Record quarterly results for Take 2

Publisher Take 2 Interactive has announced its financial results for the three months ended April 30th, showing record sales and profit thanks to the launch of several successful titles - and, of course, strong ongoing sales of Vice City.

The company recorded sales of $194.2 million during the quarter, with a healthy profit of $15.2 million - compared with year-ago figures of $170.3 million and $9.6 million profit. Take 2 continues to go from strength to strength - last years figures for the period were also new records for the company at the time.

For the first half of the current financial year, the publisher has now recorded salesof $603 million (up 33 per cent) and net income of $65.7 million (up 48 per cent). Financial guidance for the year as a whole sees Take 2 falling just shy of the $1 billion turnover mark, with $975 million predicted, and a very healthy estimate of $2.28 net income per share.

Had the company decided to release another Grand Theft Auto title this Christmas, it would almost certainly have broken the billion dollar mark in turnover; however, it seems that the franchise is, wisely, being kept back this year to avoid falling foul of consumer fatigue with the game.

Besides, Take 2 is understandably keen to demonstrate that although it was GTA that propelled the company from a financial slump into the top tier of publishers two years ago, it has far more strings to its bow - with Rockstar North's Manhunt due out in Q4, along with other key titles such as Hidden & Dangerous II, Celebrity Deathmatch and Max Payne 2.

Meanwhile, rumours continue to circulate regarding Take 2's publicly stated interest in acquiring Vivendi Universal Games, which the company made clear prior to E3. A number of sources at the show in Los Angeles claimed that the publisher was either close to, or already had, agreed terms for the acquisition with Vivendi, but the silence on the issue since then tends to suggest that although talks are still thought to be proceeding, a deal has not yet been struck.

Take 2 is the only main runner in this race at the moment, as far as we're aware. EA and Microsoft, both of whom expressed early interest in acquiring Vivendi's games division, have apparently baulked at the price of the group - with EA telling an analyst meeting recently that it was not interested in Vivendi, but would buy Blizzard if the opportunity arose to do so seperately of the rest of the group.

Take 2's acquisition bid would rest on significant support from various financing organisations, but the company has indicated that it would be prepared to pay Vivendi's rumoured asking price of around $800 million.