Briggs & Stratton Corporation (NYSE: BGG) announced financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended June 27, 2010.

Highlights:

• Fourth quarter fiscal 2010 consolidated net sales of $615.6 million, an increase of $132.9 million or 27.5% from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009.
• Fourth quarter fiscal 2010 consolidated net income of $18.2 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, increased from $5.3 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, one year ago.  The fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 included a $5.8 million pretax charge ($3.5 million after tax or $0.07 per diluted share) for plant closure costs.  
• Fiscal 2010 consolidated net income of $36.6 million, or $0.73 per diluted share, included a $30.6 million pretax charge ($18.7 million after tax or $0.37 per diluted share) for a previously disclosed litigation settlement.  Fiscal 2009 net income was $32.0 million, or $0.64 per diluted share.
• Strong cash flows from operations in fiscal 2010 of $243.7 million drove down net debt outstanding by $178.2 million.

"We continued to execute our operational initiatives to strengthen the company and improve profitability in fiscal 2010," commented Todd J. Teske, President and Chief Executive Officer of Briggs & Stratton.

"Despite challenging economic conditions over the past year, operating profits and cash flows from operations increased and significantly improved our balance sheet.

"Our fiscal 2010 results position us to be successful for either a prolonged economic recovery in the US and Europe or a stronger rebound as consumer confidence returns. We are also pleased that our financial results allowed us to pay our employees the remainder of the salaries and 401(K) company match benefits that were reduced earlier in the fiscal year.  The response of our employees to our business challenges during fiscal 2010 was extraordinary."

Outlook:

For fiscal 2011, the company projects that consolidated net income will be in the range of $60 million to $70 million or $1.20 to $1.40 per diluted share.

Consolidated net sales are projected to be higher by approximately 2% to 4% depending on the level of recovery of consumer spending within the outdoor power equipment category.

Engines Segment sales are forecasted higher on modest volume and pricing improvements while the Power Products Segment sales are forecasted higher primarily due to higher volumes of lawn and garden equipment. Demand for portable generators and the related engines due to landed hurricane activity have not been included in our fiscal 2011 sales forecast.

Operating income margins are projected to be in the range of 5.0% to 6.0%, and interest expense and other income are forecasted to be in the range of $23 million to $25 million and $4 million to $5 million, respectively.  The effective tax rate for the full year is projected to be in a range of 32% to 35%.

Consolidated Results:

Fiscal 2010 fourth quarter results included consolidated net sales of $615.6 million and consolidated net income of $18.2 million or $0.36 per diluted share.  The fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 had consolidated net sales of $482.8 million and consolidated net income of $5.3 million or $0.11 per diluted share.  Included in net income for the fiscal 2009 fourth quarter was a $5.8 million pretax ($3.5 million after tax) expense associated with the closing of a manufacturing facility in Jefferson, Wisconsin.  The consolidated net sales increase of $132.9 million or 27.5% was due primarily to increased shipment volumes in both the Engines and Power Products Segments.  After considering the impact of the fiscal 2009 item related to the Jefferson, Wisconsin facility closure, fourth quarter consolidated net income was $18.2 million, which was higher by $9.4 million as compared to the prior year adjusted net income of $8.8 million.  This increase was the result of increased shipment and production volumes as well as improved productivity, partially offset by the $4.4 million repayment to employees for the remainder of the salaries and 401(K) company match benefits that were reduced earlier in the fiscal year.  

For fiscal 2010, the company had consolidated net sales of $2.03 billion and consolidated net income of $36.6 million or $0.73 per diluted share.  Fiscal 2009 consolidated net sales were $2.09 billion and consolidated net income was $32.0 million or $0.64 per diluted share.  The $64.3 million decrease in consolidated net sales was primarily due to reduced generator shipment volumes due to the absence of landed hurricanes.  In addition, sales were also impacted by lower average prices for engines offset by a favorable mix of engines and favorable currency exchange primarily related to the Euro and Australian dollar.

Included in fiscal 2010 consolidated net income was a $30.6 million pretax expense ($18.7 million after tax or $0.37 per diluted share) associated with a class action lawsuit regarding horsepower labeling that was previously disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 2, 2010.  Fiscal 2009 consolidated net income included the $5.8 million pretax ($3.5 million after tax) expense associated with the closing of the Jefferson, Wisconsin manufacturing facility.  After considering the impact of these items, fiscal 2010 adjusted consolidated net income was $55.3 million, which was higher by $19.8 million compared to the prior year adjusted net income of $35.5 million. The increased net income was primarily the result of reduced manufacturing costs, lower commodity costs and transportation expenses and planned manufacturing cost savings.  

Engines Segment:

Fiscal 2010 fourth quarter net sales were $423.1 million versus $336.0 million for the same period a year ago, an increase of $87.1 million or 25.9%. The increase in net sales was the result of increased sales volume to U.S. OEM customers and a favorable mix of product shipped that reflected higher priced units used on riding lawn and garden equipment.  Engine shipments were favorably impacted by the improvement in lawn and garden products sold at retail primarily due to favorable weather conditions domestically.  Lower average sales prices and unfavorable exchange rates compared to last year partially offset the higher volumes and favorable product mix.

