May 29, 2007/Canada NewsWire/DALLAS & SAO PAULO, BRAZIL & GREELEY, COLO. -- HM Capital Partners LLC, a Dallas-based private equity firm, J&F Participacoes S.A., which owns 77% of Brazil's JBS S.A., a Latin American beef processor, and Swift & Company, a processor of fresh beef and pork products, today announced that HM Capital and J&F have signed a definitive agreement under which J&F will acquire Swift in an all-cash transaction representing an enterprise value of approximately $1.4 billion.

The transaction value includes $225 million in cash for all Swift stock held by HM Capital and Booth Creek Management Corporation, its investment partner in the September 2002 acquisition of Swift from ConAgra Foods, Inc., and the assumption by J&F of approximately $1.2 billion in Swift debt plus all transaction-related expenses.

Edward Herring, a partner of HM Capital, said, "This is a win-win transaction for everyone involved. For HM Capital, the proceeds from this transaction, coupled with our earlier leveraged recapitalization of Swift, will together produce a very attractive return for our investors. For J&F, the strategic combination of Swift and JBS -- industry leaders with no market overlap -- will create the world's leading beef processor. The transaction also will benefit Swift's customers, employees and business partners, by creating a combined Swift-JBS enterprise in which Swift will retain its organizational identity, customer and supplier relationships and substantially all of its employees and leadership team while becoming part of the world's largest beef processor."

Joesley Mendonca Batista, partner of J&F and chief executive officer of JBS S.A., said, "We are thrilled to acquire Swift & Company, and to be able to create a combined enterprise that will be the world's leading processor of fresh beef and pork products. It is a major step for our group in establishing a global presence. More importantly, Swift will provide us with access to the Pacific region. Given the attractiveness of the asset, we are glad that we could reach an agreement with HM Capital. And finally, we would like to thank Swift's management team for their stewardship of Swift during a very challenging time for the company and the entire beef industry. Thanks to them, to Swift's thousands of valued customers, and to the 20,000 loyal and hard-working Swift employees worldwide, Swift today remains a great company with what we believe is significant earnings and growth potential."

Sam Rovit, vresident and chief executive officer of Swift, said, "Nothing is more important to me and my colleagues on the Swift management team than seeing Swift remain the strong, stable, customer-focused company we are today. Joining J&F to become the world's largest beef and pork processor, Swift should emerge even stronger, and that is good news for our partnership customers, our suppliers and our employees. I look forward to working closely with HM Capital and J&F to achieve a rapid completion of this transaction and a smooth, seamless transition to the new ownership structure."

HM Capital's financial advisor with regard to the transaction was JP Morgan and its legal advisor was Vinson & Elkins, LLP. Rothschild acted as J&F's exclusive financial advisor and Greenberg Traurig LLP and Velloza, Girotto & Lindenbojm as its legal advisors.

Completion of the transaction is subject to Hart-Scott-Rodino and other antitrust reviews and customary closing conditions, and is expected to occur in mid-July.

HM Capital, in partnership with Booth Creek Management Corporation, of Vail, Colorado, acquired Swift & Company -- then known as ConAgra Meats Company -- from ConAgra Foods, Inc. in September 2002. The original Swift & Company was founded in 1855.

From the June 4, 2007, Prepared Foods e-Flash