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Exhibit 1.1
AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION
DEBT SECURITIES
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UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
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_____ __, 1998
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.,
[NAMES OF CO-REPRESENTATIVE(S),]
c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.,
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
From time to time American Greetings Corporation, an Ohio corporation (the
"Company"), proposes to enter into one or more Pricing Agreements (each a
"Pricing Agreement") in the form of Annex I hereto, with such additions and
deletions as the parties thereto may determine, and, subject to the terms and
conditions stated herein and therein, to issue and sell to the firms named in
Schedule I to the applicable Pricing Agreement (such firms constituting the
"Underwriters" with respect to such Pricing Agreement and the securities
specified therein) certain of its debt securities (the "Securities") specified
in Schedule II to such Pricing Agreement (with respect to such Pricing
Agreement, the "Designated Securities").
The terms and rights of any particular issuance of Designated Securities
shall be as specified in the Pricing Agreement relating thereto and in or
pursuant to the indenture (the "Indenture") identified in such Pricing
Agreement.
1. Particular sales of Designated Securities may be made from time to time
to the Underwriters of such Securities, for whom the firms designated as
representatives of the Underwriters of such Securities in the Pricing Agreement
relating thereto will act as representatives (the "Representatives"). The term
"Representatives" also refers to a single firm acting as sole representative of
the Underwriters and to an Underwriter or Underwriters who act without any firm
being designated as its or their representatives. This Underwriting Agreement
shall not be construed as an obligation of the Company to sell any of the
Securities or as an obligation of any of the Underwriters to purchase the
Securities. The obligation of the Company to issue and sell any of the
Securities and the obligation of any of the Underwriters to purchase any of the
Securities shall be evidenced by the Pricing Agreement with respect to the
Designated Securities specified therein. Each Pricing Agreement shall specify
the aggregate principal amount of such Designated Securities, the initial public
offering price of such Designated Securities, the purchase price to the
Underwriters of such Designated Securities, the names of the Underwriters of
such Designated Securities, the names of the Representatives of such
Underwriters and the principal amount of such Designated Securities to be
purchased by each Underwriter and shall set forth the date, time and manner of
delivery of such Designated Securities and payment therefor. The Pricing
Agreement shall also specify (to the extent not set forth in the Indenture and
the registration statement and prospectus with respect thereto) the terms of
such Designated Securities. A Pricing Agreement shall be in the form of an
executed writing (which may be in counterparts), and may be
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evidenced by an exchange of telegraphic communications or any other rapid
transmission device designed to produce a written record of communications
transmitted. The obligations of the Underwriters under this Agreement and each
Pricing Agreement shall be several and not joint.
2. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the
Underwriters that:
(a) A registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-....) (the
"Initial Registration Statement") in respect of the Securities has been
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission");
the Initial Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment
thereto, each in the form heretofore delivered or to be delivered to the
Representatives and, excluding exhibits to the Initial Registration
Statement, but including all documents incorporated by reference in the
prospectus contained therein, to the Representatives for each of the
other Underwriters, have been declared effective by the Commission in
such form; other than a registration statement, if any, increasing the
size of the offering (a "Rule 462(b) Registration Statement"), filed
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Act"), which became effective upon filing, no other document with
respect to the Initial Registration Statement or document incorporated
by reference therein has heretofore been filed or transmitted for filing
with the Commission (other than prospectuses filed pursuant to Rule
424(b) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Act,
each in the form heretofore delivered to the Representatives); and no
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Initial Registration
Statement, any post-effective amendment thereto or the Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement, if any, has been issued and no proceeding for
that purpose has been initiated or threatened by the Commission (any
preliminary prospectus included in the Initial Registration Statement or
filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Act, is
hereinafter called a "Preliminary Prospectus"; the various parts of the
Initial Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment thereto and
the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, including all exhibits
thereto and the documents incorporated by reference in the prospectus
contained in the Initial Registration Statement at the time such part of
the Initial Registration Statement became effective but excluding Form
T-1, each as amended at the time such part of the Initial Registration
Statement became effective or such part of the Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement, if any, became or hereafter becomes effective, are
hereinafter collectively called the "Registration Statement"; the
prospectus relating to the Securities, in the form in which it has most
recently been filed, or transmitted for filing, with the Commission on
or prior to the date of this Agreement, being hereinafter called the
"Prospectus"; any reference herein to any Preliminary Prospectus or the
Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents
incorporated by reference therein pursuant to the applicable form under
the Act, as of the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as
the case may be; any reference to any amendment or supplement to any
Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and
include any documents filed after the date of such Preliminary
Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be, under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and incorporated
by reference in such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case
may be; any reference to any amendment to the Initial Registration
Statement shall be deemed to refer to and include any annual report of
the Company filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act after the effective date of the Initial Registration Statement that
is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement; and any
reference to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented shall be deemed
to refer to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to the
applicable Designated
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Securities in the form in which it is filed with the Commission pursuant
to Rule 424(b) under the Act in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof,
including any documents incorporated by reference therein as of the date
of such filing);
(b) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, when
they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may
be, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or
the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder, and none of such documents contained an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading; and any further documents so filed and
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus or any further amendment or
supplement thereto, when such documents become effective or are filed
with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material
respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as
applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder
and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that this
representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or
omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter of Designated
