What does it cost to keep EA at bay?

In order to keep out of EA's portfolio Take-Two Interactive spent nearly $11.1 million, according to Security and Exchange Commission filings submitted by the Grand Theft Auto IV publisher. In a seven-month-long period Electronic Arts attempted to purchase Take-Two Interactive by way of initial offering and then by bidding directly to shareholders. After numerous delayed deadlines, Electronic Arts finally canceled its quest to purchase the company who owns such high-profile studios as 2K Boston, developers of BioShock. Gamespot reports that Take-Two incurred the costs during the "strategic review process" of the EA offer.

Today, Take-Two Interactive remains an independent company but shareholders are probably grinding their teeth about its current financial situation. At the height of buyout talks, EA was offering $25.74 per share but Take-Two rejected the offer, now the company currently trades at $8 per share ... but that probably has a lot to do with this whole economic crisis thing.