Hendersons settle Angel’s Envy family feud
Wes Henderson, former chief operating officer of Angel’s Envy Bourbon, has settled a lawsuit with his mother, who launched legal action after the brand’s sale to Bacardi last year, a report has claimed.
Wes Henderson and his mother have settled a lawsuit launched last yearIn June 2015, Cecilia Henderson, widow of Wes Henderson’s late father Lincoln, who founded Angel’s Envy in 2006, filed a lawsuit claiming her son had “effectively stolen” her inheritance money from the brand’s sale to Bacardi in March 2015.
Lincoln Henderson, an inaugural member of the Kentucky Hall of Fame, died at the age of 75 in 2013.
Cecilia Henderson argued that Wes had not shared proceeds from her late husband’s share in a firm that owned around 10% of Angel’s Envy at the time of its acquisition last year.
In 2012, Lincoln Henderson and Wes Henderson each took a 50% share in a firm called Spirited Holdings, which had a stake in Angel’s Envy owner, Angel’s Share Brands.
When the brand was acquired by Bacardi for an undisclosed sum, the Hendersons had an 8-10% stake in Angel’s Share Brands.
The complaint read: “Mrs Henderson has attempted to resolve this matter directly with Wesley, but she is now left with no choice but to seek relief from this court. Mrs Henderson deeply regrets having to file a lawsuit against her own son, but she must protect Lincoln’s wishes and her own rights.”
According to the lawsuit, Lincoln Henderson left his “entire estate” to his wife in his will, who claims she “needs her inheritance to be financially self-sufficient”.
Louisville Business First now reports that attorneys representing both parties have confirmed the lawsuit was settled in February this year, but did not reveal the terms.
Wes Henderson remains “directly involved” in Angel’s Envy and acts as chief innovation officer for the brand’s parent Louisville Distilling Company – which Bacardi assumed ownership of.
