8-K 1 sfd02092011form8k.htm FORM 8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 9, 2011
SMITHFIELD FOODS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

| Virginia |  | 1-15321 |  | 52-0845861 |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |  | (Commission File Number) |  | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |

| 200 Commerce Street Smithfield, Virginia |  | 23430 |
| (Address of principal executive offices) |  | (Zip Code) |

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (757) 365-3000
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

| o | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

| o | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

| o | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

| o | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Section 2 – Financial Information

Item 2.02 | Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On February 9, 2011, C. Larry Pope, president and chief executive officer, and Robert W. Manly, executive vice president and chief financial officer, of Smithfield Foods, Inc. (the “Company”), will make a presentation at the Goldman Sachs Fifteenth Annual Agricultural Biotech Forum in New York, New York. The slides to be used in these meetings are furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and are incorporated by reference herein.
The presentation will contain certain non-GAAP financial information about the Company. The Company has included reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP financial measures in the presentation.
The non-GAAP financial measures in the presentation use financial measures computed in accordance with GAAP as a starting point. The GAAP measures are adjusted by the impact of certain significant items to arrive at the non-GAAP financial measures. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures reflect an additional way of viewing aspects of our business that, when viewed together with our financial results computed in accordance with GAAP, provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our historical financial performance and projected future operating results. This combined view of GAAP and non-GAAP measures also provides greater transparency of underlying profit trends and better comparability of results across periods. Additionally, investors frequently request information from management regarding significant items and management believes, based on feedback it has received during earnings calls and discussions with investors, that these non-GAAP measures enhance investors' ability to assess our historical performance and to project future financial performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are not intended to be a substitute for the comparable GAAP measures and should be read only in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. Management also uses certain of these non-GAAP financial measures, in conjunction with the GAAP financial measures, to understand, manage and evaluate our businesses and in planning for and forecasting financial results for future periods.
Section 9 – Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits.

| (d) Exhibits |

| 99.1 | Slides to be used in the Company’s presentation at the Goldman Sachs Fifteenth Annual Agricultural Biotech Forum on February 9, 2011.

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

|  | SMITHFIELD FOODS, INC.
Date: February 9, 2011 |  | /s/ Michael H. Cole
|  | Michael H. Cole
|  | Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit 99.1 | Slides to be used in the Company’s presentation at the Goldman Sachs Fifteenth Annual Agricultural Biotech Forum on February 9, 2011.

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