Separation of Barnes & Noble Educational, Retail Businesses To Be Complete by August

Barnes & Noble will separate its educational operation and its retail and Nook business into two independent, publicly traded companies, the company said Thursday. The separation, which is expected to be completed by the end of August, “will allow each business to optimize its strategic opportunities,” the company said in a statement. “As more focused companies with differing potential growth profiles, capital needs and market dynamics, each company will benefit from strategic clarity and separate management and Board focus. The separation will also allow investors to assess each business more clearly as a stand-alone company.” Through the separation, the company also will be able “to better capitalize on improving industry trends and merchandising initiatives” within its core retail business, it said. The Retail and Nook businesses “will be able to leverage a more integrated technology infrastructure for improved efficiency and to better serve digital customers,” it said.