1 SCHEDULE 14A (RULE 14a-101) INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. ) Filed by the registrant [X] Filed by a party other than the registrant [ ] Check the appropriate box: [ ] Preliminary proxy statement. [ ] Confidential, for use of the Commission only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)). [X] Definitive proxy statement. [ ] Definitive additional materials. [ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 BRIGG'S & STRATTON CORPORATION - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if Other Than the Registrant) Payment of filing fee (check the appropriate box): [X] No fee required. [ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (5) Total fee paid: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing. (1) Amount Previously Paid: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (3) Filing Party: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (4) Date Filed: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION [BRIGGS & STRATTON LOGO] 12301 WEST WIRTH STREET WAUWATOSA, WISCONSIN 53222 NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION, a Wisconsin corporation, will be held at the Doral Arrowwood Conference Center, Anderson Hill Road, Rye Brook, New York 10573, on Wednesday, October 17, 2001, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, for the following purposes: (a) To elect three directors to serve for three-year terms expiring in 2004; and (b) To take action on any other matters brought before the meeting appropriate for consideration by the shareholders of a Wisconsin corporation at an annual meeting. By order of the Board of Directors Wauwatosa, Wisconsin September 12, 2001 KASANDRA K. PRESTON, Secretary YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT TO INSURE THAT A MAJORITY OF THE STOCK IS REPRESENTED. YOU MAY VOTE USING THE INTERNET, BY TELEPHONE, OR BY RETURNING THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED. INSTRUCTIONS FOR VOTING VIA THE INTERNET OR BY TELEPHONE ARE INCLUDED ON YOUR PROXY CARD. The Doral Arrowwood Conference Center is located in Rye Brook, New York, about 25 miles north of Midtown Manhattan, New York and 5 miles from the Westchester County (White Plains) Airport. 3 PROXY STATEMENT * * * * * GENERAL INFORMATION This Proxy Statement relates to the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Briggs & Stratton Corporation to be used at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders and any adjournments. The meeting will be held on October 17, 2001 at the time and place stated in the preceding notice. Briggs & Stratton's principal executive offices are located at 12301 West Wirth Street, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 53222. This Proxy Statement and the form of proxy will be mailed to shareholders on or about September 12, 2001. WHO CAN VOTE? Shareholders of record at the close of business on August 23, 2001 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting. On August 23, 2001, Briggs & Stratton had outstanding 21,598,983 shares of $.01 par value common stock entitled to one vote per share. HOW DO I VOTE? You may vote in person or by properly appointed proxy. You may cast your vote by returning your signed and dated proxy card, or by voting electronically. You have the option to vote by proxy via the Internet or toll-free touch-tone telephone. Instructions to vote electronically are listed on your proxy card or on the information forwarded by your bank or broker. These procedures are designed to authenticate your identity as a shareholder and to allow you to confirm that your instructions have been properly recorded. If you vote over the Internet, you may incur costs that you will be responsible for such as telephone and Internet access charges. The Internet and telephone voting facilities will close at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on October 16, 2001. You may revoke your proxy by voting in person at the meeting, by written notice to the Corporate Secretary, or by executing and delivering a later-dated proxy via the Internet, or by telephone or by mail, prior to the closing of the polls. Attendance at the meeting does not in itself constitute revocation of a proxy. All shares entitled to vote and represented by properly completed proxies timely received and not revoked will be voted as you direct. If no direction is given, the proxies will be voted as the Board of Directors recommends. HOW ARE VOTES COUNTED? A majority of the votes entitled to be cast on each matter, represented either in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum with respect to the matter. If a quorum exists, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes represented at the meeting is required for the election of directors. A vote withheld counts toward the quorum requirement and has the effect of a vote against the director nominee or nominees. The Inspectors of Election appointed by the Board of Directors count the votes and ballots. WHO PAYS FOR THIS PROXY SOLICITATION? Briggs & Stratton pays for the cost of solicitation of proxies. Solicitation is made primarily by mail. Some solicitation may be made by regular Briggs & Stratton employees, without additional compensation, by telephone, facsimile, or other means of communication, or in person. In addition, Briggs & Stratton has retained Innisfree M&A Incorporated to assist in its proxy solicitation efforts, at a fee anticipated not to exceed $9,000 plus reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. 1 4 WHAT IF OTHER MATTERS COME UP AT THE ANNUAL MEETING? The matters described in this proxy statement are the only matters we know will be voted on at the annual meeting. If other matters are properly presented at the meeting, the proxy holders will vote your shares as they see fit. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS The Board of Directors of Briggs & Stratton is divided into three classes. The term of office of each class ends in successive years. Three directors are to be elected to serve for a term of three years expiring in 2004. Six directors will continue to serve for the terms designated in the following General Information Table. All directors are elected subject to the Bylaw restriction that they may not serve beyond the Annual Meeting following attainment of age 70. The proxies received in response to this solicitation will be voted for the election of the nominees named below. If any nominee is unable to serve, the proxies may be voted for a substitute nominee selected by the Board of Directors. DIRECTOR COMPENSATION Each nonemployee director of Briggs & Stratton receives an annual retainer fee of $20,000 and an annual award of 200 shares of Briggs & Stratton common stock, a fee of $1,500 for each Board or Committee meeting attended, and a fee of $250 for participating in any written consent resolution. Under the Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors, nonemployee directors may elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of their directors' fees until any date but no later than the year in which the director attains the age of 71 years. Participants may elect to have cash deferred amounts either: (1) credited with interest quarterly at 80% of the prevailing prime rate or (2) converted into common share units, based on the deferral date closing price of Briggs & Stratton's common stock. Shares of Briggs & Stratton common stock deferred will be credited to a common stock account. Any balance in either the common stock account or the common share unit account will be credited with an amount equivalent to any dividend paid on Briggs & Stratton's common stock, which will be converted into additional common share units. The balance in the common stock account will be distributed in shares of Briggs & Stratton common stock. Common share units may be distributed in cash or stock at the election of the directors. All other distributions will be paid in cash. Nonemployee directors are also provided with $150,000 of coverage under Briggs & Stratton's Business Travel Accident Plan while on corporate business. Nonemployee directors participate in a Director's Leveraged Stock Option