Barnes & Noble and Liberty Media are still in discussions regarding Liberty’s offer to acquire B&N for $17 per share. Sources disputed the story in the New York Post Wednesday that suggested that talks had hit a snag because of friction between Liberty head John Malone and B&N chairman Len Riggio.
“Riggio and Malone have met each other once,” this source said. The bulk of the negotiations have been between Malone lieutenants and a B&N team that includes Riggio and the special committee appoint by the B&N board to investigate the Liberty bid. Uncertainty in the debt markets that could make financing the deal difficult has been one factor dragging out negotiations.
