BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES 

2009 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K 

EXHIBIT10.3(a) 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT 

AGREEMENT by and between Briggs & Stratton Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation (the “Company”) and                     (the “Executive”), dated as of the                     day of             ,20        . 

The Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”), has determined that itis in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to assure that the Company will have the continued dedication of the Executive, notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined below) of theCompany. The Board believes it is imperative to diminish the inevitable distraction of the Executive by virtue of the personal uncertainties and risks created by a pending or threatened Change of Control and to encourage the Executive’s fullattention and dedication to the Company currently and in the event of any threatened or pending Change of Control, and to provide the Executive with compensation and benefits arrangements upon a Change of Control which ensure that the compensationand benefits expectations of the Executive will be satisfied and which are competitive with those of other corporations. Therefore, in order to accomplish these objectives, the Board has caused the Company to enter into this Agreement. 

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS: 

1. Certain Definitions. (a) The “Effective Date” shall mean the first date during the Change of Control Period (as defined in Section 1(b)) on which a Change of Control (as defined in Section 2) occurs.Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if a Change of Control occurs and if the Executive’s employment with the Company or this Agreement is terminated prior to the date on which the Change of Control occurs, and if it isreasonably demonstrated by the Executive that such termination of employment or of this Agreement (i) was at the request of a third party who has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change of Control or (ii) otherwise arose inconnection with or anticipation of a Change of Control, then for all purposes of this Agreement the “Effective Date” shall mean the date immediately prior to the date of such termination of employment or purported termination of thisAgreement. 

(b) The “Change of Control Period” shall mean the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the thirdanniversary of the date hereof; provided, however, that commencing on the date one year after the date hereof, and on each annual anniversary of such date (such date and each annual anniversary thereof shall be hereinafter referred to as the“Renewal Date”), unless previously terminated, the Change of Control Period shall be automatically extended so as to terminate three years from such Renewal Date, unless at least 60 days prior to the Renewal Date the Company shall givenotice to the Executive that the Change of Control Period shall not be so extended. 

2. Change of Control. For the purpose of thisAgreement, a “Change of Control” shall mean: 

(a) The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning ofSection 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the 

 

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meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of either (i) the then outstanding sharesof common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the“Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control: (i) any acquisition directly from the Company, (ii) any acquisition by the Company,(iii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (iv) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complieswith clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (c) of this Section 2; or 

(b) Individuals who, as of the date hereof,constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination forelection by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, forthis purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies orconsents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or 

(c) Approval by the shareholders of the Company and the subsequentconsummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (i) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficialowners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstandingshares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including,without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the OutstandingCompany Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (ii) no Person (excluding any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficiallyowns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of suchcorporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members ofthe Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination; or 

(d) Approval by the shareholders of the Company and the subsequent consummation of (i) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially allof the assets of the Company, other than to a corporation, with respect to which following such sale or other disposition, (A) more than 60% of, respectively, of the then outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combinedvoting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially 

 

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owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficialowners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such sale or other disposition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership, immediately prior to such sale orother disposition, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (B) less than 20% of, respectively, of the then outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combinedvoting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any Person (excluding any employee benefit plan (or relatedtrust) of the Company or such corporation), except to the extent that such Person owned 20% or more of the Outstanding Company Common Stock or Outstanding Company Voting Securities prior to the sale or disposition and (C) at least a majority ofthe members of the board of directors of such corporation were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such sale or other disposition of assets of the Companyor were elected, appointed or nominated by the Board. 

3. Employment Period. The Company hereby agrees to continue the Executive inits employ, and the Executive hereby agrees to remain in the employ of the Company subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of such date (the“Employment Period”). 

4. Terms of Employment. (a) Position and Duties. (i) During the Employment Period,(A) the Executive’s position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties and responsibilities shall be at least commensurate in all material respects with the most significant of those held, exercisedand assigned at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date and (B) the Executive’s services shall be performed at the location where the Executive was employed immediately preceding the Effective Date orany office or location less than 35 miles from such location. 

