"SEC Urged to Probe JBS Claims on Environment, Animal Welfare"

"Animal rights organizations have asked the SEC to investigate meatpacking giant JBS SA for allegedly misleading investors about its animal welfare and environmental practices in paperwork submitted to list the company on the New York Stock Exchange.

The Brazilian meatpacker also made misleading statements on its website and in sustainability reports, a letter to the SEC stated. The Humane Society of the United States, Center for Biological Diversity, and Farmed Animal Advocacy Clinic at Vermont Law and Graduate School said the company’s statements in its initial public offering paperwork violate US securities law and asked that the SEC toss the documents if an investigation proves them to be misleading.

“The Humane Society has been paying attention to what we see as clear discrepancies between JBS’ public promises and its actual practices,” Rebecca Cary, a managing attorney of animal protection law at the Humane Society, said. “We are extremely interested in the SEC investigating claims as it relates to animal welfare, and we implore them to take action based on these claims.”

The letter—dated June 17 but made public June 18—also asked the SEC to look into JBS’ subsidiaries."

Avani Kalra reports for Bloomberg Environment June 20, 2024.

Source: Bloomberg Environment, 06/21/2024