[BIOTIME LETTERHEAD]



                                            April 16, 1998


Dear Shareholder:


         You are  cordially  invited  to  attend  the  1997  Annual  Meeting  of
Shareholders  of  BioTime,  Inc.  which will be held on Monday,  May 18, 1998 at
10:00 a.m. at the  Ritz-Carlton  Hotel,  600  Stockton  Street,  San  Francisco,
California.

         The Notice and Proxy  Statement on the following  pages contain details
concerning  the business to come before the meeting.  Management  will report on
current  operations and there will be an opportunity  for discussion  concerning
the  Company and its  activities.  Please sign and return your proxy card in the
enclosed  envelope to ensure that your shares will be  represented  and voted at
the  meeting  even if you  cannot  attend.  You are urged to sign and return the
enclosed proxy card even if you plan to attend the meeting.

         Finally,  please  note  that in the  accompanying  proxy  statement  we
propose to increase the number of authorized common shares to 40 million.  While
management  has no  current  plans to  issue  additional  shares,  we feel it is
desirable to maintain  flexibility  for future  financings  or stock  dividends.
Please support this measure.

         I look forward to personally  meeting all  shareholders who are able to
attend.



                                            Paul Segall, Ph. D.
                                            Chairman and Chief Executive Officer







                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

                             To Be Held May 18, 1998

         NOTICE IS HEREBY  GIVEN that the  Annual  Meeting  of  Shareholders  of
BioTime,  Inc.  (the  "Company")  will be held at the  Ritz-Carlton  Hotel,  600
Stockton Street,  San Francisco,  California,  on May 18, 1998 at 10:00 a.m. for
the following purposes:

         1. To elect eight (8) directors of the Company to hold office until the
next Annual Meeting of Shareholders  and until their  respective  successors are
duly elected and qualified;

         2. To amend the  Company's  Articles of  Incorporation  to increase the
number of authorized common shares, no par value,  available for issuance in the
future.

         3.  To  ratify  the  appointment  of  Deloitte  &  Touche  LLP  as  the
independent accountants of the Company for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1998;
and

         4. To  transact  such other  business as may  properly  come before the
meeting or any adjournments of the meeting.

         The Board of  Directors  has fixed the close of  business  on  Tuesday,
March 31,  1998,  as the record date for  determining  shareholders  entitled to
receive  notice of and to vote at the  Annual  Meeting  or any  postponement  or
adjournment thereof.

         Whether  or not you expect to attend  the  meeting  in person,  you are
urged to sign and date the enclosed form of proxy and return it promptly so that
your shares of stock may be represented and voted at the meeting.  If you should
be present at the meeting, your proxy will be returned to you if you so request.


                                             By Order of the Board of Directors,


                                             Judith Segall
                                             Vice President and Secretary




Berkeley, California
April 16, 1998






                                 PROXY STATEMENT

                         ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

                           To Be Held on May 18, 1998

         The  accompanying  proxy is  solicited  by the  Board of  Directors  of
BioTime,  Inc., a California corporation (the "Company" or "BioTime") having its
principal offices at 935 Pardee Street,  Berkeley,  California 94710, for use at
the Annual Meeting of  Shareholders of the Company (the "Meeting") to be held at
10:00 a.m.  on Monday,  May 18,  1998 at the  Ritz-Carlton  Hotel, 600  Stockton
Street, San Francisco, California. Properly executed proxies in the accompanying
form that are received at or before the Meeting will be voted in accordance with
the directions noted on the proxies.  If no direction is indicated,  such shares
will be voted FOR (i) each nominee for election as director,  (ii)  amending the
Company's  Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized common
shares, no par value, and (iii) approval of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche
LLP as independent  accountants  for the Company for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1998.

