DENVER, May 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BIOFUEL ENERGY CORP. (NASDAQ: BIOF), an ethanol production company, today announced its first quarter results. For the three months ended March 31, 2009, revenues totaled $97.5 million, which was comprised of $79.9 million from sales of ethanol and $17.6 million from sales of distillers grain. Net loss attributable to common shareholders was $7.7 million, or $.34 a share, for the three months ended March 31, 2009. The net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was $11.2 million, which included $3.5 million of losses attributable to noncontrolling interests. Operating loss for the first quarter was $7.7 million, which resulted from $102.6 million of cost of goods sold, including $72.0 million for corn. The Company also had $3.5 million of interest expense in the first quarter, which resulted in the net loss of $11.2 million. The Company also had $6.6 million of depreciation expense for the quarter. On a combined basis, the plants ran at 100% of their nameplate capacity during the quarter. Scott H. Pearce, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, stated: "The first full quarter of production for the Company represents a significant milestone as our plants averaged 100% of capacity for the quarter. Despite this, the continuation of negative spot margins is the main factor behind the operating losses. We also continued to experience challenges with our dryer reliability that negatively impacted the Company's performance, especially at our Fairmont Plant. Despite this, the strength of our operations team showed through in our results and we remain on a path of continuous improvement. As we've disclosed previously, given the challenging environment we are in and our debt service requirements in 2009, we are likely to need to restructure our debt or obtain other accommodations from our lenders, in order to continue operating as planned." In the first quarter, the Company borrowed $12.5 million under its construction loan and $2.0 million under its working capital facility. At March 31, 2009, amounts outstanding included $193.7 million drawn under the construction loan and $19.0 million borrowed on the working capital facility. Of the $16.3 million still available under the construction facility at March 31, 2009, $10.8 million is reserved to fund a debt service reserve account. At March 31, 2009, the Company held $7.8 million of cash and equivalents and stockholders' equity totaled $84.3 million, including $9.7 million of noncontrolling interest. The Company plans to host a conference call on Monday, May 18, 2009 beginning at 1:00 p.m. (EDT) to discuss the results. To participate, please dial (800) 944-8766. The participant code for the call is 64090. Approximately 90 minutes following the call, a phone playback will be available for 30 days by dialing (866) 281-6782. The access code for the replay is 161662. This release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Federal securities laws. Such statements are based on management's current expectations, estimates and projections, which are subject to a wide range of uncertainties and business risks. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether, or the times by which, our performance or results may be achieved. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those anticipated are discussed in our Exchange Act filings and our Annual Report on Form 10-K. BioFuel Energy currently has two 115 million gallons per year ethanol plants in the Midwestern corn belt. The Company's goal is to become a leading ethanol producer in the United States by acquiring, developing, owning and operating ethanol production facilities. Contact: Kelly G. Maguire Vice President - Finance & Chief Financial Officer (303) 640.6500 For more information: http://www.bfenergy.com/ BioFuel Energy Corp. (in thousands, except per share amounts) Three Months Ended March 31, ----------------------------- Summary Income Statement 2008 2009 ------- ------- Net sales $- $97,494 Cost of goods sold - 102,565 ------- ------- Gross loss - (5,071) General and administrative expenses: Compensation expense 2,457 1,504 Other 1,645 1,138 ------- ------- Operating loss (4,102) (7,713) ------- ------- Interest income 526 34 Interest expense - (3,501) Other non-operating income - 2 ------- ------- Net loss (3,576) (11,178) Less: Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest 1,798 3,468 ------- ------- Net loss attributable to BioFuel Energy Corp. common shareholders $(1,778) $(7,710) ======= ======= Loss per share - basic and diluted attributable to BioFuel Energy Corp. common shareholders $(0.12) $(0.34) ======= ======= Weighted average shares outstanding Basic and diluted 15,319 22,502 Additional operational data Ethanol sold (gallons, in thousands) - 55,061 Dry distillers grain sold (tons, in thousands) - 119.8 Wet distillers grain sold (tons, in thousands) - 104.2 Average FOB price of ethanol sold (per gallon) $- $1.46 Average FOB price of dry distillers grain sold (per ton) $- $119.25 Average FOB price of wet distillers grain sold (per ton) $- $37.57 Average corn cost (per bushel) $- $3.66 December 31, March 31, Summary Balance Sheet 2008 2009 -------- -------- Cash and equivalents $12,299 $7,806 Accounts receivable 16,669 17,639 Inventories 14,929 12,928 Prepaid expenses 2,153 1,326 Restricted cash - current 612 16 Other current assets 203 - Property, plant and equipment, net 305,350 300,164 Certificates of deposit 4,015 4,025 Debt issuance costs, net 7,917 7,556 Restricted cash - non-current 1,003 1,005 Other non-current assets 574 419 -------- -------- Total assets $365,724 $352,884 ======== ======== Total current liabilities $38,157 $24,400 Senior debt, net of current portion 206,990 218,111 Subordinated debt, net of current portion 19,361 19,599 Tax increment financing, net of current portion 5,887 5,886 Derivative financial instrument, net of current portion 83 - Other non-current liabilities 487 588 -------- -------- Total liabilities 270,965 268,584 BioFuel Energy Corp. stockholders' equity 80,690 74,647 Noncontrolling interest 14,069 9,653 -------- -------- Total equity 94,759 84,300 -------- -------- Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $365,724 $352,884 ======== ======== Total shares outstanding at May 14, 2009 (a) 32,560,322 (a) Includes common shares and class B common shares, net of 809,606 shares held in treasury. DATASOURCE: BioFuel Energy Corp. CONTACT: Kelly G. Maguire, Vice President - Finance & Chief Financial Officer of BioFuel Energy Corp., +1-303-640-6500, Web Site: http://www.bfenergy.com/

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