SURMODICS INC
SB-2/A, 1998-02-05
ADHESIVES & SEALANTS
Previous: CORAL PARTNERS II LP, SC 13G/A, 1998-02-05
Next: SCUDDER PATHWAY SERIES /NEW/, 497, 1998-02-05



<PAGE>
   
    AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON FEBRUARY 5, 1998
    
   
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-43217
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                           --------------------------
 
   
                                AMENDMENT NO. 1
                                       TO
    
 
                                   FORM SB-2
 
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
 
                                     UNDER
 
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                           --------------------------
 
                                SURMODICS, INC.
 
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                              <C>                            <C>
          MINNESOTA                          2899                  41-1356149
  (State or jurisdiction of      (Primary Standard Industrial   (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)       Classification Code)        Identification
                                                                    Number)
</TABLE>
 
                                SURMODICS, INC.
                             9924 WEST 74TH STREET
                         EDEN PRAIRIE, MINNESOTA 55344
                                 (612) 829-2700
 
                         (Address and telephone number
        of principal executive offices and principal place of business)
 
                    DALE R. OLSETH, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                SURMODICS, INC.
                             9924 WEST 74TH STREET
                         EDEN PRAIRIE, MINNESOTA 55344
                                 (612) 829-2700
           (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
                           --------------------------
 
                                   COPIES TO:
 
   
         DAVID R. BUSCH, ESQ.                    D. WILLIAM KAUFMAN, ESQ.
        MELODIE R. ROSE, ESQ.                     MICHAEL J. KOLAR, ESQ.
       Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.              Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP
 900 Second Avenue South, Suite 1100       45 South Seventh Street, Suite 3400
     Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402              Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
            (612) 347-7000                            (612) 607-7000
 
    
                           --------------------------
 
        APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
  AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE AFTER THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES EFFECTIVE.
                           --------------------------
 
    If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and
list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering: / /
 
    If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering: / /
 
    If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering: / /
 
    If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box: / /
                           --------------------------
 
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             PROPOSED MAXIMUM    PROPOSED MAXIMUM
        TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF             AMOUNT TO BE       OFFERING PRICE        AGGREGATE           AMOUNT OF
     SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED          REGISTERED(1)        PER SHARE(2)     OFFERING PRICE(2)    REGISTRATION FEE
<S>                                     <C>                 <C>                 <C>                 <C>
Common Stock, $0.05 per share par
  value...............................   2,300,000 shares         $8.50            $19,550,000            $5,768
</TABLE>
 
(1) Includes 300,000 shares purchasable by the Underwriters to cover
    over-allotments.
 
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in
    accordance with Rule 457(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
                           --------------------------
 
    THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVENESS UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY
OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES
EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE SECURITIES
IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR
TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.
<PAGE>
   
                 SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED FEBRUARY 5, 1998
    
 
                                2,000,000 SHARES
 
                                     [LOGO]
 
                                  COMMON STOCK
 
   
    All of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby are being sold by
SurModics, Inc. Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the
Common Stock. It is currently estimated that the initial public offering price
will be between $7.50 and $8.50 per share. See "Underwriting" for the factors
considered in determining the initial public offering price. The Company has
applied for quotation of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market under
the symbol "SRDX."
    
 
                            ------------------------
 
   
        THE COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK.
                    SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 5.
    
 
                             ---------------------
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
   EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
       COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF
              THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE
                              CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  UNDERWRITING
                                                                PRICE TO          DISCOUNT AND        PROCEEDS TO
                                                                 PUBLIC         COMMISSIONS (1)       COMPANY (2)
<S>                                                        <C>                 <C>                 <C>
Per Share................................................          $                   $                   $
Total (3)................................................  $                   $                   $
</TABLE>
 
(1) The Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain
    liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as
    amended. See "Underwriting."
 
(2) Before deducting expenses payable by the Company estimated at $350,000.
 
(3) The Company has granted the Underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to
    300,000 additional shares solely to cover over-allotments, if any. If such
    option is exercised in full, the total Price to Public, Underwriting
    Discounts and Commissions, and Proceeds to Company will be $      , $
    and $      , respectively. See "Underwriting."
 
    The shares of Common Stock are offered by the several Underwriters subject
to prior sale, when, as and if delivered to and accepted by them, and are
subject to the right of the Underwriters to withdraw, cancel or modify such
offer and to reject any order in whole or in part. It is expected that delivery
of the shares of Common Stock will be made on or about              , 1998.
 
                            ------------------------
 
                   JOHN G. KINNARD AND COMPANY, INCORPORATED
                                  ------------
 
              The date of this Prospectus is                , 1998
<PAGE>
                                     [LOGO]
 
                    Providing surface modification solutions
                           to optimize medical device
                                  performance
 
                      [ANATOMICAL DEPICTION OF HUMAN BODY]
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                           <C>
NEUROLOGICAL
guide catheters
infusion catheters
guidewires
hydrocephalic shunts
 
CARDIOVASCULAR                                CARDIAC RHYTHM MANAGMENT
stents                                        pacemaker leads
guidewires                                    electrophysiology catheters
guide catheters
angioplasty catheters
heart valves
vascular grafts
 
                                              SURGICAL DEVICES
                                              endoscopy devices
                                              chest wound drains
 
UROGENITAL                                    PERIPHERAL VASCULAR
urinary catheters                             vascular grafts
penile implants                               stents
incontinence devices                          catheters
ureteral stents                               guidewires
 
                                              ORTHOPEDIC
                                              bone repair
                                              cartilage repair
</TABLE>
 
    The following are registered trademarks of the Company:
"PhotoLink-Registered Trademark-", "StabilCoat-Registered Trademark-" and
"StabilZyme-Registered Trademark-". The Company's applications for the federal
registration of its trademarks "SurModics-TM-", "StabilGuard-TM-" and
"StabilZyme Select-TM-" are pending.
 
    CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THIS OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS
THAT STABILIZE, MAINTAIN, OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK,
INCLUDING OVER-ALLOTMENT, STABILIZING AND SHORT-COVERING TRANSACTIONS IN SUCH
SECURITIES, AND THE IMPOSITION OF PENALTY BIDS. FOR A DESCRIPTION OF THESE
ACTIVITIES, SEE "UNDERWRITING."
<PAGE>
                                                 PhotoLink-Registered Trademark-
 
[ILLUSTRATION OF PHOTOLINK COATING PROCESS
 BONDING BIOMOLECULES TO A SURFACE]
BIOMOLECULE
IMMOBILIZATION
 
PhotoLink is a versatile, easily applied light-activated coating technology that
can impart a variety of performance-enhancing characteristics to the surface of
medical devices.
 
           [PHOTOGRAPH OF UNCOATED MATERIAL WITH NON-ABSORBED LIQUID
                    AND COATED MATERIAL WITH ABSORBED LIQUID]
                                  WETTABILITY
 
          [PHOTOGRAPH OF UNCOATED MATERIAL WITH BLOOD CELL ATTACHMENT
                  AND COATED MATERIAL WITHOUT SUCH ATTACHMENT]
                               HEMOCOMPATIBILITY
<PAGE>
                                                 [MICROSCOPIC PHOTOGRAPH OF BONE
                                                                   REGENERATION]
                                                     TISSUE ENGINEERING SURFACES
 
[ILLUSTRATION OF DRUG MOLECULES TRAPPED WITHIN A MATRIX OF POLYMERS BONDED
 TO A SURFACE OF A STENT]
DRUG DELIVERY
 
                              [PHOTOGRAPH OF LIQUID BEADS ON AN UNCOATED SURFACE
                                        AND NO LIQUID BEADS ON A COATED SURFACE]
                                                                       LUBRICITY
 
[MICROSCOPIC PHOTOGRAPHS OF UNCOATED MATERIAL COVERED WITH BACTERIA
 AND COATED MATERIAL WITH ALMOST NO BACTERIA]
 
                              INFECTION RESISTANCE
<PAGE>
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
 
    THIS SUMMARY IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY, AND SHOULD BE READ IN
CONJUNCTION WITH, THE MORE DETAILED INFORMATION AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND THE
NOTES THERETO APPEARING ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS. UNLESS OTHERWISE
INDICATED, THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS (I) ASSUMES NO EXERCISE OF THE
UNDERWRITERS' OVER-ALLOTMENT OPTION, (II) ASSUMES PRO FORMA CONVERSION OF ALL
OUTSTANDING SHARES OF SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK INTO 1,507,312 SHARES
OF COMMON STOCK TO BE EFFECTED UPON THE CLOSING OF THIS OFFERING AND (III)
REFLECTS A 4-FOR-1 STOCK SPLIT OF THE COMMON STOCK EFFECTED ON DECEMBER 22,
1997. SEE "DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK" AND "UNDERWRITING."
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
    SurModics, Inc. ("SurModics" or the "Company") is a leading provider of
surface modification solutions to the medical device industry. The Company's
primary focus is the commercialization of its patented PhotoLink process through
third-party licensing arrangements. PhotoLink is a versatile, easily applied,
light-activated coating technology that modifies medical device surfaces by
creating covalent bonds between those surfaces and a variety of chemical agents.
Through the PhotoLink process, these chemical agents can impart many
performance-enhancing characteristics, such as lubricity, hemocompatibility,
infection resistance and drug delivery, onto the surface of a medical device
without materially changing the dimensions or physical properties of the device.
The Company believes that medical device manufacturers who utilize the Company's
technology are able to significantly improve the performance of their products
and, in many cases, differentiate their products in a highly competitive
marketplace.
 
    The Company focuses on providing high value-added surface modification
solutions to a variety of medical device markets and product categories.
Examples of products in the market or under development that incorporate the
PhotoLink technology include interventional cardiology catheters, vascular
stents, interventional neurology catheters, guide wires and shunts, cardiac
rhythm management devices, and urological and gynecological devices. The surface
properties created by the PhotoLink technology have greatly reduced treatment
times in catheter-based vascular procedures and have shown the potential to
enhance the long-term performance of implantable devices by improving infection
resistance and promoting host cell attachment, growth and subsequent tissue
integration. The Company believes further opportunities exist to commercialize
its PhotoLink technology for other market applications, such as biomolecule
immobilization for use in the emerging field of DNA-based diagnostics.
 
    SurModics believes its PhotoLink technology has many advantages over other
competing surface modification technologies. First, the PhotoLink technology can
be applied to many different kinds of surfaces, which allows manufacturers a
high degree of flexibility in designing their products. Second, the PhotoLink
technology can immobilize a variety of chemical, pharmaceutical and biological
agents, thereby imparting many different performance-enhancing characteristics
to the device being coated. Third, the PhotoLink technology provides the medical
device manufacturer with the ability to combine multiple surface-enhancing
characteristics on the same device. Finally, the PhotoLink process is relatively
simple and does not subject the medical devices to harsh chemical, pressure or
temperature conditions during the coating process as is the case with some
competing technologies. PhotoLink coatings are compatible with all generally
accepted sterilization processes and the PhotoLink process does not require
expensive, specialized manufacturing equipment. In addition, SurModics' customer
service includes free proof-of-concept studies for potential applications,
coating optimization for specific licensee applications, transfer of the
technology to licensee manufacturing facilities, and assistance during the FDA
approval process for PhotoLink coated devices.
 
