PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- Nov. 9, 2005 -- Starting in January 2006, the Hasbro Properties Group, the intellectual property development arm of Hasbro, Inc., and American Greetings add to their successful line of greeting cards with a new series of online social expressions. Available for the first time, toy and game fans of all ages can access assorted online cards that feature favorite Hasbro properties like CANDY LAND, TONKA, THE GAME OF LIFE, OPERATION, CLUE, G.I. JOE, MR. POTATO HEAD, MY LITTLE PONY and MONOPOLY.
From birthdays and everyday occasions to holidays and milestones, consumers can celebrate a variety of special occasions by visiting AmericanGreetings.com or their online partner sites, AOL, Yahoo and MSN, to send e-cards. Greetings include "Get Well," "Congratulations," "Happy Birthday" and other captions derived from current American Greetings paper greeting cards. An annual subscription to American Greetings online enables consumers to send an unlimited number of expressions to friends and family.
"Bringing Hasbro's rich portfolio of classic brands into the world of online social expressions gives consumers another way to send a laugh and a smile to their loved ones," said Bryony Bouyer, senior vice president for the Hasbro Properties Group. "We're pleased to be a part of American Greetings' many online channels, and look to expand upon our online greetings in the future."
"Because of the success of Hasbro-branded paper greetings, we look forward to including these same classic properties into our online greeting card library," said Sally Babcock, Senior Vice President, AG Interactive. "Combining special online greetings with well-recognized icons like MR. POTATO HEAD and G.I. JOE give consumers a variety of ways to send a unique message for almost any occasion."
American Greetings currently produces party goods, gift wrap and greeting card programs featuring MY LITTLE PONY, TONKA and TRANSFORMERS. Currently, Hasbro and American Greetings have a pending agreement to expand the greeting card line to include Hasbro classic game brands like MONOPOLY, SCRABBLE, OPERATION and CLUE.
About AMERICAN GREETINGS INTERACTIVE
AG Interactive (AGI) is the global leader in licensing and creating original self and social expression products for online, instant messaging and mobile platforms. To create its premier content, the company leverages one of the world's largest creative studios and digital library of award-winning expressive content as well as an extensive international distribution capability.
AGI attracts more than 30 million unique visitors per month in 18 countries to its popular websites AmericanGreetings.com, BlueMountain.com and Egreetings.com as well as though instant Messaging or online partnerships with AOL, MSN, and Yahoo!. The company has one of the largest online subscription services with over 2.2 million paying subscribers. AGI reaches over 200 million subscribers per month globally through major wireless carriers including Verizon Wireless.
AGI also maintains significant global content partnerships with Def Jam Enterprises, Nickelodeon, Sports Illustrated, Univision Online Inc., and Warner Bros. Online.
AGI is a subsidiary of American Greetings Corporation (NYSE: AM), one of the world's leading manufacturers of social expression products generating annual net sales of approximately $2 billion. For more information, visit www.interactive.ag.com.
About the HASBRO PROPERTIES GROUP
The Hasbro Properties Group (HPG), the intellectual property development arm of Hasbro, Inc., (NYSE:HAS), translates one of the industry's richest portfolios of brands into a world of fun and excitement for children and adults globally. Through a host of publishing, lifestyle and entertainment platforms, HPG is able to surround fans worldwide with consumer products that expand Hasbro's core brands, such as G.I. JOE, TRANSFORMERS, MY LITTLE PONY, DUEL MASTERS, MONOPOLY and CANDY LAND, beyond the toy and game aisle, creating rich lifestyle experiences. DUEL MASTERS is a trademark of Wizards/Shogakukan/Mitsui-Kids.
