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Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

(Mark One)

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended October 29, 2011

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from             to             

Commission File Number: 1-12302

 

 

BARNES & NOBLE, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware    06-1196501

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

  

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

122 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY    10011
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)    (Zip Code)

(212) 633-3300

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

  

 

(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   x    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

As of November 30, 2011, 60,175,137 shares of Common Stock, par value $.001 per share, were outstanding, which number includes 2,110,530 shares of unvested restricted stock that have voting rights and are held by members of the Board of Directors and the Company’s employees.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

BARNES & NOBLE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Fiscal Quarter Ended October 29, 2011

Index to Form 10-Q

 

          Page No.  

PART I -

   FINANCIAL INFORMATION   

Item 1.

   Financial Statements (Unaudited)   
  

Consolidated Statements of Operations – For the 13 and 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010

     3   
   Consolidated Balance Sheets – October 29, 2011, October 30, 2010 and April 30, 2011      4   
   Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity – For the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011      6   
   Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – For the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010      7   
   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements      8   
   Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm      28   

Item 2.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations      29   

Item 3.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk      38   

Item 4.

   Controls and Procedures      39   

PART II -

   OTHER INFORMATION   

Item 1.

   Legal Proceedings      40   

Item 1A.

   Risk Factors      45   

Item 2.

   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds      46   

Item 6.

   Exhibits      47   
   SIGNATURES      48   
   Exhibit Index      49   


Table of Contents

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1: Financial Statements

BARNES & NOBLE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

     13 weeks ended     26 weeks ended  
     October 29,
2011
    October 30,
2010
    October 29,
2011
    October 30,
2010
 

Sales

   $ 1,891,961        1,904,146      $ 3,310,365        3,299,989   

Cost of sales and occupancy

     1,420,297        1,454,026        2,451,143        2,498,169   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     471,664        450,120        859,222        801,820   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Selling and administrative expenses

     415,632        403,822        826,750        786,231   

Depreciation and amortization

     57,755        56,777        113,427        113,681   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating loss

     (1,723     (10,479     (80,955     (98,092

Interest expense, net and amortization of deferred financing fees

     8,460        12,791        17,901        26,053   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss before taxes

     (10,183     (23,270     (98,856     (124,145

Income taxes

     (3,620     (10,690     (35,687     (49,023
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

     (6,563     (12,580     (63,169     (75,122

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

     —          12        —          37   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to Barnes & Noble, Inc.

     (6,563     (12,568     (63,169     (75,085
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic loss per common share

        
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to Barnes & Noble, Inc. available for common shareholders

   $ (0.17     (0.22   $ (1.16     (1.34
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted loss per common share

        
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to Barnes & Noble, Inc. available for common shareholders

   $ (0.17     (0.22   $ (1.16     (1.34
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding

        

Basic

     57,261        56,708        57,207        56,239   

Diluted

     57,261        56,708        57,207        56,239   

Dividends declared per common share

   $ —          0.25      $ —          0.50   

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

3


Table of Contents

BARNES & NOBLE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

     October 29,
2011
     October 30,
2010
     April 30,
2011
 
     (unaudited)      (unaudited)         

ASSETS

        

Current assets:

        

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 23,633         30,163         59,429   

Receivables, net

     240,600         185,253         150,294   

Merchandise inventories

     1,836,740         1,761,118         1,375,362   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     180,352         126,326         161,936   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current assets

     2,281,325         2,102,860         1,747,021   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Property and equipment:

        

Land and land improvements

     8,617         8,617         8,617   

Buildings and leasehold improvements

     1,220,869         1,210,233         1,204,108   

Fixtures and equipment

     1,725,135         1,638,652         1,670,488   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     2,954,621         2,857,502         2,883,213   

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

     2,280,551         2,101,057         2,178,562   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net property and equipment

     674,070         756,445         704,651   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Goodwill

     521,899         526,327         524,113   

Intangible assets, net

     574,964         573,789         566,578   

Other noncurrent assets

     55,794         59,845         54,103   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 4,108,052         4,019,266         3,596,466   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

4


Table of Contents

BARNES & NOBLE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

     October 29,
2011
    October 30,
2010
    April 30,
2011
 
     (unaudited)     (unaudited)        

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

      

Current liabilities:

      

Accounts payable

   $ 1,461,981        1,318,744        949,010   

Accrued liabilities

     724,136        608,301        785,667   

Short-term note payable

     —          100,000        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     2,186,117        2,027,045        1,734,677   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Long-term debt

     274,900        376,900        313,100   

Long-term deferred taxes

     275,868        310,712        280,132   

Other long-term liabilities

     418,923        481,426        448,647   

Redeemable Preferred Shares; $.001 par value; 5,000 shares authorized; 204 and zero shares issued, respectively

     191,681        —          —     

Shareholders’ equity:

      

Common stock; $.001 par value; 300,000 shares authorized; 90,856, 90,231 and 90,465 shares issued, respectively

     91        90        90   

Additional paid-in capital

     1,331,983        1,313,678        1,323,263   

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (11,630     (13,212     (11,630

Retained earnings

     495,830        576,277        562,379   

Treasury stock, at cost, 33,527, 33,360 and 33,410 shares, respectively

     (1,055,711     (1,053,650     (1,054,192
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

     760,563        823,183        819,910   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

     —          —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 4,108,052        4,019,266        3,596,466   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

5


Table of Contents

BARNES & NOBLE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity

For the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011

(In thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     Noncontrolling
Interest
     Barnes & Noble, Inc. Shareholders’ Equity     Total  
        Common
Stock
     Additional
Paid-In
Capital
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Losses
    Retained
Earnings
    Treasury
Stock at
Cost
   

Balance at April 30, 2011

   $ —           90         1,323,263        (11,630     562,379        (1,054,192   $ 819,910   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss:

                

Net loss

     —           —           —          —          (63,169     —       
                

 

 

 

Total comprehensive loss

                   (63,169

Exercise of 56 common stock options

     —           1         677        —          —          —          678   

Stock options and restricted stock tax benefits

     —           —           (1,333     —          —          —          (1,333

Stock-based compensation expense

     —           —           9,376        —          —          —          9,376   

Accretive dividend on preferred stock

     —           —           —          —          (262     —          (262

Accrued cash dividends for preferred stockholders

     —           —           —          —          (3,118     —          (3,118

Treasury stock acquired, 117 shares

     —           —           —          —          —          (1,519     (1,519
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at October 29, 2011

   $ —           91         1,331,983        (11,630     495,830        (1,055,711   $ 760,563   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

6


Table of Contents

BARNES & NOBLE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010

(Thousands of dollars)

(unaudited)

 

     26 weeks ended  
     October 29,
2011
    October 30,
2010
 

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net loss

   $ (63,169     (75,122

Adjustments to reconcile net loss from continuing operations to net cash flows used in operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization (including amortization of deferred financing fees)

     116,098        118,432   

Stock-based compensation expense

     9,376        10,374   

Deferred taxes

     (2,050     1,319   

Loss on disposal of property and equipment

     137        643   

Decrease in other long-term liabilities

     (29,724     (24,477

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net

     (123,260     (114,208
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows used in operating activities

     (92,592     (83,039
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Purchases of property and equipment

     (75,516     (51,449

Net increase in other noncurrent assets

     (34,743     (37

Acquisition of Borders Group, Inc. intellectual property

     14,528        —     

Purchase of non-controlling interest

     —          (300
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows used in investing activities

     (95,731     (51,786
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Net proceeds from issuance of Series J preferred stock

     191,419        —     

Net (decrease) increase in credit facility

     (38,200     116,500   

Proceeds from exercise of common stock options

     678        16,951   

Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation

     149        1,586   

Purchase of treasury stock

     (1,519     (1,294

Cash dividend paid to shareholders

     —          (29,720
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows provided by financing activities

     152,527        104,023   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (35,796     (30,802

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     59,429        60,965   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 23,633        30,163   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net:

    

Receivables, net

   $ (90,306     (78,677

Merchandise inventories

     (461,378     (391,007

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (18,416     (21,477

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     446,840        376,953   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net

   $ (123,260     (114,208
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental cash flow information:

    

Cash paid during the period for:

    

Interest paid

   $ 14,006        21,293   

Income taxes (net of refunds)

   $ 2,552        17,859   

Supplemental disclosure of subsidiaries acquired:

    

Assets acquired (net of cash acquired)

   $ —          1,513   

Liabilities assumed (including Seller Notes)

     —          1,213   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash paid

   $ —          300   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Non-cash financing activity:

    

Accrued dividend on redeemable preferred stock

   $ 3,118        —     

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

7


Table of Contents

BARNES & NOBLE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010

(Thousands of dollars, except per share data)

(unaudited)

The unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Barnes & Noble, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, Barnes & Noble or the Company).

In the opinion of the Company’s management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly its consolidated financial position as of October 29, 2011 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the 26 weeks then ended. These consolidated financial statements are condensed and therefore do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles. The consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 52 weeks ended April 30, 2011 (fiscal 2011).

The Company identifies its operating segments based on the way the business is managed (focusing on the financial information distributed) and the manner in which the chief operating decision maker interacts with other members of management. The Company has three operating segments: B&N Retail, B&N College and B&N.com (See Note 8).

Due to the seasonal nature of the business, the results of operations for the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 are not indicative of the results to be expected for the 52 weeks ending April 28, 2012 (fiscal 2012).

(1) Acquisition of Certain Borders’ Intellectual Property Assets

On October 17, 2011, the Company finalized the purchase of certain intellectual property assets from the Borders Group, Inc. Chapter 11 Bankruptcy for $14,528 including acquisition related fees. These intellectual property assets include a customer list, trade names and URLs. The Company accounted for the transaction as an asset purchase, and these assets are included on its consolidated balance sheet as Intangible Assets. The intangible assets are being amortized on an accelerated basis over a three year period, commencing October 17, 2011. Amortization expense related to the acquisition for the 13 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010 was $302 and $0, respectively.

(2) Liberty Investment

On August 18, 2011, the Company entered into an investment agreement between the Company and Liberty GIC, Inc. (Liberty), a subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation, pursuant to which the Company issued and sold to Liberty, and Liberty purchased, 204,000 shares of the Company’s Series J Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (Preferred Stock), for an aggregate purchase price of $204,000, in a private placement exempt from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act. The shares of Preferred Stock will be convertible, at the option of the holders, into shares of Common Stock representing 16.6% of the Common Stock outstanding as of August 29, 2011, (after giving pro forma effect to the issuance of the Preferred Stock), based on the initial conversion rate. The initial conversion rate reflects an initial conversion price of $17.00 and is subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. The initial dividend rate for the Preferred Stock is equal to 7.75% per annum of the initial liquidation preference of the Preferred Stock, to be paid quarterly and subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. The Preferred Stock is mandatorily redeemable on August 18, 2021 and may be redeemed at the discretion of the Company anytime after August 17, 2016. Starting August 18, 2013, if the closing price of the

 

8


Table of Contents

BARNES & NOBLE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010

(Thousands of dollars, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

Common Stock exceeds 150% of the then-applicable conversion price of the Preferred Stock for 20 consecutive trading days, the Company may require conversion of all the Preferred Stock to Common Stock.

The holders of the Preferred Stock have the same voting rights as holders of the Company Common Stock and are entitled to elect one or two directors to the board of directors of the Company as long as certain Preferred Share ownership requirements are met.

The entry into the investment agreement and the issuance and sale of the Preferred Stock was approved by the Company’s Board of Directors following a recommendation made by a Special Committee of the Board of Directors. In light of the investment by Liberty, the Company and Liberty Media Corporation have ceased discussions regarding Liberty Media Corporation’s previously announced acquisition proposal. The terms, rights, obligations and preferences of the Preferred Stock are set forth in a Certificate of Designations of the Company, which was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 18, 2011. On August 18, 2011, the Company amended the Rights Agreement to reflect the issuance of the Preferred Stock.

The Preferred Stock does not meet the categories of ASC 480-10, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, and is therefore reported as temporary equity for classification purposes. The related issuance costs, which include advisory, legal and accounting fees, of $12,580 were recorded in temporary equity as a reduction of the proceeds from the Liberty investment. This is in line with ASC 480-10-S99 for SEC registrants, which requires shares to be classified outside of permanent equity as temporary equity or mezzanine equity when there are events not solely within the control of the issuer that could trigger redemption. The Company has determined that the various embedded options did not require bifurcation from the Preferred Stock. Additionally, the Company concluded that a beneficial conversion feature did not exist as the effective conversion price was greater than the Company’s share price on the commitment date.

(3) Merchandise Inventories

Merchandise inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined primarily by the retail inventory method under both the first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis and the last-in, first-out (LIFO) basis. B&N College’s textbook and trade book inventories are valued using the LIFO method, where the related reserve was not material to the recorded amount of the Company’s inventories or results of operations.

