Reply #48: Althought Borders is much kinder in buyouts than B&N

[Taverner]

They usually give the option of franchisement, stock and employee retention (with packages that are generally better than the small bookstores can offer.)

The Borders near me used to be an independant bookstore, but the company gave the owner a sweet deal to convert - which included health benefit increases for her longtime employees for whom she couldn't afford such a generous plan.

Not all buyouts are created equal tho...