Net sales for fiscal 2010 were $1.40 billion versus the $1.41 billion in the prior year, a decrease of $7.4 million or 0.5%.  Total engine volumes for the year were essentially flat as an increase in engines used in lawn and garden applications was offset by reduced demand for engines for portable generators due to no landed hurricane activity.  Lower average prices during the year were effectively offset by a favorable mix of higher priced engines shipped for use on riding equipment and a slightly favorable foreign currency impact.    

Income from operations for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 was $27.2 million, up $6.8 million from the $20.4 million earned during the same period in the prior year.  The increased income from operations was the result of increased sales and production volumes, lower commodity costs, a favorable mix of product shipped that reflected higher priced units, and improved productivity, offset by lower average prices and increased engineering, selling and administrative expenses. Engineering, selling, general and administrative expenses were higher due in part to recognizing the expense for repayment of the remaining salaries and 401(K) company match benefits that were reduced from salaried employees earlier in the fiscal year.        

Income from operations for fiscal 2010 was $83.1 million.  Income from operations after adjusting for the $30.6 million litigation settlement was $113.7 million, up $30.3 million from the $83.4 million in fiscal 2009.  The increased income from operations was the result of lower manufacturing costs and efficiencies, lower average commodity costs, a favorable mix of product shipped that reflected higher priced units, and improved productivity, partially offset by lower average sales prices and higher selling and administrative expenses.    

Power Products Segment:

Fiscal 2010 fourth quarter net sales were $248.8 million versus $195.2 million from the same period a year ago, an increase of $53.6 million. The net sales increase was due to increased shipments of lawn and garden equipment and pressure washers, both driven by favorable weather conditions domestically.  

Net sales for fiscal 2010 were $814.3 million versus $892.9 million in the prior year, a $78.6 million decrease.  The net sales decrease for the year was the result of decreased portable generator sales volume due to the absence of any landed hurricanes in fiscal 2010 partially offset by higher volumes of other power products.  

The income from operations in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 was $2.1 million.  The loss from operations in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 was $6.1 million, which included a $4.6 million impairment expense related to the write-down of assets associated with the closure of the Jefferson, Wisconsin facility.  After considering the impact of the Jefferson closure, income from operations between years improved by $3.6 million.  The improvement resulted from increased sales and production volumes of lawn and garden equipment and pressure washers.  Offsetting the improvement was a decrease in absorption rates due to lower production levels of portable generators and snow throwers compared to the prior year, as well as increased engineering, selling, general and administrative expenses related to the repayment to employees for the remainder of the salaries and 401(K) company match benefits that were reduced earlier in the fiscal year.  

The loss from operations for fiscal 2010 was $5.9 million. The loss from operations for fiscal 2009 was $15.0 million, which included the $4.6 million expense related to the write-down of assets associated with the closure of the Jefferson, Wisconsin facility.  After considering the impact of the Jefferson closure, the loss from operations between years was improved by approximately $4.5 million.  The majority of the improvement was the result of lower manufacturing costs, primarily related to lower commodity costs and planned cost savings initiatives.  The improvements were partially offset by lower sales and production volumes primarily related to the significantly lower portable generator production and shipments in fiscal 2010.   Transition costs of approximately $8.0 million related to the closure of the Jefferson, Wisconsin facility more than offset the related cost savings of approximately $3.0 million in fiscal 2010 associated with consolidating the manufacturing and administrative footprint accomplished in fiscal 2010.  

Corporate Items:

Other income for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2010 was greater than the same periods last year primarily because of improved earnings of our joint ventures.  Interest expense for the fourth quarter and twelve months of fiscal 2010 was less than the comparable periods of last year due to lower average borrowings offset by a premium expense of $0.1 million and $2.5 million, respectively, related to the repurchase of a portion of outstanding senior notes.

The effective tax rate was 28.2% and 5.3% for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 and 2009, respectively.  The effective tax rate was 25.4% and 20.9% for fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2009, respectively.  The variation between quarters is due to the required recognition of the tax effects of certain events as discrete items in the quarter they occur rather than in the overall expected annual tax rate.  In addition, the annual fluctuation reflects the impact of changes in foreign earnings at different tax rates and the taxation of dividends from foreign operations as well as a larger benefit from the production activities deduction and resolution of certain tax matters.

Financial Position:

The 8.875% Senior Notes that are due in March 2011 have been classified as Short-Term Debt in the consolidated balance sheet as of the end of fiscal 2010.   The company believes it will be able to replace these borrowings with new financing at or prior to the maturity date of the Senior Notes.

Net debt at June 27, 2010 was $89.9 million (total debt of $206.5 million less $116.6 million of cash), an improvement of $178.2 million from fiscal 2009. The reduction of debt was attributable to cash flows from operations. Cash flows provided by operating activities were $243.7 million during fiscal 2010, an increase of $71.3 million over fiscal 2009.