Market is determined based on the estimated net realizable value, which is generally the selling price. Reserves for non-returnable inventory are based on the Company’s history of liquidating non-returnable inventory.

The Company also estimates and accrues shortage for the period between the last physical count of inventory and the balance sheet date. Shortage rates are estimated and accrued based on historical rates and can be affected by changes in merchandise mix and changes in actual shortage trends.

(4) Reclassifications

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

 

9


Table of Contents

BARNES & NOBLE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010

(Thousands of dollars, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

(5) Revenue Recognition

Revenue from sales of the Company’s products is recognized at the time of sale, other than those with multiple elements. The Company accrues for estimated sales returns in the period in which the related revenue is recognized based on historical experience and industry standards. Sales taxes collected from retail customers are excluded from reported revenues. All of the Company’s sales are recognized as revenue on a “net” basis, including sales in connection with any periodic promotions offered to customers. The Company does not treat any promotional offers as expenses.

In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 605-25, Revenue Recognition, Multiple Element Arrangements and Accounting Standards Updates (ASU) 2009-13 and 2009-14, for multiple-element arrangements that involve tangible products that contain software that is essential to the tangible product’s functionality, undelivered software elements that relate to the tangible product’s essential software and other separable elements, the Company allocates revenue to all deliverables using the relative selling-price method. Under this method, revenue is allocated at the time of sale to all deliverables based on their relative selling price using a specific hierarchy. The hierarchy is as follows: vendor-specific objective evidence, third-party evidence of selling price, or best estimate of selling price. NOOK™ (references to NOOK™ include the Company’s NOOK 1st Edition™, NOOK Wi-Fi 1st Edition™, NOOK Color™, NOOK Simple Touch™ and NOOK Tablet™ eBook Reader devices) eBook Reader revenue is recognized at the segment point of sale.

The Company includes post-service customer support (PCS) in the form of software updates and potential increased functionality on a when-and-if-available basis, as well as wireless access and wireless connectivity with the purchase of NOOK™ from the Company. Using the relative selling price described above, the Company allocates revenue based on the best estimate of selling price for the deliverables as no vendor-specific objective evidence or third-party evidence exists for any of the elements. Revenue allocated to NOOK™ and the software essential to its functionality is recognized at the time of sale, provided all other conditions for revenue recognition are met. Revenue allocated to the PCS and the wireless access is deferred and recognized on a straight-line basis over the 2-year estimated life of NOOK™.

The Company also pays certain vendors who distribute NOOK™ a commission on the content sales sold through that device. The Company accounts for these transactions as a reduction in the sales price of the NOOK™ based on historical trends of content sales and a liability is established for the estimated commission expected to be paid over the life of the product. The Company recognizes revenue of the content at the point of sale of the content.

The Company records revenue from sales of digital content, sales of third-party extended warranties, service contracts and other products, for which the Company is not obligated to perform, and for which the Company does not meet the criteria for gross revenue recognition under ASC 605-45-45, Reporting Revenue Gross as a Principal versus Net as an Agent, on a net basis. All other revenue is recognized on a gross basis.

 

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BARNES & NOBLE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010

(Thousands of dollars, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

The Barnes & Noble Member Program offers members greater discounts and other benefits for products and services, as well as exclusive offers and promotions via e-mail or direct mail for an annual fee of $25.00, which is non-refundable after the first 30 days. Revenue is recognized over the twelve-month period based upon historical spending patterns for Barnes & Noble Members.

(6) Research and Development Costs for Software Products

Software development costs for products to be sold, leased, or otherwise marketed are capitalized in accordance with ASC 985-20. Capitalization of software development costs begins upon the establishment of technological feasibility and is discontinued when the product is available for sale. A certain amount of judgment and estimation is required to assess when technological feasibility is established, as well as the ongoing assessment of the recoverability of capitalized costs. The Company’s products reach technological feasibility shortly before the products are released and therefore research and development costs are generally expensed as incurred.

(7) Earnings (Loss) per Share

In accordance with ASC 260-10-45, Share-Based Payment Arrangements and Participating Securities and the Two-Class Method, the Company’s unvested restricted shares, unvested restricted stock units and shares issuable under the Company’s deferred compensation plan are considered participating securities. During periods of net income, the calculation of earnings per share for common stock are reclassified to exclude the income attributable to unvested restricted shares, unvested restricted stock units and shares issuable under the Company’s deferred compensation plan from the numerator and exclude the dilutive impact of those shares from the denominator. During periods of net loss, no effect is given to the participating securities because they do not share in the losses of the Company. Due to the net loss during the 13 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010, participating securities in the amounts of 12,968,680 and 3,215,679, respectively, and participating securities in the amounts of 8,219,135 and 3,168,058 for the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010, respectively, were excluded from the calculation of earnings per share using the two-class method because the effect would be antidilutive. The Company’s outstanding stock options were also excluded from the calculation of earnings per share using the two-class method because the effect would be antidilutive.

 

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BARNES & NOBLE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010

(Thousands of dollars, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

The following is a reconciliation of the Company’s basic and diluted loss per share calculation:

 

     13 weeks ended     26 weeks ended  
     October 29,
2011
    October 30,
2010
    October 29,
2011
    October 30,
2010
 

Numerator for basic loss per share:

        

Net loss attributable to Barnes & Noble, Inc.

   $ (6,563     (12,568   $ (63,169     (75,085

Accrual of preferred stock dividends

     (3,118     —          (3,118     —     

Accretion of dividends on preferred stock

     (262     —          (262     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss available to common shareholders

   $ (9,943     (12,568   $ (66,549     (75,085

Numerator for diluted loss per share:

        

Net loss available to common shareholders

   $ (9,943     (12,568   $ (66,549     (75,085

Effect of dilutive options

     —          —          —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss available to common shareholders

   $ (9,943     (12,568   $ (66,549     (75,085

Denominator for basic and diluted loss per share:

        

Basic weighted average common shares

     57,261        56,708        57,207        56,239   

Average dilutive options

     —          —          —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted weighted average common shares

     57,261        56,708        57,207        56,239   

Basic loss per common share

        

Net loss attributable to Barnes & Noble, Inc.

   $ (0.17     (0.22   $ (1.16     (1.34

Diluted loss per common share

        

Net loss attributable to Barnes & Noble, Inc.

   $ (0.17     (0.22   $ (1.16     (1.34

(8) Segment Reporting

The Company identifies its operating segments based on the way the business is managed (focusing on the financial information distributed) and the manner in which the chief operating decision maker interacts with other members of management. The Company has determined that it has three operating segments: B&N Retail, B&N College and B&N.com.

B&N Retail

This segment includes 703 bookstores as of October 29, 2011, primarily under the Barnes & Noble Booksellers trade name. The 703 Barnes & Noble stores generally offer a NOOK™ Boutique/Counter, a comprehensive title base, a café, a children’s section, a Toys & Games department, a DVD/BluRay department, a

 

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BARNES & NOBLE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010

(Thousands of dollars, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

music department, a magazine section, a gift section, a bargain section and a calendar of ongoing events, including author appearances and children’s activities. The B&N Retail segment also includes the Company’s publishing operation, Sterling Publishing.

B&N College

This segment includes 637 stores as of October 29, 2011 that are primarily school-owned stores operated under contracts by B&N College. The 637 B&N College stores generally sell and rent textbooks, and sell course-related materials, emblematic apparel and gifts, trade books, computer products and NOOK™ eBook Readers and accessories, school and dorm supplies, and convenience and café items.

B&N.com

This segment includes the Company’s online business, which includes the Company’s eCommerce site and features an eBookstore, and digital newsstand. Additionally, this segment includes the development and support of the Company’s NOOK™ product offerings as well as channel partner sales. These products enable customers to buy and read eBooks on the widest range of platforms, including NOOK™ eBook Readers and hundreds of the most popular mobile and computing devices using free NOOK™ software.

Summarized financial information concerning the Company’s reportable segments is presented below:

Sales

 

     13 weeks ended      26 weeks ended  
     October 29,      October 30,      October 29,      October 30,  
     2011      2010      2011      2010  

B&N Retail

   $ 917,576       $ 930,793       $ 1,918,141       $ 1,957,062   

B&N College

     768,463         796,650         988,254         1,021,512   

B&N.com

     205,922         176,703         403,970         321,415   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,891,961       $ 1,904,146       $ 3,310,365       $ 3,299,989   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Depreciation and Amortization

 

     13 weeks ended      26 weeks ended  
     October 29,      October 30,      October 29,      October 30,  
     2011      2010      2011      2010  

B&N Retail

   $ 38,884       $ 39,919       $ 76,821       $ 79,321   

B&N College

     11,426         10,758         22,276         21,326   

B&N.com

     7,445         6,100         14,330         13,034   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 57,755       $ 56,777       $ 113,427       $ 113,681   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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BARNES & NOBLE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010

(Thousands of dollars, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

Operating Profit (Loss)

 

     13 weeks ended     26 weeks ended  
     October 29,
2011
    October 30,
2010
    October 29,
2011
    October 30,
2010
 

B&N Retail

   $ (17,867   $ (38,654   $ (10,286   $ (52,535

B&N College

     82,478        84,523        60,826        64,422   

B&N.com

     (66,334     (56,348     (131,495     (109,979
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ (1,723   $ (10,479   $ (80,955   $ (98,092
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Capital Expenditures

 

      13 weeks ended      26 weeks ended  
     October 29,
2011
     October 30,
2010
     October 29,
2011
     October 30,
2010
 

B&N Retail

   $ 20,829       $ 13,756       $ 30,838       $ 23,620   

B&N College

     12,464         9,191         21,397         16,368   

B&N.com

     15,598         7,078         23,281         11,461   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 48,891       $ 30,025       $ 75,516       $ 51,449   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Assets

 

      October 29,
2011
     October 30,
2010
 

B&N Retail

   $ 2,541,746       $ 2,518,279   

B&N College

     1,319,323         1,260,014   

B&N.com

     246,983         240,973   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 4,108,052       $ 4,019,266   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

A reconciliation of operating loss from reportable segments to loss from continuing operations before taxes in the consolidated financial statements is as follows:

 

     13 weeks ended     26 weeks ended  
     October 29,
2011
    October 30,
2010
    October 29,
2011
    October 30,
2010
 

Reportable segments operating loss

   $ (1,723   $ (10,479   $ (80,955   $ (98,092

Interest, net

     8,460        12,791        17,901        26,053   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consolidated loss before taxes

   $ (10,183   $ (23,270   $ (98,856   $ (124,145
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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BARNES & NOBLE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010

(Thousands of dollars, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

(9) Changes in Intangible Assets and Goodwill

 

          As of October 29, 2011  

Amortizable intangible assets

   Useful
Life
   Gross
Carrying
Amount
     Accumulated
Amortization
    Total  

Customer relationships and other acquired intangible assets

   3-25    $ 271,938       $ (23,514   $ 248,424   

Author contracts

   10      18,461         (16,127     2,334   

Technology

   5-10      5,850         (2,025     3,825   

Distribution contracts

   10      8,325         (4,618     3,707   

Other

   3-10      6,139         (4,201     1,938   
     

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
      $ 310,713       $ (50,485   $ 260,228   
     

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Unamortizable intangible assets

                        

Trade name

           $ 293,400   

Publishing contracts

             21,336   
          

 

 

 
           $ 314,736   
          

 

 

 

Total intangible assets

           $ 574,964   
          

 

 

 

 

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BARNES & NOBLE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010

(Thousands of dollars, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

Amortizable intangible assets are generally amortized over their useful life on a straight-line basis, with the exception of certain items such as customer relationships and other acquired intangible assets, which are amortized on an accelerated basis.

 

Aggregate Amortization Expense:

      

For the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011

   $ 7,467   

For the 26 weeks ended October 30, 2010

   $ 7,286   

Estimated Amortization Expense:

      

(12 months ending on or about April 30)

  

2012

   $ 18,414   

2013

   $ 19,461   

2014

   $ 17,210   

2015

   $ 13,276   

2016

   $ 11,241   

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by segment for the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 are as follows:

 

     B&N Retail      B&N College      B&N.com     Total Company  

Balance as of April 30, 2011

   $ 225,336         274,070         24,707      $ 524,113   

Benefit of excess tax amortization (a)

     —           —           (2,214     (2,214
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of October 29, 2011

   $ 225,336         274,070         22,493      $ 521,899   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) The tax basis of goodwill arising from an acquisition during the 52 weeks ended January 29, 2005 exceeded the related basis for financial reporting purposes by approximately $96,576. In accordance with ASC 740-10-30, Accounting for Income Taxes, the Company is recognizing the tax benefits of amortizing such excess as a reduction of goodwill as it is realized on the Company’s income tax return.

