PARLEX CORP
424B1, 2000-06-21
PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS
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<PAGE>
                                                FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 424(b)(1)
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-33836

                                  1,350,000 SHARES

                                     [LOGO]

                                  COMMON STOCK

                               ------------------

    We are offering 1,250,000 shares of our common stock and the selling
stockholders identified in this prospectus under "Selling Stockholders" on page
43 are offering an additional 100,000 shares. We will not receive any of the
proceeds from the sale of shares being offered by the selling stockholders.

    Our common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol
"PRLX." The last reported sale price for our common stock on June 20, 2000 was
$27.25 per share.

    INVESTING IN OUR COMMON STOCK INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. PLEASE SEE THE
SECTION ENTITLED "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 7 FOR A DISCUSSION OF FACTORS
YOU SHOULD CONSIDER CAREFULLY BEFORE BUYING SHARES OF OUR COMMON STOCK.

                            ------------------------

    Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this
prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.

                            ------------------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              PER SHARE      TOTAL
                                                              ---------   -----------
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>
    Public Offering Price...................................   $26.50     $35,775,000
    Underwriting Discount...................................   $ 1.46     $ 1,971,000
    Proceeds to Parlex......................................   $25.04     $31,300,000
    Proceeds to the Selling Stockholders....................   $25.04     $ 2,504,000
</TABLE>

    The underwriters have an option to purchase 202,500 additional shares of our
common stock from us at the public offering price, less the underwriting
discount, to cover any over-allotments of shares.
                            ------------------------

Adams, Harkness & Hill, Inc.                             Needham & Company, Inc.

                        Prospectus dated June 20, 2000.
<PAGE>
    TOP OF THE PAGE HEADING: "PARLEX INTERCONNECTS A WORLD OF APPLICATIONS"

    The page will include photographs of the following Parlex products:

    - Single-sided and double-sided flexible circuits

    - Polymer thick film flexible circuit

    - Laminated cable

    - Flexible interconnect hybrid with surface mounted components

    The page will also include photographs of the following end products:

    - Automobile

    - Network server

    - Cellular handset

    - Medical monitoring equipment

    - Personal digital assistant

    The layout of the page will be arranged as a collage of our products
intermingled with the end products listed above.

    Our logo will appear in the bottom right corner of the page.
<PAGE>
    You should rely only on information contained in this prospectus. We have
not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that
contained in this prospectus. We are offering to sell, and seeking offers to
buy, shares of common stock only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are
permitted. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of
the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this
prospectus or any sale of our common stock.

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                PAGE
                                                                ----
<S>                                                           <C>
Prospectus Summary..........................................      4
Risk Factors................................................      7
Forward-Looking Statements..................................     12
Use of Proceeds.............................................     13
Price Range of Common Stock.................................     13
Dividend Policy.............................................     14
Capitalization..............................................     14
Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Condensed Financial
  Statements................................................     15
Selected Consolidated Financial Data........................     21
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
  and Results of Operations.................................     22
Business....................................................     28
Management..................................................     41
Selling Stockholders........................................     43
Underwriting................................................     44
Legal Matters...............................................     46
Experts.....................................................     46
Additional Information......................................     47
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements..................    F-1
</TABLE>

                            ------------------------

    PALCore-Registered Trademark-, PALFlex-Registered Trademark-,
PALCoat-Registered Trademark-, U-Flex-Registered Trademark-, and
Polysolder-Registered Trademark- and the logo of Parlex are registered
trademarks of Parlex. PALCon-TM-, AutoNet-TM-, HSI+-TM- and Pemacs-TM- are
trademarks of Parlex. This prospectus also contains trademarks and trade names
of other companies.

    Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to
"Parlex," "we," "us" and "our" refer to Parlex Corporation and its subsidiaries.
<PAGE>
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

    YOU SHOULD READ THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY TOGETHER WITH MORE DETAILED
INFORMATION AND OUR CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, THE NOTES TO THOSE
STATEMENTS AND THE OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION APPEARING ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS.

                               PARLEX CORPORATION

    We are a leading provider of flexible interconnect solutions to the
automotive, telecommunications and networking, diversified electronics,
aerospace and computer markets. Our product offerings, which we believe are the
broadest of any company in the flexible interconnect industry, include flexible
circuits, laminated cable, flexible interconnect hybrid circuits, prototype
flexible circuits and flexible interconnect assemblies. We supply products to
some of the leading original equipment manufacturers in our target markets,
including Motorola, Siemens, Nortel Networks, Symbol Technologies, Honeywell and
Hewlett-Packard. We operate seven manufacturing facilities, which are located in
China, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States.

    Flexible interconnect products provide electrical connection between
components in electronic systems and are increasingly used as a platform for the
attachment of electronic devices such as capacitors, resistors, integrated
circuits and connectors. The advantages of using flexible interconnects instead
of alternative technologies such as rigid printed circuits include three-
dimensional packaging, superior thermal qualities and reduced size and weight.
These advantages are increasingly valuable as electronic devices become smaller,
more portable and more complex. The IPC, an international trade organization,
estimates that worldwide sales of flexible circuits alone in 1998 were
approximately $2.8 billion.

    We have strong relationships with our customers and work closely with them
throughout the product design phase. Our creative engineering expertise, coupled
with our ability to advance the technology of manufacturing processes and
materials, allows us to provide our customers with a comprehensive range of
flexible interconnect solutions. Once a design is completed, we use our
proprietary materials and processes, including PALFlex-Registered Trademark-,
PALCoat-Registered Trademark-, U-Flex-Registered Trademark-, PALCon-TM-,
PALCore-Registered Trademark- HP and Polysolder-Registered Trademark- to produce
a flexible interconnect that meets our customers' requirements for
functionality, cost and reliability.

    In recent years our growth has supported an expansion of our manufacturing
operations to better accommodate our customers' geographic and cost
requirements. In 1995, we established Parlex (Shanghai) Circuit Co., Ltd., or
Parlex Shanghai, a joint venture in China designed to serve the Asian market for
flexible circuits as well as to produce products more cost-effectively for North
American customers. We opened an interconnect assembly and finishing facility in
Mexico, which began shipments of product in fiscal 1999. In fiscal 1999, we also
increased the size of our manufacturing facilities in Massachusetts, New
Hampshire and China. Our total manufacturing space is now approximately 320,000
square feet. Additionally, we have established distribution and customer support
capabilities in Singapore and France.

    In April 1999, we acquired the Dynaflex division of CCIR of California
Corp., a subsidiary of Hadco Corporation. Dynaflex, which is located in San
Jose, California, produces a full range of flexible circuits in limited
quantities with short lead times, as required for the manufacture of prototype
products.

                                       4
<PAGE>
    In March 2000, we acquired Poly-Flex Circuits, Inc. and Poly-Flex Circuits
Limited, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Cookson Group plc. This acquisition
further diversified our product offerings by providing us with polymer thick
film and surface mount assembly capabilities. As a result of this acquisition,
we now have flexible interconnect solutions for the growing home appliance and
radio frequency identification markets, which will further diversify our target
markets. Poly-Flex has manufacturing facilities in Cranston, Rhode Island and
the United Kingdom.

    Our strategy is to be the flexible interconnect supplier of choice for
customers in our target markets. The key elements of our strategy include:

    - Developing innovative processes and materials to enhance the opportunity
      for growth within our target markets;

    - Offering the broadest range of products in the flexible interconnect
      industry to serve virtually all of our customers' flexible interconnect
      needs;

    - Developing strategic relationships with key customers in target industries
      to achieve greater insight into our customers' entire range of flexible
      interconnect requirements;

    - Diversifying our customer base across specific markets to help mitigate
      the effects of economic cycles in any one industry; and

    - Continuing to expand our global presence.

    We were incorporated in Massachusetts in 1970. Our principal executive
offices are at One Parlex Place, Methuen, Massachusetts 01844, and our telephone
number is (978) 685-4341. Our Web site address is WWW.PARLEX.COM. The
information contained on our Web site is not incorporated by reference in this
prospectus.

                                  THE OFFERING

<TABLE>
<S>                                                          <C>
Common stock offered by:
  Parlex...................................................  1,250,000 shares
  The Selling Stockholders.................................  100,000 shares

Common stock to be outstanding after the offering..........  6,069,659 shares

Use of proceeds............................................  To repay debt of approximately
                                                             $25.1 million, of which approximately
                                                             $20.3 million was incurred in connection
                                                             with our Poly-Flex acquisition, and for
                                                             general corporate purposes, including
                                                             working capital

Nasdaq National Market symbol..............................  PRLX
</TABLE>

    The number of shares of common stock that will be outstanding after this
offering excludes 367,182 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of
stock options outstanding at June 20, 2000 at a weighted average exercise price
of $18.22 per share. Of these, 122,557 shares of common stock are subject to
immediately exercisable stock options at a weighted average exercise price of
$11.91 per share.

    All of the information in this prospectus assumes no exercise of the
underwriters' overallotment option.

                                       5
<PAGE>
                      SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

    The following summary consolidated financial data is derived from and
qualified in its entirety by our financial statements. You should read this
summary financial data together with "Management Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and our financial statements and
related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

    We acquired Poly-Flex Circuits, Inc. and Poly-Flex Circuits Limited on
March 1, 2000. The pro forma statement of operations data reflect our
acquisition of Poly-Flex as if it had occurred on the first day of the period
presented.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  FISCAL YEAR
                                                                     ENDED
                                                                   JUNE 30,
                                  FISCAL YEAR ENDED                  1999
                                      JUNE 30,
                       ---------------------------------------        PRO
                          1997          1998         1999(1)      FORMA(1)(2)
                       -----------   -----------   -----------   -------------
                                (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                    <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>
CONSOLIDATED
  STATEMENTS OF
  OPERATIONS DATA:
Total revenues.......    $55,087       $60,275       $67,047       $ 92,842
Cost of products
  sold...............     44,137        47,304        52,785         72,081
                         -------       -------       -------       --------
Gross profit.........     10,950        12,971        14,262         20,761
Selling, general and
  administrative
  expenses...........      7,288         8,272         9,715         14,517
                         -------       -------       -------       --------
Operating income.....      3,662         4,699         4,547          6,244
Income from
  operations before
  income taxes and
  minority
  interest...........      3,381         5,130         4,681          4,921
Net income...........    $ 2,120       $ 3,157       $ 3,020       $  3,164
Net income per share:
  Basic..............    $  0.59       $  0.73       $  0.65       $   0.68
  Diluted............    $  0.57       $  0.71       $  0.63       $   0.66
Weighted average
  shares outstanding:
  Basic..............      3,569         4,296         4,662          4,662
  Diluted............      3,715         4,466         4,771          4,771

<CAPTION>
                                                          MARCH 26, 2000
                                                   -----------------------------
                                                     ACTUAL      AS ADJUSTED(5)
                                                   -----------   ---------------
                                                          (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                    <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Working capital...............................................................
Total assets..................................................................
Current portion of long-term debt.............................................
Long-term debt, less current portion..........................................
Stockholders' equity..........................................................

<CAPTION>
<S>                    <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>
CONSOLIDATED
  STATEMENTS OF
  OPERATIONS DATA:
Total revenues.......    $46,945       $70,021       $85,090        $ 85,090
Cost of products
  sold...............     37,684        53,171        65,387          65,387
                         -------       -------       -------        --------
Gross profit.........      9,261        16,850        19,703          19,703
Selling, general and
  administrative
  expenses...........      6,686         8,762        12,303          12,303
                         -------       -------       -------        --------
Operating income.....      2,575         8,088         7,400           7,400
Income from
  operations before
  income taxes and
  minority
  interest...........      2,781         7,724         6,003           7,102
Net income...........    $ 1,682       $ 4,600       $ 3,561        $  4,220
Net income per share:
  Basic..............    $  0.36       $  0.96       $  0.74        $   0.75
  Diluted............    $  0.35       $  0.94       $  0.73        $   0.74
Weighted average
  shares outstanding:
  Basic..............      4,645         4,805         4,805           5,627
  Diluted............      4,772         4,884         4,884           5,705
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE
Working capital......                                $21,650        $ 33,153
Total assets.........                                 97,614         106,117
Current portion of lo                                  4,596           1,596
Long-term debt, less                                  19,835             435
Stockholders' equity.                                 50,122          81,025
</TABLE>

------------------------------

(1) Includes Dynaflex beginning April 30, 1999.

(2) Adjusted to reverse historical depreciation and amortization and record an
    increase in net depreciation and amortization of $469,000, to reverse a
    management fee for corporate overhead expenses of $1.0 million allocated by
    Poly-Flex's prior parent, to reverse historical interest expense and record
    an increase in net interest expense of $797,000, and to record the income
    tax effects of these pro forma adjustments assuming a 40% statutory tax
    rate.

(3) Adjusted to reverse historical depreciation and amortization and record an
    increase in net depreciation and amortization of $352,000, to reverse a
    management fee for corporate overhead expenses of $773,000 allocated by
    Poly-Flex's prior parent, to reverse historical interest expense and record
    an increase in net interest expense of $651,000, and to record the income
    tax effects of these pro forma adjustments assuming a 40% statutory tax
    rate.

(4) Adjusted to give effect to the repayment with the net proceeds of this
    offering of $20.3 million of debt incurred in connection with the Poly-Flex
    acquisition, as if it had occurred on the first day of the period presented.

(5) Adjusted to give effect to the sale of 1,250,000 shares of common stock by
    us at a public offering price of $26.50 per share and the application of the
    estimated net proceeds from this sale to repay $22.4 million of debt,
    including $20.1 million of debt incurred in connection with the Poly-Flex
    acquisition, outstanding at March 26, 2000.

                                       6
<PAGE>
                                  RISK FACTORS

    YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE RISKS DESCRIBED BELOW BEFORE INVESTING IN
OUR COMMON STOCK. THE FACTORS DISCUSSED BELOW MAY HARM OUR BUSINESS, FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND COULD RESULT IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF YOUR
INVESTMENT.

OUR OPERATING RESULTS FLUCTUATE AND MAY FAIL TO SATISFY THE EXPECTATIONS OF
PUBLIC MARKET ANALYSTS AND INVESTORS, CAUSING OUR STOCK PRICE TO DECLINE.

    Our operating results have fluctuated significantly in the past and we
expect our results to continue to fluctuate in the future. Our results may
fluctuate due to a variety of factors, including the timing and volume of orders
from customers, the timing of introductions of and market acceptance of new
products, changes in prices of raw materials, variations in production yields
and general economic trends. It is possible that in some future periods our
results of operations may not meet or exceed the expectations of public market
analysts and investors. If this occurs, the price of our common stock is likely
to decline.

OUR QUARTERLY RESULTS DEPEND UPON A SMALL NUMBER OF LARGE ORDERS RECEIVED IN
EACH QUARTER, SO THE LOSS OF ANY SINGLE LARGE ORDER COULD HARM QUARTERLY RESULTS
AND CAUSE OUR STOCK PRICE TO DROP.

    A substantial portion of our sales in any given quarter depends on obtaining
a small number of large orders for products to be manufactured and shipped in
the same quarter in which the orders are received. Although we attempt to
monitor our customers' needs, we often have limited knowledge of the magnitude
or timing of future orders. It is difficult for us to reduce spending on short
notice on operating expenses such as fixed manufacturing costs, development
costs and ongoing customer service. As a result, a reduction in orders, or even
the loss of a single large order, for products to be shipped in any given
quarter could have a material adverse effect on our quarterly operating results.
This, in turn, could cause our stock price to decline.

BECAUSE WE SELL A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF OUR PRODUCTS TO A LIMITED NUMBER OF
CUSTOMERS, THE LOSS OF A SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMER OR A SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION IN
ORDERS BY ANY SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMER WOULD HARM OUR OPERATING RESULTS.

    Historically we have sold a substantial portion of our products to a limited
number of customers. Our 20 largest customers based on sales accounted for
approximately 71% of our total revenue in fiscal 1997, 64% in fiscal 1998, 63%
in fiscal 1999 and 69% in the first nine months of fiscal 2000. Sales to several
divisions of Motorola alone accounted for approximately 20% of our total revenue
in fiscal 1997, 23% in fiscal 1998, 15% in fiscal 1999 and 10% in the first nine
months of fiscal 2000.

    We expect that a limited number of customers will continue to account for a
high percentage of our total revenues in the foreseeable future. As a result,
the loss of a significant customer or a substantial reduction in orders by any
significant customer would cause our revenues to decline and have an adverse
effect on our operating results.

IF WE ARE UNABLE TO RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO THE EVOLVING TECHNOLOGICAL
REQUIREMENTS OF CUSTOMERS, OUR PRODUCTS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SATISFY THE DEMANDS
OF EXISTING AND PROSPECTIVE CUSTOMERS AND WE MAY LOSE REVENUES AND MARKET SHARE.

    The market for our products is characterized by rapidly changing technology
and continuing process development. The future success of our business will
depend in large part upon our ability to maintain and enhance our technological
capabilities. We will need to develop and market products that meet changing
customer needs, and successfully anticipate or respond to

                                       7
<PAGE>
technological changes on a cost-effective and timely basis. There can be no
assurance that the materials and processes that we are currently developing will
result in commercially viable technological processes, or that there will be
commercial applications for these technologies. In addition, we may not be able
to make the capital investments required to develop, acquire or implement new
technologies and equipment that are necessary to remain competitive. It is also
possible that the flexible interconnect industry could encounter competition
from new technologies in the future that render flexible interconnect technology
less competitive or obsolete. If we fail to keep pace with technological change,
our products may become less competitive or obsolete and we may lose customers
and revenues.

A SIGNIFICANT DOWNTURN IN ANY OF THE SECTORS IN WHICH WE SELL PRODUCTS COULD
RESULT IN A REVENUE SHORTFALL.

    We sell our flexible interconnect products principally to the automotive,
telecommunications and networking, diversified electronics, aerospace and
computer markets. Although we serve a variety of markets to avoid a dependency
on any one sector, a significant downturn in any of these market sectors could
cause a material reduction in our revenues, which could be difficult to replace.

IF WE FAIL TO EXPAND OUR MANUFACTURING CAPACITY, WE COULD LOSE EXISTING AND
POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS AND DAMAGE OUR COMPETITIVE POSITION.

    Our long-term competitive position depends in part on our ability to
increase and adapt our manufacturing capacity. In fiscal 1999, limited capacity
at our Methuen, Massachusetts and Salem, New Hampshire facilities prevented us
from accepting customer orders we otherwise would have fulfilled. During fiscal
1999 we expanded our production capacity in our facilities in Massachusetts, New
Hampshire and Shanghai, China. We are currently capacity constrained in our
Shanghai, China facility, although we are addressing this by currently adding
capacity in this facility as well as in our Empalme, Mexico facility. We must
continue to expand our manufacturing capacity to accommodate additional customer
demand, increased sales volumes and changing customer needs. In addition to
expanding our existing facilities, we may open new facilities to expand our
manufacturing capacity and increase our global presence. Such an expansion would
likely require significant capital expenditures and other expenses and any new
facilities may not operate profitability in the short term or at all. Any
failure to complete our expansions on schedule and within budget could have a
material adverse effect on our revenues and our competitive position.

WE RELY ON A LIMITED NUMBER OF SUPPLIERS, AND ANY INTERRUPTION IN OUR PRIMARY
SOURCES OF SUPPLY, OR ANY SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE PRICES OF MATERIALS,
CHEMICALS OR COMPONENTS, WOULD HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR SHORT-TERM
OPERATING RESULTS.

    We purchase the bulk of our raw materials, process chemicals and components
from a limited number of outside sources. In fiscal 1999, we purchased
approximately 60% of our materials from DuPont and Sheldahl, our two largest
suppliers. We operate under tight manufacturing cycles with a limited inventory
of raw materials. As a result, although there are alternative sources of the
materials that we purchase from our existing suppliers, any unanticipated
interruption in supply from DuPont or Sheldahl, or any significant increase in
the prices of materials, chemicals or components, would have an adverse effect
on our short-term operating results.

IF OUR RECENTLY ACQUIRED BUSINESS DOES NOT GENERATE THE REVENUES WE EXPECT, HAS
UNEXPECTED SIGNIFICANT LIABILITIES, OR IS NOT SUCCESSFULLY INTEGRATED INTO OUR
EXISTING OPERATIONS, WE MAY NOT REAP THE ANTICIPATED BENEFITS OF THE ACQUISITION
AND OUR OPERATING RESULTS MAY SUFFER.

    We recently acquired Poly-Flex Circuits, Inc. and Poly-Flex Circuits Limited
in order to further diversify our product offerings and target markets, to help
support our existing customer base and

                                       8
<PAGE>
to help attract and retain new customers. The Poly-Flex business may not
generate the revenues or profits we expect, or we may find that the business has
previously unknown or undisclosed liabilities.

