NOTEPURCHASE AGREEMENT by and between GTC Biotherapeutics, Inc. and

Exhibit 10.1

Execution Version

NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

by and between

GTC Biotherapeutics, Inc.

and

LFB Biotechnologies S.A.S.

February 22, 2010

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

This Note Purchase Agreement (this “Agreement”) dated as of February 22, 2010 is made by and between GTC Biotherapeutics, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation, (the “Company”), and LFB Biotechnologies S.A.S., a société par actions simplifiée established under the laws of France (the “Purchaser”).

RECITALS

In accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and pursuant to exemptions from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 (as amended from time to time, the “Securities Act”), which may include without limitation the exemption afforded by Regulation S promulgated thereunder, the Company has agreed to issue and sell, and the Purchaser has agreed to purchase a secured note with a principal amount of $7,000,000.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Purchaser hereby agree as follows:

(a) Purchase of Note. At the Closing (as defined in Section 2), the Company shall issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser shall purchase from the Company, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein a secured note of the Company in the original principal amount of $7,000,000, which note shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Note”).

(a) Closing . The closing of the purchase and sale of the Note (the “Closing”) shall occur on February 24, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. Boston time at the offices of Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP, 111 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts (subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Subsections (b) and (c) of this Section 2), or at such other location, date and time as may be agreed upon between the Company and the Purchaser (the “Closing Date”). Subject to the satisfaction of the closing conditions contained herein, at the Closing, the Purchaser shall pay the Company $7,000,000 (the “Purchase Price”), by wire transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with the Company’s written wire instructions, and the Company shall deliver to the Purchaser the Note duly executed and completed and dated the Closing Date.

(b) Conditions to the Purchaser’s Obligation to Purchase the Note. The Purchaser’s obligation to purchase the Note shall be subject to the satisfaction, at or before the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for the Purchaser’s sole benefit and may be waived by the Purchaser at any time in its sole discretion:

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(c) Conditions to the Company’s Obligation to Issue and Sell the Note. The Company’s obligation to issue and sell the Note shall be subject to the satisfaction, at or before the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for the Company’s sole benefit and may be waived by the Company at any time in its sole discretion:

The Company represents and warrants to the Purchaser, subject to such exceptions as are set forth in the SEC Documents (as defined below) or as otherwise disclosed in the Company’s disclosure letter previously delivered to the Purchaser, as follows:

(a) Organization and Qualification. The Company is a corporation, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and has the requisite corporate power and authority to own its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted and as described in the SEC Documents. Copies of the

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Company’s Restated Articles of Organization, as amended (the “Articles of Organization”) and Bylaws of the Company (the “Bylaws”), and all amendments thereto, have been filed as exhibits to the Company’s SEC Documents and have not been further modified, and except as required by the transactions contemplated hereby, the Company has no present intention to modify the Articles of Organization and Bylaws. The Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to do business, and is in good standing, in every jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or the nature of the business conducted and proposed to be conducted by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business (“Material Adverse Effect”).

(b) Subsidiaries. Each of the Company’s Subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, and has all power and authority necessary to own or hold its properties and to conduct the business in which it is engaged, except where the failure to so qualify or have such power or authority would not have, singularly or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. All the outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Company directly or indirectly through one or more wholly-owned subsidiaries, free and clear of any claim, lien, encumbrance, security interest, restriction upon voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party. No Subsidiary is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any agreement to which it is a party, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such Subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such Subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such Subsidiary’s properties or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, “Subsidiaries” means those entities that are “significant subsidiaries” of the Company as determined in accordance with Regulation S-X.

(c) Authorization; Enforcement; Validity. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents and to issue the Note in accordance with the terms hereof. The execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation and performance by the Company of the transactions contemplated thereby, including, without limitation, the issuance of the Note, have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action. The Transaction Documents have been duly executed and delivered by the Company. The Transaction Documents constitute the valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of creditors’ rights and remedies.

