BOSTON (Reuters) – Index fund BlackRock and other major McDonald’s shareholders are backing the company in a boardroom vote that puts the fast-food chain on course to defeat investor Carl Icahn who sought to replace two directors and raise awareness about animal welfare, sources said on Wednesday.

BlackRock, whose 4.6% stake ranks it as McDonald’s third largest investor, has cast its votes for the company, two people familiar with the voting said.

(Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss, Editing by Franklin Paul)