Edgar Filing: AMERICAN GREETINGS CORP

American Greetings Corporation - Definitive Proxy

SCHEDULE 14A

(RULE 14a-101)

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

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AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)

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[AMERICAN GREETINGS LOGO]

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD JUNE 27, 2003

The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of American Greetings Corporation (the “Company”) will be held at the Company’s World Headquarters, One American Road, Cleveland, Ohio, on Friday, June 27, 2003, at 2:30 P.M., Cleveland time, to consider and act upon the following:


	(1) Electing three directors; and

	(2) Transacting such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.

The World Headquarters may be entered from the private road off Memphis Avenue, or from American Road off Tiedeman Road. As you approach either the private road or American Road, there will be signs directing you to the meeting place.

Only shareholders of record at the close of business on April 28, 2003, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting and any adjournments thereof.

JON GROETZINGER, JR.
Secretary

May 19, 2003

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN YOUR PROXY
CARD PROMPTLY. IF YOU ARE PRESENT AT THE MEETING, YOU MAY
WITHDRAW YOUR PROXY AND VOTE YOUR SHARES PERSONALLY.

PROXY STATEMENT

General

The Board of Directors of American Greetings Corporation (the “Board”) has ordered solicitation of the enclosed proxy in connection with the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held on Friday, June 27, 2003, at 2:30 p.m., Cleveland time, to consider and act upon matters specified in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders preceding this Proxy Statement.

The expense of soliciting proxies, including the costs of preparing, assembling and mailing the Notice, Proxy Statement and proxy, will be borne by the Company. Besides solicitation by mail, solicitations may be made by personal interview, telephone and facsimile by officers and other regular employees of the Company. The Company may also retain a proxy solicitor. Brokerage houses, banks and other persons holding shares in nominee names have been requested to forward solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of shares held of record by such persons. The Company will reimburse such persons for their reasonable expenses.

Shareholders have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors, provided that (a) any shareholder gives notice in writing to the Chairman, President, a Senior Vice President or the Secretary of the Company, not less than 48 hours before the time fixed for the holding of the meeting, that he or she desires that the voting at such meeting be cumulative, and (b) an announcement of the giving of such notice is made upon the convening of the meeting by the Chairman or the Secretary or by or on behalf of the shareholder giving such notice. If cumulative voting is so invoked, a shareholder may cumulate votes for the election of a nominee by casting a number of votes equal to the number of directors to be elected multiplied by the number of votes to which the shareholder’s shares are entitled. The shareholder also may distribute his or her votes between or among two or more nominees on the same basis. Unless otherwise indicated by the shareholder, where cumulative voting is invoked, the persons named in the enclosed proxy will vote, in their discretion, for one or more of the nominees for whom authority was not withheld and will cumulate votes so as to elect the maximum number of nominees proposed by the Board. If cumulative voting is not invoked at the Annual Meeting with respect to the election of directors, the proxies will vote the number of shares on the proxy card for only those Board nominees for whom authority has not been withheld.

Under Ohio law, unless the writing appointing a proxy otherwise provides, a shareholder, without affecting any vote previously taken, may revoke his or her proxy by a later proxy or by giving notice of revocation in writing or in an open meeting. However, a shareholder’s presence at the meeting by itself will not operate to revoke that shareholder’s proxy.

Under Ohio law and the Company’s Amended Articles of Incorporation and Regulations, if a quorum is present at the meeting, the nominees for election as directors who receive the greatest number of votes cast for the election of directors at the meeting by the shares present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote will be elected directors.

The withholding of a vote with respect to the election of any nominee for director will have the practical effect of a vote against that nominee. If a quorum exists, a broker non-vote with respect to any share will not affect the election of directors since the share is not considered present for voting purposes.

The mailing address of the Company’s World Headquarters is One American Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44144. Copies of this Proxy Statement and forms of proxy will be first sent or given to shareholders on or about May 19, 2003.

Voting Securities and Record Date

As of April 28, 2003, there were outstanding, exclusive of treasury shares which cannot be voted, 66,037,019 Class A Common Shares (“Class A Common Shares”) entitled to one vote per share and 4,599,994 Class B Common Shares (“Class B Common Shares”) entitled to ten votes per share upon all matters presented to the shareholders. Holders of record of such shares at the close of business on April 28, 2003, are the only shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournments thereof.

Board of Directors

While Harry H. Stone will not be a nominee for re-election to the Company’s Board, we are pleased to report that he will become a director emeritus. Harry has served on the Board with distinction since 1944. Harry, along with brothers Irving and Morris Stone, and father Jacob Sapirstein, was a founder of the Company and we are grateful to him and will miss his wise counsel. We wish his wife Lucile and him well in the future.

The Board met four times during the fiscal year ended February 28, 2003 (“FY 2003”). In addition, the Board took action without a meeting two times pursuant to Section 1701.54 of the Ohio Revised Code and the Regulations of the Company.

The Board has a standing Executive Committee, Audit Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee and Compensation and Management Development Committee.

Executive Committee


Morry Weiss (Chairman)		Charles A. Ratner




Stephen R. Hardis		James C. Spira




Jack Kahl		Harry H. Stone

The Executive Committee has the same power and authority as the Board between meetings of the Board, except that it may not fill vacancies on the Board or on Committees of the Board. The Executive Committee met two times during FY 2003. It also took action without a meeting eight times pursuant to Section 1701.63(D) of the Ohio Revised Code and the Regulations of the Company.

Audit Committee


Stephen R. Hardis (Chairman)		Harriet Mouchly-Weiss




Scott S. Cowen		Jerry Sue Thornton

The Audit Committee is composed solely of directors who are not officers or employees of the Company and who otherwise meet the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission and New York Stock Exchange regarding Audit Committee membership, including financial literacy and at least one member with accounting or related financial management expertise. No member of the Audit Committee receives any compensation from the Company, except fees for service as a Director or Audit Committee Member. The Committee has general powers relating to accounting, auditing and legal compliance matters. It recommends the selection of and monitors the independence of the Company’s independent auditors. It reviews the audit plan, the results of the audit engagement and the activities of the Company’s internal audit staff. It considers the audit and non-audit fees of the independent auditors and directs special investigations. It also reviews and monitors the Company’s various legal compliance programs. The Audit Committee met four times during FY 2003.

Nominating and Governance Committee


Charles A. Ratner (Chairman)		Harry H. Stone




Jack Kahl		Jerry Sue Thornton

The Nominating and Governance Committee is composed solely of directors who are not officers or employees of the Company. The Committee makes recommendations to the Board regarding the size, composition and operation of the Board and Board Committees and qualifications for membership. It recommends to the Board nominees to fill Board vacancies and new positions, as well as a slate of Board nominees for annual election by the shareholders. The Committee met four times during FY 2003 and took action without a meeting once pursuant to Section 1701.63(D) of the Ohio Revised Code and the Regulations of the Company. The Committee would be pleased to consider written suggestions forwarded by shareholders to the Secretary of the Company concerning qualified candidates for election as directors.

