Document:

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                                                                   Exhibit 4(ix)

                                                               EXECUTION VERSION

                FIFTH AMENDMENT TO RECEIVABLES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

      THIS FIFTH AMENDMENT TO RECEIVABLES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this "Amendment")
dated as of August 2, 2004 is entered into among AGC FUNDING CORPORATION (the
"Seller"), AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION (in its individual capacity,
"Greetings"), in its capacity as Servicer (in such capacity, together with its
successors and permitted assigns in such capacity, the "Servicer"), PNC BANK,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (in its individual capacity, "PNC"), as purchaser agent for
Market Street Funding Corporation, PNC, as Administrator for each Purchaser
Group (in such capacity, the "Administrator"), MARKET STREET FUNDING CORPORATION
(in its individual capacity, "Market Street"), as a Conduit Purchaser and as a
Related Committed Purchaser, FIFTH THIRD BANK (in its individual capacity,
"Fifth Third"), as a Conduit Purchaser, as a Related Committed Purchaser and as
purchaser agent for itself, LIBERTY STREET FUNDING CORP. ("LSFC"), as a Conduit
Purchaser and THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA ("BNS"), as a Related Committed Purchaser
and as purchaser agent for itself and LSFC.

                                    RECITALS

      1. The Seller, the Servicer, the Administrator, PNC, Market Street, Fifth
Third, LSFC and BNS are parties to the Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as
of August 7, 2001 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time, the "Agreement"); and

      2. The parties hereto desire to amend the Agreement as set forth herein.

      NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

      1. Certain Defined Terms. Capitalized terms that are used herein without
definition and that are defined in Exhibit I to the Agreement shall have the
same meanings herein as therein defined.

      2. Amendments to Agreement.

            2.1 The definition of "Facility Termination Date" contained in
      Exhibit I to the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety
      to read as follows:

               ""Facility Termination Date" means the earliest to occur of: (a)
      with respect to (i) each Purchaser other than the Purchasers in any
      Purchaser Group for which Fifth Third Bank is the Purchaser Agent, August
      1, 2007 and (ii) with respect to each Purchaser in any Purchaser Group for
      which Fifth Third Bank is the Purchaser Agent, August 1, 2005, in each
      case subject to any extension pursuant to Section 1.10 of the Agreement
      (it being understood that if any such Purchaser does not extend its
      Commitment hereunder then the Purchase Limit shall be reduced by an amount
      equal to the Commitment of such Exiting

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      Purchaser and the Commitment Percentages of the Purchasers within each
      remaining Purchaser Group shall be appropriately adjusted), (b) the date
      determined pursuant to Section 2.2 of the Agreement, (c) the date the
      Purchase Limit reduces to zero pursuant to Section 1.1(b) of the
      Agreement, (d) with respect to each Purchaser Group, the date that the
      commitments of all of the Liquidity Providers terminate under the related
      Liquidity Agreements or the date one or more of such Purchaser Group's
      Program Support Agreements terminate and (e) with respect to each
      Purchaser Group, the date that the commitment, of all of the Related
      Committed Purchasers of such Purchaser Group terminate pursuant to Section
      1.10."

            2.2 Section 2(e) of Exhibit III to the Agreement is hereby amended
      by replacing each occurrence of the date "February 28, 2001" therein with
      the date "February 29, 2004".

            2.3 Clause (g) of Exhibit V to the Agreement is hereby amended and
      restated in its entirety to read as follows:

               "(g) (i) (A) the Everyday Default Ratio shall exceed 5.0%, (B)
      the Disputed Default Ratio shall exceed 3.0%, (C) the Seasonal Default
      Ratio shall exceed 3.0%, (D) the Delinquency Ratio shall exceed 38% or
      (ii) the average for three consecutive calendar months of (A) the Everyday
      Default Ratio shall exceed 4.0%, (B) the Disputed Default Ratio shall
      exceed 2.5%, (C) the Seasonal Default Ratio shall exceed 2.5%, (D) the
      Delinquency Ratio shall exceed 34%, or (E) the Dilution Ratio shall exceed
      7%; or (iii) Days Sales Outstanding shall exceed 100."

            2.4 Clause (j)(i) of Exhibit V to the Agreement is hereby amended by
      replacing the amount "$10,000,000" therein with the amount "$20,000,000".

