Brazil JBS buys U.S., Australian firms for $1.3 bln

SAO PAULO, March 4 (Reuters) - Brazil's JBS (JBSS3.SA), the world's biggest beef producer, said on Tuesday it bought two U.S. companies, Smithfield Beef Group (SFD.N) and National Beef Packing Co, as well as Australia's Tasman, for a total of nearly $1.3 billion.

JBS said in a statement it paid $565 million for Smithfield, $560 million for National Beef Packing Company and $150 million for Tasman as part of "JBS globalization strategy".