The industry was been waiting eagerly and nervously for the conclusion of Barnes & Noble’s long-running exploration of a sale of the company. On Thursday the WSJ reported that hedge fund Elliott Management is the “lead bidder in an auction that could come to a head soon.” Or not. “The talks could still fall apart and a deal—with Elliott or any of the other bidders that have been circling the company—isn’t guaranteed.” Note that Barnes & Noble is due to report fiscal fourth quarter and full year earnings around June 20, so the expectation has been that the company would […]