Compensation and Management Development Committee


Scott S. Cowen (Chairman)		Harriet Mouchly-Weiss




Stephen R. Hardis		Charles A. Ratner

The Compensation and Management Development Committee is composed solely of directors who are not officers or employees of the Company. The Committee reviews the compensation packages offered to the Company’s officers generally and develops and administers the compensation plans for the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, the President and Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice Presidents. It grants stock options and other forms of equity compensation to officers and certain key employees pursuant to the Company’s equity plans. It also reviews programs relating to the development of senior management and succession planning. The Committee met four times during FY 2003 and took action without a meeting 12 times during FY 2003 pursuant to Section 1701.63(D) of the Ohio Revised Code and the Regulations of the Company.

Attendance

During FY 2003 each director attended 75% or more of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and the respective Committees on which he or she serves.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each of the Company’s directors and executive officers is required to report his or her initial appointment as a director or executive officer of the Company to the Securities and Exchange Commission within ten days of appointment. Each director, executive officer and holder of more than ten percent of the Company’s Common Shares is required to disclose in a timely fashion any transactions in the Company’s Common Shares. The Company is required to disclose in this Proxy Statement any failure by any of these persons to make timely Section 16(a) reports. Each of Mrs. Mouchly-Weiss, Dr. Thornton, and Messrs. Hardis, Kahl and Ratner received his or her Director’s fee for the FY 2002 fourth quarter in the form of Company stock. In each case, a single transaction was involved and the Form 4 reporting the transaction was filed late.

PROPOSAL NO. 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The Company’s Board of Directors comprises three classes of directors, each class having a three-year term. Class II members are to be elected at the June 27, 2003 Annual Meeting, and it is proposed that in accordance with the Company’s Regulations the number of Class II directors be fixed at four.

It is further proposed that the shareholders elect the following nominees: Jack Kahl, Jerry Sue Thornton and Jeffrey M. Weiss. The term of office to be served by each nominee in Class II, if elected, will be three years, until the 2006 Annual Meeting, or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified. Each of these nominees for Class II director has agreed to stand for election. As in the past, the Company is nominating three directors but fixing the number of Class II directors at four to accommodate an additional qualified director if one is brought to the Board’s attention during the next three years.

The following biographical information was prepared as of April 28, 2003, and includes business experience during at least the past five years with respect to each nominee for election as a director and for the other seven directors whose terms will continue after the Annual Meeting.

Nominees for Election to Term Expiring in 2006

(Class II)


[Picture Jack Kahl]		Jack Kahl (62)









		Director (2000), member of the Executive Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee









		Mr. Kahl’s principal occupation is President and Chief Executive Officer of Duck Investments LLC (asset management) and of Jack Kahl and Associates (consulting), positions he has held since December, 2000. Before founding Duck Investments LLC and Jack Kahl and Associates, Mr. Kahl served for more than 25 years as Chief Executive Officer of Manco, Inc., a marketer and distributor of innovative consumer products, including Duck™brand tape. Mr. Kahl serves on the boards of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (hospital), Royal Appliance Inc. (manufacturer of vacuum cleaners for household and commercial use), Paragon Holdings (holding corporation for various manufacturing entities), MCM Capital Advisory (investment advisors), Clark/Bardes Inc. (executive compensation and benefits) and Acorn Products Inc. (manufacturer and marketer of non-powered lawn and garden tools). He also serves on the Boards of Trustees of John Carroll University and St. Edward’s High School (educational institutions).









[Picture of Jerry Sue Thornton ]		Jerry Sue Thornton (56)









		Director (2000), member of the Audit Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee









		Dr. Thornton is the President of Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland, Ohio, the largest community college in Ohio, a position she has held since 1992. She is a member of the boards of National City Bank (bank/financial institution) and Applied Industrial Technologies (technology consulting). She is also a board member of Playhouse Square Foundation, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum — Cleveland and New York, Cleveland Municipal School District, Greater Cleveland Roundtable, United Way of Cleveland, Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland, St. Vincent Quadrangle, The Cleveland Foundation and Cleveland Tomorrow (professional, educational and non-profit organizations), Republic Powdered Metals, Inc. (specialty coatings manufacturer) and Office Max (office supplies and furnishings).






[Picture of Jeffrey M. Weiss]		Jeffrey M. Weiss (39)









		Director (2003)









		Effective June 1, 2003, Mr. Weiss will be appointed to fill a vacancy in Class II of the Board, and will therefore be a Board candidate for election at the Annual Meeting when his term expires later in June, 2003. Mr. Weiss’s principal occupation is Executive Vice President, North American Greeting Card Division of the Company, a position he has held since March, 2000. From January, 1998, through February, 2000, Mr. Weiss served as the Company’s Senior Vice President of Product Development and prior to that he served as Vice President of Product Management for several months, beginning in May, 1997. He is on the board of directors for WVIZ (public television) and on the Visiting Committee of the Weatherhead School of Management of Case Western Reserve University (educational institution).

Vote Required. The nominees who receive the greatest number of votes cast for the election of directors at the Annual Meeting by the shares present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote will be elected directors.

YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE
FOR THE ADOPTION OF THIS PROPOSAL.

Proxies solicited by the Board of Directors will be voted for this Proposal unless shareholders specify to the contrary in their proxies or specifically withhold their vote for particular nominees.

In the event of the death or inability to serve of any of the nominees, the proxies will be voted for the election as a director of such other person as the Board may recommend. The Board has no reason, however, to anticipate that this will occur.

Continuing Directors with Term Expiring in 2005

(Class I)


[Picture of Stephen R. Hardis]		Stephen R. Hardis (67)









		Director (1999), Chairman of the Audit Committee, member of the Compensation and Management Development Committee and Executive Committee









		Mr. Hardis’s principal occupation is Chairman of Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (semiconductor equipment), an initial public offering of Eaton Corporation. Until his retirement on July 31, 2000, Mr. Hardis was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Eaton Corporation (manufacturer of highly engineered products that serve industrial, vehicle, construction, commercial and semiconductor markets). Before joining Eaton in 1979, Mr. Hardis served as Executive Vice President of Finance and Planning for Sybron Corporation (health equipment supplies & services) and prior to that he was associated with General Dynamics Corporation (industrial aerospace manufacturer). Mr. Hardis is a member of the boards of Lexmark International, Inc. (a spin-off of IBM’s printer business), Nordson Corporation (industrial painting system manufacturer), Marsh & McLennan Cos. (insurance), Progressive Insurance Company (high risk automobile insurance), STERIS Corporation (infection and contamination prevention products and services) and Apogent Technologies, Inc. (healthcare diagnostics and scientific research). He also serves as a director of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (hospital) and is a trustee of The Musical Arts Association (Cleveland Orchestra).






[Picture of James C. Spira]		James C. Spira (60)









		Director (1998), President and Chief Operating Officer, member of the Executive Committee









		Mr. Spira’s principal occupation is President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company, a position to which he was elected on March 22, 2001. He served as Vice Chairman of the Company from June 22, 2000 until March 22, 2001. For five years prior to that he was managing partner emeritus and director of Diamond Technology Partners (technology management consulting firm). Before joining Diamond Technology Partners, he co-founded Cleveland Consulting Associates, serving as President and Chief Executive Officer from 1974 until 1989. Mr. Spira serves on the boards of Brulant, LLC (information technology consulting), AmericanGreetings.com (internet social expressions provider), Copernicus (a division of Aegis Group - marketing investment strategies), Ciber, Inc. (informational technology services) and Dealer Tire LLC (tire distributor). He also serves on the boards of Jewish Family Service Association of Cleveland, the Siegal College of Judaic Studies, Hobart College and William Smith College, as well as on various committees of the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland (charitable, non-profit and educational organizations).









