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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

     
þ   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

   
For the quarterly period ended November 28, 2004

or

     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

   
For the transition period from            to            .

Commission file number 333-100717-06

S&C Holdco 3, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Delaware   81-0557245
(State of incorporation)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)
     
1770 Promontory Circle, Greeley, CO   80634
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(970) 506-8000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No ¨

     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No þ

     There is no market for the Registrant’s common stock. As of January 7, 2005, 1,000 shares of the Registrant’s common stock were outstanding.



 


QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
November 28, 2004

TABLE OF CONTENTS

             
        Page  
        No.  
PART I. Financial Information
  Financial Statements     3  
  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations     27  
  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.     40  
  Controls and Procedures     42  
PART II. Other Information
  Legal Proceedings     43  
  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds     43  
  Defaults Upon Senior Securities     43  
  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders     43  
  Other Information     43  
  Exhibits     43  
 
  Signatures     44  
 Indemnification Agreement
 Certification of CEO Pursuant to Section 302
 Certification of CFO Pursuant to Section 302
 Certification of CEO Pursuant to Section 906
 Certification of CFO Pursuant to Section 906

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PART I. Financial Information

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

S&C HOLDCO 3, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

                 
    May 30, 2004     November 28, 2004  
ASSETS
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 100,255     $ 87,149  
Trade accounts receivable, net
    329,944       381,886  
Accounts receivable from related parties (Note 4)
    33,466        
Inventories
    480,679       520,984  
Other current assets
    41,443       37,583  
 
           
Total current assets
    985,787       1,027,602  
Property, plant and equipment, net
    601,915       595,431  
Goodwill
    37,117       39,575  
Other intangibles, net
    32,398       29,685  
Other assets
    34,678       32,925  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 1,691,895     $ 1,725,218  
 
           
LIABILITIES AND
               
STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
               
Current liabilities:
               
Current portion of long-term debt
  $ 4,239     $ 3,663  
Accounts payable
    246,888       308,694  
Accounts payable to related parties (Note 4)
    11,850        
Accrued liabilities
    190,902       232,010  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    453,879       544,367  
Long-term debt, excluding current portion
    632,269       631,937  
Other non-current liabilities
    115,514       125,415  
 
           
Total liabilities
    1,201,662       1,301,719  
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 3 and 5)
               
Stockholder’s equity:
               
Common stock, par value $0.01, 1,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding at
May 30, 2004 and November 28, 2004
           
Additional paid-in capital
    365,378       354,213  
Retained earnings
    83,820       4,234  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    41,035       65,052  
 
           
Total stockholder’s equity
    490,233       423,499  
 
           
Total liabilities and stockholder’s equity
  $ 1,691,895     $ 1,725,218  
 
           

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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S&C HOLDCO 3, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

                                         
    Thirteen Weeks     Thirteen Weeks     Twenty-Six Weeks     Twenty-Six Weeks          
    Ended     Ended     Ended     Ended          
    November 23, 2003     November 28, 2004     November 23, 2003     November 28, 2004          
Net sales (Note 4)
  $ 2,538,289     $ 2,601,481     $ 5,018,680     $ 5,230,406          
Cost of goods sold (Note 4)
    2,462,383       2,550,390       4,836,195       5,092,344          
 
                               
Gross profit
    75,906       51,091       182,485       138,062          
 
                               
Selling, general and administrative
    36,180       27,438       67,711       62,106          
Translation losses (gains)
    710       (1,297 )     1,257       (1,351 )        
Interest expense
    15,155       18,675       35,883       33,940          
 
                               
Total expenses
    52,045       44,816       104,851       94,695          
 
                               
Income before income taxes
    23,861       6,275       77,634       43,367          
Income tax expense
    8,483       2,041       27,561       15,394          
 
                               
Net income
  $ 15,378     $ 4,234     $ 50,073     $ 27,973          
 
                               

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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S&C HOLDCO 3, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

                 
    Twenty-Six     Twenty-Six Weeks  
    Weeks Ended     Ended  
    November 23, 2003     November 28, 2004  
Cash flows from operating activities:
               
Net income
  $ 50,073     $ 27,973  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
               
Depreciation
    39,395       39,468  
Amortization of intangibles, debt issuance costs and accretion of bond discount
    7,240       7,195  
Stock-based compensation
    805       2,718  
Other noncash items
    217       2,272  
Change in assets and liabilities
    (27,076 )     45,161  
 
           
Net cash flows provided by operating activities
    70,654       124,787  
 
           
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Net additions to property, plant and equipment
    (36,267 )     (16,003 )
Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment
    1,550       1,193  
Notes receivable and other items
          187  
 
           
Net cash flows used in investing activities
    (34,717 )     (14,623 )
 
           
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Proceeds from debt issuance
    12,365        
Payments of long-term debt
    (2,195 )     (2,437 )
Change in overdraft balances
    275       (257 )
Debt modification fees
          (846 )
Dividends paid
          (121,442 )
 
           
Net cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities
    10,445       (124,982 )
 
           
Effect of exchange rates on cash
    762       1,712  
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
    47,144       (13,106 )
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    64,939       100,255  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $ 112,083     $ 87,149  
 
           
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
               
Capital lease
  $ 382     $  
 
           

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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S&C HOLDCO 3, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

     S&C Holdco 3, Inc. (“Swift Holdings”) is a Delaware corporation which owns 100% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Swift & Company (“Swift Operating”). The operations of Swift Operating and its subsidiaries constitute the operations of Swift Holdings under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

     Swift Operating is one of the leading beef and pork processing companies in the world. Swift Operating processes, prepares, packages and delivers fresh, further processed and value-added beef and pork products for sale to customers in the United States and international markets. Swift Operating also provides services to its customers designed to help them develop more sophisticated and profitable sales programs. Swift Operating sells its meat products to customers in the foodservice, international, further processor and retail distribution channels. Swift Operating also produces and sells by-products that are derived from its meat processing operations and variety meats to customers in various industries.

     Swift Operating conducts its domestic beef and pork processing businesses through Swift Beef Company (“Swift Beef”) and Swift Pork Company (“Swift Pork”) and its Australian beef business through Australia Meat Holdings Pty. Ltd. (“Swift Australia”). Swift Operating operates six beef processing facilities, three pork processing facilities, one lamb processing facility and one value-added facility in the United States and four beef processing facilities and four feed lots in Australia. Swift Operating’s facilities are strategically located to access raw materials in a cost-effective manner and to service our global customer base.

     These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes, which are included in the Swift Holdings Annual Report on Form 10-K. The interim consolidated financial information furnished herein is unaudited and reflects all normal and recurring adjustments, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods presented.

     The results of operations for any quarter or a partial fiscal year period or for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for other periods or the full fiscal year.

     On September 19, 2002, HMTF Rawhide, L.P. (the “Purchaser”) acquired a 54% interest in the United States beef, pork and lamb processing business and the Australian beef business of ConAgra Foods Inc. (the “Transaction”) excluding (i) ConAgra Beef Company’s cattle feeding operations (the “domestic cattle feeding operations”) and (ii) Weld Insurance Company, Inc., Monfort Finance Company, Inc., and Monfort Construction Company. Subsequent to the Transaction the Purchaser owned approximately 54% of Swift Foods Company (“Swift Foods”), ConAgra Foods owned approximately 45% and management of Swift Foods owned approximately 1%. Swift Foods owns 100% of the outstanding capital stock of S&C Holdco 2, Inc., which in turn owns 100% of the outstanding common stock of Swift Holdings, which in turn owns 100% of the outstanding common stock of Swift Operating. In a related transaction, a subsidiary of Swift Foods also acquired all of the common stock of the domestic cattle feeding operations, which are not part of the business of Swift Holdings and its subsidiaries.

     On July 30, 2004, the Purchaser gave notice of its exercise of the right to purchase all of the remaining common stock of Swift Foods held by ConAgra Foods and its affiliates. The purchase of such stock was completed on September 23, 2004 (the “Call Option”) for a purchase price of approximately $200 million including fees and direct costs of the transaction and was funded by a credit facility obtained by a subsidiary of the Purchaser. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) generally provides for the application of “push down accounting” in situations where the ownership of an entity has changed, meaning that the post-transaction financial statements of the acquired entity reflect a new basis of accounting. The accompanying financial statements of Swift Holdings do not reflect a new basis of accounting pursuant to Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 54 (“SAB 54”). The guidance in SAB 54 allows the post-Call Option financial statements to continue under the historical basis of accounting because of the existence of significant outstanding public debt at the time of the Call Option.

     Swift Holdings is currently evaluating the impact of electing to file consolidated tax returns in Australia. A possible benefit of the election is a step-up in tax assets. The impact of the election will be incorporated in the financial statements when a final determination is made.

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  Use of Estimates

     The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, using management’s best estimates and judgments where appropriate. These estimates and judgments affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of the contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. The estimates and judgments will also affect the reported amounts for certain revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates and judgments. During the thirteen weeks ended November 28, 2004 Swift Operating reduced certain labor related accruals based on Swift Operating’s second quarter performance. Workers’ compensation and medical accruals were also reduced by $5.5 million in the thirteen weeks ended November 28, 2004 based on updated actuarial trends and analysis.

  Reclassifications

     Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

  Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

     In January 2003, FIN No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities (“FIN 46”), was issued. The Interpretation provides guidance on consolidating variable interest entities. In November 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) approved a partial deferral of FIN 46 and proposed various other amendments to FIN 46. In December 2003, the FASB issued a revision of the Interpretation (the “Revised Interpretation 46”). Revised Interpretation 46 codifies both the proposed modifications and other decisions previously issued through certain FASB Staff Positions and supercedes the original Interpretation to include: (1) deferring the effective date of the Interpretation’s provisions for certain variable interests, (2) providing additional scope exceptions for certain other variable interests, (3) clarifying the impact of troubled debt restructurings on the requirement to reconsider whether an entity is a variable interest entity, and (4) revising Appendix B of the original Interpretation to provide additional guidance on what constitutes a variable interest. The revised guidelines of the Interpretation apply immediately to variable interests in variable interest entities created after December 31, 2003 and will become applicable for Swift Holdings in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2005 for variable interest entities created before December 31, 2003. Swift Holdings believes it is reasonably possible that the domestic cattle feeding operations with which Swift Beef had a transitional live cattle supply agreement (see Note 4) could be deemed a variable interest entity under the recently revised rules. As discussed in Note 4, Swift Beef purchased at fair market value substantially all of the live cattle production of the domestic cattle feeding operations through December 31, 2004. This business has total assets of approximately $350 million, of which approximately $300 million represents inventory, primarily cattle, and has historically generated net income of less than $1.0 million.

     On September 24, 2004 the common stock of Monfort Finance Company, Inc. (“Monfort”), the entity owning the domestic cattle feeding operations was tendered to ConAgra Foods in full settlement of, and release from, all outstanding liabilities under Monfort’s term loan and revolving credit agreements, and the common stock of Monfort ceased to be an investment of Swift Foods. The settlement included an agreement to: 1) continue the cattle supply to Swift Beef until all of the remaining cattle inventory of the feedlots has finished and delivered to Swift Beef’s processing facilities and 2) provided for the continuation of certain administrative and information technology services through December 31, 2004 to enable the domestic cattle feeding operations (which occupied a portion of Swift Operating’s Greeley, Colorado corporate headquarters) to transition itself to ConAgra Foods’ computer and other support systems. Swift Beef believes that sufficient supplies of cattle at market prices exist to meet its needs in 2005 and beyond.

     In March 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) reached a consensus on Issue No. 03-1, The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments. EITF 03-1 provides guidance on other-than-temporary impairment models for marketable debt and equity securities accounted for under SFAS No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities, and SFAS No. 124, Accounting for Certain Investments Held by Not-for-Profit Organizations, and non-marketable equity securities accounted for under the cost method. The EITF developed a basic three-step model to evaluate whether an investment is other-than-temporarily impaired. On September 30, 2004, the FASB approved the issuance of FASB Staff Position (FSP) EITF 03-1-1, which delays the effective date until additional guidance is issued for the application of the recognition and measurement provisions of EITF 03-1 to investments in securities that are impaired. Swift Holdings does not expect the adoption of EITF 03-1 to have a material effect on its results of operations or financial condition.

     On December 16, 2004, the FASB issued SFAS 123R, Share-Based Payment — An Amendment of FASB Statement No. 123 and 95. The Statement addresses the accounting for transactions in which an enterprise receives employee services in exchange for (a) equity instruments of the enterprise or (b) liabilities that are based on the fair value of the enterprise’s equity instruments or that may be settled by the issuance of such equity instruments. Companies will be required to recognize an expense for compensation cost related to share-based payment arrangements including

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stock options and employee stock purchase plans. The new rules will be effective for periods beginning after June 15, 2005. Swift Holdings is currently evaluating option valuation methodologies and assumptions, and the transition alternatives permitted by SFAS 123R. Current estimates of option values using the Black-Scholes method may not be indicative of results from valuation methodologies upon Swift Holdings adoption of SFAS 123R in its second quarter of fiscal 2006.

     In November 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 151, Inventory Costs — an Amendment of ARB No. 43. SFAS No. 151 amends the guidance in ARB No. 43, Chapter 4, “Inventory Pricing,” to clarify the accounting for abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs, and spoilage, and requires that these items be recognized as current-period charges regardless of whether they meet the criterion of “so abnormal.” In addition, SFAS No. 151 requires that allocation of fixed production overheads to the costs of conversion be based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. The provisions of SFAS No. 151 are effective for inventory costs incurred during fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005, with earlier application permitted. Swift Holdings does not expect the adoption of SFAS No. 151 to have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

  Income Taxes

     On October 22, 2004, the American Jobs Creation Act (“AJCA”) was signed into law. The AJCA includes three provisions that may impact Swift Holdings’ effective tax rate. The first provision provides a deduction for 85% of certain foreign earnings that are repatriated, as defined in the AJCA, at an effective tax cost of 5.25% on any such repatriated foreign earnings. The second provision allows manufacturing concerns to take a new deduction; subject to limitation, equal to a portion of its manufacturing gross receipts. This deduction will not be available to Swift Holdings until its fiscal year 2006. Swift Holdings has begun an evaluation of these provisions; however, it is not expected to be able to complete a full evaluation of the effect of these provisions until after Congress or the Treasury Department provide additional clarifying language on key elements of the provisions. Swift Holdings expects to complete its evaluation of the effects of the repatriation provision and manufacturing deduction provision within a reasonable period of time following the publication of the additional clarifying language.

          The third provision included in the AJCA is the phased out repeal of the extraterritorial income exclusion. Beginning on January 1, 2005, the tax benefit that has been utilized by Swift Holdings for export sales will gradually begin to phase out. Swift Holdings will take these new provisions into account in its tax provision as they become effective.