         The enclosed proxy confers discretionary authority to vote with respect
to any and all of the  following  matters that may come before the Meeting:  (1)
matters that the Company's  Board of Directors  does not know a reasonable  time
before  the  Meeting  are  to be  presented  at the  Meeting;  and  (2)  matters
incidental to the conduct of the Meeting.  Management does not intend to present
any business  for a vote at the Meeting  other than the matters set forth in the
accompanying  Notice of Annual  Meeting of  Shareholders,  and as of the date of
this Proxy  Statement,  no  shareholder  has  notified  the Company of any other
business that may properly come before the meeting.  If other matters  requiring
the vote of the  shareholders  properly come before the Meeting,  then it is the
intention of the persons  named in the attached  form of proxy to vote the proxy
held by them in accordance with their judgment on such matters.

         Only  shareholders of record at the close of business on March 31, 1998
are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting.  On that date,  there were
9,935,579  of  the  Company's  Common  Shares  issued  and  outstanding,   which
constitutes the only class of voting securities of the Company outstanding. Each
of the  Company's  Common  Shares is  entitled  to one vote in the  election  of
directors and in all other matters that may be acted upon at the Meeting, except
that  shareholders  may elect to cumulate  votes in the  election of  directors.
Under  cumulative  voting,  each  shareholder  may  give  one  candidate  or may
distribute among two or more  candidates,  a number of votes equal to the number
of  directors to be elected  multiplied  by the number of Common  Shares  owned.
Shareholders may not cumulate votes unless at least one shareholder gives notice
of his or her  intention to cumulate  votes at the Meeting.  The enclosed  proxy
confers discretionary authority to cumulate votes.


                                        1





         Any  shareholder  giving a proxy has the power to revoke  that proxy at
any time before it is voted. A proxy may be revoked by filing with the Secretary
of the Company  either a written  revocation or a duly executed  proxy bearing a
date  subsequent to the date of the proxy being revoked,  or by voting in person
at the  meeting.  Any  shareholder  may attend the  Meeting  and vote in person,
whether or not such shareholder has previously submitted a proxy, but attendance
at the Meeting will not revoke a proxy unless the shareholder votes in person.

         The Company will bear all of the costs of the  solicitation  of proxies
for use at the  Meeting.  In  addition  to the use of the mails,  proxies may be
solicited by a personal interview, telephone and telegram by directors, officers
and  employees  of the  Company,  who will  undertake  such  activities  without
additional  compensation.   Banks,  brokerage  houses  and  other  institutions,
nominees or fiduciaries  will be requested to forward the proxy materials to the
beneficial  owners of the  Common  Shares  held of record  by such  persons  and
entities  and will be  reimbursed  for  their  reasonable  expense  incurred  in
connection with forwarding such material.

         This Proxy Statement and the accompanying form of proxy are first being
sent or given to the Company's shareholders on or about April 16, 1998.


                              ELECTION OF DIRECTORS


         At the Meeting,  eight  directors  will be elected to hold office for a
one-year  term until the 1998 Annual  Meeting of  Shareholders,  and until their
successors have been duly elected and qualified. All of the nominees named below
are incumbent directors.

         It is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy,  unless
such proxy specifies otherwise, to vote the shares represented by such proxy FOR
the  election of the  nominees  listed  below.  In the  unlikely  event that any
nominee  should be unable to serve as a director,  proxies may be voted in favor
of a substitute nominee designated by the Board of Directors.

Directors and Nominees

         Paul  Segall,  Ph.D.,  55, is Chairman and Chief  Executive  Officer of
BioTime  and has  served as a  director  of the  Company  since  1990.  He was a
research scientist for Cryomedical  Sciences,  Inc. ("CMSI") and a member of its
Board of Directors from 1987 to December  1990,  serving as Director of Research
and Vice President of Research for CMSI,  from April 1988 until 1989. Dr. Segall
received a Ph.D. in Physiology  from the University of California at Berkeley in
1977.


                                        2





         Ronald S. Barkin, 52, became President of BioTime during October, 1997,
after serving as Executive Vice President  since April 1997. Mr. Barkin has been
a director of the Company since 1990.  Before  becoming an executive  officer of
the Company, Mr. Barkin practiced civil and corporate law for more than 25 years
after getting a J.D. from Boalt Hall, University of California at Berkeley.