    The Company has commercialized its PhotoLink technology through licensing
arrangements with medical device manufacturers which apply the PhotoLink
coatings to their own products. The Company believes this approach allows it to
focus its resources on further development of its technology and expansion of
its licensing activities, while leveraging the established manufacturing, sales
and marketing
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
   
capabilities of its licensees. Revenues from these arrangements include initial
license fees, minimum royalties and earned royalties based on a percentage of
licensees' product sales. The Company currently has license agreements with 32
companies covering 105 different applications, of which 59 are generating
royalty revenues for the Company. Licensees of the PhotoLink technology include
Cook Incorporated, Cordis Corporation (a Johnson & Johnson company), Medtronic
PS Medical, Pacesetter, Inc. (a St. Jude Medical, Inc. company), Perclose, Inc.,
Sulzer Carbomedics (a division of Sulzer Medica USA Inc.) and Target
Therapeutics, Inc. (a subsidiary of Boston Scientific Corporation).
    
 
    In addition to licensing its PhotoLink technology, the Company also licenses
certain diagnostic technology to Abbott Laboratories for use with rapid
point-of-care diagnostic tests, such as pregnancy and strep tests. The Company
also manufactures and sells the chemical reagents used in the PhotoLink process
and stabilization products used to extend the shelf-life of immunoassay
diagnostic tests.
 
   
    The Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Minnesota in
June 1979. The Company changed its name from BSI Corporation to SurModics, Inc.
in June 1997. The Company's executive offices are located at 9924 West 74th
Street, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344, its telephone number is (612) 829-2700
and its Internet address is www.surmodics.com.
    
 
                                  THE OFFERING
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                            <C>
Common Stock offered.........................  2,000,000 shares
 
Common Stock to be outstanding after this
  offering...................................  6,910,100 shares (1)
 
Use of Proceeds..............................  The Company intends to use proceeds from this
                                               offering for research and development, sales
                                               and marketing and upgrades to its
                                               manufacturing equipment, to strengthen its
                                               patent protection and for working capital and
                                               general corporate purposes. See "Use of
                                               Proceeds."
 
Proposed Nasdaq National Market symbol.......  SRDX
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
 
   
(1) Includes 84,000 shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to restricted stock
    agreements as of the date of this Prospectus. Excludes, as of the date of
    this Prospectus, 1,233,200 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
    outstanding stock options at a weighted average exercise price of $4.61 per
    share. See "Management--Stock Options" and "Description of Capital Stock."
    
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
                             SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA
               (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AND LICENSE DATA)
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                      THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                         FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,                 DECEMBER 31,
                                              -----------------------------------------------------  --------------------
                                                1993       1994       1995       1996       1997       1996       1997
                                              ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                           <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS DATA:
  Total revenues............................  $   4,630  $   4,618  $   5,956  $   6,182  $   7,582  $   1,655  $   1,909
  Operating costs and expenses..............      5,391      5,703      6,411      6,597      7,545      1,668      1,808
                                              ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
  Income (loss) from operations.............       (761)    (1,085)      (455)      (415)        37        (13)       101
  Other income (expense), net...............        244        (17)       133        221        199         39         50
                                              ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
  Net income (loss).........................  $    (517) $  (1,102) $    (322) $    (194) $     236  $      26  $     151
                                              ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                              ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
  Net income (loss) per share (pro forma)
    (1)
    Basic...................................  $    (.13) $    (.26) $    (.07) $    (.04) $     .05  $     .01  $     .03
    Diluted.................................       (.13)      (.26)      (.07)      (.04)       .04        .00        .03
  Weighted average shares outstanding (pro
    forma) (1)
    Basic...................................      4,065      4,304      4,789      4,851      4,905      4,894      4,967
    Diluted.................................      4,065      4,304      4,789      4,851      5,393      5,400      5,432
</TABLE>
    
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                            SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                                   ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      1993         1994         1995         1996         1997
                                                                      -----        -----        -----        -----        -----
<S>                                                                <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
SELECTED LICENSE DATA:
  Number of licensees............................................          15           19           26           28           32
  Number of licensed applications................................          34           44           77          101          106
  Number of licensed applications generating royalties...........          14           20           23           45           58
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                                                     DECEMBER 31,
                                                                         1997
                                                                   -----------------
<S>                                                                <C>
SELECTED LICENSE DATA:
  Number of licensees............................................             32
  Number of licensed applications................................            105
  Number of licensed applications generating royalties...........             59
</TABLE>
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                              DECEMBER 31, 1997
                                                                                          -------------------------
                                                                                           ACTUAL    AS ADJUSTED(2)
                                                                                          ---------  --------------
<S>                                                                                       <C>        <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
  Cash, cash equivalents and investments................................................  $   3,637    $   18,087
  Total assets..........................................................................      6,341        20,791
  Total liabilities.....................................................................      1,073         1,073
  Total stockholders' equity............................................................      5,268        19,718
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
 
   
(1) See Note 2 to Financial Statements for an explanation of the determination
    of weighted average shares outstanding (pro forma).
    
 
(2) Adjusted to reflect the sale of the 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock offered
    by the Company hereby at an assumed offering price of $8.00 per share, and
    the application of the estimated net proceeds therefrom. See "Use of
    Proceeds."
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
                                  RISK FACTORS
 
    THE COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. THIS
PROSPECTUS INCLUDES CERTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WHICH REFLECT THE
COMPANY'S PLANS, ESTIMATES AND BELIEFS. THE COMPANY'S ACTUAL RESULTS COULD
DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE DISCUSSED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.
FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE OR CONTRIBUTE TO SUCH DIFFERENCES ARE DISCUSSED IN THE
FOLLOWING RISK FACTORS AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS. IN EVALUATING AN
INVESTMENT IN THE COMMON STOCK, PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER
THE FOLLOWING RISK FACTORS AND OTHER INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS.
 
   
DEPENDENCE ON ROYALTY REVENUES; LICENSEES' REGULATORY BARRIERS; TERMINATION OF
  LICENSE AGREEMENTS
    
 
   
    The principal element of the Company's strategy is to enter into licensing
arrangements with medical device companies that manufacture products
incorporating the Company's technology. For the three months ended December 31,
1997 and for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1997, the Company derived
approximately 49.3% and 38.4% of its revenues, respectively, from royalties. The
Company does not currently manufacture, market or sell its own medical devices
nor does it intend to do so in the foreseeable future. Thus, the Company's
prospects are substantially dependent on the receipt of royalties from licensees
of its technology. The amount and timing of such royalties are, in turn,
dependent on the ability of the Company's licensees to successfully gain
regulatory approval for, market and sell products incorporating the Company's
technology. Failure of certain licensees to gain regulatory approval or market
acceptance for such products could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. Although the
Company believes that its licensees have an economic motivation to market
products containing the Company's technology, the amount and timing of resources
to be devoted by them to marketing and the ultimate commercial success of such
medical devices are not within the control of the Company. Hence, the amount and
timing of royalty payments received by the Company will fluctuate, and such
fluctuations could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition and results of operations.
    
 
    Under the Company's standard license agreements, licensees can abandon the
Company's technology for any reason upon prior written notice, typically
required at least 90 days before termination. Existing and potential licensees
have no obligation to deal exclusively with the Company in obtaining surface
modification technology and may pursue parallel development or licensing of
competing surface modifications, on their own or with third parties. A decision
by a licensee to abandon or terminate one or more of its products coated through
the PhotoLink process or to otherwise terminate its relationship with the
Company could materially adversely affect the Company's business, financial
condition and results of operations. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Business--Current
Licensing Arrangements."
 
NEED TO EXPAND LICENSING BASE; UNCERTAINTY OF MARKET ACCEPTANCE
 
    The Company intends to continue pursuing a strategy of licensing its
technology to a diversified base of medical device manufacturers, thereby
expanding its licensing base for the PhotoLink technology. The Company's success
will depend, in part, on its ability to attract new licensees and to enter into
agreements for additional applications with existing licensees. There can be no
assurance that the Company can successfully expand its licensing base or that
such expansion will result in increased commercialization of licensed
applications. While certain applications of SurModics' PhotoLink technology have
gained acceptance in some segments of the medical device industry, the Company
is in the early stages of adapting the technology for a broader base of medical
applications with additional performance-enhancing characteristics. The
Company's ability to expand its licensing base will depend, in part, on its
ability to develop and market new applications for its PhotoLink technology in
its target markets. However, certain of the Company's existing licenses are
exclusive with respect to certain medical devices, which could restrict the
Company's ability to license the same technology to another entity for a similar
or competitive purpose. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able
to identify, develop and adapt its PhotoLink
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
technology for new applications in a timely and cost effective manner, that new
applications will be licensed by the Company on favorable terms, that such
applications will be accepted by manufacturers in the Company's target markets,
or that products incorporating new applications will gain regulatory approval,
be commercialized or gain market acceptance. Delays in developing new or
enhancing existing PhotoLink applications or the failure of such applications or
potential licensees' products to gain market acceptance could have an adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
See "Business--Strategy," "Business--Research and Development" and
"Business--Government Regulation."
 
COMPETITION AND RISK OF TECHNOLOGICAL OBSOLESCENCE
 
    The Company operates in a highly competitive and rapidly evolving field and
new developments are expected to continue at a rapid pace. The Company's success
depends, in part, upon its ability to maintain a competitive position in the
development of technologies and products in its areas of focus. The Company's
PhotoLink technology competes with technologies developed by Biocompatibles
International plc, Carmeda (a division of Norsk Hydro USA, Inc.), Specialty
Coatings Systems, Spire Corporation and STS Biopolymers Inc., among others. In
addition, many medical device manufacturers have developed or are engaged in
efforts to develop surface modification technologies generally for use on their
own products. Competition may also result from development efforts by existing
and potential licensees who have no obligation to deal exclusively with the
Company in utilizing or developing surface modification technologies. Many of
the Company's existing and potential competitors (including medical device
manufacturers pursuing coating solutions through their own research and
development efforts) have substantially greater financial and technical
resources and production and marketing capabilities than the Company. There can
be no assurance that the Company will be able to compete effectively with such
competitors. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that new products or
technologies developed by others, or the emergence of new industry standards,
will not render the Company's products or technologies or licensees' products
incorporating the Company's technologies noncompetitive or obsolete. Any new
technologies which make the Company's PhotoLink technology less competitive or
obsolete would have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition and results of operations. See "Business--Competition."
 
HISTORY OF LOSSES AND ACCUMULATED DEFICIT
 
   
    The Company has incurred net losses in each year since inception, except for
the year ended September 30, 1997, during which the Company recorded operating
income of $37,000 and net income of $236,000. As of December 31, 1997, the
Company had an accumulated deficit of $8.0 million. Losses have resulted
principally from costs incurred in connection with the Company's research and
development activities and from general and administrative costs associated with
the Company's operations. Historically, operations have been predominately
funded with government grants and equity offerings. The Company's revenues may
fluctuate from quarter to quarter and year to year primarily as a result of
fluctuations in the recognition of initial license fees and royalty revenue. The
Company's ability to generate significant revenues and maintain profitability
will depend, in large part, on the ability of the Company to enter into
additional license agreements and on the ability of its licensees to
successfully commercialize products incorporating the Company's technologies. No
assurance can be given that the Company will generate significant revenue growth
or maintain profitability. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
    
 
DEPENDENCE ON PATENTS AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS
 
    The Company's success depends, in large part, on its ability to obtain and
maintain patents, maintain trade secret protection, operate without infringing
on the proprietary rights of third parties and protect its proprietary rights
against infringement by third parties. The Company has been granted U.S. and
foreign
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
patents and has U.S. and foreign patent applications pending related to its
PhotoLink technology. There can be no assurance that any pending patent
application will be approved, that the Company will develop additional
proprietary technology that is patentable, that any patents issued to the
Company will provide the Company with competitive advantages or will not be
challenged or invalidated by any third parties or that the patents of others
will not prevent the commercialization of products incorporating the Company's
technology. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that others will not
independently develop similar technology, duplicate any of the Company's
technology or design around the Company's patents. There can also be no
assurance that the Company's trade secrets or confidentiality agreements with
potential licensees or other parties will provide meaningful protection for the
Company's unpatented proprietary information.
 
