EXHIBIT 10.3
AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION HAS CLAIMED
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT OF PORTIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH
RULE 24b-2
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN OMITTED BASED ON A
REQUEST FOR
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT
OMITTED PORTIONS HAVE BEEN SEPARATELY FILED WITH
THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
July 20, 2008
Confidential
Cookie Jar Entertainment Inc.
266 King Street West,
2nd floor
Toronto, Ontario
CANADA
M5V 1H8
Attention: Greg
Gilhooly
General
Counsel
Re: Binding Letter Agreement between
Cookie Jar Entertainment Inc. (“COOKIE JAR”) and
American Greetings Corporation (“AG”)
Dear Michael:
COOKIE JAR and AG are entering into this binding letter agreement
setting forth the terms of the acquisition by COOKIE JAR of the
Strawberry Shortcake (“ SSC ”) and Care Bears
(“ CB ”) properties (collectively, the “
Properties ”) owned by AG and its affiliates.
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase Price:
|
|
The purchase price for the Properties is US $195,000,000.00 (the
“ Purchase Price ”) and is not subject to
further adjustments based on COOKIE JAR’s diligence review
or, except as set forth below, other factors. COOKIE JAR shall
assume all ordinary course contracts and all related, ordinary
course obligations attendant to the Properties arising after the
Closing Date, including the CBS agreement.
|
|
|
|
|
Settlement:
|
|
The transaction is an all-cash deal. The Properties shall be
debt free and free of all liens, claims and security interests at
the closing, except for the interests owned by Hasbro and held by
existing licensees in the normal course.
|
|
|
|
|
Form of Purchase:
|
|
Asset purchase.
|
AMERICAN
GREETINGS CORPORATION HAS CLAIMED
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT OF PORTIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH
RULE 24b-2
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Closing Date:
|
|
The closing date (the “ Closing Date ”) for
the transaction is no later than September 30, 2008. All
revenues earned and due, but not paid, up to the Closing Date shall
be collected by COOKIE JAR on AG’s behalf.
|
|
|
|
|
Conditions:
|
|
This obligations of COOKIE JAR and AG under this binding letter
agreement are conditioned solely upon satisfaction or waiver of the
following conditions: (i) regulatory approval relating to all
applicable competition filings and expiration or early termination
of any applicable waiting periods; (ii) receipt of all material
necessary third party consents and approvals, (iii) no material
adverse change occurring with respect to the Properties; for
purposes of this condition, a “material adverse change”
shall mean an occurrence that will result in a 20% or greater
decline in the net income attributable the normal course licensing
of the Properties as against AG’s business plan for the
second quarter of fiscal year 2009 with respect to the Properties
as made available by AG to COOKIE JAR; provided, however, material
adverse change shall not include any information specifically
disclosed as potentially constituting an “adverse
change” to the Properties in the electronic data room
relating to the Properties to which COOKIE JAR had access and which
was actually accessed; provided , further , within
five business days of discovering any occurrence that COOKIE JAR
believes constitutes a material adverse change, COOKIE JAR shall
inform AG; provided , further , developments that are
not specifically related to the Properties, such as developments in
the business and financial markets generally and which do not
disproportionately impact AG or the Properties shall not constitute
a material adverse change; (iv)*; (v) receipt of financing (debt
and equity) on terms and conditions that are commercially
reasonable in the circumstances and consistent in all material
respects with similar transactions, and (vi) evidence in the form
of a
|
AMERICAN
GREETINGS CORPORATION HAS CLAIMED
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT OF PORTIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH
RULE 24b-2
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
certificate from a duly authorized AG officer confirming that
the Properties have been operated in the ordinary course and in a
manner consistent with all legal and contractual requirements save
an except with respect to AG’s recent actions in connection
with its dispute with DIC. COOKIE JAR will use its commercially
reasonable efforts to obtain the financing and to satisfy all
conditions on a timely basis to obtaining the financing. COOKIE JAR
is not aware of any reason that it will not be able to obtain
financing for the transactions contemplated hereby. AG and COOKIE
JAR shall cooperate with each other and AG shall permit access to
any and all books, records and personnel of AG and its affiliates
(to the extent relating to the Properties) as may be reasonably
necessary to permit the purchase and sale of the Properties to
proceed, and shall cooperate with COOKIE JAR’s lenders and
other financing sources as may be necessary at no cost to AG to
permit the transaction to be financed in a manner and under a
structure that is reasonably acceptable to the parties.
|
|
|
|
|
Exclusivity:
|
|
AG shall deal exclusively with COOKIE JAR in respect of the
Properties (save and except with respect to licensing in the normal
course) from the date hereof up to and including September 30.
During this period, neither AG nor any of its affiliates,
representatives, advisors, agents, etc. shall, directly or
indirectly, shop, market, solicit, pursue, or deal with any third
party in any way with respect to any transaction involving a
transfer, sale, partnership, hypothecation, merger, or other
transaction involving the ownership or control of the Properties or
of any entity that owns or controls the Properties, or which would
otherwise be inconsistent with, or delay the consummation of, the
transactions contemplated by this letter.
|
|
|
|
|
AG Reserved Licensing:
|
|
AG and COOKIE JAR hereby agree to a ten year exclusive inbound
licensing agreements for the Properties from COOKIE JAR to AG on
certain categories reserved for AG. These exclusive license
agreements shall provide for a 10% royalty to COOKIE JAR, with
right of first refusal and “last match” provisions in
favor of AG (which right shall run with the Properties in the event
of any sale of the
|
AMERICAN
GREETINGS CORPORATION HAS CLAIMED
CONFIDENTIAL
TREATMENT OF PORTIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH
RULE 24b-2
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
properties by COOKIE JAR or its affiliates) upon any license
relating to the Products that is similar to the product categories
set forth below. The license will convey to AG exclusive rights to
use the Properties in the following product categories (the “
Products ”):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
|
Greeting cards (everyday and seasonal, boxed and unboxed, gift
card holders and cellos, with or without music/audio)
|
|
|
|
•
|
|
Party goods including, but not limited to, paper and electronic
invitations and thank you notes, accessories, favors and
decorations
|
|
|
|
•
|
|
Everyday plastic tableware and serving-ware (whether placed in
the party goods or housewares aisles of retail locations)
|
|
|
|
•
|
|
Gift packaging (everyday, seasonal and seasonal promotional)
including gift
|
|