Microsoft Invests $300 Million In Barnes and Noble

[engine]

Microsoft Invests $300 Million In Barnes and Noble [bloomberg.com]

Barnes & Noble Inc. (BKS) surged in New York after saying that Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) will invest $300 million in a new subsidiary that combines the bookseller’s Nook digital reader and college businesses.

The shares almost doubled to $27.20 at 8:24 a.m. Barnes & Noble had declined 5.5 percent this year before today.

The investment will give Microsoft about 18 percent of the unit, which has yet to be named, New York-based Barnes & Noble said today in a statement. The bookseller will own the remainder of the business, which has a valuation of $1.7 billion.

[Sgt_Kickaxe]

Books continue to be useable where there is no electricity without requiring the use of expensive devices. I'm glad someone finds them worth investing in still! Wait - are they planning on creating digital versions of books here? probably...

[skibum]

Nokia, B&N, does MSFT have the gas to pour on these investments to get them burning bright once again.