(d) Capitalization. The capitalization of the Company is as described in the Company’s most recent periodic report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the

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“SEC”) as updated by any current report filed with the SEC thereafter, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, and have been issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws. The Company has not issued any capital stock since such filings other than pursuant to the exercise of stock options under the Company’s stock option plans, the issuance of shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”) to employees pursuant to the Company’s employee stock purchase plan (such issuances and any such stock options, whenever issued or granted, being collectively “Employee Equity Transactions”), pursuant to the conversion or exercise of outstanding securities that are convertible into or exercisable for Common Stock, or pursuant to publicly disclosed equity financings. The Company’s Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act”), and is listed for trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”). The Company is in compliance with the continued listing criteria of Nasdaq and all Nasdaq corporate governance requirements that are applicable to the Company. Except for Employee Equity Transactions and as set forth in the SEC Documents, (i) no shares of the Company’s capital stock are subject to preemptive rights or any other similar rights or any liens or encumbrances; (ii) there are no outstanding options, warrants, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments relating to, or securities or rights convertible into, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company is or may become bound to issue additional shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or options, warrants, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments relating to, or securities or rights convertible into, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(e) Issuance of the Note. The Note has been duly authorized and, upon issuance in accordance with the terms hereof, will be a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company in accordance with its terms. Except for the filing of any notice prior or subsequent to the Closing that may be required under applicable state and/or Federal securities laws (or comparable laws of any other jurisdiction) or the rules of Nasdaq, no authorization, consent, approval, license, exemption of or filing or registration with any court or governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, is or will be necessary for, or in connection with, the execution and delivery by the Company of the Transaction Documents or for the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Transaction Documents.

(f) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated thereby do not and will not (i) result in a violation of the Company’s Articles of Organization or Bylaws; (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party; (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or (iv) result in the imposition of a mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, charge or other lien on any asset of the Company or its Subsidiaries, except for such conflicts, defaults, terminations, amendments, accelerations, cancellations, violations and impositions as described in clauses (ii), (iii) or (iv) of this sentence as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or result in a Material Adverse Effect.

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(g) No Violation or Default. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its Articles of Organization or Bylaws or other organizational documents; (ii) in default (or subject to an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party; or (iii) in violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; except for such violations or defaults, as described in clauses (ii) or (iii) of this sentence as are set forth in the SEC Documents or as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(h) SEC Documents. The Company has filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements, exhibits (including certifications of the Company’s principal executive and financial officers pursuant to Section 302 and 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley (as defined in Section 3(s))) and other documents required to be filed by it with the SEC pursuant to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act for the twelve (12) months preceding the date hereof (all of the foregoing filed prior to or on the date hereof, or prior to the Closing Date, and all exhibits included therein and financial statements and schedules thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein being referred to in this Agreement as the “SEC Documents”). As of the date of filing of each such SEC Document, such SEC Document, as it may have been subsequently amended by filings made by the Company with the SEC prior to the date hereof, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to such SEC Document. None of the SEC Documents, as of the date filed and as they may have been subsequently amended by filings made by the Company with the SEC prior to the date hereof, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(i) Financial Statements. The financial statements and the related notes thereto of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the SEC Documents comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act, as applicable, and present fairly the financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and the changes in their cash flows for the periods specified. Such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, except as specifically stated therein, and the supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the SEC Documents present fairly the information required to be stated therein.

(j) No Material Adverse Change. Since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the SEC Documents, (i) there has not been any change in the capital stock (other than pursuant to Employee Equity Transactions, pursuant to the conversion or exercise of outstanding securities that are convertible into or exercisable for Common Stock, or pursuant to publicly disclosed equity financings) or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, set aside for payment, paid or made by the Company on any class of capital stock,

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or any material adverse change in or affecting the business, properties, management, financial condition or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; (ii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has entered into any transaction or agreement that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor disturbance or dispute or any action, order or decree of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority.

(k) Independent Accountants. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, and have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and managements’ assessment thereof, are to the Company’s knowledge, independent registered public accountants with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries as required by the Securities Act.

(l) Clinical Trials. The clinical, pre-clinical and other studies and tests conducted by or on behalf of or sponsored by the Company were and, if still pending, are being conducted in accordance with all statutes, laws, rules and regulations, as applicable (including, without limitation, those administered by the United States Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) or by any foreign, federal, state or local government or regulatory authority performing functions similar to those performed by the FDA) except where the failure to comply with such statutes, laws, rules or regulations would not result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect.