  Inventories

     The components of inventories, net of reserves, are as follows (in thousands):

                 
    May 30, 2004     November 28, 2004  
Livestock
  $ 79,226     $ 97,066  
Product inventories:
               
Work in progress
    45,158       35,422  
Finished goods
    328,316       357,892  
Supplies
    27,979       30,604  
 
           
 
  $ 480,679     $ 520,984  
 
           

  Property, Plant and Equipment

     Property, plant and equipment are comprised of the following (in thousands):

                 
    May 30, 2004     November 28, 2004  
Land
  $ 11,419     $ 11,888  
Buildings, machinery and equipment
    617,550       643,934  
Property and equipment under capital lease
    26,449       27,068  
Furniture, fixtures, office equipment and other
    49,225       51,120  
Construction in progress
    21,848       27,869  
 
           
 
    726,491       761,879  
Less accumulated depreciation
    (124,576 )     (166,448 )
 
           
 
  $ 601,915     $ 595,431  
 
           

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  Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

     Following is a rollforward of goodwill by segment for the twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004 (in thousands):

                                 
                    Translation        
    May 30, 2004     Adjustments     Gains/(Losses)     November 28, 2004  
Swift Beef
  $ 1,028     $     $     $ 1,028  
Swift Pork
    12,681                   12,681  
Swift Australia
    23,408             2,458       25,866  
 
                       
Total
  $ 37,117     $     $ 2,458     $ 39,575  
 
                       

     Other identifiable intangible assets as of May 30, 2004 and November 28, 2004 are as follows (in thousands):

                                                 
    May 30, 2004     November 28, 2004  
    Gross             Net     Gross             Net  
    Carrying     Accumulated     Carrying     Carrying     Accumulated     Carrying  
    Amount     Amortization     Amount     Amount     Amortization     Amount  
Amortizing intangible assets:
                                               
Patents
  $ 3,782     $ (696 )   $ 3,086     $ 3,782     $ (902 )   $ 2,880  
Preferred Supplier Agreement
    28,202       (5,431 )     22,771       28,202       (7,571 )     20,631  
Live Cattle Supply Agreement
    1,482       (1,195 )     287       1,482       (1,482 )      
Water Right Agreements
    6,320       (66 )     6,254       6,271 (a)     (97 )     6,174  
 
                                   
Total amortizing intangibles
  $ 39,786     $ (7,388 )   $ 32,398     $ 39,737     $ (10,052 )   $ 29,685  
 
                                   

     For the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003 and November 28, 2004, Swift Operating recognized $1.4 million, $2.8 million, $1.2 million and $2.7 million of amortization expense, respectively.

     Based on amortizing assets recognized in Swift Operating’s balance sheet as of November 28, 2004, amortization expense for each of the next five fiscal years is estimated as follows (in thousands):

         
2005 (remaining)
  $ 2,377  
2006
    4,755  
2007
    4,755  
2008
    4,755  
2009
    4,846  

  Overdraft Balances

     The majority of Swift Holding’s bank accounts are zero balance accounts where cash needs are funded as checks are presented for payment by the holder. Checks issued pending clearance that result in overdraft balances for accounting purposes are included in the trade accounts payable balance, and the change in the related balance is reflected in financing activities on the statements of cash flows. As of May 30, 2004 and November 28, 2004, bank overdrafts included in trade accounts payable were $127.4 million and $127.2 million, respectively. As of May 30, 2004 and November 28, 2004 Swift Holdings had zero borrowings on its revolving line of credit and these checks were funded with normal operating cash flows.

  Foreign Currency Translation

     For foreign operations, the local currency is the functional currency. Translation into U.S. dollars is performed for assets and liabilities at the exchange rates as of the balance sheet date. Income and expense accounts are translated at average exchange rates for

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the period. Adjustments resulting from the translation are reflected as a separate component of other comprehensive income. Translation gains and losses on U.S. dollar denominated revolving intercompany borrowings between the Australian subsidiaries and the U.S. parent are recorded in earnings. Translation gains and losses on U.S. dollar denominated intercompany borrowings between the Australian subsidiary and the U.S. parent, which are deemed to be part of the investment in the subsidiary, are recorded in other comprehensive income.

Comprehensive Income

     The components of comprehensive income for the periods indicated below are as follows (in thousands):

                                 
    Thirteen Weeks     Thirteen Weeks     Twenty-Six Weeks     Twenty-Six Weeks  
    Ended     Ended     Ended     Ended  
    November 23, 2003     November 28, 2004     November 23, 2003     November 28, 2004  
Net income
  $ 15,378     $ 4,234     $ 50,073     $ 27,973  
Other comprehensive income
                               
Derivative adjustment, net of tax
    52       2,456       (2,603 )     2,245  
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax
    23,562       25,365       20,979       21,772  
 
                       
Total comprehensive income
  $ 38,992     $ 32,055     $ 68,449     $ 51,990  
 
                       

     The above derivative adjustments are net of tax of $0.0 million and $1.5 million for the thirteen weeks ended November 23, 2003 and November 28, 2004, respectively and ($1.6) million and $1.4 million for the twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003 and November 28, 2004, respectively. The above foreign currency translation adjustments are net of tax of ($0.2) million and $6.9 million for the thirteen weeks ended November 23, 2003 and November 28, 2004, respectively, and ($0.2) million and $6.6 million for the twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003 and November 28, 2004, respectively.

  Stock-Based Compensation

     Prior to fiscal year 2005, Swift Operating accounted for the Swift Foods stock-based compensation plan under the recognition and measurement principles of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related interpretations. No stock-based compensation cost related to stock options was reflected in net income, as all options granted had an exercise price equal to or above the market value of the underlying common stock of Swift Foods on the date of grant. See note 8, “Subsequent Events” for discussion of additional shares granted.

     During the second quarter 2005 Swift Operating adopted the fair value based method of accounting for stock options as presented in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (“SFAS No. 123”), Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, as amended by SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure, effective as of the beginning of fiscal year 2005. Swift Operating used the “modified prospective method” transition, as defined in SFAS No. 123, where employee stock-based compensation cost was recognized from May 31, 2004 as if the fair value based accounting method in SFAS No. 123 had been used to account for all employee awards granted, modified, or settled in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1994. As a result, compensation costs of $2.0 million and $2.1 million were recognized for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004 respectively. The charge for the thirteen weeks ended November 28, 2004 includes expense of $1.8 million relating to the modification of stock awards previously granted due to the exercise of the call option (see Note 1).

     Swift Operating determined fair value for the stock options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The assumption used in the calculation of the compensation cost was a risk-free interest rate of 2.53% with an expected remaining life of 2 years. As allowed, Swift Operating also used a zero volatility factor in estimating the value of their stock options.

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     The adoption of SFAS No. 123 requires Swift Operating to restate previously presented results for the thirteen weeks ended August 29, 2004. The restatement has no effect on cash flows for the period. The effect of the adoption of SFAS No. 123 on results previously reported for the thirteen weeks ended August 29, 2004 is summarized in the table below:

For the thirteen weeks ended August 29, 2004
(in thousands)

                         
            Adjustments        
            Related to the        
    As     Adoption of        
    Reported     SFAS 123     Restated  
Income and expenses
                       
Net Sales
  $ 2,628,925     $     $ 2,628,925  
Cost of goods sold
    (2,541,954 )           (2,541,954 )
Selling, general and administrative
    (34,546 )     (122 )     (34,668 )
Translation gains
    54             54  
Interest expense
    (15,265 )           (15,265 )
 
                 
Income before income taxes
    37,214       (122 )     37,092  
Income tax expense
    (13,397 )     44       (13,353 )
 
                 
Net income
  $ 23,817     $ (78 )   $ 23,739  
 
                 
 
                       
As of August 29, 2004
(in thousands)
                       
 
                       
Assets
                       
Current assets
  $ 1,049,780     $     $ 1,049,780  
Property, plant and equipment, net
    586,894             586,894  
Goodwill
    36,730             36,730  
Other intangibles, net
    30,974             30,974  
Other assets
    33,188             33,188  
 
                 
Total assets
  $ 1,737,566     $     $ 1,737,566  
 
                 
Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity
                       
Total liabilities
  $ 1,348.461     $ (44 )   $ 1,348,417  
 
                 
Additional paid-in capital
    351,873       44       351,917  
Retained earnings
                 
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    37,232             37,232  
 
                 
Total stockholder’s equity
    389,105       44       389,149  
 
                 
Total liabilities and stockholder’s equity
  $ 1,737,566     $     $ 1,737,566  
 
                 

     As provided for under SFAS No. 148, the following table illustrates the effect on net income per quarter and year-to-date if Swift Holdings had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS 123 to stock-based employee compensation for fiscal year 2004 (in thousands).

                         
    Thirteen Weeks     Thirteen Weeks     Twenty-Six Weeks  
    Ended     Ended     Ended  
    August 24, 2003     November 23, 2003     November 23, 2003  
Net income, as reported
  $ 34,695     $ 15,378     $ 50,073  
Add back: stock-based employee compensation recognized in net income reported, net of tax effect.
                 
Total stock-based compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of tax effect
    (17 )     (51 )     (68 )
 
                 
Pro forma net income
  $ 34,678     $ 15,327     $ 50,005  
 
                 

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NOTE 2. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

     Swift Operating is exposed to market risk, such as changes in commodity prices, foreign currency exchange rates and interest rate risk. To manage volatility associated with these exposures, Swift Operating may enter into various derivative transactions pursuant to established policies. Derivatives that qualify and are designated for hedge accounting under the provisions of SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, are measured at fair value and reported as a component of other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the same period in which the hedged transaction affects earnings. Hedges that do not qualify, or are not designated for hedge accounting, are measured at fair value and the gain or loss is recognized currently into earnings. Gains and losses from energy and livestock derivatives are recognized in the statement of earnings as a component of cost of goods sold or as a component of other comprehensive income upon change in fair value. Gains and losses from foreign currency derivatives are recognized in the statement of earnings as a component of net sales or as a component of other comprehensive income upon change in fair value.

     The fair value of derivative assets is recognized within other current assets, while the fair value of derivative liabilities is recognized within accrued liabilities. At May 30, 2004 and November 28, 2004, the fair value of derivatives recognized within other current assets was $21.1 million and $14.9 million, respectively. The fair value of derivatives recognized within accrued liabilities was $8.0 million and $12.9 million, respectively. In the first quarter of fiscal 2004, Swift Operating entered into a $100.0 million notional amount interest rate swap to change the characteristics of a portion of its senior debt from fixed rate debt to variable rate debt. This action was taken in order to achieve a fixed/floating rate debt target deemed appropriate for the business. The maturity date of the interest rate swap is October 2007 and the floating rate is calculated based on the six-month USD LIBOR set on the last day of each calculation period plus a fixed spread. The fair value of the interest rate swap can change dramatically based on a number of variables, including significant change in the shape of the yield curve and the passage of time. The interest rate swap does not qualify for hedge accounting. For the thirteen weeks ended November 23, 2003 and November 28, 2004 Swift Operating recognized, in interest expense, an increase in fair value of $2.1 million and a decrease in fair value of $0.7 million, respectively, related to the swap. For the twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003 and November 28, 2004 Swift Operating recognized, in interest expense, a decrease in fair value of $1.2 million and an increase in fair value of $1.5 million, respectively, related to the swap. At May 30, 2004 and November 28, 2004, the fair value of the interest rate swap recognized within accrued liabilities was $2.9 million and $1.4 million, respectively.

     During the second quarter ended November 23, 2003, Swift Operating began a policy of entering into forward contracts to hedge its exposure to gains and losses related to the currency impacts of US dollar denominated revolving intercompany borrowings with its Australian subsidiary. Changes in the fair value of these contracts are recorded in the statements of earnings as an offset to translation gains or losses on intercompany borrowings.

     As of May 30, 2004 and November 28, 2004, the net deferred amount of derivative gains and losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income was a $0.2 million net of tax gain and a $2.5 million net of tax gain, respectively. Swift Operating

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anticipates gains of $2.5 million, net of tax, will be transferred out of accumulated other comprehensive income and recognized within earnings over the next 12 months.

     Swift Operating requires various raw materials in its operations, including cattle, hogs and energy, such as natural gas, electricity and diesel fuel, which are all considered commodities. Swift Operating considers these raw materials generally available from a number of different sources and believes it can obtain them to meet its requirements. These commodities are subject to price fluctuations and related price risk due to factors beyond Swift Operating’s control, such as economic and political conditions, supply and demand, weather, governmental regulation and other circumstances. Generally, Swift Operating hedges a portion of its anticipated consumption of commodity inputs for periods of up to 12 months. Swift Operating may enter into longer-term derivatives on particular commodities if deemed appropriate. As of November 28, 2004, Swift Operating executed derivative contracts for certain portions of the anticipated consumption of commodity inputs through August 2005. As of November 28, 2004, Swift Operating had derivative positions in place covering approximately less than 1% and 47% of its anticipated need for livestock and natural gas, respectively.

NOTE 3. LONG-TERM DEBT AND LOAN AGREEMENTS

     The major components of debt are as follows (in thousands):

                 
    May 30,     November 28,  
    2004     2004  
Short-term debt :
               
Revolving credit facility
  $     $  
Current portion of long-term debt (term loan).
    2,000       2,000  
Current portion of installment notes payable
    1,014       361  
Current portion of capital lease obligations
    1,225       1,302  
 
           
Current portion of long-term debt
    4,239       3,663  
 
           
 
               
Long-term debt:
               
Term loan facility, net of current portion
    195,000       194,000  
Senior notes, net of unamortized discount
    254,767       256,011  
Senior subordinated notes
    150,000       150,000  
Long-term portion of installment notes payable
    11,719       11,539  
Long-term capital lease obligations
    20,783       20,387  
 
           
Long-term debt, less current portion
    632,269       631,937  
 
           
Total debt
  $ 636,508     $ 635,600  
 
           

     As of November 28, 2004, Swift Operating had approximately $196.0 million of secured debt outstanding, approximately $32.2 million of outstanding letters of credit, and approximately $240.8 million of availability under its revolving credit facility. The remaining $77.0 million under the revolving credit facility was not immediately available for borrowings due to borrowing base limitations.

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     A summary of the components of interest expense is presented below (in thousands):

                                 
    Thirteen Weeks     Thirteen Weeks     Twenty-Six Weeks     Twenty-Six Weeks  
    Ended     Ended     Ended     Ended  
    November 23, 2003     November 28, 2004     November 23, 2003     November 28, 2004  
Interest on:
                               
Revolving credit facility
  $ 1,397     $ 1,700     $ 2,552     $ 2,939  
Term loan facility (approximately 4.4%, 4.8%, 4.4% and 4.7%)
    2,180       2,192       4,417       4,486  
Senior notes (10.125% rate)
    6,757       6,778       13,625       13,525  
Senior subordinated notes (12.50% rate).
    4,672       4,686       9,334       9,348  
Capital lease interest
    451       455       903       915  
Other miscellaneous interest charges
    126       92       186       231  
Interest rate swap
    (2,580 )     501       554       (1,941 )
Amortization of deferred financing costs
    1,602       1,667       3,186       3,283  
Amortization of original issue discount.
    621       622       1,245       1,245  
Less: Capitalized interest
    (71 )     (18 )     (119 )     (91 )
 
                       
Total interest expense
  $ 15,155     $ 18,675     $ 35,883     $ 33,940  
 
                       

     Financial Covenants — Swift Operating’s senior credit facilities contain financial covenants that limit its ability to incur additional indebtedness, sell or dispose of assets, pay certain dividends and prepay or amend certain indebtedness among other matters.

     On September 13, 2004, Swift Operating amended the agreement for its senior credit facilities. This amendment resulted in a 0.75% reduction to the interest rate of the revolving loan and term loan borrowings.

     On November 17, 2004, Swift Operating amended the agreement for its senior credit facilities. This amendment resulted in a change to the calculation of the fixed charge ratio and other technical changes resulting from the Call Option transaction discussed in note 1.

     In conjunction with the amendments discussed above, Swift Holdings paid $0.8 million in bank fees.

