PETA to buy stock in Outback Steakhouse, Applebee's

[RoeBear]

http://www.animalagriculture.org/news/nov7/peta.htm

"Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is set to acquire stock in Outback Steakhouse and casual dining chain Applebee's, according to a report from CNN.

PETA currently owns shares of casual dining chain Denny's and Chili's parent Brinker International, as well as stock in Austin, Minn.-based Hormel Foods, Springdale, Ark.-based Tyson Foods, and Pittsburgh, Texas-based Pilgrim's Pride."

Interesting new ploy. I really don't see them buying enough shares to have any real say in the company policies, but interesting.

[theshadow]

1. It presents an ethical question....

which I'm not prepared to answer. If the CEO and the Board of Directors have a duty to protect the stockholders, what about stockholders who have an agenda contrary to the best interests of the company they bought into? Discuss among yourselves... :)

[hlthe2b]

2. well, if the goal truly is

to influence animal treatment from feedlot to slaughterhouse, I'm all for it. Maybe PETA will focus on these kind of areas where they can have some impact, rather than some of their more extreme activities of late.

[Kolesar]

3. Even moderately-large shareholders have no influence in companies

Shareholders like pension funds and insurance companies are commonly ignored when the board of directors decides on policies for a company. Only the wishes of the patrician class are weighed in decisions at the board level. I hope PETA can leverage their influence, but the equities laws are stacked against them.