Exhibit 10.1

 

FIRST AMENDMENT

 

THIS FIRST AMENDMENT dated as of March 18, 2005 (this “Amendment”) is to the
Term Loan Agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) dated as of February 11, 2005 among
BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION, a Wisconsin corporation (the “Company”), various
financial institutions and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent (in
such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”). Capitalized terms used but not
defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in the Loan Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, the Company, the Banks and the Administrative Agent have entered into
the Loan Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to amend the Loan Agreement to (a) add the
parties listed on the signatures hereof under the heading “New Banks”
(collectively the “New Banks”) as “Banks” thereunder; and (b) make certain other
changes as set forth herein;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable
consideration (the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged),
the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

SECTION 1 AMENDMENT. Effective on (and subject to the occurrence of) the
Amendment Effective Date (as defined below), the Loan Agreement shall be amended
as set forth below.

 

1.1 Cover Page. The cover page of the Loan Agreement is amended by inserting the
following under the line reading “THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS PARTY HERETO,”:

 

“U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Documentation Agent,”

 

1.2 Section 8.11.3. Section 8.11.3 is amended in its entirety to read as
follows:

 

“Minimum Net Worth. The Company shall not at any time permit Consolidated Net
Worth to be less than the sum of (i) $575,000,000 plus (ii) 50% of Consolidated
Net Income earned in each full fiscal quarter ending after May 28, 2004 (with no
deduction for a net loss in any such fiscal quarter) plus (iii) the proceeds of
any Equity Issuance after May 28, 2004 (net of the direct costs of such
issuance, such as sales and underwriter’s commissions and legal, accounting and
investment banking fees).”

 

1.3 Section 10.13. Section 10.13 is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

 

“Other Agents. None of the Banks identified on the cover page or the signature
pages of this Agreement or otherwise herein, or in any amendment hereof or other
document related hereto, as being the “Documentation Agent” or the “Syndication
Agent” (collectively, the “Other Agents”) shall have any right, power,
obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement in such
capacity other than those applicable to all Banks. Without limiting the

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foregoing, none of the Banks or other Persons so identified shall have or be
deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Bank. Each Bank acknowledges
that it has not relied, and will not rely, on any Other Agent in deciding to
enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking action hereunder.”

 

1.4 Schedule 2.1. Schedule 2.1 is replaced by Schedule 2.1 attached hereto.

 

1.5 Schedule 11.2. Schedule 11.2 is replaced by Schedule 11.2 attached hereto.

 

SECTION 2 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The Company represents and warrants to
the Administrative Agent and the Banks on the Amendment Effective Date that (a)
the representations and warranties made in Section 6 of the Loan Agreement are
true and correct on and as of the Amendment Effective Date with the same effect
as if made on and as of the Amendment Effective Date (except to the extent such
representations and warranties expressly refer to an earlier date, in which case
they were true and correct as of such earlier date); (b) no Event of Default or
Default exists or will result from the execution and delivery of this Amendment;
(c) no event or circumstance has occurred since the Closing Date that has
resulted, or would reasonably be expected to result, in a Material Adverse
Effect; (d) the execution and delivery by the Company of this Amendment, the
execution and delivery by the Company of the New Notes (as defined below), the
performance by the Company of its obligations under the Loan Agreement as
amended hereby (as so amended, the “Amended Agreement”) and under the New Notes
(i) are within the corporate powers of the Company, (ii) have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, (iii)
have received all necessary governmental approval and (iv) do not and will not
(x) contravene the terms of the Organization Documents of the Company, (y)
conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of
any Lien under, any document evidencing any material Contractual Obligation to
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or any order,
injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority to which the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries or its property is subject or (z) violate any
Requirement of Law applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; and (e)
each of the Amended Agreement and each New Note is the legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with
its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights
generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability.

 

SECTION 3 EFFECTIVENESS. The amendments set forth in Section 1 above shall
become effective on the date (the “ Amendment Effective Date”) when the
Administrative Agent shall have received (a) a counterpart of this Amendment
executed by each of the parties hereto (or, in the case of any party from which
the Administrative Agent has not received a counterpart hereof, facsimile
confirmation of the execution of a counterpart hereof by such party) and (b)
each of the following documents, each in form and substance satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent:

 

3.1 Notes. New Notes, substantially in the form of Exhibit A to the Loan
Agreement, payable to the order of each Bank requesting the same pursuant to
Section 3.2 of the Amended Agreement (collectively, the “New Notes”).

