Briggs & Stratton Corporation Announces New Revolving Credit Facility

MILWAUKEE, Sept. 27, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Briggs & Stratton Corporation (NYSE: BGG) ("the company") today announced that it has entered into a new revolving credit facility ("facility"), which provides up to $625 million in borrowing capacity subject to a borrowing base. The new revolver, which is scheduled to mature in 2024, is secured by certain of the company's and its subsidiaries' working capital and other assets and is an increase from the company's previous facility of $500 million.

"This new facility gives us added flexibility to fund seasonal borrowing needs and for general corporate purposes as we work to de-lever and strengthen the balance sheet," said Mark Schwertfeger, Senior Vice President and CFO of Briggs & Stratton Corporation. "While borrowing under the new facility is variable, based on the aggregate amount of underlying assets, we are encouraged that the larger size provides us a foundation for our capital structure, especially as we look to ultimately retire the senior notes that mature in December 2020."

Borrowings under the new facility bear interest at a variable rate based on LIBOR plus a spread dependent on the trailing twelve month consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio as defined by the agreement. The company continues to project that fiscal 2020 consolidated interest expense will be approximately $34 million. The new facility contains a springing fixed charge coverage financial covenant that must be met if borrowings exceed a set percentage of the borrowing base.

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. serves as the administrative agent of the new facility, and each of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Bank of America, N.A., Bank of Montreal and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association served as joint lead arrangers.

Safe Harbor Statement:
This release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "forecast", "intend", "plan", "project", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on the company's current views and assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties that include, among other things, the ability to successfully forecast demand for its products; changes in interest rates and foreign exchange rates; the effects of weather on the purchasing patterns of consumers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs); actions of engine manufacturers and OEMs with whom the company competes; changes in laws and regulations, including U.S. tax reform, changes in tax rates, laws and regulations as well as related guidance; imposition of new, or changes in existing, duties, tariffs and trade agreements; changes in customer and OEM demand; changes in prices of raw materials and parts that the company purchases; changes in domestic and foreign economic conditions (including effects from the U.K.'s decision to exit the European Union); the ability to bring new productive capacity on line efficiently and with good quality; outcomes of legal proceedings and claims; the ability to realize anticipated savings from the business optimization program and restructuring actions; and other factors disclosed from time to time in the company's SEC filings or otherwise, including the factors discussed in Item 1A, Risk Factors, of the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and in its periodic reports on Form 10-Q. The company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements made in this release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

About Briggs & Stratton Corporation:
Briggs & Stratton Corporation (NYSE: BGG), headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is focused on providing power to get work done and make people's lives better. Briggs & Stratton is the world's largest producer of gasoline engines for outdoor power equipment, and is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of power generation, pressure washer, lawn and garden, turf care and job site products through its Briggs & Stratton(®), Simplicity(®), Snapper(®), Ferris(®), Vanguard(®), Allmand(®), Billy Goat(®), Murray(®), Branco(®) and Victa(®) brands. Briggs & Stratton products are designed, manufactured, marketed and serviced in over 100 countries on six continents. For additional information, please visit www.basco.com and www.briggsandstratton.com.

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/briggs--stratton-corporation-announces-new-revolving-credit-facility-300926992.html

SOURCE Briggs & Stratton Corporation