Securities through the Representatives expressly for use in the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such Securities;
(c) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus conform, and any
further amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of
the Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust
Indenture Act") and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder and do not and will not, as of the applicable effective date
as to the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and as of the
applicable filing date as to the Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement thereto, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that
this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or
omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter of Designated
Securities through the Representatives expressly for use in the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such Securities;
(d) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained
since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus any material loss or
interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other
calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute
or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set
forth or contemplated in the Prospectus; and, since the respective dates
as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, there has not been any change in the capital stock, short
term or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any
material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective
material adverse change, in or affecting the general affairs,
management, financial position, shareholders' equity or results of
operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set
forth or contemplated in the Prospectus;
(e) The Company has been duly formed and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Ohio; each
of the Company's subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of its
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jurisdiction of incorporation; and each of the Company and its
subsidiaries has full power and authority (corporate and other) to own
its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus;
(f) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the
Prospectus, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company
have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and
non-assessable and all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of
each subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and
issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned beneficially by
the Company subject to no security interest, other encumbrance or
adverse claim;
(g) The Securities have been duly authorized, and, when Designated
Securities are issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement and the
Pricing Agreement with respect to such Designated Securities, such
Designated Securities will have been duly executed, authenticated,
issued and delivered and will constitute valid and legally binding
obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits provided by the
Indenture, which will be substantially in the form filed as an exhibit
to the Registration Statement; the Indenture has been duly authorized
and duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and, at the Time of
Delivery for such Designated Securities (as defined in Section 4
hereof), the Indenture will constitute a valid and legally binding
instrument, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, as to
enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of
general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to
general equity principles; and the Indenture conforms, and the
Designated Securities will conform, to the descriptions thereof
contained in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented with respect to
such Designated Securities;
(h) The issue and sale of the Securities and the compliance by the
Company with all of the provisions of the Securities, the Indenture,
this Agreement and any Pricing Agreement, and the consummation of the
transactions herein and therein contemplated will not conflict with or
result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or
constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan
agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a
party or by which the Company is bound or to which any of the property
or assets of the Company is subject, nor will such action result in any
violation of the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation or
Regulations of the Company or any statute or any order, rule or
regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having
jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties; and no consent,
approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with
any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the issue
and sale of the Securities or the consummation by the Company of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Pricing Agreement or
the Indenture, except such as have been, or will have been prior to the
Time of Delivery, obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and
such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or
qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky
laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities
by the Underwriters;
(i) The statements set forth in the Prospects under the caption
"Description of Debt Securities", insofar as it purports to constitute a
summary of the terms of the Securities, and under the caption "Plan of
Distribution", insofar as it purports to describe the provisions of the
laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate, complete and fair;
(j) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation
of its Articles of Incorporation, Certificate of Incorporation, By-laws
or Regulations or in default in the
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performance or observance of any material obligation, agreement,
covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of
trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which
it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound;
(k) Other than as set forth in the Prospectus, there are no legal or
governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or any
of its subsidiaries is the subject which, if determined adversely to the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the
aggregate have a material adverse effect on the current or future
consolidated financial position, shareholders' equity or results of
operations of the Company and its subsidiaries; and, to the best of the
Company's knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated
by governmental authorities or threatened by others;
(l) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and
sale of the Securities, will not be an "investment company" or an entity
"controlled" by an "investment company", as such terms are defined in
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company
Act");
(m) Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates does business with
the government of Cuba or with any person or affiliate located in Cuba
within the meaning of Section 517.075, Florida Statutes; and
(n) Ernst & Young, who have certified certain financial statements
of the Company and its subsidiaries, are independent public accountants
as required by the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder.
3. Upon the execution of the Pricing Agreement applicable to any Designated
Securities and authorization by the Representatives of the release of such
Designated Securities, the several Underwriters propose to offer such Designated
Securities for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus as
amended or supplemented.
4. Designated Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter pursuant to
the Pricing Agreement relating thereto, in the form specified in such Pricing
Agreement, and in such authorized denominations and registered in such names as
the Representatives may request upon at least forty-eight hours' prior notice to
the Company, shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the
Representatives for the account of such Underwriter, against payment by such
Underwriter or on its behalf of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of
Federal (same-day) funds to the account specified by the Company to the
Representatives at least forty-eight hours in advance or at such other place and
time and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing,
such time and date being herein called the "Time of Delivery" for such
Securities.