         Victoria  Bellport,  32, is Chief Financial  Officer and Executive Vice
President  of BioTime  and has been a director of the  Company  since 1990.  Ms.
Bellport  received a B.A. in  Biochemistry  from the University of California at
Berkeley in 1988.

         Hal Sternberg,  Ph.D., 44, is Vice President of Research of BioTime and
has been a director of the Company since 1990.  He was a research  scientist for
CMSI from 1987 to December 1990,  serving as Vice President of Biochemistry  for
CMSI from November  1987 to 1989.  Dr.  Sternberg  was a visiting  scientist and
research  Associate at the University of California at Berkeley from  1985-1988,
where he supervised a team of  researchers  studying  Alzheimer's  Disease.  Dr.
Sternberg  received his Ph.D. from the University of Maryland in Biochemistry in
1982.

         Harold Waitz,  Ph.D.,  55, is Vice  President of Engineering of BioTime
and has been a director of the Company since 1990.  He was a research  scientist
for CMSI from 1987 to December 1990, serving as Vice President of Technology for
CMSI from  November  1987 to 1989.  From  1986-1988,  Dr.  Waitz  served as Vice
President of Research at the Winters Institute, a non-profit biomedical research
institution,  at which  Dr.  Waitz  studied  arteriosclerosis  in  primates.  He
received his Ph.D.  in  Biophysics  and Medical  Physics from the  University of
California at Berkeley in 1983.

         Judith Segall,  44, has been Vice President of Technology and Secretary
of BioTime  since 1990 and was a director of the Company from 1990 through 1994,
and from 1995 through the present  date.  She  performed  services on a contract
basis as a biochemist for CMSI during 1989, until the formation of BioTime.  Ms.
Segall  received a B.S. in Nutrition and Clinical  Dietetics from the University
of California at Berkeley in 1989.

         Jeffrey B.  Nickel,  Ph.D.,  54,  joined the Board of  Directors of the
Company  during March 1997.  Dr.  Nickel is the  President of Nickel  Consulting
through which he has served as a consultant  to companies in the  pharmaceutical
and  biotechnology  industries  since  1990.  Prior to starting  his  consulting
business,  Dr.  Nickel  served in a number of  management  positions  for Syntex
Corporation  and Merck &  Company.  Dr.  Nickel  received  his Ph.D.  in Organic
Chemistry from Rutgers University in 1970.

         Milton H.  Dresner,  72,  joined the Board of  Directors of the Company
during  February 1998. Mr. Dresner is Co-Chairman of the Highland  Companies,  a
diversified organization engaged in the development and ownership of residential
and industrial real estate. Mr. Dresner serves as a director of Avatar Holdings,
Inc., a real estate development company, Hudson General Corporation, an aviation
services  company,  and  Childtime  Learning  Centers,  Inc.  a child  care  and
pre-school education services company.

                                        3




Executive Officers

         Paul Segall, Ronald S. Barkin, Victoria Bellport, Hal Sternberg, Harold
Waitz and Judith Segall are the only executive officers of BioTime.

         There are no family  relationships  among the  directors or officers of
the Company, except that Paul Segall and Judith Segall are husband and wife.


Directors' Meetings, Compensation and Committees of the Board

         The Board of Directors has an Audit Committee, the members of which are
Jeffrey  Nickel and Milton  Dresner.  The purpose of the Audit  Committee  is to
recommend the engagement of the corporation's independent auditors and to review
their  performance,  the plan, scope and results of the audit, and the fees paid
to the corporation's  independent auditors. The Audit Committee also will review
the Company's accounting and financial reporting procedures and controls and all
transactions between the Company and its officers,  directors,  and shareholders
who beneficially own 5% or more of the Common Shares.

         The  Company  does  not  have  a  standing  Compensation  Committee  or
Nominating  Committee.  Nominees to the Board of  Directors  are selected by the
entire Board.

