Amazon, Apple & Google Benefit from Borders Bankruptcy

Borders Group, one of the two main brick-and-mortar bookstore competitors to online-only retailer Amazon AMZN , recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The development could present new opportunities for Amazon, which has already benefited from the growing digitization of literary content. Borders has indicated that it will close 200 stores, representing about 30% of its 642 stores in operation. The stores are expected to close by April 2011. In the short-term, deal hunting consumers may be lured into Borders stores for some liquidation sales, but beyond April Amazon and Barnes & Noble BKS are likely to see some benefit from the Borders bankruptcy. Borders is estimated to have generated over $2 billion in sales for the 12 months ended January 2011. Continue reading the article.