JANA Write-Up on Barnes & Noble, Inc. (BKS)

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE:BKS) surges almost +90% today when they released a strategic partnership with Microsoft on their eBook segment the NOOK. This morning Goldman commented on the announcement: “Barnes & Noble and Microsoft formed a strategic partnership creating a subsidiary (“NewCo”) that will combine the digital and College assets of BKS. BKS intends to continue to move toward a separation of these businesses from its traditional B&N bookstores, though the stores will maintain a relationship with NewCo. Microsoft is investing $300 mn in NewCo for a 17.6% equity stake, valuing the entity at $1.7 bn (post-money). Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)  will put a…