         The Board of Directors has a Stock Option  Committee  that  administers
the  Company's  1992  Stock  Option  Plan and  makes  grants of  options  to key
employees,  consultants,  scientific  advisory  board  members  and  independent
contractors of the Company, but not to officers or directors of the Company. The
members of the Stock Option  Committee  are Paul Segall,  Ronald S. Barkin,  and
Victoria Bellport. The Stock Option Committee was formed during September 1992.

          During the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997, the Board of Directors met
six times.  No director  attended fewer than 75% of the meetings of the Board or
any committee on which they served.

          Directors of the Company who are not  employees  receive an annual fee
of $20,000,  which may be paid in cash or in Common  Shares,  at the election of
the director. Directors of the Company and members of committees of the Board of
Directors  who are employees of the Company are not  compensated  for serving as
directors  or  attending  meetings  of the  Board or  committees  of the  Board.
Directors  are  entitled  to  reimbursements  for their  out-of-pocket  expenses
incurred  in  attending  meetings  of the  Board  or  committees  of the  Board.
Directors  who are  employees  of the  Company  are  also  entitled  to  receive
compensation in such capacity.

                                        4





Executive Compensation

          The Company has entered  into  five-year  employment  agreements  (the
"Employment  Agreements")  with Paul Segall,  the Chairman and Chief  Executive
Officer;  Victoria Bellport,  the Chief Financial Officer;  Judith Segall,  Vice
President of Technology and Corporate Secretary;  Hal Sternberg,  Vice President
of Research;  and Harold Waitz,  Vice President of  Engineering.  The Employment
Agreements  will expire on December 31, 2000 but may terminate  prior to the end
of the term if the  employee  (1) dies,  (2) leaves  the  Company,  (3)  becomes
disabled for a period of 90 days in any 150 day period,  or (4) is discharged by
the Board of Directors for failure to carry out the  reasonable  policies of the
Board,  persistent  absenteeism,  or a material breach of a covenant.  Under the
Employment  Agreement,  the executive officers are presently receiving an annual
salary of  $92,000,  and will  receive a  one-time  cash bonus of $25,000 if the
Company  receives at least  $1,000,000 of equity financing from a pharmaceutical
company.  Each executive  officer will be entitled to seek a modification of his
or her Employment  Agreement  before the expiration of the five year term if the
market value of the Company's outstanding capital stock exceeds $75,000,000.

          In the event of the executive  officer's  death during the term of his
or her Employment  Agreement,  the Company will pay his or her estate his or her
salary for a period of six month or until  December  31, 2000,  whichever  first
occurs.  In the  event  that  the  executive  officer's  employment  terminates,
voluntarily or  involuntarily,  after a change in control of the Company through
an acquisition of voting stock,  an  acquisition of the Company's  assets,  or a
merger or consolidation of the Company with another  corporation or entity,  the
executive  officers  will be entitled  to  severance  compensation  equal to the
greater  of (a)  2.99  times  his or her  average  annual  compensation  for the
preceding  five  years and (b) the  balance  of his or her base  salary  for the
unexpired portion of the term of his Employment Agreement.

         The Company  also  entered  into a similar  employment  agreement  with
Ronald S. Barkin, which commenced on April 1, 1997 and expires on March 31, 2002

          Each  executive  officer has also  executed an  Intellectual  Property
Agreement  which  provides  that the  Company  is the  owner  of all  inventions
developed by the executive officer during the course of his or her employment.


                                        5





          The following  table  summarizes  certain  information  concerning the
compensation  paid to the  Company's  five  most  highly  compensated  executive
officers during the last three fiscal years.


