Smithfield Foods: Activists and Acquisitions

Description

This research-based case uses the circumstances surrounding Virginia-based Smithfield Foods’ (Smithfield’s) buyout offers from multiple foreign firms to examine the political and cultural constraints of a regionally rooted global firm in pursuing its strategic objectives. Smithfield’s senior leadership receives offers from three firms, ShuangHui International (ShuangHui), JBS S.A. (JBS), and Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF), based in China, Brazil, and Thailand, respectively, to acquire all of Smithfield’s outstanding assets and liabilities. Smithfield’s history was one of aggressive growth through acquisition, skirting government regulations, and truculence with respect to labor and environmental activists. However, as revenues plateaued, the firm faced increasing investor pressure to either trim costs or sell off portions of the company to improve shareholder value. Though the company’s operations crossed continents, its identity and brand were tied to southeastern Virginia. Would it be best for the company or its shareholders to sell? If so, to whom? What risks would the firm face, politically and culturally, if it decided to do so? Because of its many details, the instructor teaching this case can approach the content from a number of strategic or leadership perspectives.

Related Documents

• Smithfield Foods: Activists and Acquisitions - Teaching Note

Keywords

ambiculture American identity cross-border acquisition M&A nationalism Postmerger integration Virginia business