[Picture of Morry Weiss]		Morry Weiss (63)









		Director (1971), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Executive Committee









		Mr. Weiss’s principal occupation is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, a position he has held for more than five years. He also serves as a director of National City Corporation, Cleveland (holding company of National City Bank — Cleveland and other banks), AmericanGreetings.com (internet social expressions provider), and is a member of the advisory boards of Primus Venture Partners (equity investor in companies requiring growth capital) and the listed Company Advisory Committee of the New York Stock Exchange. (1)

Continuing Directors with Term Expiring in 2004

(Class III)


[Picture of Scott S. Cowen]		Scott S. Cowen (56)









		Director (1989), Chairman of the Compensation and Management Development Committee, member of the Audit Committee









		Dr. Cowen’s principal occupation is President and Seymour S. Goodman Professor of Management and Professor of Economics, Tulane University, a position he has held since 1998. Prior to that Dr. Cowen served as Dean and Albert J. Weatherhead, III Professor of Management, Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Cowen serves as a director of Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. (specialty store retailer), Forest City Enterprises, Inc. (conglomerate corporation engaged in real estate development, sales, investment, construction and lumber wholesale) and Newell Rubbermaid Inc. (consumer home products). Dr. Cowen is also a member of the boards of the American Council on Education, serving on several of the organization’s committees, and of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (educational institutions). In addition he sits on several community boards, including those of the New Orleans Business Council, New Orleans Regional Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Greater New Orleans and Committee for a Better New Orleans.

(1)

The Company rents retail store space in a shopping mall from Stow Falls Retail L.P., a partnership that is 50% owned by 540 Investment Company L.P., in which Morry Weiss has an ownership interest.


[Picture of Harriet Mouchly-Weiss]		Harriet Mouchly-Weiss (60)









		Director (1998), member of the Audit Committee and Compensation and Management Development Committee









		Mrs. Mouchly-Weiss is founder and managing partner of Strategy XXI (corporate communications). Before founding Strategy XXI in 1993, she was President of GCI Group International, an international public relations and marketing agency. She also served as Chairman of Ruder Finn & Rotman International Partners, an independent public relations firm. She is a director of Viisage Technology, Inc. (developer of personal security and identification systems), a member of the Committee of 200, Friends of the United Nations, The American Academy of Rome, The Chinese Foundation of Culture and Arts for Children, The Abraham Fund, Women’s Executive Circle of the U.J.A. - Federation of New York, the Board of Overseers for the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award Program, The Israel Policy Forum (professional, educational and charitable organizations) and Count-Me-In micro-lending group (online women’s small business lender).









[Picture of Charles A. Ratner]		Charles A. Ratner (60)









		Director (2000), Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee, member of the Compensation and Management Development Committee and Executive Committee









		Mr. Ratner’s principal occupation is Chief Executive Officer and President of Forest City Enterprises, positions he has held for seven years and nine years, respectively. Mr. Ratner serves as Board Chair of the Jewish Community Federation, a director of The Musical Arts Association (Cleveland Orchestra), Cleveland Tomorrow and United Way of Cleveland (professional, educational and non-profit organizations). He also serves as a trustee of the Mandel Associated Foundations, David and Inez Myers Foundation, University Hospital and the Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation (non-profit and health care organizations). (1)









[Picture of Zev Weiss]		Zev Weiss (36)









		Director (2003)









		Effective June 1, 2003, Mr. Weiss will be appointed to fill a vacancy in Class III of the Board until his term expires in June, 2004. Mr. Weiss’s principal occupation is Executive Vice President, A.G. Ventures and Enterprise Management, a position he has held since December, 2001. Prior to that, Mr. Weiss served as Senior Vice President of A.G. Ventures (March 2001 — November 2001), and for almost a year prior to that he served as Vice President of the Company’s Strategic Business Unit Division. From May, 1997, through February, 2000, Mr. Weiss was Executive Director of National Accounts, North American Greeting Card Division. He is currently on the boards of Yeshiva University and David Azrieli School (educational institutions).

Directors’ Compensation. Directors receive an annual retainer of $35,000 for serving on the Board. During FY 2003, Mr. Hardis, Mr. Kahl, Mr. Ratner and Dr. Thornton received this amount in Company stock; Mrs. Mouchly-Weiss received this amount partly in Company stock and partly in cash. Dr. Cowen and Mr. Stone received this amount in cash. No fees were paid to Morry Weiss or James C. Spira for serving on the Board during FY 2003. The Company also reimbursed each non-employee director for expenses incurred in connection with attendance at Board and Committee meetings.

Executive Officers’ Compensation. The following table shows for each of the last three fiscal years the compensation of the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and its other four most highly compensated executive officers who were serving as executive officers at February 28, 2003 (the “Named Executive Officers”).

(1)

The Company rents retail store space in various shopping malls from Forest City Rental Properties Corporation (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Forest City Enterprises, Inc.) and from Charles A. Ratner’s family.

Summary Compensation Table


									Long Term
Annual Compensation									Compensation Payouts

									Restricted			Securities
									Stock			Underlying			All Other
			Salary			Incentive			Award			Options			Compensation
Name	Year		$			$			$			$⁽⁴⁾			$⁽⁵⁾

Morry Weiss		2003		618,600			1,052,388	⁽¹⁾		—			18,000			214,086	⁽⁸⁾




Chairman &		2002		618,600			1,906,002			—			322,000			204,222	⁽⁸⁾




C.E.O.		2001		618,600			182,341	⁽²⁾		—			—			190,152	⁽⁸⁾

James C. Spira		2003		500,000			—			—			—			18,640




President &		2002		500,000			—			825,500	⁽³⁾		310,794	⁽⁶⁾⁽⁷⁾		1,813,000	⁽⁹⁾




C.O.O.		2001		342,949			—			—			—			—





Jeffrey M. Weiss		2003		367,504			343,398			—			14,000			18,640




Exec. V.P.,		2002		366,046			560,092			—			62,200			8,378




North American		2001		281,251			21,255			—			12,000	⁽¹⁰⁾		5,152




Greeting Card Div.





William R. Mason		2003		347,912	⁽¹¹⁾		321,495			—			10,000			21,952




Sr. V.P. of Sales		2002		338,022	⁽¹¹⁾		419,090			—			38,000			11,631




		2001		321,478	⁽¹¹⁾		17,701			—			—			5,152





Erwin Weiss		2003		347,768			314,766			—			10,000			22,479




Sr. V.P. of Specialty		2002		321,691			410,188			—			58,000			11,826




Business		2001		303,482			92,884			—			—			5,152

(1)		Annual incentive compensation described more fully in section captioned “Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Compensation.”




(2)		Includes $138,000 of annual incentive compensation described more fully in section captioned “Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Compensation.”




(3)		Restricted grant of 65,000 shares at the grant price of $12.70 per share, granted under the Company’s 1997 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan, as detailed in Mr. Spira’s employment agreement more fully described below under the caption “President and Chief Operating Officer Compensation.”