Plan. In general, the Plan is structured that each nonemployee director may receive a grant of nonqualified stock options ("LSOs"). The number of LSOs is to be determined by reference to the Company Performance Factor achieved under the Economic Value Added Incentive Compensation Plan ("EVA(R) Plan"). When performance reaches target under the EVA Plan, each nonemployee director will be awarded 2,000 options. Performance exceeding target will result in additional shares granted on a sliding scale. Performance less than target may result in no option grants. The LSOs are premium priced with the exercise price equal to the exercise price for LSOs granted under the LSO Program for Senior Executives of Briggs & Stratton and have the same vesting provisions and expiration terms. The Director's LSO Plan is structured so that a fair return must be provided to Briggs & Stratton's shareholders before the options become valuable. There were no LSOs granted to nonemployee directors for fiscal 2001. EVA(R) is a registered trademark of Stern Stewart & Co. 2 5 GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE NOMINEES AND DIRECTORS YEAR FIRST BECAME A NAME, AGE, PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION FOR PAST FIVE YEARS AND DIRECTORSHIPS DIRECTOR - --------------------------------------------------------------------- -------- NOMINEES FOR ELECTION AT THE ANNUAL MEETING (CLASS OF 2004): - ------------------------------------------------------------ [PHOTO] EUNICE M. FILTER, 60 (1) (4) 1997 Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary of Xerox Corporation, a manufacturer of office equipment. President and Chief Executive Officer of Xerox Credit Corporation. Director of Baker Hughes, Inc., Xerox Credit Corporation, Xerox Canada, Inc. and LaBranche & Co., Inc. [PHOTO] DAVID L. BURNER, 62 (4) 2000 Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Goodrich Corporation, an industrial products and aircraft systems and services company. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since 1997 and President since 1996. Previously President and Chief Operating Officer of BFGoodrich Aerospace. Director of Progress Energy, Inc., Milacron, Inc. and Goodrich Corporation. [PHOTO] FREDERICK P. STRATTON, JR., 62 (3) 1976 Chairman of Briggs & Stratton; also Chief Executive Officer until June 30, 2001. Director of Bank One Corporation, Midwest Express Holdings, Inc., Weyco Group Inc., Wisconsin Electric Power Company, Wisconsin Energy Corporation and Wisconsin Gas Company. INCUMBENT DIRECTORS (CLASS OF 2003): - ------------------------------------ [PHOTO] ROBERT J. O'TOOLE, 60 (2) (4) 1997 Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, A.O. Smith Corporation, a diversified manufacturer whose major products include electric motors and water heaters. Director of Factory Mutual Insurance Co. and A.O. Smith Corporation. [PHOTO] JOHN S. SHIELY, 49 (3) 1994 President and Chief Executive Officer of Briggs & Stratton since July 1, 2001; previously President and Chief Operating Officer. Director of Marshall & Ilsley Corporation and Quad/Graphics, Inc. [PHOTO] CHARLES I. STORY, 47 (1) (3) 1994 President and Chief Executive Officer, INROADS, Inc., an international non-profit training and development organization which prepares talented minorities for careers in business and engineering. Director of INROADS, Inc. and ChoicePoint Inc. Advisory Director of AmSouth Bank. FOOTNOTES (1), (2), (3) AND (4) ARE ON PAGE 4. 3 6 YEAR FIRST BECAME A NAME, AGE, PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION FOR PAST FIVE YEARS AND DIRECTORSHIPS DIRECTOR - --------------------------------------------------------------------- -------- INCUMBENT DIRECTORS (CLASS OF 2002): - ------------------------------------ [PHOTO] MICHAEL E. BATTEN, 61 (2) (4) 1984 Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Twin Disc, Incorporated, manufacturer of power transmission equipment. Director of Twin Disc, Incorporated, Sensient Technologies Corporation and Walker Forge, Inc. [PHOTO] JAY H. BAKER, 67 (2) 1999 Retired. President of Kohl's Corporation, an operator of family oriented, specialty department stores, until 1999. Director of Kohl's Corporation. [PHOTO] PETER A. GEORGESCU, 62 (1) (3) 1986 Chairman Emeritus of Young & Rubicam Inc., an international communications firm. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Young & Rubicam Inc. until 1999. Director of International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. and Levi Strauss & Co. Committee Membership: (1) NOMINATING AND GOVERNANCE, (2) COMPENSATION, (3) EXECUTIVE, (4) AUDIT. The Board of Directors held seven meetings in fiscal 2001. All of the directors attended over 75% of the meetings of the Board and the Committees upon which they serve except Mr. Georgescu, who attended 67%. In October 2000, the Board adopted changes in the standing committees and their duties and membership, based on a review and recommendation by the Nominating, Compensation and Governance Committee. At that time, the duties of the Nominating, Compensation and Governance Committee were divided between a Nominating and Governance Committee and a Compensation Committee. The Nominating, Compensation and Governance Committee held three meetings prior to October, 2000. Both the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Compensation Committee held one meeting after October 2000. The Nominating and Governance Committee, chaired by Mr. Georgescu, is composed of outside directors. The Committee: - proposes to the Board of Directors a slate of nominees for election by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting and recommends prospective director candidates in the event of the resignation, death or retirement of directors or change in Board composition requirements; - reviews candidates recommended by shareholders for election to the Board of Directors; - develops plans regarding the size and composition of both the Board of Directors and Committees; and - considers succession planning issues and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors. The Committee will consider candidates for the Board of Directors recommended by a shareholder who submits a recommendation in writing to the Secretary of Briggs & Stratton stating the shareholder's name and address, the name and address of the candidate, and the qualifications of and other detailed background information regarding the candidate. All letters suggesting candidates must be received by the Secretary of Briggs & Stratton at its principal executive offices on or before May 1 of the year of the Annual Meeting in which the candidate's nomination would be voted upon. 4 7 Any direct nominations by shareholders for the Board of Directors must be made in accordance with the advance written notice requirements of Briggs & Stratton's Bylaws. A copy of the Bylaws may be obtained from the Secretary of Briggs & Stratton. For consideration at the 2002 Annual Meeting, nominations must be received by the Secretary no earlier than July 4, 2002 and no later than July 29, 2002. The Compensation Committee is chaired by Mr. O'Toole. This Committee: - reviews the compensation and benefits provided to executive officers and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors as to salary levels and benefits; - reviews and recommends to the Board of Directors the adoption or amendment of compensation and benefit plans and programs maintained for the executive officers and other key employees; - administers The Briggs & Stratton Corporation Stock Incentive Plan and the Economic Value Added Incentive Compensation Plan; and - prepares an annual report on executive compensation. The Executive Committee is authorized to exercise the authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and the affairs of Briggs & Stratton between meetings of the Board, except as provided in the Bylaws. The Executive Committee held no meetings during fiscal 2001. The Audit Committee, chaired by Mr. Batten, is composed of outside directors. The Audit Committee's primary duties and responsibilities are to: - monitor the integrity of the financial statements of Briggs & Stratton and review with the accountants the audited financial statements and their report; - make recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding the engagement of independent public accountants to audit the books and accounts of Briggs & Stratton; - oversee the independence and performance of Briggs & Stratton's internal and external auditors; - review and approve non-audit services performed by the independent public accountants; - review the accountants' recommendations on accounting policies and internal controls; - review internal accounting and auditing procedures; and - monitor Briggs & Stratton's compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The Audit Committee held three meetings during fiscal 2001. 