If our shareholders do not approve Proposal 2, we will not be able to complete the sale of the Third Tranche Shares or the Convertible Note to LFB Biotech under the Purchase Agreement. If our shareholders do not approve Proposal 2 or a similar proposal by June 30, 2007, LFB Biotech’s obligation to purchase the Third Tranche Shares and the Convertible Note will terminate.
Under Massachusetts law, shareholders are not entitled to appraisal rights with respect to the issuance to LFB Biotech of the Third Tranche Shares and the Convertible Note.
Our Board of Directors has determined that the issuance and sale of the share of Common Stock and the Convertible Note as contemplated more fully in the Purchase Agreement is advisable and in the best interests of our shareholders, and recommends that all shareholders vote “FOR” the approval of Proposal 2 at the special meeting.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Deadline for Shareholder Proposals and Director Nominations
If you wish to bring business before or propose director nominations at the 2007 Annual Meeting, and assuming the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders is not held before April 25, 2007 or after June 24, 2007, you must give us written notice by March 10, 2007 (the date 75 days before the anniversary of the 2006 Annual Meeting).
If you intend to bring such a proposal or nomination at the 2007 Annual Meeting, and you would like us to consider the inclusion of your proposal or nomination in our proxy statement for the meeting, you must provide us written notice of such proposal or nomination prior to December 23, 2006.
Any shareholder wishing to recommend a director candidate for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee should provide the following information to Vice President, Corporate Communications, c/o GTC Biotherapeutics, Inc., 175 Crossing Boulevard, Framingham, Massachusetts 01702: (a) a brief statement outlining the reasons the nominee would be an effective director for GTC; (b)(i) the name, age and business and residence addresses of the candidate, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of the candidate for the past five years, as well as information about any other board of directors and board committee on which the candidate has served during that period, (iii) the number of shares of our Common Stock, if any, beneficially owned by the candidate and (iv) details of any business or other significant relationship the candidate has ever had with GTC; and (c)(i) the shareholder’s name and record address and the name and address of the beneficial owner of shares of our Common Stock, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made and (ii) the number of shares of our Common Stock that the shareholder and any such other beneficial owner beneficially own. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may seek further information from or about the shareholder making the recommendation, the candidate, or any such other beneficial owner, including information about all business and other relationships between the candidate and the shareholder and between the candidate and any such other beneficial owner.
Householding of Special Meeting Materials
Some banks, brokers and other nominee record holders may be participating in the practice of “householding” proxy statements and annual reports. This means that only one copy of our proxy statement or annual report may have been sent to multiple shareholders in your household. We will promptly deliver a separate copy of either document to you if you write or call us at the following address or phone number: GTC Biotherapeutics, Inc., 175 Crossing Boulevard, Framingham, Massachusetts 01702, Attention: Vice President, Corporate Communications (508-620-9700 x5374). If you wish to receive separate copies of the annual report and proxy statement in the future, or if you are receiving multiple copies and would like to receive only one copy for your household, you should contact your bank, broker, or other nominee record holder, or you may contact us at the above address and phone number.
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Cautionary Language Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This proxy statement, as well as the accompanying letter to shareholders dated October 23, 2006, contains forward-looking statements, including without limitation statements regarding our future clinical studies and expected benefits from our collaboration with LFB Biotech. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified by our use of words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “continue,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “opportunity,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts” or “will,” the negative of these words or words of similar meaning. These statements are based on our beliefs and assumptions, which in turn are based on currently available information. Our beliefs and assumptions could prove incorrect. These statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, those set forth under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2006 as filed with the SEC. In addition, new risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict which factors will arise or how they may affect us. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we undertake no obligation, and do not intend, to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, in this prospectus, except as may be required by law.
Incorporation by Reference
The Stock and Note Purchase Agreement between GTC Biotherapeutics, Inc. and LFB Biotechnologies S.A.S.U., dated September 29, 2006, which we filed as Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 4, 2006, is incorporated by reference into, and should be considered part of, this proxy statement.
Annual Report and Other SEC Filings
Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K are available on our website atwww.gtc-bio.com. These and other SEC filings, including this proxy statement, are also available on the SEC’s website atwww.sec.gov.
A copy of these filings and any materials incorporated by reference herein, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2006 (excluding exhibits), may be obtained, at no cost, by writing to Vice President, Corporate Communication, GTC Biotherapeutics, Inc., 175 Crossing Boulevard, Framingham, Massachusetts 01702.
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GTC BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
175 CROSSING BLVD.
SUITE 410
FRAMINGHAM, MA 01702
VOTE BY INTERNET -www.proxyvote.com
Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronicdelivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before thecut-off date or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when youaccess the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records andto create an electronic voting instruction form. ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE SHAREHOLDER
COMMUNICATIONS If you would like to reduce the costs incurred by GTC Biotherapeutics, Inc.in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxystatements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or theInternet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructionsabove to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that youagree to receive or access shareholder communications electronically infuture years.
VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903
Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date or meeting date.Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions.
VOTE BY MAIL
Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paidenvelope we have provided or return it to GTC Biotherapeutics, Inc.,c/o ADP, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.
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TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: | GTCBO1 | KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS |
| DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY |
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. |
GTC BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
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Vote on Proposals 1 and 2 | | For | Against | Abstain |
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1. | Proposal to amend the restated articles of organization to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stockto 200,000,000 shares. | o | o | o |
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2. | Proposal to approve the issuance of Common Stock and Convertible Note to LFB Biotechnologies. | o | o | o |
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PLEASE DATE, SIGN AND RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. |
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Note: | | Please sign exactly as your name or names appear(s) on this proxy. When shares are held jointly, each joint holder should personally sign.When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, pleasesign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name byauthorized person. |
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For address changes, please check the box at the right and writethem on the back where indicated. Please note that changes tothe registered name(s) on the account may not be submitted viathis method. | o | | | | |
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Please indicate if you plan to attend the meeting. | o | o | | | | | | |
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Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] | Date | | Signature (Joint Owners) | Date |
GTC BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PROXY FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS ON DECEMBER 5, 2006
The undersigned shareholder of GTC Biotherapeutics, Inc. (“GTC”) hereby appoints Geoffrey F. Cox, John B. Green and Nathaniel S. Gardiner, or any of them acting singly, the attorneys and proxies of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to vote on behalf of the undersigned all of the shares of capital stock of GTC that the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Special Meeting of Shareholders of GTC to be held on Tuesday, December 5, 2006, and at all adjournments thereof, hereby revoking any proxy heretofore given with respect to such shares.
THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER(S). IF NO SPECIFICATION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED “FOR” ALL PROPOSALS AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DETERMINATION OF A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AS TO ANY OTHER MATTERS.
THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER MAY REVOKE THIS PROXY AT ANY TIME BEFORE IT IS VOTED BY DELIVERING EITHER A WRITTEN NOTICE OF REVOCATION OF THE PROXY OR A DULY EXECUTED PROXY BEARING A LATER DATE TO THE SECRETARY, OR BY ATTENDING THE SPECIAL MEETING AND VOTING IN PERSON.
(If you noted any Address Changes above, please mark corresponding box on the reverse side.)PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE USING THE ENCLOSED REPLY ENVELOPE(CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED AND DATED ON REVERSE SIDE.)