Filed by US BioEnergy Corporation

Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended

and deemed as filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended

Subject Company: US BioEnergy Corporation

Commission File Number: 001- 33203

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US BIOENERGY REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER

AND YEAR-END 2007 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Full Year 2007 Highlights

 

 

Revenues of $588.6 million

 

 

EBITDA of $61.4 million

 

 

Net income of $17.4 million, or $0.23 per diluted share

Fourth Quarter Highlights

 

 

Revenues of $151.9 million

 

 

EBITDA of ($2.8) million

 

 

Net loss of $7.2 million, or loss of $0.09 per share

ST. PAUL, Minn. – (March 17, 2008) – US BioEnergy Corporation (NASDAQ: USBE) today reported net income of $17.4 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, for the full year ended December 31, 2007. Total revenues for the year were $588.6 million, while the Company generated $61.4 million of EBITDA.

The company reported a net loss of $7.2 million, or $0.09 per share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2007, due primarily to a $14.0 million charge for mark-to-market losses related to the Company’s commodity hedging activities. In addition, the company incurred a one-time expense of $2.8 million, related to the company’s pending merger with VeraSun Energy Corporation. Revenues for the quarter were $151.9 million and EBITDA was ($2.8) million.

“We are very pleased to deliver another quarter of robust production and sales,” said Gordon Ommen, US BioEnergy’s CEO. “It was the second full quarter of production at our Ord, Neb. plant. In February 2008, we commenced operations at our newly acquired Marion plant. We now have five plants in operation and three additional plants under construction with a total production capacity of 750 million gallons per year (mmgy). We look forward to completing our merger with VeraSun and becoming the largest ethanol producer in the country.”

During the fourth quarter of 2007, the company sold 73.8 million gallons of ethanol at an average selling price of $1.77 per gallon, compared with 73.2 million gallons of ethanol at an average selling price of $1.76 per gallon for the third quarter of 2007.

After taking hedging related gains and losses into account, the company’s corn costs averaged $3.47 per bushel, or $1.23 per gallon of ethanol sold, for the fourth quarter of 2007, compared to

 

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$3.15 per bushel, or $1.10 per gallon of ethanol sold, for the third quarter of 2007. Before taking hedging gains into account, corn costs averaged $3.59 per bushel, or $1.27 per gallon of ethanol sold, compared with $3.58 per bushel, or $1.25 per gallon of ethanol sold in the third quarter of 2007.

Milestones the company achieved during 2007 include the following:

 

   

Began construction of an ethanol plant near Janesville, Minn.

 

   

Entered into five senior secured credit facilities with AgStar Financial Services, PCA, as administrative agent and as a lender, and a group of other lenders to provide financing for the Ord, Hankinson, Dyersville and Janesville construction projects and to refinance the Platte Valley credit facility

 

   

Completed construction of the Ord plant and commenced operations

 

   

Acquired Millennium Ethanol, LLC, an ethanol plant that was under construction near Marion, S.D. and commenced operations at the plant in February 2008

 

   

Entered into a merger agreement with VeraSun Energy Corporation (VeraSun)

 

   

Sold United Bio Energy Ingredients, LLC, and UBE Services, LLC, a third-party distillers grains marketing and services businesses

The company currently owns and operates five ethanol plants, which have combined production capacity of 420 mmgy and has the following plants under construction:

 

   

Hankinson, N.D., a 110 mmgy facility, which is expected to start producing ethanol in the first half of 2008.

 

   

Dyersville, Iowa, a 110 mmgy facility, which is expected to start producing ethanol in the second half of 2008.

 

   

Janesville, Minn., a 110 mmgy facility, which is expected to start producing ethanol in the second half of 2008.

The company’s total construction expenditures for 2007 were $369.8 million, which were primarily comprised of the following: Hankinson $111.3 million, Dyersville $112.3 million, Janesville $76.0 million, and Marion $27.9 million. The remaining construction-related costs of $174.3 million to complete each of these projects are expected to be fully funded through available construction loans.

At December 31, 2007, total cash and cash equivalents were $54.4 million, compared to $170.1 million on December 31, 2006. None of the company’s cash is invested in auction rate securities. Total debt as of December 31, 2007 was $430.3 million compared to $150.1 million on December 31, 2006. Equity, as a percentage of total capitalization, was approximately 59 percent as of December 31, 2007.