(10) Gift Cards

The Company sells gift cards which can be used in its stores or on Barnes & Noble.com. The Company does not charge administrative or dormancy fees on gift cards and gift cards have no expiration dates. Upon the purchase of a gift card, a liability is established for its cash value. Revenue associated with gift cards is deferred until redemption of the gift card. Over time, some portion of the gift cards issued is not redeemed. The Company estimates the portion of the gift card liability for which the likelihood of redemption is remote based upon the Company’s historical redemption patterns. The Company records this amount in income on a straight-line basis over a 12-month period beginning in the 13th month after the month the gift card was originally sold. If actual redemption patterns vary from the Company’s estimates, actual gift card breakage may differ from the

 

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BARNES & NOBLE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010

(Thousands of dollars, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

amounts recorded. The Company recognized gift card breakage of $5,350 and $4,929 during the 13 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010, respectively and $10,645 and $9,914 during the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010, respectively. The Company had gift card liabilities of $287,268 and $270,830 as of October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010, respectively, which amounts are included in accrued liabilities.

(11) Other Long-Term Liabilities

Other long-term liabilities consist primarily of deferred rent and obligations under a junior seller note related to the acquisition of B&N College. The Company provides for minimum rent expense over the lease terms (including the build-out period) on a straight-line basis. The excess of such rent expense over actual lease payments (net of tenant allowances) is classified as deferred rent. Other long-term liabilities also include accrued pension liabilities and store closing expenses. The Company had the following long-term liabilities at October 29, 2011, October 30, 2010 and April 30, 2011:

 

     October 29,
2011
     October 30,
2010
     April 30,
2011
 

Deferred Rent

   $ 244,227       $ 300,184       $ 271,451   

Junior Seller Note

     150,000         150,000         150,000   

Other

     24,696         31,242         27,196   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total long-term liabilities

   $ 418,923       $ 481,426       $ 448,647   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

(12) Income Taxes

As of October 29, 2011, the Company had $17,084 of unrecognized tax benefits, all of which, if recognized, would affect the Company’s effective tax rate. The Company’s continuing practice is to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. The Company had $3,647 accrued for interest and penalties, which is included in the $17,084 of unrecognized tax benefits noted above.

The Company is subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as income tax in jurisdictions of each state having an income tax. The tax years that remain subject to examination are primarily 2007 and forward. Some earlier years remain open for a small minority of states.

 

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BARNES & NOBLE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010

(Thousands of dollars, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

(13) Fair Values of Financial Instruments

In accordance with ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, the fair value of an asset is considered to be the price at which the asset could be sold in an orderly transaction between unrelated knowledgeable and willing parties. A liability’s fair value is defined as the amount that would be paid to transfer the liability to a new obligor, not the amount that would be paid to settle the liability with the creditor. Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value are measured using a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. These tiers include:

 

Level 1 – Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices in active markets

 

Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable

 

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring the Company to develop its own assumptions

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company’s financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, receivables and accounts payable. The fair values of cash and cash equivalents, receivables and accounts payable approximated carrying values because of the short-term nature of these instruments. The Company believes that its credit facility approximates fair value since interest rates are adjusted to reflect current rates. The Company believes that the terms and conditions of the Junior Seller Note are consistent with comparable market debt issues.

(14) Credit Facility

On April 29, 2011, the Company entered into an amended and restated credit agreement (the Amended Credit Agreement) with Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, collateral agent and swing line lender, and other lenders, which amends and restates the Credit Agreement entered into on September 30, 2009. Under the Amended Credit Agreement, Lenders are providing up to $1,000,000 in aggregate commitments under a five-year asset-backed revolving credit facility (the Amended Credit Facility), which is secured by eligible inventory with the ability to include eligible real estate and accounts receivable and related assets. Borrowings under the Amended Credit Agreement are limited to a specified percentage of eligible inventories and accounts receivable and accrued interest, at the election of the Company, at Base Rate or LIBO Rate, plus, in each case, an Applicable Margin (each term as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement). In addition, the Company has the option to request an increase in commitments under the Amended Credit Agreement by up to $300,000, subject to certain restrictions.

 

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BARNES & NOBLE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010

(Thousands of dollars, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

The Amended Credit Agreement requires Availability (as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement) to be greater than the greater of (i) 10% of the Loan Cap (as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement) and (ii) $50,000. In addition, the Amended Credit Agreement contains covenants that limit, among other things, the Company’s ability to incur indebtedness, create liens, make investments, make restricted payments, merge or acquire assets, and contains default provisions that are typical for this type of financing, among other things. Proceeds from the Amended Credit Agreement are used for general corporate purposes, including seasonal working capital needs.

(15) Stock-Based Compensation

For the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010, the Company recognized stock-based compensation expense included in selling and administrative expenses as follows:

 

     13 weeks ended      26 weeks ended  
     October 29,
2011
     October 30,
2010
     October 29,
2011
     October 30,
2010
 

Restricted Stock Expense

   $ 4,052         4,987       $ 8,131         9,897   

Restricted Stock Units Expense

     397         —           768         —     

Stock Option Expense

     238         238         477         477   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Stock-Based Compensation Expense

   $ 4,687         5,225       $ 9,376         10,374   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

(16) Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans

As of December 31, 1999, substantially all employees of the Company were covered under a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan (the Pension Plan). As of January 1, 2000, the Pension Plan was amended so that employees no longer earn benefits for subsequent service. Effective December 31, 2004, the barnesandnoble.com llc (Barnes & Noble.com) Employees’ Retirement Plan (the B&N.com Retirement Plan) was merged with the Pension Plan. Substantially all employees of Barnes & Noble.com were covered under the B&N.com Retirement Plan. As of July 1, 2000, the B&N.com Retirement Plan was amended so that employees no longer earn benefits for subsequent service. Subsequent service continues to be the basis for vesting of benefits not yet vested at December 31, 1999 and June 30, 2000 for the Pension Plan and the B&N.com Retirement Plan, respectively, and the Pension Plan will continue to hold assets and pay benefits. The actuarial assumptions used to calculate pension costs are reviewed annually. Pension expense was $589 and $631 for the 13 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010, respectively, and $1,105 and $1,245 for the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010, respectively.

The Company provides certain health care and life insurance benefits (the Postretirement Plan) to certain retired employees, limited to those receiving benefits or retired as of April 1, 1993. Total Company contributions charged to employee benefit expenses for the Postretirement Plan were $38 for the 13 weeks

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010

(Thousands of dollars, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010, respectively, $75 for the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010, respectively.

(17) Acquisition of Noncontrolling Interest

Sterling Publishing had a 50% joint venture interest in Begin Smart LLC (Begin Smart), to develop, sell, and distribute books for infants, toddlers, and children under the brand name BEGIN SMART®. During the 13 weeks ended October 30, 2010, the Company purchased the remaining 50% outside interest in Begin Smart for $300. 100% of Begin Smart results of operations for the period subsequent to the Begin Smart acquisition date are included in the consolidated financial statements. The pro forma effect assuming the acquisition of Begin Smart at the beginning of the prior fiscal year is not material.

(18) Shareholders’ Equity

On November 17, 2009, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a dividend, payable to stockholders of record on November 27, 2009 of one right (a Right) per each share of outstanding Common Stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share (Common Stock), to purchase 1/1000th of a share of Series I Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the Preferred Stock), at a price of $100.00 per share (such amount, as may be adjusted from time to time as provided in the Rights Agreement described below, the Purchase Price). In connection therewith, on November 17, 2009, the Company entered into a Rights Agreement, dated November 17, 2009 (as amended February 17, 2010, June 23, 2010, October 29, 2010, and August 18, 2011, and as may be further amended from time to time, the Rights Agreement) with Mellon Investor Services LLC, as Rights Agent. The Rights will be exercisable upon the earlier of (i) such date the Company learns that a person or group, without Board approval, acquires or obtains the right to acquire beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the Company’s outstanding common stock (taking into account the common stock issuable under the Series J Preferred Stock but excluding acquisitions as a result of certain increases in liquidation preference of or other adjustments under the Series J Preferred Stock) or a person or group that already beneficially owns 20% or more of the Company’s outstanding common stock at the time the Rights Agreement was entered into, without Board approval, acquires any additional shares (other than pursuant to the Company’s compensation or benefit plans) (any person or group specified in this sentence, an Acquiring Person) and (ii) such date a person or group announces an intention to commence or following the commencement of (as designated by the Board) a tender or exchange offer which could result in the beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the Company’s outstanding common stock (taking into account the common stock issuable under the Series J Preferred Stock). The Rights will expire on November 17, 2012, unless earlier redeemed or canceled by the Company. If a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, each Rights holder (other than the Acquiring Person) will be entitled to receive, upon exercise of the Right and payment of the Purchase Price, that number of 1/1000ths of a share of Preferred Stock equal to the number of shares of Common Stock which at the time of the applicable triggering transaction would have a market value of twice the Purchase Price. In the event the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination by an Acquiring Person, or 50% or more of the Company’s assets are sold to an Acquiring Person, each Right will

 

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BARNES & NOBLE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010

(Thousands of dollars, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

entitle its holder (other than an Acquiring Person) to purchase common shares in the surviving entity at 50% of the market price.

(19) Legal Proceedings

The Company is involved in a variety of claims, suits, investigations and proceedings that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of its business, including actions with respect to contracts, intellectual property, taxation, employment, benefits, securities, personal injuries and other matters. The results of these proceedings in the ordinary course of business are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

The following is a discussion of the material legal matters involving the Company.

In re Initial Public Offering Securities Litigation

This class action lawsuit, filed in April 2002 (the Action), named over one thousand individuals and 300 corporations, including Fatbrain.com, LLC (Fatbrain), a former subsidiary of Barnes & Noble.com, and its former officers and directors. The amended complaints in the Action all allege that the initial public offering registration statements filed by the defendant issuers with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the one filed by Fatbrain, were false and misleading because they failed to disclose that the defendant underwriters were receiving excess compensation in the form of profit sharing with certain of its customers, and that some of those customers agreed to buy additional shares of the defendant issuers’ common stock in the aftermarket at increasing prices. The amended complaints also allege that the foregoing constitutes violations of: (i) Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) by the defendant issuers, the directors and officers signing the related registration statements, and the related underwriters; (ii) Rule 10b-5 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act”) by the same parties; and (iii) the control person provisions of the 1933 and 1934 Acts by certain directors and officers of the defendant issuers. A motion to dismiss by the defendant issuers, including Fatbrain, was denied.

After extensive negotiations among representatives of plaintiffs and defendants, the parties entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU), outlining a proposed settlement resolving the claims in the Action between plaintiffs and the defendant issuers. Subsequently, a Settlement Agreement was executed between the defendants and plaintiffs in the Action, the terms of which are consistent with the MOU. The Settlement Agreement was submitted to the court for approval, and on February 15, 2005, the judge granted preliminary approval of the settlement.

On December 5, 2006, the Federal Appeals Court for the Second Circuit (the Second Circuit) issued a decision reversing the District Court’s class certification decision in six focus cases. In light of that decision, the District Court stayed all proceedings, including consideration of the settlement. In January 2007, plaintiffs filed a Petition for Rehearing En Banc before the Second Circuit, which was denied in April 2007. On May 30, 2007, plaintiffs moved, before the District Court, to certify a new class. On June 25, 2007, the District Court entered

 

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BARNES & NOBLE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010

(Thousands of dollars, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

an order terminating the Settlement Agreement. On October 2, 2008, plaintiffs agreed to withdraw the class certification motion. On October 10, 2008, the District Court signed an order granting the request.

A Settlement Agreement in principle, subject to court approval, was negotiated among counsel for all of the issuers, plaintiffs, insurers and underwriters, and executed by the Company. Preliminary approval of the settlement was granted by the court on June 10, 2009, and final court approval of the settlement was granted on October 5, 2009. Pursuant to the settlement, no settlement payment will be made by the Company. Since that time, various notices of appeal have been filed by certain objectors on an interlocutory basis. On August 25, 2011, the District Court ruled that the last remaining appellant of the decision granting final approval of the settlement has no standing to object to the settlement. This last remaining appellant has appealed the district court’s decision, and plaintiffs have moved to dismiss the appeal.

Minor v. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Inc. et al.

