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RELATED PARTY INFORMATION
12 Months Ended
Feb. 28, 2014
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
RELATED PARTY INFORMATION

NOTE 18 – RELATED PARTY INFORMATION

World headquarters relocation

In May 2011, American Greetings announced that the Corporation will be relocating its world headquarters to a new location in the City of Westlake, Ohio (“Westlake”), in a mixed-use development known as Crocker Park (the “Crocker Park Development”), which offers a vibrant urban setting, with retail stores and restaurants, offices and apartments. After putting the project on hold pending the outcome of the proposal to go private, the Corporation announced plans in October 2013 to resume the project and, on March 26, 2014, the Corporation purchased from Crocker Park, LLC, the owner of the Crocker Park Development, 14.48 acres of land at the south end of the Crocker Park Development (the “Crocker Park Site”) on which the new world headquarters will be built. The purchase price for the land was $7,390 (based on a per acre price of $510). On December 20, 2013, American Greetings had deposited $815 as refundable earnest money with Crocker Park, LLC, which was applied to the purchase price for the land. Morry Weiss, the Chairman of the board of the Corporation, Zev Weiss and Jeffrey Weiss, the Co-Chief Executive Officers of the Corporation, and Gary and Elie Weiss, directors and non-executive officers of the Corporation, together with members of their family (collectively, the “Weiss Family”), indirectly own a minority stake in Crocker Park, LLC through their indirect ownership of approximately 37% of the membership interests in Crocker Park, LLC. In addition, Morry Weiss and other members of the Weiss Family have guaranteed certain of Crocker Park, LLC’s obligations, and are expected to guarantee additional obligations of Crocker Park, LLC, incurred in connection with the Crocker Park Development. The authority to conduct, manage and control the business of Crocker Park, LLC, including operating the Crocker Park Development and the decision whether to sell the Crocker Park Site to American Greetings, was reserved to the manager of Crocker Park, LLC, who is not an affiliate of the Weiss Family and that is an affiliate of Stark Enterprises, Inc. (“Stark”).

The Corporation intends to lease a portion of the Crocker Park Site to H L & L, a single-purpose affiliate of American Greetings indirectly owned by members of the Weiss family, that will construct the new world headquarters on the Crocker Park Site and sublease the new world headquarters back to American Greetings. The Corporation expects to enter into an operating lease with H L & L for the use of the new world headquarters building, anticipated to be available for occupancy in approximately two years. H L & L is also expected to develop retail space on the first floor of the world headquarters building (“AG Retail East”) and retail space in a second building west of the world headquarters (“AG Retail West”). The new world headquarters, AG Retail East and AG Retail West, a private portion of an on-site parking garage that will be funded and used exclusively by American Greetings (the “Private AG Portion”), and the plaza located adjacent to the world headquarters building (the “AG Plaza”), are collectively referred to herein as the “AG Project.”

In anticipation of making this purchase and beginning construction of the new world headquarters in the Crocker Park Development, the Corporation executed a City Development Agreement with Westlake and Crocker Park, LLC, dated December 19, 2011 (as amended and restated by the First Amended and Restated City Development Agreement by and among American Greetings, Westlake, Crocker Park, LLC, Crocker Park Phase III, LLC (“CPPIII”), an affiliate of Crocker Park LLC, Crocker Park Management, Inc. (“CPM”), an affiliate of Crocker Park, LLC, Crocker Park Phase III Residential, LLC (“CPR”), an affiliate of Crocker Park, LLC, CP Land, LLC (“Land”), an affiliate of Crocker Park, LLC, Block K, LLC (“Block K”), CP Block K Hotel, LLC, CD Block K Retail, LLC, and CD Block K Garage, LLC, dated March 18, 2014, the “City Development Agreement”), and a Construction Agency Agreement with Westlake, CPPIII, Crocker Park, LLC and Land, dated September 10, 2012 (as amended and restated on November 22, 2013, the “Construction Agency Agreement”). The City Development Agreement provides a framework for the financing and construction by Westlake of public infrastructure related to the development of the Crocker Park Site whereby Westlake issued tax-increment financing bonds (“TIF Bonds”) for the construction of the public infrastructure for the Crocker Park Site and other portions of the Crocker Park Development being developed by Crocker Park, LLC or its affiliates. Each of American Greetings and Crocker Park, LLC have committed on behalf of themselves and the future owners of their respective properties that, in consideration of the issuance of the TIF Bonds by Westlake, they or their affiliates or any subsequent owners of the property will make certain service payments, as owners of property in and around the Crocker Park Site, in lieu of property taxes that would otherwise be owed by them as owners of the property. These service payments will be used by Westlake to pay debt service on the TIF Bonds. The Construction Agency Agreement provides a framework for public infrastructure construction in and around the Crocker Park Site, as well as for the construction of the Private AG Portion. The Construction Agency Agreement provides for Crocker Park, LLC to serve as construction agent and receive a fee of 0.5% of the total cost of the public infrastructure improvements, which fee will not exceed $250 and will be paid out of the proceeds of the TIF Bonds.