5. The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters of any Designated
Securities:
(a) To prepare the Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation
to the applicable Designated Securities in a form approved by the
Representatives and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b)
under the Act not later than the Commission's close of business on the
second business day following the execution and delivery of the Pricing
Agreement relating to the applicable Designated Securities or, if
applicable, such earlier time as may be required by Rule 424(b); to make
no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or
Prospectus as amended or supplemented after the date of the Pricing
Agreement relating to such Securities and prior to the Time of Delivery
for such Securities which shall be disapproved by the Representatives
for such Securities promptly after reasonable notice thereof; to advise
the Representatives promptly of any
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such amendment or supplement after such Time of Delivery and furnish the
Representatives with copies thereof; to file promptly all reports and
any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by
the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is
required in connection with the offering or sale of such Securities, and
during such same period to advise the Representatives, promptly after it
receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the
Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any
supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus has been filed
with the Commission, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any prospectus
relating to the Securities, of the suspension of the qualification of
such Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the
initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of
any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the
Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; and,
in the event of the issuance of any such stop order or of any such order
preventing or suspending the use of any prospectus relating to the
Securities or suspending any such qualification, to promptly use its
best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order;
(b) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the
Representatives may reasonably request to qualify such Securities for
offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the
Representatives may request and to comply with such laws so as to permit
the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for
as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of such
Securities, provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not
be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general
consent to service of process in any jurisdiction;
(c) Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the New York
Business Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and from time to
time, to furnish the Underwriters with copies of the Prospectus in New
York City as amended or supplemented in such quantities as the
Representatives may reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a
prospectus is required at any time in connection with the offering or
sale of the Securities and if at such time any event shall have occurred
as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented
would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such
Prospectus is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it
shall be necessary during such same period to amend or supplement the
Prospectus or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated
by reference in the Prospectus in order to comply with the Act, the
Exchange Act or the Trust Indenture Act, to notify the Representatives
and upon their request to file such document and to prepare and furnish
without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as
many copies as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably
request of an amended Prospectus or a supplement to the Prospectus which
will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance;
(d) To make generally available to its securityholders as soon as
practicable, but in any event not later than eighteen months after the
effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c)
under the Act), an earnings statement of the Company and its
subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of
the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder
(including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158);
(e) During the period beginning from the date of the Pricing
Agreement for such
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Designated Securities and continuing to and including the later of (i)
the termination of trading restrictions for such Designated Securities,
as notified to the Company by the Representatives and (ii) the Time of
Delivery for such Designated Securities, not to offer, sell, contract to
sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities of the Company which
mature more than one year after such Time of Delivery and which are
substantially similar to such Designated Securities, without the prior
written consent of the Representatives; and
(f) If the Company elects to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Company
shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in
compliance with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the
date of this Agreement, and the Company shall at the time of filing
either pay to the Commission the filing fee for the Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement or give irrevocable instructions for the payment
of such fee pursuant to Rule 111(b) under the Act.
6. The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that the
Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements
and expenses of the Company's counsel and accountants in connection with the
registration of the Securities under the Act and all other expenses in
connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration
Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and amendments and
supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the
Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of printing or producing any Agreement
among Underwriters, this Agreement, any Pricing Agreement, any Indenture, any
Blue Sky and Legal Investment Memoranda, closing documents (including any
compilations thereof) and any other documents in connection with the offering,
purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities; (iii) all expenses in connection
with the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale under state
securities laws as provided in Section 5(b) hereof, including the fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such
qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky and Legal Investment Surveys;
(iv) any fees charged by securities rating services for rating the Securities;
(v) any filing fees incident to, and the fees and disbursements of counsel for
the Underwriters in connection with, any required review by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. of the terms of the sale of the
Securities; (vi) the cost of preparing the Securities; (vii) the fees and
expenses of any Trustee and any agent of any Trustee and the fees and
disbursements of counsel for any Trustee in connection with any Indenture and
the Securities; and (viii) all other costs and expenses incident to the
performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically
provided for in this Section. It is understood, however, that, except as
provided in this Section, and Sections 8 and 11 hereof, the Underwriters will
pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel,
transfer taxes on resale of any of the Securities by them, and any advertising
expenses connected with any offers they may make.