            2.5 Schedule II to the Agreement is hereby amended and restated in
      its entirety by Schedule II to this Amendment.

      3. Agreements in respect of Allocations. Each Related Committed Purchaser
party hereto, by executing and delivering a counterpart to this Amendment,
hereby acknowledges and agrees that its respective "Commitment" is as set forth
beneath such Person's signature to this Amendment.

      4. Representations and Warranties. The Seller hereby represents and
warrants to each Purchaser and the Administrator as follows:

               (a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and
      warranties contained in Exhibit III of the Agreement are true and correct
      in all material respects as of the date hereof (except to the extent that
      such representations and warranties relate expressly to an earlier date,
      and in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and
      correct in all material respects as of such earlier date).

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               (b) No Default. Both before and immediately after giving effect
      to this Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby, no Termination
      Event or Unmatured Termination Event exists or shall exist.

      5. Effect of Amendment. All provisions of the Agreement, as expressly
amended and modified by this Amendment, shall remain in full force and effect.
After this Amendment becomes effective, all references in the Agreement (or in
any other Transaction Document) to "this Agreement", "hereof", "herein" or words
of similar effect referring to the Agreement shall be deemed to be references to
the Agreement as amended by this Amendment. This Amendment shall not be deemed,
either expressly or impliedly, to waive, amend or supplement any provision of
the Agreement other than as set forth herein.

      6. Effectiveness. This Amendment shall become effective as of the date
hereof upon receipt by (i) the Administrator of counterparts of this Amendment
(whether by facsimile or otherwise) executed by each of the other parties
hereto, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrator in its sole
discretion and (ii) each Purchaser Agent, for itself and the related Conduit
Purchaser, of counterparts of an amendment and restatement of the Purchaser
Group Fee Letter, executed by each of the parties thereto and dated the date
hereof, and evidence of the performance by each of the parties thereto of its
respective obligations, if any, thereunder required to be performed on or prior
to the date hereof, including without limitation, payment of the "renewal fee"
referred to therein, in each case, in form and substance satisfactory to such
Purchaser Agent.

      7. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by different parties on separate counterparts, each of which
when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which when taken
together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

      8. Governing Law. This Amendment shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York (without regard to
any otherwise applicable principles of conflicts of law).

      9. Section Headings. The various headings of this Amendment are included
for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this
Amendment, the Agreement or any provision hereof or thereof.

                          (continued on following page)

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      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amendment as of the
date first written above.

                                           AGC FUNDING CORPORATION

                                           By: /s/ Stephen J. Smith
                                               --------------------------------
                                           Name: Stephen J. Smith
                                           Title: Vice President and Treasurer

                                           AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION, as
                                           Servicer

                                           By: /s/ Stephen J. Smith
                                               --------------------------------
                                           Name: Stephen J. Smith
                                           Title: Vice President, Treasurer and
                                                  Investor Relations

                                       S-1        Fifth Amendment to Receivables
                                                  Purchase Agreement
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                                         PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
                                         as Administrator and as Purchaser Agent
                                         for Market Street Funding Corporation

                                         By: /s/ John T. Smathers
                                             -----------------------------------
                                         Name: John T. Smathers
                                         Title: Vice President

                                         MARKET STREET FUNDING CORPORATION,
                                         as a Conduit Purchaser and as a Related
                                         Committed Purchaser

                                         By: /s/ EVELYN ECHEVARRIA
                                             -----------------------------------
                                         Name: EVELYN ECHEVARRIA
                                         Title: VICE PRESIDENT

                                         Commitment: $80,000,000

                                       S-2        Fifth Amendment to Receivables
                                                  Purchase Agreement
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                                          FIFTH THIRD BANK,
                                          as Purchaser Agent for the Fifth Third
                                          Purchaser Group, as a Conduit
                                          Purchaser and as a Related Committed
                                          Purchaser

                                          By: /s/ BRIAN J. GARDNER
                                              ----------------------------------
                                          Name: BRIAN J. GARDNER
                                          Title: AVP

                                          Commitment: $40,000,000

                                       S-3        Fifth Amendment to Receivables
                                                  Purchase Agreement
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                                          THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA,
                                          as a Related Committed Purchaser and
                                          as Purchaser Agent for itself and
                                          Liberty Street Funding Corp.