    We may have difficulties in assimilating the operations, technologies,
products and personnel of the Poly-Flex business into our existing business.
Integration could require capital expenditures which exceed our expectations. In
addition, efforts to integrate the business could divert our attention from
other aspects of our operations. If we fail to integrate the Poly-Flex business
effectively in a timely and non-disruptive manner, key employees of that
business may leave, which could further complicate our integration efforts and
jeopardize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition.

IF WE ACQUIRE ADDITIONAL BUSINESSES, THESE ACQUISITIONS WILL INVOLVE FINANCIAL
UNCERTAINTIES AS WELL AS PERSONNEL CONTINGENCIES, AND MAY BE RISKY AND DIFFICULT
TO INTEGRATE.

    We have completed two acquisitions in the past year and we may acquire
additional businesses that could complement or expand our business. Acquired
businesses may not generate the revenues or profits that we expect and we may
find that they have unknown or undisclosed liabilities. In addition, if we do
make acquisitions, we will face a number of other risks and challenges,
including:

       - The difficulty of integrating dissimilar operations or assets;

       - Potential loss of key employees of the acquired business;

       - Assimilation of new employees who may not contribute or perform at the
         levels we expect;

       - Diversion of management time and resources; and

       - Additional costs associated with obtaining any necessary financing.

    These factors could hamper our ability to receive the anticipated benefits
from any acquisitions we may pursue, and could adversely affect our financial
condition and our stock price.

IF WE CANNOT OBTAIN ADDITIONAL FINANCING WHEN NEEDED, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO
EXPAND OUR OPERATIONS AND INVEST ADEQUATELY IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, WHICH
COULD CAUSE US TO LOSE CUSTOMERS AND MARKET SHARE.

    The development and manufacturing of flexible interconnects is capital
intensive. To remain competitive, we must continue to make significant
expenditures for capital equipment, expansion of operations and research and
development. We expect that substantial capital will be required to expand our
manufacturing capacity and fund working capital for anticipated growth. We may
need to raise additional funds either through borrowings or further equity
financings. We may not be able to raise additional capital on reasonable terms,
or at all. If we cannot raise the required funds when needed, we may not be able
to satisfy the demands of existing and prospective customers and may lose
revenue and market share.

THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSES AND RISKS RELATED TO OUR EXISTING INTERNATIONAL
OPERATIONS, AS WELL AS ANY EXPANSION OF OUR GLOBAL OPERATIONS, COULD ADVERSELY
AFFECT OUR BUSINESS.

    We own a 50.1% equity interest in a joint venture in China, which
manufactures and sells flexible circuits. We also operate a facility in Mexico
for use in the finishing, assembly and testing of flexible circuit and laminated
cable products. We recently acquired a facility in the United Kingdom where we
currently manufacture polymer thick film flexible circuits and polymer thick
film flexible circuits with surface mounted components and intend to introduce
production of laminated cable

                                       9
<PAGE>
within the next year. We will continue to explore appropriate expansion
opportunities as demand for our products increases.

    Manufacturing and sales operations outside the United States carry a number
of risks inherent in international operations, including:

       - Imposition of governmental controls, regulatory standards and
         compulsory licensure requirements;

       - Compliance with a wide variety of foreign and U.S. import and export
         laws;

       - Currency fluctuations;

       - Unexpected changes in trade restrictions, tariffs and barriers;

       - Political and economic instability;

       - Longer payment cycles typically associated with foreign sales;

       - Difficulties in administering business overseas;

       - Labor union issues; and

       - Potentially adverse tax consequences.

    International expansion may require significant management attention, which
could negatively affect our business. We may also incur significant costs to
expand our existing international operations or enter new international markets,
which could increase operating costs and reduce our profitability.

WE FACE SIGNIFICANT COMPETITION, WHICH COULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR US TO ACQUIRE
AND RETAIN CUSTOMERS.

    We face competition worldwide in the flexible interconnect market from a
number of foreign and domestic providers, as well as from alternative
technologies such as rigid printed circuits. Many of our competitors are larger
than we are and have greater financial resources. New competitors could also
enter our markets. Our competitors may be able to duplicate our strategies, or
they may develop enhancements to, or future generations of, products that could
offer price or performance features that are superior to our products.
Competitive pressures could also necessitate price reductions, which could
adversely affect our operating results. In addition, some of our competitors are
based in foreign countries and have cost structures and prices based on foreign
currencies. Accordingly, currency fluctuations could cause our dollar-priced
products to be less competitive than our competitors' products priced in other
currencies.

    We will need to make a continued high level of investment in product
research and development and research, sales and marketing and ongoing customer
service and support in order to remain competitive. We may not have sufficient
resources to be able to make these investments. Moreover, we may not be able to
make the technological advances necessary to maintain our competitive position
in the flexible interconnect market.

IF WE ARE UNABLE TO ATTRACT, RETAIN AND MOTIVATE KEY PERSONNEL, WE MAY NOT BE
ABLE TO DEVELOP, SELL AND SUPPORT OUR PRODUCTS AND OUR BUSINESS MAY LACK
STRATEGIC DIRECTION.

    We are dependent upon key members of our management team. In addition, our
future success will depend in large part upon our continuing ability to attract,
retain and motivate highly qualified managerial, technical and sales personnel.
Competition for such personnel is intense, and there can be no assurance that we
will be successful in hiring or retaining such personnel. We currently maintain
a key person life insurance policy in the amount of $1.0 million on each of
Herbert W.

                                       10
<PAGE>
Pollack and Peter J. Murphy. If we lose the service of Messrs. Pollack or Murphy
or one or more other key individuals, or are unable to attract additional
qualified members of the management team, our ability to implement our business
strategy may be impaired. If we are unable to attract, retain and motivate
qualified technical and sales personnel, we may not able to develop, sell and
support our products.

IF WE ARE UNABLE TO PROTECT OUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, OUR COMPETITIVE POSITION
COULD BE HARMED AND OUR REVENUES COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED.

    We rely on a combination of patent and trade secret laws and non-disclosure
and other contractual agreements to protect our proprietary rights. We own 18
patents issued and have two patent applications pending in the United States and
have several corresponding foreign patent applications pending. Our existing
patents may not effectively protect our intellectual property and could be
challenged by third parties, and our future patent applications, if any, may not
be approved. In addition, other parties may independently develop similar or
competing technologies. Competitors may attempt to copy aspects of our products
or to obtain and use information that we regard as proprietary. If we fail to
adequately protect our proprietary rights, our competitors could offer similar
products using materials, processes or technologies developed by us, potentially
harming our competitive position and our revenues.

IF WE BECOME INVOLVED IN A PROTRACTED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DISPUTE, OR ONE WITH
A SIGNIFICANT DAMAGES AWARD OR WHICH REQUIRES US TO CEASE SELLING SOME OF OUR
PRODUCTS, WE COULD BE SUBJECT TO SIGNIFICANT LIABILITY AND THE TIME AND
ATTENTION OF OUR MANAGEMENT COULD BE DIVERTED.

    Although no claims have been asserted against us for infringement of the
proprietary rights of others, we may be subject to a claim of infringement in
the future. An intellectual property lawsuit against us, if successful, could
subject us to significant liability for damages and could invalidate our
proprietary rights. A successful lawsuit against us could also force us to cease
selling, or redesign, products that incorporate the infringed intellectual
property. We could also be required to obtain a license from the holder of the
intellectual property to use the infringed technology. We might not be able to
obtain a license on reasonable terms, or at all. If we fail to develop a
non-infringing technology on a timely basis or to license the infringed
technology on acceptable terms, our revenues could decline and our expenses
could increase.

    We may in the future be required to initiate claims or litigation against
third parties for infringement of our proprietary rights or to determine the
scope and validity of our proprietary rights or the proprietary rights of
competitors. Litigation with respect to patents and other intellectual property
matters could result in substantial costs and divert our management's attention
from other aspects of our business.

MARKET PRICES OF TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES HAVE BEEN HIGHLY VOLATILE, AND OUR STOCK
PRICE MAY BE VOLATILE AS WELL.

    From time to time the U.S. stock market has experienced significant price
and trading volume fluctuations, and the market prices for the common stock of
technology companies in particular have been extremely volatile. In the past,
broad market fluctuations that have affected the stock price of technology
companies have at times been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating
performance of these companies. Any significant fluctuations in the future might
result in a material decline in the market price of our common stock.

    Following periods of volatility in the market price of a particular
company's securities, securities class action litigation has often been brought
against that company. If we were to become involved

                                       11
<PAGE>
in this type of litigation, we could incur substantial costs and diversion of
management's attention, which could harm our business, financial condition and
operating results.

THE COSTS OF COMPLYING WITH EXISTING OR FUTURE ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS, AND OF
CURING ANY VIOLATIONS OF THESE REGULATIONS, COULD INCREASE OUR OPERATING
EXPENSES AND REDUCE OUR PROFITABILITY.

    We are subject to a variety of environmental laws relating to the storage,
discharge, handling, emission, generation, manufacture, use and disposal of
chemicals, solid and hazardous waste and other toxic and hazardous materials
used to manufacture, or resulting from the process of manufacturing, our
products. We cannot predict the nature, scope or effect of future regulatory
requirements to which our operations might be subject or the manner in which
existing or future laws will be administered or interpreted. Future regulations
could be applied to materials, product or activities that have not been subject
to regulation previously. The costs of complying with new or more stringent
regulations, or with more vigorous enforcement of these regulations, could be
significant.

    Environmental laws require us to maintain and comply with a number of
permits, authorizations and approvals and to maintain and update training
programs and safety data regarding materials used in our processes. Violations
of these requirements could result in financial penalties and other enforcement
actions. We could also be required to halt one or more portions of our
operations until a violation is cured. Although we attempt to operate in
compliance with these environmental laws, we may not succeed in this effort at
all times. The costs of curing violations or resolving enforcement actions that
might be initiated by government authorities could be substantial.

WE HAVE BROAD DISCRETION TO DETERMINE HOW TO USE THE FUNDS WE RAISE FROM OUR
SALE OF COMMON STOCK AND MAY USE THOSE FUNDS IN WAYS THAT MAY NOT IMPROVE OUR
OPERATING RESULTS OR INCREASE OUR MARKET VALUE.

    We intend to use a portion of our net proceeds from this offering to repay
debt of approximately $25.1 million, of which approximately $20.3 million was
incurred in connection with our Poly-Flex acquisition. We have not allocated our
remaining net proceeds from this offering for a particular purpose and may apply
it to general corporate purposes, including acquisitions, investments and
working capital requirements. We will have significant discretion as to the use
of our net proceeds from the offering and you will not have the opportunity, as
part of your investment decision, to assess whether we are using our proceeds
appropriately. We may use our net proceeds from this offering in ways that
ultimately may not improve our operating results or increase our market value.

                           FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    This prospectus includes and incorporates forward-looking statements that
are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than
statements of historical facts included or incorporated in this prospectus,
regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position and estimated
revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are
forward-looking statements. When used in this prospectus, the words "will,"
"believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "project" and similar
expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not
all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. We cannot
guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements and
you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Our
forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future
acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures or strategic investments.
Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these
forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including the risks
described in "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this prospectus.

                                       12
<PAGE>
                                USE OF PROCEEDS

    We estimate that the net proceeds we will receive from our sale of 1,250,000
shares of common stock will be approximately $30.9 million, after deducting the
underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We will not
receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of common stock by the selling
stockholders.

    We expect to use a portion of the net proceeds from this offering to repay
debt of approximately $25.1 million, of which approximately $20.3 million was
incurred in connection with our Poly-Flex acquisition (including approximately
$650,000 of transaction costs incurred to date). Of this debt, $15.0 million
currently bears interest at 8.5% per annum and matures in March 2005, $4.0
million currently bears interest at 8.5% per annum and matures in
December 2001, and $6.1 million currently bears interest at 9.5% per annum and
matures in December 2001. We will use the balance of the net proceeds for
general corporate purposes, including working capital. Pending these uses, the
net proceeds from this offering will be invested in interest-bearing,
investment-grade securities.

                          PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK

    Our common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol
"PRLX." The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and
low intraday sale prices for our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq National
Market.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                HIGH       LOW
                                                              --------   --------
<S>                                                           <C>        <C>
FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1998
  First Quarter.............................................   $24.00     $13.88
  Second Quarter............................................   $31.25     $11.44
  Third Quarter.............................................   $19.50     $11.25
  Fourth Quarter............................................   $21.50     $12.75
FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1999
  First Quarter.............................................   $16.50     $ 8.19
  Second Quarter............................................   $12.25     $ 8.00
  Third Quarter.............................................   $13.50     $ 9.38
  Fourth Quarter............................................   $15.75     $ 9.25
FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2000
  First Quarter.............................................   $19.50     $12.88
  Second Quarter............................................   $28.69     $14.13
  Third Quarter.............................................   $38.81     $20.88
  Fourth Quarter (through June 20, 2000)....................   $33.00     $19.00
</TABLE>

    On June 20, 2000, the closing sale price of our common stock as reported on
the Nasdaq National Market was $27.25 per share and there were 100 holders of
record of our common stock.

                                       13
<PAGE>
                                DIVIDEND POLICY

    We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our capital stock. We
presently intend to retain future earnings, if any, to finance the expansion of
our business and do not expect to pay any cash dividends. Future cash dividends,
if any, will be determined by our Board of Directors and will be based on our
earnings, capital, financial condition and other factors that the Board deems
relevant. Our credit agreement permits us to pay cash dividends to the extent
such payment would not cause us to violate financial covenants contained in the
credit agreement.

                                 CAPITALIZATION

    The following table sets forth our short-term debt and capitalization as of
March 26, 2000 on an actual basis and on an as adjusted basis to reflect the
application of the estimated net proceeds from our sale of 1,250,000 shares of
our common stock at a public offering price of $26.50 per share, after deducting
the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us. The
information in the as adjusted column reflects the repayment with our proceeds
from this offering of debt of approximately $22.4 million, including
$20.1 million of debt incurred in connection with our acquisition of Poly-Flex,
outstanding at March 26, 2000.

    This information excludes 361,246 shares of common stock issuable upon the
exercise of outstanding stock options as of March 26, 2000 at a weighted average
exercise price of $18.14 per share. Of these, 123,371 shares of common stock
were subject to immediately exercisable stock options at a weighted average
exercise price of $11.89 per share.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  MARCH 26, 2000
                                                              -----------------------
                                                               ACTUAL     AS ADJUSTED
                                                              ---------   -----------
                                                                  (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>
Current portion of long-term debt...........................   $ 4,596      $ 1,596
Long-term debt, less current portion........................    19,835          435
Stockholders' equity:
  Preferred stock, $1.00 par value; 1,000,000 shares
    authorized; no shares issued (actual and as adjusted)...        --           --
  Common stock, $0.10 par value; 10,000,000 shares
    authorized; 5,029,095 shares issued (actual);
    6,279,095 shares issued (as adjusted)...................       503          628
  Additional paid-in capital................................    24,774       55,552
  Retained earnings.........................................    25,889       25,889
  Accumulated other comprehensive income....................        (6)          (6)
  Less treasury stock, at cost--210,000 shares..............    (1,038)      (1,038)
                                                               -------      -------

    Total stockholders' equity..............................    50,122       81,025
                                                               -------      -------

    Total capitalization....................................   $74,553      $83,056
                                                               =======      =======
</TABLE>

                                       14
<PAGE>
        UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

    On March 1, 2000 we completed the purchase of all of the stock of Poly-Flex
Circuits Limited, a company incorporated in the United Kingdom, and Poly-Flex
Circuits, Inc., a Rhode Island corporation, from Cookson Group plc. We paid
Cookson approximately $19.7 million in cash at the closing.

    We have accounted for the Poly-Flex acquisition under the purchase method of
accounting. The following unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed financial
statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999 and for the nine months ended
March 26, 2000 give effect to our acquisition of Poly-Flex. We have derived them
from the application of pro forma adjustments to our historical consolidated
financial statements and to those of Poly-Flex. We have not included a pro forma
balance sheet as of March 26, 2000 since the acquisition occurred on March 1,
2000 and, as such, is reflected in the historical balance sheet. The unaudited
pro forma consolidated condensed statements of operations data give effect to
the Poly-Flex acquisition as if it had occurred on July 1, 1998.

    You should read these unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed financial
statements in conjunction with our historical consolidated financial statements
and the notes to these financial statements. The pro forma financial information
is for informational purposes only and does not purport to represent what our
results of operations or financial position would have actually been had we
acquired Poly-Flex as of July 1, 1998.

                                       15
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1999
                        ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                          COMBINED       ADJUSTMENTS       PRO FORMA
                                                          PRO FORMA     FOR PRO FORMA      FOR THIS           AS
                           PARLEX         POLY-FLEX      ADJUSTMENTS     TRANSACTION    OFFERING(5)(6)     ADJUSTED
                        -------------   -------------   -------------   -------------   --------------   -------------
                                                    (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                     <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>              <C>
CONSOLIDATED
  STATEMENTS OF
  OPERATIONS DATA:
Total revenues........     $67,047         $25,795                         $92,842                          $92,842
Cost of products
  sold................      52,785          18,869         $   427 (1)      72,081                           72,081
                           -------         -------         -------         -------                          -------
Gross profit..........      14,262           6,926            (427)         20,761                           20,761
Selling, general and
  administrative
  expenses............       9,715           4,760              42 (1)      14,517                           14,517
Management fees.......                       1,031          (1,031)(2)
                           -------         -------         -------         -------                          -------
Operating income......       4,547           1,135             562           6,244                            6,244
Interest expense......         226             653             812 (3)       1,691            (1,465)           226
Other (income), net...        (360)             (8)                           (368)                            (368)
Income from operations
  before income taxes
  and minority
  interest............       4,681             490            (250)          4,921             1,465          6,386
Provision for (benefit
  from) income
  taxes...............         964             196            (100)(4)       1,060               586          1,646
Minority interest.....         697               0                             697                              697
                           -------         -------         -------         -------        ----------        -------
Net income............     $ 3,020         $   294         $  (150)        $ 3,164        $      879        $ 4,043
                           =======         =======         =======         =======        ==========        =======
Net income per share:
  Basic...............     $  0.65                                         $  0.68                          $  0.74
                           =======                                         =======                          =======
  Diluted                  $  0.63                                         $  0.66                          $  0.72
                           =======                                         =======                          =======
Weighted average
  shares outstanding:
  Basic...............       4,662                                                                            5,483 (7)
  Diluted.............       4,771                                                                            5,592 (7)
</TABLE>

  See Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Statement of Operations.

                                       16
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       NINE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 26, 2000
                        -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          POLY-FLEX                        COMBINED       ADJUSTMENTS       PRO FORMA
                                         THROUGH DATE      PRO FORMA     FOR PRO FORMA      FOR THIS           AS
                           PARLEX       OF ACQUISITION    ADJUSTMENTS     TRANSACTION    OFFERING(5)(6)     ADJUSTED
                        -------------   --------------   -------------   -------------   --------------   -------------
                                                     (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                     <C>             <C>              <C>             <C>             <C>              <C>
CONSOLIDATED
  STATEMENTS OF
  OPERATIONS DATA:
Total revenues........    $ 70,021         $15,069                          $85,090                        $    85,090
Cost of products
  sold................      53,171          11,896           $ 320 (1)       65,387                             65,387
                          --------         -------           -----          -------                        -----------
Gross profit..........      16,850           3,173            (320)          19,703                             19,703
Selling, general and
  administrative
  expenses............       8,762           3,509              32 (1)       12,303                             12,303
Management fees.......                         773            (773 ) (2)
                          --------         -------           -----          -------                        -----------
Operating income
  (loss)..............       8,088          (1,109)            421            7,400                              7,400
Interest expense......         368             437             662 (3)        1,467        $   (1,099)             368
Other (income), net...          (4)            (66)                             (70)                               (70)
Income from operations
  before income taxes
  and minority
  interest............       7,724          (1,480)           (241)           6,003             1,099            7,102
Provision for (benefit
  from) income
  taxes...............       2,175            (586)            (96) (4)       1,493               440            1,933
Minority interest.....         949               0                              949                                949
                          --------         -------           -----          -------        ----------      -----------
Net income (loss).....    $  4,600         $  (894)          $(145)         $ 3,561        $      659      $     4,220
                          ========         =======           =====          =======        ==========      ===========
Net income per share:
  Basic...............    $   0.96                                          $  0.74                        $      0.75
                          ========                                          =======                        ===========
  Diluted.............    $   0.94                                          $  0.73                        $      0.74
                          ========                                          =======                        ===========
Weighted average
  shares outstanding:
  Basic...............       4,805                                                                               5,627 (7)
  Diluted.............       4,884                                                                               5,705 (7)
</TABLE>

  See Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Statement of Operations.