NOTE 4. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

     Purchases and Sales with ConAgra Foods — In connection with the Transaction, Swift Operating entered into a preferred supplier agreement with ConAgra Foods. Sales to ConAgra Foods, which are included in net sales in the statements of earnings, were $200.2 million and $376.2 million for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003, respectively. As of September 23, 2004 ConAgra Foods ceased to be a related party with Swift Operating due to the Call Option transaction (see note 1 for further discussion of this transaction). Sales to ConAgra Foods included in net sales on the statement of earnings for the period prior to September 23, 2004 were $57.0 million and $250.0 million for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004, respectively. Purchases from affiliates of ConAgra Foods, which are included in cost of goods sold in the statements of earnings, were $265.0 million and $534.6 million for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003, respectively. For the period prior to September 23, 2004, purchases totaling $59.9 million and $233.2 million were included in cost of goods sold in the statements of earnings for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004, respectively. These amounts include purchases made under the Cattle Supply Agreement referred to below. Within Swift Operating’s May 30, 2004 balance sheet are balances due to ConAgra Foods affiliates of $11.9 million and balances due from ConAgra Foods affiliates of $33.5 million. These balances include any payable or receivable related to the Cattle Supply Agreement, the By-Products Marketing Agreement and the Indemnity Side Letter.

     Monitoring and Oversight Agreement — In connection with the Transaction, Swift Operating and certain of its direct and indirect parents and subsidiaries entered into a ten-year agreement with an affiliate of Hicks Muse (“Hicks Muse Partners”) pursuant to which Swift Operating will pay Hicks Muse Partners an annual fee for ongoing oversight and monitoring services provided to it. The annual fee will be adjusted at the beginning of each fiscal year to an amount equal to the greater of (a) $2 million or (b) 1% of the budgeted consolidated annual EBITDA of Swift Foods and its subsidiaries. The annual fee will also be adjusted in the event that Swift Foods or any of its subsidiaries acquires another entity or business during the term of the agreement. This expense is paid in advance quarterly. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003 and November 28, 2004 include $0.6 million, $1.2 million, $0.7 million and $1.5 million, respectively, related to this agreement.

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     Transition Services Agreement — At the closing of the Transaction, Swift Operating, certain of its direct and indirect parents and subsidiaries, and the entities that acquired and operate the domestic cattle feeding operations of ConAgra Foods entered into a one-year transition services agreement (“Transition Services Agreement”) with ConAgra Foods pursuant to which, among other things, ConAgra Foods provided certain transition services, including information technology, accounting, risk management, market research and product brokerage services, to Swift Operating and Swift Operating provided certain transition services, including information technology, purchasing and human resources services to ConAgra Foods. The parties agreed, during the term, to use their commercially reasonable efforts to locate third party service providers to replace the services provided under the Transition Services Agreement. Such amounts, if paid, are included in cost of goods sold and selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying statements of earnings. Payments received from ConAgra Foods for services Swift Operating provided under this agreement for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003 were $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively. For these same periods, Swift Operating paid $0.0 million and $1.0 million, respectively, to ConAgra Foods for services provided to it under this agreement. This agreement terminated on September 20, 2003 and no payments have been made in the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004.

     Live Cattle Supply Agreement — At the closing of the Transaction, Swift Beef and Monfort, the entity that operates the domestic cattle feeding operations, entered into a live cattle supply agreement (“Cattle Supply Agreement”) pursuant to which Swift Beef agreed to purchase all of the cattle produced by the domestic cattle feeding operations from such entity for processing at facilities owned by Swift Beef. The Cattle Supply Agreement terminated on September 19, 2004, the maturity date of the term loan and revolving credit facility between the domestic cattle feeding operations and ConAgra Foods. For the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003, Swift Beef incurred $255.2 million and $514.0 million, respectively, under this agreement, which amount is included in cost of goods sold in the statements of earnings. For the period prior to September 19, 2004, Swift Beef incurred $44.4 million and $211.9 million respectively, under this agreement, which amount is included in cost of goods sold in the statements of earnings for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004.

     On September 24, 2004 the common stock of Monfort was tendered to ConAgra Foods in full settlement of, and release from, all outstanding obligations under Monfort’s credit facility. The settlement included an agreement to continue the cattle supply to Swift Beef until all of the remaining cattle inventory of the feedlots are finished and delivered to Swift Beef’s processing facilities, or December 31, 2004, whichever was earlier. As the former ConAgra feedlots supplied approximately 40% of the Greeley plant’s processing needs, while the remaining 60% is provided by unrelated third parties, Swift Beef believes that sufficient supplies of cattle at market prices exist to meet its needs in 2005 and beyond.

     By-Products Marketing Agreement — On October 8, 2003, Swift Operating entered into a by-products marketing agreement (the “Marketing Agreement”) with ConAgra Trade Group, Inc. (“CTG”) pursuant to which Swift Operating sells to CTG certain by-products resulting from its processing of cattle and hogs in its US operations at prices in accordance with the agreement. The term of the agreement commenced May 26, 2003 and has been amended to extend the termination date to May 31, 2009. The parties split the pre-tax profit or losses resulting from CTG’s marketing of the by-products purchased based on a sliding scale. As of September 23, 2004 CTG ceased to be a related party with Swift Operating due to the Call Option transaction (see note 1 for further discussion of this transaction). The May 30, 2004 balance sheet included approximately $1.4 million in receivables from CTG. The consolidated statement of earnings for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003 include $1.6 million and $2.1 million, respectively, of income related to this agreement. For the period prior to September 23, 2004, the consolidated statement of earnings for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004 include $0 million and $0.7 million, respectively, of income related to this agreement.

     On October 8, 2003, Swift Operating entered into a separate agreement for by-products marketing of its Australian operations with CTG pursuant to which Swift Operating sells certain by-products resulting from its processing of cattle at prices in accordance with the agreement. In addition, Swift Operating received the right to continue utilizing the existing business name “CTG Rendered Products” for by-products in Australia and New Zealand. The term of the agreement commenced May 26, 2003 and has been amended to extend the termination date to May 31, 2009. As of September 23, 2004 CTG ceased to be a related party with Swift Operating due to the Call Option transaction (see note 1 for further discussion of this transaction). Swift Australia had approximately $0.6 million on its balance sheet payable to CTG at May 30, 2004. The consolidated statement of earnings for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003 include $0.3 million and $0.4 million, respectively, of expense related to this agreement. For the period prior to September 23, 2004, the consolidated statement of earnings for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004 include $0.2 million and $0.5 million, respectively, of income related to this agreement.

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     Dividend Payable — During the first quarter of fiscal 2005, the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $121.4 million, payable to Swift Foods, which resulted in a reduction of retained earnings of $107.6 million and a reduction in additional paid in capital of $13.8 million. The dividend was paid on September 13, 2004.

     Indemnity Side Letter — In connection with the closing of the Transaction, ConAgra Foods agreed to reimburse Swift Operating to the extent recall costs incurred after the Transaction exceed the accrual made for estimated recall costs pursuant to the purchase agreement relating to the Transaction, and Swift Operating agreed to reimburse ConAgra Foods to the extent the accrual exceeds the recall costs. ConAgra Foods has further agreed to indemnify Swift Operating for liabilities, costs and expenses that it may incur with respect to third parties in connection with product liability claims or personal injury causes of action arising from the consumption of the products subject to the recall. The May 30, 2004 and November 28, 2004 balance sheets include a $1.6 million receivable from ConAgra Foods for reimbursement of amounts in excess of the accrual which represents additional claims from customers seeking reimbursement for recall related costs.

NOTE 5. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

     On May 10, 2002, a lawsuit was filed against ConAgra Foods and ConAgra Beef Company (which was renamed Swift Beef Company) in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska seeking certification of a class of all persons who have sold fed cattle to ConAgra Foods for cash, or on a basis affected by the cash price for fed cattle, during the period in which claims may be maintained pursuant to the applicable statute of limitations. The case was originally filed by two named plaintiffs on behalf of a putative nationwide class that plaintiffs estimate exceeds 15,000. The complaint alleges that ConAgra Foods, in violation of the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921, has used its market power and alleged use of captive supplies of fed cattle to reduce the prices paid to cattle producers in the cash market. The plaintiffs seek declaratory relief, unspecified compensatory damages, attorneys’ fees and expenses, and injunctive relief. On December 4, 2002, the complaint was amended to substitute two corporate entities for one of the individual plaintiffs. On December 16, 2002, the plaintiffs moved for class certification. ConAgra Foods has answered the amended complaint and filed a brief in opposition to the plaintiff’s motion for class certification. The court has not ruled on plaintiffs’ motion for class certification. On April 21, 2004, the court stayed all proceedings in this case pending the outcome of an appeal in a separate case, in which neither ConAgra Foods nor Swift Operating is a party, that is pending in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. ConAgra Foods will indemnify Swift Operating against any judgments for monetary damages or settlements arising out of this litigation or any future litigation filed against ConAgra Foods, the entities and operations acquired in the Transaction (the “Acquired Business”), Swift Operating or certain of its affiliates that is based primarily on the substantive facts of this litigation to the extent that the litigation seeks damages resulting from the activities of ConAgra Foods or the Acquired Business prior to the acquisition of these entities. Swift Operating believes that the defendants have acted properly and lawfully in their dealings with cattle producers. Management is currently unable to determine the outcome of this matter or to estimate the amount of potential loss, if any. In accordance with SFAS No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies, Swift Operating has not established a loss accrual associated with this claim.

     On July 1, 2002, a lawsuit was filed against ConAgra Beef Company (which was renamed Swift Beef Company), Tyson Foods, Inc., Excel Company and Farmland National Beef Packing Company, L.P. in the United States District Court of South Dakota seeking certification of a class of all persons who sold cattle to the defendants for cash, or on a basis affected by the cash price for cattle, during the period from April 2, 2001 through May 11, 2001 and for some period up to two weeks thereafter. The case was filed by three named plaintiffs on behalf of a putative nationwide class that plaintiffs estimate is comprised of hundreds or thousands of members. The complaint alleges that the defendants, in violation of the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921, knowingly used, without correction or disclosure, incorrect and misleading boxed beef price information generated by the United States Department of Agriculture to purchase cattle offered for sale by the plaintiffs at a price substantially lower than was justified by the actual and correct price of boxed beef during this period. The plaintiffs seek unspecified damages, or alternatively, restitution based on equitable principles of unjust enrichment. The plaintiffs also seek attorneys’ fees and expenses. On June 4, 2004, the district court granted plaintiffs’ motion for class certification. By an order dated July 7, 2004, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit declined to accept an interlocutory appeal of the order granting class certification. The district court has set the case for trial in December of 2005, and it has set interim deadlines by which the plaintiffs must send notice to all class members and by which the parties must complete fact and expert discovery and submit pretrial motions and materials to the court. ConAgra Foods will indemnify Swift Operating against any judgments for monetary damages or settlements arising out of this litigation or any future litigation filed against ConAgra Foods, the Acquired Business, Swift Operating or certain of its affiliates that is based primarily on the substantive facts of this litigation to the extent that the litigation seeks damages resulting from the activities of ConAgra Foods or the Acquired Business prior to the acquisition of these entities to the extent such damages together with any other indemnifiable claims under the acquisition agreement entered into to effect the Transaction exceed a minimum threshold of $7.5 million. Swift Operating believes that Swift Beef Company has acted properly and lawfully in its dealings with cattle producers. Management is currently unable to

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evaluate the outcome of this matter or to estimate the amount of potential loss, if any. In accordance with SFAS No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies, Swift Operating has not established a loss accrual associated with this claim.

     Swift Operating is also a party to a number of other lawsuits and claims arising out of the operation of its businesses. Management believes the ultimate resolution of such matters should not have a material adverse effect on Swift Operating’s financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

NOTE 6. BUSINESS SEGMENTS

     Swift Operating is organized into three reportable segments, Swift Beef, Swift Pork and Swift Australia. Segment operating performance is evaluated by the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) based on Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“EBITDA”). Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior periods’ reporting segment presentation to conform to the way in which the CODM currently views Swift Operating in evaluating the financial performance of its operating segments.

     Swift Beef — The majority of Swift Beef’s revenues are generated from the sale of fresh meat, which includes chuck cuts, rib cuts, loin cuts, round cuts, thin meats, ground beef and other products. In addition, Swift Beef also sells beef by-products to the variety meat, feed processing, fertilizer and pet food industries.

     Swift Pork — A significant portion of Swift Pork’s revenues are generated from the sale of fresh pork products, including trimmed cuts such as loins, roasts, chops, butts, picnics and ribs. Other pork products, including hams, bellies and trimmings, are predominantly sold to further processors who, in turn, manufacture bacon, sausage and deli and luncheon meats. The remaining sales are derived from by-products.

     Swift Australia — The majority of Swift Australia’s revenues are generated from the sale of fresh meat, which includes chuck cuts, rib cuts, loin cuts, round cuts, thin meats and other products. Approximately 85% of the beef product sold by Swift Australia is derived from grass-fed animals. The remainder of Swift Australia’s beef products are derived from grain-fed animals that are sold primarily to Japan. Other sales are derived from our foods division, which manufactures meat patties and distributes products for McDonald’s in Australia and produces value-added meat products including pizza toppings for Pizza Hut. The remaining sales are derived from our wholesale business which sells and distributes boxed meat products to brokers who in turn resell those products to end customers.

     Corporate and Other — This line item includes certain revenues and expenses not directly attributable to the primary segments, as well as eliminations resulting from the consolidation process.

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     The following table presents segment results for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003 and November 28, 2004 (in thousands):

                                 
    Thirteen Weeks     Thirteen Weeks     Twenty-Six Weeks     Twenty-Six Weeks  
    Ended     Ended     Ended     Ended  
    November 23, 2003     November 28, 2004     November 23, 2003     November 28, 2004  
Net sales
                               
Swift Beef
  $ 1,578,680     $ 1,394,320     $ 3,195,870     $ 2,865,405  
Swift Pork
    483,612       572,347       929,807       1,172,573  
Swift Australia
    486,132       644,618       909,992       1,211,264  
Corporate and Other
    (10,135 )     (9,804 )     (16,989 )     (18,836 )
 
                       
Total
  $ 2,538,289     $ 2,601,481     $ 5,018,680     $ 5,230,406  
 
                       
Depreciation and amortization
                               
Swift Beef
  $ 12,793     $ 11,892     $ 25,120     $ 24,134  
Swift Pork
    4,481       4,644       8,954       9,328  
Swift Australia
    3,947       4,403       7,823       8,600  
Corporate and Other
    300       20       319       33  
 
                       
Total
  $ 21,521     $ 20,959     $ 42,216     $ 42,095  
 
                       
EBITDA
                               
Swift Beef
  $ 17,770     $ (8,147 )   $ 91,852     $ (22,493 )
Swift Pork
    36,570       26,966       55,766       70,819  
Swift Australia
    6,227       27,069       8,100       71,024  
Corporate and Other
    (30 )     21       15       52  
 
                       
Total
    60,537       45,909       155,733       119,402  
 
                       
Interest expense
    (15,155 )     (18,675 )     (35,883 )     (33,940 )
Depreciation and amortization
    (21,521 )     (20,959 )     (42,216 )     (42,095 )
 
                       
Total income before income taxes
  $ 23,861     $ 6,275     $ 77,634     $ 43,367  
 
                       

     Total assets by segment are as follows (in thousands):

                 
    May 30, 2004     November 28, 2004  
Total assets
               
Swift Beef
  $ 772,237     $ 693,308  
Swift Pork
    281,074       276,123  
Swift Australia
    527,441       645,754  
Corporate, Other and Eliminations
    111,143       110,033  
 
           
Total
  $ 1,691,895     $ 1,725,218  
 
           

NOTE 7. SUPPLEMENTAL GUARANTOR INFORMATION

     A significant amount of Swift Operating’s income and cash flow is generated by its subsidiaries. As a result, funds necessary to meet Swift Operating’s debt service obligations including its obligations under the senior notes and the senior subordinated notes are provided in large part by distributions or advances from its subsidiaries. Under certain circumstances, contractual and legal restrictions, as well as Swift Operating’s financial condition and operating requirements and those of certain domestic subsidiaries, could limit Swift Operating’s ability to obtain cash for the purpose of meeting its debt service obligation including the payment of principal and interest on the senior notes and the senior subordinated notes.

