Smithfield Foods files for U.S. IPO
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USA – Smithfield Foods Inc., a major pork producer, has submitted a filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for an initial public offering (IPO).
The company plans to list its common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “SFD.”
This development follows a decision last month by WH Group, Smithfield Foods’ parent company, to approve the spin-off plan.
WH Group, headquartered in Hong Kong, has indicated its intention to list the pork processor on U.S. markets, a step that awaits shareholder approval.
Smithfield Foods has disclosed that its current shareholder, identified in the SEC registration statement, is expected to sell a portion of its common stock during the offering.
However, the specifics regarding the timing, share volume, and pricing have not been finalized.
The company also noted that the offering depends on market conditions, with no guarantee on whether it will proceed or its eventual terms.
In parallel with these IPO preparations, Smithfield Foods has initiated efforts to reduce its hog ownership.
Toward the end of last year, the company announced the sale of 150,000 breeding sows to Murphy Family Ventures, a transaction reportedly valued at approximately US$150 million.
This move is part of Smithfield’s broader strategy to streamline its operations ahead of the U.S. listing.
The agreement will position Murphy Family Ventures as one of the largest independent pork producers in the country, with a capacity to raise about 3.2 million hogs annually for Smithfield’s fresh pork operations.
Under the deal, Murphy Family Ventures will acquire the breeding sows and their offspring, while Smithfield will retain responsibility for production management, feed supply, and transportation.
Smithfield’s President and CEO, Shane Smith, highlighted the company’s shift over the past decade toward becoming a consumer-packaged goods-focused organization.
He described the deal as consistent with the company’s evolving strategy while maintaining a reliable hog supply from family farms.
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