On May 1, 2009, a purported class action complaint was filed against B&N Booksellers, Inc. (B&N Booksellers) in the Superior Court for the State of California alleging wage payments by instruments in a form that did not comply with the requirements of the California Labor Code, allegedly resulting in impermissible wage payment reductions and calling for imposition of statutory penalties. The complaint also alleges a violation of the California Labor Code’s Private Attorneys General Act and seeks restitution of such allegedly unpaid wages under California’s unfair competition law, and an injunction compelling compliance with the California Labor Code. The complaint alleges two subclasses of 500 and 200 employees, respectively (there may be overlap among the subclasses), but contains no allegations concerning the number of alleged violations or the amount of recovery sought on behalf of the purported class. On June 3, 2009, B&N Booksellers filed an answer denying all claims. Discovery concerning purported class member payroll checks and related information is ongoing. On August 19, 2010, B&N Booksellers filed a motion to dismiss the case for lack of a class representative when the named plaintiff advised she did not wish to continue to serve in that role. On October 15, 2010, the Court issued an order denying B&N Bookseller’s motion to dismiss. The Court further ruled that Ms. Minor could not serve as a class representative. The Court also granted Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel Further Responses to previously-served discovery seeking contact information for the putative class. B&N Booksellers provided that information on October 15, 2010. The previously scheduled Case Management Conference was continued to January 27, 2011. Plaintiff’s counsel filed an amended complaint on January 26, 2011, adding two new named Plaintiffs, Jacob Allum and Cesar Caminiero. At the Case Management Conference held on January 27, 2011, the Court ordered the parties to complete mediation by May 6, 2011. The parties held a mediation on April 11, 2011. The parties have reached a tentative settlement of this matter. On August 29, 2011, the Court continued a hearing to consider granting preliminary approval of the settlement. On November 10, 2011, the parties appeared before the Court for the hearing on preliminary approval. At the Court’s request, the parties subsequently submitted supplemental papers to address outstanding issues raised by the Court at the hearing. The Court granted preliminary approval of the settlement on November 22, 2011 and set March 1, 2012 for the final approval hearing.

 

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BARNES & NOBLE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010

(Thousands of dollars, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

In re Barnes & Noble Stockholder Derivative Litigation (Consolidated Cases Formerly Captioned Separately as: Louisiana Municipal Police Employees Retirement System v. Riggio et al.; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority v. Riggio et al.; City of Ann Arbor Employees’ Retirement System v. Riggio et al.; Louise Schuman v. Riggio et al.; Virgin Islands Government Employees’ Retirement System v. Riggio et al.; Electrical Workers Pension Fund, Local 103, I.B.E.W. v. Riggio et al.)

Between August 17, 2009 and August 31, 2009, five putative shareholder derivative complaints were filed in Delaware Chancery Court against the Company’s directors. The complaints generally allege breach of fiduciary duty, waste of corporate assets and unjust enrichment in connection with the Company’s entry into a definitive agreement to purchase Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, which was announced on August 10, 2009 (the Transaction). The complaints generally seek damages in favor of the Company in an unspecified amount; costs, fees and interest; disgorgement; restitution; and equitable relief, including injunctive relief. On September 1, 2009, the Delaware Chancery Court issued an Order of Consolidation consolidating the five lawsuits (the Consolidated Cases) and directing plaintiffs to file a consolidated amended complaint. In a related development, on August 27, 2009, the Company received a demand pursuant to Delaware General Corporation Law, Section 220, on behalf of the Electrical Workers Pension Fund, Local 103, I.B.E.W., a shareholder, seeking to inspect certain books and records related to the Transaction. The Company provided this shareholder with certain documents, on a confidential basis, in response to its demand. On September 18, 2009, this shareholder filed a shareholder derivative complaint in Delaware Chancery Court against certain of the Company’s directors alleging breach of fiduciary duty and unjust enrichment and seeking to enjoin the consummation of the Transaction. At that time, this shareholder also filed a motion for expedited proceedings. At a hearing held on September 21, 2009, the court denied plaintiff’s request for expedited proceedings. On October 6, 2009, the plaintiffs in the Consolidated Cases filed a motion seeking to consolidate the later-filed sixth case with the Consolidated Cases. Also on October 6, 2009, the plaintiff in the sixth case filed a separate motion seeking to consolidate its case with the Consolidated Cases and appoint it as co-lead plaintiff and to appoint its counsel as co-lead counsel. On November 3, 2009, a Consolidated Complaint was filed in the Consolidated Cases. The Company and defendants sought an extension of their time to answer or otherwise respond to the complaints while the plaintiffs’ respective consolidation motions were pending. On December 11, 2009, the court entered an order consolidating all actions and appointing co-lead counsel for plaintiffs. Plaintiffs designated the Consolidated Complaint filed on November 3, 2009 to be the operative Complaint. The Company and defendants filed motions to dismiss the Consolidated Complaint on January 12, 2010. On January 29, 2010, plaintiffs informed defendants that they would amend their Complaint rather than respond to defendants’ motions to dismiss. Plaintiffs filed an Amended Consolidated Complaint on March 16, 2010. The Company and defendants filed motions to dismiss the Amended Consolidated Complaint on April 30, 2010. Plaintiffs filed their response to the motion to dismiss on June 2, 2010. Oral argument on the motions to dismiss was held on October 21, 2010. Following those arguments, the Court denied the Company’s motion to dismiss, denied in part and granted in part the motion to dismiss filed by Defendants Leonard Riggio, Stephen Riggio and Lawrence Zilavy, and denied in part and granted in part the motion to dismiss filed by the remaining defendants, dismissing all claims asserted against Directors George Campbell, Jr. and Patricia Higgins. Pursuant to the Court’s January 19, 2011 Scheduling Order, trial was scheduled to commence on December 12, 2011. On

 

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BARNES & NOBLE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010

(Thousands of dollars, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

September 28, 2011, the Court adjourned the trial at the request of plaintiffs. Trial is now scheduled to commence on February 6, 2012. Discovery in this matter is proceeding.

Stephen Strugala v. Leonard Riggio, et al.

On December 21, 2010, a complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against the Company’s current directors and former directors Lawrence Zilavy and Michael Del Giudice. The complaint is purportedly brought both directly, on behalf of a putative class of shareholders, and derivatively, on behalf of the Company. The complaint generally alleges breaches of fiduciary duties, waste and unjust enrichment in connection with the Company’s acquisition of Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, the adoption of the Shareholder Rights Plan, and other unspecified instances of alleged mismanagement and alleged wrongful conduct. The complaint also generally alleges violations of Section 14(a) of the 1934 Act in connection with the issuance of various proxy statements by the Company. The complaint generally seeks declaratory and equitable relief, including injunctive relief, and costs and fees. On January 19, 2011, the Court granted the parties’ Stipulation and Order. On February 18, 2011, the plaintiff filed a Notice of Voluntary Dismissal of Claim, dismissing without prejudice his putative class claim for violations of Section 14(a) of the 1934 Act. On March 8, 2011, defendants filed a motion to dismiss all claims in the litigation. On October 4, 2011, the Court granted defendants’ motion to dismiss, but also granted plaintiff leave to replead within 30 days. On November 3, 2011, plaintiff requested a pre-motion conference with the Court to discuss an anticipated motion to substitute a new plaintiff, Ms. Whitney Parker, for Mr. Strugala. The Court has scheduled that pre-motion conference for December 9, 2011.

Microsoft Corp. v. Barnes & Noble, Inc. et al.

On March 21, 2011, Microsoft Corp. submitted a complaint to the U.S. International Trade Commission (U.S. ITC), encaptioned Certain Handheld Electronic Computing Devices, Related Software and Components Thereof, Inv. No. 337-TA-769, requesting that the U.S. ITC institute an investigation pursuant to Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended. The complaint was subsequently amended on April 8, 2011. The complaint alleges that the importation into the United States, sale for importation, and/or sale within the United States after importation of Barnes & Noble, Inc.’s and Barnes & Noble.com’s NOOK™ and NOOK Color™ products infringe certain claims of U.S. Patent Nos. 5,778,372 (the ’372 patent), 6,339,780 (the ’780 patent), 5,889,522 (the ’522 patent), 6,891,551 (the ’551 patent) and 6,957,233 (the ’233 patent) and requests that the U.S. ITC issue a permanent exclusion order and permanent cease and desist order with respect to these products. On April 1, 2011, the U.S. ITC published a Notice in the Federal Register soliciting comments on any public interest issues raised by the complaint. Barnes & Noble, Inc. and Barnes & Noble.com submitted comments in an April 7, 2011 letter. On April 19, 2011, the ITC served Barnes & Noble, Inc. and Barnes & Noble.com with a Notice of Investigation. On April 25, 2011, the U.S. ITC published the Notice of Investigation in the Federal Register. On May 10, 2011, Barnes & Noble, Inc. and Barnes & Noble.com filed a response to the complaint denying that they have engaged in any action that would constitute unlawful importation into the United States, sale for importation, or sale within the United States after importation. The response also sets forth six affirmative defenses, including a patent misuse

 

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BARNES & NOBLE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010

(Thousands of dollars, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

defense. Through its discovery response on July 15, 2011, Microsoft made allegations of infringement of certain claims in the above five patents against the All-New NOOK™ product, which is also part of the investigation. Further, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ruled on November 14, 2011 that the NOOK Tablet™ is part of the investigation.

The parties filed their discovery statements on May 16, 2011, and a telephonic preliminary conference before the ALJ took place on June 2, 2011. On June 16, 2011, the parties submitted a joint proposed procedural schedule which the ALJ approved on June 17, 2011. The ALJ set a target date of August 27, 2012 with a final determination filed no later than April 27, 2012, and set a pre-hearing conference and tutorial for February 6, 2012 with the hearing to commence immediately thereafter and to conclude no later than February 15, 2012. The schedule called for the end of all discovery by December 6, 2011. On June 6, 2011, Microsoft moved to strike Barnes & Noble, Inc.’s and Barnes & Noble.com’s patent misuse defense. The ALJ ruled on July 19, 2011 that discovery should proceed on the patent misuse defense while the motion was pending and on October 3, 2011 denied the motion. On October 21, 2011, the ALJ ruled that fact discovery on the patent misuse defense would be extended until December 14, 2011 in light of the late production of a large volume of documents by Microsoft relating to that defense. The parties have in principle agreed to January 5, 2012 as the deadline for expert discovery related to the patent misuse defense.

On the same day that it submitted its original complaint to the U.S. ITC, Microsoft also filed a complaint against Barnes & Noble, Inc., Barnes & Noble.com, and a number of other defendants in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. The district court complaint also alleges that Barnes & Noble, Inc. and Barnes & Noble.com are infringing the ’372, ’780, ’522, ’551 and ’233 patents through the sale in the United States and the importation into the United States of the NOOK™ and NOOK Color™ products. Barnes & Noble, Inc. and Barnes & Noble.com answered the district court complaint on April 25, 2011. On May 18, 2011, Barnes & Noble, Inc. and Barnes & Noble.com filed a motion to stay the district court litigation until the ITC’s determination in the ITC investigation becomes final. On June 8, 2011, the district court granted the motion to stay.

Lina v. Barnes & Noble, Inc., and Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Inc. et al.

On August 5, 2011, a purported class action complaint was filed against Barnes & Noble, Inc. and Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Inc. in the Superior Court for the State of California making the following allegations against defendants with respect to salaried Store Managers at Barnes & Noble stores located in the State of California from the period of August 5, 2007 to present: (1) failure to pay wages and overtime; (2) failure to pay for missed meal and/or rest breaks; (3) waiting time penalties; (4) failure to pay minimum wage; (5) failure to provide reimbursement for business expenses; and (6) failure to provide itemized wage statements. The claims are generally derivative of the allegation that these salaried managers were improperly classified as exempt from California’s wage and hour laws. The complaint contains no allegations concerning the number of any such alleged violations or the amount of recovery sought on behalf the purported class. The Company was served with the complaint on August 11, 2011. On August 30, 2011, the Company filed an answer in state court, and on August 31, 2011 it removed the action to federal court pursuant to the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005, 28 U.S.C. § 1332(d). On October 28, 2011, the district court granted plaintiff’s motion to

 

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BARNES & NOBLE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010

(Thousands of dollars, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

remand the action back to state court, over the Company’s opposition. The Company believes that the district court remanded the action in error. On November 7, 2011, Barnes & Noble petitioned the Ninth Circuit for an appeal of the district court’s remand order. The case is currently in state court, pending the Ninth Circuit’s decision regarding the Company’s petition for permission to review the remand order.

Rhonda Burstein v. Hachette Book Group, Inc., et al.

On August 12, 2011, a purported class action complaint was filed against Hachette Book Group, Inc., Harper Collins Publishers, Inc., Macmillan Publishers, Inc., Penguin Group (USA) Inc., Simon & Schuster, Inc., Random House, Inc., (collectively, the Publisher Defendants) and Apple, Inc., Amazon.Com, Inc., and Barnes & Noble, Inc. (collectively with the Publisher Defendants, the Defendants) in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of purchasers of eBooks of Publisher Defendants through Apple, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other eBook retailers. The complaint generally alleges a horizontal price fixing and a vertical conspiracy among the Defendants to restrain trade in the consumer retail market of eBooks in the United States in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. §1 and Section 2 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. §2. The complaint generally seeks treble damages in an undetermined amount sustained pursuant to Section 4 of the Clayton Act 15 U.S.C. § 15, costs and fees, and injunctive relief. Other complaints have been filed against the Publisher Defendants, Apple and/or Amazon that do not name the Company as a defendant resulting in a petition to the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (MDL Panel) to coordinate these cases, including the Burstein action, and consolidate them for pretrial purposes in the Southern District of New York or the Northern District of California. The MDL Panel held a hearing on December 1, 2011. The Company’s date to file a motion to dismiss the Complaint has been extended until after a consolidated amended complaint is filed in the jurisdiction chosen by the MDL Panel. The Company denies liability and intends to vigorously defend its interests.