     The following condensed consolidating financial statements set forth Swift Operating’s balance sheets as of May 30, 2004 and November 28, 2004, Swift Operating’s statements of earnings for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003 and November 28, 2004 and Swift Operating’s statements of cash flows for the twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003 and November 28, 2004. Effective with the date of the Transaction, the senior notes and the senior subordinated notes have been guaranteed by Swift Holdings (the “Parent Guarantor”) and each of Swift Operating’s domestic subsidiaries (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”). The financial information is presented under the following column headings: Parent Guarantor, Issuer, Subsidiary Guarantors and Subsidiary Non-Guarantors. “Subsidiary Non-Guarantors” includes only the foreign subsidiaries of Swift Operating, which include Swift Refrigerated Foods S.A. de C.V., Kabushiki Kaisha SAC Japan and Australia Meat Holdings Pty. Ltd. Investments in Swift Operating’s subsidiaries are accounted for on the equity method. Accordingly, entries necessary to consolidate the Parent Guarantor, Swift Operating, and all of its subsidiaries are reflected in the elimination column. Separate complete financial

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statements of Swift Operating and the Subsidiary Guarantors would not provide additional material information that would be useful in assessing the financial composition of Swift Operating or the Subsidiary Guarantors.

     All of the Subsidiary Guarantors are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Swift Operating and their guarantees are full and unconditional and joint and several. There are no provisions in the indentures governing the senior notes or the senior subordinated notes or other existing agreements that would prevent holders of guaranteed obligations from taking immediate action against the Parent Guarantor or any Subsidiary Guarantor in the event of default. The ability of the Subsidiary Guarantors to pay dividends or make loans or other payments to Swift Operating depends on their earnings, capital requirements and general financial condition. The senior credit facilities and the indentures governing the senior notes and the senior subordinated notes limit the ability of Swift Operating and its subsidiaries to restrict the ability of the Subsidiary Guarantors to pay dividends or make loans or other advances to Swift Operating, subject to applicable laws and regulations and future agreements to which the Subsidiary Guarantors may be a party. The Parent Guarantor is a holding company with no operations of its own, and its only asset is the capital stock of Swift Operating. Consequently, its ability to pay amounts under its guarantee depends on the earnings and cash flows of Swift Operating and its subsidiaries and the ability of these entities to pay dividends or advance funds to the Parent Guarantor.

     As a portion of the financing related to the acquisition of the Australian operations in conjunction with the Transaction, for the thirteen weeks ended November 23, 2003 and November 28, 2004, amounts of $3.3 million and $2.9 million, respectively, and for the twenty-six weekend ended November 23, 2003 and November 28, 2004 $6.4 million and $6.1 million, respectively, were reflected as interest expense of the Subsidiary Non-Guarantors and interest income of Swift Operating in the accompanying statements of earnings.

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S&C HOLDCO 3, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
MAY 30, 2004
(in thousands)

                                                 
    Swift Holdings     Swift Operating     Subsidiary     Subsidiary     Eliminations/        
    Parent Guarantor     Issuer     Guarantors     Non-Guarantors     Adjustments     Total  
ASSETS
Current assets:
                                               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $     $ 87,390     $ 2,441     $ 10,424     $     $ 100,255  
Accounts receivables, net
          55,692       257,805       105,363       (55,450 )     363,410  
Inventories
                331,168       149,511             480,679  
Other current assets
          2,678       30,018       8,747             41,443  
 
                                   
Total current assets
          145,760       621,432       274,045       (55,450 )     985,787  
Property, plant and equipment, net
                435,470       166,445             601,915  
Intercompany receivable
          732,670             1,979       (734,649 )      
Goodwill
                13,709       23,408             37,117  
Other intangibles, net
          23,058       9,340                   32,398  
Other assets
          109,316       3,103       7,183       (84,924 )     34,678  
Net investment and advances in subsidiaries
    490,233       180,333                   (670,566 )      
 
                                   
Total assets
  $ 490,233     $ 1,191,137     $ 1,083,054     $ 473,060     $ (1,545,589 )   $ 1,691,895  
 
                                   
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
Current liabilities:
                                               
Current portion of long-term debt
  $     $ 2,356     $ 1,644     $ 53,239     $ (53,000 )   $ 4,239  
Accounts payable
          7,361       147,443       103,934             258,738  
Intercompany payable
                734,649             (734,649 )      
Accrued liabilities
          55,827       79,399       58,126       (2,450 )     190,902  
 
                                   
Total current liabilities
          65,544       963,135       215,299       (790,099 )     453,879  
Long-term debt, excluding current portion
          611,486       18,237       87,470       (84,924 )     632,269  
Other non-current liabilities
          23,874       67,388       24,252             115,514  
 
                                   
Total liabilities
          700,904       1,048,760       327,021       (875,023 )     1,201,662  
Commitments and contingencies
                                   
Common stock
                2       75,000       (75,002 )      
Additional paid-in capital
    365,378       365,378                   (365,378 )     365,378  
Retained earnings
    83,820       83,820       33,701       21,565       (139,086 )     83,820  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    41,035       41,035       591       49,474       (91,100 )     41,035  
 
                                   
Total stockholder’s equity
    490,233       490,233       34,294       146,039       (670,566 )     490,233  
 
                                   
Total liabilities and stockholder’s equity
  $ 490,233     $ 1,191,137     $ 1,083,054     $ 473,060     $ (1,545,589 )   $ 1,691,895  
 
                                   

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S&C HOLDCO 3, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
November 28, 2004
(in thousands)

                                                 
    Swift Holdings     Swift Operating     Subsidiary     Subsidiary     Eliminations/        
    Parent Guarantor     Issuer     Guarantors     Non-Guarantors     Adjustments     Total  
ASSETS
Current assets:
                                               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $     $ 67,540     $ 2,614     $ 16,995     $     $ 87,149  
Accounts receivables, net
          21,156       253,250       130,325       (22,845 )     381,886  
Inventories
                333,386       187,598             520,984  
Other current assets
          11,570       11,619       14,394             37,583  
 
                                   
Total current assets
          100,266       600,869       349,312       (22,845 )     1,027,602  
Property, plant and equipment, net
                410,553       184,878             595,431  
Intercompany receivable
          667,049                   (667,049 )      
Goodwill
                13,709       25,866             39,575  
Other intangibles, net
          20,631       9,054                   29,685  
Other assets
          107,669       3,132       7,048       (84,924 )     32,925  
Net investment and advances in subsidiaries
    423,499       232,845                   (656,344 )      
 
                                   
Total assets
  $ 423,499     $ 1,128,460     $ 1,037,317     $ 567,104     $ (1,431,162 )   $ 1,725,218  
 
                                   
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
Current liabilities:
                                               
Current portion of long-term debt
  $     $ 2,361     $ 1,029     $ 21,273     $ (21,000 )   $ 3,663  
Accounts payable
          14,113       167,753       126,828             308,694  
Intercompany payable
                663,499       3,550       (667,049 )      
Accrued liabilities
          46,451       99,398       88,006       (1,845 )     232,010  
 
                                   
Total current liabilities
          62,925       931,679       239,657       (689,894 )     544,367  
Long-term debt, excluding current portion
          611,550       17,712       87,599       (84,924 )     631,937  
Other noncurrent liabilities
          30,486       67,388       27,541             125,415  
 
                                   
Total liabilities
          704,961       1,016,779       354,797       (774,818 )     1,301,719  
Commitments and contingencies
                                   
Common stock
                2       75,000       (75,002 )      
Additional paid-in capital
    354,213       354,213                   (354,213 )     354,213  
Retained earnings
    4,234       4,234       19,540       57,658       (81,432 )     4,234  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    65,052       65,052       996       79,649       (145,697 )     65,052  
 
                                   
Total stockholder’s equity
    423,499       423,499       20,538       212,307       (656,344 )     423,499  
 
                                   
Total liabilities and stockholder’s equity
  $ 423,499     $ 1,128,460     $ 1,037,317     $ 567,104     $ (1,431,162 )   $ 1,725,218  
 
                                   

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S&C HOLDCO 3, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

                                                 
    Thirteen Weeks Ended November 23, 2003  
    (in thousands)  
    Swift Holdings                     Subsidiary              
    Parent     Swift Operating     Subsidiary     Non-     Eliminations/        
    Guarantor     Issuer     Guarantors     Guarantors     Adjustments     Total  
Net sales
  $     $ 42     $ 2,153,944     $ 384,303     $     $ 2,538,289  
Cost of goods sold
                2,083,854       378,529             2,462,383  
 
                                   
Gross profit
          42       70,090       5,774             75,906  
Selling, general and administrative
          (43 )     29,836       6,387             36,180  
Translation losses
          1       417       292             710  
Interest expense (income)
          (3,257 )     14,125       4,287             15,155  
 
                                   
 
          (3,299 )     44,378       10,966             52,045  
Income (loss) before income taxes.
          3,341       25,712       (5,192 )           23,861  
Income tax expense (benefit)
          1,177       8,471       (1,165 )           8,483  
 
                                   
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries
          2,164       17,241       (4,027 )           15,378  
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries
    15,378       13,214                   (28,592 )      
 
                                   
Net income (loss)
  $ 15,378     $ 15,378     $ 17,241     $ (4,027 )   $ (28,592 )   $ 15,378  
 
                                   
                                                 
    Twenty-Six Weeks Ended November 23, 2003  
    (in thousands)  
    Swift Holdings                     Subsidiary              
    Parent     Swift Operating     Subsidiary     Non-     Eliminations/        
    Guarantor     Issuer     Guarantors     Guarantors     Adjustments     Total  
Net sales
  $     $ 42     $ 4,294,481     $ 724,157     $     $ 5,018,680  
Cost of goods sold
                4,120,721       715,474             4,836,195  
 
                                   
Gross profit
          42       173,760       8,683             182,485  
Selling, general and administrative
                56,561       11,150             67,711  
Translation losses
                371       886             1,257  
Interest expense (income)
          (6,356 )     33,283       8,956             35,883  
 
                                   
 
          (6,356 )     90,215       20,992             104,851  
Income (loss) before income taxes.
          6,398       83,545       (12,309 )           77,634  
Income tax expense (benefit)
          2,262       28,991       (3,692 )           27,561  
 
                                   
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries
          4,136       54,554       (8,617 )           50,073  
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries
    50,073       45,937                   (96,010 )      
 
                                   
Net income (loss)
  $ 50,073     $ 50,073     $ 54,554     $ (8,617 )   $ (96,010 )   $ 50,073  
 
                                   

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S&C HOLDCO 3, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

                                                 
    Thirteen Weeks Ended November 28, 2004  
    (in thousands)  
    Swift Holdings                     Subsidiary              
    Parent     Swift Operating     Subsidiary     Non-     Eliminations/        
    Guarantor     Issuer     Guarantors     Guarantors     Adjustments     Total  
Net sales
  $     $     $ 2,070,743     $ 530,738     $     $ 2,601,481  
Cost of goods sold
                2,044,695       505,695             2,550,390  
 
                                   
Gross profit
                26,048       25,043             51,091  
Selling, general and administrative
                23,187       4,251             27,438  
Translation gains
                (9 )     (1,288 )           (1,297 )
Interest expense (income)
          (2,881 )     17,020       4,536             18,675  
 
                                   
 
          (2,881 )     40,198       7,499             44,816  
Income (loss) before income taxes.
          2,881       (14,150 )     17,544             6,275  
Income tax expense (benefit)
          (3,236 )     14       5,263             2,041  
 
                                   
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries
          6,117       (14,164 )     12,281             4,234  
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries
    4,234       (1,883 )                 (2,351 )      
 
                                   
Net income (loss)
  $ 4,234     $ 4,234     $ (14,164 )   $ 12,281     $ (2,351 )   $ 4,234  
 
                                   
                                                 
    Twenty-Six Weeks Ended November 28, 2004  
    (in thousands)  
    Swift Holdings                     Subsidiary              
    Parent     Swift Operating     Subsidiary     Non-     Eliminations/        
    Guarantor     Issuer     Guarantors     Guarantors     Adjustments     Total  
Net sales
  $     $     $ 4,231,989     $ 998,417     $     $ 5,230,406  
Cost of goods sold
                4,164,293       928,051             5,092,344  
 
                                   
Gross profit
                67,696       70,366             138,062  
Selling, general and administrative
                50,694       11,412             62,106  
Translation gains
                (8 )     (1,343 )           (1,351 )
Interest expense (income)
          (6,134 )     31,338       8,736             33,940  
 
                                   
 
          (6,134 )     82,024       18,805             94,695  
Income (loss) before income taxes.
          6,134       (14,328 )     51,561             43,367  
Income tax expense (benefit)
          93       (167 )     15,468             15,394  
 
                                   
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries
          6,041       (14,161 )     36,093             27,973  
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries
    27,973       21,932                   (49,905 )      
 
                                   
Net income (loss)
  $ 27,973     $ 27,973     $ (14,161 )   $ 36,093     $ (49,905 )   $ 27,973  
 
                                   

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S&C HOLDCO 3, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                                 
    Twenty-Six Weeks Ended November 23, 2003  
    (in thousands)  
                            Subsidiary              
    Swift Holdings     Swift Operating     Subsidiary     Non-     Eliminations/        
    Parent Guarantor     Issuer     Guarantors     Guarantors     Adjustments     Total  
Net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities
  $     $ 22,900     $ 68,021     $ (20,267 )   $     $ 70,654  
 
                                   
Cash flows from investing activities:
                                               
Net additions to property, plant and equipment
                (32,858 )     (3,409 )           (36,267 )
Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment
                1,416       134             1,550  
Notes receivable and other items
          (21,871 )                 21,871        
 
                                   
Net cash flows used in investing activities
          (21,871 )     (31,442 )     (3,275 )     21,871       (34,717 )
 
                                   
Cash flows from financing activities:
                                               
Proceeds from debt issuance
          12,365             21,871       (21,871 )     12,365  
Payments of long-term debt
          (1,116 )     (1,079 )                 (2,195 )
Change in overdraft balances
          15,424       (14,683 )     (466 )           275  
Net investments and advances/(distributions)
          3,845       (7,833 )     3,988              
 
                                   
Net cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities
          30,518       (23,595 )     25,393       (21,871 )     10,445  
 
                                   
Effect of exchange rates on cash
                      762             762  
 
                                   
Net change in cash and cash equivalents.
          31,547       12,984       2,613             47,144  
 
                                   
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
          53,695       4,432       6,812             64,939  
 
                                   
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $     $ 85,242     $ 17,416     $ 9,425     $     $ 112,083  
 
