animal rights pressure group PETA has purchased shares in French luxury goods company Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH). PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) bought shares in order to pressure LVMH to stop selling bags and other products made from exotic animal skins, such as crocodile. PETA has not disclosed what its shareholding is, although there are rumours that it has bought just single share. Even this stake in LVMH will mean PETA is eligible to attend shareholder meetings. PETA will also exercise its option to question LVMH board members in front of other shareholders to make sure its agenda to protect animals is heard and addressed.
main reason for PETA's share purchase is to bring LVMH to account regarding treatment of crocodiles. PETA said: "In wake of exposé revealing that reptiles on crocodile farms in Vietnam (including two that have supplied skins to tannery owned by Louis Vuitton's parent company, LVMH) are confined to tiny pits and sometimes hacked into while they're still alive and thrashing, PETA has become shareholder of LVMH…to put pressure on company to stop selling exotic skins merchandise." LVMH spokeswoman replied: "We have no knowledge of ... any cruel method involving suffering of animal. [This] is in clear contradiction of our principles and rules."
