Barnes & Noble plan for e-reader split sparks shares slide The company is also looking at separating its e-reader business from the traditional bookstores, a radical departure from its current strategy that could raise questions about the future of the bricks and mortar side of the company. Analysts questioned whether the digital business would be as successful without the support of a retail chain. Discussions are now being held with publishers, retailers and technology companies in international markets that may lead to expansion of its Nook e-reader business overseas, the company said in the statement. The shares slid to $9.65 - the biggest interday decline since November 2011 - as the company said that full-year loss may be as much as $1.40 a share, after previously projecting a maximum loss of 50 cents a share. Barnes & Noble is the last surviving large book retailer in the US, following last year's liquidation of Borders. Its Nook business is its fastest-growing asset and has picked up momentum following its introduced a full-colour tablet computer in November. In the last quarter, sales of Nook e-readers and content were up 85pc to $220m. But the company has sacrificed profits to invest in moving into digital content. Sales of Nooks surged 70pc during the Christmas shopping period.