                                       17
<PAGE>
NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR
THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1999

    The unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed statement of operations for
the year ended June 30, 1999 gives effect to our acquisition of Poly-Flex as if
it had occurred on July 1, 1998.

(1) We have adjusted the results of operations to reverse historical
    depreciation and amortization of $1.6 million and record depreciation and
    amortization expense of $2.1 million for the year ended June 30, 1999 based
    on preliminary allocation of purchase price. The useful life of assets and
    goodwill to calculate depreciation and amortization is approximately
    7 years and 10 years, respectively.

(2) The historical Poly-Flex financial statements include certain allocations
    from the prior parent for executive salaries, health and group insurance and
    pension costs applicable to the Poly-Flex business, and an allocated
    management fee for corporate overhead expenses. The allocated management fee
    of $1.0 million has been eliminated. Management believes that such charge is
    related solely to the companies operating as part of a group of companies of
    the parent and would not have been incurred had the companies operated on a
    stand-alone basis.

(3) We have adjusted interest expense to reverse historical interest expense of
    $653,000 representing allocated interest from the prior parent, and to
    record $1.5 million of additional interest related to the approximately
    $20.3 million increase in debt to finance the Poly-Flex acquisition.
    Interest expense was calculated assuming a current interest rate of 7.25%.

(4) We have calculated the income tax effects of the pro forma adjustments for
    deprecation and amortization, interest, and the allocated management fee
    assuming a 40% statutory tax rate.

(5) We have adjusted interest expense and the related income tax effect assuming
    that the proceeds of this offering will repay $20.3 million of debt incurred
    in connection with the Poly-Flex acquisition.

(6) Adjustments for this offering assume the repayment of $20.3 million of debt
    incurred in connection with the Poly-Flex acquisition with the net proceeds
    from the sale of 821,114 shares of our common stock (out of 1,250,000 shares
    being offered in this offering) at a per share price of $26.50, after
    deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses on a pro
    rata basis. Interest income of $581,000 may have been earned on the excess
    proceeds from the sale of 1,250,000 shares of our common stock at the same
    per share price, after repayment of the Poly-Flex debt, assuming a 7% annual
    rate of return. This interest income is not included in adjustments for this
    offering.

(7) We have increased the number of shares by 821,114 shares of our common stock
    and have applied the net proceeds of the sale of these shares, after
    deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses, to
    repay $20.3 million of debt incurred in connection with the Poly-Flex
    acquisition.

                                       18
<PAGE>
NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR
THE NINE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 26, 2000

    The unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed statement of operations for
the nine-months ended March 26, 2000 gives effect to our acquisition of
Poly-Flex as if it had occurred on July 1, 1998.

(1) We have adjusted the results of operations to reverse historical
    depreciation and amortization of $1.2 million and record depreciation and
    amortization expense of $1.5 million for the nine-months ended March 26,
    2000 based on preliminary allocation of purchase price. The useful life of
    assets and goodwill to calculate depreciation and amortization is
    approximately 7 years and 10 years, respectively.

(2) The historical Poly-Flex financial statements include certain allocations
    from the prior parent for executive salaries, health and group insurance and
    pension costs applicable to the Poly-Flex business, and an allocated
    management fee for corporate overhead expenses. The allocated management fee
    of $773,000 has been eliminated. Management believes that such charge is
    related solely to the companies operating as part of a group of companies of
    the parent and would not have been incurred had the companies operated on a
    stand-alone basis.

(3) We have adjusted interest expense to reverse historical interest expense of
    $437,000 representing allocated interest from the prior parent, and to
    record $1.1 million of additional interest related to the $20.3 million
    increase in debt to finance the Poly-Flex acquisition. Interest expense was
    calculated assuming a current interest rate of 7.25%.

(4) We have calculated the income tax effects of the pro forma adjustments for
    deprecation and amortization, interest, and the allocated management fee
    assuming a 40% statutory tax rate.

(5) We have adjusted interest expense and the related income tax effect assuming
    that the proceeds of this offering will repay $20.3 million of debt incurred
    in connection with the Poly-Flex acquisition.

(6) Adjustments for this offering assume the repayment of $20.3 million of debt
    incurred in connection with the Poly-Flex acquisition with the net proceeds
    from the sale of 821,114 shares of our common stock (out of 1,250,000 shares
    being offered in this offering) at a per share price of $26.50, after
    deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses on a pro
    rata basis. Interest income of $436,000 may have been earned on the excess
    proceeds from the sale of 1,250,000 shares of our common stock at the same
    per share price, after repayment of the Poly-Flex debt, assuming a 7% annual
    rate of return. This interest income is not included in adjustments for this
    offering.

(7) We have increased the number of shares by 821,114 shares of our common stock
    and have applied the net proceeds of the sale of these shares, after
    deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses, to
    repay $20.3 million of debt incurred in connection with the Poly-Flex
    acquisition.

                                       19
<PAGE>
ALLOCATION OF PURCHASE PRICE

    For the purposes of allocating purchase price to the assets acquired and the
liabilities assumed, we have preliminarily allocated purchase price as follows:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                           <C>
Accounts receivable.........................................  $  3,285
Inventory, primarily raw materials..........................     2,283
Prepaid expenses............................................       180
Property, plant and equipment...............................    16,867
Goodwill....................................................       236
                                                              --------
  Total assets..............................................    22,851

Accounts payable and accrued expenses.......................     2,551
                                                              --------
  Total purchase price......................................  $ 20,300
                                                              ========
</TABLE>

                                       20
<PAGE>
                      SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

    You should read the following selected consolidated financial data along
with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations" and our financial statements and notes to those statements and other
financial information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
The consolidated balance sheet data at June 30, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999
and the consolidated statement of income data for the five fiscal years ended
June 30, 1999 have been derived from our consolidated financial statements,
which have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP. We have derived the
consolidated statement of income data for the nine months ended March 28, 1999
and March 26, 2000 and the consolidated balance sheet data at March 26, 2000
from unaudited consolidated financial statements that include, in the opinion of
our management, all adjustments, consisting of only normal, recurring
adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of that information. The
historical results presented are not necessarily indicative of future results.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                    FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30,
                                            ------------------------------------------
                                                1995           1996           1997
                                            ------------   ------------   ------------
                                              (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                                         <C>            <C>            <C>
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
DATA:
Total revenues............................    $40,251        $47,257        $55,087
Cost of products sold.....................     32,946         40,308         44,137
                                              -------        -------        -------
Gross profit..............................      7,305          6,949         10,950
Selling, general and administrative
expenses..................................      4,998          5,518          7,288
                                              -------        -------        -------
Operating income..........................      2,307          1,431          3,662
Income from operations before income taxes
and minority interest.....................      2,240          1,170          3,381
Net income................................    $ 1,486        $   770        $ 2,120
                                              =======        =======        =======
Net income per share:
  Basic...................................    $  0.41        $  0.22        $  0.59
                                              =======        =======        =======
  Diluted.................................    $  0.40        $  0.21        $  0.57
                                              =======        =======        =======

Weighted average shares outstanding:
  Basic...................................      3,651          3,556          3,569
  Diluted.................................      3,762          3,675          3,715

<CAPTION>
                                                                               NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                            FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30,    ---------------------------
                                            ---------------------------     MAR. 28,       MAR. 26,
                                                1998         1999(1)          1999           2000
                                            ------------   ------------   ------------   ------------
                                                      (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                                         <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
DATA:
Total revenues............................    $60,275        $67,047        $46,945        $70,021
Cost of products sold.....................     47,304         52,785         37,684         53,171
                                              -------        -------        -------        -------
Gross profit..............................     12,971         14,262          9,261         16,850
Selling, general and administrative
expenses..................................      8,272          9,715          6,686          8,762
                                              -------        -------        -------        -------
Operating income..........................      4,699          4,547          2,575          8,088
Income from operations before income taxes
and minority interest.....................      5,130          4,681          2,781          7,724
Net income................................    $ 3,157        $ 3,020        $ 1,682        $ 4,600
                                              =======        =======        =======        =======
Net income per share:
  Basic...................................    $  0.73        $  0.65        $  0.36        $  0.96
                                              =======        =======        =======        =======
  Diluted.................................    $  0.71        $  0.63        $  0.35        $  0.94
                                              =======        =======        =======        =======
Weighted average shares outstanding:
  Basic...................................      4,296          4,662          4,645          4,805
  Diluted.................................      4,466          4,771          4,772          4,884
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                            JUNE 30,
                                            ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                1995           1996           1997           1998           1999
                                            ------------   ------------   ------------   ------------   ------------
                                                                         (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                         <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Working capital...........................    $ 8,466        $ 9,148        $ 9,592        $26,286        $18,762
Total assets..............................     24,517         29,662         32,234         56,181         63,521
Current portion of long-term debt.........        200            501          1,000            432            619
Long-term debt, less current portion......      2,300          3,650          2,500          1,166          1,632
Stockholders' equity......................     14,667         15,455         17,788         41,591         45,333

<CAPTION>
                                                  MARCH 26, 2000
                                            ---------------------------
                                                                AS
                                               ACTUAL      ADJUSTED(2)
                                            ------------   ------------
                                                  (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                         <C>            <C>
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Working capital...........................    $21,650        $ 33,153
Total assets..............................     97,614         106,117
Current portion of long-term debt.........      4,596           1,596
Long-term debt, less current portion......     19,835             435
Stockholders' equity......................     50,122          81,025
</TABLE>

------------------------------

(1) Includes Dynaflex beginning April 30, 1999.

(2) Adjusted to give effect to the sale of 1,250,000 shares of common stock by
    us at a public offering price of $26.50 per share and the application of the
    estimated net proceeds from this sale to repay $22.4 million of debt,
    including $20.1 million of debt associated with the Poly-Flex acquisition,
    outstanding at March 26, 2000.

                                       21
<PAGE>
                    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
                 FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

    THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FINANCIAL
INFORMATION INCLUDED ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS. THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION
CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT INVOLVE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES. OUR
ACTUAL RESULTS COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THE RESULTS CONTEMPLATED BY THESE
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AS A RESULT OF MANY FACTORS, INCLUDING THOSE
DISCUSSED BELOW AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS.

OVERVIEW

    We are a leading supplier of flexible interconnects principally for sale to
the automotive, telecommunications and networking, diversified electronics,
aerospace and computer markets. We believe that our development of innovative
materials and processes provides us with a competitive advantage in the markets
in which we compete. During the past three years, we have invested approximately
$23.9 million in property and equipment and approximately $9.6 million in
research and development to develop materials and enhance our manufacturing
processes. We believe that these expenditures will help us to meet increased
customer demand for our products, and enable us to continue to be a
technological leader in the flexible interconnect industry. Our research and
development expenses are included in our cost of products sold.

    We formed a Chinese joint venture, Parlex Shanghai, in 1995 to better serve
customers that have production facilities in Asia and to more cost effectively
manufacture products for worldwide distribution. We own 50.1% of the equity
interest in Parlex Shanghai. Accordingly, Parlex Shanghai's results of
operations, cash flows and financial position are included in our consolidated
financial statements.

RECENT ACQUISITIONS

    On April 30, 1999, we acquired the Dynaflex division of CCIR of California
Corp., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Hadco Corporation, for
approximately $2.7 million. Dynaflex, located in San Jose, California, is a
prototype and quick-turn facility. This acquisition gives us a West Coast
presence and a greatly improved rapid prototype and quick-turnaround capability.
Quick-turnaround capability permits production of a small number of flexible
interconnects upon short notice. This service often leads to large volume orders
at our other manufacturing facilities.

    On March 1, 2000, we acquired Poly-Flex Circuits, Inc. and Poly-Flex
Circuits Limited, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Cookson Group plc, for a purchase
price of approximately $19.7 million. This purchase price is subject to
adjustment based upon final determination of Poly-Flex's net assets and earnings
before income taxes. This acquisition further diversified our product offerings
by providing us with polymer thick film and surface mount assembly capabilities.
Poly-Flex has manufacturing facilities in Cranston, Rhode Island and the United
Kingdom.

                                       22
<PAGE>
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

    The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, selected items in
our statements of income as a percentage of total revenue. You should read the
table and the discussion below in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial
Statements and the Notes thereto.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                   FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30,       --------------------
                                                --------------------------------    MAR. 28,    MAR. 26,
                                                  1997        1998        1999        1999        2000
                                                --------    --------    --------    --------    --------
<S>                                             <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
Total revenues................................   100.0%      100.0%      100.0%      100.0%      100.0%
Cost of products sold.........................    80.1        78.5        78.7        80.0        75.9
                                                 -----       -----       -----       -----       -----
Gross profit..................................    19.9        21.5        21.3        20.0        24.1
Selling, general and administrative
  expenses....................................    13.2        13.7        14.5        14.2        12.5
                                                 -----       -----       -----       -----       -----
Operating income..............................     6.6         7.8         6.8         5.5        11.6
Income from operations before income taxes and
  minority interest...........................     6.1         8.5         7.0         5.9        11.0
Net income....................................     3.8%        5.2%        4.5%        3.6%        6.6%
                                                 =====       =====       =====       =====       =====
</TABLE>

NINE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 26, 2000 COMPARED WITH NINE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 28, 1999

    TOTAL REVENUES.  Our total revenues were $70.0 million in the nine months
ended March 26, 2000, an increase of 49% from $46.9 million in the nine months
ended March 28, 1999. Revenues were generated primarily from product sales.
Revenues grew in each of our principal product lines--flexible circuits,
laminated cable, flexible interconnect hybrid circuits and flexible interconnect
assemblies. Sales were strong in all markets, with the largest growth coming
from the telecommunications and networking sector. Our revenues for the nine
months ended March 26, 2000 also included Poly-Flex's shipments, following our
acquisition of Poly-Flex on March 1, 2000.

    COST OF PRODUCTS SOLD.  Cost of products sold was $53.2 million, or 75.9% of
total revenues, for the first nine months of fiscal 2000, versus $37.7 million,
or 80.0% of total revenues for the comparable period in the prior year. Our
gross margins improved as a result of various factors, including the shift of
more automotive products to our proprietary PALFlex-Registered Trademark-
technology, which can produce a higher performance flexible circuit at a cost
lower than using conventional materials. We also sent more product to our
facility in Mexico for its cost-effective finishing and assembly processes.
Dynaflex satisfied our customers' prototype demands, allowing other facilities
to concentrate on larger production orders, which contributed to enhanced
operating efficiency. Dynaflex did not operate at a profitable level but we do
not consider its losses for the nine-month period ended March 26, 2000 material
to our overall results. In addition, during the nine months ended March 28,
1999, we incurred substantial costs associated with the start up of our Mexican
facility.

    SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.  Selling, general and
administrative expenses were $8.8 million, or 12.5% of total revenues, for the
first nine months of fiscal 2000, and $6.7 million for the comparable period in
the prior year, or 14.2% of total revenues for that period. The increase in
expenses resulted primarily from the inclusion of the Dynaflex operations, which
we purchased in April 1999, an increase in sales commissions associated with
increased sales, the March 2000 expenses of Poly-Flex, and an increase in our
401(k) contributions.

    OTHER INCOME AND INTEREST EXPENSE AND PROVISION FOR TAXES.  Other income was
$5,000 for first nine months of fiscal 2000, compared to $378,000 for the
comparable period in the prior year.

    Interest expense was $368,000 for the first nine months of fiscal 2000,
compared to $173,000 for the comparable period in the prior year. The increase
was due to the larger amount of

                                       23
<PAGE>
borrowings required to finance our Poly-Flex acquisition and our increased
working capital requirements and capital expenditure needs.

    We provided for an effective tax rate of nearly 28% in the first nine months
of fiscal 2000, versus a 24% effective tax rate for the comparable period in the
prior year. The increase in the anticipated effective tax rate resulted from a
reduced amount of available tax credits and a greater proportion of our income
being earned in higher tax jurisdictions.

COMPARISON OF YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 1999, 1998 AND 1997

    TOTAL REVENUES.  Total revenues rose to $67.0 million in fiscal 1999, an
increase of 11% from the $60.3 million reported in fiscal 1998. Revenues rose 9%
in fiscal 1998 from the $55.1 million reported in fiscal 1997. In each of the
periods, revenues grew in each of our principal product lines. We have been
developing new, innovative products that continue to gain acceptance in the
marketplace and have been a prime factor in our continued growth. The increase
in total revenues in each year was primarily attributable to an increase in the
volume of units shipped.

    Total revenues included licensing and royalty fees of $674,000 in fiscal
1999, $227,000 in fiscal 1998 and $110,000 in fiscal 1997. Although we intend to
continue our practice of developing materials and processes that we can license
to third parties, we do not expect that licensing and royalty revenues will
represent a significant portion of total revenues in the near term.

    COST OF PRODUCTS SOLD.  Cost of products sold was $52.8 million in fiscal
1999, $47.3 million in fiscal 1998, and $44.1 million in fiscal 1997. As a
percentage of total revenues, cost of products sold was 78.7% in fiscal 1999,
78.5% in fiscal 1998 and 80.1% in fiscal 1997. The increase in fiscal 1999 is
the result of some unanticipated losses in the manufacturing of flexible
circuits associated with automotive applications that occurred in the quarter
ended September 27, 1998. Product shipped to our Mexican facility was returned
because of an unexpected delay in qualifying the site for finishing operations.
As a result, the product was contaminated during unplanned storage and shipment
back to our Methuen, Massachusetts facility. These circuits required extensive
rework, and we discarded a significant quantity of them. The cost of products
sold as a percentage of total revenues for the remainder of fiscal 1999 was
77.1%.

    In fiscal 1998, we began assigning production to the facility most
economically suited to manufacture a particular type of product, which resulted
in lower costs as a percentage of sales. We were able to expand this strategy in
fiscal 1999, as our purchase of Dynaflex gave us a facility well-suited to the
production of flexible interconnect prototypes.

    SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.  Selling, general and
administrative expenses were $9.7 million in fiscal 1999, $8.3 million in fiscal
1998, and $7.3 million in fiscal 1997. As a percentage of total revenues,
selling, general and administrative expenses were 14.5% in fiscal 1999, 13.7% in
fiscal 1998, and 13.2% in fiscal 1997.

    The increases in expenses in both absolute dollars and as a percentage of
total revenues in each of the periods was a result of an expansion in our
business. We have increased our internal sales personnel, added new field
offices, paid increased sales commissions due to increased sales, and increased
our contributions to our 401(k) plan. Once our full complement of selling and
administrative personnel is in place, we believe that selling, general and
administrative expenses as a percentage of revenues will decrease as revenues
increase.

    OTHER INCOME AND INTEREST EXPENSE AND PROVISION FOR TAXES.  Other income of
$360,000 in fiscal 1999 and $684,000 in fiscal 1998 was comprised, for the most
part, of interest income. In fiscal 1997, other income of $156,000 was
principally the result of a gain on the sale of equipment.

                                       24
<PAGE>
    Interest expense was $226,000 in fiscal 1999 versus $254,000 in fiscal 1998
and $436,000 in fiscal 1997. The reduction in expense over the past two years is
attributable to a lower level of average borrowings outstanding under our
revolving credit facility. Interest rates during the period remained relatively
constant.

    Our effective tax rate in fiscal 1999 was 21% versus 30% in fiscal 1998 and
37% in fiscal 1997. In the 1999 and 1998 fiscal years, we benefited from the
income generated by the Chinese joint venture. This income was not subject to
tax until fiscal 1999, and from that time on has been subject only to one half
the tax that would otherwise be assessed, which is a rate significantly lower
than U.S. rates. We also benefited from an increase in foreign sales, the income
from which is subject to a lower rate of tax.

QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

    The following tables present selected unaudited quarterly consolidated
financial information for each of the eight quarters in the two-year period
ended March 26, 2000 and such information as a percentage of total revenues for
each period. In our management's opinion, this information has been prepared on
the same basis as the consolidated financial statements and related notes
appearing elsewhere in this prospectus and includes all adjustments, consisting
of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the financial
results. Although results from period to period may vary, the first quarter of
each fiscal year is impacted by a plant shutdown of flexible circuit operations
to perform maintenance operations, environmental inspections, facility
modification and equipment installation. Results of operations for any previous
quarters are not necessarily indicative of results for any future period.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           QUARTER ENDED
                                   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    JUNE 30,    SEPT. 27,   DEC. 27,   MAR. 28,    JUNE 30,    SEPT. 26,     DEC. 26,    MAR. 26,
                                      1998        1998        1998       1999      1999(1)        1999         1999      2000(2)
                                   ----------   ---------   --------   --------   ----------   ----------   ----------   --------
                                                                           (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                <C>          <C>         <C>        <C>        <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Total revenues...................   $18,079      $15,492    $15,354    $16,099     $20,103      $20,366      $24,384     $25,271
Gross profit.....................     3,898        2,440      2,834      3,987       5,002        4,702        5,782       6,366
Selling, general and
  administrative expenses........     2,463        2,114      2,004      2,567       3,030        2,571        3,061       3,129
Operating income.................     1,435          326        830      1,420       1,972        2,131        2,721       3,236
Net income.......................   $ 1,019      $   199    $   540    $   944     $ 1,337      $ 1,340      $ 1,556     $ 1,704

<CAPTION>
                                                                           QUARTER ENDED
                                   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    JUNE 30,    SEPT. 27,   DEC. 27,   MAR. 28,    JUNE 30,    SEPT. 26,     DEC. 26,    MAR. 26,
                                      1998        1998        1998       1999      1999(1)        1999         1999      2000(2)
                                   ----------   ---------   --------   --------   ----------   ----------   ----------   --------
<S>                                <C>          <C>         <C>        <C>        <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Total revenues...................     100.0%       100.0%     100.0%     100.0%      100.0%       100.0%       100.0%      100.0%
Gross profit.....................      21.6         15.8       18.5       24.8        24.9         23.1         23.7        25.2
Selling, general and
  administrative expenses........      13.6         13.6       13.1       15.9        15.1         12.6         12.6        12.4
Operating income.................       7.9          2.1        5.4        8.8         9.8         10.5         11.2        12.8
Net income.......................       5.6%         1.3%       3.5%       5.9%        6.7%         6.6%         6.4%        6.7%
</TABLE>

------------------------------
(1) Includes the operations of Dynaflex beginning April 30, 1999.

(2) Includes the operations of Poly-Flex beginning March 1, 2000.

    Total revenues and gross profit in the quarters ended September 27, 1998 and
December 27, 1998 were adversely affected due to problems associated with
production start-up at our Mexican facility. Product shipped to our Mexican
facility was returned because of an unexpected delay in qualifying the site for
finishing operations. As a result, the product was contaminated during unplanned
storage and shipment back to our Methuen, Massachusetts facility. These circuits
required extensive rework, and we discarded significant quantities of them.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

    At March 26, 2000, our working capital was $21.7 million, up $2.9 million,
from $18.8 million at June 30, 1999. In the nine months ended March 26, 2000, we
had net income of $4.6 million,

                                       25
<PAGE>
depreciation and amortization of $3.1 million and other non-cash charges of
$1.0 million. We used these monies, together with $1.6 million from maturing
investments, $209,000 from the exercise of stock options and $25.1 million
borrowed under our credit facility, to purchase Poly-Flex for approximately
$20.1 million, which amount includes $430,000 of an estimated $650,000 in
related expenses in addition to the $19.7 million purchase price, to fund
additional working capital requirements of $4.4 million and capital expenditures
of $7.1 million, and to pay debt of $2.9 million.

    In fiscal 1999, we had net income of $3.0 million, as well as depreciation
and amortization of $2.9 million and other non-cash charges of $1.0 million,
thus adding $6.9 million to cash flow. Cash flow was reduced by $1.9 million
relating to increased working capital, resulting in a positive cash flow from
operations of $5.0 million. We used these monies, together with $5.2 million
from maturing investments and available cash from the beginning of the year, to
purchase approximately $13.0 million in property and equipment and to pay the
approximately $2.7 million cash purchase price for the Dynaflex acquisition.

    On March 1, 2000 we entered into a new credit facility consisting of a
$15.0 million revolving line of credit and a $15.0 million term loan, each
subject to a right of setoff that our lender has against our deposits or other
property in its possession or control. We borrowed $20.3 million in connection
with our Poly-Flex acquisition, all of which we intend to repay with our
proceeds from this offering. Borrowings under both the revolving line of credit
and the term loan bear interest at either our lender's prime rate (9.5% at
June 20, 2000) or LIBOR (6.75% at June 20, 2000) plus a margin that varies from
1.5% to 2.0%. As of June 20, 2000, we had borrowed $10.1 million under our
revolving line of credit and $15.0 million under the term loan facility. No
further advances of principal will be made under this credit facility after
December 31, 2001. We are required to repay our revolving line of credit
borrowing in forty-five equal monthly installments, the first being due on
January 1, 2002, and our term loan in twenty quarterly installments of $750,000,
the first being due on June 1, 2000. We must also pay, quarterly in arrears and
commencing on June 1, 2000, a fee of one-quarter of one percent per annum on the
unused portion of our revolving line of credit. Our credit facility requires
compliance with a number of covenants, including restrictions on payment of
dividends, making of loans, investment in securities and changes in control, and
financial covenants.

    We believe that our cash on hand, our anticipated cash flow from operations,
and the amount available under our revolving credit facility, together with the
net proceeds of this offering, should be sufficient to meet our anticipated
needs for at least the next 12 months.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

    In June 1998, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards,
or SFAS, No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities." SFAS No. 133 establishes accounting and reporting standards for
derivative instruments, including derivative instruments embedded in other
contracts and for hedging activities. We will adopt SFAS No. 133 during fiscal
2001. We have not completed an evaluation of the effects of adopting SFAS No.
133 on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and financial
statement disclosures.

    In December 1999, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff
Accounting Bulletin, or SAB, No. 101, "Revenue Recognition in Financial
Statements." SAB No. 101 provides guidance on applying generally accepted
accounting principles to revenue recognition issues in financial statements. We
will adopt SAB No. 101 as required in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2000 and are
evaluating the effect that SAB No. 101 may have on our consolidated financial
statements.

                                       26
<PAGE>
MARKET RISK

    The following discussion about our market risk disclosures involves
forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those
projected in the forward-looking statements. We are exposed to market risk
related to changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates. We do
not use derivative financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes.

    We are exposed to market risks, which include changes in U.S. and foreign
interest rates and fluctuations in exchange rates.

    We maintain a portion of our cash and cash equivalents in financial
instruments with purchased maturities of three months or less. These financial
instruments are subject to interest rate risk and will decline in value if
interest rates decrease. Due to the short duration of these financial
instruments, an immediate decrease in interest rates would not have a material
adverse effect upon our financial position.

    We also have a revolving credit line and a term loan that bears interest, at
our choice, at our lender's prime rate or LIBOR plus a margin that varies from
1.5% to 2.0%. Both the prime and LIBOR rates are affected by changes in market
interest rates. We owed approximately $25.1 million as of June 20, 2000. We have
the option to repay borrowings at anytime without penalty, other than breakage
fees in the case of prepayment of LIBOR rate borrowings, and therefore believe
that our market risk is not material.

    The remainder of our long-term debt bears interest at fixed rates and is
therefore not subject to market risk.

    Sales of Parlex Shanghai and Poly-Flex Circuits Limited are typically
denominated in the local currency, which is also each company's functional
currency. This creates exposure to changes in exchange rates. The changes in the
Chinese/U.S. and U.K./U.S. exchange rates may positively or negatively impact
our sales, gross margins and retained earnings. Based upon the current volume of
transactions in China and the United Kingdom and the stable nature of the
exchange rate between China and the U.S. and the United Kingdom and the U.S., we
do not believe the market risk is material. We do not engage in regular hedging
activities to minimize the impact of foreign currency fluctuations. Parlex
Shanghai had net assets as of December 26, 1999, which were reported in our
financial statements for the quarter ended March 26, 2000, of approximately
$7.2 million. Poly-Flex Circuits Limited had net assets as of March 26, 2000 of
approximately $4.7 million. We believe that a 10% change in exchange rates would
not have a significant impact upon Parlex Shanghai's or Poly-Flex Circuits
Limited's financial position, results of operation or outstanding debt. As of
December 26, 1999, Parlex Shanghai had outstanding debt of $1.3 million. As of
March 26, 2000, Poly-Flex Circuits Limited had no outstanding debt.

                                       27
<PAGE>
                                    BUSINESS

OVERVIEW

    We are a leading provider of flexible interconnect solutions to the
automotive, telecommunications and networking, diversified electronics,
aerospace and computer markets. Our product offerings, which we believe are the
broadest of any company in the flexible interconnect industry, include flexible
circuits, laminated cable, flexible interconnect hybrid circuits, prototype
flexible circuits and flexible interconnect assemblies.

    Our objective is to be the supplier of choice for key customers in markets
where cost-effective flexible interconnects provide added value to our
customers' products. We believe that our creative engineering expertise, our
ability to advance the technology of manufacturing processes and materials and
our broad product portfolio allow us to provide the lowest cost solution that
meets the performance requirements of our customers.

    We have a long history of providing flexible interconnect solutions to some
of the leading original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs, in our target markets,
including Motorola, Siemens, Nortel Networks, Symbol Technologies, Honeywell and
Hewlett-Packard. We have a global presence and operate seven manufacturing
facilities, which are located in China, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the
United States.

INDUSTRY BACKGROUND

    Over the past two decades, electronic systems have become smaller, lighter
and more complex, while demands for increased performance at lower costs have
increased dramatically. The demand for more portable electronic packaging has
also increased. As two-dimensional rigid printed circuit boards, a conventional
form of electronic interconnect packaging, limit the options available to design
engineers, the demand for three-dimensional, flexible interconnect solutions has
increased. In addition to their improved packaging and performance
characteristics, they offer superior heat dissipation characteristics compared
to rigid circuits, making flexible interconnects attractive for use in advanced,
high-speed electronics. The IPC, an international trade organization, estimates
that worldwide sales of flexible circuits alone in 1998 were approximately $2.8
billion.

    Flexible interconnects provide electrical connection between components in
electronic systems and are increasingly used as a platform to support the
attachment of electronic devices. Flexible interconnects offer several
advantages over rigid printed circuit boards and ceramic hybrid circuits,
particularly for small, complex electronic systems:

    - Their ability to physically bend or flex and their three-dimensional shape
      permit them to accommodate packaging contours and motion in a manner that
      traditional two-dimensional rigid printed circuit boards cannot;

    - They provide improved heat dissipation and signal integrity as compared to
      printed circuit boards; and

    - They permit the use of primary substrates for component attachment, as
      well as connectors, cables and other interconnection devices, with reduced
      size, weight and expense.

                                       28
<PAGE>
    We consider the following trends important in understanding the flexible
interconnect industry:

  MINIATURIZATION, PORTABILITY AND COMPLEXITY OF ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS

    High-performance electronic products, such as cellular phones and personal
digital assistants, continue to become more compact, portable and contain
greater functionality. The complexity of these new products requires flexible
interconnects with smaller size, lighter weight, greater circuit and component
density, better heat dissipation properties, higher frequencies and increased
reliability. As electronic products become increasingly sophisticated,
electronic interconnect suppliers will require greater engineering expertise and
investment in manufacturing and process technology to produce high-quality
electronic interconnect products on time, in volume and at acceptable cost.

  SHORTER PRODUCT LIFE CYCLES AND TIME-TO-MARKET PRESSURE

    Rapid technological advances have significantly shortened the life cycle of
complex electronic products and increased pressure to develop and introduce new
products quickly. These time-to-market challenges have in turn increased OEMs'
emphasis on the development, design, engineering, prototype development and
ramp-to-volume capabilities of their suppliers.

  GLOBALIZATION AND REDUCTION OF MANUFACTURING COSTS

    Customers continue to demand increased electronic performance at lower
prices. Leading OEMs who often manufacture products in multiple geographic
regions are relying more on suppliers with global sourcing capabilities. Local
sourcing can help to shorten the manufacturer's supply chain and provide
regionally competitive pricing. OEMs also increasingly demand that their
suppliers provide infrastructure for local delivery of engineering,
manufacturing and sales support.

  INCREASED OUTSOURCING

    To avoid delays in new product introductions, reduce manufacturing costs and
avoid logistical complexities, OEMs are increasingly turning to suppliers
capable of producing electronic interconnect products from development, design,
quick-turn prototype and pre-production through volume production and assembly.
The accelerated time-to-market and ramp-to-volume needs of manufacturers have
resulted in increased collaboration with qualified suppliers capable of
providing a broad and integrated offering. Many OEMs now seek to use a small
number of technically qualified, strategically located suppliers capable of
providing both quick-turn prototype and pre-production quantities as well as
cost-competitive volume production quantities.

  PROLIFERATION OF ELECTRONICS AND CREATION OF NEW PRODUCT APPLICATIONS

    The markets for electronic products are growing as a result of technological
change, increasing demands for a wider variety of electronic product features
and more powerful and less expensive electronic components. Because of this
growth, new markets for flexible interconnects are being created and new
applications for flexible interconnects are emerging within existing markets.

OUR SOLUTION

    We combine creative engineering design capabilities with innovative
manufacturing processes and materials to provide our customers with a complete
and cost-effective flexible interconnect solution. We believe that our processes
and technologies allow us to produce superior flexible interconnect solutions at
a lower cost than our competitors. In addition, because we are able to produce a
broad range of flexible interconnects ranging from low-cost laminated cable to
more

                                       29
<PAGE>
expensive high-performance multilayer and rigid-flexible interconnects, we are
able to provide our customers with a product that most efficiently meets their
demands for functionality.

    Our solution begins with the product design phase, in which our engineers
typically work closely with customers to develop a technically advanced flexible
interconnect design. Although our customers generally provide the initial
engineering guidelines for a particular interconnect, our design engineers are
often called upon to work in tandem with a customer's design team to develop a
solution. An important part of the Parlex solution is ensuring at an early
stage, before time and money are spent on manufacturing, that the design can be
produced efficiently and cost-effectively.

    Once the design is completed, we apply our experience with innovative
materials and manufacturing processes to produce a flexible interconnect
solution that meets our customer's functionality and cost objectives. We have
developed materials and processes that provide customers improved performance at
a lower production cost. In addition, we provide a dedicated quick-turn
capability for producing prototype flexible interconnects and supporting our
customers' needs for limited quantities of flexible interconnects on short
notice. We believe that we are the only volume manufacturer of flexible
interconnects to offer this valuable service in a dedicated facility. When
customers come to us for prototype development of a flexible interconnect, we
believe that we enjoy a competitive advantage in pursuing the subsequent volume
production of that flexible interconnect. Over the past several years we have
gained substantial experience in producing products in high volume, and we
believe this expertise is a key factor in our ability to provide customers with
cost-effective, flexible interconnect solutions.

    We believe that our capability to supply worldwide a broad range of products
with a diverse mix of performance characteristics will enable us to capture
additional market share in the flexible interconnect industry. We are one of a
limited number of independent manufacturers that offers a range of flexible
interconnect solutions from design concept through high-volume production. By
offering a variety of products and services, we can provide design and
manufacturing solutions for our customers while reducing their time-to-market
and product development costs.

OUR STRATEGY

    Our objective is to be the flexible interconnect supplier of choice for
customers in our target markets. Our strategy to achieve this objective includes
the following key elements:

  DEVELOP INNOVATIVE PROCESSES AND MATERIALS

    We believe that our ability to develop innovative processes and materials
enhances our opportunity for growth within our target markets. We intend to
continue to focus our development efforts on proprietary flexible materials and
processes that have a broad range of applications. These materials and processes
enable us to produce, at reduced cycle times, cost-effective flexible
interconnects that are reliable and improve product performance. Our
PALFlex-Registered Trademark-, PALCoat-Registered Trademark-, U-
Flex-Registered Trademark-, PALCore-Registered Trademark- HP,
Polysolder-Registered Trademark- and AutoNet-TM- technologies are examples of
some of our innovative materials and manufacturing processes.

  OFFER THE BROADEST RANGE OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES IN THE FLEXIBLE INTERCONNECT
    INDUSTRY

    We offer product lines that service virtually all of our customers' flexible
interconnect needs. We are not aware of another company in the flexible
interconnect industry that provides a broader range of products and services.
Our product line includes flexible and rigid-flexible circuits from one to 24
layers, laminated cable, flexible interconnect hybrid circuits, flexible
interconnect assemblies and, with our recent Poly-Flex acquisition, surface
mount assembly capabilities. We offer products using a variety of materials,
including adhesiveless and adhesive-based polyimide, polyester, and polymer
thick film technologies. This wide product range enables us to remain the
flexible

                                       30
<PAGE>
interconnect supplier of choice to our customers even when their functional
requirements change. For example, when a major automotive customer increased the
number of electronic signals required for performance beyond the capability of a
double-sided circuit, our PALCore-Registered Trademark- HP product met the
customer's enhanced functionality and cost objectives. Conversely, another
customer's design had the desired performance but was too costly in a highly
competitive market. We redesigned this customer's flexible circuit to eliminate
expensive shield layers by using HSI+-TM-, our patented high-speed screening
process.

  DEVELOP STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIPS WITH KEY CUSTOMERS

    We seek to develop strategic relationships with key customers in targeted
industries. As a value-added strategic partner with our customers, we work with
a customer's technology roadmap to design and develop cost-effective flexible
interconnect solutions. We believe that these relationships are most effective
when we provide a significant portion of a customer's flexible interconnect
needs. Through these strategic relationships, we achieve greater visibility into
our customers' entire range of flexible interconnect requirements. As a result
of our relationships with key customers, we developed
PALFlex-Registered Trademark-, PALCore-Registered Trademark- and HSI+-TM- with
the knowledge that successful development would result in immediate market
acceptance.

  DIVERSIFY CUSTOMER BASE ACROSS SPECIFIC MARKETS

    We seek to serve a variety of markets to help mitigate the effects of
economic cycles in any one industry. Our business units are aligned to specific
market segments to better understand and service customers within particular
industries. In addition, we believe our diversification among the major segments
provides greater insight into emerging technological requirements. For example,
we applied our proprietary knowledge of shielding requirements in the computer
industry to gain a competitive advantage in the telecommunications and
networking market.

  EXPAND GLOBAL PRESENCE

    We believe that our customers will increasingly require service and support
on a global basis. To address these requirements, we have continued to expand
our global presence in emerging markets and throughout the world. We now have
facilities in Asia, Europe, and the east and west coasts of North America. In
1995 we established a joint venture in China to serve the emerging flexible
circuit market in China and throughout Asia and to produce specified products
more cost-effectively for North America's customers. In May 1998, we leased a
facility in Mexico that performs the finishing and, in some instances, assembly
operations for flexible interconnects manufactured at our other facilities. In
April 1999, we purchased a facility in San Jose, California to produce low to
medium volumes of flexible circuits and provide our customers with quick-turn
and prototyping services. This facility also supports several customers who use
Parlex Shanghai for high volume production. In addition, we have developed, and
plan to continue to develop, strategic relationships and alliances that we
believe are necessary for the success of our international business. We have
increased our distribution capabilities by establishing a presence in Singapore
and France to serve key customers in Asia and Europe. Our recent acquisition of
Poly-Flex, which has manufacturing facilities in Rhode Island and the United
Kingdom, positions us to further expand our presence in Europe. We will continue
to explore appropriate expansion opportunities as demand for our solutions
increases.

OUR MARKETS

    Flexible interconnects are used in most segments of the electronics
industry. The primary market segments that place high value on superior,
cost-effective flexible interconnect solutions include:

                                       31
<PAGE>
  AUTOMOTIVE

    Automobile manufacturers increasingly use electronics to enhance vehicle
performance and functionality, while at the same time reducing electronic
component size, weight and manufacturing and assembly costs. Flexible circuits
and laminated cable can provide cost-effective interconnect solutions for such
applications as dashboard instrumentation, automotive entertainment systems,
electronic engine control units, steering wheel controls, power distribution,
sensors and anti-lock brakes. Providers of flexible interconnects typically work
closely with the companies that supply these electronic systems to the vehicle
manufacturers. Because automotive production cycles generally last three to five
years and designs are unlikely to change during that period, a flexible
interconnect that is designed into an automobile model or platform provides a
relatively predictable source of demand over an extended time period.

  TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND NETWORKING

    The telecommunications and networking market includes infrastructure
equipment and subscriber equipment submarkets. Infrastructure equipment consists
of support electronics for the distribution of voice and data transmission. The
growth of data transfer via the Internet has dramatically increased demand for
this type of equipment. Infrastructure equipment employs sophisticated
electronics which usually require the use of complex flexible interconnects.
Subscriber equipment consists of cellular devices such as handsets and battery
assemblies. Tight packaging and the need to reduce weight have driven the demand
for flexible interconnects in this submarket. Laminated cable and single- and
double-sided flexible circuits are generally used in subscriber equipment.

  DIVERSIFIED ELECTRONICS

    The diversified electronics market, which we define to include medical
electronics, encompasses many applications. Virtually any electronic device
which requires tight packaging, light weight or high reliability is a product
that could incorporate flexible interconnects. Typical applications include
electronic scales, industrial controls, metering devices, scanners, sensors and
medical monitoring equipment.