(4)		Stock options granted under the Company’s 1997 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan, unless otherwise indicated.




(5)		Reflects Company contributions under the Retirement Profit Sharing and Savings Plan as well as the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, unless otherwise indicated.




(6)		Includes 164,712 stock options granted under the Company’s 1992 Stock Option Plan.




(7)		Includes 128,119 stock options granted under the Company’s Employee Stock Option Plan.




(8)		Includes premiums paid by the Company for an insurance policy for Morry &Judith Weiss. The owners of and the beneficiaries under this policy are Mr. &Mrs. Weiss’s children. Premiums were $185,000.




(9)		Unrestricted grant of 175,000 shares at the grant date price of $10.36 per share, as detailed in Mr. Spira’s employment agreement more fully described below under the caption “President and Chief Operating Officer Compensation.”




(10)		Stock options granted under the Company’s 1992 Stock Option Plan.




(11)		Includes a special $25,000 annual payment made pursuant to an employee arrangement described below under the section captioned “Employment and Severance Agreements.”

Employment and Severance Agreements. The Company has an agreement with each Named Executive Officer (other than Morry Weiss and Jeffrey M. Weiss).

William R. Mason’s agreement, dated March 1, 2001, to serve as Senior Vice President, Sales, is for rolling three-year terms beginning March 1, 2002. Beginning March 1, 2002, Mr. Mason’s compensation comprised a base salary of $322,912, an annual incentive and an annual payment of $25,000 which was included in determining the Company’s contribution to Mr. Mason’s Retirement Profit Sharing and Savings Plan account and his Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan account, but is not considered base pay under the Annual Incentive Plan. Unless Mr. Mason voluntarily resigns or is terminated for cause, he is entitled to receive his base salary for three years from his termination date, but is ineligible for bonuses during that time.

Mr. Spira’s employment agreement with the Company is described under the heading “President and Chief Operating Officer Compensation” in the Report of the Compensation and Management Development Committee below.

Erwin Weiss’s agreement, dated July 1, 1984, as amended April 1, 2002, provides for an annual base salary of at least $350,000, with annual increases effective April 1, 2003 and April 1, 2004, provided that Mr. Weiss is employed by the Company on those dates. During his employment, Mr. Weiss will participate in any applicable fiscal year Annual Incentive Plan, with his actual earnings to be 100% of the applicable fiscal year target incentive amount for Senior Vice Presidents. If grant(s) of stock options are made generally to Senior Vice Presidents during his employment, Mr. Weiss will receive such grant(s). If Mr. Weiss separates voluntarily or involuntarily, Mr. Weiss will receive $250,000 in deferred compensation, as well as three years of base salary at the rate in effect at the time of separation; provided, however, that if Mr. Weiss is involuntarily terminated prior to March, 2005, the amount of his salary continuation will be calculated at his annual base salary in effect at the time of separation plus $50,000.

Executive Deferred Compensation Plan. The Company permits directors, certain officers and senior management to defer all or a stated amount or percentage of their cash or equity compensation. A participant in this program will be paid the deferred compensation in accordance with one of the various options outlined in the plan documentation.

Restoration Benefit. The Company contributes a restoration benefit to participants under a program to restore retirement benefits lost due to the limitations of I.R.C. Sections 401(a)(17), 401(k)(3) and 415.

Indemnification. Section 1701.13(E) of the Ohio Revised Code authorizes the indemnification of directors and officers who are parties to civil, criminal, administrative or investigative proceedings and the purchase of insurance against any liability asserted against them in such capacity if such individuals act in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believe to be in the best interests of the Company and, with respect to any criminal matter, if they have no reasonable cause to believe their conduct is unlawful. Article IV of the Regulations of the Company provides for indemnification in terms consistent with the statutory authority. The Company maintains insurance covering certain liabilities of the directors and the elected and appointed officers of the Company and its subsidiaries.

Option Exercises and Fiscal Year-End Values. The option information shown below relates to options to purchase the Company’s Class A and Class B Common Shares granted to the Named Executive Officers under the Company’s various stock option plans approved by shareholders and subject to applicable law:

OPTION EXERCISES IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR
AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES


					Number of			Value of Unexercised
					Securities Underlying			In-the-Money
					Unexercised Options			Options at Fiscal
					at Fiscal Year-End (#)			Year-End ($) (1)

	Shares
	Acquired		Value		Exercisable (E)			Exercisable (E)
Name	on Exercise (#)		Realized ($)		Unexercisable (U)			Unexercisable (U)

Morry Weiss		—		—		670,500	(E)		1,020,740	(E)




		—		—		36,000	(U)		—	(U)




James C. Spira		—		—		298,049	(E)		76,046	(E)




		—		—		30,745	(U)		3,310	(U)




Jeffrey M. Weiss		—		—		137,950	(E)		197,174	(E)




		—		—		28,000	(U)		—	(U)




William R. Mason		—		—		75,500	(E)		120,460	(E)




		—		—		20,000	(U)		—	(U)




Erwin Weiss		—		—		100,500	(E)		183,860	(E)




		—		—		20,000	(U)		—	(U)

(1)

Represents the difference between the option exercise price and the closing price of the Company’s Class A Common Shares as reported on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on February 28, 2003 ($13.12) multiplied by the corresponding number of shares.

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. A description of the Company’s Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan can be found in the Report of the Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Board of Directors on Executive Compensation under the heading “Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan.” The total liability recorded by the Company under this plan at the end of FY 2003 was $21,590,439. During FY 2003, retired officers received benefits under the plan aggregating $1,021,629. Based upon estimates predicated upon present compensation, at age 65 Morry Weiss will receive $185,580 annually, Jeffrey M. Weiss will receive $102,289 annually, Erwin Weiss will receive $89,363 annually and William R. Mason will receive $85,302 annually. James C. Spira is not a participant in the plan.

REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION AND MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE OF
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Board of Directors (“Committee”) establishes, reviews and administers compensation plans for the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice Presidents. Among other duties, it also reviews the compensation programs for other executive and non-executive officers of the Company and develops and reviews programs involving executive officer development and succession planning. The Committee consists solely of directors who are not officers or employees of the Company.

Statement on Philosophy of Executive Compensation

The Company’s compensation philosophy reflects its belief that the compensation of its executive and non-executive officers should (i) provide a compensation program that motivates officers to achieve their strategic goals by tying officers’ compensation to the performance of the Company and applicable business units, as well as to individual performance; (ii) provide compensation reasonably comparable to that offered by other leading companies so as to attract and retain talented executives; and (iii) align the interests of its officers with the long-term interests of the Company’s shareholders through the award of stock options, restricted stock and other stock-related programs.

The Company’s philosophy is to pay its officers fairly, which may include offering certain executive officers total annual compensation exceeding $1,000,000. The compensation packages offered to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, the President and Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice Presidents are based in part on surveys and/or the recommendations of an outside consulting firm, and in part on factors that are not easily measured, such as leadership and strategic foresight.

Implementation of Philosophy

During FY 2003 the Company’s executive compensation plans allowed for base salary, an annual cash incentive, a supplemental executive retirement plan, stock options, restricted stock, deferred shares, stock appreciation rights, performance shares, performance units and a retirement profit sharing and savings plan.