                                             SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

Annual Compensation Long-Term Compensation ------------------- ---------------------- Name and Principal Position Year Salary($) Bonus Stock Options (Shares) - --------------------------- ---- --------- ----- ------------------------ Paul Segall 1997 $90,583 __ __ Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 1996 $76,041 __ __ 1995 $67,500 __ __ Hal Sternberg 1997 $90,583 $25,000 __ Vice President of Research 1996 $76,041 __ __ 1995 $67,500 __ __ Harold Waitz 1997 $90,583 $50,000 __ Vice President of Engineering 1996 $76,041 __ __ 1995 $67,500 __ __ Victoria Bellport Vice President and 1997 $90,583 $25,000 __ Chief Financial Officer 1996 $76,041 __ __ 1995 $67,500 __ __ Judith Segall 1997 $90,583 $25,000 __ Vice President and Corporate Secretary 1996 $76,041 __ __ 1995 $67,500 __ __
6 Stock Options The following table provides information with respect to the Company's five most highly compensated executive officers, concerning the exercise of options during the last fiscal year and unexercised options held as of June 30, 1997. Aggregated Options Exercised in Last Fiscal Year, and Fiscal Year-End Option Values
Number of Number of Value of Unexercised Shares Unexercised Options at In-the-Money Options at Acquired Value June 30, 1997 June 30, 1997(1) on Realized --------------------------- --------------------------- Name Exercise ($) Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable - ---- ---------- ----- ----------- ------------- ----------- ------------- Paul Segall 0 -- 21,000 0 $679,980 0 Hal Sternberg 0 -- 21,000 0 679,980 0 Harold Waitz 0 -- 21,000 0 679,980 0 Victoria Bellport 0 -- 0 0 0 0 Judith Segall 0 -- 0 0 0 0 (1) Based on the average of the high and low bid prices of a Common Share ($32.38) as reported on the Nasdaq Small Cap Market System on such date.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions During the twelve months ended June 30, 1997, $87,254 in fees for legal and consulting services was paid to Ronald S. Barkin, Executive Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors. Such fees were paid prior to April 1, 1997, when Mr. Barkin became a salaried employee. During the twelve months ended June 30, 1997, $39,500 in fees for consulting services was paid to Jeffrey B. Nickel, a member of the Board of Directors. During September 1995, the Company entered into an agreement for financial advisory services with Greenbelt Corp., a corporation controlled by Alfred D. Kingsley and Gary K. Duberstein. Under this agreement the Company issued to the financial advisor warrants (as adjusted to reflect payment of a stock dividend during October 1997) to purchase 304,168 Common Shares at a price of $1.97 per share, and the Company agreed to issue additional warrants to purchase up to an additional 608,336 Common Shares at a price equal to the greater of (a) 150% of the average market price of the Common Shares during the three months prior to issuance and (b) $2 per share (as adjusted for the Company's subscription rights distribution during January 1997, and payment of a stock dividend during October 1997). The additional warrants were issued in equal quarterly installments over a two year period, beginning October 15, 1995. The Company may terminate the financial advisory agreement on 30 days notice. The exercise price and number of Common Shares for which the warrants may be exercised are subject to adjustment to prevent dilution in the event of a stock split, combination, stock dividend, reclassification of shares, sale of assets, merger or similar transaction. As of June 30, 1997, the total number of warrants to purchase Common Shares issued was 836,462. The warrants are exercisable at 7 the following prices: 456,252 at $1.97 per share; 76,042 at $2.41 per share; 76,042 at $9.88 per share; 76,042 at $9.64 per share; 76,042 at $10.73 per share; and 76,042 at $16.11 per share. As of July 15, 1997, warrants to purchase an additional 76,042 shares were issued and are exercisable at a price of $14.07 per share. Under the agreement, upon the request of Greenbelt Corp., the Company will file a registration statement to register the warrants and underlying Common Shares for sale under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act") and applicable state securities or "Blue Sky" laws. The Company will bear the expenses of registration, other than any underwriting discounts that may be incurred by Greenbelt Corp. in connection with a sale of the warrants or common shares. The Company shall not be obligated to file more than two such registration statements, other than registration statements on Form S-3. Greenbelt Corp. also is entitled to include warrants and common shares in any registration statement filed by the Company to register other securities for sale under the Act. During April 1998, the Company entered into a new financial advisory services agreement with Greenbelt Corp. The agreement provides for an initial payment of $90,000 followed by an advisory fee of $15,000 per month that will be paid quarterly. The agreement will expire on March 31, 2000, but either party may terminate the agreement earlier upon 30 days prior written notice. The Company has agreed to reimburse Greenbelt Corp. for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with its engagement as financial advisor, and to indemnify Greenbelt Corp. and the officers, affiliates, employees, agents, assignees, and controlling person of Greenbelt Corp. from any liabilities arising out of or in connection with actions taken on behalf of the Company under the agreement. 