  AEROSPACE

    Aerospace electronics were at one time the primary applications for flexible
circuitry. Because of product complexity and space restrictions, aerospace
applications often require multilayer rigid-flexible circuits. Typical
applications are navigation systems, flight controls, displays, communications
equipment and munitions. Although overall spending in this segment has
decreased, we believe that procurement of flexible interconnects will continue
to experience modest growth. We believe that the trend toward "smart" military
systems will continue to drive demand for flexible interconnects in this
segment.

  COMPUTER

    Demand for flexible circuits and laminated cable in the computer market is
driven by short product life cycles as consumers demand increasingly powerful,
less expensive, smaller, faster and lighter equipment. Disk drives represent the
largest application for flexible circuits in this market. Other applications
include notebook displays, personal digital assistants, mass storage devices and
peripheral equipment such as scanners, printers and docking stations.

                                       32
<PAGE>
  APPLIANCES

    The home appliance market is beginning to make the transition from
electro-mechanical controls to electronic controls containing intelligence and
display. Over time, appliances are expected to become more technologically
advanced. The utility and ease of use and repair associated with flexible
interconnects make them especially suitable for these applications.

  RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID)

    The emerging identification and tracking market is based upon next
generation identification tags consisting of a radio frequency semiconductor
attached to an antenna. Advancing technology at lower prices, increasing
cooperation among industry participants and high volume applications such as
automated fuel payment, electronic ticketing, baggage handling and parcel
tracking are expected to be the growth drivers for this market. Market
researchers have estimated that the compound annual growth rate for the
shipments of RFID systems will be approximately 27% between 2000 and 2002. The
size, cost and performance requirements demanded by this market are expected to
drive the use of flexible circuits and assemblies in these applications.

OUR PRODUCTS

    Our current flexible interconnect products include flexible circuits,
laminated cable, flexible interconnect hybrid circuits and flexible interconnect
assemblies. We manufacture our products, which are designed by us, our customers
or jointly, to our customers' application-specific requirements. Lead times for
the design and manufacture of our products generally range from one week for
some products to three months for more sophisticated products.

  FLEXIBLE CIRCUITS

    Flexible circuits, which consist of conductive patterns that are etched or
printed onto flexible substrate materials such as polyimide or polyester, are
used to provide connections between electronic components and as a substrate to
support these electronic devices. The circuits are manufactured by passing base
materials through multiple processes such as drilling, screening, photo imaging,
etching, plating and finishing. Flexible circuits can be produced in single or
multiple layers. We produce a wide range of flexible circuits including:

    - SINGLE-SIDED FLEXIBLE CIRCUITS, which have a conductive pattern only on
      one side. Single-sided flexible circuits are usually both cheaper and more
      flexible than double-sided flexible circuits. Through our proprietary
      high-speed interconnect screening technology, HSI+-TM-, which eliminates
      the need for a separate shield layer, we can produce single-sided flexible
      circuits that provide the same functionality as double-sided flexible
      circuits at a lower cost. We manufacture single-sided circuitry in both
      the United States and at Parlex Shanghai, where substantially all of our
      production to date has been single-sided.

    - DOUBLE-SIDED FLEXIBLE CIRCUITS, which have conductive patterns or
      materials on both sides that are interconnected by a drilled and
      copper-plated hole. Double-sided flexible circuits can provide either more
      functionality than a single-sided flexible circuit by containing
      conductive patterns on both sides, or can provide greater shielding than a
      single-sided flexible circuit by having a conductive pattern on one side
      and a layer of shielding material on the other.

    - MULTILAYER AND RIGID-FLEXIBLE CIRCUITS, which consist of layers of
      circuitry that are stacked and then laminated. These circuits are used
      where the complexity of the electronic design demands multiple layers of
      flexible circuitry. If some of the layers are rigid printed circuit board
      material, the product becomes a rigid-flexible circuit. We have
      manufactured these circuits with up to 40 layers in prototype programs and
      24 layers in production.

                                       33
<PAGE>
    - POLYMER THICK FILM FLEXIBLE CIRCUITS, which are flexible circuits
      manufactured using a technology that uses a low-cost thick film polyester
      dielectric substrate and a silver screen-printed conductive pattern. These
      circuits are made with an additive process involving the high-speed screen
      printing of conductive traces utilizing internally developed ink systems.
      We are able to produce multilayer circuits using proprietary dielectric
      materials and double-sided circuits using proprietary printed through-hole
      technologies. Polymer thick film flexible circuits are used in low-cost,
      low-temperature, low-power interconnect applications.

  LAMINATED CABLE

    Laminated cable, which consist of flat or round wire laminated to a flexible
substrate material, provide connections between electronic sub-systems and
replace conventional wire harnesses. We manufacture laminated cable in an
efficient, proprietary roll process. Substantially all of the laminated cable
that we produce uses flat wire. Approximately 70% of the laminated cable that we
produce is insulated with polyester material, allowing for maximum flexibility,
while the remainder is insulated with polyimide material for its enhanced
performance at elevated temperatures. Our laminated cable is capable of handling
both power (high current) and signal (low current).

    Improving the process by which laminated cable is manufactured can increase
functionality and lower the cost of production. To this end, we have developed
U-Flex-Registered Trademark-, a proprietary technique that forms flat wire into
a u-shape, followed by an injection molding process that enables the u-shaped
end to function as a connector. This technique improves electrical performance
and eliminates the need for a separate costly connector. We have also developed
Pemacs-TM- shielding, which adds a specially designed silver ink to laminated
cable to meet stringent electronic shielding requirements without compromising
flexibility. We have worked closely with a connector manufacturer to develop
PALCon-TM-. This new low-cost connector is designed specifically for flexible
interconnects and offers automotive manufacturers easy installation at
competitive pricing.

  FLEXIBLE INTERCONNECT HYBRID CIRCUITS

    In many cases, although a laminated cable is capable of carrying the
necessary signals, etched circuitry is required for termination. For these
applications we manufacture flexible interconnect hybrid circuits, which take
advantage of the lower cost of laminated cable and the technology of flexible
circuits by combining them into a single interconnect. On some products, we
apply our HSI+-TM- process to the flexible interconnect hybrid circuit in order
to provide signal clarity and shielding.

  FLEXIBLE INTERCONNECT ASSEMBLIES

    Both flexible circuits and laminated cable can be converted into an
electronic assembly by adding electronic components. This process can be as
simple as adding a connector or as complex as attaching components such as
capacitors, resistors or integrated circuits onto a flexible circuit using
surface mount assembly. We attach surface mount components to both copper and
polymer thick film circuits with either solder paste or our patented
Polysolder-Registered Trademark- conductive adhesive. We can place a full range
of electronic devices, from passive components to computing devices, on our
flexible interconnects.

                                       34
<PAGE>
    The following table sets forth representative applications in which our
products are used:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                       <C>
FLEXIBLE CIRCUITS

    Single-Sided                                          Automotive Displays
                                                          Batteries for Cell Phones
                                                          Printers
                                                          Personal Digital Assistants
                                                          Data Storage

    Double-Sided                                          Engine Control Units
                                                          Laptop Computers
                                                          Cellular Phones (Including Batteries)
                                                          Engine Sensors

    Multilayer and Rigid-Flexible                         Engine Control Units
                                                          Computer Networks
                                                          Network Switching Systems
                                                          Aircraft Displays
                                                          Automotive Transmission Systems

    Polymer Thick Film                                    Business Phones
                                                          Disposable Medical Devices

LAMINATED CABLE                                           Postage Meters
                                                          Automotive Sound Systems
                                                          Notebook Computers
                                                          Industrial Controls
                                                          Electronic Scales

FLEXIBLE INTERCONNECT HYBRID CIRCUITS                     Total Vehicle Interconnection
                                                          Printers
                                                          Sensors
                                                          Scanning Devices
                                                          Night Vision Systems

FLEXIBLE INTERCONNECT ASSEMBLIES                          Aircraft Identification Systems
                                                          Sensors
                                                          Scanning Devices
                                                          Batteries for Portable Products
                                                          Disk Drives
                                                          Night Vision Systems
</TABLE>

                                       35
<PAGE>
NEW PROCESS AND MATERIAL TECHNOLOGIES

    An important part of our strategy is development of new processes and
materials for use in our products. Our proprietary processes and materials
include:

    PALFLEX-REGISTERED TRADEMARK-.  PALFlex-Registered Trademark- is both an
adhesiveless polyimide-based material and a manufacturing process that we
believe provides superior performance at a lower cost than traditional
copper-clad materials. PALFlex-Registered Trademark- provides additional cost
benefits by allowing us to combine several material manufacturing steps with
circuit manufacturing and eliminating several major process steps. We developed
PALFlex-Registered Trademark- for high volume automotive applications and are
now adapting it for use across a number of other product lines. Because
PALFlex-Registered Trademark- is produced in roll form and the copper thickness
can be controlled to tight tolerances, we believe that it may serve as the
foundation for products in the emerging high density substrate market. We
shipped our first product incorporating the current version of
PALFlex-Registered Trademark- in fiscal 1998.

    PALCOAT-REGISTERED TRADEMARK-.  Working closely with a materials
manufacturer and an equipment manufacturer we developed
PALCoat-Registered Trademark-, a new material for coating the outside of
flexible circuits. PALCoat-Registered Trademark- has been designed to provide
the electrical and physical characteristics required for a new generation of
products but at a substantially lower cost than what is now commercially
available. PALCoat-Registered Trademark- entered volume production in fiscal
1999.

    PALCORE-REGISTERED TRADEMARK- HP.  PALCore-Registered Trademark- HP is a
low-cost multilayer flexible material that is designed to minimize the
difference between the cost of materials used in flexible circuits and those
used in conventional rigid circuits. We have applied for patents on our latest,
more flexible version of PALCore-Registered Trademark- HP, which entered
production in January 2000.

    POLYSOLDER-REGISTERED TRADEMARK-.  Polysolder-Registered Trademark- is both
a patented lead-free, conductive adhesive used to attach electronic components
onto flexible interconnects and a patented manufacturing process that enables
the attachment of electronic devices onto substrates at low temperatures.
Polysolder-Registered Trademark- has been used in the production of polymer
thick film flexible circuit assemblies for several years. We plan to apply the
Polysolder-Registered Trademark- process to etched flexible circuits and
laminated cable. This technology will enable us to use polyester, instead of the
more expensive polyimide, as a substrate in the production of these flexible
interconnect assemblies.

    RFID FLIP CHIP ATTACHMENT PROCESS.  We have developed a low-cost process
that we believe will be an enabling technology in the RFID market. Our
high-speed flip chip attachment process is up to ten times faster at placing
semiconductors on low-cost materials than conventional process alternatives.
This process allows us to meet our customer's goals for cost and reliability.
This process entered production in September 1999.

    AUTONET-TM-.  AutoNet-TM- is a proprietary flexible interconnect designed
specifically to meet the emerging needs of the automotive industry. As each
generation of vehicles incorporates greater electronic content, interconnection
becomes both more important and more difficult. AutoNet-TM- draws upon our
flexible interconnect process and materials technology to provide a
cost-effective interconnect for placement in the headliners, trunks and doors of
automobiles. AutoNet-TM- is designed to replace traditional wire harnesses and
is lighter, smaller, more reliable and provides shielding necessary to control
the emission of electronic signals. We believe that the potential market for
AutoNet-TM- is substantial and will develop over the next few years.

OUR CUSTOMERS

    Our customers are a diverse group of OEMs that serve a variety of
industries. In fiscal 1999, we sold products to approximately 700 accounts,
counting divisions within certain major customers as separate accounts. Our
largest 20 customers based on sales accounted for approximately 71% of total
revenues in fiscal 1997, 64% in fiscal 1998, 63% in fiscal 1999 and 69% in the
first nine months

                                       36
<PAGE>
of fiscal 2000. Sales to several divisions of Motorola in the aggregate
comprised approximately 20% of our total revenues in fiscal 1997, 23% in fiscal
1998, 15% in fiscal 1999 and 10% in the first nine months of fiscal 2000. Our
other major end-customers include: Siemens, Nortel Networks, Symbol
Technologies, Honeywell, Hewlett-Packard, Dell Computer, Lexmark, General
Dynamics, Delphi, Visteon, Pitney Bowes and Kulicke & Soffa Industries.

SALES AND CUSTOMER SERVICE

    We have organized our sales and customer service into business units that
are tied to the following markets: automotive, telecommunications and
networking, diversified electronics, aerospace and computer. Our sales managers
focus on a specific industry and develop targeted customers within that
industry. Our sales managers draw upon the expertise of our engineering staff as
an integral part of the sales process, and upon customer service representatives
to support their customers' day-to-day requirements. Sales managers coordinate
the efforts of a network of 16 independent manufacturers' representative
organizations worldwide. In fiscal 1999 and the first nine months of fiscal
2000, manufacturers' representative organizations accounted for approximately
63% of total revenues.

    The sales process involves extensive coordination between a customer's
design engineers and our design and engineering staff. Our sales managers then
work closely with our applications engineers to prepare a feasibility study to
assess the cost of producing the interconnect solution to the customer's
specifications. This process often involves multiple design and manufacturing
iterations to identify the lowest cost solution that meets the customer's
specifications.

    Sales managers lead our efforts to become the preferred supplier to target
customers. The managers' ability to understand the quality, cost, delivery,
technology and service objectives of target customers is critical to our goal of
achieving the highest level of customer satisfaction. To develop strategic
relationships with target customers, our employees participate in joint
training, engineering seminars, manufacturing intern programs and as members of
customers' problem solving teams. We often have access to a customer's materials
resource planning schedule, which allows us to better forecast that customer's
near and mid-term requirements.

    To complement the independent manufacturers' representative organizations
with which we work, we have direct sales and customer support offices in
Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, and San Diego, California. Through these offices
we provide applications engineering, logistical support and coordination of
activities with our customers. We expect to open additional sales and customer
support offices in the U.S. and Europe. We have agreements with distribution
companies in Singapore and France to provide forward stocking and inventory
coordination for regional customers. These relationships enable us to provide
customers with service comparable to that of a local provider.

    Under the terms of our Chinese joint venture agreement, Parlex Shanghai has
agreed that it will sell its products outside China only through us. In turn, we
have agreed that we will sell flexible circuits in China only through the joint
venture.

MANUFACTURING

    We believe that our manufacturing expertise in a number of specialized
areas, together with our investment in process research and development and
equipment, have contributed to our position as an industry leader. A significant
amount of our production equipment is proprietary, including cable laminators,
precision cable slitters and roll plating, roll etching and automatic punching
equipment.

                                       37
<PAGE>
    Our computer-aided manufacturing system takes the customer's design and
programs the various steps that will be required to manufacture the particular
product. The manufacturing process varies a great deal from product to product.
Although there is no standard process, significant elements of production are
highlighted below:

<TABLE>
<S>                              <C>                              <C>
                                       POLYMER THICK FILM
    ETCHED FLEXIBLE CIRCUIT             FLEXIBLE CIRCUIT                  LAMINATED CABLE
-------------------------------  -------------------------------  -------------------------------
<S>                              <C>                              <C>
           Drilling                Convert/Condition Substrate              Lamination

            Plating                       Screen Print                       Slitting

          Developing                         Diecut                      Conductor Forming

            Etching                    Conductive Adhesive               Injection Molding

          Lamination                 Surface Mount/Flip Chip                 Shielding
                                            Assembly

      Electrical Testing               Electrical Testing                  Laser Skiving

           Assembly                                                          Assembly
</TABLE>

    We recently completed a major expansion of our production capacity. In
fiscal 1999, we added 60,000 square feet to our Methuen, Massachusetts facility,
12,000 square feet to our Salem, New Hampshire facility and 10,000 square feet
to our Shanghai, China facility. Additionally, we purchased over $7.5 million of
new equipment in fiscal 1999. Our acquisition of Dynaflex gave us a full
complement of flexible circuit manufacturing equipment and a 19,000 square foot
facility. Although some of our operations were capacity constrained in fiscal
1999, we believe that we now have sufficient capacity to meet forecast growth in
U.S. operations for the next several years. We are currently adding additional
capacity in Shanghai and Mexico and we intend to continue to expand capacity to
meet the needs of our growing customer base.

    Six of our manufacturing facilities are certified to the international
standard ISO 9002. Three of our facilities are certified to the automotive
standard QS 9002.

MATERIALS AND MATERIALS MANAGEMENT

    We aggressively attempt to control our cost of purchased materials and our
level of inventories through long-term relationships with our suppliers. Our
goal is to attain a competitive price from suppliers and foster a shared vision
towards advancing technology.

    We purchase raw materials, process chemicals and various components from
multiple outside sources. We often make long-term purchasing commitments with
key suppliers for specific customer programs. These suppliers commit to provide
cooperative engineering as required and in some cases to maintain a local
inventory to provide shorter lead times and reduced inventory levels. In many
cases our customers approve, and often specify, sources of supply.

    We qualify our suppliers through a vendor rating system that limits the
number of suppliers to those that can provide the best total value and quality.
We monitor each supplier's quality, delivery, service and technology so that the
materials we receive meet our objectives.

COMPETITION

    Our business is highly competitive. We compete against other manufacturers
of flexible interconnects as well as against manufacturers of rigid-printed
circuits. Competitive factors among flexible circuit and laminated cable
suppliers are price, product quality, technological capability and service. We
believe that we compete favorably on all of these competitive factors, but
believe that our competitive strength is in our ability to apply technology to
reduce cost. We compete against

                                       38
<PAGE>
rigid board products on the basis of product versatility, although price can
also be a competitive factor if the difference between the cost of a rigid
circuit and a flexible circuit becomes too great.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

    We have acquired patents and we seek patents on new products and processes
where we believe patents would be appropriate to protect our interests. Although
patents are an important part of our competitive position, we do not believe
that any single patent or group of patents is critical to our success. We
believe that, due to the rapid technological change in the flexible interconnect
business, our success depends more on design creativity and manufacturing
expertise than on patents and other intellectual property. We own 18 patents
issued, and have two patent applications pending, in the United States and have
several corresponding foreign patent applications pending. We have obtained
federal trademark registrations for PALFlex-Registered Trademark-,
PALCore-Registered Trademark-, U-Flex-Registered Trademark-,
PALCoat-Registered Trademark- and Polysolder-Registered Trademark-, and have one
trademark application pending. We also rely on internal security measures and on
confidentiality agreements for protection of trade secrets and proprietary
know-how. We cannot be sure that our efforts to protect our intellectual
property will be effective to prevent misappropriation or that others may not
independently develop similar technology.

    Under the terms of our Chinese joint venture agreement, we transferred
specified technology to Parlex Shanghai and have agreed to provide it with
additional technology and expertise as the joint venture's capabilities and
markets develop. PALFlex-Registered Trademark- is excluded from the arrangement.

    In January 2000, we sold two U.S. patents for PALCore-Registered Trademark-,
a low-cost multilayer material, to Polyclad Laminates, Inc., a subsidiary of
Cookson Electronics, for approximately $1.3 million. We had previously licensed
PALCore-Registered Trademark- to Isola Laminate Systems Corp. (f/k/a Allied
Signal Laminate Systems) and will transfer royalties received in connection with
the license to Polyclad Laminates, Inc. as part of the sale. We have retained a
perpetual, royalty-free, non-exclusive license to use the
PALCore-Registered Trademark- material in our products. We also hold a patent,
which we have not licensed to anyone, which covers the process of using
PALCore-Registered Trademark- in the production of flexible interconnects.

ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS

    Flexible interconnect manufacturing requires the use of metals and
chemicals. Water used in the manufacturing process must be treated to remove
metal particles and other contaminants before it can be discharged into the
municipal sanitary sewer system. We operate and maintain water effluent
treatment systems and use approved laboratory testing procedures to monitor the
effectiveness of these systems at our Methuen, Massachusetts facility. We
operate this treatment system under a effluent discharge permit issued by the
local governmental authority. Air emissions resulting from our manufacturing
processes are regulated by permits issued by government authorities. These
permits must be renewed periodically and are subject to revocation in the event
of violations of environmental laws. We believe that the waste treatment
equipment at our facility is currently in compliance with the requirements of
environmental laws in all material respects and that our air emissions are
within the limits established in the relevant permit. However, violations may
occur in the future. We are also subject to other environmental laws including
those relating to the storage, use and disposal of chemicals, solid waste and
other hazardous materials, as well as to work place health and safety and indoor
air quality emissions. Furthermore, environmental laws could become more
stringent or might apply to additional aspects of our operations over time, and
the costs of complying with such laws could be substantial. Compliance with
local, state and federal laws did not have a material impact on our capital
expenditures, earnings or competitive position in fiscal 1999. We estimate that
capital expenditures in fiscal 2000 and 2001 associated with environmental
compliance will be $550,000.