5 8 AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors consists of four outside directors and acts under a written Audit Committee Charter adopted by the Board of Directors in fiscal 2000. Each of the members of the Audit Committee is independent, as defined by the Audit Committee Charter and the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange. A copy of the current Audit Committee Charter is attached as an Appendix to this Proxy Statement. The Audit Committee held three meetings in fiscal 2001. Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements, the reporting process and assurance for the adequacy of controls. Briggs & Stratton's independent auditors are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of Briggs & Stratton's audited financial statements to generally accepted accounting principles. The Audit Committee is responsible for monitoring and overseeing these processes on behalf of the Board of Directors. In this context, the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed Briggs & Stratton's audited financial statements with management and Arthur Andersen LLP, our independent auditors. The Audit Committee has discussed with the independent auditors the matters related to the conduct of the audit required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, as amended (SAS 61). The Audit Committee also discussed with the independent auditors the quality and adequacy of our internal controls. In addition, the Audit Committee has received from Arthur Andersen LLP the written disclosures of all relationships between Briggs & Stratton and Arthur Andersen LLP that may bear on independence and the letter required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, "Independence Discussions with Audit Committees" and has discussed with that firm its independence. In reliance on these reviews and discussions, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 1, 2001 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. During fiscal year 2001, Briggs & Stratton retained Arthur Andersen LLP to provide services for which it billed the following fees: Financial Information Systems Audit Fees Design and Implementation Fees All Other Fees ---------- ------------------------------ -------------- $227,900 none $640,112 The category of "all other fees" consists of services provided for tax assistance ($242,735), debt offering assistance ($110,169), acquisition due diligence ($112,476), benefit plan audits ($29,510) and other miscellaneous projects ($145,222). The Audit Committee has considered whether the independent auditors' provision of services other than audit services is compatible with maintaining auditor independence. Submitted by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors Michael E. Batten, Chairman Robert J. O'Toole Eunice M. Filter David L. Burner 6 9 SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS The following table presents the names of persons known to Briggs & Stratton to be the beneficial owners of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of its common stock. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME AND ADDRESS OF AMOUNT AND NATURE OF PERCENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNER BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP CLASS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Perkins, Wolf, McDonnell & Company 2,910,985 (a) 13.5% 53 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 722 Chicago, Illinois 60604 Pioneering Management Corp. 1,588,700 (b) 7.4% 60 State Street Boston, Massachusetts 02109 AXA Financial, Inc. & Subsidiaries 1,268,793 (c) 5.9% 1290 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10104 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (a) Perkins, Wolf, McDonnell & Company ("Perkins") reports that as of July 31, 2001 it had sole voting power and sole dispositive power with respect to 32,875 shares and shared voting power and shared dispositive power with respect to 2,878,110 shares. Perkins manages the Berger Small Cap Value Fund, which holds 1,600,000 shares of Briggs & Stratton common stock. These shares are included in share total reported for Perkins. (b) Pioneering Management Corp. reports that as of August 17, 2001 it had sole voting power and sole dispositive power with respect to all 1,588,700 shares. (c) AXA Financial, Inc., through Alliance Capital Management L.P., reports that as of July 31, 2001, it had sole voting power as to 1,067,359 shares, shared voting power as to 4,850 shares and sole dispositive power as to all 1,268,793 shares. This beneficial ownership information is based on information furnished by the beneficial owners. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for purposes of this Proxy Statement. It is not necessarily to be construed as beneficial ownership for other purposes. 7 10 SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of shares of common stock of Briggs & Stratton by each director, nominee and named executive officer, and by all directors and executive officers as a group, as of August 23, 2001. NATURE OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP ------------------------------------------ TOTAL NO. SOLE SHARED SOLE OF SHARES PERCENT VOTING AND VOTING AND VOTING BENEFICIALLY OF INVESTMENT INVESTMENT POWER DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OWNED CLASS POWER POWER ONLY - -------------------------------- --------------------- ------- ---------- ---------- -------- Jay H. Baker 2,200 * 300 1,900 0 Michael E. Batten 2,200 (a) * 2,200 0 0 James E. Brenn 295,579 (a)(b) 1.4 21,679 270,453 3,447 David L. Burner 200 (c) * 200 0 0 Eunice M. Filter 2,547 (a)(c) * 2,547 0 0 Richard J. Fotsch 41,906 (a) * 22,940 15,400 3,566 Peter A. Georgescu 3,600 (a)(c) * 1,200 2,400 0 Robert J. O'Toole 2,300 (a) * 2,300 0 0 Thomas R. Savage 22,679 (a) * 21,440 0 1,239 John S. Shiely 412,592 (a)(d) 1.9 115,548 294,000 3,044 Charles I. Story 2,300 (a) * 1,300 1,000 0 Frederick P. Stratton, Jr. 906,782 (a)(b)(c)(d) 4.2 200,570 699,152 7,060 All directors and executive officers as a group (23 persons including the above named) 1,376,906 (a)(b)(c)(d) 6.2 599,984 738,133 38,789 *Less than 1%. (a) Includes shares issuable pursuant to stock options exercisable within 60 days for Batten, Brenn, Filter, Fotsch, Georgescu, O'Toole, Savage, Shiely, Story, Stratton, and all directors and executive officers as a group of: 1,000; 21,679; 1,000; 22,940; 1,000; 1,000; 20,240; 82,548; 1,000; 160,570 and 488,417; respectively. (b) Includes 259,200 shares in the Briggs & Stratton Retirement Plan. Mr. Stratton and Mr. Brenn share beneficial ownership of these shares through joint voting and investment power. (c) Does not include phantom stock units acquired through deferral of director fees under the Deferred Compensation Plan for the following Directors: Mr. Burner - 780; Ms. Filter - 10; and Mr. Georgescu - 1,308 and 18,190 phantom stock units acquired by Mr. Stratton through compensation deferrals under the fiscal 1995, 1999 and 2000 Deferred Compensation Agreements. (d) Includes 294,000 shares in the Briggs & Stratton Corporation Foundation. Mr. Stratton and Mr. Shiely share beneficial ownership through joint voting and investment power. This beneficial ownership information is based on information furnished by the directors and executive officers. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, for purposes of this Proxy Statement. It is not necessarily to be construed as beneficial ownership for other purposes. SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the directors and certain officers of Briggs & Stratton to file reports of their ownership of Briggs & Stratton common stock and of changes in such ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange. Based on the information provided by the reporting persons, all applicable reporting requirements for fiscal 2001 were complied with in a timely manner, with the exception of five acquisitions made through a trust that should have been reported currently on three monthly reports were reported in a late yearend report filed on behalf of Mr. Baker. 8 11 PERFORMANCE GRAPH The chart below is a comparison of the cumulative return over the last five fiscal years had $100 been invested at the close of business on June 30, 1996 in each of Briggs & Stratton common stock, the Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 Index, the S&P Smallcap 600 Index and the S&P Machinery Index. During fiscal year 2001, Standard & Poor's reclassified the corporation's stock, due to market capitalization, removing it from the S&P 500 Index and adding it to the S&P Smallcap 600 Index. In the future Briggs & Stratton will use the S&P Smallcap Index for comparison purposes as its broad equity market index instead of the S&P 500 Index. FIVE YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN COMPARISON* BRIGGS & STRATTON VERSUS PUBLISHED INDICES [PERFORMANCE GRAPH] 6/96 6/97 6/98 6/99 6/00 6/01 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- - - Briggs & Stratton Corporation .............. 100 125 96 151 92 116 - - S&P 500 .................................... 100 135 175 215 231 197 - - S&P Smallcap 600 ........................... 100 122 145 148 169 188 - - S&P Machinery (diversified) ................ 100 144 144 148 113 133 *Total return calculation is based on compounded monthly returns with reinvested dividends. COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION Briggs & Stratton's Compensation Committee consists of three outside directors responsible for considering and approving compensation arrangements for senior management of Briggs & Stratton, including Briggs & Stratton's executive officers and the chief executive officer. The objectives of the Committee in establishing compensation arrangements for senior management are: (1) to attract and retain key executives who are important to the continued success of Briggs & Stratton and its operational units; and (2) to provide strong financial incentives, at reasonable cost to the shareholders, for senior management to enhance the value of the shareholders' investment. The primary components of Briggs & Stratton's executive compensation program are (1) base salary, (2) incentive compensation bonus and (3) incentive stock options. The Committee believes that: - Briggs & Stratton's incentive plans provide very strong incentives for management to increase shareholder value; - Briggs & Stratton's pay levels are appropriately targeted to attract and retain key executives; and - Briggs & Stratton's total compensation program is a cost-effective strategy to increase shareholder value. 9 12 BASE SALARY The Committee reviews officers' base salaries annually. Salaries are based on level of responsibility and individual performance. It is the Committee's objective that base salary levels, in the aggregate, be at or modestly above competitive salary levels. A competitive salary level is the average for similar responsibilities in similar companies. In setting fiscal 2001 base salaries, the Committee reviewed compensation survey data provided by its outside consultant, Hewitt Associates, for a Comparator Group of companies in the general sales dollar size range and broad industry sector as Briggs & Stratton. This group is not the same group of companies included in the S&P Machinery Index. The Committee was satisfied that the salary levels set would achieve the Committee's objective. As a result of this process, Mr. Stratton, as Chief Executive Officer, received an increase in base salary of 8.3% in fiscal 2001. INCENTIVE COMPENSATION BONUS Briggs & Stratton maintains an Economic Value Added ("EVA") Incentive Compensation Plan (the "EVA Plan"). The purpose of the EVA Plan is to provide incentive compensation to key employees, including all executive officers, in a form relating financial reward to an increase in the value of Briggs & Stratton to its shareholders. In general, EVA is net operating profit after taxes, less a capital charge. The capital charge is intended to represent the return expected by the providers of the firm's capital and is the weighted average cost of (1) equity capital based on a 30-year Treasury Bond yield plus the product of the average equity risk premium and the business risk index for Briggs & Stratton, and (2) debt capital equal to actual after-tax debt cost. EVA improvement is the financial performance measure most closely correlated with increases in shareholder value. Under the EVA Plan, the Accrued Bonus for a participant in any fiscal year is equal to the aggregate of 50% of the Company Performance calculation (Base Salary x Target Incentive Award x Company Performance Factor) plus 50% of the Individual Performance calculation (Base Salary x Target Incentive Award x Individual Performance Factor). The intent of the Plan is to reward executives based on their ability to continuously improve the amount of EVA earned on behalf of shareholders. For all of the executives named in the Summary Compensation Table the Committee determined that the Individual Performance Factor would be the same as the Company Performance Factor. Individual target incentive awards under the Plan ranged from 20% to 100% of base compensation for fiscal 2001. For the same year, Mr. Stratton's individual target incentive award was 100%. The Company Performance Factor for the fiscal year was a negative 1.16; and therefore, Mr. Stratton experienced a negative bonus accrual for fiscal 2001 and no bonus was paid. The Company Performance Factor is based on the amount of improvement or deterioration in EVA. If the annual EVA is in excess of the Target EVA, the Company Performance calculation will produce an amount in excess of the Target Incentive Award. If the annual EVA is less than the Target EVA, the Company Performance calculation will produce an amount less than the Target Incentive Award. There is no cap and no floor on the accrued bonus. The Target EVA is the average of the Target EVA and Actual EVA for the prior Plan year plus an Expected Improvement. For Plan year 2001, Expected Improvement was $2 million, except that it was not added to the current Plan Year Target EVA because the Target EVA exceeded $32 million. For fiscal 2001 the Target EVA was $48.5 million. The Individual Performance Factor is determined by the executive to whom the participant reports, subject to approval by the Committee and is the average (or weighted average) of one or more quantifiable or non-quantifiable factors called Supporting Performance Factors. Supporting Performance Factors represent an achievement percentage continuum that generally ranges from 50% to 150% of the individual target award opportunity and will be enumerated from .5 to 1.5 based on this range. If approved by the Committee, Supporting Performance Factors which are the same as the Company Performance Factor or are based on divisional EVA are uncapped. 