                                          By: /s/ NORMAN LAST
                                              ----------------------------------
                                          Name: NORMAN LAST
                                          Title: MANAGING DIRECTOR

                                          Commitment: $80,000,000

                                          LIBERTY STREET FUNDING CORP.,
                                          as a Conduit Purchaser

                                          By: /s/ Andrew L. Stidd
                                              ----------------------------------
                                          Name:  Andrew L. Stidd
                                          Title: President

                                       S-4        Fifth Amendment to Receivables
                                                  Purchase Agreement
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                                                        SCHEDULE II TO AMENDMENT

                                   SCHEDULE II
                      LOCK-BOX BANKS AND LOCK-BOX ACCOUNTS

Lock-Box Bank                          Lock-Box                         Account

                                      Sch-1<PAGE>

                                                                Exhibit 10(xxii)

                              RETIREMENT AGREEMENT

      This Retirement Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into between David
Beittel ("EMPLOYEE") and American Greetings Corporation, an Ohio corporation
("AG" or "Company"), on the date set forth at the signature lines below, arising
out of the employment relationship between EMPLOYEE and AG. This Agreement will
not become effective and irrevocably binding until seven (7) days after it is
signed by EMPLOYEE. EMPLOYEE may revoke this Agreement at any time prior to the
expiration of such seven (7) days. A revocation must be in writing and it must
be received by the Company by the close of business on the seventh day.

      In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set
forth, and intending to be legally bound, the parties agree as follows:

      1. EMPLOYEE hereby acknowledges termination of employment with the Company
effective as of the close of business on February 28, 2005 ("Retirement Date").

      2. Commencing on the Retirement Date and upon EMPLOYEE signing a waiver
prepared by the Company in the form of paragraph 9, and provided that EMPLOYEE
has not resigned prior to the Retirement Date, EMPLOYEE will receive the
following benefits from the Company:

            a.    Retirement pay of an amount equal to 30 months base salary,
                  based on EMPLOYEE'S annual salary in effect at the Retirement
                  Date, payable in monthly installments beginning on March 15,
                  2005, less applicable deductions, including deductions for
                  health care coverage. Retirement payments shall be made even
                  if EMPLOYEE obtains non-competing employment as set forth
                  herein. Any payments due before the effective date of this
                  Agreement shall be payable within ten (10) days after the
                  effective date. In the event EMPLOYEE dies prior to payment of
                  all Retirement pay, any amounts remaining to be paid shall be
                  paid to EMPLOYEE's estate. Company reserves the right to pay
                  any portion of the Retirement pay in a lump sum, if both
                  Company and EMPLOYEE agree.

            b.    Continued health care coverage, concurrently with COBRA, in
                  the plan in which EMPLOYEE is enrolled at the Retirement Date,
                  at the Senior Vice President active employee payroll deduction
                  rate, as it may be changed from time-to-time, through August
                  31, 2007; and from September 1, 2007 through December 31,
                  2012, EMPLOYEE will continue to be eligible for health care
                  coverage at the Senior Vice President active employee rate on
                  a pre-tax basis, as it may be changed from time-to-time; and
                  thereafter, EMPLOYEE shall be eligible for retiree health care
                  coverage on the terms then in effect;

            c.    EMPLOYEE will be eligible to participate in the Key Management
                  Annual Incentive Plan for Fiscal Year 2005, at no less than a
                  "Meets Expectations" evaluation level;

            d.    AG will pay for up to 6 months of outplacement services to
                  assist EMPLOYEE in seeking employment. The service provider
                  shall be Lee Hecht Harrison and AG will make direct payments
                  to the service provider;

            e.    EMPLOYEE will cease to have use of EMPLOYEE's company car.
                  March 1, 2005, and shall return the car to the Company at that
                  time. Company shall pay EMPLOYEE the amount of $11,430.
                  EMPLOYEE will have the option to purchase said car from the
                  leasing company as and to the extent agreed to by the leasing
                  company. Such transaction shall be effected solely between
                  EMPLOYEE and the leasing company with no liability to AG.