                                       39
<PAGE>
EMPLOYEES

    As of May 1, 2000, we employed approximately 900 people in the United
States. Of these employees, 800 were direct employees of Parlex and 100 worked
for interim staffing agencies. In addition, we employed approximately 200 people
in Mexico and approximately 130 people in the United Kingdom and Parlex Shanghai
employed approximately 560 people in China. We are not party to any collective
bargaining agreement and we believe our relations with our employees are good.

FACILITIES

    Our facilities at June 20, 2000 are:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                        APPROXIMATE
LOCATION                SQUARE FEET   LEASED/OWNED           DESCRIPTION
--------                -----------   ------------           -----------
<S>                     <C>           <C>                    <C>
Methuen, Massachusetts    185,000     Owned                  Corporate headquarters, product
                                                             and process development and
                                                             flexible circuit manufacturing

Cranston, Rhode Island     55,500     Owned                  Polymer thick film and surface
                                                             mount assembly operations

Salem, New Hampshire       46,000     Leased (lease expires  Laminated cable manufacturing
                                      in January 2007)

Newport, Isle of           40,000     Leased (lease expires  Polymer thick film and surface
Wight, United Kingdom                 in November 2009)      mount assembly operations

Shanghai, China            37,000     Leased (lease expires  Single- and double-sided flexible
                                      in August 2002)        circuit manufacturing

Empalme, Sonora,           38,000     Leased (lease expires  Finishing and assembly operations
Mexico                                in January 2005)

San Jose, California       19,000     Leased (lease expires  Prototype and quick-turn
                                      in December 2000)      operations
</TABLE>

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

    From time to time we are involved in litigation relating to claims arising
out of our operations in the normal course of business. We are not currently
involved in any material legal proceedings.

                                       40
<PAGE>
                                   MANAGEMENT

    The following table sets forth information about our directors and executive
officers as of March 26, 2000.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME                                     AGE      POSITION
----                                   --------   --------
<S>                                    <C>        <C>
Herbert W. Pollack...................     72      Chairman of the Board of Directors

Peter J. Murphy......................     51      President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Robert A. Rieth......................     58      Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Alfred R. Calvetti...................     56      Vice President and General Manager--Laminated Cable
                                                  Products

Jill Pollack Kutchin.................     47      Vice President--Corporate Affairs and Clerk

Darryl J. McKenney...................     37      Vice President and General Manager--Flexible Circuit
                                                  Products

Steven M. Millstein..................     56      Vice President and Treasurer

Sheldon Buckler......................     68      Director

Richard W. Hale......................     62      Director

M. Joel Kosheff......................     62      Director

Lester Pollack.......................     66      Director

Benjamin M. Rabinovici...............     78      Director
</TABLE>

    Herbert W. Pollack has served as Chairman of the Board of Parlex since it
was founded in 1970. He was President of Parlex from 1970 to 1995, Chief
Executive Officer from 1970 to June 1997 and Treasurer from 1970 to March 2000.
Mr. Pollack is the brother of Lester Pollack and the father of Jill Pollack
Kutchin.

    Peter J. Murphy has been President of Parlex since July 1, 1995, and on
July 1, 1997, was elected to the office of Chief Executive Officer. He was Chief
Operating Officer and Executive Vice President from May 1994 to July 1995 and
Vice President and General Manager of Flexible Circuit Products from February
1993 to May 1994. Mr. Murphy initially served as Assistant to the President from
December 1992 to February 1993. From 1988 to 1992, he was President of Teledyne
Electro-Mechanisms, a manufacturer of flexible circuits. Mr. Murphy is a
Director of Nashua Corporation. He has been a Director of Parlex since 1994.

    Robert A. Rieth joined Parlex in March 2000 as Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer. From 1997 to 1999, Mr. Rieth was Chief Executive
Officer of Wyle Laboratories, Inc., a provider of testing and engineering
services for the aerospace and electronics industry. From 1971 to 1997, he was a
Corporate Vice President, Group Executive for Financial Management and President
of a subsidiary of Teledyne, Inc., an electronics, metals and consumer
electronics conglomerate.

    Alfred R. Calvetti joined Parlex in July 1971 and has served in a variety of
technical and managerial positions. From December 1988 to February 1993, he was
Divisional Vice President and General Manager of Laminated Cable Products. In
February 1993, he became a Corporate Vice President and General Manager of
Laminated Cable Products.

                                       41
<PAGE>
    Jill Pollack Kutchin joined Parlex in January 1977 and served as
Manager--Marketing Administration until December 1983, when she became Vice
President--Corporate Affairs. Since November 1980, she has also been Clerk of
Parlex. Ms. Kutchin is the daughter of Herbert W. Pollack.

    Darryl J. McKenney joined Parlex in February 1993 as Director of
Engineering, Flexible Circuit Products. In March 1995, Mr. McKenney became
Director of Operations of Flexible Circuit Products and was appointed Vice
President of Flexible Circuit Operations in April 1997. In August 1999 he became
a Corporate Vice President and General Manager of Flexible Circuit Products.
Prior to joining Parlex, he was Vice President--Engineering for Teledyne-Electro
Mechanisms.

    Steven M. Millstein joined Parlex in March 1977, serving initially as
Controller and from February 1979 to February 1988 as Vice
President--Controller. Mr. Millstein served as Vice President--Finance from
February 1988 to March 2000 when he became Vice President and Treasurer.

    Sheldon Buckler has been Chairman of the Board of NSTAR, a gas and electric
utility holding company, since May 1995. He was employed by Polaroid Corporation
from 1964 until his retirement as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors in
1994. Dr. Buckler is a Director of Lord Corporation, Micrologic Corporation,
Nashua Corporation and Micro Component Technology, Inc. He has been a Director
of Parlex since February 1995.

    Richard W. Hale has been President and Chief Executive Officer of VXI
Corporation, a manufacturer of electronic products for the telephone and
computer industry, since April 1998. He was President and Chief Executive
Officer of Watson Technologies, Inc., a manufacturer of electronic products,
from 1996 to March 1998. In addition, he has been Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of Hale Industries, Inc., a private investment firm, since 1993. Prior
to that time, he was Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and a member of
the Board of Directors of M/A-Com, Inc. He has been a Director of Parlex since
February 1995.

    M. Joel Kosheff has been Principal of M.J. Kosheff Associates, a financial
consulting firm, since January 1989. He has been a Director of Parlex since
1989.

    Lester Pollack has been Managing Director of Centre Partners Management LLC,
a private investment firm, since 1986 and was a Managing Director of Lazard
Freres & Co. LLC, from 1986 to 1998. He is also the Chairman of the Board of
Directors of Firearms Training Systems, Inc., and a Director of LaSalle Re
Holdings Limited, Nationwide Credit Inc., Bank Leumi USA and Tidewater Inc.
Lester Pollack is the brother of Herbert W. Pollack. He has been a Director of
Parlex since 1970.

    Benjamin M. Rabinovici has been Chairman of the Board of ASD Company, a
manufacturer of electronic products, since July 1999. He was President of
Tympanium Corporation, a manufacturer of electronic products, from 1980 to March
1996. He has been a Director of Parlex since 1970.

                                       42
<PAGE>
                              SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

    The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial
ownership of our common shares as of June 20, 2000 by the selling stockholders.
Except as otherwise indicated in the footnotes to the table, each of the
stockholders has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares of
common stock listed as being beneficially owned. The address for each of the
selling stockholders is c/o Parlex Corporation, One Parlex Place, Methuen,
Massachusetts 01844. None of the selling stockholders owns any options to
acquire shares of our common stock.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 SHARES BENEFICIALLY                               SHARES BENEFICIALLY
                                                 OWNED PRIOR TO THE     NUMBER OF                    OWNED AFTER THE
                                                      OFFERING            SHARES                        OFFERING
                                                ---------------------       OF       PERCENT OF   ---------------------
                                                 NUMBER    PERCENT OF     COMMON      HOLDINGS     NUMBER    PERCENT OF
                                                   OF      BENEFICIAL     STOCK        BEING         OF      BENEFICIAL
SELLING STOCKHOLDER                              SHARES    OWNERSHIP     OFFERED      OFFERED      SHARES    OWNERSHIP
-------------------                             --------   ----------   ----------   ----------   --------   ----------
<S>                                             <C>        <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>        <C>
Herbert W. Pollack(1).........................  769,914       16.0%       50,000         6.5%     669,914       11.0%
Sandra Pollack(2).............................  769,914       16.0%       50,000         6.5%     669,914       11.0%
</TABLE>

------------------------------

(1) Herbert W. Pollack is the husband of Sandra Pollack and the Chairman of the
    Board of Parlex. Until March 2000, Mr. Pollack also served as Parlex's
    Treasurer. Shares shown to be beneficially owned by Mr. Pollack include
    230,400 shares of common stock owned by Mrs. Pollack, as to which
    Mr. Pollack disclaims beneficial ownership.

(2) Sandra Pollack is the wife of Herbert W. Pollack. Shares shown to be
    beneficially owned by Mrs. Pollack include 539,514 shares of common stock
    owned by Mr. Pollack, as to which Mrs. Pollack disclaims beneficial
    ownership.

                                       43
<PAGE>
                                  UNDERWRITING

    Parlex, the selling stockholders and the underwriters for the offering named
below have entered into an underwriting agreement with respect to the shares
being offered. Subject to various conditions, each underwriter has severally
agreed to purchase the number of shares indicated in the following table. Adams,
Harkness & Hill, Inc. and Needham & Company, Inc. are the representatives of the
underwriters.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             NUMBER OF SHARES
UNDERWRITERS                                                 OF COMMON STOCK
------------                                                 ----------------
<S>                                                          <C>
Adams, Harkness & Hill, Inc................................        810,000
Needham & Company, Inc.....................................        540,000
                                                                 ---------
      Total................................................      1,350,000
                                                                 =========
</TABLE>

    If the underwriters sell more shares than the total number set forth in the
table above, the underwriters have an option to buy up to an additional 202,500
shares from us. They may exercise that option for 30 days. If any shares are
purchased pursuant to this option, the underwriters will severally purchase
shares in approximately the same proportion as set forth in the table above. The
underwriters may exercise this option only to cover over-allotments in
connection with the sale of the 1,350,000 shares of our common stock offered
hereby.

    The following tables show the per share and total underwriting discounts and
commissions to be paid to the underwriters by Parlex and the selling
stockholders. Such amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise
of the underwriters' option to purchase additional shares.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  PAID BY SELLING
                                                      PAID BY US                   STOCKHOLDERS
                                              ---------------------------   ---------------------------
UNDERWRITING DISCOUNTS AND COMMISSIONS        NO EXERCISE   FULL EXERCISE   NO EXERCISE   FULL EXERCISE
--------------------------------------        -----------   -------------   -----------   -------------
<S>                                           <C>           <C>             <C>           <C>
Per Share...................................  $     1.46     $     1.46      $   1.46       $   1.46
Total.......................................  $1,825,000     $2,120,650      $146,000       $146,000
</TABLE>

    Under the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, if the
underwriters purchase any of the shares offered, they are committed to take and
pay for all of the shares offered.

    The underwriters propose to offer the shares of our common stock in part
directly to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page
of this prospectus, and in part to securities dealers at the public offering
price less a concession not in excess of $0.87 per share. The underwriters may
allow, and dealers may reallow, a concession not in excess of $0.10 per share to
brokers and dealers. After the shares of common stock are released for sale to
the public, the representatives may vary from time to time the public offering
price and other selling terms.

    The total proceeds before expenses we expect to receive from this offering,
after deducting the underwriting discount, will be approximately $31.3 million,
assuming no exercise of the over-allotment option. We estimate that the expenses
of this offering payable by us, exclusive of the underwriting discount, will be
$400,000.

    We have agreed not to offer, sell, contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of
any shares of common stock for a period of 90 days after the date of this
prospectus without the prior written consent of Adams, Harkness & Hill, Inc.,
except for the shares of common stock offered hereby and except that we may
issue securities pursuant to our stock plans. In addition, our officers and
directors and the selling stockholders, who will hold an aggregate of 1,078,233
shares of common stock following the offering, for a period of 90 days after the
date of this prospectus, have agreed with the underwriters not to offer to sell,
contract to sell, or otherwise sell, dispose of, loan, pledge,

                                       44
<PAGE>
or grant any rights with respect to any shares of common stock owned
beneficially by them, subject to certain limited exceptions, without the prior
written consent of Adams, Harkness & Hill, Inc.

    In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell the
common stock in the open market. These transactions may include over-allotment
and stabilizing transactions, "passive" market making and purchases to cover
syndicate short positions created in connection with the offering. Stabilizing
transactions consist of certain bids or purchases made for the purpose of
preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the common stock.
Syndicate short positions involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater
number of shares of common stock than they are required to purchase from us in
the offering. The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid, whereby the
syndicate may reclaim selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other
broker-dealers in respect of the common stock sold in the offering for their
account if the syndicate repurchases the shares in stabilizing or covering
transactions. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the
market price of the common stock, which may be higher than the price that might
otherwise prevail in the open market. These activities, if commenced, may be
discontinued at any time. These transactions may be effected on the Nasdaq
National Market, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

    In general, the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission will
prohibit the underwriters from making a market in the common stock during the
"cooling off" period immediately preceding the commencement of sales in the
offering. The SEC has, however, adopted exemptions from these rules that permit
passive market making under certain conditions. These rules permit an
underwriter to continue to make a market subject to the conditions, among
others, that its bid not exceed the highest bid by a market maker not connected
with the offering and that its net purchases on any one trading day not exceed
prescribed limits. Pursuant to these exemptions, certain underwriters, selling
group members (if any), or their respective affiliates may engage in passive
market making in the common stock during the cooling off period.

    Parlex and the selling stockholders have agreed to indemnify the
underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act of 1933.

                                       45
<PAGE>
                                 LEGAL MATTERS

    The validity of the shares of common stock offered hereby is being passed
upon for Parlex by Ropes & Gray, Boston, Massachusetts and Kutchin & Rufo, P.C.,
Boston, Massachusetts. Edward D. Kutchin is a shareholder in the professional
corporation of Kutchin & Rufo, P.C. and beneficially owns 144,974 shares of our
common stock. Legal matters in connection with the offering will be passed upon
for the underwriters by Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP, Boston, Massachusetts.

                                    EXPERTS

    The financial statements of Parlex Corporation as of June 30, 1998 and 1999
and for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended June 30, 1999
included in this prospectus have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP,
independent auditors, as stated in their report appearing herein, and are so
included in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as
experts in accounting and auditing.

    The combined financial statements of Poly-Flex Circuits, Inc. and Poly-Flex
Circuits Limited, incorporated in this prospectus by reference from Parlex
Corporation's Report on Form 8-K/A dated May 23, 2000 have been audited by
Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their report, which is
incorporated herein by reference (which report expresses an unqualified opinion,
refers to the report of other auditors, and includes an explanatory paragraph as
to the basis of presentation) and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the
report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and
auditing.

                                       46
<PAGE>
                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

    We have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration
statement with respect to the common stock offered hereby. This prospectus,
which is part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the
information included in the registration statement or the exhibits and schedules
which are part of the registration statement.

    We also file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and
other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file with
the SEC at the SEC's public reference facility at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the SEC's regional offices at Seven World Trade
Center, 13(th) Floor, New York, New York 10048 and 500 West Madison Street,
Suite 1900, Chicago, Illinois 60661. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for
further information on the public reference rooms. Our SEC filings are also
available to the public from the SEC's Web site at HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV.

    The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file with
them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring
you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered
to be part of this prospectus. Information that we file subsequently with the
SEC will automatically update and supersede information incorporated by
reference in this prospectus. We incorporate by reference the documents listed
below and any future filings we will make with the SEC under Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

    1.  Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999
       as filed with the SEC on October 1, 1999, except for Part II, Item 8,
       Financial Statements, which have been updated and are included in this
       prospectus;

    2.  Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended September 26,
       1999, December 26, 1999 and March 26, 2000 as filed with the SEC on
       November 10, 1999, February 2, 2000, and May 10, 2000, respectively, and
       on Forms 10-Q/A for the quarter ended March 26, 2000 as filed with the
       SEC on May 19, 2000 and May 23, 2000;

    3.  Our Current Reports on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on February 3,
       2000, March 15, 2000 and May 12, 2000 and on Form 8-K/A as filed with the
       SEC on May 23, 2000;

    4.  Our Proxy Statement as filed with the SEC on October 29, 1999; and

    5.  Our Registration Statement on Form 8-A as filed with the SEC on October
       29, 1984, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of
       updating such description.

    You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or
telephoning us at the following address:

    Parlex Corporation
    One Parlex Place
    Methuen, Massachusetts 01844
    Attention: Clerk
    (978) 685-4341

                                       47
<PAGE>
                   INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

<TABLE>
<S>                                                           <C>
PARLEX CORPORATION

Independent Auditors' Report................................    F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets.................................    F-3
Consolidated Statements of Income...........................    F-4
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity.............    F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.......................    F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements..................    F-7
</TABLE>

                                      F-1
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT

To the Stockholders and Directors
of Parlex Corporation:

    We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Parlex
Corporation and its Subsidiaries (the "Company") as of June 30, 1998 and 1999,
and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity, and
cash flows for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended June 30, 1999.
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management.
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based
on our audits.

    We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

    In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of Parlex Corporation and its
Subsidiaries at June 30, 1998 and 1999, and the results of their operations and
their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended June 30, 1999,
in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

Deloitte & Touche LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
August 24, 1999 (March 1, 2000 as to Note 14)

                                      F-2
<PAGE>
                      PARLEX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                             JUNE 30, 1998 AND 1999

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  1998           1999
                                                              ------------   ------------
<S>                                                           <C>            <C>
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
  Cash and cash equivalents.................................  $  5,824,233   $  1,175,889
  Short-term investments....................................     6,789,469      1,606,953
  Accounts receivable--less allowance for doubtful accounts
    of $255,000 in 1999 and $252,000 in 1998................    11,145,750     14,053,046
  Inventories...............................................     9,346,657     10,943,457
  Refundable income taxes...................................       323,626        129,790
  Deferred income taxes.....................................       372,725        559,084
  Other current assets......................................     1,706,367      1,585,435
                                                              ------------   ------------
      Total current assets..................................    35,508,827     30,053,654
                                                              ============   ============
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:
  Land......................................................       468,864        468,864
  Buildings.................................................     7,724,022      7,796,488
  Machinery and equipment...................................    27,200,755     30,756,650
  Leasehold improvements and other..........................     2,270,658      2,929,101
  Construction in progress..................................     4,390,805     13,844,489
                                                              ------------   ------------
      Total.................................................    42,055,104     55,795,592
  Less accumulated depreciation and amortization............   (22,031,645)   (23,915,018)
                                                              ------------   ------------
      Property, plant and equipment--net....................    20,023,459     31,880,574
                                                              ------------   ------------
OTHER ASSETS................................................       649,198      1,586,383
                                                              ------------   ------------
TOTAL.......................................................  $ 56,181,484   $ 63,520,611
                                                              ============   ============
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Current portion of long-term debt.........................  $    121,158   $    619,206
  Bank loan.................................................       310,577             --
  Accounts payable..........................................     6,437,169      8,080,085
  Accrued liabilities.......................................     2,353,800      2,592,655
                                                              ------------   ------------
      Total current liabilities.............................     9,222,704     11,291,946
                                                              ============   ============
LONG-TERM DEBT..............................................     1,165,751      1,631,782
                                                              ------------   ------------
OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES................................     2,247,444      2,611,942
                                                              ------------   ------------
MINORITY INTEREST IN PARLEX SHANGHAI........................     1,954,472      2,651,711
                                                              ------------   ------------

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
  Preferred stock, $1.00 par value--authorized, 1,000,000
    shares; none issued
  Common stock, $.10 par value--authorized, 10,000,000
    shares; issued, 4,991,149 and 4,850,649 shares in 1999
    and 1998, respectively..................................       485,065        499,115
  Additional paid-in capital................................    23,872,745     24,568,566
  Retained earnings.........................................    18,268,743     21,288,296
  Accumulated other comprehensive income....................         2,185         14,878
  Less treasury stock, at cost--210,000 shares in 1999 and
    1998....................................................    (1,037,625)    (1,037,625)
                                                              ------------   ------------
      Total stockholders' equity............................    41,591,113     45,333,230
                                                              ------------   ------------
TOTAL.......................................................  $ 56,181,484   $ 63,520,611
                                                              ============   ============
</TABLE>

                See notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                      F-3
<PAGE>
                      PARLEX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