7. The obligations of the Underwriters of any Designated Securities under
the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities shall be subject,
in the discretion of the Representatives, to the condition that all
representations and warranties and other statements of the Company in or
incorporated by reference in the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated
Securities are, at and as of the Time of Delivery for such Designated
Securities, true and correct, the condition that the Company shall have
performed all of its obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the
following additional conditions:
(a) The Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to the applicable
Designated Securities shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
424(b) within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules
and regulations under the Act and in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof; if the
Company has elected to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement shall have become effective by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on
the
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date of this Agreement; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no
proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the
Commission; and all requests for additional information on the part of the
Commission shall have been complied with to the Representatives' reasonable
satisfaction;
(b) Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx, counsel for the Underwriters, shall have
furnished to the Representatives such written opinion or opinions, dated the
Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities, with respect to the
incorporation of the Company, the validity of the Indenture, the Designated
Securities, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented as well as such other related matters as the Representatives may
reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such papers and
information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such
matters (in rendering such opinion Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx may rely upon the opinion
of Xxxxx, Day, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx referred to below as to all matters governed by
Ohio law);
(c) Xxxxxx & XxXxxxxx, counsel for the Company satisfactory to the
Representatives shall have furnished to the Representatives their written
opinion (a draft of such opinion is attached as Annex II(b) hereto), dated the
Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect that:
(i) The Company has been duly formed and is validly existing
as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of
Ohio, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its
properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus
as amended or supplemented;
(ii) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth
in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and all of the issued
shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly
authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable;
(iii) To the best of such counsel's knowledge and other than
as set forth in the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental
proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries is the subject which, if determined
adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would
individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on
the current or future consolidated financial position,
shareholders' equity or results of operations of the Company and
its subsidiaries; and, to the best of such counsel's knowledge, no
such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental
authorities or threatened by others;
(iv) This Agreement and the Pricing Agreement with respect to
the Designated Securities have been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company;
(v) The Designated Securities have been duly authorized,
executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and constitute valid
and legally binding obligations of the Company entitled to the
benefits provided by the Indenture; and the Designated Securities
and the Indenture conform to the descriptions thereof in the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented;
(vi) The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the parties thereto and constitutes a valid and
legally binding instrument, enforceable in accordance with its
terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to
or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles;
and the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act;
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(vii) The issue and sale of the Designated Securities and the
compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of the
Designated Securities, the Indenture, this Agreement and the
Pricing Agreement with respect to the Designated Securities and
the consummation of the transactions herein and therein
contemplated will not conflict with or result in a breach or
violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a
default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan
agreement or other agreement or instrument known to such counsel
to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound
or to which any of the property or assets of the Company is
subject, nor will such actions result in any violation of the
provisions of the Articles of Incorporation or Regulations of the
Company or any statute or any order, rule or regulation known to
such counsel of any court or governmental agency or body having
jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties;
(viii) No consent, approval, authorization, order,
registration or qualification of or with any such court or
governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of
the Designated Securities or the consummation by the Company of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or such Pricing
Agreement or the Indenture, except such as have been obtained
under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such consents,
approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations or qualifications
as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in
connection with the purchase and distribution of the Designated
Securities by the Underwriters;
(ix) The statements set forth in the Prospectus under the
caption "Description of Securities" insofar as it purports to
constitute a summary of the terms of the Securities[, UNDER THE
CAPTION ["TAXATION"],] and under the caption "Plan of
Distribution", insofar as it purports to describe the provisions
of the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate,
complete and fair;
(x) The Company is not an "investment company" or an entity
"controlled" by an "investment company", as such terms are defined
in the Investment Company Act;
(xi) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus
as amended or supplemented (other than the financial statements
and related schedules therein, as to which such counsel need
express no opinion), when they became effective or were filed with
the Commission, as the case may be, complied as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the Act or the Exchange
Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder; and they have no reason to believe that any
of such documents, when they became effective or were so filed, as
the case may be, contained, in the case of a registration
statement which became effective under the Act, an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, or, in the case of other documents which
were filed under the Act or the Exchange Act with the Commission,
an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when
such documents were so filed, not misleading; and
(xii) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended
or supplemented and any further amendments and supplements thereto
made by the Company prior to the Time of Delivery for the
Designated Securities (other than the financial statements and
related schedules therein, as to which such counsel need
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express no opinion) comply as to form in all material respects
with the requirements of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and
the rules and regulations thereunder; although they do not assume
any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of
the statements contained in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus, except for those referred to in the opinion in
subsection (ix) of this Section 7(c), they have no reason to
believe that, as of its effective date, the Registration Statement
or any further amendment thereto made by the Company prior to the
Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements and related
schedules therein, as to which such counsel need express no
opinion) contained an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that,
as of its date, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any
further amendment or supplement thereto made by the Company prior
to the Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements and
related schedules therein, as to which such counsel need express
no opinion) contained an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading or that, as of the Time of Delivery, either
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented or any further amendment or supplement thereto made
by the Company prior to the Time of Delivery (other than the
financial statements and related schedules therein, as to which
such counsel need express no opinion) contains an untrue statement
of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading; and they do not know
of any amendment to the Registration Statement required to be
filed or any contracts or other documents of a character required
to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or
required to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus as
amended or supplemented or required to be described in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented which are not filed or incorporated by reference or
described as required;
(d) You shall have received the opinion of Xxx Xxxxxxxxxxx,
Xx.,Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company, dated
the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities, in form and substance
satisfactory to you, to the effect that the Company's subsidiaries have been
duly organized and are validly existing and in good standing under the laws of
their respective jurisdictions of incorporation; each of the Company and its
subsidiaries has full power and authority (corporate and other) to conduct its
business as described in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented; and each of
the Company and its subsidiaries is duly qualified to do business in each
jurisdiction in which it owns or leases real property, or in which the conduct
of its business requires such qualification; all of the outstanding shares of
capital stock of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly
authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned
beneficially by the Company subject to no security interest, other encumbrance
or adverse claim; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in
violation of its Regulations, By-laws, Articles of Incorporation or Certificate
of Incorporation or in default in the performance or observance of any material
obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract,
indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other instrument to which it
is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound;
(e) On the date of the Pricing Agreement for such Designated Securities
at a time prior to the execution of the Pricing Agreement with respect to such
Designated Securities and at the Time of Delivery for such Designated
Securities, the independent accountants of the Company who
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have certified the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries
included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall have
furnished to the Representatives a letter, dated the effective date of the
Registration Statement or the date of the most recent report filed with the
Commission containing financial statements and incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement, if the date of such report is later than such effective