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            f.    EMPLOYEE will continue to be covered under the Company's
                  Executive Life Insurance Plan for 6 months past the Retirement
                  Date (coverage will continue through August 31, 2005); and

            g.    Stock options granted to EMPLOYEE prior to the Retirement Date
                  will continue to vest according to the terms of the stock
                  option plan(s) through August 31, 2007, as if EMPLOYEE were
                  actively employed. Vested stock options shall be exercisable
                  for 90 days after August 31, 2007.

            h.    EMPLOYEE shall be entitled to an executive physical to be
                  taken before July 1, 2005.

            i.    The Company shall pay Employee $10,000 for transition costs.

      3. Following the Retirement Date, EMPLOYEE and Company may enter into a
Consulting Agreement pursuant to which EMPLOYEE will consult with Company on
dates and terms that are mutually agreed upon. Company will pay EMPLOYEE $2,000
per day plus expenses for such consulting.

      4. If EMPLOYEE is re-employed by Company, in any capacity other than a
temporary, part-time or consulting assignment, prior to receipt of all the
Retirement benefits provided in paragraph 2., EMPLOYEE will forfeit any unpaid
Retirement benefits. In the event EMPLOYEE is paid Retirement in a lump sum,
s/he will pay back to COMPANY that amount EMPLOYEE would not have received had
Retirement been paid out in equal installments over time, pursuant to paragraph
2(a).

      5. EMPLOYEE acknowledges that as of the Retirement Date EMPLOYEE will
cease to be an employee of AG and thereafter will not be eligible for or receive
any benefits of employment and that the only benefits EMPLOYEE will receive from
AG are those benefits described herein ; provided, however, that this Agreement
does not waive any benefits EMPLOYEE may be eligible to receive under the
Company's Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, any stock option plan,
deferred compensation plan, or the Retirement Profit Sharing and Savings Plan.

      6. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, EMPLOYEE
acknowledges that the benefits EMPLOYEE will receive under paragraph 2 above are
greater than those benefits EMPLOYEE would have been entitled to receive upon
termination in the absence of this Agreement.

      7. This Agreement is offered as part of an exit incentive or other
employment termination program (the "Program"). Information concerning
eligibility and selection for the Program that is required to be provided under
the federal age discrimination in employment laws is enclosed with this
Agreement. EMPLOYEE acknowledges receipt of the information.

                                      - 2 -
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      8. It is agreed by EMPLOYEE that this Agreement, the benefits, including
all benefits set forth in paragraph 2 above, and all other terms of this
Agreement, are each confidential information and shall not be disclosed or
revealed to any person other than EMPLOYEE's attorneys, accountants, tax
advisors, and immediate family members (who must be informed of and agree to be
bound by the terms of this paragraph), and any governmental taxing authority;
provided however that Company may disclose the terms to comply with any
governmental or regulatory disclosure obligation.

      9. With respect to any and all events arising out of or related to the
employment relationship between EMPLOYEE and the Company occurring on or before
the Retirement Date, EMPLOYEE hereby releases and forever discharges Company and
its agents, officers, directors, employees, subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates,
successors and assigns, (collectively "AG Releasees") from any and all claims
and/or causes of action, known or unknown, arising (i) from or during EMPLOYEE's
employment with AG or (ii) as a result of the termination of that employment;
and EMPLOYEE hereby covenants and agrees that s/he will not assert any such
claims and/or causes of action against any AG Releasee, including but not
limited to, (i) claims and/or causes of action arising under the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act (29 U.S.C. Sec. 621 et seq.), (ii) claims
and/or causes of action arising under federal, state or local laws, including
but not limited to those prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of
race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability or otherwise; (iii)
claims and/or causes of action growing out of any legal restrictions on AG's
right to terminate its employees, including breach of contract, discharge in
violation of public policy, or promissory estoppel, or (iv) tort claims and/or
causes of action, including infliction of emotional distress, defamation, libel
or slander.

      10. EMPLOYEE represents and warrants that EMPLOYEE has no interest or
obligation that is inconsistent with or in conflict with this Agreement or that
would prevent, limit or impair Employee's performance of any part of this
Agreement.

      11. EMPLOYEE agrees that in the event that EMPLOYEE breaches any of the
terms of this agreement, EMPLOYEE will forfeit the benefits described in
paragraph 2, plus EMPLOYEE will pay any expenses or damages incurred by the AG
Releasees as a result of the breach, including reasonable attorneys' fees.