    The commercial success of the Company also will depend, in part, on its
ability to avoid infringing patent or other intellectual property rights of
third parties. There has been substantial litigation regarding patent and other
intellectual property rights in the medical device industry, and intellectual
property litigation may be used against the Company as a means of gaining a
competitive advantage. Intellectual property litigation is complex,
time-consuming and expensive, and the outcome of such litigation is difficult to
predict. If the Company were found to be infringing any third-party patent or
other intellectual property right, the Company could be required to pay
significant damages, alter its products or processes, obtain licenses from
others or cease commercialization of its products and processes. If the Company
is required to obtain any licenses, there can be no assurance that the Company
will be able to do so on commercially favorable terms, if at all. The Company's
failure to obtain any such license on commercially favorable terms could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and
results of operations.
 
    Patent litigation may also be necessary to enforce any patents issued or
licensed to the Company or to determine the scope and validity of third-party
proprietary rights. If patent applications are filed in the U.S. that claim
technology also claimed by the Company, the U.S. Patent and Trademark office may
declare an interference proceeding to determine priority of invention which
could result in substantial cost to the Company, even if the eventual outcome is
favorable to the Company. An adverse outcome of any such litigation or
interference proceeding could subject the Company to significant liabilities to
third parties, require disputed rights to be licensed from third parties or
require the Company to cease using its technology. Any action to defend or
prosecute intellectual property would be costly and result in significant
diversion of the efforts of the Company's management and technical personnel,
regardless of outcome, and could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition and results of operations. See "Business--Patents
and Proprietary Rights" and "Use of Proceeds."
 
DEPENDENCE ON KEY LICENSEE AND GOVERNMENT FUNDING
 
   
    Abbott Laboratories ("Abbott") and certain U.S. government agencies
accounted for 28% and 12% of the Company's revenues, respectively, for the three
months ended December 31, 1997 and 21% and 16% of the Company's revenues,
respectively, for fiscal 1997. The revenues from Abbott primarily represent
royalties received by SurModics in connection with an exclusive license granted
to Abbott of the Company's patent rights in a particular diagnostic format. This
license currently expires in 2008, subject to extension or renewals of the life
of the licensed patents, but can be terminated earlier at any time by Abbott
upon 90 days' prior written notice. However, Abbott would then have no right to
use such technology in any of its diagnostic tests. There can be no assurance
that revenues from Abbott or any customer will continue at their historical
levels. Loss of one or more of the Company's current customers, particularly
Abbott, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition and results of operations.
    
 
    The revenues from government agencies represent grants from such agencies
under the federal government's Small Business Innovative Research ("SBIR")
program. While the Company intends to continue to seek government grants to fund
some of its research and development efforts, there can be no
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
assurance that the Company will be successful in obtaining any future government
grants. Although government grants have represented a significant percentage of
revenues in the past, the Company believes that these revenues will decline
slightly as an absolute number and more significantly as a percentage of total
revenue as the Company continues its focus on commercializing its technology.
See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations," "Business--Other Products" and "Business--Research and
Development."
 
PRODUCT LIABILITY AND INSURANCE
 
    The development and sale of medical devices and component products involves
an inherent risk of product liability claims. Although the Company expects that
devices incorporating its technologies and products will be manufactured by
others and sold under their own labels, there can be no assurance that product
liability claims will not be filed against the Company for such devices or that
such manufacturers will not seek indemnification or other relief from the
Company for any such claims. In addition, there can be no assurance that product
liability claims will not be filed directly against the Company with respect to
its own products. The Company currently maintains product liability insurance in
amounts which management believes are appropriate. There can be no assurance,
however, that product liability insurance will continue to be available to the
Company in the future on acceptable terms, if at all, or that, if available, the
coverages will be adequate to protect the Company against any future product
liability claims. Furthermore, the Company does not expect to be able to obtain
insurance covering its costs and losses as a result of any recall of its
products or devices incorporating the Company's technology due to alleged
defects, whether such recall is instituted by a device manufacturer or the
Company or required by a regulatory agency. A product liability claim, recall or
other claim with respect to uninsured liabilities or in excess of insured
liabilities could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition or results of operations.
 
DEPENDENCE UPON KEY PERSONNEL AND ABILITY TO ATTRACT QUALIFIED PERSONNEL
 
   
    The Company is highly dependent upon a number of key management and
technical personnel. The Company is also dependent upon its ability to attract
and retain additional highly qualified management and technical personnel. The
Company faces intense competition for qualified personnel, many of whom could be
subject to competing employment offers, and there can be no assurance that the
Company will be able to attract and retain such personnel. The Company does not
maintain key person insurance on any of its employees. The loss of the services
of one or more key employees or the failure to attract and retain additional
qualified personnel could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition and results of operations. The Company does not
have employment or non-compete agreements with any of its employees. See
"Business--Employees" and "Management."
    
 
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
 
    Although PhotoLink technology itself is not directly regulated by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"), the medical devices incorporating this
technology are subject to FDA regulation. The burden of securing FDA approval
for these medical devices rests with the Company's licensees (the medical device
manufacturers). However, the Company has prepared Device Master Files which may
be accessed by the FDA to assist it in its review of the applications filed by
the Company's licensees. Historically, most medical devices incorporating the
PhotoLink process have been subject to the FDA's 510(k) marketing approval
process, which typically lasts about six to nine months. Supplemental or full
pre-market approval ("PMA") reviews require a significantly longer period. Thus,
significantly more time will be required to commercialize applications subjected
to PMA review. Furthermore, sales of medical devices outside the U.S. are
subject to international regulatory requirements that vary from country to
country. The time required to obtain approval for sale internationally may be
longer or shorter than that required for FDA approval. There can be no assurance
that the Company's licensees will be able to obtain
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
regulatory approval for devices incorporating PhotoLink technology on a timely
basis, or at all. Regulatory approvals, if granted, may include significant
limitations of the indicated uses for which the product may be marketed. In
addition, product approval could be withdrawn for failure to comply with
regulatory standards or the occurrence of unforeseen problems following initial
marketing. Changes in existing regulations or adoption of new governmental
regulations or policies could prevent or delay regulatory approval of products
incorporating PhotoLink technology or subject the Company to additional
regulation. Failure or delay of licensees in obtaining FDA and other necessary
regulatory approval or clearance or the loss of previously obtained approvals
could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
condition and results of operations.
 
    Certain of the Company's activities are regulated by federal and state
agencies in addition to the FDA. For example, activities in connection with
industrial applications of PhotoLink technology and waste disposal are subject
to regulation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Some PhotoLink
reagents must be registered with the agency with basic information filed related
to toxicity during the manufacturing process as well as the toxicity of the
final product. Failure to comply with existing or future regulatory requirements
could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
condition and results of operations. See "Business--Government Regulation."
 
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
 
    The Company's research activities sometimes involve the controlled use of
various hazardous materials. Although the Company believes that its safety
procedures for handling and disposing of such materials comply with the
standards prescribed by state and federal regulations, the risk of accidental
contamination or injury from these materials cannot be completely eliminated.
While the Company currently maintains insurance in amounts which it believes are
appropriate in light of the risk of accident, the Company could be held liable
for any damages that might result from any such event. Any such liability could
exceed the Company's insurance and available resources and could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of
operations. See "Business--Government Regulation."
 
NO PRIOR PUBLIC MARKET FOR COMMON STOCK; POSSIBLE VOLATILITY OF STOCK PRICE
 
    Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the Common Stock
and there can be no assurance that an active public market for the Common Stock
will develop or be sustained after the offering. The initial public offering
price will be determined by negotiations between the Company and the
Underwriters and is not necessarily indicative of the market price at which the
Common Stock of the Company will trade after this offering. Market prices for
securities of medical technology companies can be highly volatile, and the
market has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are
unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. Announcements of
the status or results of licensing agreements, development projects or
technological innovations by the Company or its competitors, developments
concerning proprietary rights, including patents and litigation matters,
government regulation, general market conditions, as well as quarterly
fluctuations in the Company's revenues and financial results and other factors,
may have a significant impact on the market price of the Common Stock. In
particular, the realization of any of the risks described in the "Risk Factors"
set forth in this Prospectus could have a dramatic and adverse impact on such
market price. See "Underwriting."
 
POTENTIAL ADVERSE MARKET IMPACT OF SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
 
   
    Sales of substantial amounts of Common Stock (including shares issued upon
the exercise of outstanding options) in the public market following this
offering could have an adverse effect on the price of the Common Stock. Such
sales may also make it more difficult for the Company to sell equity or equity-
related securities in the future at a time and price that the Company would deem
appropriate. Upon completion of this offering, the Company will have 6,910,100
shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding. The 2,000,000 shares offered
hereby will be freely tradable following this offering, except for
    
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
   
any shares purchased by an "affiliate" of the Company, which will be subject to
the limitations of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended ("Rule 144"). All officers and directors and certain stockholders of the
Company, owning an aggregate of 4,101,212 shares, have entered into "lock-up"
agreements, agreeing not to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any shares of
Common Stock without the consent of John G. Kinnard and Company, Incorporated,
as the representative of the several Underwriters (the "Representative"), for a
period of 180 days after the date of this Prospectus. The Representative may
waive these restrictions at any time in its discretion. In considering any
waiver request, the Representative may take into account prevailing market
conditions, the number of shares subject to the requested waiver, the extent to
which other waivers have been granted and other factors that the Representative
may deem relevant. Taking such restrictions into account, in addition to the
2,000,000 shares of Common Stock offered hereby, (i) approximately 676,552
shares will be eligible for immediate sale on the date of this Prospectus in
accordance with Rule 144; (ii) approximately 21,600 shares will be eligible for
sale on April 1, 1998 upon expiration of certain restrictions under restricted
stock awards; (iii) approximately 17,428 additional shares will become eligible
for sale in the public market beginning 90 days after the date of this
Prospectus in accordance with Rule 144; and (iv) approximately 4,067,212
additional shares will be eligible for sale beginning 180 days after the date of
this Prospectus upon the expiration of the lock-up agreements, subject, in
certain cases, to volume and manner of sale limitations under Rule 144. As of
the date of this Prospectus, options to purchase an aggregate of 1,233,200
shares of Common Stock are outstanding, with 531,520 of the shares issuable upon
exercise of such options subject to vesting requirements and lock-up agreements.
The remaining 701,680 shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options will
become available for exercise and sale upon vesting and effectiveness of
Registration Statements on Form S-8, which the Company intends to file following
the expiration of the lock-up agreements referenced above. Following the
completion of this offering, the holders of Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock, which automatically converts into an aggregate of 1,507,312 shares of
Common Stock upon the closing of this offering, are entitled to participatory or
"piggyback" and demand registration rights with respect to such Common Stock.
The piggyback registration rights relate to certain public offerings of the
Company, if any, occurring during a three-year period beginning on the closing
of this offering. The demand registration rights provide that on a one-time
basis only, during a two and one-half year period beginning six months after the
effective date of this offering, upon the request of the holders of a majority
of interest thereof, the Company will promptly take all necessary action to
register such shares of Common Stock. See "Shares Eligible for Future Sale."
    
