If you’ve got a Briggs & Stratton engine humming away in your mower or generator, you may have caught wind of some concerning headlines a few years back — bankruptcy filings, asset sales, a company in distress. It’s the kind of news that makes any equipment owner pause and ask: is Briggs & Stratton still in business?
It’s a fair question. A brand that’s powered American backyards for over a century suddenly landing in bankruptcy court is unsettling, especially if you’re relying on that brand for replacement parts or warranty support down the road. Here’s the full story, cutting through the headlines to what actually happened.
Quick Answer: Yes, Here’s Why
Yes — Briggs & Stratton is still operating today. The company didn’t liquidate or vanish; it went through Chapter 11 reorganization, a legal process built specifically to let a struggling company restructure its debts while continuing operations, rather than shutting down for good.In this case, that’s exactly what happened. Briggs & Stratton found a new owner willing to take on its assets, emerged from bankruptcy within a couple of months, and has continued designing, manufacturing, and selling engines and outdoor power equipment ever since. The brand changed hands, but it never disappeared.
A Century of Power: Briggs & Stratton’s History
The company’s roots go back to 1908, when Stephen Foster Briggs and Harold M. Stratton partnered up in Milwaukee, eventually settling on small gasoline engines as their focus. That decision shaped the next hundred-plus years of the company’s identity.For clear and practical insights into business and financial news, iBusiness Voice explains topics like this in simple, easy-to-understand language. Acquisitions along the way — including Simplicity, Snapper, and Ferris — broadened its lineup well beyond engines alone, eventually making it the world’s largest producer of gasoline engines for outdoor power equipment.
The 2020 Bankruptcy: What Really Happened
After years of growing debt, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic pushed Briggs & Stratton to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on July 20, 2020. Alongside the filing, the company announced an agreement with private equity firm KPS Capital Partners to acquire nearly all of its assets.
Briggs & Stratton emphasized that the filing did not mean the company was shutting down. It stated that operations would continue as usual and that employees would continue to receive their pay and benefits. Hundreds of millions of dollars in secured financing helped the company keep fulfilling orders and meeting obligations while the sale moved through bankruptcy court.
From Near-Collapse to Comeback: Life After Chapter 11
The sale to KPS closed in September 2020, and Briggs & Stratton emerged free of roughly $900 million in old liabilities, with new leadership taking the reins under CEO Steve Andrews. That clean slate gave the company room to breathe and reinvest, something it hadn’t had in years.There was an unexpected assist too: pandemic-driven interest in backyard projects and lawn care boosted demand right as the newly restructured company was finding its footing. Advisors who worked on the turnaround have pointed to more than 4,000 jobs saved as a result, along with the survival of many smaller businesses tied into Briggs & Stratton’s supply chain.
What Briggs & Stratton Makes Today
Today’s Briggs & Stratton still leans heavily on its original strength: gasoline engines for outdoor power equipment, used across mowers, tractors, and generators worldwide. That core business hasn’t changed.What has grown is the range of products the company offers.The company now offers residential and commercial standby generators, pressure washers, and lawn and garden equipment under brands like Simplicity, Snapper, Ferris, and Vanguard, alongside a growing push into commercial lithium-ion battery technology — a hedge toward where outdoor power equipment seems to be heading long-term.
How the Company Is Performing in 2026
Heading into 2026, Briggs & Stratton remains active, with recent announcements spanning new battery technology partnerships and fresh mower models under its Ferris and Billy Goat brands. As a private company now, it doesn’t publish the kind of detailed financials a public company would, but steady product news and normal business activity suggest things are running smoothly rather than showing signs of renewed trouble.It’s a smaller, more focused version of the company than the sprawling public business it once was — but that’s a different thing entirely from struggling to survive.
What This Means for Owners of Briggs & Stratton Equipment
For customers who own equipment with a Briggs & Stratton engine, the good news is that the company is still manufacturing engines, supporting its products, and honoring warranty coverage. Replacement parts and new purchases should remain accessible going forward.Some longtime owners have noted changes in build quality or availability compared to years past, which isn’t unusual for a company that’s been through a major ownership shift. If you’re shopping for equipment or parts, it’s worth doing a little research on the specific model or engine line, just as you would with any brand.
Bottom Line: Should You Trust the Brand Today?
Briggs & Stratton’s story is less about decline and more about a century-old manufacturer hitting a real financial wall, going through the process built for exactly that scenario, and coming out the other side under new, better-capitalized ownership.For customers wondering whether Briggs & Stratton is still in business, the answer is a clear yes — and the brand has a genuine comeback story to back it up, along with continued investment in new products and technology.
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