      12. EMPLOYEE acknowledges that EMPLOYEE has an obligation of confidence
and non-disclosure with respect to any and all confidential information and
trade secrets that EMPLOYEE acquired during the course of employment with
Company. Confidential information shall mean information not made public by the
Company. This obligation of confidence and non-disclosure extends to both
Company information and third-party information held by the Company in
confidence, and this obligation continues after the Retirement Date. EMPLOYEE is
prohibited from using or disclosing such information.

      13. EMPLOYEE agrees that from the Retirement Date through August 31, 2007,
EMPLOYEE shall not be employed directly or indirectly in any capacity or work as
a consultant or independent contractor for any person, firm or company in the
greeting card wrapping paper, stationery or party goods industry in any capacity
similar to that held by EMPLOYEE while employed with the Company.

                                      - 3 -
<PAGE>

      14. Any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement or EMPLOYEE's
employment shall be resolved pursuant to the Company's alternative dispute
resolution program known as "Solutions", and the arbitration provided for under
the Solutions program shall be final and binding upon the parties, except for
any appeal permitted by law; provided however, that in the event that the
Company seeks injunctive relief to enforce its rights under Paragraphs 12 or 13
of this Agreement, the parties consent to the jurisdiction of the state or
federal court in Cuyahoga County, Ohio without regard to the mediation and
arbitration provisions of the Solutions program.

      15. For 90 days after the Retirement Date, EMPLOYEE agrees to provide and
cooperate promptly with any reasonable request by the Company to provide such
information, signatures, or certifications (as to matters upon which Employee
can truthfully certify) that may be required for, or otherwise relate to, the
Company's compliance with federal, state or local laws or regulatory
requirements. The Company shall reimburse EMPLOYEE for all reasonable expenses
related to compliance with this paragraph.

      16. EMPLOYEE agrees that he/she will not make any oral or written
statements that either generally or specifically disparage the Company, its
employment practices, business, products, conduct or policies, or its employees,
directors, or agents. AG agrees that it shall not make any oral or written
statements that either generally or specifically disparage EMPLOYEE or his/her
professional competence or employability.

      17. (a) This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between
EMPLOYEE and the Company relating to the subject matter contained herein and
this Agreement supersedes any previous agreement(s) that may have been made in
connection with EMPLOYEE's employment with AG except insofar as such
agreement(s) concern EMPLOYEE's obligations with regard to competing with AG or
EMPLOYEE's obligations with regard to AG's trade secrets, proprietary or other
confidential information belonging to AG, which obligations are not modified,
amended or terminated by this Agreement and which continue after the Retirement
Date. This Agreement may not be changed, modified, or altered without the
express written consent of EMPLOYEE and an officer of AG.

          (b) AG's failure to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this
Agreement on any occasion shall not be considered a waiver of, or deprive AG of
its right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other
term of this Agreement. To be effective, any waiver must be in writing and
signed by an officer of AG.

          (c) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of Ohio. If any part or section of this Agreement is found to be
contrary to law or unenforceable, the remainder shall remain in force and
effect.

                                      - 4 -
<PAGE>

      18. EMPLOYEE is hereby advised and encouraged to consult an attorney prior
to executing this Agreement. EMPLOYEE acknowledges that if EMPLOYEE has executed
this Agreement without consulting an attorney EMPLOYEE has done so knowingly,
voluntarily and contrary to the express advice herein.

      19. EMPLOYEE acknowledges that EMPLOYEE has been given at least forty-five
(45) days from the date EMPLOYEE first received this Agreement, which date was
on or before December 10, 2004, during which to consider this Agreement.
EMPLOYEE understands that the offer made to EMPLOYEE by this Agreement remains
open for at least forty-five (45) days, and that EMPLOYEE may accept the offer
at any time through February 15, 2005. If EMPLOYEE does not accept this
Agreement on or before that date, the offer set forth in this Agreement is
automatically rescinded unless AG expressly notifies EMPLOYEE in writing
otherwise.

AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION

By: /s/ Pamela Linton                             Date: 25 February 05
    -------------------------------
        Pamela Linton

Title: Sr. Vice President
       Human Resources

/s/ David R. Beittel                              Date: 2/15/05
-----------------------------------
    David Beittel

                                     - 5 -

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