 

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3.2 Confirmation. A Confirmation substantially in the form of Attachment 1
hereto, signed by each Guarantor.

 

3.3 Other Documents. Such other documents as the Administrative Agent or any
Bank (including any New Bank) may reasonably request in connection with the
Company’s authorization, execution and delivery of this Amendment.

 

SECTION 4 ADDITION OF BANKS. On the Amendment Effective Date, (a) each New Bank
(i) shall deliver to the Administrative Agent immediately available funds in the
amount of its Percentage (after giving effect hereto) of all outstanding Loans
on such date, (ii) it shall become a “Bank” under and for all purposes of the
Amended Agreement and (iii) it shall be bound by the Amended Agreement, and
shall be entitled to the benefits of the Amended Agreement and each other Loan
Document, as if it were an original party to the Loan Agreement; and (b) the
amount of each Bank’s Loan and each Bank’s Percentage shall be as set forth on
Schedule 2.1 hereto.

 

SECTION 5 MISCELLANEOUS.

 

5.1 Continuing Effectiveness, etc. As herein amended, the Loan Agreement shall
remain in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and confirmed in all
respects. After the Amendment Effective Date, all references in the Loan
Agreement, each other Loan Document and any related document to the “Loan
Agreement” or similar terms shall refer to the Amended Agreement.

 

5.2 Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts
and by the different parties on separate counterparts, and each such counterpart
shall be deemed to be an original but all such counterparts shall together
constitute one and the same Amendment.

 

5.3 Expenses. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable costs and expenses of the
Administrative Agent (including Attorney Costs) in connection with the
preparation, execution and delivery of this Amendment.

 

5.4 Governing Law. This Amendment shall be a contract made under and governed by
the internal laws of the State of Illinois.

 

5.5 Successors and Assigns. This Amendment shall be binding upon the Company,
the Banks and the Administrative Agent and their respective successors and
assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of the Company, the Banks and the
Administrative Agent and the successors and assigns of the Banks and the
Administrative Agent.

 

5.6 Existing Banks. Each of Bank of America, N.A., in its individual capacity,
and LaSalle Bank National Association (each, an “Existing Bank”) represents and
warrants to each New Bank (and not to any other Person) that (a) immediately
prior to the effectiveness hereof, it is the legal and beneficial owner of 75%
and 25%, respectively, of the outstanding Loans under the Loan Agreement, free
and clear of any Lien; (b) immediately after giving effect to the effectiveness
hereof (assuming that each New Bank performs its obligations hereunder), the
amount of its Loan and its Percentage shall be as set forth on Schedule 2.1; and
(c) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to
execute and deliver this Amendment

 

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and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby (including the
reallocation of the Loans as contemplated herein). Each New Bank represents and
warrants to each Existing Bank that (i) it has received a copy of the Loan
Agreement, together with copies of such other documents and information as it
has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter
into this Amendment; (ii) it has made such analysis and decision independently
and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, any Existing Bank or any other
New Bank; and (iii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of its
obligations under the Loan Agreement. Each New Bank acknowledges and agrees that
all interest accrued prior to the Amendment Effective Date is for the account of
the Existing Banks.

 

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed
by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the day and year
first above written.

 

BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION

By:

 

/s/ Carita R Twinem

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Name:

 

Carita R. Twinem

Title:

 

Treasurer

 

First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

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BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative

Agent and a Bank

By:

 

/s/ Jeffrey A. Armitage

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Name:

 

Jeffrey A. Armitage

Title:

 

Senior Vice President

 

First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

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LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Syndication Agent and a Bank

By:

 

/s/ Jon Huitink

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Name:

 

Jon Huitink

Title:

 

Vice President

 

First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

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“NEW BANKS”:

M&I MARSHALL & ILSLEY BANK

By:

 

/s/ Ronald J. Carey

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Name:

 

Ronald J. Carey

Title:

 

Vice President

By:

 

/s/ Thomas F. Bickelhaupt

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Name:

 

Thomas F. Bickelhaupt

Title:

 

Vice President

 

First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

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U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as

Documentation Agent and a Bank

By:

 

/s/ Sandra J. Hartay

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Name:

 

Sandra J. Hartay

Title:

 

Vice President

 

First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

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ASSOCIATED BANK NA

By:

 

/s/ Daniel Holzhauer

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Name:

 

Daniel Holzhauer

Title:

 

Assistant Vice President

 

First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

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THE BANK OF NEW YORK

By:

 

/s/ Mark Wrigley

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Name:

 

Mark Wrigley

Title:

 

Vice President

 

First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

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NATIONAL CITY BANK OF THE MIDWEST

By:

 

/s/ Jon R. Hinard

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Name:

 

Jon R. Hinard

Title:

 

Senior Vice President

 

First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

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JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

By:

 

/s/ Mike Kelly

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Name:

 

Mike Kelly

Title:

 

Vice President

 

First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

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BNP PARIBAS

By:

 

/s/ Timothy King

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Name:

 

Timothy King

Title:

 

Managing Director

By:

 

/s/ Gaye Plunkett

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Name:

 

Gaye Plunkett

Title:

 

Vice President

 

First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

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HARRIS TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK

By:

 

/s/ George M. Dluhy

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Name:

 

George M. Dluhy

Title:

 

Vice President

 

First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

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FIFTH THIRD BANK

By:

 

/s/ Megan S. Heisel

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Name:

 

Megan S. Heisel

Title:

 

Vice President

 

First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement

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SCHEDULE 2.1

 

LOANS / PERCENTAGES

 

Bank

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   Loan

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   Percentage

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Bank of America, N.A.

   $ 14,062,500    11.25 %

LaSalle Bank National Association

   $ 15,625,000    12.50 %

US Bank, N.A.

   $ 14,062,500    11.25 %

M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank

   $ 3,125,000    2.50 %

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

   $ 15,625,000    12.50 %

BNP Paribas

   $ 17,187,500    13.75 %

Associated Bank N.A.

   $ 9,375,000    7.50 %

The Bank of New York

   $ 9,062,500    7.25 %

National City Bank of the Midwest

   $ 1,875,000    1.50 %

Harris Trust and Savings Bank

   $ 15,625,000    12.50 %

Fifth Third Bank

   $ 9,375,000    7.50 %     

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TOTAL

   $ 125,000,000    100 %     

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SCHEDULE 11.2

 

LENDING OFFICES; ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES

 

BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION

 

12301 W. Wirth Street

Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 53222

Attn: Carita R. Twinem

Telephone: (414) 256-5141

Facsimile: (414) 256-1128

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent and as a Bank

 

Operations Contact:

 

Attention: Sally M. Escosa

Telephone: (925) 675-8421

Facsimile: (888) 969-2637

 

Agency Management Services:

 

1455 Market Street, 5th Floor

Mail Code CA5-701-05-19

San Francisco, CA 94103

Attention: Robert J. Rittelmeyer

Telephone: (415) 436-2616

Facsimile: (415) 503-5099

 

Credit Contact:

 

231 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, IL 60697

Attention: Jeff Armitage

Telephone: (312) 828-3898

Facsimile: (312) 974-8811

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ASSOCIATED BANK NA

 

Operations Contact:

 

2870 Holmgren Way

Green Bay, WI 54304

Attention: Kathy Carter

Telephone: (920) 405-2847

Facsimile: (920) 405-2798

 

Credit Contact:

 

401 E. Kilbourn Avenue

Milwaukee, WI 53202

Attention: Daniel Holzhauer

Telephone: (414) 283-2361

Facsimile: (414) 283-2300

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

 

Operations Contact:

 

131 S. Dearborn Street

Chicago, IL 60603

Attention: Leah A. Banks

Telephone: (312) 732-8918

Facsimile: (312) 732-2245

 

Credit Contact:

 

111 E. Wisconsin Avenue

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

Attention: Jack West

Telephone: (414) 765-2613

Facsimile: (414) 765-2625

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BNP PARIBAS

 

Operations Contact:

 

919 Third Avenue

3rd Floor

New York, New York 10022

Attention: Gabriel Candamo

Telephone: (212) 471-6626

Facsimile: (212) 471-6695

 

Credit Contact:

 

209 S. LaSalle Street

Suite 500

Chicago, IL 60604

Attention: Curt Price

Telephone: (312) 977-2232

Facsimile: (312) 977-1380

 

LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

Operations Contact:

 

411 E. Wisconsin Avenue

#1250

Milwaukee, WI 53202

Attention: Beth Potrykos

Telephone: (414) 319-3314

Facsimile: (414) 224-0071

 

