Launch of BioShock® 2 Now Planned for Fiscal 2010
Conference Call Set for 4:45 pm ET Today
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO) today announced
revised revenue and earnings guidance for fiscal 2009.
Take-Two is reducing its fiscal 2009 guidance to reflect several
factors, most significant of which is the movement of the launch of BioShock
2 from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 to fiscal 2010, in order to
provide additional development time for the title. Additionally,
Take-Two is updating third quarter and fourth quarter fiscal 2009
guidance to reflect reduced sales of catalog products and lower than
anticipated initial retailer orders of new releases, due to a retail
environment that is proving even more challenging than the Company’s
previous expectations.
Strauss Zelnick, Chairman of Take-Two, stated, “We recognize that our
revised outlook for the balance of fiscal year 2009, due to both
internal and external factors, is a disappointment. That said, we
concluded that moving the release of BioShock 2 into fiscal year
2010 was the right decision for the product. We believe the result will
be a more compelling consumer experience and a better performing product
in the marketplace. At the same time, near term retail conditions have
proven to be more challenging for our business than the assumptions
built into our prior outlook. We remain confident in the long term
potential for Take-Two’s business, and our ability to capitalize on that
potential through our exceptional creative talent and solid balance
sheet.”
Ben Feder, Chief Executive Officer of Take-Two, commented, “The decision
to shift a release date is never an easy one, especially with a product
as highly anticipated as BioShock 2. We felt that it was
essential to invest the additional time to ensure that this title will
deliver what its fans expect and deserve. As a result, we will now be
launching sequels to several of our strongest franchises - including BioShock
2, Mafia II, Max Payne 3 and Red Dead Redemption -
during the next fiscal year. These titles will anchor our lineup for
fiscal 2010, and along with other products planned for next year,
provide a platform for enhanced financial performance in what we hope
will be an improved retail environment.”
Based on preliminary estimates, the Company is providing revised
guidance as follows:
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|
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Third quarter ending
7/31/2009
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Fourth quarter
ending 10/31/2009
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Fiscal year
ending 10/31/2009
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Revenue
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$120 to $130 million
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$350 to $400 million
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$0.96 to $1.0 billion
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Non-GAAP EPS
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$(0.65) to $(0.75)
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$0.30 to $0.40
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$(0.80) to $(0.95)
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Stock-based compensation
expense per share (a)
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$0.07
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$0.06
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$0.24
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Expenses related to unusual
legal matters per share
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$0.02
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$0.01
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$0.12
|
(a) The Company's stock-based compensation expense for the third and
fourth quarters and fiscal year 2009 includes the cost of approximately
2 million stock options and 1.5 million shares previously issued to
ZelnickMedia that are subject to variable accounting. Actual expense to
be recorded in connection with these options and shares is dependent
upon several factors, including future changes in Take-Two's stock price.
Key assumptions and dependencies underlying the Company’s guidance
include timely delivery of titles; continued consumer acceptance of the
Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft,
PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Wii™ system from
Nintendo; and the ability to develop and publish products that capture
market share for these current generation systems while continuing to
leverage opportunities on certain prior generation platforms.
Conference Call
Take-Two will host a 20-minute conference call today at 4:45 pm Eastern
Time to discuss this news. The call can be accessed by dialing (877)
407-0984 or (201) 689-8577. A live, listen-only webcast of the call will
be available by visiting http://ir.take2games.com
and a replay will be available following the call at the same location.
About Take-Two Interactive Software
Headquartered in New York City, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is a
global developer, marketer, distributor and publisher of interactive
entertainment software games for the PC, PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2
computer entertainment systems, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, Xbox
360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Wii™ and
Nintendo DS™. The Company publishes and develops products through its
wholly owned labels Rockstar Games and 2K, which publishes its titles
under 2K Games, 2K Sports and 2K Play. Take-Two also distributes
software, hardware and accessories in North America through its Jack of
All Games subsidiary. The Company’s common stock is publicly traded on
NASDAQ under the symbol TTWO. For more corporate and product information
please visit our website at www.take2games.com.
All trademarks and copyrights contained herein are the property of their
respective holders.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The statements contained herein which are not historical facts are
considered forward-looking statements under federal securities laws and
may be identified by words such as "anticipates," "believes,"
"estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "potential," "predicts,"
"projects," "seeks," "will," or words of similar meaning and include,
but are not limited to, statements regarding the outlook for the
Company's future business and financial performance. Such
forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs of our
management as well as assumptions made by and information currently
available to them, which are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks
and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Actual
outcomes and results may vary materially from these forward-looking
statements based on a variety of risks and uncertainties including: our
dependence on key management and product development personnel, our
dependence on our Grand Theft Auto products and our ability to develop
other hit titles for current generation platforms, the timely release
and significant market acceptance of our games, the ability to maintain
acceptable pricing levels on our games, our reliance on a primary
distribution service provider for a significant portion of our products,
our ability to raise capital if needed, risks associated with
international operations, the matters relating to the investigation by a
special committee of our board of directors of the Company's stock
option grants and the claims and proceedings relating thereto (including
stockholder and derivative litigation, actions by governmental agencies
and negative tax or other implications for the Company resulting from
any accounting adjustments or other factors) and risks associated with
the Company's concluded process to evaluate its strategic alternatives
including stockholder litigation arising therefrom. Other important
factors and information are contained in the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2008, in the section
entitled "Risk Factors," as updated in the Company's Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2009, and the Company's
other periodic filings with the SEC, which can be accessed at www.take2games.com.
All forward-looking statements are qualified by these cautionary
statements and apply only as of the date they are made. The Company
undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
Meg Maise, 646-536-2932
(Corporate
Press/Investor Relations)
meg.maise@take2games.com