 
   
MANAGEMENT DISCRETION IN THE USE OF PROCEEDS
    
 
   
    While the Company intends to use a portion of the proceeds of this offering
for research and development, sales and marketing and upgrades of its
manufacturing equipment and to strengthen its patent protection, approximately
thirty percent of the proceeds are expected to be used for working capital and
other general corporate purposes. Accordingly, the Company's management will
have broad discretion to allocate a significant amount of the proceeds of this
offering and to determine the timing of expenditures. See "Use of Proceeds."
    
 
ADVERSE EFFECT OF UNDESIGNATED STOCK AND ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS
 
    The authorized capital of the Company includes 5,000,000 shares of
undesignated stock. The Company's Board of Directors has the power to issue any
or all of the shares of undesignated stock, including the authority to establish
one or more series and to fix the powers, preferences, rights and limitations of
such class or series, without seeking stockholder approval. The rights of the
holders of Common Stock will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by,
the rights of the holders of any preferred stock that may be created and issued
in the future. Furthermore, as a Minnesota corporation, the Company is subject
to provisions of the Minnesota Business Corporations Act ("MBCA") that could
have an anti-takeover effect on the Company. The Company may also consider
adopting additional anti-takeover measures. The authority of the Board to issue
undesignated stock and the anti-takeover
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
provisions of the MBCA, as well as any future anti-takeover measures adopted by
the Company, may, in certain circumstances, delay, deter or prevent takeover
attempts and other changes in control of the Company not approved by management
and the Board of Directors. As a result, the Company's stockholders may lose
opportunities to dispose of their shares at a premium over prevailing prices in
the event of a change in control, and the market price, voting and other rights
of the holders of Common Stock may also be affected. See "Description of Capital
Stock."
 
DILUTION
 
   
    Purchasers of shares in this offering will incur immediate and substantial
dilution in the pro forma net tangible book value per share of $5.19 or 65% (at
an assumed initial public offering price of $8.00 per share). Investors may also
experience additional dilution as a result of the exercise of outstanding stock
options, or the issuance by the Company of additional equity securities. See
"Dilution."
    
 
ABSENCE OF DIVIDENDS
 
    The Company has not declared or paid any cash dividends on its Common Stock
since its inception and does not anticipate declaring or paying any such cash
dividends in the foreseeable future. See "Dividend Policy."
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
   
    The net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the 2,000,000 shares of
Common Stock offered to the public hereby are estimated to be $14.5 million
($16.7 million if the Underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full),
assuming an initial public offering price of $8.00 per share, and after
deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated
offering expenses payable by the Company. The Company intends to apply such net
proceeds substantially as follows:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        AMOUNT       PERCENTAGE
                                                                     -------------  -------------
<S>                                                                  <C>            <C>
Research and development...........................................  $   5,500,000           38%
Sales and marketing................................................      2,000,000           14%
Equipment upgrades.................................................      1,500,000           10%
Patent protection..................................................      1,000,000            7%
Working capital and general corporate purposes.....................      4,500,000           31%
                                                                     -------------          ---
Total..............................................................  $  14,500,000          100%
                                                                     -------------          ---
                                                                     -------------          ---
</TABLE>
    
 
   
    The Company currently intends to use approximately $5.5 million of such
proceeds to fund research and development including improvements to existing
PhotoLink applications and the development of new technological initiatives,
primarily focused on additional PhotoLink applications, including the hiring of
additional technical personnel to support such initiatives. The Company plans to
use approximately $2.0 million of the net proceeds to expand its sales and
marketing capabilities by hiring additional marketing personnel, and to support
market development of new PhotoLink applications. An additional $1.5 million of
the net proceeds is intended to be used to upgrade its technical and production
equipment over the next two years. Finally, an estimated $1.0 million will be
reserved to strengthen SurModics' patent protection in additional worldwide
markets and to seek patent protection for new technology.
    
 
    The balance of the net proceeds will be used for working capital and general
corporate purposes. A portion of the net proceeds may also be used to acquire
technologies or products that complement the Company's current business. The
Company does not currently have any agreements, arrangements or understandings,
and is not involved in any negotiations, with respect to any such acquisitions,
and no portion of the net proceeds has been allocated for any specific
acquisition.
 
    Pending their use, the net proceeds will be invested in investment grade,
interest-bearing securities.
 
                                DIVIDEND POLICY
 
    The Company has not declared or paid cash dividends on its Common Stock
since its inception. The Company currently intends to retain any earnings for
use in the operation and expansion of its business and therefore does not
anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
                                 CAPITALIZATION
 
   
    The following table sets forth as of December 31, 1997 (i) the
capitalization of the Company, (ii) the pro forma capitalization of the Company
giving effect to the conversion of all outstanding shares of Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock into 1,507,312 shares of Common Stock and (iii) such
pro forma capitalization as adjusted to reflect the sale by the Company of the
2,000,000 shares offered hereby at an assumed price of $8.00 per share and the
anticipated receipt and application of the estimated net proceeds therefrom,
after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated
offering expenses payable by the Company. The information set forth below should
be read in conjunction with the Financial Statements and Notes thereto included
elsewhere in this Prospectus. See "Use of Proceeds."
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    DECEMBER 31, 1997(1)
                                                                            -------------------------------------
                                                                             ACTUAL      PRO FORMA    AS ADJUSTED
                                                                            ---------  -------------  -----------
                                                                                       (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                         <C>        <C>            <C>
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
  Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.05 per share par value;
    convertible into Common Stock upon the closing of an initial public
    offering; 450,000 shares authorized and 376,828 shares issued and
    outstanding (actual); no shares authorized, issued and outstanding
    (pro forma and as adjusted)...........................................  $      19    $  --         $  --
  Common Stock, $0.05 per share par value; 15,000,000 shares authorized;
    3,396,868 shares issued and outstanding (actual); 4,904,180 shares
    issued and outstanding (pro forma); 6,904,180 shares issued and
    outstanding (as adjusted).............................................        170          245           345
  Additional paid-in capital..............................................     13,491       13,435        27,785
  Unearned compensation...................................................       (243)        (243)         (243)
  Stock purchase notes receivable.........................................       (160)        (160)         (160)
  Accumulated deficit.....................................................     (8,009)      (8,009)       (8,009)
                                                                            ---------  -------------  -----------
    Total stockholders' equity and capitalization.........................  $   5,268    $   5,268     $  19,718
                                                                            ---------  -------------  -----------
                                                                            ---------  -------------  -----------
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
 
   
(1) Includes 80,000 shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to restricted stock
    agreements. Excludes 1,240,400 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise
    of outstanding stock options at a weighted average exercise price of $4.61
    per share. See "Management--Stock Options" and "Description of Capital
    Stock."
    
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
                                    DILUTION
 
   
    The pro forma net tangible book value of the Company's Common Stock at
December 31, 1997 was $5.0 million or $1.01 per share. "Net tangible book value"
represents the tangible assets less total liabilities of the Company, and "pro
forma net tangible book value per share" was determined by dividing the net
tangible book value of the Company by the pro forma number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding on December 31, 1997. See "Capitalization." "Pro forma net
tangible book value dilution per share" represents the difference between the
initial public offering price per share and the pro forma net tangible book
value per share after this offering. Without taking into account any changes in
the Company's pro forma net tangible book value per share after December 31,
1997, other than to give effect to the sale of the 2,000,000 shares offered
hereby at an assumed initial offering price of $8.00 per share (net of
underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses), the pro
forma net tangible book value of the Company at December 31, 1997 would have
been $19.4 million or $2.81 per share. This represents an immediate increase in
pro forma net tangible book value to the existing stockholders of $1.80 per
share and an immediate pro forma net tangible book value dilution to purchasers
of the shares of $5.19 per share, as illustrated by the following table:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Assumed initial public offering price per share...............             $    8.00
 
<S>                                                             <C>        <C>
  Pro forma net tangible book value per share at December 31,
    1997......................................................  $    1.01
 
  Increase per share attributable to new investors............       1.80
                                                                ---------
Pro forma net tangible book value per share after this
  offering....................................................                  2.81
                                                                           ---------
Pro forma net tangible book value dilution per share to new
  investors...................................................             $    5.19
                                                                           ---------
                                                                           ---------
</TABLE>
    
 
   
    The following table summarizes as of December 31, 1997, on a pro forma
basis, the difference between the number of shares of Common Stock purchased
from the Company by existing stockholders and by new investors in this offering,
the total consideration paid to the Company and the average price paid per
share. The table assumes that no shares are purchased in this offering by
existing stockholders. To the extent existing stockholders purchase shares in
this offering, their percentage ownership, total consideration and average
consideration per share will be greater than is shown.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         SHARES PURCHASED        TOTAL CONSIDERATION(1)        AVERAGE
                                                      -----------------------  --------------------------   CONSIDERATION
                                                        NUMBER      PERCENT       AMOUNT        PERCENT       PER SHARE
                                                      ----------  -----------  -------------  -----------  ---------------
<S>                                                   <C>         <C>          <C>            <C>          <C>
Existing stockholders...............................   4,904,180        71.0%  $  13,890,861        46.5%     $    2.83
New investors.......................................   2,000,000        29.0%     16,000,000        53.5%          8.00
                                                      ----------       -----   -------------       -----
  Total.............................................   6,904,180       100.0%  $  29,890,861       100.0%
                                                      ----------       -----   -------------       -----
                                                      ----------       -----   -------------       -----
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
 
(1) Does not reflect any deductions for commissions or expenses paid or incurred
    in connection with the issuance of such shares.
 
   
    The foregoing tables and calculations, as of December 31, 1997, include
80,000 shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to restricted stock agreements,
assume pro forma conversion of all outstanding shares of Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock into 1,507,312 shares of Common Stock upon the closing of this
offering and exclude 1,240,400 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
outstanding stock options at a weighted average exercise price of $4.61 per
share. See "Management--Stock Options," "Description of Capital Stock" and Note
4 to the Financial Statements.
    
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
                            SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 
   
    The statement of operations data for the years ended September 30, 1995,
1996 and 1997 and the balance sheet data at September 30, 1996 and 1997 which
are derived from and are qualified by reference to, and should be read in
conjunction with the more detailed Financial Statements of the Company and the
Notes thereto, which have been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent
public accountants, whose report is included elsewhere in this Prospectus, and
the section entitled "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations" which follows this section. The statement
of operations data for the years ended September 30, 1993 and 1994 and the
balance sheet data at September 30, 1993, 1994 and 1995 are derived from audited
financial statements not included in this Prospectus. The statement of
operations data for the three months ended December 31, 1996 and 1997 and the
balance sheet data at December 31, 1997 have been derived from the Company's
unaudited financial statements for such periods included elsewhere in this
Prospectus. The results of operations for the three months ended December 31,
1997 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the entire
fiscal year or for other interim periods.
    