date, and a letter dated such Time of Delivery, respectively, to the effect set
forth in Annex II hereto, and with respect to such letter dated such Time of
Delivery, as to such other matters as the Representatives may reasonably request
and in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives (the executed copy
of the letter delivered prior to the execution of this Agreement is attached as
Annex I(a) hereto and a draft of the form of letter to be delivered on the
effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement and
as of each Time of Delivery is attached as Annex I(b) hereto);
(f) (i) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have
sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus as amended prior to the date of the
Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Securities any loss or interference
with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not
covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action,
order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus
as amended prior to the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated
Securities, and (ii) since the respective dates as of which information is given
in the Prospectus as amended prior to the date of the Pricing Agreement relating
to the Designated Securities there shall not have been any change in the capital
stock, short term debt or long-term debt of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or any change, or any development involving a prospective change,
in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial position,
shareholders' equity or results of operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus as
amended prior to the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated
Securities, the effect of which, in any such case described in Clause (i) or
(ii), is in the judgment of the Representatives so material and adverse as to
make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the
delivery of the Designated Securities on the terms and in the manner
contemplated in the Prospectus as first amended or supplemented relating to the
Designated Securities;
(g) On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the
Designated Securities (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating
accorded the Company's debt securities or preferred stock by any "nationally
recognized statistical rating organization", as that term is defined by the
Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Act, and (ii) no such
organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or
review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Company's
debt securities or preferred stock;
(h) On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the
Designated Securities there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) a
suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on the New
York Stock Exchange or on NASDAQ; (ii) a suspension or material limitation in
trading in the Company's securities on NASDAQ; (iii) a general moratorium on
commercial banking activities declared by either Federal or New York State
authorities; or (iv) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the
United States or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or
war, if the effect of any such event specified in this Clause (iv) in the
judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed
with the public offering or the delivery of the Designated Securities on the
terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus as first amended or
supplemented relating to the Designated Securities;
(i) The Company shall have complied with the provisions of Section 5(c)
hereof with respect to the furnishing of prospectuses on the New York Business
Day next succeeding the date
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of this Agreement; and
(j) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the
Representatives at the Time of Delivery for the Designated Securities a
certificate or certificates of officers of the Company satisfactory to the
Representatives as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the
Company herein at and as of such Time of Delivery, as to the performance by the
Company of all of its obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to such
Time of Delivery, as to the matters set forth in subsections (a) and (e) of this
Section and as to such other matters as the Representatives may reasonably
request.
8. (a) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which
such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out
of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary
prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will
reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such
action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss,
claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary
Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement,
the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus relating to
the Securities, or any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter
of Designated Securities through the Representatives expressly for use in the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such Securities.
(b) Each Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the Company against
any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become
subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus
relating to the Securities, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out
of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that
such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission was made in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus
supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any such
amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the
Representatives expressly for use therein; and will reimburse the Company for
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection
with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are
incurred.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or
(b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party
shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying
party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the
commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall
not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party
otherwise than under
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such subsection. In case any such action shall be brought against any
indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement
thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to
the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party
similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to
such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the
indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and, after notice from
the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume
the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such
indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel
or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified
party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of
investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the
indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the
entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim
in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder
(whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such
action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an
unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of
such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission
of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified
party.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable to
or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or
(b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions
in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result
of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received
by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Designated Securities
on the other from the offering of the Designated Securities to which such loss,
claim, damage or liability (or action in respect thereof) relates. If, however,
the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted
by applicable law or if the indemnified party failed to give the notice required
under subsection (c) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative
fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Designated
Securities on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which
resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative
benefits received by the Company on the one hand and such Underwriters on the
other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds
from such offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to
the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriters.
The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Company on the one hand or such Underwriters on the other and
the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity
to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the
Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this subsection (d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if
the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other
method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations
referred to above in this subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an
indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be
deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action
or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter
shall be required to contribute any amount in
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excess of the amount by which the total price at which the applicable Designated
Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the
public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise
been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The obligations of the Underwriters of Designated Securities
in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their
respective underwriting obligations with respect to such Securities and not
joint.
(e) The obligations of the Company under this Section 8 shall be in
addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend,
upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of the Act; and the obligations of the
Underwriters under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which
the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same
terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company and to each
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act.
9. (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the
Designated Securities which it has agreed to purchase under the Pricing
Agreement relating to such Designated Securities, the Representatives may in
their discretion arrange for themselves or another party or other parties to
purchase such Designated Securities on the terms contained herein. If within
thirty-six hours after such default by any Underwriter the Representatives do
not arrange for the purchase of such Designated Securities, then the Company
shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which to
procure another party or other parties satisfactory to the Representatives to
purchase such Designated Securities on such terms. In the event that, within the
respective prescribed period, the Representatives notify the Company that they
have so arranged for the purchase of such Designated Securities, or the Company
notifies the Representatives that it has so arranged for the purchase of such
Designated Securities, the Representatives or the Company shall have the right
to postpone the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities for a period of
not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be
made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees
to file promptly any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or
the Prospectus which in the opinion of the Representatives may thereby be made
necessary. The term "Underwriter" as used in this Agreement shall include any
person substituted under this Section with like effect as if such person had
originally been a party to the Pricing Agreement with respect to such Designated
Securities.
