Briggs & Stratton Corporation Reports Improved First Quarter Sales; Reaffirms Full Year Guidance

MILWAUKEE, Oct. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Briggs & Stratton Corporation (NYSE:BGG) today announced financial results for its first fiscal quarter ended September 29, 2013.

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Highlights:

• First quarter fiscal 2014 consolidated net sales were $317.3 million, an increase of $8.3 million or 3% from the prior year.
• Higher North American consumer engine shipments and sales of equipment to dealers increased as consumer demand rebounds from last year's drought.
• Lack of storms in quarter caused lower portable generator sales compared to last year when Hurricane Isaac hit in August.
• Planned engine and products production cuts lowers inventories and reduces margins in the quarter.
• First quarter 2014 adjusted net loss was $16.5 million, $3.3 million higher than the adjusted net loss of $13.2 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2013.

"Our first quarter results were slightly better than we anticipated as we experienced increased consumer demand for lawn and garden equipment leading to higher shipments of engines that power these products and higher shipments of lawn and garden products to our dealers," commented Todd J. Teske, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Briggs & Stratton Corporation. "We have also seen continued strength in standby generator sales; however, portable generator sales decreased with Hurricane Isaac landing last year and no significant storm activity this year," continued Teske.  "Higher retail sales of lawn and garden equipment have helped to reduce channel inventories. We also lowered our inventory by reducing production in the quarter compared to last year. While this reduced productivity and margins in the near term, our inventory levels are better aligned for manufacturing to retail demand in the upcoming lawn and garden season." 

Consolidated Results:

Consolidated net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2014 were $317.3 million, an increase of $8.3 million or approximately 3% from the first quarter of fiscal 2013 with sales increases in engines and lawn and garden products, partially offset by lower sales of portable generators. The fiscal 2014 first quarter consolidated net loss, which includes restructuring charges, was $19.3 million, or $0.41 per diluted share. The first quarter of fiscal 2013 consolidated net loss including restructuring charges was $16.5 million, or $0.35 per diluted share.

Included in the consolidated net loss for the first quarter of fiscal 2014 were pre-tax charges of $3.6 million related to restructuring actions. Included in consolidated net loss for the first quarter of fiscal 2013 were pre-tax charges of $5.1 million also related to restructuring actions. After removing the impact of these items, the adjusted consolidated net loss for the first quarter of fiscal 2014 was $16.5 million or $0.35 per diluted share, which was $3.3 million higher compared to the first quarter fiscal 2013 adjusted consolidated net loss of $13.2 million or $0.28 per diluted share.

Engines Segment:

Engines Segment fiscal 2014 first quarter net sales were $183.8 million, which was $19.3 million or 11.7% higher than the first quarter of fiscal 2013. This increase in net sales was driven by higher sales of engines used on lawn and garden equipment and related service parts to customers in the North American and European markets due to more favorable late season growing conditions this year. The increase was partially offset by unfavorable sales mix due to fewer sales of larger engines used in snow throwers and in portable generators resulting from a lack of storm activity in the first quarter of fiscal 2014 and unfavorable foreign exchange predominantly related to the Australian dollar.

The Engines Segment adjusted gross profit percentage for the first quarter of 2014 was 14.7%, which was 1.0% lower compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2013. The adjusted gross profit percentage was unfavorably impacted by 2.4% from a 15% reduction in manufacturing volume to reduce inventory. Unfavorable foreign exchange related to the Australian dollar and Japanese yen also impacted the adjusted gross profit percentage by 0.5%. The decrease was partially offset by an increase to adjusted gross profit of 1.3% related to favorable sales mix of higher margin service parts as well as the contribution of margin generated by the Branco acquisition which closed in the second quarter of fiscal 2013. Margins also benefitted slightly from reduced manufacturing costs and materials costs.

The Engines Segment engineering, selling, general and administrative expenses were $43.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2014, an increase of $1.1 million from the first quarter of fiscal 2013 primarily due to higher compensation expense and the addition of expenses from Branco. The increase was partially offset by $1.5 million of lower pension expense in fiscal 2014.

Products Segment:

Products Segment fiscal 2014 first quarter net sales were $153.0 million, a decrease of $20.3 million or 11.7% from the first quarter of fiscal 2013. The decrease in net sales was primarily related to lower sales of portable generators due to no landed hurricanes in the first quarter of fiscal 2014. Hurricane Isaac occurred in the first quarter of fiscal 2013. In addition, international net sales were lower in the first quarter of fiscal 2014 due to reduced shipments of snow throwers to customers in Europe and unfavorable foreign exchange primarily related to the Australian dollar.  This decrease was partially offset by favorable late season growing conditions during the first quarter of fiscal 2014 that led to higher sales of lawn and garden equipment through our North American dealer channel, pressure washers and service parts as well as net sales from the Branco acquisition. 

The Products Segment adjusted gross profit percentage for the first quarter of 2014 was 12.8%, which was 0.3% lower than the adjusted gross profit percentage for the first quarter of fiscal 2013. The adjusted gross profit percentage was lower by 0.8% due to a 21% reduction of manufacturing throughput that was planned in order to control inventory in response to lower sales at the outset of the 2013 lawn and garden season. This decrease was partially offset by the margin contributed by the Branco acquisition.

