February 20, 2009

Verdant Partners LLC, investment bankers and consultants for the global agricultural sector, today announced that Nicole Aulerich will be joining Verdant's team in February, 2009.

Nicole is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and is presently completing a Ph.D. program in Agricultural Economics at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.

After receiving her undergraduate degree, Ms. Aulerich worked as an Equity Research Assistant at Strong Financial Corporation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. During the summer of 2008, Ms. Aulerich also worked with the Economic Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C.

Dean Cavey, Managing Partner of Verdant, said "We are excited to have Nicole join the Verdant team. After growing up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin, pursuing an education in finance, and gaining valuable experience working in a financial environment, Nicole's progress toward a Ph.D. in agricultural economics is providing her with valuable expertise that will serve her well in her new role at Verdant Partners.

Verdant Partners provides investment banking and consulting services to the global crop genetics industry. Services include mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic alliances, capital procurement, strategic and financial consulting, and technology access and commercialization. Since its founding in 1998, Verdant Partners has initiated and managed transactions valued in excess of U.S. $1.5 billion.

Website: http://www.verdantpartners.com

Published: February 20, 2009