                                   

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S&C HOLDCO 3, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                                 
    Twenty-Six Weeks Ended November 28, 2004  
    (in thousands)  
                            Subsidiary              
    Swift Holdings     Swift Operating     Subsidiary     Non-     Eliminations/        
    Parent Guarantor     Issuer     Guarantors     Guarantors     Adjustments     Total  
Net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities
  $     $ 699     $ 74,950     $ 49,138     $     $ 124,787  
 
                                   
Cash flows from investing activities:
                                               
Net additions to property, plant and equipment
                (6,337 )     (9,666 )           (16,003 )
Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment
                1,167       26             1,193  
Notes receivable and other items
          32,187                   (32,000 )     187  
 
                                   
Net cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities
          32,187       (5,170 )     (9,640 )     (32,000 )     (14,623 )
 
                                   
Cash flows from financing activities:
                                               
Proceeds from debt issuance
                      11,000       (11,000 )      
Payments of long-term debt
          (1,175 )     (1,140 )     (43,122 )     43,000       (2,437 )
Change in overdraft balances
          (924 )     8,007       (7,340 )           (257 )
Debt modification fees
          (846 )                       (846 )
Dividends Paid
          (121,442 )                       (121,442 )
Net investments and advances/(distributions)
          71,651       (76,474 )     4,823              
 
                                   
Net cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities
          (52,736 )     (69,607 )     (34,639 )     32,000       (124,982 )
 
                                   
Effect of exchange rates on cash
                      1,712             1,712  
 
                                   
Net change in cash and cash equivalents.
          (19,850 )     173       6,571             (13,106 )
 
                                   
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
          87,390       2,441       10,424             100,255  
 
                                   
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $     $ 67,540     $ 2,614     $ 16,995     $     $ 87,149  
 
                                   

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NOTE 8. SUBSEQUENT EVENT

On December 10, 2004 the Board of Directors of Swift Foods authorized the granting of 700,000 options of Swift Foods common stock to existing management stockholders. The Board also approved the sale of 657,095 additional shares of common stock of Swift Foods to certain members of management at a purchase price of $1.32. The sale of these shares are expected to be reflected as a capital contribution in our financial statements for the third quarter ended February 27, 2005. During the second quarter, Swift Operating adopted SFAS 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” Compensation expense will be recognized in the third quarter of 2005 to the extent that the fair market value of the shares sold is greater than their purchase price on the date of sale, and for the vesting of option grants at their fair value as calculated using the Black-Scholes model.

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

     This report contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. The forward-looking statements include statements concerning our outlook for the future, as well as other statements of beliefs, future plans, and strategies or anticipated events, and similar statements concerning matters that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the statements. These risks and uncertainties include the availability and prices of live cattle, hogs, raw materials and supplies, food safety, livestock disease, the competitive environment and related market conditions, hedging risk, operating efficiencies, changes in interest rate and foreign currency exchange rates, compliance with covenants of loan agreements, the cost of compliance with environmental and health standards, adverse results from on-going litigation and the actions of domestic and foreign governments. Reference is hereby made to the disclosures contained under the heading “Risk Factors” in “Item 1. Business” of Swift Holdings’ Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 27, 2004 and which should be read in conjunction with this report.

Where you can find more information

     We maintain an internet web site at www.swiftbrands.com. The information on this site does not form a part of this Form 10-Q. Our Form 10-Q may be inspected, without charge, at the offices of the Securities and Exchange Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of such materials may also be obtained by mail at prescribed rates from the Public Reference Room of the Securities and Exchange Commission at that address. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. Copies of such materials may also be obtained from the web site that the Securities and Exchange Commission maintains at www.sec.gov.

Overview

     The ConAgra Red Meat Business was developed through a series of acquisitions made by ConAgra Foods in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. E.A. Miller Enterprises Inc. and Monfort Inc. were both acquired in 1987 to form the foundation of our current domestic beef company. ConAgra Foods acquired Swift Independent Packing Co. during the late 1980’s in two separate transactions that formed the foundation of our current domestic pork business and expanded our domestic beef business. Finally, the Australian operations were acquired in three separate transactions during the 1990’s. Since the time of the first acquisition, the ConAgra Red Meat Business was operated as a division of ConAgra Foods and included the domestic cattle feeding operations and other assets and liabilities that we did not acquire in the Transaction.

Critical Accounting Policies

     Our critical accounting policies are disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 30, 2004. We have made no changes to those policies during the twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004. During the twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004 we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (SFAS) No. 123 “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” — See Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Seasonality and Fluctuations in Quarterly Operating Results

     Our quarterly operating results are influenced by seasonal factors in both the beef and pork industries. These factors impact the price that we pay for livestock as well as the ultimate price at which we sell our products.

     The seasonal demand for beef products is highest in the summer and fall months as weather patterns permit more outdoor activities and there is an increased demand for higher value items that are grilled, such as steaks. Both live cattle prices and boxed beef prices tend to be at seasonal highs during the summer and fall. Because of higher consumption, more favorable growing conditions and the housing of animals in feedlots for the winter months, there are generally more cattle available in the summer and fall.

     The pork business has similar seasonal cycles, but in different months. It takes an average of 11 months from conception for a hog to reach market weight. Generally, sows are less productive in summer months resulting in fewer hogs available in the spring and early summer, which causes prices of hogs and boxed pork to rise, but production to fall. The highest demand for pork occurs from October to March, as hog availability and holiday occasions increase the demand for hams, tenderloins and other higher value pork products.

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     In the current year seasonality did not follow expected historical trends largely due to the impacts of border closures subsequent to the BSE incidents in the prior year.

     United States BSE Outbreak — On December 23, 2003, the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) reported the first apparent case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (commonly referred to as “mad cow disease” or “BSE”) in the United States after performing preliminary tests on a cow slaughtered in Washington. Additional testing of the samples performed in the United Kingdom confirmed the findings on December 25, 2003. Following the announcement, the USDA recalled approximately 10,000 pounds of beef that originated from the Washington slaughter facility, and a number of countries, including Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Russia and China, temporarily banned the import of US beef. Mexico, Japan and South Korea are the top three importers of US beef by volume according to the US Meat Export Federation. During fiscal 2003 and the six months ended November 23, 2003, periods prior to the import bans, these three countries collectively accounted for approximately 85% and 87%, respectively, of Swift Operating’s US beef exports, representing 11% and 14% of Swift Operating’s total beef sales for these periods.

     We cannot anticipate the duration of these beef import bans or whether additional countries may impose similar restrictions. In addition, we cannot presently assess any further economic impact of this occurrence on the U.S. beef industry or on our operations. Our revenues and net income may continue to be materially adversely affected in the event previously announced import restrictions continue indefinitely, additional countries announce similar restrictions, additional regulatory restrictions are put into effect or domestic consumer demand for beef declines substantially.

     The border to Mexico opened during March 2004 to specified boxed beef products from animals under 30 months of age, however the impact to date on the US beef industry has been marginal. US beef industry production levels for the twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004 remain roughly 9% below year-ago levels, a situation that has existed since the US border was opened in September 2003 to Canadian boxed beef from animals under 30 months of age but was kept closed to imports of live animals. On January 4, 2005 the USDA published a final rule, which is expected to be effective March 7, 2005, reopening the border to imports of live cattle that are younger than 30 months of age and permitting the importation of boxed beef from animals of any age.

     The continuation of world bans on US beef exports and the continued imbalance in US cattle markets caused in part by the US government’s decision to continue the existing ban on Canadian cattle has negatively affected Swift Beef. In October 2004, we announced plans to transfer second shift primary processing volume from our Greeley, CO beef facility to the Cactus, TX and Grand Island, NE plants. To better utilize our existing Greeley facility, we announced plans to convert the Greeley second shift to higher margin value-added production. These plans announced in October 2004 were implemented in December of 2004 at which time approximately 800 production employees were laid off. We anticipate increasing value-added production on the second shift at the Greeley facility over the coming year. As of early January of 2005, the company was producing approximately 100,000 pounds per week of further processed products on the Greeley second shift.

     We anticipate the transfer of production volume to result in a more efficient use of our production facilities, which will allow an increase in the average hours paid in each work week for the remaining workforce and to increase the production of higher margin finished goods. In addition, we expect that providing higher average work weeks for our employees will have benefits in improved product yield, reduced employee turnover and related re-training costs, and providing for a higher quality more consistent production to our customers.

Selected Unaudited Financial Data

     Swift Operating provides the following supplemental financial data to assist in understanding its operating results. EBITDA represents income before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is not intended to represent cash from operations as defined by Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) and should not be considered as an alternative to cash flow or operating income as measured by GAAP. We believe EBITDA provides investors and analysts in the meat processing industry useful information with which to analyze and compare our results with other companies on the basis of operating performance, leverage and liquidity. However, since EBITDA is not defined by GAAP it may not be calculated on the same basis as other similarly titled measures of other companies within the meat processing industry. Further, EBITDA is the starting point in the calculation of “Adjusted EBITDA” which is a defined term in our credit facilities and is the numerator in the company’s existing financial covenants under those credit agreements. As such, we believe providing EBITDA information will assist our current lenders and our investors with a better understanding of the calculation of those covenant ratios periodically.

                                         
                    Swift     Corporate &        
Thirteen Weeks Ended November 23, 2003   Swift Beef     Swift Pork     Australia     Other     Total  
(in thousands)                                
EBITDA
  $ 17,770     $ 36,570     $ 6,227     $ (30 )   $ 60,537  
Interest (expense) income
    (8,962 )     (5,164 )     (4,287 )     3,258       (15,155 )
Depreciation and amortization
    (12,793 )     (4,481 )     (3,947 )     (300 )     (21,521 )
 
                             
Income (loss) before income taxes — GAAP
  $ (3,985 )   $ 26,925     $ (2,007 )   $ 2,928     $ 23,861  
 
                             

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                    Swift     Corporate &        
Thirteen Weeks Ended November 28, 2004   Swift Beef     Swift Pork     Australia     Other     Total  
(in thousands)                                
EBITDA
  $ (8,147 )   $ 26,966     $ 27,069     $ 21     $ 45,909  
Interest (expense) income
    (8,907 )     (8,113 )     (4,536 )     2,881       (18,675 )
Depreciation and amortization
    (11,892 )     (4,644 )     (4,403 )     (20 )     (20,959 )
 
                             
Income (loss) before income taxes — GAAP
  $ (28,946 )   $ 14,209     $ 18,130     $ 2,882     $ 6,275  
 
                             
        .
                                         
                    Swift     Corporate &        
Twenty-Six Weeks Ended November 23, 2003   Swift Beef     Swift Pork     Australia     Other     Total  
(in thousands)                                
EBITDA
  $ 91,852     $ 55,766     $ 8,100     $ 15     $ 155,733  
Interest (expense) income
    (21,174 )     (12,109 )     (8,956 )     6,356       (35,883 )
Depreciation and amortization
    (25,120 )     (8,954 )     (7,823 )     (319 )     (42,216 )
 
                             
Income (loss) before income taxes — GAAP
  $ 45,558     $ 34,703     $ (8,679 )   $ 6,052     $ 77,634  
 
                             
                                         
                    Swift     Corporate &        
Twenty-Six Weeks Ended November 28, 2004   Swift Beef     Swift Pork     Australia     Other     Total  
(in thousands)                                
EBITDA
  $ (22,493 )   $ 70,819     $ 71,024     $ 52     $ 119,402  
Interest (expense) income
    (16,435 )     (14,903 )     (8,736 )     6,134       (33,940 )
Depreciation and amortization
    (24,134 )     (9,328 )     (8,600 )     (33 )     (42,095 )
 
                             
Income (loss) before income taxes — GAAP
  $ (63,062 )   $ 46,588     $ 53,688     $ 6,153     $ 43,367  
 
                             
                                 
    Last Twelve Months (“LTM”) EBITDA  
    (in thousands)  
    Twenty-Six Weeks             Twenty-Six Weeks        
    Ended     Fiscal Year Ended     Ended     LTM Ended  
Total Swift & Company   November 23, 2003     May 30, 2004     November 28, 2004     November 28, 2004(a)  
EBITDA
  $ 155,733     $ 228,285     $ 119,402     $ 191,954  
Interest expense
    (35,883 )     (73,573 )     (33,940 )     (71,630 )
Depreciation and amortization
    (42,216 )     (86,721 )     (42,095 )     (86,600 )
 
                       
Income before income taxes — GAAP
  $ 77,634     $ 67,991     $ 43,367     $ 33,724  
 
                       
Swift Beef
                               
EBITDA
  $ 91,852     $ 44,321     $ (22,493 )   $ (70,024 )
Interest expense
    (21,174 )     (42,929 )     (16,435 )     (38,190 )
Depreciation and amortization
    (25,120 )     (50,639 )     (24,134 )     (49,653 )
 
                       
Income (loss) before income taxes – GAAP
  $ 45,558     $ (49,247 )   $ (63,062 )   $ (157,867 )
 
                       
Swift Pork
                               
EBITDA
  $ 55,766     $ 132,619     $ 70,819     $ 147,672  
Interest expense
    (12,109 )     (24,355 )     (14,903 )     (27,149 )
Depreciation and amortization
    (8,954 )     (18,377 )     (9,328 )     (18,751 )
 
                       
Income before income taxes — GAAP
  $ 34,703     $ 89,887     $ 46,588     $ 101,772  
 
                       

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Swift Australia
                               
EBITDA
  $ 8,100     $ 51,055     $ 71,024     $ 113,979  
Interest expense
    (8,956 )     (20,095 )     (8,736 )     (19,875 )
Depreciation and amortization
    (7,823 )     (17,316 )     (8,600 )     (18,093 )
 
                       
Income (loss) before income taxes — GAAP
  $ (8,679 )   $ 13,644     $ 53,688     $ 76,011  
 
                       
Corporate and Other
                               
EBITDA
  $ 15     $ 290     $ 52     $ 327  
Interest income
    6,356       13,806       6,134       13,584  
Depreciation and amortization
    (319 )     (389 )     (33 )     (103 )
 
                       
Income before income taxes — GAAP
  $ 6,052     $ 13,707     $ 6,153     $ 13,808  
 
                       


(a)   This column is derived by deducting the twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003 from the fiscal year ended May 30, 2004, and adding the twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004.

Results of Operations

  Twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004 compared to twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003

     Net Sales. Net sales for the twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004 increased $211.7 million, or 4.2%, as compared to the twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003, primarily reflecting 26% higher sales prices for Swift Pork on flat volumes, as well as 27% higher prices on 5% higher volumes for Swift Australia, partially off-set by lower Swift Beef sales as a result of 5% higher selling prices coupled with a 14% reduction in sales volumes. Included in the Australian increase in selling prices is an increase in the Australian dollar to US dollar exchange rate of approximately 7.2% from the comparative twenty-six weeks of the prior fiscal year.

     Cost of Goods Sold. Cost of goods sold increased $256.1 million, or 5.3%, for the twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004 as compared to the twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003. Current period results are impacted by 9% higher raw material costs on 14% lower volumes for Swift Beef, 33% higher hog prices for Swift Pork on flat volumes and 23% higher cattle prices on 5% higher volumes for Swift Australia. In addition we had 7% higher labor costs, 16% higher utility costs, 9% higher contract service costs and 3% higher packaging costs driven by increased production levels for the company as a whole. US beef industry cattle prices continued to struggle to reach equilibrium with the imbalance largely due to the continued difficulty identifying alternative markets for many products which had been exported prior to the December 2003 border closings as a result of BSE.

