February 1, 2000
Audible Jumps After Amazon.com Deal
By JUSTIN DINI
NYTimes.com/TheStreet.com, 10:05 a.m.
hares in Web audio content provider Audible jumped in early trading Monday on news the company has inked a promotional pact with Amazon.com .
Under the terms of the deal, Amazon will snag a 5 percent stake in Audible and feature Audible services on the Amazon site over the next three years in exchange for $30 million.
Audible shares rose 10 percent, or 1 1/2, to 15 7/8. Amazon shares fell 1 5/8, or 3 percent, to 60 1/16.
Amazon said the deal gives the e-tailing giant access to Audible's 20,000 hours of digital audio content. Wayne, N.J-based Audible offers content from everything from The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times to "audiobooks" by Stephen King and William Shakespeare.
The agreement is expected to close later this quarter.
Amazon.com joins a group of investors in Audible that includes Microsoft as well as venture capital firms Patricof & Co. and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.
The pact is a boon for both companies, said Nitsan Hargil, analyst with Kaufman Bros.
"Audible's page is increasing its visibility tremendously, and Amazon buys 5 percent of Audible at market value while locking out competitors like Barnesandnoble.com in this space."
Amazon bought its stake at Friday's market closing price, $15, Hargil said.
Audible has exclusive deals with most of its content providers, which makes it very difficult for potential competitors to make any headway, he noted. Hargil rates Audible a buy with a $25 price target, though he may revise that number on Monday's news. His firm has not done any underwriting for either company.
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