(m) Title to Intellectual Property. The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess adequate rights to use all material patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses and know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented or unpatentable proprietary or confidential compounds, genes, information, systems or procedures) (collectively, the “Intellectual Property”) generally described in the SEC Documents (except as otherwise noted therein), which to the Company’s knowledge is all the Intellectual Property necessary for the conduct of the Company’s business. Except as set forth in the SEC Documents, (i) to the Company’s knowledge, there are no rights of third parties to any such Intellectual Property except through licensing or cross-licensing agreements or where the exercise of such rights would not result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) to the Company’s knowledge, there is no infringement by third parties of any such Intellectual Property that is necessary and material to the Company’s business as it is presently being conducted except where such infringement would not result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the Company’s ownership or licensing rights in or to any such Intellectual Property; (iv) there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity or scope of any such Intellectual Property, other than ordinary patent, trademark, service mark and copyright prosecution; (v) there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Company infringes or otherwise violates any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary rights of others, and the Company is unaware of any

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reasonable basis for any such claim; and (vi) the Company has taken all steps reasonably determined by the Company to be necessary to perfect its ownership of and interest in such Intellectual Property.

(n) Licenses and Permits. The Company and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by, and have made all declarations and filings with, the appropriate Federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory authorities that are necessary for the ownership or lease of their respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses as described in the SEC Documents, except where the failure to possess or make the same would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received notice of any revocation or modification of any such license, certificate, permit or authorization or has any reason to believe that any such license, certificate, permit or authorization will not be renewed in the ordinary course.

(o) Environmental Matters. The Company and each of its subsidiaries is in compliance with all foreign, federal, state and local rules, laws and regulations relating to the use, treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous or toxic substances or waste and protection of health and safety or the environment which are applicable to their businesses, except where the failure to comply would not, singularly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. To the Company’s knowledge, there has been no storage, generation, transportation, handling, treatment, disposal, discharge, emission, or other release of any kind of toxic or other wastes or other hazardous substances by, due to, or caused by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (or, to the Company’s knowledge, any other entity for whose acts or omissions the Company is or may be liable) upon any of the property now or previously owned or leased by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or upon any other property, in violation of any statute or any ordinance, rule, regulation, order, judgment, decree or permit or which would, under any statute or any ordinance, rule (including rule of common law), regulation, order, judgment, decree or permit, give rise to any liability, except for any violation or liability which would not have, singularly or in the aggregate with all such violations and liabilities, a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no disposal, discharge, emission or other release of any kind onto such property or into the environment surrounding such property of any toxic or other wastes or other hazardous substances with respect to which the Company has knowledge, except for any such disposal, discharge, emission, or other release of any kind which would not have, singularly or in the aggregate with all such discharges and other releases, a Material Adverse Effect.

(p) Tax Matters. The Company and each of its subsidiaries (i) has filed all necessary federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns, (ii) has paid all federal state, local and foreign taxes due and payable for which it is liable, and (iii) does not have any tax deficiency or claims outstanding or assessed or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, proposed against it, except where the failure to file, failure to pay or the deficiency or claim would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(q) Internal Control over Financial Reporting. The Company maintains a system of internal control over financial reporting (as such is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and has been designed by the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or under their supervision,

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to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP. The Company does not have any material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting. Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the SEC Documents, there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

(r) Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act. Such disclosure controls and procedures have been designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company and its subsidiaries is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, by others within those entities.

(s) Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance. The Company and the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, are in compliance with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (“Sarbanes-Oxley”), including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.

(t) Absence of Litigation. Except as disclosed in the section titled “Legal Proceedings” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2008, there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or by any court, public board, government agency, self-regulatory organization or body pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing against the Company or any of its subsidiaries which (i) adversely affects or challenges the legality, validity or enforceability of any Transaction Document or (ii) would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(u) Investment Company Act. The Company is not, nor, after giving effect to the sale of the Note and the application of the proceeds therefrom, will it become, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder.

(v) Board Approval. An independent committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, are fair to, and in the best interests of, all holders of Common Stock of the Company; and the Board, or an independent committee thereof, has approved the transactions contemplated by this Agreement for purposes of Chapter 110F of the Massachusetts General Laws

The Purchaser represents and warrants to the Company that:

(a) Transfer or Resale. The Purchaser understands that the Note has not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered for sale,

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sold, assigned or transferred without registration under the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom and that, in the absence of an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, such Note may only be sold under certain circumstances as set forth in the Securities Act.