(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the
Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the
aggregate principal amount of such Designated Securities which remains
unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of
the Designated Securities, then the Company shall have the right to require each
non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the principal amount of Designated
Securities which such Underwriter agreed to purchase under the Pricing Agreement
relating to such Designated Securities and, in addition, to require each
non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the
principal amount of Designated Securities which such Underwriter agreed to
purchase under such Pricing Agreement) of the Designated Securities of such
defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been
made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability
for its default.
(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the
Representatives and the Company
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as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of
Designated Securities which remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the
aggregate principal amount of the Designated Securities, as referred to in
subsection (b) above, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described
in subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase
Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then the
Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities shall thereupon
terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or
the Company, except for the expenses to be borne by the Company and the
Underwriters as provided in Section 6 hereof and the indemnity and contribution
agreements in Section 8 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting
Underwriter from liability for its default.
10. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and
other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters, as set forth in
this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this
Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any
investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf
of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, or the Company,
or any officer or director or controlling person of the Company, and shall
survive delivery of and payment for the Securities.
11. If any Pricing Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 9
hereof, the Company shall not then be under any liability to any Underwriter
with respect to the Designated Securities covered by such Pricing Agreement
except as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof; but, if for any other reason
Designated Securities are not delivered by or on behalf of the Company as
provided herein, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters through the
Representatives for all out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by the
Representatives, including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably
incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and
delivery of such Designated Securities, but the Company shall then be under no
further liability to any Underwriter with respect to such Designated Securities
except as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof.
12. In all dealings hereunder, the Representatives of the Underwriters of
Designated Securities shall act on behalf of each of such Underwriters, and the
parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request,
notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by such
Representatives jointly or by such of the Representatives, if any, as may be
designated for such purpose in the Pricing Agreement.
All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in
writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or
facsimile transmission to the address of the Representatives as set forth in the
Pricing Agreement; and if to the Company shall be delivered or sent by mail,
telex or facsimile transmission to the address of the Company set forth in the
Registration Statement: Attention: Secretary; provided, however, that any notice
to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 8(c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by
mail, telex or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set
forth in its Underwriters' Questionnaire, or telex constituting such
Questionnaire, which address will be supplied to the Company by the
Representatives upon request. Any such statements, requests, notices or
agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.
13. This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be binding upon, and
inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters, the Company and, to the extent
provided in Sections 8 and 10 hereof, the officers and directors of the Company
and each person who controls the Company or any Underwriter, and their
respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no
other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this
Agreement or any such Pricing Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Securities
from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of
such purchase.
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14. Time shall be of the essence of each Pricing Agreement. As used herein,
"business day" shall mean any day when the Commission's office in Washington,
D.C. is open for business.
15. THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH PRICING AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
16. This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement may be executed by any one or
more of the parties hereto and thereto in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such respective counterparts
shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
Very truly yours,
American Greetings Corporation
By:
-------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Accepted as of the date hereof:
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.
[NAME(S) OF CO-REPRESENTATIVE(S)]
BY:..............................................
(Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co.)
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17
ANNEX I
PRICING AGREEMENT
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.,
[NAMES OF CO-REPRESENTATIVE(S)],
As Representatives of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto,
c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.,
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000.
_____________, 19..
Ladies and Gentlemen:
American Greetings Corporation, an Ohio corporation (the "Company"),
proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the
Underwriting Agreement, dated May __, 1998 (the "Underwriting Agreement"),
between the Company on the one hand and Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co. [AND (NAMES OF
CO-REPRESENTATIVES NAMED THEREIN)] on the other hand, to issue and sell to the
Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the "Underwriters") the Securities
specified in Schedule II hereto (the "Designated Securities"). Each of the
provisions of the Underwriting Agreement is incorporated herein by reference in
its entirety, and shall be deemed to be a part of this Agreement to the same
extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein; and each of the
representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been
made at and as of the date of this Pricing Agreement, except that each
representation and warranty which refers to the Prospectus in Section 2 of the
Underwriting Agreement shall be deemed to be a representation or warranty as of
the date of the Underwriting Agreement in relation to the Prospectus (as therein
defined), and also a representation and warranty as of the date of this Pricing
Agreement in relation to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to
the Designated Securities which are the subject of this Pricing Agreement. Each
reference to the Representatives herein and in the provisions of the
Underwriting Agreement so incorporated by reference shall be deemed to refer to
you. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Underwriting
Agreement are used herein as therein defined. The Representatives designated to
act on behalf of the Representatives and on behalf of each of the Underwriters
of the Designated Securities pursuant to Section 12 of the Underwriting
Agreement and the address of the Representatives referred to in such Section 12
are set forth at the end of Schedule II hereto.
