The company's earnings report yesterday detailed financial guidance for the quarter and year ahead. Excluded from the forecast was the "potential issuance" of over 2.8 million shares of restricted stock for "certain employees of Rockstar Games," namely Sam and Dan Houser, the figureheads behind the phenomenally successful Grand Theft Auto franchise.
The shares, equaling $18.2 million by today's price, are part of Take-Two's Stock Incentive Plan, which is subject to shareholder approval at the publisher's annual stockholder meeting on April 23.
Take-Two announced Tuesday that it has shipped over 13 million copies of GTA IV.
In December, Take-Two said that it had secured an employment agreement key Rockstar talent, including the Housers, GTA IV producer Leslie Benzies and several other key members of the studio. The deal was an incentive program "primarily based on a profit sharing arrangement."
The long-term employment agreement guarantees that the key creative team at Rockstar will remain part of Take-Two until January 31, 2012.