American Greetings Announces Third Quarter Earnings

CLEVELAND, Dec. 20, 2012 /CNW/ - American Greetings Corporation (NYSE:AM - News) today announced its results for the third fiscal quarter ended November 23, 2012.

Third Quarter Results

For the third quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company reported total revenue of $506.8 million, a pre-tax loss of $2.1 million, and a net loss of $0.8 million or 3 cents per share (all per-share amounts assume dilution).

The Company announced, on June 7, 2012, the acquisition of certain assets of United Kingdom-based Clinton Cards, including approximately 400 stores and related overhead as well as the Clinton Cards and related brands. As a result of the acquisition, the Company recognized during the third quarter of fiscal 2013 a revenue increase of approximately $67.6 million from the operations of the Clintons retail stores, reflected in the Company's new Retail Operations segment. This revenue increase was partially offset by the revenue reduction of approximately $25.5 million from inter-segment sales eliminations, reflected in the Company's International Social Expressions segment, resulting in a net increase in consolidated revenue of approximately $42.1 million in the quarter. The revenue being eliminated would have been third party sales in the prior year quarter.

The Company recognized a loss of $11.5 million (after-tax of approximately $7.0 million or 22 cents per share) from the operation of its Retail Operations segment. The Company also recognized a reduction in pre-tax income of approximately $4.1 million (after-tax of approximately $2.5 million or 8 cents per share) as a result of inter-segment items within the International Social Expressions segment. The total consolidated net reduction in pre-tax income associated with the operation of the Clintons retail stores during the third fiscal quarter was approximately $15.6 million (after-tax of approximately $9.5 million or 30 cents per share).

During the quarter, consolidated revenue was also reduced by $0.6 million as a result of scan-based trading conversions that occurred during the current year's third quarter while the impact of scan-based trading conversions on pre-tax income was $0.6 million (after-tax of approximately $0.4 million or 1 cent per share).

Also impacting the consolidated results was a pre-tax non-operating income benefit of $1.1 million (after-tax of approximately $0.7 million or 2 cents per share) from a gain on the sale of a portion of a legacy minority investment. A separate but related gain from this minority investment was previously recognized during our second fiscal quarter of 2013.

In the prior year's third quarter, the Company reported total revenue of $465.0 million, pre-tax income of $29.7 million, and net income of $20.2 million or 50 cents per share. Scan-based trading conversions reduced revenue by approximately $1.2 million during the quarter and reduced pre-tax income by approximately $1.1 million (after-tax of approximately $0.7 million or 2 cents per share).

Financing Activities

During the third quarter of fiscal 2013, under the Company's $75 million share repurchase program announced July 2012, the Company purchased approximately 1.1 million shares of its common stock for approximately $15.9 million. Purchases under this share repurchase program were suspended as of September 26, 2012.

Conference Call on the Web

American Greetings will broadcast its conference call live on the Internet at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time today. The conference call will be accessible through the Investors section of the American Greetings Web site at http://investors.americangreetings.com. A replay of the call will also be available on the site.

About American Greetings Corporation

For more than 100 years, American Greetings Corporation (NYSE:AM - News) has been a creator and manufacturer of innovative social expression products that assist consumers in enhancing their relationships to create happiness, laughter and love. The Company's major greeting card lines are American Greetings, Carlton Cards, Gibson, Recycled Paper Greetings and Papyrus, and other paper product offerings include DesignWare party goods and American Greetings and Plus Mark gift-packaging and boxed cards. American Greetings also has one of the largest collections of greetings on the Web, including greeting cards available at Cardstore.com and electronic greeting cards available at AmericanGreetings.com. In addition to its product lines, American Greetings creates and licenses popular character brands through the American Greetings Properties group. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, American Greetings generates annual revenue of approximately $1.7 billion, and its products can be found in retail outlets worldwide. For more information on the Company, visit http://corporate.americangreetings.com.

Non-GAAP Measures

Certain after-tax amounts included in the earnings release may be considered non-GAAP measures under the Securities and Exchange Commission's Regulation G. The after-tax amounts were calculated based on the Company's statutory tax rate of approximately 38.9% for U.S. based items and the appropriate rates for international jurisdictions. Management believes that after-tax information is useful in analyzing the Company's results.