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                               THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,                   DECEMBER 31,
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------  ------------------------
                                                       1993       1994       1995       1996       1997         1996         1997
                                                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------
                                                                          (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                                                  <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>            <C>
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS DATA:
  Revenues:
    Royalties......................................  $   1,123  $   1,697  $   2,082  $   2,340  $   2,913    $     603    $     942
    License fees...................................        606        350        857        382        540          232       --
    Product sales..................................        573        898      1,429      1,641      2,159          490          497
    Research and development.......................      2,328      1,673      1,588      1,819      1,970          330          470
                                                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------
      Total revenues...............................      4,630      4,618      5,956      6,182      7,582        1,655        1,909
                                                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------
  Operating costs and expenses:
    Product........................................        415        562      1,258      1,214      1,432          329          250
    Research and development.......................      3,229      3,043      2,966      3,317      3,597          812          958
    Sales and marketing............................        588        951      1,061        912      1,098          222          303
    General and administrative.....................      1,159      1,147      1,126      1,154      1,418          305          297
                                                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------
      Total operating costs and expenses...........      5,391      5,703      6,411      6,597      7,545        1,668        1,808
                                                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------
  Income (loss) from operations....................       (761)    (1,085)      (455)      (415)        37          (13)         101
  Other income (expense), net......................        244        (17)       133        221        199           39           50
                                                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------
  Net income (loss)................................  $    (517) $  (1,102) $    (322) $    (194) $     236    $      26    $     151
                                                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------
                                                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------  ---------
  Net income (loss) per share
    (pro forma) (1)
    Basic..........................................  $    (.13) $    (.26) $    (.07) $    (.04) $     .05    $     .01    $     .03
    Diluted........................................       (.13)      (.26)      (.07)      (.04)       .04          .00          .03
  Weighted average shares outstanding (pro forma)
    (1)
    Basic..........................................      4,065      4,304      4,789      4,851      4,905        4,894        4,967
    Diluted........................................      4,065      4,304      4,789      4,851      5,393        5,400        5,432
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                                                         SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------  DECEMBER 31,
                                                       1993       1994       1995       1996       1997         1997
                                                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  -------------
                                                                                (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                  <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>            <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
  Cash, cash equivalents and investments...........  $   2,866  $   4,730  $   3,192  $   3,845  $   3,822    $   3,637
  Total assets.....................................      4,654      7,169      5,849      6,046      6,450        6,341
  Total liabilities................................      2,041      2,580      1,192      1,306      1,348        1,073
  Accumulated deficit..............................     (6,777)    (7,879)    (8,201)    (8,395)    (8,160)      (8,009)
  Total stockholders' equity.......................      2,613      4,589      4,657      4,740      5,102        5,268
</TABLE>
    
 
- --------------------------
   
(1) See Note 2 to Financial Statements for determination of weighted average
    shares outstanding.
    
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
                    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
                 FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
GENERAL
 
    SurModics, Inc. was formed in 1979 to conduct biomedical research for
government agencies and private industry. Historically, the Company relied
heavily on revenues from research grants from U.S. government agencies to fund
its operations. Since 1990, SurModics has focused its efforts on commercializing
its technologies.
 
    As indicated in the table below, the Company's revenues come from four
primary sources: fees from licensing its patented technology to customers;
royalties received from licensees; the sale of photo-reactive chemical compounds
to licensees and stabilization products to the diagnostics industry; and
research and development fees generated on projects for commercial customers and
pursuant to government grants. The Company expects that revenue generated from
government grants will continue to decline slightly as an absolute number but
more significantly as a percentage of total revenue in the future. The table
below reports each revenue category as a percentage of total revenues.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                              THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                       FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,           DECEMBER 31,
                                                    -------------------------------------  ------------------------
                                                       1995         1996         1997         1996         1997
                                                    -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                 <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Royalties.........................................       35.0%        37.9%        38.4%        36.4%        49.3%
License fees......................................       14.4%         6.2%         7.1%        14.0%          --%
Product sales.....................................       24.0%        26.5%        28.5%        29.6%        26.1%
Research and development..........................       26.6%        29.4%        26.0%        20.0%        24.6%
                                                        -----        -----        -----        -----        -----
  Total...........................................      100.0%       100.0%       100.0%       100.0%       100.0%
                                                        -----        -----        -----        -----        -----
                                                        -----        -----        -----        -----        -----
</TABLE>
    
 
    As indicated above, a significant portion of the Company's revenues are
derived from license fees and royalties. Generally, the Company's license
agreements provide for a term of 15 years or the life of the Company's patents
covering the licensed applications, whichever is longer, although the agreement
may be terminated earlier upon notice. These worldwide licenses can be either
exclusive or nonexclusive for a particular device, but over 75% of the Company's
licensed applications are nonexclusive. SurModics requires the payment of a
non-refundable license fee which has historically ranged from $25,000 to
$500,000 and quarterly royalties of 2% to 6% on sales of products incorporating
SurModics' technology. The amount of license fees and royalties are based on
whether the arrangement is exclusive or nonexclusive and the perceived value of
the PhotoLink application to the device. Certain nonrefundable license and
research and development fees are recoverable by the licensees as offsets
against a percentage of future earned royalties.
 
   
    The Company has attempted to diversify its revenue base by entering into
license agreements with many companies covering multiple product applications.
SurModics currently has license agreements with 32 companies covering 105
applications, of which 59 are generating royalty revenues for the Company. Most
of SurModics' agreements provide for the quarterly payment of the greater of a
minimum royalty or an "earned" royalty based on actual product sales. Many of
the licensed products incorporating SurModics' technology are still in the early
phase of their development, and the Company will not receive earned royalties on
these products until the licensees receive the necessary regulatory approvals
and commercialize these products, if at all. SurModics anticipates that the
Company's royalty revenues will continue to grow in the future as its licensees
succeed in bringing their licensed products to market.
    
 
   
    With the exception of the most recently completed fiscal year, the Company
has reported annual losses since inception. During fiscal 1997, the Company
recorded operating income of $37,000 and net income of $236,000. The Company's
accumulated deficit was $8.0 million as of December 31, 1997.
    
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
    Historically, most of the Company's expenses were incurred in connection
with its research and development activities. As additional products
incorporating the PhotoLink technology are commercialized by the manufacturers
of such products and consequently generate earned royalties for the Company,
management anticipates that the Company will be able to leverage its expense
base into increased profitability. The Company's licensing strategy should allow
it to grow its revenue without corresponding expense growth. However, as stated
in "Use of Proceeds," the Company does intend to further invest in sales,
marketing and technical resources in order to further penetrate its target
markets and to develop additional PhotoLink applications.
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
   
    THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996
    
 
   
    REVENUES.  The Company's revenues were $1.9 million for the first quarter of
fiscal 1998, an increase of $254,000, or 15.3%, over the same period of fiscal
1997. The revenue increases were primarily due to an increase in royalty revenue
of 56.2% and an increase in research and development revenue of 42.4%. Two-
thirds of the royalty increase was due to increased royalty payments from Abbott
due to the impact of additional patent rights issued to the Company. All other
royalty revenue increased 28.9% between periods. The research and development
revenue increase consisted of a 104.2% increase in customer-funded research and
development revenue and a 6.6% increase in government-sponsored research and
development revenue. The increase in customer-funded research and development
revenue was due to greater customer development activity. Increases in the above
revenue categories offset the impact of signing no new licenses during the first
quarter of fiscal 1998, compared to revenues of $232,000 from new licenses in
the first quarter of fiscal 1997.
    
 
   
    PRODUCT COSTS.  The Company's product costs were $250,000 for the first
quarter of fiscal 1998, a decrease of $79,000, or 24.0%, over the same period of
fiscal 1997. Overall product margins increased to 49.7% in the first quarter of
fiscal 1998 from 32.9% in the same period of fiscal 1997. These improvements
were achieved due to a formulation change in certain of the stabilization
products combined with continued increases in the efficiency of reagent chemical
production.
    
 
   
    RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES.  Research and development expenses were
$958,000 for the first quarter of fiscal 1998, an increase of $146,000, or
18.0%, over the same period of fiscal 1997. The change was primarily due to the
added compensation and benefit costs associated with the additional technical
personnel added to the Company over the past year.
    
 
   
    SALES AND MARKETING EXPENSES.  Sales and marketing expenses were $303,000
for the first quarter of fiscal 1998, an increase of $81,000, or 36.5%, over the
same period of fiscal 1997. This increase was primarily due to additional
marketing personnel and a related increase in travel costs.
    
 
   
    GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.  General and administrative expenses
were $297,000 for the first quarter of fiscal 1998, a decrease of $9,000, or
3.0%, over the same period of fiscal 1997. The decrease was due to lower legal
costs and a reduction in certain other general business expenses offset by
higher compensation costs.
    
 
   
    OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE), NET.  The Company's net other income was $50,000 for
the first quarter of fiscal 1998, an increase of $11,000, or 26.9%, over the
same period of fiscal 1997 due primarily to increased interest income from
investments.
    
 
    YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND 1996
 
    REVENUES.  The Company's revenues were $7.6 million for fiscal 1997, an
increase of $1.4 million, or 22.6%, over fiscal 1996. Between years, royalty
revenue increased 24.5%, product sales increased 31.6% and license fees
increased 41.1%. Research and development revenue increased 8.3%, with a 41.0%
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
increase in customer-funded research and development revenue, partially offset
by a 5.0% decrease in government-sponsored research and development revenue. In
general, these increases were due to greater customer development activity and
increased market penetration of products incorporating SurModics' technology.
 
    PRODUCT COSTS.  The Company's product costs were $1.4 million in fiscal
1997, an increase of $217,000, or 17.9%, compared to fiscal 1996. Product
margins increased to 33.7% in fiscal 1997 from 26.0% in fiscal 1996, primarily
due to manufacturing efficiencies achieved in producing reagent chemicals.
 
    RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSE.  Research and development expense was $3.6
million in fiscal 1997, an increase of $280,000, or 8.5%, over fiscal 1996. The
change was primarily due to increased patent-related costs, additional research
studies at external laboratories and additional technical personnel.
 
    SALES AND MARKETING EXPENSE.  Sales and marketing expense was $1.1 million
in fiscal 1997, an increase of $186,000, or 20.5%, over fiscal 1996. This
increase was primarily due to additional marketing personnel and increased
customer activities, which resulted in more travel and promotional spending.
 
    GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE.  General and administrative expense was
$1.4 million in fiscal 1997, an increase of $263,000, or 22.8%, compared to
fiscal 1996. The increase was primarily due to incentive compensation.
 
    OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE), NET.  The Company's net other income was $198,000 in
fiscal 1997, a decrease of $23,000 or 10.2% from fiscal 1996. This decrease was
due primarily to a reduced level of interest income from investments.
 
    YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND 1995
 
    REVENUES.  The Company's revenues were $6.2 million for fiscal 1996, an
increase of $227,000, or 3.8%, over fiscal 1995. Due to an overall increase in
customer activity, royalty revenue increased 12.4%, product sales increased
14.8% and research and development revenue increased 14.5%, which was comprised
of a 28.9% increase in customer-funded research and development revenue and a
9.6% increase in government-sponsored research and development revenue. License
fees declined $475,000, or 55.4%, to $383,000 in fiscal 1996 due to the timing
of finalizing new license arrangements. Fiscal 1995 included large fees
associated with two license agreements.
 
