Smithfield readies U.S. stock market return after more than a decade
First company to publicly file in 2025 for a big New York IPO
Morgan Stanley, BofA and Goldman Sachs tapped as lead underwrites
WH Group acquired Smithfield in 2013 for 4.7 bln

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 Kongbased WH Group, the world39;s largest pork producer that took Smithfield private in 2013 for 4.7 billion, will sell some of its shares in the Virginiabased company in the offering, along side the company.

WH Group 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…