(ii) During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods of vacation andsick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive agrees to devote reasonable attention and time during normal business hours to the business and affairs of the Company and, to the extent necessary to discharge the responsibilitiesassigned to the Executive hereunder, to use the Executive’s reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently such responsibilities. During the Employment Period it shall not be a violation of this Agreement for the Executive to(A) serve on corporate, civic or charitable boards or committees, (B) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or teach at educational institutions and (C) manage personal investments, so long as such activities do notsignificantly interfere with the performance of the Executive’s responsibilities as an employee of the Company in accordance with this Agreement. It is expressly understood and agreed that to the extent that any such activities have beenconducted by the Executive prior to the Effective Date, the continued conduct of such activities (or the conduct of activities similar in nature and scope thereto) subsequent to the Effective Date shall not thereafter be deemed to interfere with theperformance of the Executive’s responsibilities to the Company. 

(b) Compensation. (i) Base Salary. During theEmployment Period, the Executive shall receive an annual base salary (“Annual Base Salary”), which shall be paid at a monthly rate, at least equal to twelve times the highest monthly base salary paid or payable, including any base salarywhich has been earned but deferred, to the 

 

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Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies in respect of the twelve-month period immediately preceding themonth in which the Effective Date occurs. During the Employment Period, the Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed no more than 12 months after the last salary increase awarded to the Executive prior to the Effective Date and thereafter at leastannually and shall be first increased no more than 12 months after the last salary increase awarded to the Executive prior to the Effective Date and thereafter at least annually by the higher of (x) the average increase (excluding promotionalincreases) in base salary awarded to the Executive for each of the three full fiscal years (annualized in the case of any fiscal year consisting of less than twelve full months or during which the Executive was employed for less than twelve months)prior to the Effective Date, and (y) the percentage increase (excluding promotional increases) in base salary generally awarded to peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies for the year of determination. Any increase in AnnualBase Salary shall not serve to limit or reduce any other obligation to the Executive under this Agreement. Annual Base Salary shall not be reduced after any such increase and the term Annual Base Salary as utilized in this Agreement shall refer toAnnual Base Salary as so increased. As used in this Agreement, the term “affiliated companies” shall include any company controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Company. 

(ii) Annual Bonus. In addition to Annual Base Salary, the Executive shall be awarded, for each fiscal year ending during the Employment Period, anannual bonus (the “Annual Bonus”) in cash at least equal to the higher of (x) the average of the three highest bonuses paid or payable, including any bonus or portion thereof which has been earned but deferred, to the Executive by theCompany and its affiliated companies in respect of the five fiscal years (or such shorter period during which the Executive has been employed by the Company) immediately preceding the fiscal year in which the Effective Date occurs (annualized forany fiscal year during such period consisting of less than twelve full months or with respect to which the Executive has been employed by the Company for less than twelve full months) and (y) the bonus paid or payable (annualized as describedabove), including any bonus or portion thereof which has been earned but deferred, to the Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies in respect of the most recently completed fiscal year prior to the Effective Date (such higher amountbeing referred to as the “Recent Annual Bonus”). Each such Annual Bonus shall be paid no later than the end of the third month of the fiscal year next following the fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus is awarded, (but in any event nolater than March 15th following the fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus is awarded) unless the Executive shall elect to defer the receipt of such Annual Bonus pursuant to the provisions of any otherwise applicable deferred compensation planor arrangement. In the event that (a) despite the requirement of this subparagraph (ii), the Annual Bonus for any fiscal year during the Employment Period is less than the Recent Annual Bonus (as a result of either a reduction in the targetedbonus amounts, or a failure to meet performance goals), or (b) the Executive’s services are terminated during any fiscal year, the amount and timing of the cash bonus for such fiscal year (payable under Section 9 of the Company’sIncentive Compensation Plan) shall not be affected by any payments made under Section 6 below. 