8 PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS The following table sets forth information as of March 19, 1998 concerning beneficial ownership of Common Shares by each shareholder known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of 5% or more of the Company's Common Shares, and the Company's executive officers and directors. Information concerning certain beneficial owners of more than 5% of the Common Shares is based upon information disclosed by such owners in their reports on Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G.
Number of Percent of Shares Total --------- ---------- Alfred D. Kingsley (1) 1,250,755 11.5% Gary K. Duberstein Greenbelt Corp. Greenway Partners, L.P. Greenhouse Partners, L.P. 277 Park Avenue, 27th Floor New York, New York 10172 Paul and Judith Segall (2) 709,914 7.1 Essex Investment Management Company 502,435 5.1 125 High Street Boston, Massachusetts 02110 Harold D. Waitz (3) 499,207 5.0 Hal Sternberg 478,137 4.8 Victoria Bellport 196,167 2.0 Ronald S. Barkin (4) 190,011 1.9 Jeffrey B. Nickel (5) 5,000 * Milton H. Dresner (6) 6,000 * All officers and directors as a group (8 persons)(4)(5)(6) 2,084,436 20.9% - --------------------------- * Less than 1% (1) Includes 912,505 Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of certain warrants owned beneficially by Greenbelt Corp. Mr. Kingsley and Mr. Duberstein may be deemed to beneficially own the warrant shares that Greenbelt Corp. beneficially owns. Includes 82,500 Common Shares owned by Greenway Partners, L.P. Greenhouse Partners, L.P. is the general partner of Greenway Partners, L.P. and Mr. Kingsley and Mr. Duberstein are the general partners of Greenhouse Partners, L.P. Greenhouse Partners, L.P., Mr. Kingsley and Mr. Duberstein may be deemed to beneficially own the Common Shares that Greenway Partners, L.P. beneficially owns. Includes 245,850 Common Shares owned solely by Mr. Kingsley, as to which Mr. Duberstein disclaims beneficial ownership. Includes 9,900 Common Shares owned solely by Mr. Duberstein, as to which Mr. Kingsley disclaims beneficial ownership. (2) Includes 517,377 Common Shares held of record by Paul Segall and 192,537 Common Shares held of record by Judith Segall. (3) Includes 2,000 Common Shares held for the benefit of Dr. Waitz's minor children. (4) Includes 135,000 Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of certain options. (5) Includes 5,000 Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of certain options. (6) Includes 500 Common Shares that Mr. Dresner may acquire in lieu of cash director's fees during the next sixty days.
9 COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), requires the Company's directors and executive officers and persons who own more than ten percent (10%) of a registered class of the Company's equity securities to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of Common Shares and other equity securities of the Company. Officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners are required by SEC regulation to furnish the Company with copies of all reports they file under Section 16(a). To the Company's knowledge, based solely on its review of the copies of such reports furnished to the Company and written representations that no other reports were required, all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to its officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners were complied with during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997. 10 AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE AUTHORIZED NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES The Board of Directors has approved an amendment to the Company's Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized Common Shares from 25,000,000 shares to 40,000,000. The purpose of this amendment is to give the Company the flexibility to raise additional capital through the issuance of additional shares, and to obtain and maintain the services of consultants by issuing warrants to purchase Common Shares. Common Shares could also be issued in connection with the acquisition of another business or business assets or technology. There are presently 9,935,579 Common Shares issued and outstanding. An additional 1,020,000 Common Shares are reserved for issuance under outstanding warrants, and 1,165,500 Common Shares are reserved for issuance under the Company's 1992 Employee