Credit Contact:

 

411 E. Wisconsin Avenue

Suite 1250

Milwaukee, WI 53202

Attention: Jon Huitink

Telephone: (414) 319-3317

Facsimile: (414) 224-0071

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M&I MARSHALL & ILSLEY BANK

 

Operations Contact:

 

401 N. Executive Drive

Brookfield, WI 53005

Attention: Nenita Yumanz

Telephone: (262) 938-8675

Facsimile: (262) 938-8684

 

Credit Contact:

 

770 North Water Street

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

Attention: Thomas Bickelhaupt

Telephone: (414) 765-7944

Facsimile: (414) 765-7625

 

NATIONAL CITY BANK OF THE MIDWEST

 

Operations Contact:

 

One NCC Parkway

Oshtemo, MI 49077

Attention: Marilyn Moore

Telephone: (269) 973-1427

Facsimile: (269) 973-2405

 

Credit Contact:

 

One North Franklin

Suite 3600

Chicago, IL 60606

Attention: Jon R. Hinard

Telephone: (312) 384-4624

Facsimile: (312) 240-0301

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THE BANK OF NEW YORK

 

Operations Contact:

 

One Wall Street, 19th Floor

New York, New York 10286

Attention: Edgar Greaves

Telephone: (212) 635-6687

Facsimile: (212) 635-7923

 

Credit Contact:

 

1 Wall Street, 19th Floor

New York, NY 10286

Attention: Mark Wrigley

Telephone: (212) 635-6867

Facsimile: (212) 635-1208

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

Operations Contact:

 

400 City Center

Oshkosh, WI 54901

Attention: Connie Sweeney

Telephone: (920) 237-7604

Facsimile: (920) 237-7993

 

Credit Contact:

 

777 East Wisconsin Avenue

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

Attention: Sandra J. Hartay

Telephone: (414) 765-6004

Facsimile: (414) 765-5367

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HARRIS TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK

 

Operations Contact:

 

111 W. Monroe

Chicago, IL 60603

Attention: Ellen Dancer

Telephone: (312) 461-2587

Facsimile: (312) 461-8344

 

Credit Contact:

 

111 W. Monroe

Chicago, IL 60603

Attention: George Dluhy

Telephone: (312) 461-7788

Facsimile: (312) 461-2591

 

FIFTH THIRD BANK

 

Operations Contact:

 

38 Fountain Square Plaza

Cincinnati, OH 45202

Attention: Teresa Weyer

Telephone: (513) 534-6293

Facsimile: (513) 534-5947

 

Credit Contact:

 

38 Fountain Square Plaza

Cincinnati, OH 45202

Attention: Ann-drea Burns

Telephone: (616) 550-4700

Facsimile: (513) 534-5947

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ATTACHMENT 1

 

CONFIRMATION

 

Dated as of March 18, 2005

 

To:    

 

Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and

   

the Banks under the Loan Agreement referred to below

 

Please refer to (a) the Loan Agreement dated as of February 11, 2005 (the “Loan
Agreement”) among Briggs & Stratton Corporation (the “Company”), various
financial institutions, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent; (b)
the First Amendment dated as of March 18, 2005 (the “Amendment”), amending the
Loan Agreement to, among other things, add additional “Banks” as parties
thereto; and (c) the Guaranty dated as of February 11, 2005 (the “Guaranty”)
issued by the undersigned. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have
the respective meanings set forth in the Amendment.

 

Each of the undersigned hereby confirms to the Administrative Agent and the
Banks (including the New Banks) that (a) after giving effect to the Amendment
and the transactions contemplated thereby, the Guaranty continues in full force
and effect and is the legal, valid and binding obligation of such undersigned,
enforceable against such undersigned in accordance with its terms, except as may
be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws
relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles
relating to enforceability; and (b) all references in the Guaranty to the “Loan
Agreement” shall be deemed to be references to the Loan Agreement as amended by
the Amendment.

 

BRIGGS & STRATTON POWER PRODUCTS

GROUP, LLC

By:

 

/s/ Carita R. Twinem

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Name:

 

Carita R. Twinem

Title:

 

Treasurer

SIMPLICITY MANUFACTURING, INC.

By:

 

/s/ Carita R. Twinem

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Name:

 

Carita R. Twinem

Title:

 

Treasurer

 

First Amendment to Term Loan Agreement