PEKIN, Ill., Oct. 26, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AVR), a leading producer, marketer and end-to-end supplier of ethanol, and Midwest Ethanol Producers, LLC, today announced the execution of new marketing agreements for Midwest's three new proposed 100 million gallon ethanol plants. The three new proposed facilities are slated for Blencoe, IA, Arapahoe, NE and Elm Creek, NE.
Midwest Ethanol Producers, based in O'Neill, Nebraska, had previously announced their intentions to build two other 100 million gallon capacity plants at O'Neill, NE and Holdrege, NE. Midwest broke ground on its O'Neill, NE facility in July. Aventine had previously announced that it will also market the ethanol from these facilities. Together, when all facilities are complete, Aventine will market 500 million gallons per year of ethanol for Midwest.
About Aventine
Aventine is a leading producer, marketer and end-to-end distributor of ethanol in the United States. Aventine produces, markets and distributes ethanol to leading energy companies. In addition to ethanol, it is also a producer of corn gluten feed, corn germ and brewers' yeast.
Internet address is www.aventinerei.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain information included in this press release may be deemed to be "forward looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release, are forward looking statements. Any forward looking statements are not guarantees of Aventine's 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 such forward looking statements. Aventine disclaims any duty to update any forward looking statements. Some of the factors that may cause Aventine's actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward looking statements include the following:
-- Changes in or elimination of laws, tariffs, trade or other
controls or enforcement practices such as:
-- National, state or local energy policy;
-- Federal ethanol tax incentives;
-- Regulation currently under consideration pursuant to the
passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which contains
a renewable fuel standard and other legislation mandating
the usage of ethanol or other oxygenate additives;
-- State and federal regulation restricting or banning the use
of Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether;
-- Environmental laws and regulations applicable to Aventine's
operations and the enforcement thereof;
-- Changes in weather and general economic conditions;
-- Overcapacity within the ethanol and petroleum refining industries;
-- Total United States consumption of gasoline;
-- Availability and costs of products and raw materials, particularly
corn, coal and natural gas;
-- Labor relations;
-- Fluctuations in petroleum prices;
-- Aventine's or its employees' failure to comply with applicable
laws and regulations;
-- Aventine's ability to generate free cash flow to invest in its
business and service its indebtedness;
-- Limitations and restrictions contained in the instruments and
agreements governing Aventine's indebtedness;
-- Aventine's ability to raise additional capital and secure
additional financing;
-- Aventine's ability to retain key employees;
-- Liability resulting from actual or potential future litigation;
-- Competition;
-- Plant shutdowns or disruptions at our plant or plants whose
products we market;
-- Successful negotiation and signing of a lease agreement for the
Mt. Vernon site between the Ports of Indiana and Aventine for
which there can be no assurances that any such lease will be
entered into;
-- Availability of rail cars and barges; and
-- Renewal of alliance partner contracts.