Microsoft, Barnes & Noble team up
NEW YORK, April 30 – Microsoft Corp will invest US$300 million (RM907.80 million) in Barnes & Noble Inc’s digital and college businesses, valuing them at US$1.7 billion. Shares of Barnes & Noble jumped 79 per cent.
Microsoft will get a 17.6 per cent stake in the new unit, while Barnes & Noble will own about 82.4 per cent, the companies said in a statement today.
The business, whose name has not yet been decided, will have an ongoing relationship with Barnes & Noble’s retail stores.
Barnes & Noble, the No. 1 US bookstore chain, said in January that it might spin off its digital business, which includes its Nook e-reader. The companies will introduce an application for the Nook on Windows 8, the upcoming version of Microsoft’s operating system.
Barnes & Noble is investing heavily to develop its popular Nook devices and the e-books sales they generate as readers move away from traditional books.
Barnes & Noble and Microsoft have settled their patent litigation, the companies said.
Shares of Barnes & Noble were up 79 per cent at US$24.50 in premarket trading. The company was valued at just above US$823 million at Friday’s close.
Microsoft shares rose 0.7 per cent to US$32.19. – Reuters
