Barnes & Noble Inc. (BKS.N) has created a special board committee to consider selling the retailer after receiving interest from several parties, including Chairman Len Riggio.

Shares of the book retailer surged as much as 24 per cent to US$6.79 in after-hours trading.

The retailer said it’s received interest from Riggio, also the company’s founder, largest shareholder and acting chief executive officer, and other unnamed parties. The company also enacted a takeover defense plan, after observing big purchases of its stock.

Barnes & Noble has experienced turmoil this year, firing former chief executive officer Demos Parneros without severance pay this summer for violating company policies. The stock has lost almost 19 per cent of its value this year as revenue contracts and operating losses.