     Gross Margin Percentages. Gross margin percentages (gross profit as a percent of net sales) were 2.6% for the twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004 as compared to 3.6% for the prior twenty-six weeks. The decrease in gross margin percentage primarily reflects higher selling prices, more than offset by higher raw material costs as discussed above.

     Selling, General and Administrative. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $62.1 million for the twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004 as compared to $67.7 million for the twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003. These expenses decreased by $5.6 million, or 8.3%, primarily related to decreases in labor related costs and travel expenses, partially offset by increases in professional services costs.

     Interest Expense. Interest expense for the twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004 was $33.9 million as compared to $35.9 million during the period ended November 23, 2003. The decrease is due to a $1.2 million loss in fair value of a fixed to variable rate interest rate swap recorded in the twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003, while the twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004 included a $1.5 million gain on the same item. For more information see the “Liquidity and Capital Resources” discussion.

     Other Items. Our operating results during the twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004 were impacted by a translation gain of $1.4 million related to gains on U.S. dollar denominated borrowings with Swift Australia, which averaged $27.5 million during the period.

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     Income Taxes. For the twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004 and November 23, 2003 our effective tax rate was approximately 35.5%.

   Thirteen weeks ended November 28, 2004 compared to thirteen weeks ended November 23, 2003

     Net Sales. Net sales for the thirteen weeks ended November 28, 2004 increased $63.2 million, or 2.5%, as compared to the thirteen weeks ended November 23, 2003, primarily reflecting 27% higher sales prices offset by 7% lower volumes for Swift Pork, as well as 30% higher prices on 3% higher volumes for Swift Australia, partially off-set by 2% lower selling prices coupled with a 10% reduction in sales volumes for Swift Beef. Included in the Australian increase in selling prices is an increase in the Australian dollar to US dollar exchange rate of approximately 7.2% from the comparative thirteen weeks of the prior fiscal year.

     Cost of Goods Sold. Cost of goods sold increased $88.0 million, or 3.6%, for the thirteen weeks ended November 28, 2004 as compared to the thirteen weeks ended November 23, 2003. Current period results are impacted by nominally higher raw material costs on 10% lower volumes for Swift Beef, 41% higher hog prices on 7% lower volumes for Swift Pork and 29% higher cattle prices on 3% higher volumes for Swift Australia. In addition we had 3% higher labor costs, 20% higher utility costs, 13% higher contract service costs and 1% higher packaging costs driven by increased production levels for the company as a whole. US beef industry cattle prices continued to struggle to reach equilibrium with the imbalance largely due to the continued difficulty identifying alternative markets for many products which had been exported prior to the December 2003 border closings as a result of BSE.

     Gross Margin Percentages. Gross margin percentages (gross profit as a percent of net sales) were 2.0% for the thirteen weeks ended November 28, 2004 as compared to 3.0% for the prior thirteen weeks. The decrease in gross margin percentage primarily reflects increases in raw material costs which more than offset increases in selling prices in Swift Pork, reductions in selling prices coupled with increases in raw material costs in Swift Beef, partially off-set by increases in selling prices which exceeded increases in cattle costs in Swift Australia.

     Selling, General and Administrative. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $27.4 million for the thirteen weeks ended November 28, 2004 as compared to $36.2 million for the thirteen weeks ended November 23, 2003. These expenses decreased by $8.8 million, or 24.3%, primarily related to decreases in labor related costs and travel expenses, partially offset by increases in professional services costs.

     Interest Expense. Interest expense for the thirteen weeks ended November 28, 2004 was $18.7 million as compared to $15.2 million during the period ended November 23, 2003. The increase is primarily due to a $2.1 million gain in fair value of a fixed to variable rate interest rate swap recorded in the thirteen weeks ended November 23, 2003, while the quarter ended November 28, 2004 included a $0.7 million loss on the same item. For more information see the “Liquidity and Capital Resources” discussion.

     Other Items. Our operating results during the quarter ended November 28, 2004 were impacted by a translation gain of $1.3 million related to strengthening of the Australian dollar, while the comparative period of the prior year included a translation loss of $0.7 million related to weakness in the Australian dollar.

     Income Taxes. For the thirteen weeks ended November 28, 2004 our effective tax rate was approximately 32.5% as compared to the thirteen weeks ended November 23, 2003, for which our effective tax rate was approximately 35.5%. The effective tax rate has been reduced to reflect a change in the annual projected rate for fiscal year 2005 from 36% to 35.5%.

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Segment Results

     The following table presents segment results for the twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003 and November 28, 2004 (in thousands):

                                         
    Twenty-Six Weeks     Twenty-Six Weeks                    
    Ended     Ended     Sales     Volume     Average Sales Price  
    November 23, 2003     November 28, 2004     Change     Change     Change  
Net sales
                                       
Swift Beef
  $ 3,195,870     $ 2,865,405     $ (330,465 )     (14.3 )%     4.6 %
Swift Pork
    929,807       1,172,573       242,766       (0.1 )%     26.2 %
Swift Australia
    909,992       1,211,264       301,272       4.9 %     27.4 %
Corporate and Other
    (16,989 )     (18,836 )     (1,847 )     N/A       N/A  
 
                             
Total
  $ 5,018,680     $ 5,230,406     $ 211,726       (4.2 )%     17.2 %
 
                             
Depreciation and amortization
                                       
Swift Beef
  $ 25,120     $ 24,134                          
Swift Pork
    8,954       9,328                          
Swift Australia
    7,823       8,600                          
Corporate and Other
    319       33                          
 
                                   
Total
  $ 42,216     $ 42,095                          
 
                                   
EBITDA (1)
                                       
Swift Beef
  $ 91,852     $ (22,493 )                        
Swift Pork
    55,766       70,819                          
Swift Australia
    8,100       71,024                          
Corporate and Other
    15       52                          
 
                                   
Total
    155,733       119,402                          
 
                                   
Interest expense
    (35,883 )     (33,940 )                        
Depreciation and amortization
    (42,216 )     (42,095 )                        
 
                                   
Total income before income taxes
  $ 77,634     $ 43,367                          
 
                                   


(1)   See “Selected Unaudited Financial Data” above for additional information reconciling segment EBITDA to income before income taxes.

   Twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004 compared to twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003

   Swift Beef

     The continuation of world bans on US beef exports and the continued imbalance in US cattle markets caused in part by the US government’s decision to continue the existing ban on Canadian cattle has negatively affected Swift Beef. In October 2004, we announced plans to transfer second shift primary processing volume from our Greeley, CO beef facility to the Cactus, TX and Grand Island, NE plants. To better utilize our existing Greeley facility, we announced plans to convert the Greeley second shift to higher margin value-added production. These plans announced in October 2004 were implemented in December of 2004 at which time approximately 800 production employees were laid off. We anticipate increasing value-added production on the second shift at the Greeley facility over the coming year. As of early January of 2005, the company was producing approximately 100,000 pounds per week of further processed products on the Greeley second shift.

     We anticipate the transfer of production volume to result in a more efficient use of our production facilities, which will allow an increase in the average hours paid in each work week for the remaining workforce and to increase the production of higher margin finished goods. In addition, we expect that providing higher average work weeks for our employees will have benefits in improved product yield, reduced employee turnover and related re-training costs, and providing for a higher quality more consistent production to our customers.

     Net Sales. Net sales of Swift Beef were $2,865.4 million for the twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004 as compared to $3,195.9 million for the twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003. The sales decrease of $330.5 million, or 10.3%, reflects 5% higher selling prices on lower volumes reflecting reduction in our international sales channel following the December 2003 border closings to US Beef exports. Sales volumes were approximately 14% lower than year ago levels as a result of the border closing and the sustained high prices for finished box beef products, which allowed retailers to look to alternate relatively lower priced proteins such as pork and poultry.

     Depreciation & Amortization. Depreciation and amortization of Swift Beef was $24.1 million for the twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004 as compared to $25.1 million for the twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003. The decrease of $1.0 million, or 4.0%, resulted primarily from the impact of depreciation on assets removed from service as compared to the impact of assets placed in service.

     EBITDA. EBITDA of Swift Beef was $ (22.5) million for the twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004 as compared to $91.9 million for the twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003. The decrease of $114.4 million, or 124.5%, reflected a 10% decrease in beef sales with 5% higher prices on a 14% reduction in volumes, with 9% higher raw material costs more than offsetting the increase in selling prices per unit. US Beef live cattle prices continue at levels which do not reflect the reduction in sales value of the offal and variety meats items which formerly were sold into export markets.

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     Gross margin percentages (gross profit as a percent of net sales) were (0.6)% for the twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004 as compared to 3.3% for the prior twenty-six weeks. The decrease in gross margin is a result of the above mentioned loss of export markets and continued high prices for raw materials, more than offsetting the higher selling prices for finished boxed beef products.

  Swift Pork

     Net Sales. Net sales of Swift Pork were $1,172.6 million for the twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004 as compared to $929.8 million for the twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003. The increase of $242.8 million, or 26.1%, reflected 26% higher average selling prices on relatively flat volumes. Increases in selling prices were partially attributable to the growth in value added Swift branded products and the continued high prices for finished boxed beef in the retail meat case, which provided a “price umbrella” allowing for higher pork prices as well.

     Depreciation & Amortization. Depreciation and amortization of Swift Pork was $9.3 million for the twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004 as compared to $9.0 million for the twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003. The increase of $0.3 million, or 3.3%, resulted primarily from the impact of depreciation on assets placed in service, partially offset by the impact of assets removed from service.

     EBITDA. EBITDA of Swift Pork was $70.8 million for the twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004 as compared to $55.8 million for the twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003. The increase of $15.0 million, or 26.9%, reflected an increase in the spread between selling price and raw material cost per pound of 10%, partially offset by higher variable plant costs (including volume adjusted increases of 6% in labor, 4% in packaging due to an increased emphasis on value-added products, 14% higher utility costs and 16% higher freight costs for finished goods).

     Gross margin percentages (gross profit as a percent of net sales) were 6.9% for the twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004 and 7.0% for the twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003. Nominal decrease in gross margin percentage reflected a nominal increase in cost of goods sold as compared to net sales.

  Swift Australia

     Net Sales. Net sales of Swift Australia were $1,211.3 million for the twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004 as compared to $910.0 million for the twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003. The increase in net sales of $301.3 million, or 33.1%, primarily reflected a 27% increase in sales prices and a 5% increase in volume. The increase in net sales was mainly the result of continuing high sales prices in our major markets – North America, Japan and domestically. The continuing high sales prices are primarily the result of the imbalance in the North American market due to the ban on imports of live cattle from Canada into the US, and in Japan due to the closure of the Japanese market to US exports as a result of the single case of BSE discovered in the US in December 2003. In addition, the Australian dollar to US dollar exchange rate increased an average of 7.2% between the two periods.

     Depreciation & Amortization. Depreciation and amortization of Swift Australia was $8.6 million for the twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004 as compared to $7.8 million for the twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003. The increase of $0.8 million, or 10.3%, resulted primarily from the effect of foreign exchange rate differences. The Australian dollar to US dollar exchange rate increased an average 7.2% between the two periods.

     EBITDA. EBITDA of Swift Australia was $71.0 million for the twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004 as compared to $8.1 million for the twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003. The increase of $62.9 million, or 776.5%, was a result of increased gross margin, with higher revenues outweighing a 23% increase in livestock prices between the two periods. Included in the increase in revenues and livestock prices is an average increase in the Australian dollar to US dollar exchange rate of 7.2% between the two periods.

     Gross margin percentages (gross profit as a percent of net sales) increased to 6.0% in the twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004 as compared to 1.4% for the twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003 due to an increase in volumes which compounded the benefit of increased revenues which more than offset higher raw material costs.

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     The following table presents segment results for the thirteen weeks ended November 23, 2003 and November 28, 2004 (in thousands):

                                         
    Thirteen Weeks     Thirteen Weeks                    
    Ended     Ended     Sales     Volume     Average Sales Price  
    November 23, 2003     November 28, 2004     Change     Change     Change  
Net sales
                                       
Swift Beef
  $ 1,578,680     $ 1,394,320     $ (184,360 )     (10.2 )%     (1.5 )%
Swift Pork
    483,612       572,347       88,735       (7.1 )%     27.4 %
Swift Australia
    486,132       644,618       158,486       2.8 %     29.7 %
Corporate and Other
    (10,135 )     (9,804 )     331       N/A       N/A  
 
                             
Total
  $ 2,538,289     $ 2,601,481     $ 63,192       (7.2 )%     15.5 %
 
                             
Depreciation and amortization
                                       
Swift Beef
  $ 12,793     $ 11,892                          
Swift Pork
    4,481       4,644                          
Swift Australia
    3,947       4,403                          
Corporate and Other
    300       20                          
 
                                   
Total
  $ 21,521     $ 20,959                          
 
                                   
EBITDA (1)
                                       
Swift Beef
  $ 17,770     $ (8,147 )                        
Swift Pork
    36,570       26,966                          
Swift Australia
    6,227       27,069                          
Corporate and Other
    (30 )     21                          
 
                                   
Total
    60,537       45,909                          
 
                                   
Interest expense
    (15,155 )     (18,675 )                        
Depreciation and amortization
    (21,521 )     (20,959 )                        
 
                                   
Total income before income taxes
  $ 23,861     $ 6,275                          
 
                                   


(1)   See “Selected Unaudited Financial Data” above for additional information reconciling segment EBITDA to income before income taxes.

   Thirteen weeks ended November 28, 2004 compared to thirteen weeks ended November 23, 2003

   Swift Beef

     The continuation of world bans on US beef exports and the continued imbalance in US cattle markets caused in part by the US government’s decision to continue the existing ban on Canadian cattle has negatively affected Swift Beef. In October 2004, we announced plans to transfer second shift primary processing volume from our Greeley, CO beef facility to the Cactus, TX and Grand Island, NE plants. To better utilize our existing Greeley facility, we announced plans to convert the Greeley second shift to higher margin value-added production. These plans announced in October 2004 were implemented in December of 2004 at which time approximately 800 production employees were laid off. We anticipate increasing value-added production on the second shift at the Greeley facility over the coming year. As of early January of 2005, the company was producing approximately 100,000 pounds per week of further processed products on the Greeley second shift.

      We anticipate the transfer of production volume to result in a more efficient use of our production facilities, which will allow an increase in the average hours paid in each work week for the remaining workforce and to increase the production of higher margin finished goods. In addition, we expect that providing higher average work weeks for our employees will have benefits in improved product yield, reduced employee turnover and related re-training costs, and providing for a higher quality more consistent production to our customers.

     Net Sales. Net sales of Swift Beef were $1,394.3 million for the thirteen weeks ended November 28, 2004 as compared to $1,578.7 million for the thirteen weeks ended November 23, 2003. The sales decrease of $184.4 million, or 11.7%, reflects 2% lower selling prices on lower volumes reflecting reduction in our international sales channel following the December 2003 border closings to US Beef exports. Sales volumes were approximately 10% lower than year ago levels as a result of the border closing and the sustained high prices for finished box beef products, which allowed retailers to look to alternate relatively lower priced proteins such as pork and poultry.