Base Salary

Base salaries are established based upon the responsibilities and description of a given position and a comparison of compensation levels of similar positions in comparable companies gathered from compensation surveys and the recommendations of one or more outside compensation consulting firms. Individual performance reviews are generally conducted at least annually and are used in determining if an increase in base salary is merited. Such increases in FY 2003 were based on an individual’s performance as well as increases described in third party compensation studies and achievement of the Company’s and applicable division’s profit goals.

Executive Incentive Plans

Key Management Annual Incentive Plan. In FY 2003, the Company had an Annual Incentive Plan for officers and certain key employees. Under the Annual Incentive Plan the Board establishes goals based upon earnings targets set by the Board for the fiscal year as to the Company as a whole and for each business unit, and each participant is assigned a target incentive amount. In no instance may a participant’s target incentive amount exceed 80% of the participant’s fiscal year earnings, except in the case of the Chief Executive Officer, whose target incentive amount may not exceed 100% of the CEO midpoint/market median salary for peer group companies (currently $1,009,000). If the participant’s business unit and the Company in its entirety achieve target earnings goals, the participant’s incentive is the target incentive amount. If the participant’s business unit fails to achieve its goals, the incentive either is not paid or is decreased, depending upon the extent of the shortfall. For each percentage of shortfall, the target incentive is reduced by three or four percent, depending on the business unit involved. If the percentage of shortfall is more than ten percent, no incentive is paid. If the Company fails to achieve its goals, the participant’s incentive is reduced by 50%. If the participant’s business unit exceeds its goals, the incentive is increased. For each percentage of excess, the incentive is increased by three or four percent, depending on the business unit involved; provided, however, that the maximum incentive to be paid to any participant under the business unit component cannot exceed twice the target incentive amount. In no event will the compensation payable to the Chief Executive Officer or any other Named Executive Officer under the Annual Incentive Plan exceed in the aggregate $3,000,000 during any one fiscal year. The FY 2003 earnings target was established by the Board in February 2002 and in FY 2003 each Named Executive Officer earned an incentive under the Annual Incentive Plan. The Company’s earnings targets are confidential and are not included in this report in order to avoid compromising the Company’s competitive position. It is the Board’s belief that the earnings targets it has established are a good measure of the Company’s performance.

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

The Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan provides that a participant in the plan who retires at age 65 with up to 20 years of service with the Company will receive up to 20% of final average compensation annually for life. Final average compensation is defined as the average of the two highest years of annual compensation during the officer’s employment. Annual compensation is defined as annual base compensation plus the incentive that would have been paid under any annual incentive plan then in effect if the participant had achieved 100% of his or her target profit goal. Under the plan, a lesser amount will be payable in the event of early retirement. Benefits are not subject to any deduction for Social Security or other offset amounts. Benefits under the plan will be payable to the officer’s beneficiary in the event of the officer’s death until a total of 180 monthly payments have been made to both the officer and beneficiary.

Long-Term, Incentive Compensation

The Company’s long-term incentive compensation programs currently consist of grants of cash incentives, restricted stock and stock options, thereby tying compensation for officers and certain key employees directly to shareholder return. An officer holding stock options benefits if the price of the Company’s shares increases. In addition, since the right to exercise options vests over time, the programs create an incentive for an executive to remain with the Company. Other alternatives such as stock appreciation rights, deferred shares, performance shares and performance units are also available under the 1997 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan.

Under the existing employee stock option plans, officers and key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries are awarded stock options by the Committee to purchase Class A or Class B Common Shares of the Company. The options are granted at 100% of fair market value at the close of business on the last business day preceding the date of grant or at not less than market value on the date of grant (depending on plan provisions) and generally expire not later than ten years from the date of grant. The number of share options granted depends upon the level of the position and level of performance exhibited by a recipient.

Retirement Profit Sharing and Savings Plan

Under the American Greetings Retirement Profit Sharing and Savings Plan in FY 2003, the Company contributed to a profit sharing trust eight percent of net profits (before income taxes and certain income and expenses) of the Company and participating subsidiaries. It is impossible to estimate the annual benefits that any participant may be entitled to receive under the plan upon retirement since the amount of such benefits will depend upon a number of factors including, among other things, future net profits, the future credited compensation of the participants and the future net income of the trust fund. In addition, the plan allows eligible participants to make contributions through salary reduction as permitted under I.R.C. Section 401(k). The plan allows for the Company to match 40% of the first six percent of compensation deferred by each eligible participant (subject to IRS limitations), if the Company achieves at least 80% of its profit goal. The FY 2003 profit goal was achieved, and the Company made a matching contribution. For the investment of all contributions under the plan, a participant may choose a Company stock fund, which is invested in Common Shares of the Company and/or the following mutual funds: Vanguard/Wellington Fund, Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund, Vanguard/PRIMECAP Fund, Vanguard/Wellesley Income Fund, Vanguard/Windsor II Fund, Vanguard International Growth Fund, Vanguard Extended Market Index Fund, Vanguard 500 Index Fund and the One Group Bond Fund.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Compensation

Morry Weiss has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since March 1, 1992. His compensation plan currently includes base salary, an annual incentive and stock options.

In fixing his FY 2003 base salary and incentive target, as well as in determining the number of stock options granted to Mr. Weiss, the Committee and the Board reviewed the performance of both the Company and Mr. Weiss, as well as a market study that included compensation data of CEO’s at comparable companies. Based on that data, Mr. Weiss’ s FY 2003 compensation was below the median compensation of CEO’s at peer group companies.

In FY 2003, Mr. Weiss’s compensation included base salary of $618,600 and participation in the Annual Incentive Plan pursuant to which Mr. Weiss can achieve a target incentive of 100% of the CEO “midpoint"/market median for peer group companies (currently $1,009,000) as established in annual compensation studies, if the Company achieves its earnings goal. The Company did meet its earnings goal, and Mr. Weiss earned an incentive of $1,052,388. The incentive target in FY 2004 and thereafter will be established by the Board based on achievements of specified performance goals. The Committee has also provided a split-dollar life insurance program for Mr. Weiss and his family during FY 2003.

Effective June 1, 2003, Morry Weiss will retire from his position as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Zev Weiss will assume this role. Mr. Weiss will retain his position as Chairman of the Board. The compensation package that Zev Weiss will receive will be appropriate for the position, will be commensurate with his abilities and experience, and will include base salary, an annual incentive amount and stock options.