                FISCAL YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997, 1998 AND 1999

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         1997          1998          1999
                                                      -----------   -----------   -----------
<S>                                                   <C>           <C>           <C>
REVENUES:
  Product sales.....................................  $54,977,143   $60,048,336   $66,372,800
  License fees and royalty income...................      109,710       226,835       674,483
                                                      -----------   -----------   -----------
      Total revenues................................   55,086,853    60,275,171    67,047,283
                                                      -----------   -----------   -----------

COSTS AND EXPENSES:
  Cost of products sold.............................   44,136,738    47,304,136    52,784,488
  Selling, general and administrative expenses......    7,288,544     8,271,704     9,715,341
                                                      -----------   -----------   -----------
      Total costs and expenses......................   51,425,282    55,575,840    62,499,829
                                                      -----------   -----------   -----------
OPERATING INCOME....................................    3,661,571     4,699,331     4,547,454
OTHER INCOME, Net...................................      155,604       683,776       359,748
INTEREST EXPENSE....................................     (436,008)     (253,509)     (226,378)
                                                      -----------   -----------   -----------
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES..........    3,381,167     5,129,598     4,680,824
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES..........................   (1,249,202)   (1,539,514)     (964,032)
                                                      -----------   -----------   -----------
INCOME BEFORE MINORITY INTEREST.....................    2,131,965     3,590,084     3,716,792
MINORITY INTEREST...................................      (11,509)     (433,110)     (697,239)
                                                      -----------   -----------   -----------
NET INCOME..........................................  $ 2,120,456   $ 3,156,974   $ 3,019,553
                                                      ===========   ===========   ===========
BASIC INCOME PER SHARE..............................  $       .59   $       .73   $       .65
                                                      ===========   ===========   ===========
DILUTED INCOME PER SHARE............................  $       .57   $       .71   $       .63
                                                      ===========   ===========   ===========
</TABLE>

                See notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                      F-4
<PAGE>
                      PARLEX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                FISCAL YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997, 1998 AND 1999
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                         ACCUMULATED
                                          COMMON STOCK        ADDITIONAL                                    OTHER
                                     ----------------------     PAID-IN      RETAINED      TREASURY     COMPREHENSIVE
                                       SHARES      AMOUNT       CAPITAL      EARNINGS        STOCK          INCOME
                                     ----------   ---------   -----------   -----------   -----------   --------------
<S>                                  <C>          <C>         <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>
BALANCE, JULY 1, 1996..............   2,582,659   $258,266    $ 3,243,491   $12,991,313   $(1,037,625)     $  (162)
  Comprehensive income:
    Net income.....................          --         --             --     2,120,456            --           --
    Foreign currency translation
      adjustment...................          --         --             --            --            --       (4,591)
  Comprehensive income.............
  Stock dividend...................   1,186,311    118,631       (118,631)           --            --           --
  Tax benefit arising from the
    exercise of stock options......          --         --        114,309            --            --           --
  Exercise of stock options........      29,780      2,978         95,255            --            --           --
                                     ----------   --------    -----------   -----------   -----------      -------
BALANCE, JUNE 30, 1997.............   3,798,750    379,875      3,334,424    15,111,769    (1,037,625)      (4,753)
  Comprehensive income:
    Net income.....................          --         --             --     3,156,974            --           --
    Other comprehensive income:
      Foreign currency translation
        adjustment.................          --         --             --            --            --           --
      Unrealized gain on short-term
        investments................          --         --             --            --            --           --
    Other comprehensive income.....          --         --             --            --            --        6,938
  Comprehensive income.............
  Tax benefit arising from the
    exercise of stock options......          --         --         97,702            --            --           --
  Stock offering, net of
    expenses.......................   1,000,000    100,000     20,281,799            --            --           --
  Exercise of stock options........      51,899      5,190        158,820            --            --           --
                                     ----------   --------    -----------   -----------   -----------      -------
BALANCE, JUNE 30, 1998.............   4,850,649    485,065     23,872,745    18,268,743    (1,037,625)       2,185
  Comprehensive income:
    Net income.....................          --         --             --     3,019,553            --           --
    Other comprehensive income:
      Foreign currency translation
        adjusment..................          --         --             --            --            --           --
      Unrealized gain on short-term
        investments................          --         --             --            --            --           --
    Other comprehensive income.....                                                                         12,693
  Comprehensive income.............
  Exercise of stock options........     140,500     14,050        604,853            --            --           --
  Tax benefit arising from the
    exercise of stock options......          --         --         90,968            --            --           --
                                     ----------   --------    -----------   -----------   -----------      -------
BALANCE, JUNE 30, 1999.............   4,991,149   $499,115    $24,568,566   $21,288,296   $(1,037,625)     $14,878
                                     ==========   ========    ===========   ===========   ===========      =======

<CAPTION>

                                     COMPREHENSIVE
                                         INCOME
                                         (LOSS)          TOTAL
                                     --------------   ------------
<S>                                  <C>              <C>
BALANCE, JULY 1, 1996..............                   $ 15,455,283
  Comprehensive income:
    Net income.....................   $ 2,120,456        2,120,456
    Foreign currency translation
      adjustment...................        (4,591)          (4,591)
                                      -----------
  Comprehensive income.............   $ 2,115,865
                                      ===========
  Stock dividend...................                             --
  Tax benefit arising from the
    exercise of stock options......                        114,309
  Exercise of stock options........                         98,233
                                                      ------------
BALANCE, JUNE 30, 1997.............                     17,783,690
  Comprehensive income:
    Net income.....................   $ 3,156,974        3,156,974
                                      -----------
    Other comprehensive income:
      Foreign currency translation
        adjustment.................        (3,254)          (3,254)
      Unrealized gain on short-term
        investments................        10,192           10,192
                                      -----------
    Other comprehensive income.....         6,938
                                      -----------
  Comprehensive income.............   $ 3,163,912
                                      ===========
  Tax benefit arising from the
    exercise of stock options......                         97,702
  Stock offering, net of
    expenses.......................                     20,381,799
  Exercise of stock options........                        164,010
                                                      ------------
BALANCE, JUNE 30, 1998.............                     41,591,113
  Comprehensive income:
    Net income.....................   $ 3,019,553        3,019,553
                                      -----------
    Other comprehensive income:
      Foreign currency translation
        adjusment..................        20,999           20,999
      Unrealized gain on short-term
        investments................        (8,306)          (8,306)
                                      -----------
    Other comprehensive income.....        12,693
                                      -----------
  Comprehensive income.............   $ 3,032,246
                                      ===========
  Exercise of stock options........                        618,903
  Tax benefit arising from the
    exercise of stock options......                         90,968
                                                      ------------
BALANCE, JUNE 30, 1999.............                   $ 45,333,230
                                                      ============
</TABLE>

                See notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                      F-5
<PAGE>
                      PARLEX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                FISCAL YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997, 1998 AND 1999

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 1997           1998           1999
                                                             ------------   ------------   ------------
<S>                                                          <C>            <C>            <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
  Net income...............................................  $  2,120,456   $  3,156,974   $  3,019,553
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided
    by operating activities:
      Depreciation and amortization of property, plant and
        equipment and other assets.........................     1,899,325      2,426,831      2,943,092
      Gain on sale of equipment............................      (129,269)       (68,573)            --
      Amortization on investments available for sale.......            --         49,761             --
      Gain on sale of investments available for sale.......            --         (8,133)        (8,306)
      Deferred income taxes................................        86,375         98,640         93,580
      Deferred compensation................................        74,999         83,188         84,559
      Tax benefit arising from the exercise of stock
        options............................................       114,309         97,702         90,968
      Minority interest....................................        11,509        433,110        697,239
      Changes in current assets and liabilities:
        Accounts receivable--net...........................    (1,576,055)    (2,116,362)    (2,529,600)
        Inventories........................................       490,947     (2,084,180)    (1,612,413)
        Refundable income taxes............................        17,794       (323,626)       193,836
        Other current assets...............................      (151,570)      (855,411)       120,931
        Accounts payable and accrued liabilities...........       220,520      1,593,457      1,881,732
        Income taxes payable...............................       244,404       (244,404)            --
                                                             ------------   ------------   ------------
          Total adjustments................................     1,303,288       (918,000)     1,955,618
                                                             ------------   ------------   ------------
          Net cash provided by operating activities........     3,423,744      2,238,974      4,975,171
                                                             ------------   ------------   ------------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
  Purchase of Parlex-Dynaflex subsidiary...................            --             --     (2,620,000)
  Maturities (purchases) of investments available for sale,
    net....................................................            --     (6,820,905)     5,182,517
  Additions to property, plant and equipment...............    (2,619,074)    (8,462,521)   (12,834,228)
  Decrease (increase) in other assets......................      (206,449)       (86,841)        84,833
  Proceeds from sale of equipment..........................       164,220         77,800             --
                                                             ------------   ------------   ------------
          Net cash used for investing activities...........    (2,661,303)   (15,292,467)   (10,186,878)
                                                             ------------   ------------   ------------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
  Proceeds from the issuance of common shares--net.........            --     20,381,799             --
  Proceeds from bank loan..................................        99,332             --             --
  Payment of bank loan.....................................            --       (189,423)      (310,577)
  Issuance of long-term debt...............................            --      1,000,000             --
  Borrowings (payments) under revolving-credit agreement...      (650,000)    (3,000,000)       600,000
  Payments of other long-term debt.........................      (100,000)       (72,020)      (366,001)
  Exercise of stock options................................        98,233        164,010        618,903
                                                             ------------   ------------   ------------
          Net cash provided by (used for) financing
            activities.....................................      (552,435)    18,284,366        542,325
                                                             ------------   ------------   ------------
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH....................            --         (3,254)        21,038
                                                             ------------   ------------   ------------
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS.......       210,006      5,227,619     (4,648,344)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR...............       386,608        596,614      5,824,233
                                                             ------------   ------------   ------------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR.....................  $    596,614   $  5,824,233   $  1,175,889
                                                             ============   ============   ============
SUPPLEMENTARY DISCLOSURE OF NONCASH TRANSACTIONS:
  Property and equipment contributed as capital by joint
    venture partner........................................  $    277,000   $         --   $         --
                                                             ============   ============   ============
  Property, plant and equipment acquired in exchange for
    accounts receivable and inventory......................  $         --   $         --   $    344,000
                                                             ============   ============   ============
  Property and equipment purchased under capital lease and
    long-term debt.........................................  $         --   $    358,930   $    730,080
                                                             ============   ============   ============
  Liabilities assumed in Parlex-Dynaflex acquisition.......  $         --   $         --   $    140,000
                                                             ============   ============   ============
</TABLE>

                See notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                      F-6
<PAGE>
                      PARLEX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                FISCAL YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997, 1998 AND 1999

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

    BUSINESS--Parlex Corporation ("Parlex" or the "Company") is a provider of
flexible interconnect solutions to the automotive, telecommunications and
networking, diversified electronics, aerospace and computer markets. Parlex's
product offerings include flexible circuits, laminated cable, flexible
interconnect hybrid circuits, prototype flexible circuits and flexible
interconnect assemblies.

    BASIS OF CONSOLIDATION--The consolidated financial statements include the
accounts of Parlex, its wholly owned subsidiaries and its 50.1% investment in
Parlex (Shanghai) Circuit Co., Ltd. (see Note 2), whose fiscal year end is
March 31. This entity is consolidated on a three-month time lag. Intercompany
transactions have been eliminated.

    FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION--The functional currency of foreign operations
is deemed to be the local country's currency. Assets and liabilities of
operations outside the United States are translated into United States dollars
using current exchange rates at the balance sheet date. Results of operations
are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during each period.

    CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS--Cash and cash equivalents include short-term
highly liquid investments purchased with remaining maturities of three months or
less.

    SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS--The Company follows Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in
Debt and Equity Securities." At June 30, 1999 and 1998, the Company had
categorized all securities as "available-for-sale," since the Company may
liquidate these investments currently. In calculating realized gains and losses,
cost is determined using specific identification. SFAS No. 115 requires that
unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities be excluded from
earnings and reported in a separate component of stockholders' equity.

    INVENTORIES--Inventories of raw materials are stated at the lower of
first-in, first-out cost or market. Work in process represents costs accumulated
under a job-cost accounting system, less the estimated cost of shipments to
date, in the aggregate not in excess of net realizable value. At June 30,
inventories consisted of:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 1998         1999
                                                              ----------   -----------
<S>                                                           <C>          <C>
Raw materials...............................................  $3,413,657   $ 3,746,245
Work in process.............................................   5,933,000     7,197,212
                                                              ----------   -----------
Total.......................................................  $9,346,657   $10,943,457
                                                              ==========   ===========
</TABLE>

    PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT--Property, plant and equipment are stated at
cost and are depreciated using the straight-line method over their estimated
useful lives: buildings--40 years; machinery and equipment--5 to 15 years; and
leasehold improvements over the terms of the lease.

    REVENUE RECOGNITION--Product sales are recognized upon shipment. License
fees and royalty income are recognized when earned.

    In December 1999, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff
Accounting Bulletin No. 101 ("SAB No. 101"), "Revenue Recognition in Financial
Statements." SAB No. 101 provides guidance on applying generally accepted
accounting principles to revenue recognition issues in

                                      F-7
<PAGE>
                      PARLEX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                FISCAL YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997, 1998 AND 1999

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
financial statements. The Company will adopt SAB No. 101 as required in the
fiscal fourth quarter of 2000 and are evaluating the effect that SAB No. 101 may
have on the consolidated financial statements.

    RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT--Research and development costs are expensed as
incurred and amounted to $2,717,000, $3,123,000 and $3,760,000 for the years
ended June 30, 1997, 1998 and 1999, respectively. These amounts are reflected in
the Company's cost of products sold.

    INCOME TAXES--The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with SFAS
No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes." This statement requires an asset and
liability approach to accounting for income taxes based upon the future expected
values of the related assets and liabilities. Deferred income taxes are provided
for items which are recognized in different years for tax and financial
reporting purposes.

    INCOME PER SHARE--Basic income per share is calculated on the weighted
average number of common shares outstanding during the year. Diluted income per
share is calculated on the weighted average number of common shares and common
share equivalents resulting from options outstanding except where such items
would be antidilutive.

    A reconciliation between shares used for computation of basic and dilutive
income per share is as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              1997        1998        1999
                                                            ---------   ---------   ---------
<S>                                                         <C>         <C>         <C>
Shares of basic computation...............................  3,569,052   4,295,706   4,661,790
Effect of dilutive stock options..........................    145,987     169,821     109,084
                                                            ---------   ---------   ---------
Shares for dilutive computation...........................  3,715,039   4,465,527   4,770,874
                                                            =========   =========   =========
</TABLE>

    For the years ended June 30, 1998 and 1999 potential common shares are not
included in the per-share calculations for those shares that are antidilutive.
Antidilutive potential shares not included in per-share calculations for 1998
and 1999 were approximately 73,542 and 87,250, respectively. There were no
antidilutive shares for the year ended June 30, 1997.

    USE OF ESTIMATES--The preparation of the Company's consolidated financial
statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
necessarily requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect
the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent
assets and liabilities at the balance sheet dates. Estimates include reserves
for accounts receivable, useful lives of property, plant, and equipment,
goodwill, accrued liabilities including health insurance claims, and deferred
income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

    FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS--SFAS No. 107, "Disclosures About Fair
Value of Financial Instruments," requires disclosure of the fair value of
certain financial instruments. The carrying amounts of cash, accounts
receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate fair value because
of their short-term nature. The carrying amounts of the Company's debt
instruments approximate fair value because of the relative consistency of
interest rates since its issuance.

                                      F-8
<PAGE>
                      PARLEX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                FISCAL YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997, 1998 AND 1999

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
    GOODWILL--Goodwill associated with the allocation of the purchase price over
the fair value of the assets received and liabilities assumed in connection with
the business acquisition is being amortized on a straight-line basis over its
expected life of 10 years. The Company evaluates the carrying value of goodwill
based upon current and anticipated undiscounted cash flows attributable to
discrete operations, and recognizes an impairment when it is probable that such
estimated future net income and/or cash flows will be less than the carrying
value of goodwill. Measurement of the amount of impairment, if any, is based
upon the difference between carrying value and estimated fair value.

    RECLASSIFICATIONS--Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to
conform to the current year presentation.

    STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION--The Company accounts for stock-based compensation
in accordance with Accounting Principles Board ("APB") Opinion No. 25, using the
intrinsic value method as permitted by SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation." SFAS No. 123 encourages, but does not require, the recognition of
compensation expense for the fair value of stock options and other equity
instruments issued to employees and nonemployee directors. The difference
between accounting for stock-based compensation under APB Opinion No. 25 and
SFAS No. 123 is disclosed in Note 8.

    RECENTLY ADOPTED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS--During 1999, the Company adopted
the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income," and
SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and Related
Information." SFAS No. 130 establishes standards for reporting and display of
comprehensive income and its components (revenues, expenses, gains and losses)
in a full set of general-purpose financial statements. The following components
and changes in balances of accumulated other comprehensive income are as
follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          FOREIGN                    ACCUMULATED
                                                         CURRENCY     UNREALIZED        OTHER
                                                        TRANSLATION    GAINS ON     COMPREHENSIVE
                                                        ADJUSTMENTS   INVESTMENTS      INCOME
                                                        -----------   -----------   -------------
<S>                                                     <C>           <C>           <C>
Balance, July 1, 1996.................................    $  (162)      $   --         $  (162)
  Change in balance...................................     (4,591)          --          (4,591)
                                                          -------       ------         -------
Balance, June 30, 1997................................     (4,753)          --          (4,753)
  Change in balance...................................     (3,254)      10,192           6,938
                                                          -------       ------         -------
Balance, June 30, 1998................................     (8,007)      10,192           2,185
  Change in balance...................................     20,999       (8,306)         12,693
                                                          -------       ------         -------
Balance, June 30, 1999................................    $12,992       $1,886         $14,878
                                                          =======       ======         =======
</TABLE>

                                      F-9
<PAGE>
                      PARLEX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                FISCAL YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997, 1998 AND 1999

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
    A summary of the changes in unrealized gains in short-term investments is as
follows for the years ended June 30:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                1997       1998       1999
                                                              --------   --------   --------
<S>                                                           <C>        <C>        <C>
Unrealized gains on short-term investments:
  Unrealized holding gains arising during the year..........  $    --    $18,325    $    --
  Less reclassification adjustment for gains realized in net
    income..................................................       --     (8,133)    (8,306)
                                                              -------    -------    -------
Net unrealized gains on short-term investments..............  $    --    $10,192    $(8,306)
                                                              =======    =======    =======
</TABLE>

    RECENTLY ADOPTED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS (CONTINUED)--SFAS No. 131
establishes standards for the way that public business enterprises report
information about operating segments in annual financial statements and requires
that those enterprises report selected information about operating segments in
interim financial reports. It also establishes standards for related disclosures
about products and services, geographic areas and major customers. The Company
organizes itself as one segment reporting to the chief operating decision-maker.
Revenue consists of product sales, license fees and royalty income.

    FUTURE ADOPTION OF ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS--In June 1998, the Financial
Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities." SFAS No. 133 establishes accounting and
reporting standards for derivative instruments, including certain derivative
instruments embedded in other contracts and for hedging activities. SFAS
No. 133 will be adopted by the Company during fiscal year 2001. The Company has
not completed an evaluation of the effects of adopting SFAS No. 133 on its
consolidated financial position, results of operations and financial statement
disclosures.

2. JOINT VENTURE

    In May 1995, the Company entered into an agreement to establish a limited
liability company in the form of a joint venture in the People's Republic of
China. The Company owns 50.1% of the joint venture. The joint venture
manufactures flexible printed circuits and commenced operations in
September 1995.

3. CASH AND SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS

    A summary of the Company's investments available for sale by major security
type at June 30, 1999 is as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               GROSS        GROSS
                                                AMORTIZED    UNREALIZED   UNREALIZED      FAIR
SECURITY TYPE                                      COST        GAINS        LOSSES       VALUE
-------------                                   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
<S>                                             <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Corporate debt securities.....................  $1,605,067     $1,886     $      --    $1,606,953
                                                ==========     ======     =========    ==========
</TABLE>

    All corporate debt securities at June 30, 1999 have contractual maturities
of less than one year.