(iii) Incentive, Savings andRetirement Plans. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all incentive, savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs applicable generally to other peer executives of the Company and itsaffiliated companies, but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs provide the Executive with incentive opportunities (measured with respect to both regular and special incentive opportunities, to the extent, if any, that suchdistinction is applicable), savings opportunities and retirement benefit opportunities, in each case, less favorable, in the aggregate, than the most favorable of 

 

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those provided by the Company and its affiliated companies for the Executive under such plans, practices, policies andprograms as in effect at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or if more favorable to the Executive, those provided generally at any time after the Effective Date to other peer executives of the Company and itsaffiliated companies. 

(iv) Welfare Benefit Plans. During the Employment Period, the Executive and/or the Executive’s family,as the case may be, shall be eligible for participation in and shall receive all benefits under welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the Company and its affiliated companies (including, without limitation, medical,prescription, dental, disability, salary continuance, employee life, group life, accidental death and travel accident insurance plans and programs) to the extent applicable generally to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliatedcompanies, but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs provide the Executive with benefits which are less favorable, in the aggregate, than the most favorable of such plans, practices, policies and programs in effect for theExecutive at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, those provided generally at any time after the Effective Date to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliatedcompanies. 

(v) Expenses. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for allreasonable expenses incurred by the Executive in accordance with the most favorable policies, practices and procedures of the Company and its affiliated companies in effect for the Executive at any time during the 120-day period immediatelypreceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. 

(vi) Fringe Benefits. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits, including, without limitation, tax andfinancial planning services, payment of club dues, and, if applicable, use of an automobile and payment of related expenses, in accordance with the most favorable plans, practices, programs and policies of the Company and its affiliated companies ineffect for the Executive at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company andits affiliated companies. 

(vii) Office and Support Staff. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to anoffice or offices of a size and with furnishings and other appointments, and to exclusive personal secretarial and other assistance, at least equal to the most favorable of the foregoing provided to the Executive by the Company and its affiliatedcompanies at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive, as provided generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliatedcompanies. 

(viii) Vacation. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with themost favorable plans, policies, programs and practices of the Company and its affiliated companies as in effect for the Executive at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive,as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies. 

 

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5. Termination of Employment. (a) Death or Disability. The Executive’s employmentshall terminate automatically upon the Executive’s death during the Employment Period. If the Company determines in good faith that the Disability of the Executive has occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant to the definition ofDisability set forth below), it may give to the Executive written notice in accordance with Section 12(b) of this Agreement of its intention to terminate the Executive’s employment. In such event, the Executive’s employment with theCompany shall terminate effective on the 30th day after receipt of such notice by the Executive (the “Disability Effective Date”), provided that, within the 30 days after such receipt, the Executive shall not have returned to full-timeperformance of the Executive’s duties. For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” shall mean the absence of the Executive from the Executive’s duties with the Company on a full-time basis for 180 consecutive business days as aresult of incapacity due to mental or physical illness which is determined to be total and permanent by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and acceptable to the Executive or the Executive’s legal representative (such agreementas to acceptability not to be withheld unreasonably). 

(b) Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment duringthe Employment Period for Cause. For the sole and exclusive purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean: 

(i)the willful and continued failure of the Executive to perform substantially the Executive’s duties with the Company or one of its affiliates (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness), after awritten demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Executive by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company which specifically identifies the manner in which the Board or Chief Executive Officer believes that the Executivehas not substantially performed the Executive’s duties, or 

(ii) the willful engaging by the Executive in illegalconduct or gross misconduct which is materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company. 

For purposes of this provision, no act or failure to act, onthe part of the Executive, shall be considered “willful” unless it is done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive in bad faith or without reasonable belief that the Executive’s action or omission was in the best interests of theCompany. Any act, or failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board or upon the instructions of the Chief Executive Officer or a senior officer of the Company or based upon the advice of counsel for theCompany shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive in good faith and in the best interests of the Company. The cessation of employment of the Executive shall not be deemed to be for Cause unless and untilthere shall have been delivered to the Executive a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three-quarters of the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose (afterreasonable notice is provided to the Executive and the Executive is given an opportunity, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, the Executive is guilty of the conduct described insubparagraph (i) or (ii) above, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail. 

