China's largest meat processing giant Shuanghui International Holdings Ltd announced the change of its corporate name to WH Group Ltd on Jan 21, effective immediately, National Business Daily reported.

Wan Long, chairman and chief executive officer of Shuanghui International, was quoted as saying the renaming reflects the company's increasing presence in the global market.

In November, Reuters reported that Shuanghui International planned to be listed on the Hong Kong exchange by the second quarter of 2014, and six banks were mandated as underwriters.

Sources close to Shuanghui said the new name will be used in the company's IPO application, the newspaper reported. 

Shuanghui reached an agreement with Sigma Alimentos SA de CV to share ownership with Spanish meat processor Campofrio in December 2013.