President and Chief Operating Officer Compensation

The Company retained the William Mercer consulting firm to advise as to appropriate compensation for Mr. Spira and other senior management. Based upon recommendations in the Mercer study, Mr. Spira and the Company entered into an Employment Agreement, dated September 25, 2001, under which Mr. Spira is to act as the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer from June 25, 2000, until June 25, 2003, at an annual base salary of $500,000 which may be increased annually at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

Under the Employment Agreement Mr. Spira received the following grants of stock and stock options:

Stock Grants


Grant Date	# Class A Common Shares		Grant Price per share		Vesting Date		Restrictions on Vesting

06/22/2001		175,000	$	10.36		06/22/2001	None




09/05/2001		43,333	$	12.70		06/25/2002	None




09/05/2001		21,667	$	12.70		06/25/2003		(1	)

Stock Option Grants


	# of Options on		Grant Price		Vesting		Applicable		Exercisable
Grant Date	Class A Common Shares		per share		Date		Plan		Until

09/05/2001		164,712	$	13.01		03/06/2002		1992		9/5/2011




09/05/2001		51,449	$	13.01		03/06/2002		1996		9/5/2011




09/05/2001		51,113	$	13.01		06/26/2002		1996		9/5/2011




09/05/2001		2,375	$	12.70		06/26/2002		1997		9/5/2011




09/05/2001		25,557	$	13.01		06/26/2003		1996		(2)




09/05/2001		1,188	$	12.70		06/26/2003		1997		(2)

Any options that have not vested shall become immediately vested upon Mr. Spira’s death or permanent and total disability or his termination without cause or a change in control of the Company.

Mr. Spira is not eligible to receive any other compensation, incentives or benefits including incentives under the Annual Incentive or Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan benefits.

Effective June 1, 2003, James C. Spira will retire from the position of President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company, and Jeffrey M. Weiss will assume these roles. The compensation package that Mr. Weiss will receive will be appropriate for the position, will be commensurate with Mr. Weiss’s abilities and experience, and will include base salary, an annual incentive amount and stock options.

(1)		Company must attain annual incentive goals and Board must declare an annual incentive.




(2)		The earlier of September 5, 2011, or six months plus one day following the date of Mr. Spira’s termination.

Impact of Section 162 of the Internal Revenue Code

The Revenue Reconciliation Act of 1993 amended I.R.C. Section 162 to eliminate the deductibility of certain compensation over $1,000,000 paid to the Chief Executive Officer and other Named Executive Officers. In 2000, the Company’s shareholders reapproved compensation plans that were initially approved in 1994 for the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and President and Chief Operating Officer that allow the Company to deduct for tax purposes amounts in excess of $1,000,000 that are performance-based and that are payable to each individual under these compensation plans.

Summary

The Committee will continue to review the Company’s executive compensation programs to assure that such programs are consistent with the objective of increasing shareholder value.

Scott S. Cowen (Chairman)
Stephen R. Hardis
Harriet Mouchly-Weiss
Charles A. Ratner

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

This report provides information concerning the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and fees paid to Ernst & Young LLP, the Company’s independent auditors.

The Audit Committee is comprised entirely of independent directors, as required by Sections 303.01(B) and 303.01(B)(3) of the New York Stock Exchange listing standards.

The Audit Committee oversees and monitors the Company’s financial reporting process and has reviewed and discussed with the Company’s management the audited financial statements for the year ended February 28, 2003; discussed with Ernst & Young LLP the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (as amended by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 90); reviewed the written disclosures and letter from Ernst & Young LLP required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1; and discussed with Ernst & Young LLP its independence.

Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements for the year ended February 28, 2003, be included in the Company’s 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Audit and Non-Audit Fees

Audit Fees

The aggregate fees incurred for professional services rendered by Ernst & Young LLP for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2003, were $728,600.

Financial Information Systems Design and Implementation Fees

No aggregate fees were incurred for financial information systems design and implementation services (as defined by Rule 2-01(c)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC) rendered to the Company by Ernst & Young LLP for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2003.

All Other Fees

The aggregate fees incurred for services rendered to the Company by Ernst & Young LLP, other than those services covered in the sections above, captioned “Audit Fees” and “Financial Information Systems Design and Implementation Fees,” for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2003, were $1,352,270, of which $233,505 was for audit-related services and $1,118,765 was for non-audit services. Audit-related services primarily included fees for pension and statutory audits and consultations on accounting matters. Non-audit services primarily included fees for tax compliance and tax consulting services.

In making its determination regarding the independence of Ernst & Young LLP, the Audit Committee considered whether the provision of the services covered in the sections herein regarding “Financial Information Systems Design and Implementation Fees” and “All Other Fees” was compatible with maintaining such independence.

          Stephen R. Hardis, Chairman
          Scott S. Cowen
          Harriet Mouchly-Weiss
          Jerry Sue Thornton

Shareholder Return Performance Presentation

The following graph compares the yearly percentage change of the cumulative total shareholder return on the Company’s Class A Common Shares against the cumulative total return of the S&P 500 Composite Index and the Peer Group Index for the five fiscal years ended February 28, 2003. The Peer Group Index takes into account companies with the following attributes, among others, that are similar to those of the Company: distribution channels, nondurable consumer products, sales, market capitalization and customer demographics.

GRAPH


	2/98		2/99		2/00		2/01		2/02		2/03

American Greetings	$	100	$	53	$	40	$	32	$	34	$	33




Peer Group	$	100	$	86	$	65	$	79	$	95	$	86




S&P 500	$	100	$	120	$	134	$	123	$	111	$	86

Shareholder returns assume $100 was invested in each of the Company’s Class A Common Shares, the S&P 500 Composite Index and the Peer Group Index at February 28, 1998, and that all dividends were reinvested.

*Companies included in the Peer Group Index:


Alberto Culver Co	Hasbro Inc	Luxottica Group SPA ADR	Premark International Inc




Clorox Co	Kellwood Co	Mattel Inc	Russell Corp




Dial Corp	Lancaster Colony Corp	Newell Co	Scotts Co




Enesco Group Inc	Liz Claiborne Inc	Perrigo Co	Stanley Works

Security Ownership of Management

At the close of business on February 28, 2003, the non-employee directors, the Named Executive Officers and the directors and officers as a group beneficially owned and had sole voting and dispositive power (except as otherwise indicated) of the Common Shares of the Company as set forth in the following table:


		Amount &Nature of			Percent of Class
Name	Title of Class	Beneficial Ownership			Outstanding

Non-Employee Directors




Scott S. Cowen	Class A Common		40,200	⁽²⁾⁽⁶⁾		0.06	%




	Class B Common		10,800	⁽²⁾⁽⁶⁾		0.23	%




Stephen R. Hardis	Class A Common		33,800	⁽²⁾⁽⁶⁾		0.05	%




	Class B Common		1,022	⁽⁶⁾		0.02	%




Jack Kahl	Class A Common		11,000	⁽²⁾		0.02	%




	Class B Common		5,943			0.13	%




Harriet Mouchly-Weiss	Class A Common		21,401	⁽²⁾		0.03	%




	Class B Common		547			0.01	%




Charles A. Ratner	Class A Common		11,000	⁽²⁾		0.02	%




	Class B Common		5,943			0.13	%




Harry H. Stone	Class A Common		27,400	⁽²⁾		0.04	%




	Class B Common		51,404	⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾		1.12	%




Jerry Sue Thornton	Class A Common		11,000	⁽²⁾⁽⁶⁾		0.02	%




	Class B Common		†	⁽⁶⁾		†




Executive Officers




Morry Weiss*	Class A Common		106,300	⁽²⁾⁽⁶⁾		0.16	%




	Class B Common		1,185,023	^{(1)(2)(3)(6)(7)}		25.75	%




James C. Spira*	Class A Common		512,049	⁽²⁾		0.78	%




	Class B Common		1,501	⁽²⁾		0.03	%




Jeffrey M. Weiss	Class A Common		94,312	⁽²⁾⁽⁴⁾		0.14	%




	Class B Common		72,893	⁽²⁾⁽⁴⁾		1.58	%




William R. Mason	Class A Common		82,970	⁽²⁾		0.13	%




	Class B Common		9,000	⁽²⁾		0.20	%




Erwin Weiss	Class A Common		81,500	⁽²⁾		0.12	%




	Class B Common		53,624	⁽²⁾		1.17	%




All Directors &Executive	Class A Common		1,401,497	^(2)(4)(6)		2.12	%




Officers as a group	Class B Common		1,503,422	^{(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)}		32.67	%




(21 including the above)

* Also serves as a director of the Company

† less than 0.01% of class outstanding

(1)

These shares are subject to a Shareholders’ Agreement, dated November 19, 1984, which provides that shareholders who are parties thereto will offer Class B Common Shares to the other signatory shareholders and then to the Company before transferring Class B Common Shares outside of a group consisting of certain family members, family trusts, charities and the Company. The Shareholders’ Agreement terminates on December 31, 2014, unless extended.