 

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Selected Results

 

     Three months ended
December 31, 2007
   Three months ended
September 30, 2007
   Three months ended
June 30, 2007
   Three months ended
March 31, 2007

Sales volumes (in thousands):

           

Ethanol gallons sold

     73,794      73,178      67,068      59,726

Distillers grains tons sold

     365      346      302      272

Production volumes (in thousands)

           

Ethanol gallons produced

     72,896      73,107      68,188      58,660

Distillers grains tons produced

     364      346      305      262

Average price realizations

           

Ethanol sales price per gallon

   $ 1.77    $ 1.76    $ 1.91    $ 1.90

Distillers grain sales price per gallon

   $ 0.26    $ 0.25    $ 0.26    $ 0.26

Average cost

           

Corn—no hedging impact (per bushel)

   $ 3.59    $ 3.58    $ 3.79    $ 3.52

Corn—w/ hedging impact (per bushel)

   $ 3.47    $ 3.15    $ 3.97    $ 3.64

Corn—no hedging impact (per gallon of ethanol)

   $ 1.27    $ 1.25    $ 1.35    $ 1.21

Corn—w/ hedging impact (per gallon of ethanol)

   $ 1.23    $ 1.10    $ 1.41    $ 1.25

Natural gas—no hedging impact (per mmbtu)

   $ 6.62    $ 5.25    $ 7.31    $ 7.19

Natural gas—w/ hedging impact (per mmbtu)

   $ 6.62    $ 5.25    $ 7.36    $ 6.88

Natural gas—no hedging impact (per gallon of ethanol)

   $ 0.16    $ 0.13    $ 0.18    $ 0.20

Natural gas—w/ hedging impact (per gallon of ethanol)

   $ 0.16    $ 0.13    $ 0.18    $ 0.19

COGS—w/ hedging impact (per gallon of ethanol)

   $ 1.98    $ 1.62    $ 1.97    $ 1.89

Comparability of Financial Results

Prior to May 1, 2006, US BioEnergy derived revenues principally from its marketing and services businesses. Since that time, the sale of ethanol and distillers grains has become the primary source of US BioEnergy’s revenues. As a result, the company’s financial results for periods after April 30, 2006 are not comparable to results for prior periods. In addition, due to the steep ramping of ethanol production since April 2006, the actual production figures for 2006 are not indicative of future operating results.

EBITDA

This news release describes “EBITDA” in addition to earnings calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Management believes that EBITDA is useful in evaluating the company’s operating performance in relation to other companies in the industry because the calculation of EBITDA generally eliminates the effects of financings and income

 

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taxes, items that vary for different companies for reasons unrelated to overall operating performance. EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP, and should not be considered an alternative to net income, or any other measure of performance under GAAP, or to cash flows from operating, investing or financing activities as an indicator of cash flows or as a measure of liquidity. EBITDA has its limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of the limitations of EBITDA are:

 

   

EBITDA does not reflect cash used for capital expenditures;

 

   

Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated or amortized often will have to be replaced and EBITDA does not reflect the cash requirements for replacements;

 

   

EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, working capital requirements;

 

   

EBITDA does not reflect the cash necessary to make payments of interest or principal on indebtedness; and

 

   

EBITDA includes non-recurring payments which are reflected in other income.

Because of these limitations, EBITDA should not be considered as a measure of discretionary cash available to service debt or to invest in the growth of our business. Management compensates for these limitations by relying on GAAP results as well as EBITDA.

Conference Call

The company will host a conference call today at 10:00 a.m. Central Time. Investors interested in listening to the call can dial (888) 895-4463 and reference conference ID 37569771. This call will be webcast and can be accessed via US BioEnergy’s Web site at www.usbioenergy.net (follow the instructions on the Investor Relations page). A replay of the webcast will be available through March 31, 2008. The telephone replay will be available approximately two hours after the call concludes by dialing (800) 642-1687 or (706) 645-9291 and reference conference ID 37569771.