In connection with the purchase of the Crocker Park Site and the transactions contemplated above, the Corporation has or will enter into the following agreements with affiliated parties, the final terms of which may differ from those described below:

 

    Master Lease Agreement – Under the terms of a Master Lease Agreement, American Greetings will ground lease to H L & L a portion of the Crocker Park Site, which will consist of the AG Headquarters, the AG Plaza, AG Retail East and AG Retail West (the “Master Lease Premises”). The Master Lease Agreement is expected to have a term of 75 years. The Master Lease Agreement will be a “net” lease. Following the commencement of the term of the Master Lease Agreement, H L & L will construct and own the Master Lease Premises. H L & L will be responsible for the cost of constructing and maintaining the Master Lease Premises and will be responsible for the payment of all insurance, special assessments, taxes or other fees or costs related to the Master Lease Premises (which costs will generally be passed through to the tenants of the Master Lease Premises, including American Greetings pursuant to the terms of the Headquarters Building Lease Agreement referred to below). In conjunction with the Master Lease Agreement, to effectuate certain sales tax savings in connection with the construction of the improvements at the Master Lease Premises, H L & L expects to enter into one or more intermediate leases with a qualified state-chartered port authority (which would then sublease the Master Lease Premises back to H L & L). Any such leases would be net in cost to American Greetings and H L & L, other than any sales tax savings benefitting American Greetings or H L & L. The leasehold estate will be pledged as collateral (mortgaged) in connection with H L & L’s construction financing for the Master Lease Premises.

 

    Headquarters Building Lease Agreement – Under the terms of a Headquarters Building Lease Agreement, H L & L will lease to American Greetings approximately 600,000 rentable square feet of the Master Lease Premises to be used for American Greetings’ new world headquarters. The Headquarters Building Lease Agreement is expected to have a term of 15 years with an expected fair market value base rent. During the term of the Headquarters Building Lease Agreement, other than costs for structural repair and replacements of the Master Lease Premises, American Greetings will be generally responsible for all costs associated with the maintenance and repair of American Greetings’ new world headquarters, including its pro rata share of all operating costs, including the O&M Fee as described below.

 

    Public Improvement Management and Maintenance Agreement – On March 26, 2014, the Corporation entered into the Public Improvement Management and Maintenance Agreement by and among CPPIII, CPM, Block K, Land, CPR and Westlake under which American Greetings, CPPIII, Block K, CPR and Westlake will engage CPM to manage public and private infrastructure improvements at the Crocker Park Site. The term of the Public Improvement Management and Maintenance Agreement is for as long as certain ground leases from American Greetings and CPPIII to Westlake are in place to cover a portion of its costs. Under the terms of the Public Improvement Management and Maintenance Agreement, CPM receives a fee of one dollar per year, along with reimbursement for a portion of its out-of-pocket expenses payable from collecting parking meter revenues. Furthermore, Crocker Park, LLC is required to make an annual payment on behalf of American Greetings to cover costs of maintaining the Private AG Portion.

 

    Private Development Agreement – On March 18, 2014, the Corporation entered into an agreement by and among Crocker Park, LLC, American Greetings, CPPIII, CPR and Stark, which sets forth the obligations among Crocker Park, LLC, American Greetings, CPPIII, CPR and Stark to develop portions of a new phase of the Crocker Park Development, including the AG Project. The Private Development Agreement provides for Stark to be paid a $2,000 fee by American Greetings to serve as developer for American Greetings and for American Greetings to pay Crocker Park, LLC an annual fee of $750 (the “O&M Fee”) for Crocker Park, LLC to perform certain maintenance, leasing and management obligations at the Crocker Park Site. The Private Development Agreement sets forth milestone dates with respect to Crocker Park, LLC’s obligations regarding site development (including garage improvements).

 

    Management and Leasing Agreement – On March 26, 2014, the Corporation entered into an agreement by and among American Greetings, Stark, and Crocker Park, LLC, which provides for Stark to perform certain management, reporting and leasing obligations at AG Retail East and AG Retail West for an expected initial term of 15 years. The Management and Leasing Agreement provides that Stark will receive a one-time leasing commission and an annual management fee, both paid by Crocker Park, LLC out of the O&M Fee.

 

    Extension Retail Ground Lease – On March 26, 2014, the Corporation entered into a lease agreement with CPPIII under which American Greetings leases to CPPIII a portion of the Crocker Park Site (the “Retail Extension Parcel”) for a period of up to 2.5 years for a nominal rent. Within 2.5 years after American Greetings’ purchase of the Retail Extension Parcel, CPPIII or its affiliate is required to purchase such portion of the Crocker Park Site for $277, plus interest accruing at 2% per year from the date American Greetings originally purchases the property. If CPPIII does not purchase such property from American Greetings, American Greetings is entitled to offset the purchase price of such property against the O&M Fee that it is required to pay under the Private Development Agreement.