                                      F-10
<PAGE>
                      PARLEX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                FISCAL YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997, 1998 AND 1999

3. CASH AND SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
    A summary of the Company's investments available for sale by major security
type at June 30, 1998 was as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              GROSS        GROSS
                                               AMORTIZED    UNREALIZED   UNREALIZED      FAIR
SECURITY TYPE                                    COST         GAINS        LOSSES        VALUE
-------------                                 -----------   ----------   ----------   -----------
<S>                                           <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>
Corporate debt securities...................  $12,150,064    $23,588      $(12,892)   $12,160,760
U.S. Government obligations.................      500,034         --          (504)       499,530
                                              -----------    -------      --------    -----------
                                              $12,650,098    $23,588      $(13,396)   $12,660,290
                                              ===========    =======      ========    ===========
</TABLE>

    The fair value of debt securities at June 30, 1998, by contractual maturity,
was as follows:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                           <C>
Due in one year or less (including approximately $5,800,000
  classified as cash equivalents)...........................  $10,943,337
Due in one to five years....................................    1,716,953
                                                              -----------
                                                              $12,660,290
                                                              ===========
</TABLE>

4. ACCRUED LIABILITIES

    Accrued liabilities at June 30 consisted of:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 1998         1999
                                                              ----------   ----------
<S>                                                           <C>          <C>
Payroll and related expenses................................  $1,489,205   $1,828,682
Accrued health insurance....................................     202,353      182,479
Other.......................................................     662,242      581,494
                                                              ----------   ----------
Total.......................................................  $2,353,800   $2,592,655
                                                              ==========   ==========
</TABLE>

5. INDEBTEDNESS

    The Company's China joint venture had a short-term bank loan bearing
interest at 1.25% over the Singapore Interbank Offer Rate ("SIBOR"). During
1999, this loan was paid in full.

    Long-term debt at June 30 consisted of:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 1998         1999
                                                              ----------   ----------
<S>                                                           <C>          <C>
Revolving credit agreement..................................  $       --   $  600,000
Capital lease obligations...................................     286,909      930,988
China joint venture bank note...............................   1,000,000      720,000
                                                              ----------   ----------
Total long-term debt........................................   1,286,909    2,250,988
Less current portion........................................     121,158      619,206
                                                              ----------   ----------
Long-term debt--net.........................................  $1,165,751   $1,631,782
                                                              ==========   ==========
</TABLE>

                                      F-11
<PAGE>
                      PARLEX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                FISCAL YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997, 1998 AND 1999

5. INDEBTEDNESS (CONTINUED)
    On November 12, 1997, the Company renegotiated its unsecured Revolving
Credit Agreement (the "Agreement") (originally dated June 22, 1994) making
available up to a total of $10,000,000 through September 30, 2000. On
October 1, 2000, the Agreement converts to a term loan with principal and
interest payments due monthly over a sixty-month period to September 30, 2005.
Borrowings under the Agreement are at the bank's corporate base rate (7.75% at
June 30, 1999), and carry an annual commitment fee of .25% on the average daily
unused portion of the bank's commitment. Interest is payable monthly. At
June 30, 1999, $600,000 was outstanding and the unused commitment amounted to
$9,400,000.

    The Agreement has restrictive covenants related to tangible net worth,
current ratio, working capital, debt service ratio, and the ratio of total
liabilities to equity.

    The Company's China joint venture bank note bears interest at 6.5% and is
payable in installments through 2001.

    The maturities for long-term debt at June 30, 1999 are as follows:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                           <C>
2000........................................................  $  619,206
2001........................................................     709,845
2002........................................................     365,616
2003........................................................     286,321
2004........................................................     120,000
Thereafter..................................................     150,000
                                                              ----------
                                                              $2,250,988
                                                              ==========
</TABLE>

    Interest paid during the years ended June 30, 1997, 1998 and 1999 was
approximately $394,000, $115,000 and, $236,000, respectively.

    Approximately $335,000 and $1,065,000 of equipment is recorded under capital
leases at June 30, 1998 and 1999, respectively. Accumulated amortization on the
capital lease equipment approximated $63,000 and $118,000 at June 30, 1998 and
1999, respectively.

6. OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES

    Other noncurrent liabilities at June 30 consisted of:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 1998         1999
                                                              ----------   ----------
<S>                                                           <C>          <C>
Deferred income taxes (Note 7)..............................  $1,223,121   $1,503,060
Deferred compensation.......................................   1,024,323    1,108,882
                                                              ----------   ----------
                                                              $2,247,444   $2,611,942
                                                              ==========   ==========
</TABLE>

    The timing of deferred compensation payments cannot presently be determined.
Amounts, if any, which may be paid within one year are not material.

                                      F-12
<PAGE>
                      PARLEX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                FISCAL YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997, 1998 AND 1999

7. INCOME TAXES

    The provision for income taxes consisted of:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           1997          1998         1999
                                                        -----------   -----------   ---------
<S>                                                     <C>           <C>           <C>
Current:
  State...............................................  $  (157,115)  $  (172,771)  $(132,271)
  Federal.............................................   (1,005,712)   (1,268,103)   (697,590)
  Foreign.............................................           --            --     (40,591)
Deferred..............................................      (86,375)      (98,640)    (93,580)
                                                        -----------   -----------   ---------
Total.................................................  $(1,249,202)  $(1,539,514)  $(964,032)
                                                        ===========   ===========   =========
</TABLE>

    A reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax rate to the effective
income tax rate is as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                1997       1998       1999
                                                              --------   --------   --------
<S>                                                           <C>        <C>        <C>
Statutory federal income tax rate...........................     34%        34%        34%
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit..............      3          2          1
Foreign income--not subject to taxation.....................     --         (5)        (9)
Foreign sales corporation...................................     (1)        (1)        (3)
Tax credits.................................................     (1)        (1)        (1)
Other.......................................................      2          1         (1)
                                                                 --         --         --
Effective income tax rate...................................     37%        30%        21%
                                                                 ==         ==         ==
</TABLE>

    Income before income taxes consisted of:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            1997         1998         1999
                                                         ----------   ----------   ----------
<S>                                                      <C>          <C>          <C>
Domestic...............................................  $3,294,622   $4,169,556   $3,150,969
Foreign................................................      86,545      960,042    1,529,855
                                                         ----------   ----------   ----------
Total..................................................  $3,381,167   $5,129,598   $4,680,824
                                                         ==========   ==========   ==========
</TABLE>

    The Company's China joint venture was exempt from income taxes for the two
years ended December 31, 1998. For the next three years, the China joint venture
is eligible for a 50% reduction in the statutory income tax rate of 15%.
Accordingly, income tax of 7.5% was recorded for the three months ended
March 31, 1999, which, as disclosed in Note 1, is the fiscal year end for the
China joint venture.

                                      F-13
<PAGE>
                      PARLEX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                FISCAL YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997, 1998 AND 1999

7. INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)
    Deferred income tax assets and liabilities at June 30 are attributable to
the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 1998         1999
                                                              ----------   ----------
<S>                                                           <C>          <C>
Deferred tax liabilities:
  Depreciation..............................................  $1,597,409   $1,919,950
  Prepaid expenses..........................................      29,918       29,394
                                                              ----------   ----------
                                                               1,627,327    1,949,344
                                                              ----------   ----------
Deferred tax assets:
  Inventories...............................................      63,730       80,621
  Allowance for doubtful accounts...........................      63,341       76,849
  Accruals..................................................     110,148      168,643
  Self-insurance............................................      79,836       72,054
  Deferred compensation.....................................     409,404      443,227
  Tax credit carryforwards..................................      50,472      163,974
                                                              ----------   ----------
                                                                 776,931    1,005,368
                                                              ----------   ----------
Net deferred tax liability..................................  $  850,396   $  943,976
                                                              ==========   ==========
</TABLE>

    Deferred taxes have not been recorded on undistributed earnings of the China
joint venture (approximately $1,161,000) because such amounts are considered
permanently invested.

    Income tax payments of approximately $751,500, $1,557,000 and $605,000 were
made in 1997, 1998 and 1999, respectively.

8. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

    The Board of Directors is authorized to establish one or more series of
preferred stock and to fix and determine the number and conditions of preferred
shares, including dividend rates, redemption and/or conversion provisions, if
any, preference and voting rights. At June 30, 1999, the Board of Directors has
not authorized any series of preferred stock.

    In October 1997, the Company sold 1,000,000 shares of its common stock in an
underwritten public offering. Proceeds to the Company totaled $20.4 million, net
of expenses associated with the offering. The proceeds are being used to expand
manufacturing facilities and purchase capital equipment. A portion of the
proceeds was also used to repay all the outstanding indebtedness under the
Company's Revolving Credit Agreement.

    The Company has incentive and nonqualified stock option plans covering
officers, key employees and directors who are not otherwise employees. The
options are generally exercisable commencing one year from the date of grant and
typically expire in either five or ten years, depending on the plan. The option
price for the incentive stock options and for the directors' plan is fair market
value at the date of grant. Nonqualified stock options are granted at fair
market value or at a price determined by the Board of Directors, depending on
the plan. In certain cases, the Company may, at the option of the Board of
Directors, reimburse the employees for the tax cost associated with their
options.

                                      F-14
<PAGE>
                      PARLEX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                FISCAL YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997, 1998 AND 1999

8. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (CONTINUED)
    During 1997, the Company established the 1996 Outside Directors' Stock
Option Plan (the "1996 Plan"). The 1996 Plan provides for the automatic grant of
1,500 options annually to each member of the Board of Directors who is not an
employee of the Company. Discretionary grants of up to 2,250 options annually
per director may also be made at the discretion of the Board of Directors. All
grants are made at the market value of the stock on the date of the grant. There
are 150,000 shares available for grant under the 1996 Plan, of which 7,500 were
granted during the year for a total of 22,500 shares granted under the 1996 Plan
at June 30, 1999.

    At June 30, 1999, there were 243,133 shares reserved for future grants for
all of the above-mentioned plans.

    The following is a summary of activity for all of the Company's stock option
plans:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         WEIGHTED-
                                                                          AVERAGE
                                                               SHARES    EXERCISE
                                                               UNDER     PRICE PER     SHARES
                                                               OPTION      SHARE     EXERCISABLE
                                                              --------   ---------   -----------
<S>                                                           <C>        <C>         <C>
July 1, 1996................................................   316,314    $ 4.56       148,778
  Granted...................................................    10,500      6.67
  Surrendered...............................................    (6,000)     3.30
  Exercised.................................................   (29,780)     4.70
                                                              --------    ------       -------
June 30, 1997...............................................   291,034      4.77       191,085
  Granted...................................................    95,750     18.50
  Surrendered...............................................    (1,315)     5.13
  Exercised.................................................   (51,899)     3.16
                                                              --------    ------       -------
June 30, 1998...............................................   333,570      8.96       199,375
  Granted...................................................    52,500     12.79
  Surrendered...............................................    (1,940)    12.49
  Exercised.................................................  (140,500)     4.41
                                                              --------    ------       -------
June 30, 1999...............................................   243,630    $12.38       105,244
                                                              ========    ======       =======
</TABLE>

                                      F-15
<PAGE>
                      PARLEX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                FISCAL YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997, 1998 AND 1999

8. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (CONTINUED)
    The following table sets forth information regarding options outstanding at
June 30, 1999:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         OPTIONS OUTSTANDING      OPTIONS EXERCISABLE
                                                       ------------------------   --------------------
                                                        WEIGHTED-
                                                         AVERAGE      WEIGHTED-              WEIGHTED-
                                                        REMAINING      AVERAGE                AVERAGE
               EXERCISE                    NUMBER      CONTRACTUAL    EXERCISE               EXERCISE
                PRICES                   OUTSTANDING   LIFE (YEARS)     PRICE      NUMBER      PRICE
---------------------------------------  -----------   ------------   ---------   --------   ---------
<S>                                      <C>           <C>            <C>         <C>        <C>
                  $2.67................     22,500           0.15      $  2.67     22,500      $2.67
                  4.17.................        750           0.15         4.17        750       4.17
                  5.67.................     22,500           5.15         5.67     18,000       5.67
                  5.84.................     25,880            1.7         5.84     17,432       5.84
                  6.67.................      9,750           5.99         6.67      8,250       6.67
                  10.00................      7,500           9.43        10.00         --         --
                  12.35................     15,000           6.64        12.35      9,000      12.35
                  13.25................     45,000           4.16        13.25         --         --
                  15.50................      7,500           8.43        15.50      7,500      15.50
                  18.75................     87,250           3.14        18.75     21,812      18.75
                                           -------                     -------    -------
            $2.67--18.75...............    243,630                     $ 12.38    105,244      $9.11
                                           =======                                =======
</TABLE>

    As described in Note 1, the Company uses the intrinsic value method in
accordance with APB No. 25 to measure compensation expense associated with
grants of stock options to employees. Had the Company used the fair value method
to measure compensation, the Company's net income and diluted income per share
would have been $2,029,904 or $.55 per share in 1997, $2,944,591 or $.66 per
share in 1998 and $2,606,350 or $.55 per share in 1999.

    The fair value of each stock option is estimated on the date of grant using
the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Key assumptions used to apply this
pricing model are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                1997        1998        1999
                                                              ---------   ---------   ---------
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>         <C>
Average risk-free interest rate.............................    6.2%        5.2%        5.5%
Expected life of option grants..............................  2.5 years   2.5 years   2.5 years
Expected volatility of underlying stock.....................    143%         72%         69%
Expected dividend rate......................................    None        None        None
</TABLE>

    The weighted-average fair value of options granted in 1997, 1998 and 1999
was $5.71, $8.34 and $5.76, respectively.

    The option pricing model was designed to value readily tradable stock
options with relatively short lives. The options granted to employees are not
tradable and have contractual lives of ten years. However, management believes
that the assumptions used and the model applied to value the awards yield a
reasonable estimate of the fair value of the grants made under the
circumstances.

                                      F-16
<PAGE>
                      PARLEX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                FISCAL YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997, 1998 AND 1999

9. BENEFIT PLANS

    The Company has a qualified profit-sharing retirement plan to provide
benefits to eligible employees. Annual contributions to the plan are at the
discretion of the Board of Directors and are discretionary in amounts. No
contributions were made to the plan for the years ended June 30, 1997, 1998 and
1999.

    The Company has a 401(k) Savings Plan (the "Plan") covering all employees of
the Company who have six consecutive months of service and have attained the age
of twenty-one. Matching employer contributions can be made to the Plan at the
discretion of the Board of Directors. The Company contributed $90,000 and
$172,000 to the Plan for the years ended June 30, 1998 and 1999, respectively.
No matching contributions were made to the Plan for the year ended June 30,
1997.

10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

    The Company leases certain property and equipment under agreements generally
with initial terms from three to five years with renewal options. Rental expense
for each of the years ended June 30, 1997, 1998 and 1999 approximated $576,000,
$742,000 and $869,000, respectively. Future payments under noncancelable
operating leases are:

<TABLE>
<S>             <C>
2000..          $725,000
2001..           693,000
2002..           387,000
2003..           260,000
2004..           260,000
</TABLE>

    From time to time, the Company is subject to various legal proceedings and
claims, either asserted or unasserted, which arise in the ordinary course of
business. While the outcome of these claims cannot be predicted with certainty,
management is not aware of any current legal matters that will have a material
adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of
operations.

11. BUSINESS SEGMENT, MAJOR CUSTOMER AND INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS

    The Company operates within a single segment of the electronics industry as
a specialist in the interconnection and packaging of electronic equipment with
its product lines of flexible printed circuits, laminated cable, and related
assemblies. The Company organizes itself as one segment reporting to the chief
operating decision-maker. Revenue consists of product sales, license fees, and
royalty income.

    Sales to several divisions of one customer represented 20%, 23% and 15% of
total revenues in 1997, 1998 and 1999, respectively.

                                      F-17
<PAGE>
                      PARLEX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                FISCAL YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997, 1998 AND 1999

11. BUSINESS SEGMENT, MAJOR CUSTOMER AND INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)
    Summarized information relating to international operations is as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         1997          1998          1999
                                                      -----------   -----------   -----------
<S>                                                   <C>           <C>           <C>
Revenues:
  United States.....................................  $48,434,514   $48,521,029   $46,785,650
  Canada............................................    2,443,000     6,311,000    10,671,000
  China.............................................    1,037,298     1,793,030     1,929,250
  Other.............................................    3,172,041     3,650,112     7,661,383
                                                      -----------   -----------   -----------
Total revenues from unaffiliated customers..........  $55,086,853   $60,275,171   $67,047,283
                                                      ===========   ===========   ===========
The principal product group sales were:
  Flexible circuits.................................  $41,492,550   $44,378,680   $49,625,163
  Laminated cables..................................   13,484,593    15,669,656    16,747,637
                                                      -----------   -----------   -----------
Product sales.......................................  $54,977,143   $60,048,336   $66,372,800
                                                      ===========   ===========   ===========
Long-lived assets:
  United States.....................................  $12,476,319   $18,843,351   $31,110,693
                                                      ===========   ===========   ===========
  China.............................................  $ 1,724,105   $ 1,829,306   $ 2,356,264
                                                      ===========   ===========   ===========
</TABLE>

12. SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)

    Summarized quarterly financial data are as follows (in thousands except per
share amounts):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         FIRST      SECOND     THIRD      FOURTH
                                                        --------   --------   --------   --------
<S>                                                     <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
1998 QUARTERS
Revenues..............................................  $13,717    $14,184    $14,296    $18,078
Gross profit..........................................    3,178      2,869      3,027      3,897
Net income............................................      728        587        823      1,019
Net income per share:
  Basic...............................................      .19        .14        .18        .22
  Diluted.............................................      .18        .13        .17        .21
1999 QUARTERS
Revenues..............................................  $15,492    $15,354    $16,099    $20,102
Gross profit..........................................    2,441      2,834      3,987      5,001
Net income............................................      199        540        944      1,337
Net income per share:
  Basic...............................................      .04        .12        .20        .28
  Diluted.............................................      .04        .11        .20        .28
</TABLE>

13. PURCHASE OF PARLEX-DYNAFLEX

    On April 30, 1999, the Company established a wholly owned subsidiary and
purchased the assets of Dynaflex, a business which produces custom flexible
circuits. The acquisition has been

                                      F-18
<PAGE>
                      PARLEX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                FISCAL YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997, 1998 AND 1999

13. PURCHASE OF PARLEX-DYNAFLEX (CONTINUED)
accounted for as a purchase business combination and the results of
Parlex-Dynaflex are included in the consolidated results of the Company since
the purchase date, April 30, 1999. The cost of acquisition was $2,620,000, plus
$140,000 of liabilities assumed, and the purchase price has been allocated to
acquired accounts receivable, inventory, property, plant and equipment and
accounts payable. Approximately $1,200,000 has been recorded as goodwill which
reflects the excess of purchase price over the fair value of assets and
liabilities acquired. Goodwill is reported within other assets on the
consolidated balance sheets and is being amortized on a straight-line basis over
ten years. The results of operations of Dynaflex were not significant to the
Company in either 1999 or 1998. Accordingly, pro forma information has not been
presented.

14. SUBSEQUENT EVENT

    On March 1, 2000, pursuant to a Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of
January 21, 2000, by and among the Company and Cookson Group plc and Cookson
Investment, Inc. (together, "Cookson"), the Company completed its acquisition of
the stock of two Cookson wholly-owned subsidiaries, Poly-Flex Circuits Limited
and Poly-Flex Circuits, Inc., for $19,650,000 in cash. In connection with the
acquisition, the Company entered into a loan agreement (the "Loan Agreement")
dated March 1, 2000, with Fleet National Bank. The Loan Agreement provided for
two credit facilities consisting of a $15,000,000 revolving credit facility,
which replaced the Company's existing revolving credit facility, and a
$15,000,000 term loan. All amounts outstanding under the revolving credit
facility are payable on December 31, 2001. The $15,000,000 term loan is payable
in twenty consecutive quarterly installments in amounts equal to $750,000 for
the first nineteen installments and the unpaid principal balance for the final
installment. Interest accrues on the loans made under the credit facilities at
the Company's option at either Fleet National Bank's prime rate or the LIBOR
base rate plus a margin ranging from 1.5% to 2.0%. Total amounts outstanding
under the term loan and revolving credit facility as of March 1, 2000 totaled
$15,000,000 and $5,240,000 respectively.

                                      F-19
<PAGE>
           PARLEX PROVIDES A WORLD OF FLEXIBLE INTERCONNECT SOLUTIONS

    This page will include photographs of Parlex manufacturing facilities in the
following locations:

    - Methuen, Massachusetts

    - Cranston, Rhode Island

    - San Jose, California

    - Salem, New Hampshire

    - Newport, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom

    - Empalme, Sonora, Mexico

    - Shanghai, People's Republic of China

    The layout of the page will be arranged as a collage of our facilities
superimposed over an image of a globe.

    Each facility photograph will include a caption at the bottom of the picture
identifying that facility's location.

    Our logo will appear in the bottom right corner of the page.
<PAGE>
                                1,350,000 SHARES

                                     [LOGO]

                                  COMMON STOCK

                               ------------------

                                   PROSPECTUS
                               ------------------

                          Adams, Harkness & Hill, Inc.

                            Needham & Company, Inc.

                            ------------------------

                                 June 20, 2000


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