Legal Niches

Icahn Has Take-Two Shares?

By gamepolitics

Investor - and famed corporate raider - Carl Icahn (left) is accumulating a stake in Take-Two Interactive, according to financial site Barrons.

Tech Trader blogger Eric Savitz writes that Icahn reported to the SEC that he owns more than two million shares of TTWO, up significantly from the 541,000 he reported at the end of 2008. With his newly-acquired shares, Icahn owns a 2.5% chunk of the Grand Theft Auto publisher. Savitz writes:

The expanded stake is clearly fueling new speculation about the potential for an acquisition of the company, which last fall rejected a $25.74-a-share bid from Electronic Arts (ERTS) as too low. TTWO today is up 60 cents, or 7.3%, to $8.79.

Uh, let me say it again, for effect: the company last year rejected a bid roughly triple yesterday's closing price as being too low.

UPDATE: Wedbush-Morgan analyst Michael Pachter commented on Icahn and Take-Two:

He obviously reads my research.  I upgraded Take-Two on March 6 at $5.63, and it's been up ever since.  I'd say that two million shares, while a sizeable position, hardly reflects an intention to take the company over.

Full post as published by GamePolitics.com on May 15, 2009 (boomark / email).