(c) Good Reason. The Executive’semployment may be terminated by the Executive for Good Reason. For the sole and exclusive purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean any of the following events as determined in good faith by the Executive: 

 

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(i) the assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent in any respect with theExecutive’s position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities as contemplated by Section 4(a) of this Agreement, or any other action by the Company which results in a diminutionin such position, authority, duties or responsibilities; 

(ii) any failure by the Company to comply with any of theprovisions of Section 4(b) of this Agreement; 

(iii) the Company’s requiring the Executive to be based at anyoffice or location other than as provided in Section 4(a)(i)(B) hereof or the Company’s requiring the Executive to travel on Company business to a substantially greater extent than required immediately prior to the Effective Date;

(iv) any purported termination by the Company of the Executive’s employment otherwise than as expressly permitted bythis Agreement; or 

(v) any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy Section 11(c) of this Agreement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Good Reason” shall not be deemed to have occurred under this Agreement unless the Executive has provided theCompany with a written notice setting forth in reasonable detail the event or condition that constitutes “Good Reason” and the Company has failed to cure the event or condition within 30 days. 

(d) Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Company for Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, shall be communicated by Notice ofTermination to the other party hereto given in accordance with Section 12(b) of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Notice of Termination” means a written notice which (i) indicates the specific terminationprovision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so indicatedand (iii) if the Date of Termination (as defined below) is other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date (which date shall be not more than thirty days after the giving of such notice). The failure by theExecutive or the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of the Executive or the Company, respectively, hereunder or preclude theExecutive or the Company, respectively, from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executive’s or the Company’s rights hereunder. 

(e) Date of Termination. “Date of Termination” means (i) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason, the date of receipt of theNotice of Termination or any later date specified therein, as the case may be, (ii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date on which theCompany notifies the Executive of such termination and (iii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of death or Disability, the Date of Termination shall be the date of death of the Executive or the Disability EffectiveDate, as the case may be. 

 

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6. Obligations of the Company upon Termination. (a) Good Reason: Other Than for Cause,Death or Disability. If, during the Employment Period, the Company shall terminate the Executive’s employment other than for Cause or Disability or the Executive shall terminate employment for Good Reason: 

(i) the Company shall pay to the Executive the following amounts: 

A. within 30 days after the Date of Termination a lump sum cash amount equal to the Executive’s Annual Base Salary through the Dateof Termination to the extent not theretofore paid; 

B. a lump sum payment on the first day of the seventh month after theDate of Termination equal to the product of (x) the higher of (I) the Recent Annual Bonus and (II) the Annual Bonus paid or payable, including any bonus or portion thereof which has been earned but deferred (and annualized for any fiscalyear consisting of less than twelve full months or during which the Executive was employed for less than twelve full months), for the most recently completed fiscal year during the Employment Period, if any (such higher amount being referred to asthe “Highest Annual Bonus”) and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the current fiscal year through the Date of Termination, and the denominator of which is 365; 

C. Within 30 days after the Date of Termination an amount equal to the Executive’s accrued but untaken vacation through the Date ofTermination. 

The sum of the amounts described in Clauses (A) and (B) and (C) shall be hereinafter referred to as the**“Accrued Obligations”**; however, the payment of the amount described in clause (B) shall not reduce the amount of the bonus that is otherwise payable to the Executive under Section 9(b) of the Company’sIncentive Compensation Plan, which amount shall be payable after the close of the performance period, contingent on the satisfaction of performance goals, and adjusted by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the current fiscalyear through the Date of Termination, and the denominator of which is 365; 

D. a lump sum payment on the first day of theseventh month after the Date of Termination equal to the product of (1) three and (2) the sum of (x) the Executive’s Annual Base Salary and (y) the Highest Annual Bonus; and 

E. a lump sum payment on the first day of the seventh month after the Date of Termination equal to the difference between (a) theactuarial equivalent of the benefit (utilizing actuarial assumptions no less favorable to the Executive than those in effect under the Retirement Plan (as defined below) immediately prior to the Effective Date, except as specified below with respectto increases in base salary and annual bonus) under the qualified defined benefit retirement plan in which the Executive participates (the “Retirement Plan”) and any excess or supplemental retirement plan in which the Executiveparticipates (together, the “SERP”) 