Barnes & Noble, Inc. and Barnesandnoble.com LLC v. LSI Corporation and Agere Systems, Inc.

On June 6, 2011, Barnes & Noble, Inc. filed a complaint against LSI Corporation in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Case No. 11-CV-2709 EMC. The complaint sought a declaratory judgment that Barnes & Noble, Inc. does not infringe U.S. Patent. Nos. 5,546,420; 5,670,730; 5,862,182; 5,920,552; 6,044,073; 6,119,091; 6,404,732; 6,452, 958; 6,707,867 and 7,583,582. Barnes & Noble, Inc. amended the complaint on August 10, 2011 to add barnesandnoble.com llc as a plaintiff, to add Agere Systems, Inc. as a defendant, to add a cause of action seeking a declaratory judgment that neither Barnes & Noble, Inc. nor barnesandnoble.com llc infringes U.S. Patent No. 7,477,633, and to add causes of action seeking a declaratory judgment that each of the eleven patents-in-suit is invalid. On November 1, 2011, LSI and Agere answered the amended complaint and asserted counterclaims against Barnes & Noble, Inc. and barnesandnoble.com llc, alleging infringement of the eleven patents-in-suit. An initial case management conference has been set for January 20, 2012. The Court has not yet entered a scheduling order in the case.

 

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BARNES & NOBLE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010

(Thousands of dollars, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

(20) Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-08, Testing Goodwill for Impairment (ASU 2011-08). ASU 2011-08 gives the Company the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances, the Company determines it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then performing the two-step impairment test is unnecessary. This ASU is effective for the Company’s financial statements for annual and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011. The Company plans to early adopt ASU 2011-08. The adoption is not expected to have an impact on the Company’s Fiscal 2012 Consolidated Financial Statements.

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income (ASU 2011-05). ASU 2011-05 increases the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income by eliminating the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity. The amendment requires that all non-owner changes in stockholders’ equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The amendments do not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income must be reclassified to net income. This ASU is effective for the Company’s financial statements for annual and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011 and must be applied retrospectively.

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors

Barnes & Noble, Inc.

New York, New York

We have reviewed the condensed consolidated balance sheets of Barnes & Noble, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010, and the related consolidated statements of operations for the 13 and 26 week periods ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010, changes in shareholders’ equity for the 26 week period ended October 29, 2011, and cash flows for the 26 week periods ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010 included in the accompanying Securities and Exchange Commission Form 10-Q for the period ended October 29, 2011. These interim financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

We conducted our reviews in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the condensed consolidated financial statements referred to above for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the consolidated balance sheet of Barnes & Noble, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of April 30, 2011, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated June 29, 2011, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of April 30, 2011 is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.

 

/s/ BDO USA, LLP
BDO USA, LLP
New York, New York

December 8, 2011

 

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Item 2: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The primary sources of Barnes & Noble, Inc.’s (Barnes & Noble or the Company) cash are net cash flows from operating activities, funds available under its senior credit facility and short-term vendor financing.

The Company’s cash and cash equivalents were $23.6 million as of October 29, 2011, compared with $30.2 million as of October 30, 2010.

Merchandise inventories increased $75.6 million, or 4.3%, to $1.837 billion as of October 29, 2011, compared with $1.761 billion as of October 30, 2010. This increase was primarily due to additional inventories to support the growth in the eReader device and accessories businesses. This increase was partially offset by declines in trade book and textbook inventories, consistent with comparable sales decline in those categories.

The Company’s investing activities consist principally of capital expenditures for the Company’s website and digital initiatives, new store construction, the maintenance of existing stores and system enhancements for the Company’s stores. Capital expenditures totaled $75.5 million and $51.4 million during the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010, respectively. This increase was primarily due to the build-out of digital shops in the Retail stores, as well as increased digital investments.

On April 29, 2011, the Company entered into an amended and restated credit agreement (the Amended Credit Agreement) with Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, collateral agent and swing line lender, and other lenders, which amends and restates the Credit Agreement entered into on September 30, 2009. Under the Amended Credit Agreement, Lenders are providing up to $1.0 billion in aggregate commitments under a five-year asset-backed revolving credit facility (the Amended Credit Facility), which is secured by eligible inventory with the ability to include eligible real estate and accounts receivable and related assets. Borrowings under the Amended Credit Agreement are limited to a specified percentage of eligible inventories and accounts receivable and accrued interest, at the election of the Company, at Base Rate or LIBO Rate, plus, in each case, an Applicable Margin (each term as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement). In addition, the Company has the option to request an increase in commitments under the Amended Credit Agreement by up to $300 million, subject to certain restrictions.

The Amended Credit Agreement requires Availability (as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement) to be greater than the greater of (i) 10% of the Loan Cap (as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement) and (ii) $50 million. In addition, the Amended Credit Agreement contains covenants that limit, among other things, the Company’s ability to incur indebtedness, create liens, make investments, make restricted payments, merge or acquire assets, and contains default provisions that are typical for this type of financing, among other things. Proceeds from the Amended Credit Agreement are used for general corporate purposes, including seasonal working capital needs.

The Company had $274.9 million of outstanding debt under its Credit Facility as of October 29, 2011 compared with $376.9 million as of October 30, 2010. The decrease in borrowings was due to proceeds received from the issuance of Series J Preferred Stock, offset primarily by digital investments.

 

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On August 18, 2011, the Company entered into an investment agreement between the Company and Liberty GIC, Inc. (Liberty) pursuant to which the Company issued and sold to Liberty, and Liberty purchased, 204,000 shares of the Company’s Series J Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (Preferred Stock), for an aggregate purchase price of $204 million in a private placement exempt from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act. The shares of Preferred Stock will be convertible, at the option of the holders, into shares of Common Stock representing 16.6% of the Common Stock outstanding as of August 29, 2011, (after giving pro forma effect to the issuance of the Preferred Stock), based on the initial conversion rate. The initial conversion rate reflects an initial conversion price of $17.00 and is subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. The initial dividend rate for the Preferred Stock is equal to 7.75% per annum of the initial liquidation preference of the Preferred Stock to be paid quarterly and subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. The entry into the investment agreement and the issuance and sale of the Preferred Stock was approved by the Company’s Board of Directors following a recommendation made by a Special Committee of the Board of Directors. In light of the investment by Liberty, the Company and Liberty Media Corporation have ceased discussions regarding Liberty Media’s previously announced acquisition proposal. The terms, rights, obligations and preferences of the Preferred Stock are set forth in a Certificate of Designations of the Company, which was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 18, 2011. For further detail, please see the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 18, 2011.

Based upon the Company’s current operating levels, management believes cash and cash equivalents on hand, net cash flows from operating activities, short-term vendor financing and the capacity under the Amended Credit Facility will be sufficient to meet the Company’s normal working capital and debt service requirements for at least the next twelve months. The Company regularly evaluates its capital structure and conditions in the financing markets to ensure it maintains adequate flexibility to successfully execute its business plan.

The Company identifies its operating segments based on the way the business is managed (focusing on the financial information distributed) and the manner in which the chief operating decision maker interacts with other members of management. The Company has three operating segments: B&N Retail, B&N College and B&N.com.

Seasonality

The B&N Retail and B&N.com business, like that of many retailers, is seasonal, with the major portion of sales and operating profit realized during the third fiscal quarter, which includes the holiday selling season. The B&N College business is also seasonal, with the major portion of sales and operating profit realized during the second and third fiscal quarters, when college students generally purchase textbooks for the upcoming semesters.

Business Overview

The Company’s financial performance has been adversely impacted in recent years by a number of factors, including the economic downturn, increased competition and the expanding digital market.

The Company’s core business is the operation of B&N Retail and B&N College stores, from which it derives the majority of its sales and net income. B&N Retail comparable store sales have declined in recent years due to lower consumer traffic. One of B&N Retail’s largest competitors in the sale of physical books, Borders Group, Inc. (Borders), recently completed liquidating all of its stores under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. While B&N Retail’s sales have benefited from the liquidation of the Borders stores, the Company expects declining

 

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physical book trends to continue as consumer spending shifts further online and toward digital products. The Company faces increasing competition from the expanding market for electronic books, or “eBooks”, eBook readers and digital distribution of content.

Despite these challenges, the Company believes it has attractive opportunities for future development.

The Company has leveraged its unique assets, iconic brands and reach to become a leader in the distribution of digital content. In 2009, the Company entered the eBook market with its acquisition of Fictionwise, a leader in the eBook marketplace, and the popularity of its eBook site continues to grow. Since then, the Company launched its NOOK™ brand of eReading products, which provide a fun, easy-to-use and immersive digital reading experience. With NOOK™, customers gain access to the Company’s expansive NOOK Bookstore™ of more than two million digital titles, and the ability to enjoy content across a wide array of popular devices.

In October 2010, Barnes & Noble introduced NOOK Color™, the first full-color touch Reader’s Tablet, complementing its NOOK 1st Edition™ and NOOK Wi-Fi 1st Edition™ devices, which offer a paper-like reading experience with a color touch screen for navigation. In May 2011, the Company introduced The All-New NOOK™, The Simple Touch Reader™, the easiest-to-use, most intuitive eReader available that is ultra light, features best-in-class battery performance, a 6-inch full touchscreen and the most advanced E Ink Pearl display at a desirable market price point. On November 7, 2011, Barnes & Noble launched NOOK Tablet™, the Company’s fastest and lightest tablet with the best in entertainment. Concurrent with the launch of NOOK Tablet™, the Company also announced enhancements and new low prices for NOOK Color™ and NOOK Simple Touch™.

In addition to NOOK™ devices, the Company makes it easy for customers to enjoy any book, anytime, anywhere with its free line of NOOK™ software specific application, which has won the Webby People’s Voice Award. Customers can use Barnes & Noble’s free eReading software to access and read books from their personal Barnes & Noble digital library on devices including iPad™, iPhone®, Android™ smartphones and tablets PC and Mac®. The Lifetime Library™ helps ensure that Barnes & Noble customers will always be able to access their digital libraries on NOOK™ products and software-enabled devices and BN.com. The Company also offers NOOK Newsstand™, which provides an extensive selection of digital newspapers and magazines, available in both subscription and single copy format, NOOK Kids™, a collection of digital picture and chapter books for children and NOOK Study™, an innovative study platform and software solution for higher education.

As digital and electronic sales become a larger part of its business, the Company believes its footprint of more than 1,300 stores will continue to be a major competitive asset. The Company plans to integrate its traditional retail, trade book and college bookstores businesses with its electronic and internet offerings, using retail stores in attractive geographic markets to promote and sell digital devices and content. Customers can see, feel and experiment with NOOK™ in the Company’s stores.

Although the stores will be just a part of the offering, they will remain a key driver of sales and cash flow as the Company expands its multi-channel relationships with its customers. The Company does not expect to expand the total number of retail stores in the near future.

B&N College provides direct access to a large and well-educated demographic group, enabling the Company to build relationships with students throughout their college years and beyond. The Company also expects to be the beneficiary of market consolidation as more and more schools outsource their bookstore management. The

 

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Company is in a unique market position to benefit from this trend given its full suite of services: bookstore management, textbook rental and digital delivery.

Although the Company believes cash on hand, cash flows from operating activities, funds available from its senior credit facility and short-term vendor financing provide the Company with adequate liquidity and capital resources for seasonal working capital requirements, the Company may raise additional capital to support the growth of its digital businesses.

Strategic alternative process. On August 3, 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors created a Special Committee to review strategic alternatives, including a possible sale of the Company. On May 19, 2011, the Company announced that the Special Committee received a proposal from Liberty Media Corporation to acquire the Company. Following the entry by the Company into the investment agreement between the Company and Liberty, the Company and Liberty Media Corporation have ceased discussions regarding Liberty Media Corporation’s previously announced acquisition proposal. For further detail, please see the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 18, 2011 and the Liquidity and Capital Resources section of this Form 10-Q.