10 13 The EVA bonus plan provides the powerful incentive of an uncapped bonus opportunity, but also uses a "Bonus Bank" feature to ensure that extraordinary EVA improvements are sustained before extraordinary bonus awards are paid out. The Bonus Bank applies to Senior Executives as designated by the Committee under the Plan. All of the executive officers, including those named in the Summary Compensation Table, were designated Senior Executives for fiscal 2001. Each year, any accrued bonus in excess of 125% of the target bonus award is added to the outstanding Bonus Bank balance. The bonus paid is equal to the accrued bonus for the year, up to a maximum of 125% of the target bonus, plus 33% of the new Bonus Bank balance. A Bonus Bank account is considered at risk given that in any year the accrued bonus is negative, the negative bonus amount is subtracted from the outstanding Bonus Bank balance. Extraordinary EVA improvements must be sustained for several years to ensure full payout of the accrued bonus. In the event the outstanding Bonus Bank balance at the beginning of the year is negative, the bonus paid is limited to the accrued bonus up to a maximum of 75% of the target bonus with the remainder of the accrued bonus offsetting the negative bonus. On termination of employment due to death, disability or retirement, the available balance in the Bonus Bank will be paid to the terminating executive or his designated beneficiary or estate. Executives who voluntarily leave to accept employment elsewhere or who are terminated for cause will forfeit any positive available balance. An executive is not expected to repay negative balances upon termination or retirement. STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN In 1990, the shareholders approved Briggs & Stratton's Stock Incentive Plan ("Incentive Plan"). The Incentive Plan authorizes the Committee to grant to officers and other key employees stock incentive awards in the form of one or any combination of the following: stock options, stock appreciation rights, deferred stock, restricted stock and stock purchase rights. In early 1993, the Committee worked with a consultant to adopt a method of granting options which more closely aligns financial reward to optionees with the long-term performance of Briggs & Stratton. Since fiscal 1994, the sole form of options granted under the Incentive Plan has been leveraged stock options (LSOs). The LSOs granted are either Incentive Stock Options or Non-Qualified Stock Options under the Stock Option part of the Incentive Plan. At the 1999 Annual Meeting, shareholders approved an amended and restated Incentive Plan that increased the shares authorized for issuance under the Plan and provided that all stock options granted under the Plan will continue to be premium priced LSOs. Also in 1999, the Committee increased the term of future LSO grants from 5 to 7 years. Options granted will continue to be exercisable after 3 years. The maximum number of LSOs to be granted each year is 600,000. The maximum number of LSOs that may be granted cumulatively under the LSO Program is 4,539,986. If the calculation under the EVA Plan produces more than 600,000 LSOs in any year, LSOs granted to all Senior Executives for that year will be reduced pro-rata based on proportionate Total Bonus Payouts under the EVA Plan. The amount of reduction is carried forward to subsequent years and invested in LSOs to the extent the annual limitation is not exceeded in future years. For fiscal 2000, the Total Bonus Payout produced more than the maximum; so the number of LSO grants was reduced, leaving $1,440,098, or 39.7% of the eligible Total Bonus Payout, to be carried forward to fiscal 2001. The calculation of the number of options granted to each executive and the method of determining their exercise price, are described below. These LSOs provide an option grant that simulates a stock purchase with 10:1 leverage. Because the LSOs granted in 2001, referred to below, have a premium exercise price and a term of seven years, the current Black-Scholes value of these options is only 28.3% of the grant date stock price. The number of LSOs granted to a Senior Executive is determined by dividing the Total Bonus Payout and any uninvested Total Bonus Payout dollars carried forward from the prior year by 10% of the fair market value of Briggs & Stratton stock on the date of grant. The exercise price of the option is the product of 90% of the fair market value on the date of grant times the Estimated Annual Growth Rate compounded over five years, which is the mid-point of the option exercise period. The Estimated Annual Growth Rate equals the average daily closing 30-year U.S. Treasury Bond yield for March in the year of grant plus 1%. 11 14 The following example illustrates the calculation of the stock option grant for a Senior Executive who has $50,000 in Total Bonus Payout under the EVA Plan. The number of options earned is calculated by dividing the dollars for investment by 10% of the fair market value of Briggs & Stratton stock. Assume the fair market value of Briggs & Stratton stock on the date of grant is $40.19. Example: NUMBER OF OPTIONS GRANTED 10% of the fair market value is $4.019. Options Granted is 12,441 ($50,000 divided by 4.019) EXERCISE PRICE = (.9 X FAIR MARKET VALUE) X ESTIMATED ANNUAL GROWTH RATE(5)* 6.34% is the Estimated Annual Growth Rate (5.34 plus 1%) (See description above) The exercise price is $49.19 (.9 x $40.19 x 1.0634(5)*) *Raising it to the 5th power takes it to a 5-year compound growth rate, five years being the mid-point of the 4-year exercise period. Thus, based on this example, the fair market value of Briggs & Stratton shares must exceed $49.19 between 3 and 7 years from the date of LSO grant to give the LSOs value to the Senior Executives. On August 7, 2001, after publication of financial results for fiscal 2001, the Committee granted LSOs to all Senior Executives, including all executive officers. Few Senior Executives and no Named Executive Officer, including Mr. Stratton, received a bonus for fiscal 2001. The number of LSOs granted to Mr. Stratton was determined in the manner described and was based solely on uninvested LSO dollars carried forward from fiscal 2000. Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code limits tax deductions for executive compensation to $1 million, unless certain conditions are met. While no covered executive's individual compensation exceeded this threshold in fiscal 2001, the EVA Plan and the Stock Incentive Plan are designed generally to ensure full deductibility of compensation paid under these plans. It has been the policy to take reasonable steps to maintain the corporate tax deductibility of compensation paid to executive officers. COMPENSATION COMMITTEE: Robert J. O'Toole, Chairman Jay H. Baker Michael E. Batten 12 15 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION COMPENSATION SUMMARY The table includes information for each of the last three fiscal years concerning the compensation paid by Briggs & Stratton to Briggs & Stratton's Chief Executive Officer and the four other most highly compensated executive officers. Under the previously announced succession plan, effective July 1, 2001, Mr. Stratton relinquished the position of Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Shiely was elected President and Chief Executive Officer. SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE LONG-TERM COMPENSATION ------------------------------- AWARDS PAYOUTS ------------ --------------- ANNUAL SECURITIES COMPENSATION (1) UNDERLYING NAME AND FISCAL ------------------------ OPTIONS/ LTIP ALL OTHER PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY ($) BONUS ($) SARS (#) (2) PAYOUTS ($) (3) COMPENSATION ($) (4) ------------------ ---- ---------- --------- ------------ --------------- -------------------- F.P. Stratton 2001 $604,500 $ 0 87,920 $ 0 $ 56,089 Chairman and 2000 558,000 830,081 147,220 61,087 41,390 Chief Executive Officer 1999 535,488 673,992 115,180 19,607 7,419 J.S. Shiely 2001 425,780 0 46,270 0 36,241 President and 2000 396,480 442,353 77,460 26,578 21,244 Chief Operating Officer 1999 375,000 314,663 53,290 6,255 5,170 R.J. Fotsch 2001 276,500 0 23,940 0 22,041 Senior Vice President 2000 267,600 238,849 40,090 3,833 15,972 and General Manager 1999 236,324 108,168 18,120 944 5,234 J.E. Brenn 2001 264,600 0 23,090 0 21,429 Senior Vice President 2000 252,000 224,925 38,650 9,040 23,474 and Chief Financial Officer 1999 206,472 101,063 17,240 2,762 6,364 T.R. Savage 2001 263,400 0 22,860 0 28,131 Senior Vice President - 2000 250,800 223,854 38,280 7,868 20,801 Administration 1999 216,384 105,914 17,670 496 5,307 (1) Includes amounts earned in fiscal year, whether or not deferred. (2) No SARs are outstanding. Option awards reported for fiscal 2001 were granted August 7, 2001. (3) Figures reflect the portion of the EVA Plan