 

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which the Executive would receive if the Executive’s employment continued for three years after the Date of Termination assuming for this purpose thatall accrued benefits are fully vested, and, assuming that (1)

the Executive’s base salary increased in each of the three years by theamount required by Section 4(b)(i) (in the case of Section 4(b)(i)(y) based on increases (excluding promotional increases) in base salary for the most recently completed fiscal year prior to the Date of Termination) had the Executiveremained employed, and (2) the Executive’s annual bonus (annualized for any fiscal year consisting of less than twelve full months or during which the Executive was employed for less than twelve full months) in each of the three yearsbears the same proportion to the Executive’s base salary in such year or fraction thereof as it did for the last full year prior to the Date of Termination, and (b) the actuarial equivalent of the Executive’s actual benefit (paid orpayable), if any, under the Retirement Plan and the SERP as of the Date of Termination; 

(ii) for three years after the Executive’sDate of Termination, or such longer period as may be provided by the terms of the appropriate plan, program, practice or policy, the Company shall continue benefits to the Executive and/or the Executive’s family at least equal to those whichwould have been provided to them in accordance with the plans, programs, practices and policies described in Section 4(b)(iv) of this Agreement if the Executive’s employment had not been terminated in accordance with the most favorableplans, practices, programs or policies of the Company and its affiliated companies applicable generally to other peer executives and their families during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to theExecutive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their families, provided, however, that if the Executive becomes reemployed with another employer and iseligible to receive medical or other welfare benefits under another employer provided plan, the medical and other welfare benefits described herein shall be secondary to those provided under such other plan during such applicable period ofeligibility. For purposes of determining eligibility (but not the time of commencement of benefits) of the Executive for retiree benefits pursuant to such plans, practices, programs and policies, the Executive shall be considered to have remainedemployed until two and one-half years after the Date of Termination and to have retired on the last day of such period except to the extent the providing of such service credit would cause a benefit to be discriminatory or violate a qualificationrule under Internal Revenue Code Section 79 or 105(h) or other applicable Code rule; 

(iii) the Company shall, on the first day of theeighth month following the Date of Termination reimburse the Executive for outplacement services received by the Executive during the first six (6) months after the date of termination, the scope and provider of which shall be selected by theExecutive in his sole discretion; and 

(iv) to the extent not theretofore paid or provided, the Company shall timely pay or provide to theExecutive any other amounts or benefits required to be paid or provided or which the Executive is eligible to receive under any plan, program, policy or practice or contract or agreement of the Company and its affiliated companies (such otheramounts and benefits shall be hereinafter referred to as the “Other Benefits”) and such payments shall be provided at such times and in such amounts as called for by the terms of such Other Benefits arrangements. 

 

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(b) Death. If the Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of the Executive’sdeath during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive’s legal representatives under this Agreement, other than for payment of Accrued Obligations and the timely payment or provision ofOther Benefits. Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the Executive’s estate or beneficiary, as applicable, in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination. With respect to the provision of Other Benefits, the term Other Benefitsas utilized in this Section 6(b) shall include, without limitation, and the Executive’s estate and/or beneficiaries shall be entitled to receive, benefits at least equal to the most favorable benefits provided by the Company and affiliatedcompanies to the estates and beneficiaries of peer executives of the Company and such affiliated companies under such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to death benefits, if any, as in effect with respect to other peer executives andtheir beneficiaries at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive’s estate and/or the Executive’s beneficiaries, as in effect on the date of the Executive’s deathwith respect to other peer executives of the Company and its affiliated companies and their beneficiaries. 

(c) Disability. If theExecutive’s employment is terminated by reason of the Executive’s Disability during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive, other than for payment of Accrued Obligations and thetimely payment or provision of Other Benefits. The Accrued Obligations shall be paid to Executive at the same times as specified in Section 6(a)(i)(A)(B) and (C). With respect to the provision of Other Benefits, the term Other Benefits asutilized in this Section 6(c) shall include, and the Executive shall be entitled after the Disability Effective Date to receive, disability and other benefits at least equal to the most favorable of those generally provided by the Company andits affiliated companies to disabled executives and/or their families in accordance with such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to disability, if any, as in effect generally with respect to other peer executives and their families atany time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to the Executive and/or the Executive’s family, as in effect at any time thereafter generally with respect to other peer executives of the Companyand its affiliated companies and their families. 