(2)

Includes the following shares for the following individuals who under Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act are deemed to be beneficial owners of those shares by having the right to acquire ownership thereof within 60 days pursuant to outstanding stock options:


Non-Employee Directors





Scott S. Cowen	Class A Common	39,400	0.06	%




	Class B Common	10,800	0.23	%





Stephen R. Hardis	Class A Common	31,800	0.05	%




	Class B Common	—	†





Jack Kahl	Class A Common	4,000	†




	Class B Common	—	†





Harriet Mouchly-Weiss	Class A Common	20,000	0.03	%




	Class B Common	—	†





Charles A. Ratner	Class A Common	11,000	0.02	%




	Class B Common	—	†





Harry H. Stone	Class A Common	27,400	0.04	%




	Class B Common	10,800	0.23	%





Jerry Sue Thornton	Class A Common	11,000	0.02	%




	Class B Common	—	†




Executive Officers





Morry Weiss	Class A Common	106,200	0.16	%




	Class B Common	591,300	12.85	%





James C. Spira	Class A Common	302,049	0.46	%




	Class B Common	—	†





Jeffrey M. Weiss	Class A Common	93,300	0.14	%




	Class B Common	61,650	1.34	%





William R. Mason	Class A Common	81,500	0.12	%




	Class B Common	9,000	0.20	%





Erwin Weiss	Class ACommon	81,500	0.12	%




	Class B Common	34,000	0.74	%





All Directors & Executive	Class A Common	1,169,079	1.77	%




Officers as a group	Class B Common	792,873	17.23	%

(3)		Excludes 149,749 Class B Common Shares (3.25%) owned by Morry Weiss’s wife and children. Mrs. Weiss and the children are parties to the Shareholders’ Agreement. Mr. Weiss disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares.




(4)		Includes the following shares, which under Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act are deemed to be beneficially owned: 5,992 Class A Common Shares (<0.01%) and 5,553 Class B Common Shares (0.12%) held for the benefit of certain officers as participants in the Company Stock Fund of the American Greetings Retirement Profit Sharing and Savings Plan. Each officer has voting power with respect to the shares allocated to his or her account, but such officers do not have the dispositive power or right to acquire ownership of those shares within 60 days.




(5)		Certain of these shares are subject to the Shareholders’ Agreement discussed in Note (1) above.

(6)

Excludes the following shares, which under Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act are not deemed to be beneficially owned by the following individuals. Such shares are held for the benefit of these individuals in the Company Stock Fund of the American Greetings Executive Deferred Compensation Plan. These individuals have neither voting power with respect to the shares allocated to their accounts, nor do they have the dispositive power or right to acquire ownership of those shares within 60 days:


Morry Weiss	Class A Common	4,784	†




	Class B Common	23,716	0.51	%





Scott S. Cowen	Class A Common	20	†




	Class B Common	1,602	0.03	%





Stephen R. Hardis	Class A Common	113	†




	Class B Common	7,382	0.16	%





Jerry Sue Thornton	Class A Common	41	†




	Class B Common	5,943	0.13	%





All Directors &Executive	Class A Common	4,958	†




Officers as a group	Class B Common	38,643	0.84	%

(7)

Excludes 432,859 Class B Common Shares held in trust with respect to which Mr. Weiss disclaims beneficial ownership.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

The following table presents certain information regarding shareholders that are known to the Company to be beneficial owners of more than five percent of the Company’s voting securities as of the close of business on April 28, 2003:


		Amount &Nature of			Percent of Class
Name	Title of Class	Beneficial Ownership			Outstanding

Morry Weiss	Class A Common		106,300	⁽²⁾⁽⁵⁾		0.16	%




One American Road	Class B Common		1,185,023	^{(1)(2)(3)(5)(6)}		25.76	%




Cleveland, Ohio





American Greetings Corporation	Class A Common		1,036,780	⁽⁴⁾		1.57	%




Retirement Profit Sharing	Class B Common		900,000	⁽⁴⁾		19.57	%




and Savings Plan Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company 300 Vanguard Blvd




Malvern, Pennsylvania





Ariel Capital Management, Inc.	Class A Common		14,800,000			22.41	%




200 East Randolph	Class B Common		—			—




Chicago, Illinois





Brandes Investment Partners, L.P.	Class A Common		6,225,000			9.43	%




12750 Hugh Bluff Dr	Class B Common		—			—




San Diego, California





National City Investment	Class A Common		4,745,798			7.19	%




Management Co.	Class B Common		—			—




1900 E. Ninth Street Cleveland, Ohio





Sterling Capital Management	Class A Common		4,286,700			6.49	%




4064 Colony Road	Class B Common		—			—




Charlotte, North Carolina





First Pacific Advisors	Class A Common		3,300,000			5.00	%




11400 West Olympic Boulevard	Class B Common		—			—




Los Angeles, California





Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc.	Class A Common		3,300,000			5.00	%




1299 Ocean Avenue	Class B Common		—			—




Santa Monica, California





The Irving I. Stone	Class A Common		—			—




Limited Liability Co.	Class B Common		1,818,182			39.51	%




One American Road Cleveland, Ohio

(1)		These shares are subject to a Shareholders’ Agreement. See footnote (1) to the table under “Security Ownership of Management” above. As a party to the Shareholders’ Agreement and a Trustee under Irving I. Stone’s irrevocable trust, Morry Weiss’s wife, Judith A. Weiss, may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of more than five percent of the Class B Common Shares. Similarly, as parties to the Shareholders’ Agreement, Harry H. Stone and each of Mr. Weiss’s children (Gary, Jeffrey, Zev and Elie) may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of more than five percent of the Class B Common Shares.

(2)		Includes the following shares for the following individual who under Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is deemed to be beneficial owner of those shares by having the right to acquire ownership thereof within 60 days pursuant to outstanding stock options:


Morry Weiss	Class A Common	106,200	0.16%
	Class B Common	591,300	12.85%

(3)		See footnote (3) to the table under “Security Ownership of Management.”

(4)		The American Greetings Retirement Profit Sharing and Savings Plan currently holds these shares for the benefit of the plan participants who have elected to invest in Company stock. These participants have voting power over the shares allocated to their accounts. The Administrative Committee of the plan has power to vote any shares not voted by the participants. The Administrative Committee has dispositive power over plan shares. Plan shares are held in custody by the plan trustee, Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company — Malvern, PA.