bonus bank balances paid with respect to each fiscal year. (4) All other compensation for fiscal 2001 for Messrs. Stratton, Shiely, Fotsch, Brenn and Savage, respectively, includes: (i) matching contributions to the Corporation's Savings and Investment Plan for each named executive officer of $5,100, $5,100, $4,174, $5,027 and $5,027; (ii) matching contributions to the Corporation's Key Employee Savings and Investment Plan for each named executive officer of $26,339, $21,791, $9,717, $2,888 and $9,804; and (iii) total premiums of $24,650, $9,350, $8,150, $13,514 and $13,300 paid by the Corporation for the benefit of the named executive officers under the Corporation's split dollar Executive Life Insurance Plan. 13 16 STOCK OPTIONS The Stock Incentive Plan approved by shareholders provides for the granting of stock options with respect to Briggs & Stratton common stock. The tables contain additional information on stock options. The methodology used in determining the number of grants awarded and other terms and conditions of the grants are found in the Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation. Option awards reported for fiscal 2001 were granted effective August 7, 2001 and reflect uninvested dollars carried forward from fiscal 2000, pursuant to the Leveraged Stock Option Program. Options become exercisable August 7, 2004. Option awards are intended to qualify as "incentive stock options" to the extent permitted under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Any options not meeting the requirements for incentive stock options will be treated as non-qualified stock options. OPTION/SAR GRANTS FOR LAST FISCAL YEAR GRANT DATE INDIVIDUAL GRANTS VALUE - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NUMBER OF % OF TOTAL SECURITIES OPTIONS/SARS UNDERLYING GRANTED TO EXERCISE OR BASE GRANT DATE OPTIONS/SARS EMPLOYEES IN PRICE EXPIRATION PRESENT NAME GRANTED (#) FISCAL YEAR ($/SH) DATE VALUE ($) - ---- ----------- ----------- -------- ---- --------- F.P. Stratton.............. 87,920 23.7% $49.19 8/7/08 999,650 J.S. Shiely................ 46,270 12.5 49.19 8/7/08 526,090 R.J. Fotsch................ 23,940 6.4 49.19 8/7/08 272,198 J.E. Brenn................. 23,090 6.2 49.19 8/7/08 262,533 T.R. Savage................ 22,860 6.2 49.19 8/7/08 259,918 The estimated grant date present value reflected in the above table is determined using the Black-Scholes model. The material assumptions and adjustments incorporated in the Black-Scholes model in estimating the value of the options reflected in the above table include the following: - An exercise price on the option of $49.19. - Fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant of $40.19. - An option term of 7 years. - An interest rate of 5.06 percent that represents the interest rate on a U.S. Treasury security on the date of grant with a maturity date corresponding to that of the option term. - An annualized volatility of 36.59% (utilizing 36 months of historical daily stock prices). - Dividends at the rate of $0.31 per share representing the annualized dividends of $1.24 (3.09% yield) paid with respect to a share of common stock at the date of grant. The ultimate values of the options will depend on the future market price of Briggs & Stratton stock, which cannot be forecast with reasonable accuracy. The actual value, if any, an optionee will realize upon exercise of an option will depend on the excess of the market value of Briggs & Stratton common stock over the exercise price on the date the option is exercised. If there is a "change in control" of Briggs & Stratton, as defined in the Incentive Plan, any outstanding stock options which are not then exercisable will become fully exercisable and vested. Upon a change in control, optionees may elect to surrender all or any part of their stock options and receive a per share amount in cash equal to the excess of the "change in control price" over the exercise price of the stock option. If an optionee's employment is terminated at or following a change in control (other than by death, disability, or retirement), the exercise periods of an optionee's stock options will be extended to the earlier of six months and one day from the date of employment termination or the options' respective expiration dates. No SARs were granted. 14 17 AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FY-END OPTION/SAR VALUES* NUMBER OF SECURITIES VALUE OF UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED UNEXERCISED IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS/SARS OPTIONS/SARS SHARES ACQUIRED VALUE AT FISCAL YEAR END (#) AT FISCAL YEAR END ($) NAME ON EXERCISE (#) REALIZED ($) EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE ---- --------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- ----------- ------------- F.P. Stratton .... 0 0 88,810 439,210 271,524 0 J.S. Shiely ...... 1,000 17,881 48,778 217,300 263,666 0 R.J. Fotsch ...... 0 0 14,060 93,110 51,836 0 J.E. Brenn ....... 0 0 12,449 90,980 15,201 0 T.R. Savage ...... 0 0 8,510 91,230 0 0 * No SARs are outstanding. Options at fiscal year end include options granted August 7, 2001 for fiscal 2001. LONG-TERM INCENTIVE COMPENSATION As described in more detail in the Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation, the EVA Plan requires that accrued bonuses payable to Senior Executives in excess of 125% of their target bonus be banked. This occurred in both fiscal 1999 and 2000. In any year the accrued bonus is negative, the negative bonus amount is subtracted from the outstanding bonus bank balance. This occurred in fiscal 2001. The negative amounts reported below were subtracted from the bonus bank for each of the named executive officers, leaving a negative accrued bonus bank balance for fiscal 2001. Under the EVA Plan, because the outstanding bonus bank balance is now negative, any bonus payable for fiscal 2002 is limited to the accrued bonus up to a maximum of 75% of the target bonus with the remainder of the accrued bonus offsetting the negative bonus. LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLANS - AWARDS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR ESTIMATED FUTURE PAYOUTS (PAYBACKS) UNDER NON-STOCK PRICE-BASED PLANS --------------------------------------------------- AMOUNTS BANKED NAME (FORFEITED) ($) MINIMUM ($) MAXIMUM ($) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ F.P. Stratton ..... $(701,220) $(308,015) $ 0 J.S. Shiely ....... (370,428) (173,022) 0 R.J. Fotsch ....... (192,444) (107,208) 0 J.E. Brenn ........ (184,161) (92,868) 0 T.R. Savage ....... (183,326) (94,761) 0 RETIREMENT PLAN Briggs & Stratton maintains a defined benefit retirement plan (the "Retirement Plan") covering all executive officers and substantially all other Milwaukee employees. Under the Retirement Plan non-bargaining unit employees receive an annual pension payable on a monthly basis at retirement equal to 1.6% of the employee's average of the highest five years' compensation of the last ten calendar years of service prior to retirement multiplied by the number of years of credited service. This amount is offset by 50% of Social Security. The Social Security offset is prorated if years of credited service are less than 30. Executive officers participate in an unfunded program that supplements benefits under the Retirement Plan. Under this program executive officers are provided with additional increments of 0.50 of 1% of compensation per year of credited service over that presently payable under the Retirement Plan to non-bargaining unit employees. In no event may a pension paid under the above described plans to a non-bargaining unit employee exceed 70% of the employee's average monthly compensation. A trust has been established for deposit of the aggregate present value of the benefits described above for executive officers upon the occurrence of a change in control of Briggs & Stratton. The trust would not be considered funding the benefits for tax purposes. 