(d) Cause; Other than for Good Reason. If the Executive’s employment shall beterminated for Cause during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive other than the obligation to, within 30 days of the Date of Termination, pay to the Executive his Annual Base Salarythrough the Date of Termination. Also, Executive shall also be paid the amount of any compensation previously deferred by the Executive under any other plan or arrangement at such times and in such amounts provided therein, and Other Benefits, tothe extent theretofore unpaid and such payments of Other Benefits shall be provided at such times and in such amounts as called for by the terms of such Other Benefits arrangements. If the Executive voluntarily terminates employment during theEmployment Period, excluding a termination for Good Reason, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to the Executive, other than for Accrued Obligations and the timely payment or provision of Other Benefits to be provided at suchtimes and in such amounts as called for by the terms of such Other Benefits arrangements. In such case, the Accrued Obligations shall be paid to Executive at the same times as specified in Section 6(a)(i)(A)(B) and (C). 

(e) Limitations. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6 to the contrary, to the extent any benefits provided pursuant toSection 6(a)(ii) and (iv) or 

 

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Other Benefits pursuant to Section 6(c) during the first six (6) months after Executive’s Date of Termination are not paid pursuant to aqualified plan, a bona fide sick leave or vacation plan, a disability plan, a death benefit plan or a plan providing medical expense reimbursements which are non-taxable or a separation pay plan (within the meaning of regulations under CodeSection 409(A)), Executive shall pay the cost of such coverage during the first six (6) months following Executive’s Date of Termination and shall be reimbursed by the Company for the cost of such coverage on the first day of theseventh month after Executive’s Date of Termination. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6 to the contrary, including the preceding sentence, if the provision of medical benefits coverage called for herein would bediscriminatory within the meaning of Section 105(h) of the Internal Revenue Code, then, to the extent necessary to prevent such discrimination, Executive (or his survivors, as the case may be) shall pay the cost of all such coverage and neitherExecutive nor his survivors, as the case may be, shall be reimbursed by the Company for doing so. 

7. Non-exclusivity of Rights.Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit the Executive’s continuing or future participation in any plan, program, policy or practice provided by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and for which the Executive may qualify, norshall anything herein limit or otherwise affect such rights as the Executive may have under any contract or agreement with the Company or any of its affiliated companies. Amounts which are vested benefits or which the Executive is otherwise entitledto receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of or any contract or agreement with the Company or any of its affiliated companies at or subsequent to the Date of Termination shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice orprogram or contract or agreement except as explicitly modified by this Agreement. 

8. Full Settlement. The Company’s obligationto make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which the Company may have against theExecutive or others. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement and such amounts shall notbe reduced whether or not the Executive obtains other employment. The Company agrees to pay as incurred, to the full extent permitted by law, all legal fees and expenses which the Executive may reasonably incur as a result of any contest (regardlessof the outcome thereof) by the Company, the Executive or others of the validity or enforceability of, or liability under, any provision of this Agreement or any guarantee of performance thereof (including as a result of any contest by the Executiveabout the amount of any payment pursuant to this Agreement), plus in each case interest on any delayed payment at the applicable Federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the“Code”). 