Results of Operations

13 and 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 compared with the 13 and 26 weeks ended October 30, 2010

Sales

The following table summarizes the Company’s sales for the 13 and 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010:

 

     13 weeks ended     26 weeks ended  

Dollars in thousands

   October 29,
2011
     % Total     October 30,
2010
     % Total     October 29,
2011
     % Total     October 30,
2010
     % Total  

B&N Retail

   $ 917,576         48.5   $ 930,793         48.9   $ 1,918,141         57.9   $ 1,957,062         59.3

B&N College

     768,463         40.6     796,650         41.8     988,254         29.9     1,021,512         31.0

B&N.com

     205,922         10.9     176,703         9.3     403,970         12.2     321,415         9.7
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Sales

   $ 1,891,961         100.0   $ 1,904,146         100.0   $ 3,310,365         100.0   $ 3,299,989         100.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

During the 13 weeks ended October 29, 2011, the Company’s sales decreased $12.2 million, or 0.6%, to $1.892 billion from $1.904 billion during the 13 weeks ended October 30, 2010. The increase or (decrease) by segment is as follows:

 

   

B&N Retail sales for the 13 weeks ended October 29, 2011 decreased $13.2 million, or 1.4%, to $917.6 million from $930.8 million during the same period a year ago, and accounted for 48.5% of total Company sales. This decrease was primarily attributable to a 0.6% decrease in comparable store sales, which decreased sales by $5.1 million and by closed stores that decreased sales by $13.3 million. The 0.6% decrease in comparable sales was primarily due to a decline in trade books, offset by increases in digital products and non-book categories. B&N Retail also includes third-party sales of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

 

   

B&N College sales decreased $28.2 million, or 3.5%, to $768.5 million during the 13 weeks ended October 29, 2011 from $796.7 million during the 13 weeks ended October 30, 2010. The decrease in sales was primarily due to a higher mix of textbook rentals, which have a lower price than new or used

 

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textbooks. In addition, a portion of textbook rental sales are deferred over the rental period. For the 13 weeks ended October 29, 2011, closed stores decreased sales by $18.5 million and new B&N College stores contributed to an increase in sales of $20.5 million. Comparable store sales for the 13 weeks ended October 29, 2011 increased 0.4%.

 

   

B&N.com sales increased $29.2 million, or 16.5%, to $205.9 million during the 13 weeks ended October 29, 2011 from $176.7 million during the 13 weeks ended October 30, 2010. Comparable sales for B&N.com increased 38.2% for the 13 weeks ended October 29, 2011. This increase to sales was primarily due to higher sales of devices and digital content.

During the 13 weeks ended October 29, 2011, B&N Retail had no store openings and one store closing, and B&N College added five stores and closed three.

During the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011, the Company’s sales increased $10.4 million, or 0.3%, to $3.310 billion from $3.300 billion during the 26 weeks ended October 30, 2010. The increase or (decrease) by segment is as follows:

 

   

B&N Retail sales for the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 decreased $38.9 million, or 2.0%, to $1.918 billion from $1.957 billion during the same period a year ago, and accounted for 57.9% of total Company sales. This decrease was primarily attributable to a 1.1% decrease in comparable store sales, which decreased sales by $20.4 million, and by closed stores that decreased sales by $27.3 million. The decrease in comparable sales was primarily due to a decline in trade books, offset by increases in digital products and non-book categories.

 

   

B&N College sales decreased $33.3 million, or 3.3% to $988.3 million during the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 from $1.022 billion during the 26 weeks ended October 30, 2010. The decrease in sales was primarily due to a higher mix of textbook rentals, which have a lower price than new or used textbooks. In addition, a portion of textbook rental sales are deferred over the rental period. For the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011, closed stores decreased sales by $20.9 million and new B&N College stores contributed to an increase in sales of $24.2 million. Comparable store sales for the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 decreased 0.1%.

 

   

B&N.com sales increased $82.6 million, or 25.7%, to $404.0 million during the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 from $321.4 million during the 26 weeks ended October 30, 2010. Comparable sales for B&N.com increased 50.0% for the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011. This increase to sales was primarily due to higher sales of devices and digital content.

During the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011, B&N Retail had no store openings and two store closings, bringing its total number of Barnes & Noble stores to 703 with 18.4 million square feet, and B&N College added 19 stores and closed 18, ending the period with 637 B&N College stores. As of October 29, 2011, the Company operated 1,340 stores in the fifty states and the District of Columbia.

 

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Cost of Sales and Occupancy

 

     13 weeks ended     26 weeks ended  

Dollars in thousands

   October 29,
2011
     % of
Sales
    October 30,
2010
     % of
Sales
    October 29,
2011
     % of
Sales
    October 30,
2010
     % of
Sales
 

B&N Retail

   $ 644,507         70.2   $ 661,079         71.0   $ 1,350,206         70.4   $ 1,391,677         71.1

B&N College

     600,875         78.2     627,500         78.8     769,510         77.9     801,665         78.5

B&N.com

     174,915         84.9     165,447         93.6     331,427         82.0     304,827         94.8
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Cost of Sales and Occupancy

   $ 1,420,297         75.1   $ 1,454,026         76.4   $ 2,451,143         74.0   $ 2,498,169         75.7
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Company’s cost of sales and occupancy includes costs such as merchandise costs, distribution center costs (including payroll, freight, supplies, depreciation and other operating expenses), rental expense, common area maintenance and real estate taxes, partially offset by landlord tenant allowances amortized over the life of the lease.

During the 13 weeks ended October 29, 2011, cost of sales and occupancy decreased $33.7 million, or 2.3%, to $1.420 billion from $1.454 billion during the 13 weeks ended October 30, 2010. Cost of sales and occupancy decreased as a percentage of sales to 75.1% from 76.4% during the same period one year ago. The increase or (decrease) by segment is as follows:

 

   

B&N Retail cost of sales and occupancy decreased as a percentage of sales to 70.2% from 71.0% during the same period one year ago. This decrease was primarily attributable to higher margins realized through improved efficiencies associated with NOOK hardware, and lower occupancy costs, offset by deleveraging against the negative comparable sales of trade books.

 

   

B&N College cost of sales and occupancy decreased as a percentage of sales to 78.2% from 78.8% during the same period one year ago driven by increased textbook rentals and higher margin general merchandise products.

 

   

B&N.com cost of sales and occupancy decreased as a percentage of sales to 84.9% from 93.6% during the same period one year ago. This decrease was primarily attributable to a higher mix of more profitable digital content sales, as well as higher margins realized through improved efficiencies associated with NOOK hardware.

During the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011, cost of sales and occupancy decreased $47.0 million, or 1.9%, to $2.451 billion from $2.498 billion during the 26 weeks ended October 30, 2010. Cost of sales and occupancy decreased as a percentage of sales to 74.0% from 75.7% during the same period one year ago. The decrease by segment is as follows:

 

   

B&N Retail cost of sales and occupancy decreased as a percentage of sales to 70.4% from 71.1% during the same period one year ago. This decrease was primarily attributable to higher margins realized through improved efficiencies associated with NOOK hardware and lower occupancy costs, offset by deleveraging against the negative comparable sales of trade books.

 

   

B&N College cost of sales and occupancy decreased as a percentage of sales to 77.9% from 78.5% during the same period one year ago driven by increased textbook rentals and higher margin general merchandise products.

 

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B&N.com cost of sales and occupancy decreased as a percentage of sales to 82.0% from 94.8% during the same period one year ago. This decrease was primarily attributable to a higher mix of more profitable digital content sales, as well as higher margins realized through improved efficiencies associated with NOOK hardware.

Selling and Administrative Expenses

 

     13 weeks ended     26 weeks ended  

Dollars in thousands

   October 29,
2011
     % of
Sales
    October 30,
2010
     % of
Sales
    October 29,
2011
     % of
Sales
    October 30,
2010
     % of
Sales
 

B&N Retail

   $ 252,052         27.5   $ 268,449         28.8   $ 501,400         26.1   $ 538,599         27.5

B&N College

     73,684         9.6     73,869         9.3     135,642         13.7     134,099         13.1

B&N.com

     89,896         43.7     61,504         34.8     189,708         47.0     113,533         35.3
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Selling and Administrative Expenses

   $ 415,632         22.0   $ 403,822         21.2   $ 826,750         25.0   $ 786,231         23.8
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Selling and administrative expenses increased $11.8 million, or 2.9%, to $415.6 million during the 13 weeks ended October 29, 2011 from $403.8 million during the 13 weeks ended October 30, 2010. Selling and administrative expenses increased as a percentage of sales to 22.0% from 21.2% during the same period one year ago. The increase or (decrease) by segment is as follows:

 

   

B&N Retail selling and administrative expenses decreased as a percentage of sales to 27.5% from 28.8% during the same period one year ago due primarily to lower legal costs relating to the shareholder rights plan litigation and a proxy contest in the prior year period.

 

   

B&N College selling and administrative expenses increased as a percentage of sales to 9.6% from 9.3% during the same period one year ago primarily attributable to the deleveraging against the increase in textbook rentals.

 

   

B&N.com selling and administrative expenses increased as a percentage of sales to 43.7% from 34.8% during the same period one year ago. This increase was primarily attributable to increased costs to support digital growth, higher legal costs and higher advertising production costs.

Selling and administrative expenses increased $40.5 million, or 5.2%, to $826.8 million during the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 from $786.2 million during the 26 weeks ended October 30, 2010. Selling and administrative expenses increased as a percentage of sales to 25.0% from 23.8% during the same period one year ago. The increase (decrease) by segment is as follows:

 

   

B&N Retail selling and administrative expenses decreased as a percentage of sales to 26.1% from 27.5% during the same period one year ago due primarily to lower legal costs.

 

   

B&N College selling and administrative expenses increased as a percentage of sales to 13.7% from 13.1% during the same period one year ago primarily attributable to the deleveraging against the increase in textbook rentals.

 

   

B&N.com selling and administrative expenses increased as a percentage of sales to 47.0% from 35.3% during the same period one year ago. This increase was primarily attributable to increased costs to support digital growth and higher legal costs.

 

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Depreciation and Amortization

 

     13 weeks ended     26 weeks ended  

Dollars in thousands

   October 29,
2011
     % of
Sales
    October 30,
2010
     % of
Sales
    October 29,
2011
     % of
Sales
    October 30,
2010
     % of
Sales
 

B&N Retail

   $ 38,884         4.2   $ 39,919         4.3   $ 76,821         4.0   $ 79,321         4.1

B&N College

     11,426         1.5     10,758         1.4     22,276         2.3     21,326         2.1

B&N.com

     7,445         3.6     6,100         3.5     14,330         3.5     13,034         4.1
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Depreciation and Amortization

   $ 57,755         3.1   $ 56,777         3.0   $ 113,427         3.4   $ 113,681         3.4
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

During the 13 weeks ended October 29, 2011, depreciation and amortization increased $1.0 million, or 1.7%, to $57.8 million from $56.8 million during the same period one year ago.

During the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011, depreciation and amortization decreased $0.3 million, or 0.2%, to $113.4 million from $113.7 million during the same period last year.

Operating Profit (Loss)

 

     13 weeks ended     26 weeks ended  

Dollars in thousands

   October 29,
2011
    % of
Sales
    October 30,
2010
    % of
Sales
    October 29,
2011
    % of
Sales
    October 30,
2010
    % of
Sales
 

B&N Retail

   $ (17,867     -1.9   $ (38,654     -4.2   $ (10,286     -0.5   $ (52,535     -2.7

B&N College

     82,478        10.7     84,523        10.6     60,826        6.2     64,422        6.3

B&N.com

     (66,334     -32.2     (56,348     -31.9     (131,495     -32.6     (109,979     -34.2
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Operating Loss

   $ (1,723     -0.1   $ (10,479     -0.6   $ (80,955     -2.4   $ (98,092     -3.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The Company’s consolidated operating loss decreased $8.8 million, or 83.6%, to $(1.7) million during the 13 weeks ended October 29, 2011 from $(10.5) million during the 13 weeks ended October 30, 2010. This decrease was due to the matters discussed above.

The Company’s consolidated operating loss decreased $17.1 million, or 17.5%, to $(81.0) million during the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 from an operating loss of $(98.1) million during the 26 weeks ended October 30, 2010. This decrease was due to the matters discussed above.

Interest Expense, Net and Amortization of Deferred Financing Fees

 

     13 weeks ended     26 weeks ended  

Dollars in thousands

   October 29,
2011
     October 30,
2010
     % of
Change
    October 29,
2011
     October 30,
2010
     % of
Change
 

Interest Expense, Net and Amortization of Deferred Financing Fees

   $ 8,460       $ 12,791         -33.9   $ 17,901       $ 26,053         -31.3
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net interest expense and amortization of deferred financing fees decreased $4.3 million, to $8.5 million during the 13 weeks ended October 29, 2011 from $12.8 million during the 13 weeks ended October 30, 2010. This decrease

 

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was primarily due to the more favorable rates on the amended Credit Facility, lower borrowings driven by the Liberty investment and the payoff of the senior note in December 2010 relating to the acquisition of B&N College.

Net interest expense and amortization of deferred financing fees decreased $8.2 million, to $17.9 million during the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 from $26.1 million during the 26 weeks ended October 30, 2010. This decrease was due to the same matters discussed above.