    PRODUCT COSTS.  The Company's product costs were $1.2 million for fiscal
1996, a decrease of $43,000, or 3.4%, compared to fiscal 1995. Product margins
increased to 26.0% in fiscal 1996 from 12.0% in fiscal 1995. This improvement
was primarily due to manufacturing efficiencies achieved in producing reagent
chemicals.
 
    RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSE.  Research and development expense was $3.3
million for fiscal 1996, an increase of $351,000, or 11.8%, over fiscal 1995.
The increase was primarily due to additional compensation-related expense and
research studies at external laboratories, offset by lower patent-related costs.
 
    SALES AND MARKETING EXPENSE.  Sales and marketing expense was $912,000 for
fiscal 1996, a decrease of $149,000, or 14.0%, compared to fiscal 1995. This
decrease was primarily attributable to lower compensation costs due to personnel
turnover and lower legal fees associated with the review of new license
agreements.
 
    GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE.  General and administrative expense was
$1.2 million for fiscal 1996, an increase of $29,000, or 2.6%, over fiscal 1995.
The increase was primarily due to higher compensation costs offset by slightly
lower general legal costs.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
    OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE), NET.  The Company's net other income was $221,000
for fiscal 1996, an increase of $88,000, or 66.2%, compared to fiscal 1995. The
primary reason for the increase was the improved performance of the Company's
investment portfolio. Performance of the Company's investment portfolio in
fiscal 1996 included losses of $55,000 on certain investments compared to losses
of $218,000 on these same investments in fiscal 1995. The Company completely
liquidated these investments in the second quarter of fiscal 1996.
 
NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
 
    See Notes 2 and 4 of Notes to Financial Statements for a discussion of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123, "Accounting for
Stock-Based Compensation," SFAS No. 128, "Earnings Per Share," SFAS No. 130,
"Reporting Comprehensive Income" and SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments
of an Enterprise and Related Information."
 
NET OPERATING LOSS CARRYFORWARDS
 
    In accordance with Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, a change in equity ownership of the Company of greater than 50% within
a three-year period results in an annual limitation on the Company's ability to
utilize its net operating loss ("NOL") carryforwards which accrued during the
tax periods prior to the change in ownership. As of September 30, 1997, the
Company had an NOL carryforward of approximately $6.4 million, which expires in
varying amounts through 2011. The sale of the shares of Common Stock in this
offering will not directly result in such limitation; however, the NOL
carryforwards may become subject to such a limitation due to subsequent changes
in the equity ownership of the Company.
 
   
YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE
    
 
   
    The Company has evaluated its information technology infrastructure for Year
2000 compliance and does not expect that the cost to modify its information
technology infrastructure to be Year 2000 compliant will be material to its
financial condition or results of operations. The Company does not anticipate
any material disruption in its operations as a result of any failure by the
Company, or its suppliers or customers to be in compliance.
    
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
   
    As of December 31, 1997, the Company had working capital of approximately
$2.5 million. Historically, the Company has primarily funded its operations
through government research grants and equity offerings, the most recent of
which occurred in the third quarter of fiscal 1994. For the last three fiscal
years, the Company has generated positive cash flow from operations.
    
 
   
    As of December 31, 1997, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and
investments totaling approximately $3.6 million. The Company's funds are
currently invested in short-term money market funds and investment grade,
interest-bearing securities with maturity dates of less than two years. As of
December 31, 1997, the Company had no debt, nor did it have any credit
agreements. The Company believes that its existing capital resources, including
the net proceeds from this offering, will be adequate to fund the Company's
operations into the foreseeable future.
    
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
                                    BUSINESS
 
GENERAL
 
    SurModics is a leading provider of surface modification solutions to the
medical device industry. The Company's primary focus is the commercialization of
its patented PhotoLink process through third-party licensing arrangements.
PhotoLink is a versatile, easily applied, light-activated coating technology
that modifies medical device surfaces by creating covalent bonds between those
surfaces and a variety of chemical agents. Through the PhotoLink process, these
chemical agents can impart many performance-enhancing characteristics, such as
lubricity, hemocompatibility, infection resistance and drug delivery, onto the
surface of a medical device without materially changing the dimensions or
physical properties of the device. The Company believes that medical device
manufacturers who utilize the Company's technology are able to significantly
improve the performance of their products and, in many cases, differentiate
their products in a highly competitive marketplace.
 
    The Company focuses on providing high value-added surface modification
solutions to a variety of medical device markets and product categories.
Examples of products in the market or under development that incorporate the
PhotoLink technology include interventional cardiology catheters, vascular
stents, interventional neurology catheters, guide wires and shunts, cardiac
rhythm management devices, and urological and gynecological devices. The surface
properties created by the PhotoLink technology have greatly reduced treatment
times in catheter-based vascular procedures and have shown the potential to
enhance the long-term performance of implantable devices by improving infection
resistance and promoting host cell attachment, growth and subsequent tissue
integration. The Company believes further opportunities exist to commercialize
its PhotoLink technology for other market applications, such as biomolecule
immobilization for use in the emerging field of DNA-based diagnostics.
 
   
    The Company has commercialized its PhotoLink technology through licensing
arrangements with medical device manufacturers which apply the PhotoLink
coatings to their own products. The Company believes this approach allows it to
focus its resources on further development of its technology and expansion of
its licensing activities, while leveraging the established manufacturing, sales
and marketing capabilities of its licensees. Revenues from these arrangements
include initial license fees, minimum royalties and earned royalties based on a
percentage of licensees' product sales. The Company currently has license
agreements with 32 companies covering 105 different applications, of which 59
are generating royalty revenues for the Company. In addition to licensing its
PhotoLink technology, the Company also licenses certain diagnostic technology to
Abbott Laboratories for use with rapid point-of-care diagnostic tests, such as
pregnancy and strep tests. The Company also manufactures and sells the chemical
reagents used in the PhotoLink process and stabilization products used to extend
the shelf-life of immunoassay diagnostic tests.
    
 
MARKETS AND NEED FOR SURFACE MODIFICATION
 
    Recent trends in healthcare toward improved patient outcomes and reduced
total costs have resulted in intense competition for the development of medical
devices that demonstrate superior product performance, reduced procedure times,
improved outcomes and overall cost effectiveness. In the highly competitive
medical device industry, many medical device manufacturers may offer similar
competing products for a single medical application. As a result, product
differentiation is critical to marketing success, and medical device
manufacturers are continually seeking new methods of distinguishing their
products from those of their competitors.
 
    Medical device manufacturers have attempted to address these competitive
pressures by developing innovative medical devices manufactured from a wide
variety of synthetic materials, including many new, expensive and exotic
materials. In an effort to further differentiate their products through improved
product performance, a growing number of medical device manufacturers are
turning to the emerging field of surface modification technology. Surface
modification technology enables device manufacturers to
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
provide medical devices with desired surface characteristics including improved
lubricity, hemocompatibility and infection resistance, as well as the ability to
deliver drugs and promote cell growth and tissue integration.
 
    Although it is an emerging field, surface modification technology has been
used to improve medical devices in many different industry segments. The table
below identifies several of these market segments and the surface properties the
Company believes are desired by each segment.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   MARKET SEGMENT SERVED          DESIRED SURFACE PROPERTY AND EXAMPLES OF APPLICATIONS
- ----------------------------  -------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                           <C>
Interventional cardiology     LUBRICITY: catheters, guide wires
  and vascular access         HEMOCOMPATIBILITY: vascular stents, catheters, guide wires
                              THERAPEUTIC DRUG DELIVERY AND RELEASE: vascular stents,
                                catheters
                              INFECTION RESISTANCE: catheters, implantable ports
 
Cardiac rhythm management     LUBRICITY: pacemaker and defibrillator leads,
                                electrophysiology devices
                              HEMOCOMPATIBILITY: electrophysiology devices
 
Cardiothoracic surgery        INFECTION RESISTANCE: heart valves
                              HEMOCOMPATIBILITY: minimally invasive bypass devices,
                                vascular grafts, ventricular assist devices
                              CELL GROWTH AND TISSUE INTEGRATION: heart valves, vascular
                                grafts
 
Interventional neurology      LUBRICITY: catheters, guide wires
  and neurosurgery            INFECTION RESISTANCE: catheters, shunts
 
Urology and gynecology        LUBRICITY: urinary catheters, incontinence devices, ureteral
                                stents, fertility devices
                              INFECTION RESISTANCE: urinary catheters, incontinence
                                devices, ureteral stents, fertility devices, penile
                                implants
 
Orthopedics                   CELL GROWTH AND TISSUE INTEGRATION: bone regeneration
</TABLE>
 
    In addition to the above-identified market segments, the Company believes
that one of the next areas of growth for surface modification technology will be
the diagnostic test market. Diagnostic tests utilizing biomolecules, such as
DNA, can be used to screen for new drugs, to sequence unknown portions of the
human genome, or to search for signs of viruses. The Company believes
manufacturers of these diagnostic tests may benefit from surface modification
technology to provide biomolecule immobilization and wettability properties.
 
THE PHOTOLINK SOLUTION
 
    PhotoLink is a versatile, easily applied, light-activated coating technology
that modifies medical device surfaces by creating covalent bonds between those
surfaces and a variety of chemical agents. The PhotoLink process can impart many
performance-enhancing characteristics, such as lubricity, hemocompatibility,
infection resistance and drug delivery, onto the surface of a wide variety of
medical devices without significantly changing the dimensions or physical
properties of the device.
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
    The PhotoLink solution to surface modification involves the utilization of
proprietary, light sensitive (photochemical) reagents. These reagents can
consist of advanced polymers or active biomolecules having desired surface
characteristics and an attached light-reactive chemical compound (photogroup).
As illustrated in the following diagram, when the reagent is exposed to a direct
light source, typically ultraviolet, a photochemical reaction creates a covalent
bond between the photogroup and the surface of the medical device, thereby
imparting the desired property to the surface. A covalent bond is a very strong
chemical bond which results from the sharing of electrons between carbon
molecules of the substrate and the applied coating.
 
    [illustration of the PhotoLink coating process in which a polymer attached
to a photogroup is bonded to a surface when exposed to ultraviolet light]
 
    SurModics' proprietary PhotoLink reagents work on most polymer-based (E.G.,
plastic) substrates, biological substrates (latex rubber, cellulose, tissue and
natural fibers), and metal and glass substrates. Metal and glass substrates
generally require pretreating with polymers to make a carbon-molecule available
for bonding prior to the application of the PhotoLink reagents. The reagents are
easily applied to a clean material surface by dipping, spraying, roll coating,
ink jetting or brushing. SurModics continues to develop proprietary
photochemical reagents providing new product features while expanding the number
and type of substrates on which the reagents can be applied.
 
    ADVANTAGES
 
    The Company believes that its proprietary PhotoLink process provides its
licensees with a number of benefits.
 
    - FLEXIBILITY. PhotoLink coatings can be applied to many different kinds of
      surfaces and can immobilize a variety of chemical, pharmaceutical and
      biological agents, which allows licensees to be innovative in the design
      of their products without significantly changing their dimensions or
      physical properties.
 
