BRIGGS & STRATTON REPORTS IMPROVED REVENUES AND INCOME

FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF FISCAL 2004

MILWAUKEE, October 16, 2003/PR Newswire/-Briggs & Stratton Corporation (NYSE:BGG)

Briggs & Stratton today announced first quarter net income of $4.0 million or $.18 per diluted share. The results represent an $11.0 million improvement over the $7.0 million or $.32 per diluted share loss experienced in the first quarter of last year.

The improved first quarter earnings resulted primarily from significantly increased consolidated sales that were up $95 million or 40% between years and greater production volumes that increased the utilization of our operating facilities.

Engines:

First quarter sales were $235.7 million, a $40.8 million or 21% improvement over the prior year. The increase was due to increased unit volume of 27%. The unit volume increase was the result of solid late summer retail demand for lawn and garden equipment caused by favorable weather conditions and a high level of demand for engines used to power generators and pressure washers.

Income from operations was $4.0 million, an improvement of $7.8 million over a loss of $3.8 million a year ago. The improvement was the result of the increased sales volume and increased production levels that increased utilization of several manufacturing operations. Operating expenses, that increased as planned, offset some of the volume related gains.

Power Products:

First quarter sales were $124.8 million, a $71.1 million or 132% increase over last year. Unit volumes increased 172% with both the generator and pressure washer product lines contributing equally in the improvement.

First quarter generator sales were significantly impacted by the wide spread power outages that occurred both as a result of the failure of the eastern electrical grid and the landfall of a major hurricane. Last year’s first quarter experienced no major power outages. Pressure washer sales continue to reflect demand generated by new product and promotional programs developed in conjunction with key retailers in the spring of 2003. The success of these product and promotional programs continued to be greater than originally anticipated.

Income from operations was $8.7 million, an improvement of $7.2 million over the same period a year ago. While the majority of the improvement was the result of increased sales volume, a portion of the improvement was related to better margins created by improved utilization of our manufacturing facility due to increased throughput.

Outlook:

Our 2004 first quarter sales were higher than we anticipated as a result of unforeseen events, essentially the widespread power outages and the sustained demand for lawn and garden equipment. We do not anticipate that the remaining three quarters of fiscal 2004 should vary from our initial projections. Therefore, we now anticipate that net income for the year will be in the range of $100 to $105 million. Our updated forecast projects consolidated sales to grow in the 6% to 7% range for the year, with the Power Products Segment approaching $400 million in sales. This assumes weather related power outage events for the balance of this year to be similar to last year’s experience.

For fiscal 2004, gross profit margins continue to be projected in the range of 21.0% to 21.5% and operating expenses are forecasted in the $189 to $193 million range. Interest expense is anticipated to be $39 million and we are assuming a 32% effective tax rate. Depreciation is estimated to be $65 million, and capital expenditures are still planned at $60 million.

Fiscal second quarter sales are projected to be up over last year by approximately 5%. We are anticipating gross profit margins for the next quarter to be approximately 20% and operating expenses of $48 million.

The Company will host a conference call today at 10:00 AM (EDT) to review this information. A live web cast of the conference call will be available on its corporate website: http://www.briggsandstratton.com/shareholders. Also available is a dial-in number to access the call real-time at (800) 776-9117. A replay will be offered beginning approximately two hours after the call ends and will be available for one week. Dial (800) 615-3210 to access the replay. The pass code will be 279832.

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”, “may”, “objective”, “plan”, “project”, “seek”, “think”, “will”, 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 and appropriately adjust our manufacturing and inventory levels; changes in our operating expenses; 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; the seasonal nature of our business; changes in laws and regulations, including environmental and accounting standards; work stoppages or other consequences of any deterioration in our employee relations; work stoppages by other unions that affect the ability of suppliers or customers to manufacture; changes in customer and OEM demand; changes in prices of purchased raw materials and parts that we purchase; changes in domestic economic conditions, including housing starts and changes in consumer disposable income; changes in foreign economic conditions, including currency rate fluctuations; new facts that come to light in the future course of litigation proceedings which could affect our assessment of those matters; and other factors that may be disclosed from time to time in our SEC filings or otherwise. Some or all of the factors may be beyond our control. We caution you that any forward-looking statement reflects only our belief at the time the statement is made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made.

BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Earnings

(In Thousands)

	Three Months Ended Fiscal September
	2003			2002
NET SALES	$	331,395		$	236,496
COST OF GOODS SOLD		271,200			200,703
Gross Profit on Sales		60,195			35,793
ENGINEERING, SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES		45,900			38,358
Income (Loss) from Operations		14,295			(2,565	)
INTEREST EXPENSE		(9,832	)		(10,089	)
OTHER INCOME, Net		1,443			2,007
Income (Loss) before Provision (Credit) for Income Taxes		5,906			(10,647	)
PROVISION (CREDIT) FOR INCOME TAXES		1,890			(3,620	)
Net Income (Loss)	$	4,016		$	(7,027	)
Average Shares Outstanding		21,971			21,643
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE	$	0.18		$	(0.32	)
Diluted Average Shares Outstanding		22,105			21,654
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE	$	0.18		$	(0.32	)

Segment Information

(In Thousands)

	Three Months Ended Fiscal September
	2003			2002
NET SALES:
Engines	$	235,687		$	194,891
Power Products		124,761			53,675
Inter-Segment Eliminations		(29,053	)		(12,070	)
Total*	$	331,395		$	236,496
*Includes international sales of	$	54,804		$	59,571
GROSS PROFIT ON SALES:
Engines	$	42,897		$	30,042
Power Products		15,679			6,039
Inter-Segment Eliminations		1,619			(288	)
Total	$	60,195		$	35,793
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS:
Engines	$	3,999		$	(3,797	)
Power Products		8,677			1,520
Inter-Segment Eliminations		1,619			(288	)
Total	$	14,295		$	(2,565	)

BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of the End of Fiscal September 2003 and 2002

(In Thousands)

	2003			2002
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$	238,556		$	137,759
Accounts Receivable, Net		226,153			152,293
Inventories		264,245			275,718
Deferred Income Tax Asset		51,920			49,962
Other		14,610			15,944
Total Current Assets		795,484			631,676
OTHER ASSETS:
Goodwill		154,070			161,030
Investments		45,204			47,582
Prepaid Pension		75,693			63,838
Deferred Loan Costs, Net		7,795			9,874
Other Long-Term Assets, Net		8,852			7,252
Total Other Assets		291,614			289,576
PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:
At Cost		874,307			874,767
Less—Accumulated Depreciation		507,369			487,724
Plant and Equipment, Net		366,938			387,043
	$	1,454,036		$	1,308,295
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts Payable	$	105,577		$	78,727
Domestic Notes Payable		2,075			2,625
Foreign Loans		—			13,114
Accrued Liabilities		158,467			130,818
Total Current Liabilities		266,119			225,284
OTHER LIABILITIES:
Deferred Revenue on Sale of Plant & Equipment		15,111			15,320
Deferred Income Tax Liability		58,871			40,181
Accrued Pension Cost		21,002			16,157
Accrued Employee Benefits		14,022			13,060
Accrued Postretirement Health Care Obligation		47,455			61,871
Long-Term Debt		501,063			499,235
Total Other Liabilities		657,524			645,824
SHAREHOLDERS’ INVESTMENT:
Common Stock and Additional Paid-in Capital		36,128			35,748
Retained Earnings		818,791			755,184
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss		(1,036	)		(5,164	)
Unearned Compensation on Restricted Stock		(1,085	)		(173	)
Treasury Stock, at Cost		(322,405	)		(348,408	)
Total Shareholders’ Investment		530,393			437,187
	$	1,454,036		$	1,308,295

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In Thousands)

	Three Months Ended Fiscal September
	2003			2002
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net Income (Loss)	$	4,016		$	(7,027	)
Depreciation and Amortization		15,846			16,051
Loss on Disposition of Plant and Equipment		651			2,174
Provision for Deferred Income Taxes		(2,292	)		4,223
(Increase) Decrease in Accounts Receivable		(24,195	)		42,580
Increase in Inventories		(55,107	)		(79,479	)
Decrease in Other Current Assets		7,962			1,798
Decrease in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities		(40,523	)		(42,193	)
Other, Net		(3,497	)		(5,302	)
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities		(97,139	)		(67,175	)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Additions to Plant and Equipment		(11,564	)		(8,812	)
Proceeds Received on Disposition of Plant and Equipment		113			90
Refund of Cash Paid for Acquisition		5,686			—
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities		(5,765	)		(8,722	)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net Borrowings on Loans and Notes Payable		(865	)		(2,156	)
Proceeds from Exercise of Stock Options		16,803			—
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities		15,938			(2,156	)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES		707			(133	)
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		(86,259	)		(78,186	)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, Beginning		324,815			215,945
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, Ending	$	238,556		$	137,759