(b) Investment Purpose. The Purchaser is acquiring the Note for its own account for investment only and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, the public sale or distribution thereof. The Purchaser does not have any agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute any of the Note.

(c) Offshore Transaction. The Purchaser is not organized under the laws of any jurisdiction within the United States of America, its territories or possessions, was not formed for the purpose of investing in Regulation S securities and is not a “U.S. person” as that term is defined in Rule 902(k) of Regulation S under the Securities Act. At the time of execution of this Agreement, the Purchaser is physically outside the United States of America. The Purchaser is not purchasing the Note on behalf of or for the benefit of any U.S. person and the sale of the Note has not been prearranged with any buyer in the United States of America.

(d) General Solicitation. The Purchaser is not purchasing the Note as a result of any advertisement, article, notice or other communication regarding the Note published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast over television or radio or presented at any seminar or any other general solicitation or general advertisement.

(e) Information. The Purchaser (directly or through its advisors, if any) (i) has been furnished with or has had full access to all of the publicly available information that it considers necessary or appropriate for deciding whether to purchase the Note, (ii) has had an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from the Company regarding the terms and conditions of the offering of the Note, (iii) can bear the economic risk of a total loss of its investment in the Note and (iv) has such knowledge and experience in business and financial matters so as to enable it to understand the risks of and form an investment decision with respect to its investment in the Note.

(f) Reliance on Exemptions. The Purchaser understands that the Note is being offered and sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and the Purchaser’s compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of the Purchaser set forth in this Agreement in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the Purchaser to acquire the Note.

(g) No Governmental Review. The Purchaser understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Note or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Note nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Note.

(h) No Antitrust Filings or Approvals. Neither the Purchaser nor Laboratoire Francais du Fractionnement et des Biotechnologies S.A., the Purchaser’s parent company, is required to make any filing or obtain any authorization, consent, approval, license, exemption or

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registration under the United States Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, or under the antitrust or similar laws or regulations of any other jurisdiction, in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of the Transaction Documents.

(i) Authorization; Enforcement; Validity. The Purchaser is an entity duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization with full right, corporate or partnership power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents and otherwise to carry out its obligations thereunder. The execution, delivery and performance by the Purchaser of the Transaction Documents has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Purchaser and any other governmental action with respect to the Purchaser. The Transaction Documents have been duly executed by the Purchaser, and when delivered by the Purchaser in accordance with terms thereof, will constitute the valid and legally binding obligations of the Purchaser, enforceable against it in accordance with their terms.

(j) No Conflicts. The execution and performance of the Transaction Documents do not conflict with any agreement to which the Purchaser is a party or is otherwise bound, any law, rule regulation, governmental practice or other requirement, court order or judgment applicable to the Purchaser or, if applicable, the constituent documents of the Purchaser, except for such conflicts as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or result in a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Purchaser and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(k) Short Position Prior to the Date Hereof. From the date one hundred eighty (180) days prior to the date hereof, neither the Purchaser nor any affiliate has directly or indirectly established or agreed to establish any hedge, “put equivalent position” (as defined in Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act) or other position in the Common Stock that is outstanding on the Closing Date and that is designed to or could reasonably be expected to lead to or result in a disposition by the Purchaser or any other person or entity. For purposes hereof, a “hedge or other position” includes, without limitation, effecting any short sale or having in effect any short position (whether or not such sale or position is against the box and regardless of when such position was entered into) or any purchase, sale or grant of any right (including, without limitation, any put or call option) with respect to the Common Stock or with respect to any security (other than a broad-based market basket or index) that includes, relates to or derives any significant part of its value from the Common Stock. The Purchaser acknowledges that this representation is made for the benefit of the Company.

(l) Short Sales and Confidentiality After the Date Hereof. The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement constitute “material non-public information” within the meaning of the rules and regulation promulgated by the SEC under Regulation FD and that until such time as such the transactions have been publicly disclosed in accordance with Section 8 or otherwise, the Purchaser represents, warrants and covenants that neither it nor any of its affiliates acting on its behalf or pursuant to any understanding with it have executed or will execute any short sales of the Company’s Common Stock and that it will maintain the confidentiality of all disclosures made to it in connection with the offering of the Note (including the existence and terms of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby).