    - VARIETY OF SURFACE PROPERTIES. The PhotoLink process can be tailored to
      provide SurModics' licensees with the ability to improve the performance
      of their devices by choosing the specific coating properties desired for
      particular applications. The PhotoLink technology also provides the
      medical device manufacturer with the ability to combine multiple
      surface-enhancing characteristics on the same device.
 
    - EASE OF USE. The PhotoLink coating process is a relatively simple process
      that does not require expensive special equipment or the use of hazardous
      materials and does not subject the coated products to harsh chemical,
      pressure or temperature conditions. Further, PhotoLink coatings are
      compatible with all the generally accepted sterilization processes, so the
      surface attributes are not lost when the medical device is sterilized
      prior to usage.
 
    SURFACE PROPERTIES
 
    SurModics' PhotoLink process has been used by manufacturers of pacemaker
leads, drug infusion catheters, laser and balloon angioplasty catheters, urinary
drainage catheters, vascular closure devices, wound drains, guide wires,
angiography catheters, ureteral stents and hydrocephalic shunts, among other
devices. The PhotoLink process can be used to provide medical device
manufacturers with the following surface properties to improve product
performance:
 
    - LUBRICITY. Low friction or lubricious coatings reduce the force and time
      required for insertion, navigation and removal of devices in vascular,
      neurological and urogenital applications. Lubricity also reduces tissue
      irritation and damage caused by products such as catheters, guide wires
      and endoscopy devices. Based on Company and licensee testing, when
      compared to uncoated surfaces, the PhotoLink process has reduced the
      friction on surfaces by as much as 85% to 95%, depending on the substrate
      being coated.
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
    - HEMOCOMPATIBILITY. Hemocompatible coatings help reduce adverse reactions
      that may be created when a device is inserted into the body and comes in
      contact with blood. Heparin has been used for decades as an injectable
      drug to reduce blood clotting in patients. SurModics can immobilize
      heparin on the surface of blood-contacting medical devices thereby
      inhibiting blood clotting on the device surface, minimizing patient risk
      and enhancing the performance of the device. PhotoLink heparin coatings
      have been shown in Company and licensee testing to reduce blood clotting
      by greater than 90% compared to uncoated surfaces. SurModics has
      immobilized several other chemical agents in addition to heparin that have
      also demonstrated improved hemocompatibility.
 
    - INFECTION RESISTANCE. Antimicrobial coatings are advantageous for most
      implantable medical devices where risk of infection is a concern.
      PhotoLink technology can apply passive coatings which significantly reduce
      bacterial adhesion to the device or active coatings incorporating
      antimicrobial agents which kill bacteria around the device. Testing by the
      Company has demonstrated that the PhotoLink process reduces the adherence
      of microorganisms to biomaterial surfaces by 97% to over 99% depending on
      the base material of the device. In addition, when compared to uncoated
      products, the PhotoLink process has been shown to increase the uptake of
      antimicrobial agents applied to the device just prior to implantation and
      prolong the release of these agents.
 
    - DRUG DELIVERY. PhotoLink technology can be used to crosslink polymers and
      create reservoirs to entrap drugs on the surface of medical devices. These
      drugs can then be released from the surface on a controlled basis by
      tailoring the polymers, by adjusting the extent of crosslinking, or by
      using a barrier coating to control diffusion. For example, SurModics has
      developed a PhotoLink coating that would allow a coronary stent
      manufacturer to incorporate a drug onto the stent directed at reducing the
      incidence of restenosis (the re-narrowing of the artery).
 
    - WETTABILITY. PhotoLink hydrophilic coatings have been shown in tests by
      the Company and its licensees to accelerate liquid flow rates on normally
      hydrophobic (water repelling) materials by 75%. Rapid point-of-care
      diagnostic tests, such as home monitoring or physician monitoring of
      glucose levels in diabetics, are currently done by pricking a patient's
      finger and carefully placing a drop of blood onto a polymer strip which is
      then inserted into a blood glucose reader. The Company believes that the
      time it takes for the blood to flow up the strip to provide the patient
      with a readout can be dramatically reduced and the consistency can be
      greatly improved with PhotoLink technology.
 
    - CELL GROWTH, TISSUE INTEGRATION AND OTHER TISSUE ENGINEERING. Studies have
      shown that attachment of extracellular matrix proteins and peptides onto
      surfaces of implantable medical devices improves host cell attachment,
      growth and subsequent tissue integration. PhotoLink technology has been
      used to coat biomedical devices with photoreactive collagens and other
      proteins upon which cells normally grow within the body. Company studies
      have shown that biomedical devices (such as vascular grafts and ocular
      implants) coated with such proteins, have improved attachment, growth of
      cells and acceptance by surrounding tissues. In addition, the Company is
      also using its PhotoLink technology to produce three-dimensional scaffolds
      to promote bone regeneration.
 
    - BIOMOLECULE IMMOBILIZATION. During a DNA gene analysis, typically hundreds
      of different probes need to be placed in a pattern on a surface, called a
      DNA array. These arrays can be used by the pharmaceutical industry to
      screen for new drugs, by genome mappers to sequence unknown portions of
      the human genome, or by diagnostic companies to search a patient sample
      for disease-causing bacteria or viruses. However, DNA does not readily
      adhere to most surfaces that are important for DNA assays. The Company has
      demonstrated a versatile method for the immobilization of DNA on various
      surfaces.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
STRATEGY
 
    The Company's goal is to be the leading provider of surface modification
solutions to companies in the medical device industry. To achieve this goal,
SurModics intends to implement the following key strategies:
 
    - FURTHER PENETRATE AND EXPAND ITS LICENSING BASE. The Company intends to
      continue to focus on commercializing its technology through
      application-by-application licensing agreements with medical device
      manufacturers. Under this strategy, SurModics intends to continue to
      license its PhotoLink technology to multiple licensees within the same
      market, thereby increasing SurModics' revenue potential.
 
    - FURTHER DEVELOP APPLICATIONS FOR THE PHOTOLINK TECHNOLOGY. The PhotoLink
      process is extremely flexible, which provides the Company with many
      potential useful applications in the medical device industry. The Company
      intends to devote research and development efforts to further enhance the
      lubricious, hemocompatible and infection resistant properties of its
      existing PhotoLink applications, and to further develop applications
      involving controlled drug delivery and release, DNA immobilization and
      cell growth and tissue integration.
 
    - EXPAND SALES AND MARKETING RESOURCES. Because of the technical nature of
      the Company's operations, SurModics' marketing strategy is to utilize a
      technically sophisticated direct sales force, which works closely with
      both the Company's and its customers' development staff. The Company
      intends to increase its direct sales resources to increase market
      awareness of the Company's technological capabilities and developments.
      The Company also intends to improve its market research capabilities to
      investigate new PhotoLink applications.
 
    - SEEK JOINT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. The Company intends to aggressively
      pursue opportunities with medical device companies to expand its
      technology, internal expertise and revenue base while reducing
      developmental risks by sharing them with others. SurModics is engaged in
      several such joint development programs, including one regarding
      controlled drug delivery and release and another involving DNA
      immobilization.
 
    - EXPAND THE COMPANY'S PRODUCT PORTFOLIO. SurModics believes that it can
      utilize its know-how and expertise in surface modified devices,
      photoreactive crosslinking and bonding, and reagent chemistry to develop
      additional proprietary products that SurModics can directly sell, rather
      than license, to the medical marketplace. The Company may acquire
      technologies and products which are closely related to or utilize its
      technology, thereby allowing the Company to leverage its existing presence
      in the medical marketplace.
 
CURRENT LICENSING ARRANGEMENTS
 
    The Company has commercialized its PhotoLink technology through licensing
arrangements with medical device manufacturers who apply the PhotoLink coatings
to their own products. The Company believes this approach allows it to focus its
resources on further developing its technology and expanding its licensing
activities, while leveraging the established manufacturing, sales and marketing
capabilities of its licensees for the marketing of the specific medical device
utilizing the PhotoLink technology. The Company believes its licensees generally
find the licensing arrangement to be beneficial for them because it is designed
to allow manufacturers to incorporate the PhotoLink process into their own
manufacturing processes without the need to send product outside their facility,
resulting in tighter quality control and reduced investment in work-in-process
inventory.
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
   
    SurModics currently has license agreements with 32 companies covering 105
applications. The following table identifies selected licensees of SurModics'
PhotoLink technology, some of the medical devices that incorporate SurModics'
technology and the surface characteristics sought by the licensee.
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       SELECTED LICENSEES                SELECTED MEDICAL DEVICE(1)           DESIRED SURFACE PROPERTY
- --------------------------------  ----------------------------------------  ----------------------------
<S>                               <C>                                       <C>
Cook Incorporated                 Angiography catheters*                    Hemocompatibility
                                  Urinary catheters*                        Lubricity
                                  Guide catheters
                                  Intravascular stents
                                  Guide wires
                                  Balloon dilitation catheters
 
Cordis Corporation                Intravascular stents                      Hemocompatibility
  (a Johnson & Johnson company)                                             Therapeutic drug release
 
Medtronic PS Medical              Hydrocephalic shunts*                     Lubricity
                                  Central venus access catheter*
 
Pacesetter, Inc.                  Implantable pacemaker                     Infection resistance
  (a St. Jude Medical, Inc.       components*                               Lubricity
  company)                        Implantable defibrillator
                                  components
 
Perclose, Inc.                    Vascular closure device*                  Lubricity
 
Sulzer Carbomedics                Sewing rings for biologically derived     Hemocompatibility
  (a division of Sulzer Medica    and synthetic heart valves
  USA, Inc.)                      Synthetic heart valve components
 
Target Therapeutics, Inc.         Neurovascular infusion catheters*         Lubricity
  (a subsidiary of Boston         Neurovascular guide wires*
  Scientific Corporation)         Neurovascular guide catheters*
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 
(1) The devices marked with an asterisk are currently generating earned
    royalties for SurModics based on the respective licensee's sale of the
    medical device incorporating SurModics' technology. The devices not marked
    with an asterisk are in the development stage and may never generate earned
    royalties for the Company.
 
   
    The licensing process begins with the medical device manufacturer specifying
the surface characteristics it desires. Because each surface is unique, the
Company routinely conducts a feasibility study at no charge to the customer to
qualify each new potential product application by SurModics. Once the
feasibility has been proven, the customer typically funds further development by
SurModics to optimize the coating formulation to meet the customer's technical
and financial needs. A license agreement is then executed granting the licensee
the rights to use the technology. SurModics' technical personnel are then
available to provide services in the transfer of the PhotoLink technology into
the licensee's manufacturing process. Such services can include further coating
optimization, process control and trouble shooting which are billable to the
licensee. The Company also manufactures and sells the chemical reagents used in
the PhotoLink process, thus creating another source of revenue.
    