     Depreciation & Amortization. Depreciation and amortization of Swift Beef was $11.9 million for the thirteen weeks ended November 28, 2004 as compared to $12.8 million for the thirteen weeks ended November 23, 2003. The decrease of $0.9 million, or 7.0%, resulted primarily from the impact of depreciation on assets removed from service as compared to the impact of assets placed in service.

     EBITDA. EBITDA of Swift Beef was $ (8.1) million for the thirteen weeks ended November 28, 2004 as compared to $ 17.8 million for the thirteen weeks ended November 23, 2003. The decrease of $25.9 million, or 145.5%, reflected an 11.7% decrease in beef sales with a 2% reduction in prices coupled with a 10% reduction in volumes. Raw material costs were nominally higher which compounded the declines in selling price and further negatively impacted gross margins. US Beef live cattle prices continue at levels which do not reflect the reduction in sales value of the offal and variety meats items which formerly were sold into export markets.

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     Gross margin percentages (gross profit as a percent of net sales) were (0.4)% for the thirteen weeks ended November 28, 2004 as compared to 1.6% for the prior thirteen weeks. The decrease in gross margin is a result of the above mentioned loss of export markets and continued high prices for raw materials, which compounded the declines in selling prices for finished boxed beef products.

   Swift Pork

     Net Sales. Net sales of Swift Pork were $572.3 million for the thirteen weeks ended November 28, 2004 as compared to $483.6 million for the thirteen weeks ended November 23, 2003. The increase of $88.7 million, or 18.3%, reflected a 27% increase in average selling prices partially offset by a 7% decline in volumes. Increases in selling prices are partially attributable to the growth in value added Swift branded products and the continued high prices for finished boxed beef in the retail meat case, which provided a “price umbrella” allowing for higher pork prices as well.

     Depreciation & Amortization. Depreciation and amortization of Swift Pork was $4.6 million for the thirteen weeks ended November 28, 2004 as compared to $4.5 million for the thirteen weeks ended November 23, 2003. The increase of $0.1 million, or 2.2%, resulted primarily from the impact of depreciation on assets placed in service, partially offset by the impact of assets removed from service.

     EBITDA. EBITDA of Swift Pork was $27.0 million for the thirteen weeks ended November 28, 2004 as compared to $36.6 million for the thirteen weeks ended November 23, 2003. The decrease of $9.6 million, or 26.2%, reflected a 27% increase in selling prices more than offset by a 41% increase in raw material costs and a decrease in volumes of 7%.

     Gross margin percentages (gross profit as a percent of net sales) were 5.3% for the thirteen weeks ended November 28, 2004 and 8.7% for the thirteen weeks ended November 23, 2003. Decrease in gross margin percentage reflected higher raw material costs which could not be offset by the higher selling prices.

  Swift Australia

     Net Sales. Net sales of Swift Australia were $644.6 million for the thirteen weeks ended November 28, 2004 as compared to $486.1 million for the thirteen weeks ended November 23, 2003. The increase in net sales of $158.5 million, or 32.6%, primarily reflected a 30% increase in sales prices and a 3% increase in volume. The increase in net sales was mainly the result of continuing high sales prices in our major markets – North America, Japan and domestically. The continuing high sales prices are primarily the result of the imbalance in the North American market due to the ban on imports of live cattle from Canada into the US, and in Japan due to the closure of the Japanese market to US exports as a result of the single case of BSE discovered in the US in December 2003. In addition, the Australian dollar to US dollar exchange rate increased an average of 7.2% between the two periods.

     Depreciation & Amortization. Depreciation and amortization of Swift Australia was $4.4 million for the thirteen weeks ended November 28, 2004 as compared to $3.9 million for the thirteen weeks ended November 23, 2003. The increase of $0.5 million, or 12.8%, resulted primarily from the effect of foreign exchange rate differences. The Australian dollar to US dollar exchange rate increased an average 7.2% between the two periods.

     EBITDA. EBITDA of Swift Australia was $27.1 million for the thirteen weeks ended November 28, 2004 as compared to $6.2 million for the thirteen weeks ended November 23, 2003. The increase of $20.9 million, or 337.1%, was a result of increased gross margin, with higher revenues outweighing a 29% increase in livestock prices between the two periods. Included in the increase in revenues and livestock prices is an average increase in the Australian dollar to US dollar exchange rate of 7.2% between the two periods.

     Gross margin percentages (gross profit as a percent of net sales) increased to 4.0% in the thirteen weeks ended November 28, 2004 as compared to 1.8% for the thirteen weeks ended November 23, 2003 due to increased revenues which more than offset higher raw material costs.

Recent Developments

     In December 2003, Swift Operating announced the first traceability/animal identification program for a multi-plant beef processor in the United States. Swift TraceÔ gives Swift Operating the ability to trace boxed beef back through the entire production process, from the feedlot to finished boxed beef. Swift Trace is being expanded with the introduction of an optical scanning component that provides a unique “fingerprint” for each animal. The enhanced Swift Trace will ultimately give the company the ability to expand

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traceability back to birth. The optical scanning capability was introduced to Swift Operating’s production facility in Greeley, Colorado, early in calendar year 2004. Since that introduction, beef that has been source-verified by Swift Trace has been purchased by one customer and the process is currently being developed for use in all of Swift Operating’s operations, both beef and pork.

     Historically, the domestic cattle feeding operations were wholly owned by ConAgra Red Meat Business. The domestic cattle feeding operations consist of four feedlots that feed over 700,000 cattle annually. Substantially all of the sales of finished cattle from those feedlots were made to our domestic beef processing facilities. In a transaction related to the Transaction, a subsidiary of Swift Foods acquired the common stock, though not the operating assets, of the legal entity which owned the domestic cattle feeding operations. In connection with the Transaction, we entered into an agreement with the entity that acquired the domestic cattle feeding operations under which it supplies cattle to Swift Beef consistent with past practices. For the period between August 30, 2004 and September 21, 2004, the domestic cattle feeding operations provided approximately 15% of the cattle processed by our domestic beef processing operations. On September 24, 2004, the common stock of the domestic cattle feeding operations was tendered to ConAgra Foods in full settlement of, and release from, all outstanding obligations under a credit facility between the domestic cattle feeding operations and ConAgra Foods, and the common stock ceased to be an asset of Swift Foods. The settlement included an agreement to: 1) continue the cattle supply to Swift Beef until all of the remaining cattle inventory of the feedlots has finished and delivered to Swift Beef’s processing facilities and 2) provided for the continuation of certain administrative and information technology services to cattle feeding employees until December 31, 2004, to enable the domestic cattle feeding operations (which occupied a portion of the Swift Operating’s Greeley, Colorado, corporate headquarters) to transition itself to ConAgra Foods’ computer and other systems. The former ConAgra domestic cattle feeding operations historically provided approximately 40% of the volumes processed at the Greeley plant, while the remaining 60% were provided by unrelated third parties. Swift Beef believes that sufficient supplies of cattle at market prices exist to meet its needs in 2005 and beyond.

     In continuing the execution of the key elements of our business strategy of building strategic relationships with our customers by offering value-added products, improving operating efficiencies and strategically investing in our operations, we have recently evaluated the capacity utilization of each of our beef processing facilities. We concluded that current slaughter and processing volumes can be maintained, and the facilities can be used more efficiently and profitably, by increasing primary processing at our Grand Island, Nebraska, and Cactus, Texas, facilities and at our first shift operations in Greeley, Colorado. Expanded production at those facilities permitted us to discontinue second shift slaughter and to balance primal disassembly operations between modified first and second shifts at Greeley in December 2004. The remaining excess capacity at our Greeley, Colorado facility is being transitioned to higher margin value-added beef products.

     The decision to transfer Greeley’s second shift primary processing to the other processing facilities approved in October 2004 was implemented in December 2004 resulting in the layoff of approximately 800 production employees. This reduction in employee headcount had minimal financial impact on the company during the quarter. Accruals for severance benefits totaled less than $0.4 million and are anticipated to be paid in the third quarter of fiscal year 2005.

     We anticipate the transfer of production volume to result in more efficient use of our production facilities, which will allow an increase in the average hours paid in each work week for the remaining workforce and to increase the production of higher margin finished goods. In addition, we expect that providing higher average work weeks for our employees will have benefits in improved product yield, reduced employee turnover and related re-training costs, and providing for a higher quality more consistent product to our customers. These benefits are expected to accrue to the company over the coming year.

     On July 30, 2004, the Purchaser gave notice of its exercise of the right to purchase all of the remaining common stock of Swift Foods held by ConAgra Foods and its affiliates. The purchase of such stock was completed on September 23, 2004 (the “Call Option”), for a purchase price of approximately $200 million including fees and direct costs of the transaction and was funded by a credit facility obtained by a subsidiary of the Purchaser. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) generally provides for the application of “push down accounting” in situations where the ownership of an entity has changed, meaning that the post-transaction financial statements of the acquired entity reflect a new basis of accounting. The accompanying financial statements of Swift Holdings do not reflect a new basis of accounting pursuant to Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 54 (“SAB 54”). The guidance in SAB 54 allows the post-Call Option financial statements to continue under the historical basis of accounting because of the existence of significant outstanding public debt at the time of the Call Option.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

   Internal Sources of Liquidity

     Our ongoing operations require the availability of funds to service debt, fund working capital, invest in our business and pay our liabilities. We currently finance and expect to continue to finance these activities through cash flow from operations and from amounts available under our bank facilities. As of November 28, 2004, we had working capital of $483.2 million compared to $531.9 million at May 30, 2004. The decrease from May 2004 is primarily due to an increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities, partially offset by an increase in inventory and accounts receivable balances. A dividend payable of $121.4 million was declared during the first quarter and paid during the second quarter of fiscal 2005, and resulted from excess cash generated from operating activities. After the dividend payment, we had cash and cash equivalent balances of $87.1 million with no revolver borrowings at November 28, 2004.

     We believe that cash flows from operations and availability under our bank facilities will be sufficient to meet ongoing operating requirements, make scheduled principal and interest payments on debt and fund capital expenditures. At November 28, 2004, we had

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capital projects in progress that will require approximately $29.5 million to complete. Capital spending for fiscal 2005 is expected to approximate $60.0 million. These expenditures are primarily for major renewals and improvements and the development of new processing capabilities, including further processing at our Greeley facility. Our credit facilities contain financial covenants that could impact our liquidity on an ongoing basis.

     Operating Activities. Net cash provided by operating activities increased $54.1 million for the twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004, as compared to the twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003. The increased amount of cash generated from operating activities was primarily a result of our lower use of trade working capital (accounts receivable plus inventory, less accounts payable and accrued expenses) during the current twenty-six week period as compared to our use of trade working capital during the same period in the prior year. This increase is partially offset by lower cash flows provided by net income.

     Investing Activities. Cash used in investing activities totaled $14.6 million for the twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004, as compared to $34.7 million for the twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003. The decrease is the result of lower capital expenditures.

     Financing Activities. For the twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004, cash used in financing activities was $125.0 million as compared to cash provided by financing activities of $10.4 million for the twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003. The decrease in cash provided was primarily the result of a dividend declared in the first quarter and paid in the second quarter of 2005. The incurrence of $12.4 million of additional debt during the twenty-six weeks ended November 23, 2003, was related to the financing of a capital asset.

  External Sources of Liquidity

     Our primary financing objective is to maintain a conservative balance sheet that provides the flexibility to pursue our business strategy. To finance our working capital needs, we utilize cash flow from operations and borrow from our existing revolving credit facility. We are currently in compliance with the financial covenants in our senior credit facilities.

     We have in place a short-term revolving credit facility of $350.0 million (expiring in September 2007), of which $240.8 million was available for borrowing as of November 28, 2004, with major domestic and international banks. As of November 28, 2004, Swift Operating had $0 borrowings outstanding on its revolving credit facility. As of November 28, 2004, the short-term revolving credit facility of $350.0 was reduced by approximately $32.2 million of outstanding letters of credit and another $77.0 million which is not immediately available for borrowings due to borrowing base limitations. The interest rates for the revolving credit facility vary based on currency denominations and borrowing rates of our lenders.

     At November 28, 2004, we had $635.6 million of total debt outstanding as compared to $636.5 million as of May 30, 2004.

     Our current debt structure is secured by substantially all of our current assets, including inventory and accounts receivable, as well as all of our property, plants and equipment. As a result, our future liquidity is dependent on maintaining adequate cash flows from operations as well as maintaining the credit quality of our underlying accounts receivable balances. Although not anticipated by our management, deterioration of the credit quality of our accounts receivable could impact our ability to borrow under our revolving credit facility.

     We believe that available borrowings under our senior credit facilities, available cash and internally generated funds will be sufficient to support our working capital, maintenance capital expenditures and debt service requirements for the foreseeable future. Our ability to generate sufficient cash, however, is subject to certain general economic, financial, industry, legislative, regulatory and other factors beyond our control.

     We have hog purchase contracts which require the purchase of a minimum of approximately 20.4 million hogs through 2014. Such contracts vary in nature and stipulate minimum and maximum price commitments, based in part on market prices and in certain circumstances also include price adjustments based on corn prices.

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   Bank Covenant Compliance

     Our senior credit facilities’ financial covenants are based on Adjusted EBITDA as defined in the senior credit facilities. These financial covenants require us to comply with certain ratios calculated using Adjusted EBITDA and determine our ability to meet future debt service, incur additional indebtedness or capital expenditures and assess our working capital requirements. In particular, these financial covenants currently require us not to:

  •   exceed a maximum leverage ratio of 3.75x;
 
  •   fall below a minimum interest coverage ratio of 2.5x; and
 
  •   fall below a minimum fixed charge ratio of 1.15x.

     Our leverage ratio, interest coverage ratio and fixed charge coverage ratio are to be calculated each fiscal quarter based on the latest twelve month financial data.

     The calculated ratios for the latest twelve months (“LTM”) ended November 28, 2004 are as follows:

                 
            Latest Twelve  
            Months  
            Ended  
            November 28,  
            2004 (e)  
Leverage Ratio:
               
Consolidated Debt/
          $ 635,600  
Adjusted EBITDA(a)
    ÷     $ 227,873  
 
           
 
            =2.79x  
Interest Coverage Ratio:
               
Adjusted EBITDA(a)/
          $ 227,873  
Annualized Cash Interest Expense (b)
    ÷     $ 61,993  
 
           
 
            =3.68x  
Fixed Charge Ratio:
               
Fixed Charge Numerator(c)/
          $ 171,740  
Fixed Charge Denominator(d)
    ÷     $ 66,784  
 
           
 
            =2.57x  


(a)   The term “Adjusted EBITDA” is a defined term in our senior credit facilities. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by adding to EBITDA certain items of income and expense. Amounts required to be added back to EBITDA to arrive at Adjusted EBITDA, as defined, for the LTM period presented above include: the impact of mark-to-market accounting from certain derivative contracts, the impact of non-cash predecessor entity stock option expense recognized, and nonrecurring extraordinary or unusual items.
 
(b)   Annualized cash interest expense, as defined by our senior credit facilities, is calculated using the consolidated interest expense during the LTM period presented above, excluding the net value of market effects on any interest rate contracts, plus any capitalized interest, less any consolidated interest income, less consolidated non-cash interest expense.
 
(c)   The numerator for the fixed charge ratio is calculated as defined in our senior credit facilities as: Adjusted EBITDA, less capital expenditures for the preceding four quarters, less total federal income tax liability payable.
 