An amendment to the Registration Statement, or a supplement to the
Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Designated Securities, in the
form heretofore delivered to you is now proposed to be filed with the
Commission.
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the
Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees to
issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees,
severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the time and place
and at the purchase price to the Underwriters set forth in Schedule II hereto,
the principal amount of Designated Securities set forth opposite the name of
such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and
return to us [ONE FOR THE COMPANY AND EACH OF THE REPRESENTATIVES PLUS ONE FOR
EACH COUNSEL] counterparts
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hereof, and upon acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of the
Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof, including the provisions
of the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute
a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters and the Company. It is
understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each of the
Underwriters is or will be pursuant to the authority set forth in a form of
Agreement among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to the
Company for examination upon request, but without warranty on the part of the
Representatives as to the authority of the signers thereof.
Very truly yours,
American Greetings Corporation
By:
-----------------------------
Name:
Title:
Accepted as of the date hereof:
Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co.
[NAME(S) OF CO-REPRESENTATIVE(S)]
By:..................................................
(Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.)
On behalf of each of the Underwriters
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SCHEDULE I
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT OF
DESIGNATED
SECURITIES
TO BE
UNDERWRITER Purchased
----------- ---------
Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co. $
[NAME(S) OF CO-REPRESENTATIVE(S)]
[NAMES OF OTHER UNDERWRITERS]
Total $
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SCHEDULE II
TITLE OF DESIGNATED SECURITIES:
[ %] [Notes] due ,
AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT:
[$]
PRICE TO PUBLIC:
% of the principal amount of the Designated Securities, plus accrued
interest[, if any,] from to [and accrued amortization
[, if any,] from to ]
PURCHASE PRICE BY UNDERWRITERS:
% of the principal amount of the Designated Securities, plus
accrued interest from
to [and accrued amortization[, if any,] from to ]
FORM OF DESIGNATED SECURITIES:
[Definitive form to be made available for checking and packaging at least
twenty-four hours prior to the Time of Delivery at the office of [The
Depository Trust Company or its designated custodian] [the
Representatives]]
[Book-entry only form represented by one or more global securities
deposited with The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or its designated
custodian, to be made available for checking by the Representatives at
least twenty-four hours prior to the Time of Delivery at the office of
DTC.]
SPECIFIED FUNDS FOR PAYMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE:
Federal (same day) funds
TIME OF DELIVERY:
a.m. (New York City time), , 1998
INDENTURE:
Indenture dated May __, 1998, between the Company and , as Trustee
MATURITY:
INTEREST RATE:
[ %]
INTEREST PAYMENT DATES:
[months and dates, commencing ....................., 19..]
REDEMPTION PROVISIONS:
[No provisions for redemption]
[The Designated Securities may be redeemed, otherwise than through the
sinking fund, in whole or in part at the option of the Company, in the
amount of [$ ] or an integral multiple thereof,
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[on or after , at the following redemption prices (expressed in
percentages of principal amount). If [redeemed on or before , %,
and if] redeemed during the 12-month period beginning ,
REDEMPTION
YEAR PRICE
---- -----
and thereafter at 100% of their principal amount, together in each case
with accrued interest to the redemption date.]
[on any interest payment date falling on or after , , at the election of
the Company, at a redemption price equal to the principal amount thereof,
plus accrued interest to the date of redemption.]]
[Other possible redemption provisions, such as mandatory redemption upon
occurrence of certain events or redemption for changes in tax law]
[Restriction on refunding]
SINKING FUND PROVISIONS:
No sinking fund provisions
DEFEASANCE PROVISIONS:
CLOSING LOCATION FOR DELIVERY OF DESIGNATED SECURITIES:
ADDITIONAL CLOSING CONDITIONS:
NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF REPRESENTATIVES:
Designated Representatives:
Address for Notices, etc.:
[OTHER TERMS]:
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ANNEX II
Pursuant to Section 7(d) of the Underwriting Agreement, the accountants
shall furnish letters to the Underwriters to the effect that:
(i) They are independent certified public accountants with respect
to the Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of the Act and
the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder;
(ii) In their opinion, the financial statements and any
supplementary financial information and schedules audited (and, if
applicable, financial forecasts and/or pro forma financial information)
examined by them and included or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus comply as to form in all
material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act
or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the related published rules and
regulations thereunder; and, if applicable, they have made a review in
accordance with standards established by the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants of the consolidated interim financial
statements, selected financial data, pro forma financial information,
financial forecasts and/or condensed financial statements derived from
audited financial statements of the Company for the periods specified in
such letter, as indicated in their reports thereon, copies of which have
been separately furnished to the representative or representatives of
the Underwriters (the "Representatives") such term to include an
Underwriter or Underwriters who act without any firm being designated as
its or their representatives and are attached hereto;
(iii) They have made a review in accordance with standards
established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants of
the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income, consolidated
balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows included in the
Prospectus and/or included in the Company's quarterly report on Form
10-Q incorporated by reference into the Prospectus as indicated in their
reports thereon copies of which have been separately furnished to the
Representatives; and on the basis of specified procedures including
inquiries of officials of the Company who have responsibility for
financial and accounting matters regarding whether the unaudited
condensed consolidated financial statements referred to in paragraph
(vi)(A)(i) below comply as to form in all material respects with the
applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act and
the related published rules and regulations, nothing came to their
attention that caused them to believe that the unaudited condensed
consolidated financial statements do not comply as to form in all
material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act