9. Certain Additional Payments by the Company. 

(a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event it shall be determined that any payment or distribution by the Company to orfor the benefit of the Executive (whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, but determined without regard to any additional payments required under this Section 9) (a“Payment”) would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any interest or penalties are incurred by the Executive with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest andpenalties, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Excise Tax”), then the Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional payment (a “Gross-Up Payment”) in an amount such that after payment by the Executive of alltaxes (including any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including, without limitation, any income taxes (and any interest and penalties imposed with respect thereto) and Excise Tax imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, theExecutive retains an amount of the Gross-Up 

 

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Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payments. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the amount of the Paymentsdoes not exceed by more than 15% the amount that would be payable to Executive if the Payments were reduced to one dollar less than what would constitute a “parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Code (the “Scaled BackAmount”), then the Payments shall be reduced to the Scaled Back Amount, and Executive shall not be entitled to any Gross-Up Payment. The reduction of the Payments, if applicable, shall be made by reducing the payments and benefits under thefollowing sections of this Agreement in the following order: (i) Section 6(a)(i)(D); and (ii) Section 6(a)(i)(E). 

(b)Subject to the provisions of Section 9(c), all determinations required to be made under this Section 9, including whether and when a Gross-Up Payment is required and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment, whether Payments must be reduced tothe Scaled Back Amount and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determinations, shall be made by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or such other certified public accounting firm as may be designated by the Executive (the “AccountingFirm”) which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive within 15 business days of the receipt of notice from the Executive to the Company that there has been a Payment (which notice must be provided byMarch 1 of the year following the year in which the Payment is made), or such earlier time as is requested by the Company. In the event that the Accounting Firm is serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group effectingthe Change of Control, the Executive shall appoint another nationally recognized accounting firm to make the determinations required hereunder (which accounting firm shall then be referred to as the Accounting Firm hereunder). All fees and expensesof the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company. Any Gross-Up Payment, as determined pursuant to this Section 9, shall be paid by the Company to the Executive within five days of the receipt of the Accounting Firm’sdetermination. If a reduction in Payments is required, such reduction shall be effectuated within sixty (60) days of the receipt of the Accounting Firm’s determination. If the Accounting Firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by theExecutive, it shall furnish the Executive with a written opinion that failure to report the Excise Tax on the Executive’s applicable federal income tax return would not result in the imposition of a negligence or similar penalty. Anydetermination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive. As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Code at the time of the initial determination by the Accounting Firm hereunder,it is possible that Gross-Up Payments which will not have been made by the Company should have been made (“Underpayment”), consistent with the calculations required to be made hereunder. In the event that the Company exhausts its remediespursuant to Section 9(c) and the Executive thereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by theCompany to or for the benefit of the Executive. To comply with Internal Revenue Code Section 409A, any payment of an Underpayment by the Company or payment of expenses by the Company under paragraph (c) below shall in any event be made bythe end of the Executive’s taxable year following the Executive’s taxable year in which the taxes that are the subject of the audit or litigation are remitted to the taxing authority, or where as a result of such audit or litigation notaxes are remitted, the end of the Executive’s taxable year following the Executive’s taxable year in which the audit is completed or there is a final and nonappealable settlement or other resolution of the litigation. 

 

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(c) The Executive shall notify the Company in writing of any claim by the Internal Revenue Service that,if successful, would require the payment by the Company of the Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall be given as soon as practicable but no later than ten business days after the Executive is informed in writing of such claim and shall apprisethe Company of the nature of such claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be paid. The Executive shall not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the 30-day period following the date on which the Executive gives such notice to theCompany (or such shorter period ending on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to such claim is due). If the Company notifies the Executive in writing prior to the expiration of such period that it desires to contest such claim, theExecutive shall: 

(i) give the Company any information reasonably requested by the Company relating to such claim,

(ii) take such action in connection with contesting such claim as the Company shall reasonably request in writing from timeto time, including, without limitation, accepting legal representation with respect to such claim by an attorney reasonably selected by the Company, 

(iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order effectively to contest such claim, and 

