To be fair, it sounds like the interim CEO and the activists are on the same page. He said he wants to a deal, so it's only a matter of time!
Then maybe this community needs to begin organizing (remember the SaveSkyMiles movement) and bring in franchisees, employees and other non-FT customers to organize our own no-merger activist movement?
My other half and I started talking to a contact about bringing in EB Visa money to do a Starwood hotel project...but if the company is planning a merger, we're not going to invest any money into a brand that might end up suffering a radical change in the next few years. I wouldn't invest money to open a Five Guys, only to be told a year later the company is owned by Burger King now and we need to change the menu.