About US BioEnergy Corporation

US BioEnergy Corporation (NASDAQ: USBE), based in St. Paul, Minn., is a leading producer and marketer of ethanol and distillers grains. Founded in 2004, the company currently owns and operates five ethanol plants in Albert City, Iowa, Marion, S.D., Ord and Platte Valley, Neb., and Woodbury, Mich. Three additional ethanol plants are currently under construction in Hankinson, N.D., Dyersville, Iowa, and Janesville, Minn. Upon completion of these initiatives, the company will own and operate eight plants with combined expected ethanol production capacity of 750 million gallons.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements in this release, and other written or oral statements made by or on behalf of us, are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Statements regarding future events and developments and our future performance, as well as management’s

 

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expectations, anticipations, beliefs, plans, targets, estimates, or projections and similar expressions relating to the future, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of these laws. These statements are based on assumptions and assessments made by our management in light of their experience and their perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. Any forward- looking statements are not guarantees of our future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from those contemplated by any forward-looking statements. We disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that may cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from those contemplated by any forward-looking statements include the volatility and uncertainty of corn, natural gas, ethanol and unleaded gasoline prices; the completion and results of our pending merger with VeraSun Energy; the results of our recently acquired Marion, SD facility; the results of our hedging transactions and other risk mitigation strategies; operational disruptions at our facilities; our ability to implement our expansion strategy as planned or at all; our ability to locate and integrate potential future acquisitions; development of infrastructure related to the sale and distribution of ethanol; our limited operating history; excess production capacity in our industry; our ability to compete effectively in our industry; our ability to implement a marketing and sales network for our ethanol; changes in or elimination of governmental laws, tariffs, trade or other controls or enforcement practices; environmental, health and safety laws, regulations and liabilities; our reliance on key management personnel; future technological advances; limitations and restrictions contained in the instruments and agreements governing our indebtedness; our ability to raise additional capital and secure additional financing; and costs of construction and equipment, as more fully described in the “Risk Factors” section of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

Additional Information

In connection with the proposed transaction between VeraSun Energy and US BioEnergy, VeraSun has filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 containing a definitive joint proxy statement of VeraSun and US BioEnergy that also constitutes a prospectus of VeraSun, which was mailed to the shareholders of VeraSun and US BioEnergy. SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT VERASUN, US BIOENERGY AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. The joint proxy statement/prospectus and other documents relating to the proposed transaction (when they are available) can be obtained free of charge from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. These documents (when they are available) can also be obtained free of charge from US BioEnergy upon written request to VeraSun Energy Corporation, Attention: Investor Relations, 100 22nd Avenue, Brookings, South Dakota 57006, or by calling 605-696-7236, or from US BioEnergy, upon written request to US BioEnergy Corporation, Attention: Investor Relations, 5500 Cenex Drive, Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota 55077, or by calling 651-554-5491

 

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US BioEnergy Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except share data)

 

     December 31,    December 31,
     2007    2006
ASSETS      

Current Assets

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 54,432    $ 170,099

Receivables

     42,609      40,958

Inventories

     40,368      28,420

Deferred income taxes

     4,279      —  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     9,989      7,306
             

Total current assets

     151,677      246,783
             

Other Assets

     

Goodwill

     63,991      65,489

Other long-term assets

     10,036      9,294
             
     74,027      74,783
             

Property and equipment, net

     943,141      408,814
             

Total assets

   $ 1,168,845    $ 730,380
             
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY      

Liabilities

     

Current maturities of long-term debt

   $ 17,024    $ 8,131

Accounts payable

     10,035      45,489

Accrued expenses

     20,170      5,483

Deferred income tax liability

     —        2,913

Notes payable

     —        1,815
             

Total current liabilities

     47,229      63,831
             

Long-term debt

     413,298      140,128

Construction payable

     31,488      14,944

Deferred income taxes

     47,839      27,099

Other long-term liabilities

     811      —  
             

Total long term liabilities

     493,436      182,171
             

Total liabilities

     540,665      246,002
             

Minority interest in subsidiary

     3,921      —  
             

Commitments and Contingencies

     

Shareholders’ Equity

     

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 75,000,000 shares, issued none

     —        —  

Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 750,000,000 shares; 79,582,679 and 67,968,885 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively

     796      679

Additional paid-in capital

     589,710      467,552

Retained earnings

     33,753      16,147
             

Total shareholders’ equity

     624,259      484,378
             

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 1,168,845    $ 730,380
             

 

