Barnes & Noble shares soar on Microsoft deal

Barnes & Noble shares soar on Microsoft deal The Nook maker's stock rose to $26 at open today, doubling its Friday closing price. Shares cooled off a bit as the morning moved along, but not by all that much. Don Reisinger by Don Reisinger April 30, 2012 8:08 AM PDT

(Credit: Barnes & Noble) Barnes & Noble's shares are skyrocketing today following its announcement of a strategic partnership with Microsoft. The company's stock soared in early trading to $26, nearly doubling last week's closing price of $13.68. Since then, investors have started to cool, though not by much: as of this writing, the company's shares are up 63 percent to $22.29. Under the terms of their partnership, Microsoft and Barnes & Noble will own part of a new company, currently known as Newco until a final name can be determined. Microsoft gave Barnes & Noble $300 million for a 17.6 percent equity stake in Newco, leaving the remaining 82.4 percent ownership to the bookseller. Newco, according to the companies, will focus on Barnes & Noble's Nook digital and college businesses. Related stories ZDNet: Is there a Windows-based Barnes & Noble reader in the works? Nook spinoff could be next chapter for Barnes & Noble Barnes & Noble seeks to reverse ruling in Microsoft patent flap CNET review: Nook Tablet To sweeten the pot a bit for Microsoft, Barnes & Noble will include its Nook digital bookstore with Windows 8, the software giant's next-generation operating system that launches later this year. The companies have also agreed to end their bitter patent litigation by forming a "royalty-bearing license under Microsoft's patents for its Nook e-reader and Tablet products." Despite excitement on the Barnes & Noble side, Microsoft's stock has hardly moved, rising only 2 cents to $32 per share.