Income Taxes

 

     13 weeks ended     26 weeks ended  

Dollars in thousands

   October 29,
2011
    Effective
Rate
    October 30,
2010
    Effective
Rate
    October 29,
2011
    Effective
Rate
    October 30,
2010
    Effective
Rate
 

Income Taxes

   $ (3,620     35.6   $ (10,690     45.9   $ (35,687     36.1   $ (49,023     39.5
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The Company had income tax benefit of $(3.6) million during the 13 weeks ended October 29, 2011 compared with an income tax benefit of $(10.7) million during the 13 weeks ended October 30, 2010. The Company’s effective tax rate was 35.6% and 45.9% for the 13 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010, respectively. The lower effective tax rate for the 13 weeks ended October 29, 2011 was primarily due to a lower state effective tax rate in the current period combined with discrete items in the prior year period.

Income tax benefit during the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 was $(35.7) million compared with an income tax benefit of $(49.0) million during the 26 weeks ended October 30, 2010. The Company’s effective tax rate was 36.1% and 39.5% for the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010, respectively.

Net Loss Attributable to Barnes & Noble, Inc.

 

     13 weeks ended     26 weeks ended  

Dollars in thousands

   October 29,
2011
    October 30,
2010
    October 29,
2011
    October 30,
2010
 

Net Loss Attributable to Barnes & Noble, Inc.

   $ (6,563   $ (12,568   $ (63,169   $ (75,085
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

As a result of the factors discussed above, the Company reported consolidated net loss attributable to Barnes & Noble, Inc. of $(6.6) million during the 13 weeks ended October 29, 2011, compared with consolidated net loss attributable to Barnes & Noble, Inc. of $(12.6) million during the 13 weeks ended October 30, 2010.

As a result of the factors discussed above, the Company reported a consolidated net loss attributable to Barnes & Noble, Inc. of $(63.2) million during the 26 weeks ended October 29, 2011, compared with a consolidated net loss attributable to Barnes & Noble, Inc. of $(75.1) million during the 26 weeks ended October 30, 2010.

Critical Accounting Policies

During the second quarter of fiscal 2012, there were no changes in the Company’s policies regarding the use of estimates and other critical accounting policies. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial

 

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Condition and Results of Operations,” found in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2011 for additional information relating to the Company’s use of estimates and other critical accounting policies.

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This quarterly report on Form 10-Q may contain certain forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)) and information relating to the Company that are based on the beliefs of the management of the Company as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the management of the Company. When used in this report, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “will” and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or the management of the Company, identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of Barnes & Noble with respect to future events, the outcome of which is subject to certain risks, including, among others, the general economic environment and consumer spending patterns, decreased consumer demand for Barnes & Noble’s products, low growth or declining sales and net income due to various factors, risk that international expansion will not be successfully achieved or may be achieved later than expected, possible disruptions in Barnes & Noble’s computer systems, telephone systems or supply chain, possible risks associated with data privacy, information security and intellectual property, possible work stoppages or increases in labor costs, possible increases in shipping rates or interruptions in shipping service, effects of competition, the risk that the expected sales lift from Borders’ store closures is not achieved in whole or part, the risk that digital sales growth is less than expectations and the risk that it does not exceed the rate of investment spend, higher-than-anticipated store closing or relocation costs, higher interest rates, the performance of Barnes & Noble’s online, digital and other initiatives, the performance and successful integration of acquired businesses, the risk that the Company may not be able to penetrate the international market or that such penetration will be slower than anticipated, risks associated with increased and/or different regulatory, tax, and legal frameworks in the international marketplace, the success of Barnes & Noble’s strategic investments, unanticipated increases in merchandise, component or occupancy costs, unanticipated adverse litigation results or effects, product and component shortages, and other factors which may be outside of Barnes & Noble’s control, including those factors discussed in detail in Item1A, “Risk Factors,” in Barnes & Noble’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Form 10-K/A, and in Barnes & Noble’s other filings made hereafter from time to time with the SEC. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results or outcomes may vary materially from those described as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, intended or planned. Subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements in this paragraph. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this Form 10-Q.

 

Item 3: Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The Company limits its interest rate risks by investing certain of its excess cash balances in short-term, highly-liquid instruments with an original maturity of one year or less. The Company does not expect any material losses from its invested cash balances and the Company believes that its interest rate exposure is modest. As of October 29, 2011, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents totaled approximately $23.6 million.

 

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Additionally, the Company may from time to time borrow money under its credit facility at various interest rate options based on the Base Rate or LIBO Rate (each term as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement) depending upon certain financial tests. Accordingly, the Company may be exposed to interest rate risk on borrowings under its credit facility. The Company had $274.9 million and $376.9 million in borrowings under its credit facility at October 29, 2011 and October 30, 2010, respectively.

The Company does not have any material foreign currency exposure as nearly all of its business is transacted in United States currency.

 

Item 4: Controls and Procedures

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company’s management conducted an evaluation (as required under Rules 13a-15(b) and 15d-15(b) under the Exchange Act), under the supervision and with the participation of the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act). A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that it will detect or uncover failures within the Company to disclose material information otherwise required to be set forth in the Company’s periodic reports. Based on management’s evaluation, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective at the reasonable assurance level.

(b) Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the fiscal quarter covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

The Company is involved in a variety of claims, suits, investigations and proceedings that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of its business, including actions with respect to contracts, intellectual property, taxation, employment, benefits, securities, personal injuries and other matters. The results of these proceedings in the ordinary course of business are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

The following is a discussion of the material legal matters involving the Company.

In re Initial Public Offering Securities Litigation

This class action lawsuit, filed in April 2002 (the Action), named over one thousand individuals and 300 corporations, including Fatbrain.com, LLC (Fatbrain), a former subsidiary of Barnes & Noble.com, and its former officers and directors. The amended complaints in the Action all allege that the initial public offering registration statements filed by the defendant issuers with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the one filed by Fatbrain, were false and misleading because they failed to disclose that the defendant underwriters were receiving excess compensation in the form of profit sharing with certain of its customers, and that some of those customers agreed to buy additional shares of the defendant issuers’ common stock in the aftermarket at increasing prices. The amended complaints also allege that the foregoing constitutes violations of: (i) Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) by the defendant issuers, the directors and officers signing the related registration statements, and the related underwriters; (ii) Rule 10b-5 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act”) by the same parties; and (iii) the control person provisions of the 1933 and 1934 Acts by certain directors and officers of the defendant issuers. A motion to dismiss by the defendant issuers, including Fatbrain, was denied.

After extensive negotiations among representatives of plaintiffs and defendants, the parties entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU), outlining a proposed settlement resolving the claims in the Action between plaintiffs and the defendant issuers. Subsequently, a Settlement Agreement was executed between the defendants and plaintiffs in the Action, the terms of which are consistent with the MOU. The Settlement Agreement was submitted to the court for approval, and on February 15, 2005, the judge granted preliminary approval of the settlement.

On December 5, 2006, the Federal Appeals Court for the Second Circuit (the Second Circuit) issued a decision reversing the District Court’s class certification decision in six focus cases. In light of that decision, the District Court stayed all proceedings, including consideration of the settlement. In January 2007, plaintiffs filed a Petition for Rehearing En Banc before the Second Circuit, which was denied in April 2007. On May 30, 2007, plaintiffs moved, before the District Court, to certify a new class. On June 25, 2007, the District Court entered an order terminating the Settlement Agreement. On October 2, 2008, plaintiffs agreed to withdraw the class certification motion. On October 10, 2008, the District Court signed an order granting the request.

A Settlement Agreement in principle, subject to court approval, was negotiated among counsel for all of the issuers, plaintiffs, insurers and underwriters, and executed by the Company. Preliminary approval of the settlement was granted by the court on June 10, 2009, and final court approval of the settlement was granted on

 

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October 5, 2009. Pursuant to the settlement, no settlement payment will be made by the Company. Since that time, various notices of appeal have been filed by certain objectors on an interlocutory basis. On August 25, 2011, the District Court ruled that the last remaining appellant of the decision granting final approval of the settlement has no standing to object to the settlement. This last remaining appellant has appealed the district court’s decision, and plaintiffs have moved to dismiss the appeal.

Minor v. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Inc. et al.

On May 1, 2009, a purported class action complaint was filed against B&N Booksellers, Inc. (B&N Booksellers) in the Superior Court for the State of California alleging wage payments by instruments in a form that did not comply with the requirements of the California Labor Code, allegedly resulting in impermissible wage payment reductions and calling for imposition of statutory penalties. The complaint also alleges a violation of the California Labor Code’s Private Attorneys General Act and seeks restitution of such allegedly unpaid wages under California’s unfair competition law, and an injunction compelling compliance with the California Labor Code. The complaint alleges two subclasses of 500 and 200 employees, respectively (there may be overlap among the subclasses), but contains no allegations concerning the number of alleged violations or the amount of recovery sought on behalf of the purported class. On June 3, 2009, B&N Booksellers filed an answer denying all claims. Discovery concerning purported class member payroll checks and related information is ongoing. On August 19, 2010, B&N Booksellers filed a motion to dismiss the case for lack of a class representative when the named plaintiff advised she did not wish to continue to serve in that role. On October 15, 2010, the Court issued an order denying B&N Bookseller’s motion to dismiss. The Court further ruled that Ms. Minor could not serve as a class representative. The Court also granted Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel Further Responses to previously-served discovery seeking contact information for the putative class. B&N Booksellers provided that information on October 15, 2010. The previously scheduled Case Management Conference was continued to January 27, 2011. Plaintiff’s counsel filed an amended complaint on January 26, 2011, adding two new named Plaintiffs, Jacob Allum and Cesar Caminiero. At the Case Management Conference held on January 27, 2011, the Court ordered the parties to complete mediation by May 6, 2011. The parties held a mediation on April 11, 2011. The parties have reached a tentative settlement of this matter. On August 29, 2011, the Court continued a hearing to consider granting preliminary approval of the settlement. On November 10, 2011, the parties appeared before the Court for the hearing on preliminary approval. At the Court’s request, the parties subsequently submitted supplemental papers to address outstanding issues raised by the Court at the hearing. The Court granted preliminary approval of the settlement on November 22, 2011 and set March 1, 2012 for the final approval hearing.

In re Barnes & Noble Stockholder Derivative Litigation (Consolidated Cases Formerly Captioned Separately as: Louisiana Municipal Police Employees Retirement System v. Riggio et al.; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority v. Riggio et al.; City of Ann Arbor Employees’ Retirement System v. Riggio et al.; Louise Schuman v. Riggio et al.; Virgin Islands Government Employees’ Retirement System v. Riggio et al.; Electrical Workers Pension Fund, Local 103, I.B.E.W. v. Riggio et al.)

Between August 17, 2009 and August 31, 2009, five putative shareholder derivative complaints were filed in Delaware Chancery Court against the Company’s directors. The complaints generally allege breach of fiduciary duty, waste of corporate assets and unjust enrichment in connection with the Company’s entry into a

 

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definitive agreement to purchase Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, which was announced on August 10, 2009 (the Transaction). The complaints generally seek damages in favor of the Company in an unspecified amount; costs, fees and interest; disgorgement; restitution; and equitable relief, including injunctive relief. On September 1, 2009, the Delaware Chancery Court issued an Order of Consolidation consolidating the five lawsuits (the Consolidated Cases) and directing plaintiffs to file a consolidated amended complaint. In a related development, on August 27, 2009, the Company received a demand pursuant to Delaware General Corporation Law, Section 220, on behalf of the Electrical Workers Pension Fund, Local 103, I.B.E.W., a shareholder, seeking to inspect certain books and records related to the Transaction. The Company provided this shareholder with certain documents, on a confidential basis, in response to its demand. On September 18, 2009, this shareholder filed a shareholder derivative complaint in Delaware Chancery Court against certain of the Company’s directors alleging breach of fiduciary duty and unjust enrichment and seeking to enjoin the consummation of the Transaction. At that time, this shareholder also filed a motion for expedited proceedings. At a hearing held on September 21, 2009, the court denied plaintiff’s request for expedited proceedings. On October 6, 2009, the plaintiffs in the Consolidated Cases filed a motion seeking to consolidate the later-filed sixth case with the Consolidated Cases. Also on October 6, 2009, the plaintiff in the sixth case filed a separate motion seeking to consolidate its case with the Consolidated Cases and appoint it as co-lead plaintiff and to appoint its counsel as co-lead counsel. On November 3, 2009, a Consolidated Complaint was filed in the Consolidated Cases. The Company and defendants sought an extension of their time to answer or otherwise respond to the complaints while the plaintiffs’ respective consolidation motions were pending. On December 11, 2009, the court entered an order consolidating all actions and appointing co-lead counsel for plaintiffs. Plaintiffs designated the Consolidated Complaint filed on November 3, 2009 to be the operative Complaint. The Company and defendants filed motions to dismiss the Consolidated Complaint on January 12, 2010. On January 29, 2010, plaintiffs informed defendants that they would amend their Complaint rather than respond to defendants’ motions to dismiss. Plaintiffs filed an Amended Consolidated Complaint on March 16, 2010. The Company and defendants filed motions to dismiss the Amended Consolidated Complaint on April 30, 2010. Plaintiffs filed their response to the motion to dismiss on June 2, 2010. Oral argument on the motions to dismiss was held on October 21, 2010. Following those arguments, the Court denied the Company’s motion to dismiss, denied in part and granted in part the motion to dismiss filed by Defendants Leonard Riggio, Stephen Riggio and Lawrence Zilavy, and denied in part and granted in part the motion to dismiss filed by the remaining defendants, dismissing all claims asserted against Directors George Campbell, Jr. and Patricia Higgins. Pursuant to the Court’s January 19, 2011 Scheduling Order, trial was scheduled to commence on December 12, 2011. On September 28, 2011, the Court adjourned the trial at the request of plaintiffs. Trial is now scheduled to commence on February 6, 2012. Discovery in this matter is proceeding.