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US BioEnergy Corporation

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

     Three Months Ended  
     December 31,
2007
    September 30,
2007
 
     (Unaudited)  

Revenues:

    

Product sales

   $ 150,539     $ 147,178  

Other revenues

     1,409       2,867  
                

Total revenues

     151,948       150,045  
                

Cost of goods sold:

    

Cost of product sales

     146,444       119,318  

Other cost of goods sold

     693       1,942  
                

Total cost of goods sold

     147,137       121,260  
                

Gross profit

     4,811       28,785  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     12,518       10,846  

Loss on impairment of asset

     —         2,471  
                

Operating income

     (7,707 )     15,468  
                

Other income (expense):

    

Interest expense

     (371 )     (1,425 )

Interest income

     944       1,257  

Other income

     (3,142 )     7  

Equity in net income of unconsolidated subsidiary

     645       1,094  
                
     (1,924 )     933  
                

Income before income taxes and minority interest

     (9,631 )     16,401  

Federal and state income tax expense

     2,411       (5,330 )

Minority interest in net loss of subsidiary

     21       7  
                

Net income

   $ (7,199 )   $ 11,078  
                

Income per common share:

    

Basic

   $ (0.09 )   $ 0.15  

Diluted

     (0.09 )     0.15  

Weighted average shares outstanding:

    

Basic

     79,633       72,043  

Diluted

     80,424       72,908  

 

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US BioEnergy Corporation

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(dollars in thousands)

 

     Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
 
     2007     2006  

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

    

Net income (loss)

   $ 17,406     $ 20,432  

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

    

Depreciation

     23,271       6,487  

Amortization

     1,189       1,031  

Minority interest in net loss of subsidiary

     (79 )     (391 )

Distributions received from unconsolidated subsidiary

     1,347    

Stock-based compensation expense

     2,939       399  

Deferred income taxes

     11,514       9,905  

Change in derivative financial instruments

     19,650       (6,785 )

Equity in net income of unconsolidated subsidiary

     (2,827 )     (456 )

Other, net

     666       —    

Gain on sale of 50% interest in Provista

     —         (1,764 )

Loss on impairment of assets

     2,471       —    

Other changes in operating assets and liabilities, exclusive of acquisitions and dispositions

    

Receivables

     (11,487 )     (34,191 )

Inventories

     (11,948 )     (28,884 )

Accounts payable

     (18,025 )     13,762  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     16,012       3,012  

Other, net

     (23,024 )     619  
                

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     29,075       (16,824 )
                

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

    

Purchases of property and equipment

     (369,806 )     (206,010 )

Acquisition of development stage companies, net of cash received

     (15,633 )     (21,481 )

Proceeds from disposition of subsidiaries

     4,826       2,400  

Deposits

     4,307       (4,307 )

Other, net

     107       (830 )
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (376,199 )     (230,228 )
                

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

    

Proceeds from long-term debt

     299,617       119,242  

Payments on long-term debt

     (51,429 )     (1,645 )

Net change in notes payable

     (1,815 )     13,951  

(Decrease) increase in checks written on controlled disbursement account

     (13,270 )     6,787  

Debt issuance costs paid

     (1,717 )     (977 )

Proceeds from the issuance of common stock

     71       255,499  

Deferred offering costs paid

     —         (16,156 )
                

Net cash provided by financing activities

     231,457       376,701  
                

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

     (115,667 )     129,649  

Cash and Cash Equivalents

    

Beginning of year

     170,099       40,450  
                

End of year

   $ 54,432     $ 170,099  
                

 

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US BioEnergy Corporation

EBITDA

 

     Twelve months ended
Dec. 31, 2007
   Three months ended
Dec. 31, 2007
 

Net Income

   $ 17,406    $ (7,199 )

Interest Expense

     8,609      371  

Income Taxes

     11,706      (2,411 )

Depreciation

     23,271      6,395  

Amortization

     376      —    
               

EBITDA

   $ 61,368    $ (2,844 )
               

 

Contact:      

Investor Contact:

   Media Contacts:   

Investor Relations

   JD Bergquist    James McCusker

US BioEnergy Corporation

   US BioEnergy Corporation    Integrated Corporate Relations

651-554-5491

   651-554-5490    203-682-8200

investor@usbioenergy.net

   media@usbioenergy.net    jmccusker@icrinc.com

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