Chapter 16 - The Sale Was Not Revenge
Genevieve told relatives I bought Bell & Finch to take it from her.
Chronology disproved.
Term sheet signed six weeks before shoe incident.
Independent committee approval three days before.
Funding wired morning of.
Closing 4:00.
Incident 4:12.
No time machine.
Still, she argued I had targeted her company months earlier because of family resentment.
Again:
conflict process mattered.
Alder Row had records showing the opportunity came through the lender’s restructuring adviser.
I initially voted:
No action due family conflict.
Committee proceeded without me after counsel confirmed permissible.
Fairness opinion.
Third-party valuation.
Genevieve’s own investors accepted because liquidation recovery likely lower.
She objected but could not block under shareholder and credit agreements.
Was $5.2 million fair?
Independent expert range:
$4.7–$5.8 million.
Yes.
No brother stealing boutique for one dollar.
Under new ownership:
Flagship remained.
Second store remained.
Third unprofitable location closed after lease negotiation.
Thirty-one of thirty-eight jobs retained initially.
Five more transitioned later.
Brand name continued for eighteen months.
Genevieve’s founder title ended.
Painful.
Commercial.
Not personal justice.
I deliberately did not become CEO.
Leah appointed an experienced retail executive.
Good.
If I had installed myself behind counter, every business decision would become sibling theater.
The store needed distance.
May you like
So did I.
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