and the Exchange Act and the related published rules and regulations;
(iv) The unaudited selected financial information with respect to
the consolidated results of operations and financial position of the
Company for the five most recent fiscal years included in the Prospectus
and included or incorporated by reference in Item 6 of the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year agrees with
the corresponding amounts (after restatement where applicable) in the
audited consolidated financial statements for five such fiscal years
which were included or incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual
Reports on Form 10-K for such fiscal years;
(v) They have compared the information in the Prospectus under
selected captions with the disclosure requirements of Regulation S-K and
on the basis of limited procedures specified in such letter nothing came
to their attention as a result of the foregoing procedures that caused
them to believe that this information does not conform in all
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material respects with the disclosure requirements of Items 301,
302, 402 and 503(d), respectively, of Regulation S-K;
(vi) On the basis of limited procedures, not constituting an
examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards,
consisting of a reading of the unaudited financial statements and other
information referred to below, a reading of the latest available interim
financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, inspection of
the minute books of the Company and its subsidiaries since the date of
the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus, inquiries of officials of the Company and
its subsidiaries responsible for financial and accounting matters and
such other inquiries and procedures as may be specified in such letter,
nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe that:
(A) (i) the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of
income, consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of
cash flows included in the Prospectus and/or included or
incorporated by reference in the Company's Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q incorporated by reference in the Prospectus do not
comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable
accounting requirements of the Exchange Act and the related
published rules and regulations, or (ii) any material
modifications should be made to the unaudited condensed
consolidated statements of income, consolidated balance sheets and
consolidated statements of cash flows included in the Prospectus
or included in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus for them to be in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles;
(B) any other unaudited income statement data and balance
sheet items included in the Prospectus do not agree with the
corresponding items in the unaudited consolidated financial
statements from which such data and items were derived, and any
such unaudited data and items were not determined on a basis
substantially consistent with the basis for the corresponding
amounts in the audited consolidated financial statements included
or incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year;
(C) the unaudited financial statements which were not included
in the Prospectus but from which were derived the unaudited
condensed financial statements referred to in clause (A) and any
unaudited income statement data and balance sheet items included
in the Prospectus and referred to in Clause (B) were not
determined on a basis substantially consistent with the basis for
the audited financial statements included or incorporated by
reference in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most
recent fiscal year;
(D) any unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed financial
statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus
do not comply as to form in all material respects with the
applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the published
rules and regulations thereunder or the pro forma adjustments have
not been properly applied to the historical amounts in the
compilation of those statements;
(E) as of a specified date not more than five days prior to
the date of such letter, there have been any changes in the
consolidated capital stock (other than issuances of capital stock
upon exercise of options and stock appreciation rights, upon
earn-outs of performance shares and upon conversions of
convertible securities, in each case which were outstanding on the
date of the latest balance
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24
sheet included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus) or
any increase in the consolidated long-term debt of the Company and
its subsidiaries, or any decreases in consolidated net current
assets or stockholders' equity or other items specified by the
Representatives, or any increases in any items specified by the
Representatives, in each case as compared with amounts shown in
the latest balance sheet included or incorporated by reference in
the Prospectus, except in each case for changes, increases or
decreases which the Prospectus discloses have occurred or may
occur or which are described in such letter; and
(F) for the period from the date of the latest financial
statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus
to the specified date referred to in Clause (E) there were any
decreases in consolidated net revenues or operating profit or the
total or per share amounts of consolidated net income or other
items specified by the Representatives, or any increases in any
items specified by the Representatives, in each case as compared
with the comparable period of the preceding year and with any
other period of corresponding length specified by the
Representatives, except in each case for increases or decreases
which the Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur or which
are described in such letter; and
(vii) In addition to the audit referred to in their report(s)
included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and the limited
procedures, inspection of minute books, inquiries and other procedures
referred to in paragraphs (iii) and (vi) above, they have carried out
certain specified procedures, not constituting an audit in accordance
with generally accepted auditing standards, with respect to certain
amounts, percentages and financial information specified by the
Representatives which are derived from the general accounting records of
the Company and its subsidiaries, which appear in the Prospectus
(excluding documents incorporated by reference), or in Part II of, or in
exhibits and schedules to, the Registration Statement specified by the
Representatives or in documents incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus specified by the Representatives, and have compared certain
of such amounts, percentages and financial information with the
accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries and have found
them to be in agreement.
All references in this Annex II to the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer
to the Prospectus (including the documents incorporated by reference therein) as
defined in the Underwriting Agreement as of the date of the letter delivered on
the date of the Pricing Agreement for purposes of such letter and to the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented (including the documents incorporated by
reference therein) in relation to the applicable Designated Securities for
purposes of the letter delivered at the Time of Delivery for such Designated
Securities.
