Four new partners have been named at The Context Network as part of an overall business expansion effort to enhance and deepen the firm’s ability to deliver strategic management solutions and business management consulting services to leading agricultural and biotechnology companies.

“The addition of four new partners and their combined 95 years of experience greatly enhance The
Context Network’s ability to offer deeper industry and business expertise,” said founding partner Tray Thomas.
“It also allows us to work more closely with our clients to improve their performance.”

Named as new partners are Steve M. Hawkins, Blake Sieker, Mike J. Borel and Alex Fink.

Steve M. Hawkins will serve as a partner and managing director of the firm. Hawkins brings more than 30
years of seed and biotechnology experience to Context. He has served as president and COO of D&PL (Delta
and Pine Land Company), the world’s largest private cotton seed breeding company. Hawkins has more than
30 years of senior management experience in the agricultural and biotechnology industries and most recently
served as chairman and CEO of Apomyx, a biotechnology company based in Utah.

Blake Sieker has been a consultant and project manager with Context since 1998 and will continue
servicing the firm’s seed, crop protection, operational and strategic initiatives as a partner. Sieker is a CPA and
has more than 20 years of senior management level experience that includes serving as controller for the
Garst Seed Company and the CFO and founding partner of a regional seed company. He has also worked in
the United Kingdom for Zeneca (Astra Zeneca International) in developing global agricultural business.

As a partner, Mike J. Borel brings 30 years of extensive international management experience to Context
after serving in general management, marketing, technology, planning, development and sales positions with
DuPont and Sumitomo/Valent. He has been president and COO of Valent Corporation and chairman and CEO
of Novazone, a global provider of innovative ozone-based solutions that improve the freshness and safety of
food and water. Most recently, Borel led Borel Consulting which has merged with The Context Network.

Alex Fink returns to The Context Network as a partner after previously working for the company. Prior to
joining Context, Fink served as sales director for the human nutritional ingredients business of Kemin
Industries in Des Moines, Iowa. His business experience also includes positions in product management,
strategic marketing and sales with Asgrow and Monsanto.