(5)		Excludes the following shares, which under Rule 13d-3 of the Securities and Exchange Act are not deemed to be beneficially owned by the following individuals. Such shares are held for the benefit of these individuals in the Company Stock Fund of the American Greetings Executive Deferred Compensation Plan. These individuals have neither voting power with respect to the shares allocated to their accounts, nor do they have the dispositive power or the right to acquire ownership of those shares within 60 days:


Morry Weiss	Class A Common	4,784	† 0.51%
	Class B Common	23,716

(6)

See footnote (7) to the table under “Security Ownership of Management.”

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT

Certain statements contained in the Letters to Shareholders, the Proxy Statement and the Annual Report to Shareholders are forward-looking. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements, including a weak retail environment, loss of market share through competition, introduction of competing products by other firms, retailers’ bankruptcies and consolidations, inventory reductions, the level of retail industry sales, competitive terms of sale offered by the Company to customers to expand or maintain business, lack of acceptance of new products by consumer or retailers and interest rate and foreign exchange fluctuations. Other factors, which are not all-inclusive, include the demand for the Company’s goods and services; competitive factors in the industries in which the Company competes; the ability to achieve anticipated synergies and other cost savings in connection with acquisitions and corporate restructuring; and the timing, impact and other uncertainties of future acquisitions, as well as economic conditions in the various markets served by the Company’s operations. Such factors are discussed in the Company’s filings with the SEC.

Shareholder Proposals

Shareholders may submit proposals on matters appropriate for shareholder action, consistent with regulations of the SEC. If a shareholder intends to present a proposal at next year’s Annual Meeting, it must be received by the Secretary of the Company (at One American Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44144) no later than January 20, 2004, in order to be considered timely for inclusion in the Company’s Proxy Statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting.

Auditors

The firm of Ernst & Young LLP and its predecessors have been the independent auditors of the Company since its incorporation in 1944. The Company contemplates no change. Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement if they want to do so. They will also be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Other Business

The management knows of no other matters to be acted upon at the meeting, but if any such matters properly come before the meeting, it is intended that the persons voting the proxies will vote them according to their best judgment.

By Order of the Board of Directors

JON GROETZINGER, JR.
Secretary

PLEASE EXECUTE AND RETURN THE
ENCLOSED PROXY CARD PROMPTLY WHETHER
OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS.

[American Greetings Logo]

American Greetings Corporation
One American Road
Cleveland, Ohio 44144

[Recycled Paper Logo]

Recycled Paper

Notice of Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of American Greetings Corporation (“Company”) will be held at the Company’s World Headquarters, One American Road, Cleveland, Ohio, on Friday, June 27, 2003, at
2:30 P.M. Cleveland time. Your proxy card for voting at the Annual Meeting is enclosed.

We encourage you to read the Annual Report and Proxy Statement and vote your shares. Per your request, the Annual Report and Proxy Statement are available over the Internet at www.votefast.com.

Your vote is important. We encourage you to vote over the Internet at www.votefast.com, by telephone at 1-800-542-1160, or by returning your proxy card in the envelope provided.

Important Notice Regarding Delivery of Shareholder Documents

The Securities and Exchange Commission recently approved a rule that allows us to send a single set of our Annual Report and Proxy Statement to any household at which two or more shareholders reside if we believe the shareholders are members of the same family. This process is called “householding”. This reduces the volume of duplicate information received at your household and helps to reduce our costs. Each shareholder will continue to receive a separate proxy card or voting instruction card. If you wish to have this service, you do not need to do anything. We will household your documents until you inform us otherwise. However, if you would prefer to receive multiple copies, please contact National City Bank at 1-800-622-6757. You may opt-out of householding at any time by contacting National City Bank and your request will be effective in 30 days.

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Proxy Card

ELECTRONIC ACCESS TO FUTURE DOCUMENTS

NOW AVAILABLE

In the future, American Greetings Corporation expects to provide its Annual Reports and Proxy Statements over the Internet. If you give your consent to receive these documents via the Internet, we will advise you when these documents become available on the Internet. Once you give your consent, it will remain in effect until you notify the Corporation by mail that you wish to resume mail delivery of the Annual Reports and Proxy Statements. Even though you give your consent, you still have the right to request copies of these documents at any time by mail.

To give your consent, follow the prompts when you vote by telephone or over the Internet. If you are voting by mailing your proxy card, check the appropriate box located at the bottom of the attached card.

DETACH HERE

AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION

Proxy Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors of

the Company for the June 27, 2003 Annual Meeting

PROXY

The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Jeffrey M. Weiss, Morry Weiss and Zev Weiss and each of them, his or her true and lawful agents and proxies with full power of substitution in each, to represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of American Greetings Corporation to be held at the Company’s World Headquarters located at One American Road, Cleveland, Ohio, at 2:30 p.m., Cleveland time, on Friday, June 27, 2003, and at any adjournments thereof, on all matters coming before said meeting.


(1)	Election of Directors, Nominees: (01) Jack Kahl, (02) Jerry Sue Thornton and (03) Jeffrey M. Weiss to a three year term expiring on the date of the year 2006 Annual Meeting or until their successors are duly elected and qualified


o FOR all nominees (except as marked to the contrary)	o WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees


(INSTRUCTION:	If you wish to withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, strike a line through the nominee’s name.)


(2)	Transacting such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof

o I consent to access future Annual Reports and Proxy Statements over the Internet rather than to receive copies by mail.

(Continued, and to be signed on other side)

Vote by Telephone
Have your proxy card available when you call the Toll-Free number 1-800-542-1160 using a Touch-Tone phone. You will be prompted to enter your control number and then you can follow the simple instructions that will be presented to you to record your vote.

Vote by Internet
Have your proxy card available when you access the website www.votefast.com. You will be prompted to enter your control number and then you can follow the simple prompts that will be presented to you to record your vote.

Vote by Mail
Please mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided or return it to: Stock Transfer Dept. (AGC), National City Bank, P.O. Box 94509, Cleveland, Ohio 44101-9854.






Vote by Telephone Call Toll-Free using a Touch-Tone phone 1-800-542-1160	Vote by Internet Access the website and cast your vote www.votefast.com	Vote by Mail Return your proxy in the Postage-paid envelope provided

Vote 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Your telephone vote or Internet vote must be received by 11:59 p.m. eastern daylight time on June 26, 2003 to be counted in the final tabulation.

If you vote by telephone or by Internet, please do not send your proxy by mail.

Your Control Number is:

If voting by mail, Proxy must be signed and dated below.

Please fold and detach card at perforation before mailing

(Continued from other side)

You are encouraged to specify your choices by marking the appropriate boxes, SEE REVERSE SIDE. If you sign and return this proxy card, but do not mark any boxes on the other side, the Proxies will cast your vote in accordance with the Board of Directors’ recommendations. The Proxies cannot vote your shares unless you sign and return this card.


	o Attend Meeting

	Dated _____________________________________ , 2003


	Signature

	Signature if held jointly

	NOTE: Please sign exactly as name appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such.

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