15 18 The following table shows total estimated annual benefits from funded and unfunded sources generally payable to executive officers upon normal retirement at age 65 at specified compensation and years of service classifications. These are calculated on a single-life basis and adjusted for the projected Social Security offset: ANNUAL PENSION PAYABLE FOR LIFE AVERAGE ANNUAL COMPENSATION AFTER SPECIFIED YEARS OF CREDITED SERVICE IN HIGHEST 5 OF LAST 10 ------------------------------------------------------------ CALENDAR YEARS OF SERVICE 10 YEARS 20 YEARS 30 YEARS 40 YEARS --------------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- $ 200,000 $ 40,000 $ 80,000 $ 120,000 $ 140,000* 400,000 82,000 164,000 246,000 280,000* 600,000 124,000 248,000 372,000 420,000* 800,000 166,000 332,000 498,000 560,000* 1,000,000 208,000 416,000 624,000 700,000* 1,200,000 250,000 500,000 750,000 840,000* 1,400,000 292,000 584,000 876,000 980,000* 1,600,000 334,000 668,000 1,002,000 1,120,000* 1,800,000 376,000 752,000 1,128,000 1,260,000* * Figures reduced to reflect the maximum limitation of 70% of compensation. This table does not reflect limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, on pensions paid under federal income tax qualified plans. However, an executive officer covered by Briggs & Stratton's unfunded program will receive the full pension to which he would be entitled in the absence of such limitations. Compensation for purposes of the table includes the compensation shown in the Summary Compensation Table under the headings "Salary," "Bonus" and "LTIP Payouts." The years of credited service under the Retirement Plan for the individuals named in the Summary Compensation Table are: Mr. Stratton-28; Mr. Shiely-15; Mr. Fotsch-23; Mr. Brenn-23 and Mr. Savage-9. EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS All executive officers of Briggs & Stratton, including the officers named in the Summary Compensation Table, are parties to a two-year employment agreement. The agreements have a one-year automatic extension upon each anniversary date unless either party gives a 30-day notice prior to the anniversary date that the agreement will not be renewed. Under the agreement, the officer agrees to perform the duties currently being performed in addition to other duties that may be assigned from time to time. Briggs & Stratton agrees to pay the officer a salary of not less than that of the previous year and to provide fringe benefits that are provided to all other salaried employees of Briggs & Stratton in comparable positions. In the event of a termination, the payments are continued for the remaining term of the agreement. CHANGE OF CONTROL EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS The Board of Directors has authorized the Chairman of the Board to offer to all executive officers change in control employment agreements. These ensure the employee's continued employment following a "change in control" on a basis equivalent to the employee's employment immediately prior to such change in terms of position, duties, compensation and benefits, as well as specified payments upon termination following a change in control. Briggs & Stratton currently has such agreements with all of its executive officers. These agreements become effective only upon a defined change in control of Briggs & Stratton, or if the employee's employment is terminated upon or in anticipation of such a change in control and automatically supersede any existing employment agreement. Under the agreements, if during the employment term (three years from the change in control) the employee is terminated other than for "cause" or if the employee voluntarily terminates his employment for good reason or during a 30-day window period one year after a change in control, the employee is entitled to specified severance benefits, including a lump sum payment of three times the sum of the employee's annual salary and bonus and a "gross-up" payment which will, in general, effectively reimburse the employee for any amounts paid under Federal excise taxes. 16 19 AUDITORS The Board of Directors has selected the public accounting firm of Arthur Andersen LLP as its independent auditors for the current year. A representative of Arthur Andersen LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting. He will have the opportunity to make a statement and respond to appropriate questions. ANNUAL REPORT TO THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON FORM 10-K Briggs & Stratton is required to file an annual report, called Form 10-K, with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A copy of Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 1, 2001 accompanies this Proxy Statement. Requests for additional copies should be directed to Carole Ford, Shareholder Relations, Briggs & Stratton Corporation, P.O. Box 702, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201. SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS Proposals that shareholders intend to present at the 2002 Annual Meeting must be received at the principal executive offices no earlier than July 4, 2002 and no later than July 29, 2002, in order to be presented at the meeting and must be in accordance with the requirements of the Bylaws of Briggs & Stratton. Shareholder proposals must be received by May 15, 2002 to be considered for inclusion in the proxy material for that meeting under the SEC's proxy rules. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION Kasandra K. Preston, Secretary Wauwatosa, Wisconsin September 12, 2001 17 20 APPENDIX A BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER APRIL 18, 2000 The Board of Directors appoints the Audit Committee members. The Audit Committee's primary duties and responsibilities are to: (1) monitor the integrity of the financial statements of the Company, (2) monitor the compliance by the Company with legal and regulatory requirements and (3) oversee the independence and performance of the Company's internal and external auditors. The members of the Audit Committee shall meet the independence and experience requirements of the New York Stock Exchange. The Audit Committee shall have the authority to retain at the Company's expense special legal, accounting or other consultants to advise the Committee. The Audit Committee may request any employee of the Company or the Company's outside counsel or independent auditor to attend a meeting of the Committee or to meet with any members of, or consultants to, the Committee. The Audit Committee shall: Review Procedures 1. Review and reassess the adequacy of this Charter annually and recommend any proposed changes to the Board for approval. 2. Review the Company's annual audited financial statements with management and the independent auditors prior to filing or distribution. The review shall include major issues regarding accounting and auditing principles and practices as well as the adequacy of internal controls that could significantly affect the Company's financial statements. 3. Review an analysis prepared by management and the independent auditor of significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the Company's financial statements. 4. Review with management and the independent auditor the Company's quarterly financial statements prior to the filing of its Form 10-Q. At a minimum, the Audit Committee Chairman must participate in these reviews. 5. Meet periodically with management to review the Company's major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures. 6. Review major changes to the Company's auditing and accounting principles and practices as suggested by the independent auditor, internal auditors or management. Independent Auditors 7. Recommend to the Board the appointment of the independent auditor, who is ultimately accountable to the Audit Committee and the Board. 8. Approve the fees to be paid to the independent auditor. 9. Receive periodic reports from the independent auditor regarding the auditor's independence, discuss such reports with the auditor, and if so determined by the Audit Committee, recommend that the Board take appropriate action to satisfy itself of the independence of the auditor. 10. Evaluate together with the Board the performance of the independent auditor and, if so determined by the Audit Committee, recommend that the Board replace the independent auditor. 