Smithfield Foods, Inc has signed an agreement to acquire all of the assets of the Cook’s ham business of ConAgra Foods Packaged Foods Company, Inc. from ConAgra Foods, Inc.

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No purchase price was disclosed.


Cook’s, based in Lincoln, NE, is a producer of traditional and spiral sliced smoked bone-in hams, corned beef and other smoked meat items sold to supermarket chains and independent grocers throughout the US and Canada. Manufacturing facilities are located in Lincoln, as well as Grayson, KY, and Kansas City, MO. The company’s annual sales are about US$330m.


The transaction is subject to Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust clearance and other customary closing conditions. Smithfield expects to complete the transaction during its fiscal fourth quarter which ends April 30, 2006.

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