 

    Extension Apartment Ground Lease – On March 26, 2014, the Corporation entered into a lease agreement with CPR under which American Greetings leases to CPR a portion of the Crocker Park Site (the “Apartment Extension Parcel”) for a period of up to 2.5 years for a nominal rent. Within 2.5 years after American Greetings’ purchase of the Apartment Extension Parcel, CPR or its affiliate is required to purchase such portion of the Crocker Park Site for $277, plus interest accruing at 2% per year from the date American Greetings originally purchases the property. If CPR does not purchase such property from American Greetings, American Greetings is entitled to offset the purchase price of such property against the O&M Fee that it is required to pay under the Private Development Agreement.

 

As H L & L will build and own the AG Project, American Greetings expects that it will assign to H L & L its rights and/or obligations under the proposed agreements described above that relate to the ownership, construction, maintenance or operation of the AG Project.

If the AG Project is built on the Crocker Park Site as is currently contemplated, through their indirect ownership interest in Crocker Park, LLC and the other affiliated entities, Morry, Zev, Jeffrey, Gary and Elie Weiss, together with their family members, may be deemed to have an interest in the transactions and agreements described above because:

 

    the construction of the new world headquarters and the public and private infrastructure improvements will benefit the entire Crocker Park Development, all of which is owned directly or indirectly by Crocker Park, LLC; and

 

    Crocker Park, LLC, or its affiliated entities, will be paid fees under the various agreements described above.

In selecting a location in Northeastern Ohio, an independent committee of the Corporation’s Board of Directors considered a number of sites both within and outside the State of Ohio. All of these sites were evaluated side by side for their benefits, disadvantages and costs, utilizing independent professional real estate advisors. Prior to the closing of the Merger, the decision to relocate the Corporation’s world headquarters to the Crocker Park Development was approved by an independent committee of the Board of Directors.

Transactions with Parent Companies and Other Affiliated Companies

From time to time employees of American Greetings may provide services to its parent companies as well as companies that are owned or controlled by members of the Weiss family, in each case provided that such services do not interfere with the Corporation’s employee’s ability to perform services on its behalf. When providing such services, the affiliated companies reimburse American Greetings for such services, based on the costs of employing the individual (including salary and benefits) and the amount of time spent by such employee in providing services to the affiliated company.

On September 30, 2013, the Corporation paid a cash dividend in the aggregate amount of $18,195 to Parent, its sole shareholder, of which $4,212 was used for the payment of dividends on the preferred equity interest issued by Parent to Koch Investment. Koch Investment acquired its preferred equity interest in connection with the financing of Parent’s acquisition of American Greetings in the recently completed Merger.

On January 2, 2014, the Corporation paid a cash dividend in the aggregate amount of $7,225 to Parent, its sole shareholder, which was used for the payment of dividends on the preferred equity interest of Koch Investment.

On February 10, 2014, the Corporation paid a cash dividend in the aggregate amount of $50,000 to Parent, its sole shareholder. Also, on February 10, 2014, Century Intermediate Holding Company 2 (“CIHC2”), an indirect parent of American Greetings, issued $285,000 aggregate principal amount of 9.75%/10.50% Senior PIK Toggle Notes due 2019 (the “PIK Notes”) in an offering exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”). CIHC2 was formed for the sole purpose of issuing the PIK Notes. The net proceeds from the offering, together with a portion of the $50,000 dividend the Corporation paid to Parent, were used to redeem the preferred equity interest of Koch Investment in Parent. The PIK Notes pay interest semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, beginning on August 15, 2014. Interest on the PIK Notes accrues from February 10, 2014 at a rate of 9.75% per annum with respect to cash interest and 10.50% per annum with respect to PIK Interest (as defined below), which is the cash interest rate plus 75 basis points. The first interest payment on the PIK Notes will be payable entirely in cash. Interest for the final interest period ending at stated maturity will be payable entirely in cash. For each other interest period, CIHC2 will be required to pay interest on the PIK Notes entirely in cash (“Cash Interest”), unless certain conditions are satisfied, in which case CIHC2 will be entitled to pay interest on the PIK Notes by increasing the principal amount of the PIK Notes or by issuing new PIK Notes, such increase or issuance being referred to herein as “PIK Interest.” Prior to the payment of Cash Interest, the Corporation expects that, through dividends the Corporation will provide CIHC2 with the cash flow for it to pay interest on the PIK Notes. Assuming CIHC2 pays interest on the PIK Notes in cash, rather than as PIK Interest, the annual cash required to pay the Cash Interest is expected to be approximately $27,800.