date:May 31, 2013
s decision to break ranks also may pressure peers to follow its lead or relinquish access to the world's fastest-growing food market, China.
Smithfield's move may have helped clear the way for Wednesday's deal to sell the company to Shuanghui International for $4.7 billion, which if completed will be the biggest Chinese takeover of a U.S. firm, says Tim Ramey, an analyst with DA Davidson Co.
I think it was an enabling factor for this to happen, Ramey said.
We have said we will make the chan