Bye Bye Borders

US Bankruptcy Court approves sale of Borders Group, Inc. to group of liquidators led by Hilco Merchant Resources, which will sell off all inventory and assets by September. The liquidation will likely bring in between $250 million and $284 million the company can use to pay back creditors. A slim hope remains for about 30 to 35 Borders stores to stay open if Books-a-Million, Inc. can hammer out an agreement to acquire the inventory and merchandise at the included stores, then negotiate with landlords on leases. Books-a-Million operates 231 stores in 23 states and the District of Columbia. Analysts expect Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com to pick up business, although small businesses in shopping centers anchored by Borders are likely to suffer.