Agreement between Shuanghui International Holdings Limited and Bank of China worth US$8 billion.

Combined company to have greater access to growing Chinese market, retain food safety & quality control standards.

More than 96% of the votes cast were voted in favor of the transaction.

Smithfield shareholder vote scheduled for September 24, 2013.

The transaction is expected to close in the second half of calendar 2013.

C. Larry Pope testified before the United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.

Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed bills that would have cleared the way for foreign ownership of farmland and potentially complicating the planned acquisition of Smithfield Foods by Shuanghui International.

Smithfield Foods Inc., which has agreed to a $4.7 billion bid from Shuanghui International Holdings Ltd., was urged by activist investor Starboard Value LP to consider splitting itself up instead.

Iowa, Missouri and several other Midwest states have existing laws that ban foreign ownership of farmland.