11. Meet with the independent auditor prior to the audit to review the planning and staffing of the audit. A-1 21 12. Obtain from the independent auditor assurance that Section 10A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 has not been implicated. 13. Discuss with the independent auditor the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 relating to the conduct of the audit. 14. Review with the independent auditor any problems or difficulties the auditor may have encountered and any management letter provided by the auditor and the Company's response to that letter. Such review should include: (a) Any difficulties encountered in the course of the audit work, including any restrictions on the scope of activities or access to required information. (b) Any changes required in the planned scope of the internal audit. (c) The internal audit department responsibilities, budget and staffing. 15. On an annual basis, meet privately with the independent auditor to discuss any pertinent matters that they feel should be discussed, including quality of management, financial, accounting and internal audit personnel, or determine if any restrictions have been placed by management on the scope of their examination, and assure the independent auditor of the committee's availability for additional private discussion if the independent auditor feel this is necessary. Internal Audit Department 16. Review the appointment and replacement of the internal audit manager. 17. Review the significant reports to management prepared by the internal auditing department and management's responses. 18. Review and approve the internal audit charter that explains the functional and organizational framework for providing services to management and to the audit committee, including the purpose, responsibility, authority and reporting relationships of the internal audit functions. 19. Annually review the internal audit plans, budgets, objectives and goals. Other Audit Committee Responsibilities 20. Prepare the report required by the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission to be included in the Company's annual proxy statement. 21. Advise the Board with respect to the Company's policies and procedures regarding compliance with applicable laws and regulations and with the Company's Employee Integrity and Business Practices Manuals. 22. Review with the Company's General Counsel legal matters that may have a material impact on the financial statements, the Company's compliance policies and any material reports or inquiries received from regulators or governmental agencies. 23. Meet at least annually with the chief financial officer, the senior internal auditing executive and the independent auditor in separate executive sessions. While the Audit Committee has the responsibilities and powers set forth in this Charter, it is not the duty of the Audit Committee to plan or conduct audits or to determine that the Company's financial statements are complete and accurate and are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. This is the responsibility of management and the independent auditor. Nor is it the duty of the Audit Committee to conduct investigations, to resolve disagreements, if any, between management and the independent auditor or to assure compliance with laws and regulations and the Company's Employee Integrity and Business Practices Manuals. A-2 22 BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION P.O. Box 702, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0702 PROXY SOLICITATED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS (SEE REVERSE SIDE) \/ DETACH BELOW AND RETURN USING THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED \/ - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [BRIGGS & STRATTON LOGO] PROXY BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION PROXY/VOTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS -- OCTOBER 17, 2001 THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS The undersigned appoints each of FREDERICK P. STRATTON, JR., JOHN S. SHIELY and ROBERT F. HEATH, with power of substitution, attorneys and proxies, to vote all shares votable by the undersigned at the shareholders' annual meeting of Briggs & Stratton Corporation and at any adjournments. The meeting will be held in Rye Brook, New York on October 17, 2001 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. My directions are on the reverse side. I revoke any proxy previously given. THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THE PROXY WILL BE VOTED BY THE PROXIES NAMED "FOR" THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS AND IN THEIR DISCRETION ON ANY OTHER MATTERS PROPERLY BROUGHT TO A SHAREHOLDER VOTE AT THE MEETING. If the undersigned holds Briggs & Stratton shares in Briggs & Stratton Corporation's 401(k) Plans or Dividend Reinvestment Plan, this proxy constitutes voting instructions for any shares so held. (Continued and to be Signed on Reverse Side) 23 BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION [BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION LOGO] INSTRUCTIONS FOR VOTING YOUR PROXY Shareholders of record have three ways to vote their proxies: - - BY TELEPHONE (using a touch-tone telephone) - - THROUGH THE INTERNET (using a browser) - - BY MAIL (traditional method) Your telephone or Internet vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you had returned your proxy card. We encourage you to use these cost effective and convenient ways of voting, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. - ----------------- TELEPHONE VOTING This method of voting is available for residents of the - ----------------- U.S. and Canada - - On a touch-tone telephone, call TOLL FREE 1-888-216-1332, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - - You will be asked to enter the CONTROL NUMBER shown below followed by the pound sign (#) - - Have your proxy card ready, then follow the prerecorded instructions. - - Your vote will be confirmed and cast as you directed - ----------------- INTERNET VOTING - ----------------- - - Visit the Internet voting Website at https://www.proxyvotenow.com/brs - - Enter the CONTROL NUMBER shown below and follow the instructions on your screen - - You will incur only your usual Internet charges - ----------------- VOTING BY MAIL - ----------------- - - Simply mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope YOU MAY VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET ANYTIME UNTIL 5:00 P.M. EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, ON OCTOBER 16, 2001. DO NOT RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD IF YOU ARE VOTING BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET. --------------------------------- YOUR CONTROL NUMBER IS: --------------------------------- TO VOTE BY MAIL PLEASE DETACH PROXY CARD HERE AND RETURN IN \/ ENVELOPE PROVIDED \/ - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PLEASE MARK [X] VOTES AS IN THIS EXAMPLE. BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION ANNUAL MEETING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. --- (a) Election of Three Directors: Nominees - (01) Eunice M. Filter; (02) David L. Burner; (03) Frederick P. Stratton, Jr. VOTE FOR VOTE WITHHELD *To withhold authority to vote for any nominee, write the nominee's name on the space below. all nominees from all listed* nominees listed - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ [ ] [ ] (b) In the discretion of the appointed proxies on any other matters properly brought to a shareholder vote at the meeting, all as set forth in the Notice and Proxy Statement. You are acknowledging receipt of the Notice and Proxy Statement by submitting your vote. [ ] I PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING. DATE , 2001 -------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- SIGNATURE(S) IN BOX Please sign exactly as your name appears, giving your full title if signing as attorney or fiduciary. If shares are held jointly, each joint owner should sign. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by duly authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.