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(m) Ownership. The Purchaser’s current beneficial ownership of the Company’s Common Stock is accurately reported in the Purchaser’s most recent Schedule 13D filed with the SEC.

(a) Resales. The Purchaser agrees that the Note may only be sold or transferred (i) pursuant to an effective Registration Statement under the Securities Act, or (ii) pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act.

(b) Rule 144. The Purchaser is aware of Rule 144 under the Securities Act and the restrictions imposed thereby and further understands and agrees that so long as the Purchaser beneficially owns 10% or more of the Company’s then outstanding securities or has a designee selected by the Purchaser serving on the Board, the Company may deem the Purchaser to be an “affiliate” as defined in Rule 144(a)(1) and any transfer of the Note by the Purchaser shall be subject to the limitations applicable to affiliates set forth in the Securities Act and the rules promulgated thereunder, including without limitation Rule 144.

(c) Legends. The Note shall bear legends in the form set forth on Exhibit A.

(d) Agreement to be Bound. Subject to the other restrictions on transfer set forth or referenced in this Agreement, the Purchaser may assign all of its rights and obligations hereunder with respect to the Note, provided that the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the applicable provisions of this Agreement.

(e) Security Ownership. The Purchaser is aware that the Company is a party to a Shareholder Rights Agreement, dated as of May 31, 2001, between the Company and American Stock Transfer and Trust Company (the “Rights Agreement”), which provides that in the event the Purchaser at any time beneficially owns 15% or more of the Company’s then outstanding capital stock, the Purchaser may be deemed an “Acquiring Person” as defined in the Rights Agreement. The Purchaser understands that, in connection with the Purchaser’s prior acquisitions of securities of the Company and with respect to the Purchaser’s equity position in the Company, the Company has exempted the Purchaser from being deemed an Acquiring Person as a result of such acquisition or any subsequent transaction only so long as the Purchaser acquires its beneficial ownership of shares of capital stock of the Company in a transaction whereby the Purchaser is acquiring such beneficial ownership directly from the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Purchaser will also not be deemed an Acquiring Person if the percentage of outstanding capital stock owned by the Purchaser increases solely due to the repurchase by the Company of shares of its outstanding capital stock.

The Company agrees to disclose on a Current Report on Form 8-K the existence of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the material terms, thereof, including pricing, within four (4) business days after the date hereof. The Purchaser shall not issue any press release, or otherwise make any such public statement regarding this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (except for required SEC filings) without the prior written consent of the Company.

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(a) Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States of America, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in that jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of any provision of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction.

(b) Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the documents referenced herein and therein constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein and therein. This Agreement and the documents referenced herein and therein supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.

(c) Amendments and Waivers. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived other than by an instrument in writing signed by the Company and by the Purchaser.

(d) Notices. Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by facsimile (provided confirmation of transmission is mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party); or (iii) upon receipt, when sent via a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, in each case properly addressed to the party to receive the same. The addresses and facsimile numbers for such communications shall be:

If to the Company:

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with a copy to:

If to the Purchaser:

with a copy to:

(e) No Strict Construction. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party.

(f) Further Assurances. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as the other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

(g) Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in that jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of any provision of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction.

(h) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and assigns. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the rights and benefits provided under Section 5(e) are the exclusive rights and benefits of the Purchaser and are not transferable or assignable, except to affiliates of the Purchaser or with the express written consent of the Company.

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(i) Survival. The representations and warranties of the Company and the Purchaser contained in Sections 3 and 4, respectively, shall survive only for a period of two years from the Closing Date and shall in no way be affected by any investigation of the subject matter thereof made by or on behalf of the Purchaser or the Company.

(j) Expenses. The Company shall reimburse the Purchaser for any reasonable fees and expenses, including, without limitation, fees of the Purchaser’s legal counsel, that it incurs in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and in satisfying its obligations under this Agreement in an amount not to exceed $25,000.

(k) Headings. The headings of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

(l) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in identical counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement. This Agreement, once executed by a party, may be delivered to the other party hereto by facsimile transmission of a copy of this Agreement bearing the signature of the party so delivering this Agreement.

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Signature page to follow.]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Note Purchase Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.