Chinezen houden wèl van varkensvlees

Shuanghui International Holdings Ltd.’s $4.7 billion bid for Smithfield Foods Inc. (SFD), the world’s biggest hog producer, faces hurdles from regulators and rivals to what would be largest Chinese acquisition of a U.S. company.

Under the terms of its deal, Smithfield has 30 days to continue talks with possible bidders Bangkok-based Charoen Pokphand Foods Pcl (CPF) and Sao Paulo-based JBS SA (JBSS3), according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be named because the deliberations are private. The U.S. may also rule that Chinese ownership could be a security risk, Ken Goldman, a New York-based analyst for JPMorgan Chase & Co., said in a report yesterday.