Divergence - The Nematode Genomics Company

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Divergence Adds Goldblatt and Urban to Board of Directors

ST. LOUIS (Nov. 4, 2003) - Divergence, Inc. announced today that it has added two members to its Board of Directors - Stanford J. Goldblatt and Thomas N. Urban.

Mr. Goldblatt is the head of the Private Equity Practice of Winston & Strawn LLP in Chicago, Illinois. Winston & Strawn is a major Chicago-based law firm with almost 900 attorneys in the United States and Europe. He also serves on the boards of McLean-Fogg Company, The University of Chicago and The University of Chicago Hospitals. Mr. Goldblatt received his B.A. and his L.L.M. degrees from Harvard University. He resides in Chicago, Illinois.

Mr. Urban is the retired Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., having held one or more of these positions from 1979-1996. Pioneer Hi-Bred is the world's largest seed corn company. Mr. Urban serves on the boards of the Carnegie Institution, Intoximeters, National Tropical Botanical Garden, Zygogen, and Ventria Bioscience. He has also been active in different levels of government, having served as Mayor of Des Moines, Iowa, a member of the President's Export Council, and a member of the National Academy of Sciences Board on Agriculture. Mr. Urban received his B.A. and M.B.A. degrees from Harvard University. He resides in Des Moines, Iowa.

"It is exciting to see people of such talent and experience joining Divergence as directors," said John W. McCarter, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Directors of Divergence. "With Stan and Tom, we are gaining great insight into many critical areas including agricultural knowledge, strategy, deal-making, and corporate leadership. Their participation will undoubtedly help Divergence realize its full potential."

"I am very pleased to be joining Divergence's Board of Directors," said Mr. Goldblatt. "I am excited by the markets Divergence is attacking and by the high quality of the people involved."

"The fact that Divergence is utilizing state-of-the-art technology to attack significant problems is what most attracted me to Divergence," said Mr. Urban. "There is no doubt that agriculture needs effective and environmentally-safe solutions for problems such as nematode infestation. Based on the progress that Divergence has already made in the areas of product discovery and development, I believe the company has a great shot at success."

With the addition of Mr. Goldblatt and Mr. Urban, Divergence now has six people on its Board of Directors. Also serving are Mr. McCarter, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois; Dr. James P. McCarter, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Divergence; Ilya B. Nykin, Managing Director of Prolog Ventures LLC; and Derek K. Rapp, Chief Executive Officer of Divergence.

Divergence is a research and development company dedicated to the discovery of effective and ecologically sound strategies for the control of parasites and other pests. The company's initial focus is on parasitic nematodes, one of the world's major pest groups. Nematodes are roundworms that cause billions of dollars in damage annually to numerous crops, including soybeans, corn, and cotton, as well as most fruits and vegetables. Nematodes also cause widespread disease in animals, including infections such as heartworm in dogs and cats and intestinal worms in livestock. Nematode-induced human diseases include elephantiasis and African river blindness.

For more information on Divergence, visit www.divergence.com.