Stock Option Plan. Although the Company has no present plan, arrangement or commitment to issue or sell any Common Shares for cash or in connection with the acquisition of any business, assets or technology, the Board of Directors believes that it is in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders to have a sufficient number of authorized but unissued shares available for issuance in the future for such purposes or other opportunities that may come along. It is likely that the sale of Common Shares will be the principal means by which the Company will raise additional capital until such time as it is able to generate earnings sufficient to finance its operations. At the last Annual Meeting, the Company's shareholders approved an amendment increasing the authorized number of Common Shares from 5,000,000 to 25,000,000. However, during October 1998, the Company issued 6,553,386 Common Shares as a stock dividend. As a result, the Board of Directors believes that the Company has an insufficient number of authorized but unissued Common Shares available for the Company's future financing needs. The approval of the amendment of the Company's Articles of Incorporation requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. The Board of Directors Recommends A Vote "FOR" the Approval of the Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation 11 RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS The Board of Directors proposes and recommends that the shareholders ratify the selection of the firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP to serve as independent accountants of the Company for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1998. Deloitte & Touche LLP has served as the Company's independent accountants since 1991. Unless otherwise directed by the shareholders, proxies will be voted FOR approval of the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP to audit the Company's consolidated financial statements. A representative of Deloitte & Touche LLP will attend the Meeting, and will have an opportunity to make a statement if he or she so desires and may respond to appropriate questions from shareholders. The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote "FOR" Ratification of the Selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company's Independent Accountants PROPOSALS OF SHAREHOLDERS Shareholders of the Company who intend to present a proposal for action at the 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company must notify the Company's management of such intention by notice received at the Company's principal executive offices not later than December 18, 1998 for such proposal to be included in the Company's proxy statement and form of proxy relating to such meeting. ANNUAL REPORT The Company's Annual Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997 is being mailed to shreholders with this Proxy Statement. The Annual Report is not to be regarded as proxy soliciting material. A copy of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997, without exhibits, may be obtained by a shareholder without charge, upon written request to the Secretary of the Company. By Order of the Board of Directors, Paul Segall, Ph.D. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer April 16, 1998 12 Appendix PROXY FOR BIOTIME, INC. ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS May 18, 1998 This Proxy is Solicited by the Board of Directors The undersigned appoints Paul E. Segall and Ronald S. Barkin, and each of them, with full power of substitution, as the undersigned's lawful agent and proxy to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of BioTime, Inc. on May 18, 1998 and any adjournment thereof and to represent and vote all BioTime, Inc. Common Shares standing in the name of the undersigned upon the books of the corporation. DIRECTORS RECOMMEND A VOTE "FOR" PROPOSALS NUMBERED 1, 2, AND 3 1)ELECTION OF [ ] FOR all nominees listed [ ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY DIRECTORS below (except as marked to vote for all to the contrary below) nominees listed below RONALD S. BARKIN; VICTORIA BELLPORT; MILTON H. DRESNER; JUDITH SEGALL; JEFFREY B. NICKEL; PAUL SEGALL; HAL STERNBERG; HAROLD WAITZ ** To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, draw a line through that person's name** FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN 2) APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES [ ] [ ] [ ] OF INCORPORATION 4) RATIFYING APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT [ ] [ ] [ ] ACCOUNTANTS The persons named as proxy may also vote on such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof. [ ] WISH TO ATTEND AND VOTE SHARES AT MEETING Please sign exactly as your shares are registered. _______________________ __________________ Persons signing as a corporate Signature Date officer or in a fiduciary capacity should indicate their _________________________ __________________ title or capacity. Signature if Held Jointly Date 13