, the Canadian Dollar, the Chinese Renminbi, the Euro, and the Japanese Yen against the U.S. Dollar. These contracts generally do not have a maturity of more than twenty-four months.

The Company uses raw materials that are subject to price volatility. The Company hedges a portion of its exposure to the variability of cash flows associated with commodities used in the manufacturing process by entering into forward purchase contracts or commodity swaps. Derivative contracts designated as cash flow hedges are used by the Company to reduce exposure to variability in cash flows associated with future purchases of natural gas. These contracts generally do not have a maturity of more than thirty-six months.

The Company has considered the counterparty credit risk related to all its interest rate, foreign currency, and commodity derivative contracts and does not deem any counterparty credit risk material at this time.

As of April 1, 2018 and July 2, 2017 , the Company had the following outstanding derivative contracts (in thousands):

The location and fair value of derivative instruments reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets are as follows (in thousands):

The effect of derivative instruments on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss is as follows (in thousands):