The Products Segment fiscal 2014 fourth quarter engineering, selling, general and administrative expenses were $25.4 million, an increase of $2.0 million from the first quarter of fiscal 2013. The increase was mainly attributable to the additional expenses from Branco.

Corporate Items:

Interest expense for the first quarter of fiscal 2014 was comparable to the same period a year ago.

The effective tax rate for the first quarter of fiscal 2014 was 29.3% compared to 33.6% for the same period in the prior year. The decrease in the effective tax rate for the first quarter of fiscal 2014 compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2013 was primarily driven by non-deductible losses of certain foreign subsidiaries and foreign tax rates that vary from the U.S. statutory rate.

Financial Position:

Net debt at September 29, 2013 was $109.8 million (total debt of $225.0 million less $115.2 million of cash), or $16.6 million lower from the $126.4 million (total debt of $228.0 million less $101.6 million of cash) at September 30, 2012. Cash flows used in operating activities for fiscal 2014 were $52.9 million compared to $41.4 million in fiscal 2013. The change in operating cash flows was primarily related to changes in working capital needs in fiscal 2014 associated with a lower reduction in accounts receivable partially offset by the benefit of reduced inventory production levels.

Restructuring:

The previously announced restructuring actions remain on schedule. The Company achieved incremental pre-tax savings for the first quarter of $0.7 million. The Company continues to make progress towards moving horizontal engine manufacturing from its Auburn, Alabama plant to China. As noted previously, pre-tax restructuring costs for the first quarter of fiscal 2014 were $3.6 million. Pre-tax restructuring cost estimates for fiscal 2014 remain unchanged at $6 million to $8 million. Incremental restructuring savings for fiscal 2014 are expected to be $3 million to $5 million.   

Share Repurchase Program:

On August 8, 2012, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized up to $50 million in funds associated with the common share repurchase program with an expiration date of June 30, 2014. 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 loan covenants. During the first quarter of fiscal 2014, the Company repurchased 482,926 shares on the open market at an average price of $20.08 per share.

Outlook:

For fiscal 2014, the Company reaffirms its guidance of net income to be in a range of $50 million to $62 million or $1.04 to $1.28 per diluted share prior to the impact of any additional share repurchases and costs related to our announced restructuring actions. Our fiscal 2014 consolidated net sales are projected to be in a range of $1.88 billion to $2.03 billion. We continue to estimate that the retail market for lawn and garden products will increase 4-6% in the U.S. next season. The estimated incremental impact of exiting the sale of lawn and garden equipment through national mass retailers is approximately $10 million to $15 million of reduced sales in fiscal 2014. In addition, sales in fiscal 2013 were favorably impacted by sales of portable and standby generators in response to power outages during Hurricanes Isaac and Sandy. The upper end of our earnings projections contemplates a higher market recovery in excess of 10% for the U.S. lawn and garden market, normal snowfall and a landed hurricane. Operating income margins are expected to improve over fiscal 2013 and be in a range of 4.5% to 5.0% and reflect the positive impacts of the restructuring actions. Interest expense and other income are estimated to be approximately $18 million and $5 million, respectively. The effective tax rate is projected to be in a range of 30% to 33% and capital expenditures are projected to be approximately $50 million to $55 million.   

Conference Call Information:

The Company will host a conference call today at 10:00 AM (ET) to review this information. A live webcast of the conference call will be available on our corporate website: http://www.briggsandstratton.com/shareholders. Also available is a dial-in number to access the call real-time at (866) 804-3545. A replay will be offered beginning approximately two hours after the call ends and will be available for one week. Dial (888) 266-2081 to access the replay. The pass code will be 1596432.

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 our 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 we compete; changes in laws and regulations; changes in customer and OEM demand; changes in prices of raw materials and parts that we purchase; changes in domestic and foreign economic conditions; the ability to bring new productive capacity on line efficiently and with good quality; outcomes of legal proceedings and claims; and other factors disclosed from time to time in our 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.

About Briggs & Stratton Corporation:

Briggs & Stratton Corporation, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is the world's largest producer of gasoline engines for outdoor power equipment. Its wholly owned subsidiaries include North America's number one marketer of portable generators and pressure washers, and it is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of lawn and garden and turf care through its Simplicity®, Snapper®, SnapperPro® Ferris®, 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.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Briggs & Stratton prepares its financial statements using Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). When a company discloses material information containing non-GAAP financial measures, SEC regulations require that the disclosure include a presentation of the most directly comparable GAAP measure and a reconciliation of the GAAP and non-GAAP financial measure. Management's inclusion of non-GAAP financial measures in this release is intended to supplement, not replace, the presentation of the financial results in accordance with GAAP. Briggs & Stratton Corporation management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures, when considered together with the GAAP financial measures, provide information that is useful to investors in understanding period-over-period operating results separate and apart from items that may, or could, have a disproportionately positive or negative impact on results in any particular period. Management also believes that these non-GAAP financial measures enhance the ability of investors to analyze our business trends and to understand our performance. In addition, we may utilize non-GAAP financial measures as a guide in our forecasting, budgeting and long-term planning process. Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures presented in accordance with GAAP. The following table is a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures:

SOURCE Briggs & Stratton Corporation

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