*

Smithfield readies U.S. stock market return after more

than a

decade

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First company to publicly file in 2025 for a big New York

IPO

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Morgan Stanley, BofA and Goldman Sachs tapped as lead

underwrites

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WH Group ( WHGRF ) acquired Smithfield in 2013 for $4.7 bln

(Adds details on IPO in paragraphs 3-5, financial details in

paragraphs 6 and 7)

Jan 6 (Reuters) - Smithfield Foods on Monday made public

its paperwork for an initial public offering in the United

States, as the maker of Farmland bacon and Farmer John sausages

prepares for its U.S. stock market return after more than a

decade.

Analysts and banking executives expect 2025 to be a bumper

year for IPOs, thanks to lower interest rates and a strong list

of companies waiting to tap public markets.

Hong Kong-based WH Group ( WHGRF ), the world's largest pork

producer that took Smithfield private in 2013 for $4.7 billion,

will sell some of its shares in the Virginia-based company in

the offering, along side the company.

WH Group ( WHGRF ) said in October the IPO is expected to represent an

offering of up to 20% of Smithfield shares on a fully diluted

basis and value the company at no less than $5.38 billion.

Smithfield, which separated its European operations last

year in preparation for the U.S. IPO, confidentially filed for

the New York flotation on Oct. 4.

The company reported a net income of $581 million in the

nine months ended Sept. 29 on sales of $10.19 billion.

That compares with a net loss of $2 million in the nine

months ended Oct. 1, 2023 on sales of $10.64 billion.

Smithfield was founded in 1936 as a packing company in

Virginia. Since then, it has grown into one of the major

producers of packaged meats and fresh pork products.

It was listed on the New York Stock Exchange from 1999 until

its acquisition in 2013.

Smithfield will list on the Nasdaq Global Select Market

under the symbol "SFD."

The proceeds from the listing will be used for general

corporate purposes, including capital investments in

infrastructure, automation, and capacity expansion, Smithfield

said.

Morgan Stanley, BofA Securities and Goldman Sachs are the

lead underwriters.

(Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru; Editing by

Shinjini Ganguli)