Factors That May Affect Future Results

Certain statements in this release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Federal securities laws. These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historic or current facts. They use such words as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. These forward-looking statements are based on currently available information, but are subject to a variety of uncertainties, unknown risks and other factors concerning the Company's operations and business environment, which are difficult to predict and may be beyond the control of the Company. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by these forward-looking statements, and that could adversely affect the Company's future performance, include, but are not limited to, the following:

• a weak retail environment and general economic conditions;
• the loss of one or more retail customers and/or retail consolidations, acquisitions and bankruptcies, including the possibility of resulting adverse changes to retail contract terms;
• competitive terms of sale offered to customers, including costs and other terms associated with new and expanded customer relationships;
• the ability to successfully integrate Clinton Cards and achieve the anticipated revenue and operating profits, together with the outcome of negotiations with landlords and the ultimate number of stores acquired;
• the ability of the administrators to generate sufficient proceeds from the liquidation of the remaining Clinton Cards business to repay the remaining secured debt owed to American Greetings;
• the timing and impact of expenses incurred and investments made to support new retail or product strategies, including increased marketing expenses, as well as new product introductions and achieving the desired benefits from those investments;
• the timing of investments in, together with the ability to successfully implement or achieve the desired benefits and cost savings associated with, any information technology systems refresh the Company may implement;
• the timing and amount of expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the non-binding proposal dated September 25, 2012 from Zev Weiss, its Chief Executive Officer, and Jeffrey Weiss, its President and Chief Operating Officer, on behalf of themselves and certain other members of the Weiss family and related parties to acquire all of the outstanding Class A and Class B common shares of the Company not currently owned by the them;
• the timing and impact of converting customers to a scan-based trading model;
• the ability to achieve the desired benefits associated with the Company's cost reduction efforts;
• Schurman Fine Papers' ability to successfully operate its retail operations and satisfy its obligations to the Company;
• consumer demand for social expression products generally, shifts in consumer shopping behavior, and consumer acceptance of products as priced and marketed including the success of new and expanded advertising and marketing efforts, such as the Company's on-line efforts through Cardstore.com;
• the impact and availability of technology, including social media, on product sales;
• escalation in the cost of providing employee health care;
• the Company's ability to achieve the desired accretive effect from any share repurchase programs;
• the Company's ability to comply with its debt covenants;
• fluctuations in the value of currencies in major areas where the Company operates, including the U.S. Dollar, Euro, U.K. Pound Sterling, and Canadian Dollar; and
• the outcome of any legal claims known or unknown.

Risks pertaining specifically to AG Interactive include the viability of online advertising, subscriptions as revenue generators, and the ability to adapt to rapidly changing social media and the digital photo sharing space.

In addition, this release contains time-sensitive information that reflects management's best analysis as of the date of this release; however the risks and uncertainties identified above are not the only risks the Company faces. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company or that the Company believes to be immaterial also may adversely affect American Greetings. Should any known or unknown risks or uncertainties develop into actual events, or underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, these developments could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. American Greetings does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events, information or circumstances that arise after the date of this release. Further information concerning issues that could materially affect performance related to forward-looking statements can be found in the Company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation the risk factors described in the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and in each of its subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION
THIRD QUARTER CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FISCAL YEAR ENDING FEBRUARY 28, 2013
(In thousands of dollars except share and per share amounts)
					(Unaudited)
					Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
					November 23, 2012		November 25, 2011		November 23, 2012		November 25, 2011
Net sales					$ 499,368		$ 458,535		$ 1,275,139		$ 1,217,800
Other revenue					7,446		6,472		18,617		21,097
Total revenue					506,814		465,007		1,293,756		1,238,897
Material, labor and other production costs					244,071		230,572		584,667		546,699
Selling, distribution and marketing expenses					190,041		141,501		466,199		392,630
Administrative and general expenses					74,483		60,510		225,521		186,734
Other operating income - net					(2,217)		(813)		(1,421)		(6,858)
Operating income					436		33,237		18,790		119,692
Interest expense					4,504		5,821		13,314		17,708
Interest income					(65)		(207)		(297)		(838)
Other non-operating (income) expense - net					(1,904)		(2,077)		3,523		(2,621)
(Loss) income before income tax (benefit) expense					(2,099)		29,700		2,250		105,443
Income tax (benefit) expense					(1,290)		9,454		63		38,128
Net (loss) income					$ (809)		$ 20,246		$ 2,187		$ 67,315
(Loss) earnings per share - basic					$ (0.03)		$ 0.51		$ 0.06		$ 1.67
(Loss) earnings per share - assuming dilution					$ (0.03)		$ 0.50		$ 0.06		$ 1.63
Average number of common shares outstanding					31,877,088		39,480,798		33,712,073		40,226,039
Average number of common shares outstanding -
assuming dilution					31,877,088		40,436,865		34,478,737		41,381,157
Dividends declared per share					$ 0.15		$ 0.15		$ 0.45		$ 0.45

AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION
THIRD QUARTER CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FISCAL YEAR ENDING FEBRUARY 28, 2013
(In thousands of dollars)
				(Unaudited)
				Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
				November 23, 2012		November 25, 2011		November 23, 2012		November 25, 2011
Net (loss) income				$ (809)		$ 20,246		$ 2,187		$ 67,315
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments				2,680		(15,592)		(91)		(12,554)
Pension and postretirement benefit adjustments				145		536		643		607
Unrealized loss on securities				-		(1)		(1)		-
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:				2,825		(15,057)		551		(11,947)
Comprehensive income				$ 2,016		$ 5,189		$ 2,738		$ 55,368

AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION
THIRD QUARTER CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
FISCAL YEAR ENDING FEBRUARY 28, 2013
(In thousands of dollars)
								(Unaudited)
								November 23, 2012		November 25, 2011
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
	Cash and cash equivalents							$ 63,291		$ 85,661
	Trade accounts receivable, net							197,844		235,318
	Inventories							264,330		214,412
	Deferred and refundable income taxes							80,502		57,400
	Prepaid expenses and other							155,543		123,481
		Total current assets						761,510		716,272
GOODWILL								-		27,713
OTHER ASSETS								460,647		417,479
DEFERRED AND REFUNDABLE INCOME TAXES								120,870		128,595
Property, plant and equipment - at cost								1,004,686		904,555
Less accumulated depreciation								642,994		637,334
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT - NET								361,692		267,221
								$ 1,704,719		$ 1,557,280
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
	Accounts payable							$ 194,945		$ 108,254
	Accrued liabilities							82,893		67,596
	Accrued compensation and benefits							60,702		58,411
	Income taxes payable							14,641		26,626
	Deferred revenue							26,404		29,477
	Other current liabilities							44,287		60,963
		Total current liabilities						423,872		351,327
LONG-TERM DEBT								356,832		234,642
OTHER LIABILITIES								259,787		182,565
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES AND
NONCURRENT INCOME TAXES PAYABLE								21,008		21,769
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
	Common shares - Class A							28,849		35,562
	Common shares - Class B							2,860		2,778
	Capital in excess of par value							520,119		509,999
	Treasury stock							(1,093,789)		(995,338)
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss							(11,279)		(14,293)
	Retained earnings							1,196,460		1,228,269
		Total shareholders' equity						643,220		766,977
								$ 1,704,719		$ 1,557,280

AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION
THIRD QUARTER CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FISCAL YEAR ENDING FEBRUARY 28, 2013
(In thousands of dollars)
							(Unaudited)
							Nine Months Ended
							November 23, 2012		November 25, 2011
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
	Net income						$ 2,187		$ 67,315
	Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash flows from operating activities:
		Stock-based compensation					7,806		8,038
		Gain on dispositions					-		(4,500)
		Net loss (gain) on disposal of fixed assets					394		(807)
		Depreciation and intangible assets amortization					36,095		32,993
		Provision for doubtful accounts					17,771		4,879
		Impairment of Clinton Cards debt					10,043		-
		Deferred income taxes					809		6,412
		Gain on sale of Party City investment					(4,293)		-
		Other non-cash charges					892		2,747
		Changes in operating assets and liabilities,
			net of acquisitions:
			Trade accounts receivable				(101,363)		(122,298)
			Inventories				(39,105)		(30,939)
			Other current assets				(17,877)		6,470
			Income taxes				(15,336)		3,362
			Deferred costs - net				23,702		(3,838)
			Accounts payable and other liabilities				112,283		3,528
			Other - net				(1,913)		98
		Total Cash Flows From Operating Activities					32,095		(26,540)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
	Property, plant and equipment additions						(87,408)		(48,956)
	Cash payments for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired						621		(5,899)
	Proceeds from sale of fixed assets						559		9,046
	Proceeds from sale of intellectual properties						-		4,500
	Proceeds from sale of Party City investment						4,920		-
	Purchase of Clinton Cards debt						(56,560)		-
		Total Cash Flows From Investing Activities					(137,868)		(41,309)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
	Net increase in long-term debt						131,651		-
	Issuance or exercise of share-based payment awards						(496)		12,293
	Tax (deficiency) benefit from share-based payment awards						(376)		2,380
	Purchase of treasury shares						(78,742)		(55,304)
	Dividends to shareholders						(15,182)		(18,146)
		Total Cash Flows From Financing Activities					36,855		(58,777)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH							(229)		(3,551)
DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS							(69,147)		(130,177)
		Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year					132,438		215,838
		Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period					$ 63,291		$ 85,661

AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION
THIRD QUARTER CONSOLIDATED SEGMENT DISCLOSURES
FISCAL YEAR ENDING FEBRUARY 28, 2013
(In thousands of dollars)
					(Unaudited)
					Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
					November 23, 2012		November 25, 2011		November 23, 2012		November 25, 2011
Total Revenue:
North American Social Expression Products					$ 333,852		$ 333,305		$ 908,267		$ 902,333
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