(d)   The denominator for the fixed charge ratio is calculated as defined in our senior credit facilities using estimated amounts of annualized consolidated interest expense, plus an annualized principal amount of consolidated financial covenant debt due, plus annualized cash dividends, plus other annualized restricted payments. The terms “annualized consolidated interest expense” and “consolidated financial covenant debt” are defined in our senior credit facilities, filed as Exhibit 10.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
(e)   LTM EBITDA includes translation gains and losses.

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   Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements and Income Taxes

     In January 2003, FIN No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities (“FIN 46”), was issued. The Interpretation provides guidance on consolidating variable interest entities. In November 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) approved a partial deferral of FIN 46 and proposed various other amendments to FIN 46. In December 2003, the FASB issued a revision of the Interpretation (the “Revised Interpretation 46”). Revised Interpretation 46 codifies both the proposed modifications and other decisions previously issued through certain FASB Staff Positions and supercedes the original Interpretation to include: (1) deferring the effective date of the Interpretation’s provisions for certain variable interests, (2) providing additional scope exceptions for certain other variable interests, (3) clarifying the impact of troubled debt restructurings on the requirement to reconsider whether an entity is a variable interest entity, and (4) revising Appendix B of the original Interpretation to provide additional guidance on what constitutes a variable interest. The revised guidelines of the Interpretation apply immediately to variable interests in variable interest entities created after December 31, 2003, and will become applicable for us in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2005 for variable interest entities created before December 31, 2003. We believe it is reasonably possible that the domestic cattle feeding operations with which Swift Beef had a transitional live cattle supply agreement (see Note 4) could be deemed a variable interest entity under the recently revised rules. As discussed in Note 4, Swift Beef purchased at fair market value substantially all of the live cattle production of the domestic cattle feeding operations through December 31, 2004. This business has total assets of approximately $350 million, of which approximately $300 million represents inventory, primarily cattle, and has historically generated net income of less than $1.0 million.

     On September 24, 2004, the common stock of Monfort Finance Company, Inc. (“Monfort”), the entity owning the domestic cattle feeding operations, was tendered to ConAgra Foods in full settlement of, and release from, all outstanding liabilities under the term loan and revolving credit agreements, and the common stock of Monfort ceased to be an investment of Swift Foods. The settlement included an agreement to: 1) continue the cattle supply to Swift Beef until all of the remaining cattle inventory of the feedlots has finished and delivered to Swift Beef’s processing facilities and 2) provided for the continuation of certain administrative and information technology services through December 31, 2004, to enable the domestic cattle feeding operations (which occupied a portion of Swift Operating’s Greeley, Colorado corporate headquarters) to transition itself to ConAgra Foods’ computer and other support systems. Swift Beef believes that sufficient supplies of cattle at market prices exist to meet its needs in 2005 and beyond.

     In March 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) reached a consensus on Issue No. 03-1, The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments. EITF 03-1 provides guidance on other-than-temporary impairment models for marketable debt and equity securities accounted for under SFAS No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities, and SFAS No. 124, Accounting for Certain Investments Held by Not-for-Profit Organizations, and non-marketable equity securities accounted for under the cost method. The EITF developed a basic three-step model to evaluate whether an investment is other-than-temporarily impaired. On September 30, 2004, the FASB approved the issuance of FASB Staff Position (FSP) EITF 03-1-1, which delays the effective date until additional guidance is issued for the application of the recognition and measurement provisions of EITF 03-1 to investments in securities that are impaired. We do not expect the adoption of EITF 03-1 to have a material effect our results of operations or financial condition.

     On December 16, 2004, the FASB issued an SFAS 123R, Share-Based Payment — An Amendment of FASB Statement No. 123 and 95. The proposed Statement addresses the accounting for transactions in which an enterprise receives employee services in exchange for (a) equity instruments of the enterprise or (b) liabilities that are based on the fair value of the enterprise’s equity instruments or that may be settled by the issuance of such equity instruments. Companies will be required to recognize an expense for compensation cost related to share-based payment arrangements including stock options and employee stock purchase plans. The new rules will be applied on a modified prospective basis, and will be effective for periods beginning after June 15, 2005. We are currently evaluating option valuation methodologies and assumptions. Current estimates of option values using the Black-Scholes method may not be indicative of results from valuation methodologies upon our adoption of SFAS 123R in our second quarter of fiscal 2006.

     In November 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 151, Inventory Costs — an Amendment of ARB No. 43. SFAS No. 151 amends the guidance in ARB No. 43, Chapter 4, “Inventory Pricing,” to clarify the accounting for abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs, and spoilage, and requires that these items be recognized as current-period charges regardless of whether they meet the criterion of “so abnormal.” In addition, SFAS No. 151 requires that allocation of fixed production overheads to the costs of conversion be based on the normal capacity of the production facilities. The provisions of SFAS No. 151 are effective

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for inventory costs incurred during fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005, with earlier application permitted. We do not expect the adoption of SFAS No. 151 to have a material impact on our financial position, results of operation or cash flows.

     On October 22, 2004, the American Jobs Creation Act (“AJCA”) was signed into law. The AJCA includes three provisions that may impact our effective tax rate. The first provision provides a deduction for 85% of certain foreign earnings that are repatriated, as defined in the AJCA, at an effective tax cost of 5.25% on any such repatriated foreign earnings. The second provision allows manufacturing concerns to take a new deduction, subject to limitation equal to a portion of its manufacturing gross receipts. This deduction will not be available to us until our fiscal year 2006. We have begun an evaluation of these provisions; however, we do not expect to be able to complete a full evaluation of the effect of these provisions until after Congress or the Treasury Department provide additional clarifying language on key elements of the provisions. We expect to complete our evaluation of the effects of the repatriation provision and manufacturing deduction provision within a reasonable period of time following the publication of the additional clarifying language.

     The third provision included in the AJCA is the phased out repeal of the extraterritorial income exclusion. Beginning on January 1, 2005, the tax benefit that has been utilized by us for export sales will gradually begin to phase out. We will take these new provisions into account in our tax provision as they become effective.

     We are currently evaluating the impact of electing to file consolidated tax returns in Australia. A possible benefit of the election is a step-up in tax assets. The impact of the election will be incorporated in the financial statements when a final determination is made.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Market Risk Disclosures

     The principal market risks affecting our business are exposures related to changes in commodity prices, foreign exchange rates and interest rates. We attempt to mitigate these exposures by entering into various hedging transactions, which are intended to decrease the volatility of earnings and cash flows associated with the changes in the applicable rates and prices.

     The following table provides the fair value of our open derivative instruments (in thousands):

                 
    May 30, 2004     November 28, 2004  
Fair Value:
               
Cattle and hogs
  $ 15,416     $ 339  
Energy
    932       1,640  
Foreign currency
    (365 )     1,441  
Interest rate swap
    (2,895 )     (1,396 )
 
           
Total
  $ 13,088     $ 2,024  
 
           

  •   Fair value for cattle and hogs was determined using the quoted fair value and was based on our net derivative fair value by commodity.
 
  •   Fair value of energy was determined by using quoted market prices, if available, and was based on our net derivative fair value by commodity.
 
  •   Fair value of foreign currency was determined using quoted market prices and was based on the net derivative fair value.
 
  •   Fair value of the interest rate swap was determined using the quoted market price.

Commodity Risk

     We require various raw materials in our operations, including cattle, hogs and energy, such as natural gas, electricity and diesel fuel, which are all considered commodities. We consider these raw materials generally available from a number of different sources and believe we can obtain them to meet our requirements. These commodities are subject to price fluctuations and related price risk due to factors beyond our control, such as economic and political conditions, supply and demand, weather, governmental regulation and other circumstances. We generally hedge these commodities when and to the extent management determines conditions are appropriate. While this may tend to limit our ability to participate in gains from commodity price fluctuations, it also tends to reduce the risk of loss from changes in commodity prices.

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     We reflect commodity contract gains and losses as adjustments to the basis of underlying commodities purchased; gains or losses are recognized in the statements of earnings as a component of costs of goods sold, or as a component of other comprehensive income, upon change in fair value. Generally, we hedge a portion of our anticipated consumption of commodity inputs for periods of up to 12 months. We may enter into longer-term derivatives on particular commodities if deemed appropriate.

   Cattle and Hogs

     We purchase cattle and hogs for use in our processing businesses. The commodity price risk associated with these activities can be hedged by selling or buying the underlying commodity, or by using an appropriate commodity derivative instrument. We typically utilize exchange-traded futures and options as well as non-exchange-traded derivatives, in which case we monitor the amount of associated counterparty credit risk. We also enter into live cattle forward purchase contracts in order to establish margins on sales we have agreed to make, but have not yet delivered upon. These contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting under SFAS No. 133. Accordingly, changes in the market values of these contracts are recognized immediately as unrealized income or expense in the statements of earnings each period as fluctuations in the fair value of the contracts change with the change in the underlying value of the commodity. As we deliver on our sales and the related live cattle forward contracts are closed, the unrealized income or expense is reversed and the actual transaction is realized. Therefore, on any given day, our reported operating results can be impacted from the non-cash gain or loss due to the accounting for these contracts.

     As of November 28, 2004, we had firm contracts to purchase approximately 33% of our anticipated need for cattle and hogs, and we had derivative positions for less than 1% of our anticipated need for cattle and hogs.

  Energy

     We incur energy costs in our facilities and incur higher operating expenses as a result of increases in energy costs. We take positions in commodities used in our operations to partially offset adverse price movements in energy costs, such as natural gas and electricity. We use exchange-traded derivative commodity instruments and non-exchange-traded swaps and options. We monitor the amount of associated counterparty credit risk for non-exchange-traded transactions.

     Gains and losses from energy derivatives are recognized in the statement of earnings as a component of cost of goods sold or as a component of other comprehensive income upon change in fair value. For the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004, and November 23, 2003, certain energy derivatives qualify for hedge accounting in accordance with SFAS 133. The ineffective component, generally related to changes in actual usage compared to estimated usage, were not significant. Gains and losses from these contracts are recognized in the period in which the hedged transaction affects earnings. As of November 28, 2004, we had contracts to purchase 100% of our anticipated annual need for natural gas and diesel fuel, and we had hedge positions for approximately 47% of our annual needs for natural gas.

Foreign Exchange Risk

     Transactions denominated in a currency other than an entity’s functional currency are generally hedged to reduce market risk, primarily those of Swift Australia. In order to reduce exposures related to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, we use foreign currency forward exchange or option contracts for transactions denominated in a currency other than the applicable functional currency. This includes, but is not limited to, hedging foreign currency risk in sales of finished goods, future settlement of foreign denominated assets and liabilities and firm commitments.

     Gains and losses from foreign currency derivatives are recognized in the statement of earnings as a component of net sales or as a component of other comprehensive income upon change in fair value. For the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended November 28, 2004 and November 23, 2003, our foreign currency positions qualify for hedge accounting in accordance with SFAS 133. The ineffective component, generally related to changes in actual foreign currency sales compared to estimated foreign currency sales or due to cancellations of committed customer sales, were not significant. Gains and losses from these contracts are recognized in the period in which the hedged transaction affects earnings. We principally use non-exchange-traded contracts to affect this coverage. Typically the maximum length of time over which we hedge exposure to foreign currency risk is three months or less.

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Interest Rate Risk

     We are exposed to interest rate movements on our floating rate debt. This risk is managed by monitoring our percentage mix of fixed rate and variable rate debt and reviewing other business and financial risks.

     In July 2003, we entered into a $100.0 million notional amount interest rate swap related to our fixed rate senior debt in order to change the characteristics of a portion of our senior debt from fixed rate debt to variable rate debt. This action was taken in order to achieve a fixed/floating rate debt target deemed appropriate for our business. The maturity date of the interest rate swap is October 2007 and the floating rate is calculated based on the six-month USD LIBOR set on the last day of each calculation period plus a fixed spread. This interest rate swap does not qualify for hedge accounting and therefore changes in the market value of these contracts are recognized immediately as unrealized income or expense in the statements of earnings. The increase in fair value, of $1.5 million associated with the change in market value for the current year is recorded within interest expense on the statements of earnings. We cannot provide any assurance that we will not incur additional expenses related to changes in the fair value of the interest rate swap.

     During the second quarter ended November 23, 2003, we entered into a forward contract to hedge our exposure to gains and losses related to currency impacts of intercompany borrowings with our Australian subsidiary. Changes in the fair value of this contract are recorded in the statement of earnings as an offset to translation gains or losses on intercompany borrowings.

     We are exposed to interest rate movements on our floating rate debt. This risk is managed by monitoring our percentage mix of fixed-rate and variable rate debt and reviewing other business and financial risks. As of November 28, 2004, the fair value of our floating rate debt was $196.0 million. A 1% change in short-term rates would result in increased or decreased interest expense of approximately $0.5 million.

Sensitivity Analysis

     The following sensitivity analysis estimates our exposure to market risk of commodity prices, foreign exchange rates and interest rates. The sensitivity analysis reflects the impact of a hypothetical 10% adverse change in the fair value of applicable commodity prices, foreign exchange rates and interest rates and excludes the underlying items that are being hedged.

                 
    May 30, 2004     November 28, 2004  
    (in thousands)     (in thousands)  
Fair Value:
               
Cattle and hogs
  $ 15,416     $ 339  
Energy
    932       1,640  
Foreign currency
    (365 )     1.441  
Interest rate swap
    (2,895 )     (1,396 )
 
           
Total
  $ 13,088     $ 2,024  
 
           
Estimated Fair Value Volatility (-10%)
               
Cattle and hogs
  $ 7,630     $ 10,606  
Energy
    117       997  
Foreign currency
    (15,843 )     (8,640 )
Interest rate swap
    (3,987 )     (2,621 )
 
           
Total
  $ (12,083 )   $ 342  
 
           

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

     We maintain a system of controls and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance as to the reliability of the financial statements and other disclosures included in this report, as well as to safeguard assets from unauthorized use or disposition. We evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under supervision and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Based upon that evaluation, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are effective in timely alerting them to material information required to be included in our periodic Securities and Exchange Commission filings. No significant changes were made to our internal controls or in other factors that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect these controls during our most recent fiscal quarter. The design of any system of controls and procedures is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

     For information regarding legal proceedings, see Note 5, “Legal Proceedings” to our consolidated financial statements included in Part 1- Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

     None.

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

     None.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

     None.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

     None.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

     (A) Exhibits

     
3.1
  Certificate of Incorporation of S&C Holdco 3, Inc. (1)
3.2
  Bylaws of S&C Holdco 3, Inc. (2)
10.28
  Indemnification agreement dated December 23, 2004 between Swift Foods Company and Kate Lavelle
31.1
  Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of S&C Holdco 3, Inc. pursuant to Rule 13a-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2
  Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of S&C Holdco 3, Inc. pursuant to Rule 13a-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1
  Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of S&C Holdco 3, Inc. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2
  Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of Swift & Company pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


(1)   Previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year-ended May 25, 2003 of S&C Holdco 3, Inc. filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 22, 2003. (File Number 333-100717)
 
(2)   Previously filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year-ended May 25, 2003 of S&C Holdco 3, Inc. filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 22, 2003. (File Number 333-100717)

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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, thereunto duly authorized.

         
    S & C HOLDCO 3, INC.
 
       
  By:   /s/ John N. Simons, Jr.
       
      John N. Simons, Jr.
      Chief Executive Officer, President and Director
      (Principal Executive Officer)
 
       
  By:   /s/ DANNY C. HERRON
       
      Danny C. Herron
      Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President -
Finance & Controls
      (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
       
Date: January 12, 2005
       

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