Smithfield Foods Announces Termination of Negotiations to Acquire Controlling Interest in Campofrio Food Group

Smithfield Foods, Inc. SFD announced today that it has terminated negotiations with respect to its proposed joint delisting takeover bid, together with Mr. Pedro Ballve, to acquire the remaining shares of Campofrio Food Group, S.A. "While the acquisition of Campofrio would have furthered Smithfield's long term strategy of becoming a leading global consumer packaged meats company, we feel it is in the best interest of our shareholders to terminate negotiations at this time. Our decision has been influenced by numerous factors including continued adverse economic conditions in Europe that show few signs of abating, and the recent decline in our stock price, which has made the proposed transaction more difficult to finance on a basis that is accretive to our shareholders," said C. Larry Pope, president and chief executive officer.