(iv) permit the Company to participate in any proceedings relating to such claim; 

provided, however, that the Company shall bear and pay directlyall costs and expenses (including additional interest and penalties) incurred in connection with such contest and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or income tax (including interest andpenalties with respect thereto) imposed as a result of such representation and payment of costs and expenses. Without limitation on the foregoing provisions of this Section 9(c), the Company shall control all proceedings taken in connectionwith such contest and, at its sole option, may pursue or forgo any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with the taxing authority in respect of such claim and may, at its sole option, either direct the Executive topay the tax claimed and sue for a refund or contest the claim in any permissible manner, and the Executive agrees to prosecute such contest to a determination before any administrative tribunal, in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or moreappellate courts, as the Company shall determine; provided, however, that if the Company directs the Executive to pay such claim and sue for a refund, the Company shall advance the amount of such payment to the Executive, on an interest-free basisand shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or income tax (including interest or penalties with respect thereto) imposed with respect to such advance or with respect to any imputed income withrespect to such advance; and further provided that any extension of the statute of limitations relating to payment of taxes for the taxable year of the Executive with respect to which such contested amount is claimed to be due is limited solely tosuch contested amount. Furthermore, the Company’s control of the contest shall be limited to issues with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment would be payable hereunder and the Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case maybe, any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority. 

(d) If, after the receipt by the Executive of anamount advanced by the 

 

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Company pursuant to Section 9(c), the Executive becomes entitled to receive any refund with respect to such claim, the Executive shall (subject to theCompany’s complying with the requirements of Section 9(c)) promptly pay to the Company the amount of such refund (together with any interest paid or credited thereon after taxes applicable thereto). 

If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 9(c), a determination is made that the Executive shall not beentitled to any refund with respect to such claim and the Company does not notify the Executive in writing of its intent to contest such denial of refund prior to the expiration of 30 days after such determination, then such advance shall beforgiven and shall not be required to be repaid and the amount of such advance shall offset, to the extent thereof, the amount of Gross-Up Payment required to be paid. 

10. Confidential Information. The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company or any of itsaffiliated companies, and their respective businesses, which shall have been obtained by the Executive during the Executive’s employment by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and which shall not be or become public knowledge (otherthan by acts by the Executive or representatives of the Executive in violation of this Agreement). After termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company or asmay otherwise be required by law or legal process, communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data to anyone other than the Company and those designated by it. In no event shall an asserted violation of the provisions of thisSection 10 constitute a basis for deferring or withholding any amounts otherwise payable to the Executive under this Agreement. 

11.Successors. (a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by the Executive otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreementshall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s legal representatives. 

(b) This Agreement shall inure to thebenefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns. 

(c) The Company will require any successor (whether direct orindirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Companywould be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this Agreement, “Company” shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes andagrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise. 

12. Miscellaneous. (a) This Agreement shall be governed byand construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Wisconsin, without reference to principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect. This Agreement may notbe amended or modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives. 

(b) All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed asfollows: 

 

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If to the Executive:
   
If to the Company:

Briggs & StrattonCorporation

12301 West Wirth Street

Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 53222

 

Attention: General Counsel
  
or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith.Notice and communications shall be effective when actually received by the addressee. 

(c) The invalidity or unenforceability of anyprovision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement. 

(d) The Company maywithhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such Federal, state, local or foreign taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation. 

(e) The Executive’s or the Company’s failure to insist upon strict compliance with any provision hereof or any other provision of thisAgreement or the failure to assert any right the Executive or the Company may have hereunder, including, without limitation, the right of the Executive to terminate employment for Good Reason pursuant to Section 5(c)(i)-(v) of thisAgreement, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right of this Agreement. 

(f) TheExecutive and the Company acknowledge that, except as may otherwise be provided under any other written agreement between the Executive and the Company, the employment of the Executive by the Company is “at will” and, prior to theEffective Date, the Executive’s employment and this Agreement may be terminated by either the Executive or the Company at any time prior to the Effective Date, in which case the Executive shall have no further rights under this Agreement. Fromand after the Effective Date this Agreement shall supersede any other agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. 

(g) In order to facilitate compliance with section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, the Company and the Executive shall neither accelerate nor defer or otherwise change the time at which any payment due hereunder is to be made and no Dateof Termination shall be deemed to have occurred until the date the Executive is considered to have had a Separation from Service within the meaning of Code Section 409A. 

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive has hereunto set the Executive’s hand and, pursuant to theauthorization from its Board of Directors, the Company has caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf, all as of the day and year first above written. 

 

 

[Executive]
BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATIONBy: 
 
 John S. Shiely Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
 

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