Take-Two
Interactive Software, Inc. Announces Executive Appointments
New York, NY
– February 15, 2008
– Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO) today
announced
several executive appointments to ensure that the Company has
the management resources in place to continue its growth and
development, and to take maximum advantage of opportunities in
the interactive entertainment marketplace.
The Board of Directors named Strauss Zelnick, currently
Non-Executive Chairman, to the position of Executive Chairman,
and entered into an employment agreement with Ben Feder,
currently serving as Chief Executive Officer in connection with
the services provided by ZelnickMedia pursuant to a management
agreement with Take-Two, to serve as CEO through October 31,
2012. In addition, Karl Slatoff was named Executive Vice
President, with key responsibilities in the area of general
management, administration and corporate development.
The services of these executives are provided to Take-Two under
an amended management agreement with ZelnickMedia, and
employment agreements with Ben Feder and Karl Slatoff, as
detailed in the Company’s Form 8-K filed today.
Strauss Zelnick has served as Non-Executive Chairman of Take-Two
and a member of the Company’s Board since March 2007. He is the
founding partner of ZelnickMedia, a media and entertainment
investment firm. Mr.
Zelnick and his partners have led the successful execution of
several operational turnarounds, including Columbia Music
Entertainment of Japan and Time-Life. Prior to founding
ZelnickMedia in 2001, Mr. Zelnick held several senior-level
media industry positions, including president and chief
executive officer of BMG Entertainment, president and chief
executive officer of Crystal Dynamics, and president and chief
operating officer of 20th Century Fox.
Ben Feder has been Acting CEO and a Board member of Take-Two
since March 2007. A co-founder of ZelnickMedia, Mr. Feder was
previously chief executive officer of MessageClick, Inc., a
leading provider of voice messaging technology for next
generation telephone networks. He previously served as a senior
executive at News Corp., where he held senior executive
positions with News MCI Internet Ventures, as well as the Fox
film, television and cable division. Mr. Feder also serves on
the Board of Directors of Columbia Music Entertainment.
Karl Slatoff
is a partner at ZelnickMedia, with expertise in the areas of
music, direct marketing, broadcast, interactive entertainment
and new media. In connection with the ZelnickMedia management
agreement, for the past year Mr. Slatoff has devoted significant
time and energy to Take-Two and worked closely with members of
the Company’s management team, focusing on restructuring and
cost saving initiatives, and mergers and acquisitions.
Previously, Mr. Slatoff served as Vice President, New Media for
BMG Entertainment. Before joining BMG, he worked in strategic
planning at the Walt Disney Company, where he focused on the
consumer products, studio and broadcast divisions, as well as
several initiatives in the educational, publishing and new media
sectors. Earlier, he worked in the corporate finance and
mergers and acquisitions units at Lehman Brothers.
Michael Dornemann, Chairman of the Compensation Committee of the
Company’s Board of Directors, commented, “Take-Two has made
enormous strides since the ZelnickMedia team became involved in
the Company approximately one year ago. Today’s announcement
reflects the Company’s progress since then, its evolving needs,
as well as its prospects for future growth. All three of these
individuals have devoted significant effort to revitalize
Take-Two, and the management of the Company has demanded a
greater portion of their time, attention and energy than we
contemplated at the outset. By naming Strauss Zelnick as
Executive Chairman and Ben Feder as CEO, and adding Karl Slatoff
in a key role, we are ensuring that Take-Two has the leadership
to continue our positive momentum and leverage the exciting
opportunities in our industry.”
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® and Xbox® video
game and entertainment systems from Microsoft, Wii™, Nintendo
GameCube™, Nintendo DS™ and Game Boy® Advance. The Company
publishes and develops products through its wholly owned labels
Rockstar Games, 2K Games, 2K Sports and 2K Play, and distributes
software, hardware and accessories in North America through its
Jack of All Games subsidiary. Take-Two'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.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains forward-looking
statements made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
The statements contained herein which are not historical facts
are considered forward-looking statements under federal
securities laws. Such forward-looking statements are based on
the beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by and
information currently available to them. The Company has no
obligation to update such forward-looking statements. Actual
results may vary significantly from these forward-looking
statements based on a variety of factors. These risks and
uncertainties include the matters relating to the Special
Committee’s investigation of the Company’s stock option grants
and the restatement of our consolidated financial statements.
The investigation and conclusions of the Special Committee may
result in claims and proceedings relating to such matters,
including previously disclosed shareholder and derivative
litigation and actions by the Securities and Exchange Commission
and/or other governmental agencies and negative tax or other
implications for the Company resulting from any accounting
adjustments or other factors. Other important factors are
described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended October 31, 2007, in the section entitled
“Risk Factors.”