Stephen Strugala v. Leonard Riggio, et al.

On December 21, 2010, a complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against the Company’s current directors and former directors Lawrence Zilavy and Michael Del Giudice. The complaint is purportedly brought both directly, on behalf of a putative class of shareholders, and derivatively, on behalf of the Company. The complaint generally alleges breaches of fiduciary duties, waste and unjust enrichment in connection with the Company’s acquisition of Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, the adoption of the Shareholder Rights Plan, and other unspecified instances of alleged mismanagement and alleged wrongful conduct. The complaint also generally alleges violations of Section 14(a) of the 1934 Act in connection with the issuance of various proxy statements by the Company. The complaint generally seeks declaratory and equitable relief, including injunctive relief, and costs and fees. On January 19, 2011, the Court granted the parties’ Stipulation and Order. On February 18, 2011, the plaintiff filed a Notice of

 

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Voluntary Dismissal of Claim, dismissing without prejudice his putative class claim for violations of Section 14(a) of the 1934 Act. On March 8, 2011, defendants filed a motion to dismiss all claims in the litigation. On October 4, 2011, the Court granted defendants’ motion to dismiss, but also granted plaintiff leave to replead within 30 days. On November 3, 2011, plaintiff requested a pre-motion conference with the Court to discuss an anticipated motion to substitute a new plaintiff, Ms. Whitney Parker, for Mr. Strugala. The Court has scheduled that pre-motion conference for December 9, 2011.

Microsoft Corp. v. Barnes & Noble, Inc. et al.

On March 21, 2011, Microsoft Corp. submitted a complaint to the U.S. International Trade Commission (U.S. ITC), encaptioned Certain Handheld Electronic Computing Devices, Related Software and Components Thereof, Inv. No. 337-TA-769, requesting that the U.S. ITC institute an investigation pursuant to Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended. The complaint was subsequently amended on April 8, 2011. The complaint alleges that the importation into the United States, sale for importation, and/or sale within the United States after importation of Barnes & Noble, Inc.’s and Barnes & Noble.com’s NOOK™ and NOOK Color™ products infringe certain claims of U.S. Patent Nos. 5,778,372 (the ’372 patent), 6,339,780 (the ’780 patent), 5,889,522 (the ’522 patent), 6,891,551 (the ’551 patent) and 6,957,233 (the ’233 patent) and requests that the U.S. ITC issue a permanent exclusion order and permanent cease and desist order with respect to these products. On April 1, 2011, the U.S. ITC published a Notice in the Federal Register soliciting comments on any public interest issues raised by the complaint. Barnes & Noble, Inc. and Barnes & Noble.com submitted comments in an April 7, 2011 letter. On April 19, 2011, the ITC served Barnes & Noble, Inc. and Barnes & Noble.com with a Notice of Investigation. On April 25, 2011, the U.S. ITC published the Notice of Investigation in the Federal Register. On May 10, 2011, Barnes & Noble, Inc. and Barnes & Noble.com filed a response to the complaint denying that they have engaged in any action that would constitute unlawful importation into the United States, sale for importation, or sale within the United States after importation. The response also sets forth six affirmative defenses, including a patent misuse defense. Through its discovery response on July 15, 2011, Microsoft made allegations of infringement of certain claims in the above five patents against the All-New NOOK™ product, which is also part of the investigation. Further, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ruled on November 14, 2011 that the NOOK Tablet™ is part of the investigation.

The parties filed their discovery statements on May 16, 2011, and a telephonic preliminary conference before the ALJ took place on June 2, 2011. On June 16, 2011, the parties submitted a joint proposed procedural schedule which the ALJ approved on June 17, 2011. The ALJ set a target date of August 27, 2012 with a final determination filed no later than April 27, 2012, and set a pre-hearing conference and tutorial for February 6, 2012 with the hearing to commence immediately thereafter and to conclude no later than February 15, 2012. The schedule called for the end of all discovery by December 6, 2011. On June 6, 2011, Microsoft moved to strike Barnes & Noble, Inc.’s and Barnes & Noble.com’s patent misuse defense. The ALJ ruled on July 19, 2011 that discovery should proceed on the patent misuse defense while the motion was pending and on October 3, 2011 denied the motion. On October 21, 2011, the ALJ ruled that fact discovery on the patent misuse defense would be extended until December 14, 2011 in light of the late production of a large volume of documents by Microsoft relating to that defense. The parties have in principle agreed to January 5, 2012 as the deadline for expert discovery related to the patent misuse defense.

On the same day that it submitted its original complaint to the U.S. ITC, Microsoft also filed a complaint against Barnes & Noble, Inc., Barnes & Noble.com, and a number of other defendants in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. The district court complaint also alleges that Barnes & Noble, Inc.

 

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and Barnes & Noble.com are infringing the ’372, ’780, ’522, ’551 and ’233 patents through the sale in the United States and the importation into the United States of the NOOK™ and NOOK Color™ products. Barnes & Noble, Inc. and Barnes & Noble.com answered the district court complaint on April 25, 2011. On May 18, 2011, Barnes & Noble, Inc. and Barnes & Noble.com filed a motion to stay the district court litigation until the ITC’s determination in the ITC investigation becomes final. On June 8, 2011, the district court granted the motion to stay.

Lina v. Barnes & Noble, Inc., and Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Inc. et al.

On August 5, 2011, a purported class action complaint was filed against Barnes & Noble, Inc. and Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Inc. in the Superior Court for the State of California making the following allegations against defendants with respect to salaried Store Managers at Barnes & Noble stores located in the State of California from the period of August 5, 2007 to present: (1) failure to pay wages and overtime; (2) failure to pay for missed meal and/or rest breaks; (3) waiting time penalties; (4) failure to pay minimum wage; (5) failure to provide reimbursement for business expenses; and (6) failure to provide itemized wage statements. The claims are generally derivative of the allegation that these salaried managers were improperly classified as exempt from California’s wage and hour laws. The complaint contains no allegations concerning the number of any such alleged violations or the amount of recovery sought on behalf the purported class. The Company was served with the complaint on August 11, 2011. On August 30, 2011, the Company filed an answer in state court, and on August 31, 2011 it removed the action to federal court pursuant to the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005, 28 U.S.C. § 1332(d). On October 28, 2011, the district court granted plaintiff’s motion to remand the action back to state court, over the Company’s opposition. The Company believes that the district court remanded the action in error. On November 7, 2011, Barnes & Noble petitioned the Ninth Circuit for an appeal of the district court’s remand order. The case is currently in state court, pending the Ninth Circuit’s decision regarding the Company’s petition for permission to review the remand order.

Rhonda Burstein v. Hachette Book Group, Inc., et al.

On August 12, 2011, a purported class action complaint was filed against Hachette Book Group, Inc., Harper Collins Publishers, Inc., Macmillan Publishers, Inc., Penguin Group (USA) Inc., Simon & Schuster, Inc., Random House, Inc., (collectively, the Publisher Defendants) and Apple, Inc., Amazon.Com, Inc., and Barnes & Noble, Inc. (collectively with the Publisher Defendants, the Defendants) in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of purchasers of eBooks of Publisher Defendants through Apple, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other eBook retailers. The complaint generally alleges a horizontal price fixing and a vertical conspiracy among the Defendants to restrain trade in the consumer retail market of eBooks in the United States in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. §1 and Section 2 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. §2. The complaint generally seeks treble damages in an undetermined amount sustained pursuant to Section 4 of the Clayton Act 15 U.S.C. § 15, costs and fees, and injunctive relief. Other complaints have been filed against the Publisher Defendants, Apple and/or Amazon that do not name the Company as a defendant resulting in a petition to the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (MDL Panel) to coordinate these cases, including the Burstein action, and consolidate them for pretrial purposes in the Southern District of New York or the Northern District of California. The MDL Panel held a hearing on December 1, 2011. The Company’s date to file a motion to dismiss the Complaint has been extended until after a consolidated amended complaint is filed in the jurisdiction chosen by the MDL Panel. The Company denies liability and intends to vigorously defend its interests.

 

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Barnes & Noble, Inc. and Barnesandnoble.com LLC v. LSI Corporation and Agere Systems, Inc.

On June 6, 2011, Barnes & Noble, Inc. filed a complaint against LSI Corporation in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Case No. 11-CV-2709 EMC. The complaint sought a declaratory judgment that Barnes & Noble, Inc. does not infringe U.S. Patent. Nos. 5,546,420; 5,670,730; 5,862,182; 5,920,552; 6,044,073; 6,119,091; 6,404,732; 6,452, 958; 6,707,867 and 7,583,582. Barnes & Noble, Inc. amended the complaint on August 10, 2011 to add barnesandnoble.com llc as a plaintiff, to add Agere Systems, Inc. as a defendant, to add a cause of action seeking a declaratory judgment that neither Barnes & Noble, Inc. nor barnesandnoble.com llc infringes U.S. Patent No. 7,477,633, and to add causes of action seeking a declaratory judgment that each of the eleven patents-in-suit is invalid. On November 1, 2011, LSI and Agere answered the amended complaint and asserted counterclaims against Barnes & Noble, Inc. and barnesandnoble.com llc, alleging infringement of the eleven patents-in-suit. An initial case management conference has been set for January 20, 2012. The Court has not yet entered a scheduling order in the case.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2011.

 

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Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

Period

   Total
Number
of Shares
Purchased
(a)
     Average
Price Paid
per Share
     Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased as
Part of
Publicly
Announced
Plans or
Programs
     Approximate
Dollar Value of
Shares That
May Yet Be
Purchased
Under the
Plans or
Programs
 

July 31, 2011 – August 29, 2011

     25,813       $ 13.12         —         $ 2,470,561   

August 30, 2011 – September 28, 2011

     11,485       $ 12.56         —         $ 2,470,561   

September 29, 2011 – October 29, 2011

     36,312       $ 11.83         —         $ 2,470,561   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total

     73,610       $ 12.40         —        
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

(a) All of the shares on this table above were originally granted to employees as restricted stock pursuant to the Company’s 2004 Incentive Plan and 2009 Incentive Plan. Both Incentive Plans provide for the withholding of shares to satisfy tax obligations due upon the vesting of restricted stock, and pursuant to the 2004 Incentive Plan and the 2009 Incentive Plan, the shares reflected above were relinquished by employees in exchange for the Company’s agreement to pay federal and state withholding obligations resulting from the vesting of the Company’s restricted stock.

On May 15, 2007, the Company announced its Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program for the purchase of up to $400.0 million of the Company’s common stock. The maximum dollar value of common stock that may yet be purchased under this program is approximately $2.5 million as of October 29, 2011.

Stock repurchases under this program may be made through open market and privately negotiated transactions from time to time and in such amounts as management deems appropriate. As of October 29, 2011, the Company has repurchased 33,526,859 shares at a cost of approximately $1.056 billion. The repurchased shares are held in treasury.

 

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Item 6. Exhibits

(a) Exhibits filed with this Form 10-Q:

 

  15.11    Letter from BDO USA, LLP regarding unaudited interim financial information.
  31.11    Certification by the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15(d)-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  31.21    Certification by the Interim Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15(d)-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  32.11    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  32.21    Certification of Interim Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS    XBRL Instance Document 1
101.SCH    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document1
101.CAL    XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document1
101.DEF    XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document1
101.LAB    XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document1
101.PRE    XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document1

 

1

Filed herewith.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

BARNES & NOBLE, INC.
(Registrant)
By:   /s/    ALLEN LINDSTROM        
  Allen Lindstrom
  Interim Chief Financial Officer
  (principal financial and accounting officer)

December 8, 2011

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

  15.11    Letter from BDO USA, LLP regarding unaudited interim financial information.
  31.11    Certification by the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15(d)-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  31.21    Certification by the Interim Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15(d)-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  32.11    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
  32.21    Certification of Interim Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS    XBRL Instance Document 1
101.SCH    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document1
101.CAL    XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document1
101.DEF    XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document1
101.LAB    XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document1
101.PRE    XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document1

 

1

Filed herewith.

 

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