Chapter 19 - CARTER LAND & WATER
North Meridian withdrew its offer.
Not because I defeated them.
Because regulatory risk, governance conflict, and valuation disagreement made the transaction unattractive.
Another buyer appeared later.
The company declined.
Elaine Brooks remained CEO.
Carter Land & Water sold some noncore development parcels.
Refinanced debt.
Expanded employee ownership.
Created an independent water-rights ethics committee because concentrated water ownership carries public consequences beyond shareholder returns.
The child trust diversified gradually after court approval.
Its forty-nine percent fell to thirty-two through sales and exchanges.
Later twenty-four.
Nora remained wealthy.
She did not remain a controlling shareholder by accident of birth.
I supported that.
Some relatives called it giving away power.
I called it reducing the chance anyone would trap a pregnant woman in mud over a board vote again.
May you like
Hyperbolic.
But directionally correct.