 
    The term of a license agreement is generally for a period of 15 years or the
life of SurModics' patents covering the licensed application, whichever is
longer, although an agreement may be terminated for any reason upon prior
written notice, typically required at least 90 days before termination. The
worldwide license can be either exclusive or nonexclusive for a particular
medical device, but over 75% of the
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
Company's licensed applications are nonexclusive. SurModics requires the payment
of a non-refundable license fee which has historically ranged from $25,000 to
$500,000 and quarterly "earned" royalties of 2% to 6% on the sales of products
incorporating SurModics' technology. The amount of license fees and royalties
are based on whether the arrangement is exclusive or nonexclusive and the
perceived value of the PhotoLink application to the device. Certain
nonrefundable license and research and development fees are recoverable by the
licensees as offsets against a percentage of future earned royalties. Most of
SurModics' agreements incorporate a minimum royalty to be paid by the licensee
while the medical devices are developed, tested and commercialized. In certain
cases, payment of these minimum royalties may not commence until several months
after the execution of an agreement for a particular application.
 
OTHER PRODUCTS
 
    STABILIZATION PRODUCTS
 
    Although the primary focus of the Company is the development and marketing
of its PhotoLink technology, the Company also develops and markets stabilization
products for use by manufacturers of immunoassay diagnostic tests. SurModics'
StabilCoat and StabilZyme Stabilizers are designed to maintain the activity of
biological components of the immunoassays, resulting in a longer shelf-life.
These products offer SurModics' customers the benefit of product differentiation
and improvement while providing the ultimate end users the benefit of a faster
test with fewer steps and fewer errors. In fiscal 1997, SurModics generated $1.7
million of revenue from its stabilization products.
 
    DIAGNOSTIC FORMATS
 
    The Company also licenses a format for IN VITRO diagnostic tests developed
during the early years of the Company. This format has found broad application
in the expanding area of rapid point-of-care diagnostic testing, such as
pregnancy and strep tests, and generated $1.5 million of royalty revenue for the
Company in fiscal 1997 pursuant to the license agreement with Abbott. Although
this revenue is expected to grow in the future with the increased sales of
licensed products, limited additional SurModics-funded research and development
is being undertaken in this area.
 
    INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS
 
    While it is not the Company's primary focus, the Company occasionally
pursues industrial applications for its PhotoLink technology. The Company only
pursues those applications that are perceived to be high-value applications in a
market that is not considered to be price sensitive. To date, revenue associated
with industrial applications has been immaterial and is not expected to be
significant in the foreseeable future.
 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
 
    SurModics' research and development department supports the marketing staff
in performing feasibility studies, providing technical assistance to potential
licensees, optimizing the coating methodologies for specific licensee
applications, assisting in training licensees and integrating the Company's
technology and know-how into licensee manufacturing processes. In addition, the
research and development department works to enhance and expand the PhotoLink
technology through the development of new reagents and new applications.
 
    As medical devices become more sophisticated and complex, the Company
believes the requirements for optimized surface properties will grow. The
Company intends to continue its development efforts to allow its PhotoLink
technology to provide additional optimized surface properties to meet these
needs. The Company's technical strategy is to target selected coating
characteristics for further development prior to licensing, in order to
facilitate and shorten the license cycle. The Company has begun to perform
research into applications for future products both on its own and in
conjunction with some of its licensees. Some of the identified research and
development opportunities include coatings designed to improve the
characteristics of long-term implants, site-specific drug release, orthopedic
repair materials and devices, long-term blood compatibility and DNA
immobilization methods. In addition to expanding the number of
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
medical applications that may use PhotoLink technology, the Company intends to
broaden the spectrum of surfaces on which reagents can be applied, improve the
coating process for metals and glass, develop a process for coating the interior
diameter of medical devices, expand the portfolio of PhotoLink reagents, and
develop additional proprietary products in which PhotoLink reagents serve as the
end product.
 
   
    The technical staff of the Company consists of 45 scientists, including
eight with Ph.D. degrees, four with Masters degrees and 30 with Bachelor
degrees, with expertise in chemistry, biomedical engineering, biology,
microbiology, cell biology and biochemistry. The technical staff is organized
into five areas of specialization: hydrophilicity, microbiology,
hemocompatibility, biochemistry and tissue engineering. In addition, a chemistry
group supports the synthesis of new reagents needed by the other five groups.
SurModics intends to use a portion of the net proceeds from this offering to
hire additional technical personnel.
    
 
    In fiscal 1996 and 1997, the Company's research and development expenses
were $3.3 million and $3.6 million, respectively. The Company's research and
development efforts are often funded by commercial licensees and government
agencies. Such research and development revenues during these periods were $1.8
million and $2.0 million, respectively.
 
    Since its founding, the Company has actively participated in the federal
government's Small Business Innovative Research ("SBIR") program to fund
development efforts. Since 1979, 136 research contracts resulting in revenues of
over $23 million have been awarded to SurModics, primarily under the SBIR
program. Grant proposals are generally directed toward the commercial strategies
of the Company. The Company retains commercial rights to discoveries and
technologies resulting from the research and development efforts funded by these
grants. Where possible, licensees' products or substrates are used when
performing research under the grant; thus the results are often directly
applicable to SurModics' licensees. Grant funding has also allowed SurModics to
maintain a larger and more technologically diverse employee base than would
otherwise be possible.
 
PATENTS AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS
 
   
    The Company has taken steps intended to protect certain PhotoLink related
inventions through a series of patents covering a variety of coating reagents
and formulations, as well as particular medical device applications, based on or
employing the Company's proprietary photoreactive chemistry. The patents related
to the PhotoLink technology include 13 issued U.S. patents, nine pending U.S.
patent applications, eight issued foreign patents, 26 pending foreign patent
applications and two pending international patent applications. The Company
generally files international patent applications in parallel with its U.S.
applications. The Company generally files national or regional applications in
Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan, and Mexico. In addition to the patents related
to the PhotoLink technology, SurModics has four issued U.S. patents, two pending
U.S. patent applications, 13 issued foreign patents and nine pending foreign
patent applications related to its diagnostic technology. There can be no
assurance that any of the pending patent applications will be allowed.
    
 
   
    The commercial success of the Company will depend, in part, on its ability
to successfully assert its patents against infringers, to continue to obtain
patent protection for newly developed technology, and to avoid infringing
patents issued to others, all of which there can be no assurance. Furthermore,
there can be no assurance that others will not independently develop similar
products, duplicate any of the Company's products or, if patents are issued to
the Company, design around, circumvent or challenge the Company's patents. There
can also be no assurance that the Company's trade secrets or confidentiality
agreements with potential licensees or other parties will provide meaningful
protection for the Company's unpatented proprietary information. Litigation,
which could result in substantial costs to the Company and substantial diversion
of the efforts of its management and technical personnel, may be necessary to
protect the Company's intellectual property rights or to determine the scope and
validity of third-party proprietary rights.
    
 
    The Company also relies heavily upon trade secrets and unpatented
proprietary technology. The Company seeks to maintain the confidentiality of
such information by requiring employees, consultants
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
and other parties to sign confidentiality agreements and by limiting access by
parties outside the Company to such information. There can be no assurance,
however, that these measures will prevent the unauthorized disclosure or use of
this information or that others will not be able to independently develop such
information. Additionally, there can be no assurance that any agreements
regarding confidentiality and non-disclosure will not be breached, or, in the
event of any breach, that adequate remedies would be available to the Company.
 
MARKETING AND SALES
 
   
    The Company markets its PhotoLink technology throughout the world using a
direct sales force consisting of four licensing managers who focus on specific
markets such as cardiology devices, diagnostic products and urology products.
This specialization fosters an in-depth knowledge of the issues faced by
SurModics' licensees within these markets such as technology changes,
biomaterial changes and the regulatory environment.
    
 
    Because the sales cycle can take several months from feasibility
demonstration to the execution of a license agreement, the Company focuses its
sales efforts on potential licensees with established market positions rather
than those with only development stage products which may never come to market.
Generally, the PhotoLink technology is licensed to medical device manufacturers
for use on specific products. This strategy enables the Company to license the
PhotoLink technology to multiple licensees in the same market. SurModics also
targets selling new applications to existing licensees. The Company believes the
sales cycle is much faster in these situations because the licensee is already
familiar with the technology and the general terms of the license have already
been negotiated. The Company intends to use a portion of the net proceeds from
this offering to increase the size of its direct sales staff and to expand its
market research capabilities to investigate new PhotoLink applications.
 
    As part of its marketing strategy, the Company publishes technical
literature on each surface capability of the PhotoLink technology (I.E.,
lubricity, hemocompatibility, etc.). In addition, the Company participates at
major trade shows and technical meetings, advertises in trade journals and
through its website, and conducts direct mailings to appropriate target markets.
 
   
    The Company also offers ongoing customer service and technical support
throughout a licensee's relationship with SurModics. As part of this service and
support, SurModics often performs initial coating feasibility studies on the
licensee's device at no charge, works to optimize the licensee's application
before final release, educates and trains the licensee on the technology to
successfully transfer the technology to its manufacturing facility, and assists
the licensee with FDA submissions for coated product approval.
    
 
COMPETITION
 
    Competition in the medical device industry has resulted in an increase in
competition in the surface modification market. The Company's PhotoLink
technology competes with technologies developed by Biocompatibles International
plc, Carmeda (a division of Norsk Hydro, Inc.), Specialty Coatings Systems,
Spire Corporation and STS Biopolymers Inc., among others. In addition, many
medical device manufacturers have developed or are engaged in efforts to develop
surface modification technologies for use on their own products. Most
competitors marketing surface modification to the outside marketplace are
divisions of organizations with businesses in addition to surface modification.
Overall, the Company believes the worldwide market is very fragmented with no
competitor marketing to third parties having more than a 10% market share. Many
of the Company's existing and potential competitors (including medical device
manufacturers pursuing coating solutions through their own research and
development efforts) have substantially greater financial, technical and
marketing resources than the Company.
 
    SurModics attempts to differentiate itself from its competition by providing
what it believes is a high value-added solution to surface modification. The
Company believes that the primary factors customers consider in choosing a
particular surface modification technology are performance, ease of
manufacturing, ability to produce multiple properties from a single process,
compliance with manufacturing regulations, customer service and pricing. The
Company believes that its PhotoLink process competes favorably with
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
respect to these factors, enabling it to charge a premium price. The Company
believes that the cost and time required to obtain the necessary regulatory
approvals significantly reduces the likelihood of a manufacturer changing the
coating process it uses once a device has been approved for marketing.
 
    Because a significant portion of the Company's revenue is dependent on the
receipt of royalties based on sales of medical devices incorporating PhotoLink
coatings, the Company is also affected by competition within the markets for
such devices. The Company believes that the intense competition within the
medical device markets creates opportunities for the Company's coating
technology as medical device manufacturers seek to differentiate their products
through new enhancements or to remain competitive with enhancements offered by
other manufacturers. Because the Company seeks to license its technology on a
non-exclusive basis, the Company may further benefit from competition within the
medical device markets by offering its PhotoLink technology to multiple
competing manufacturers of a device. However, competition in the medical device
markets could also have an adverse affect on the Company. While the Company
seeks to license its products to established manufacturers, in certain cases the
Company's licensees may compete directly with larger, dominant manufacturers
with extensive product lines and greater sales, marketing and distribution
capabilities. The Company also is unable to control other factors that may
impact commercialization of PhotoLink-coated devices, such as the marketing and
sales efforts of its licensees or competitive pricing pressures within the
particular device market. There can be no assurance that products coated with
the PhotoLink technology will be successfully commercialized by the Company's
licensees or that such licensees will otherwise be able to effectively compete.
 
    The primary competition for SurModics' stabilization products is its
customers' internally developed formulations. The consolidation of the
diagnostic industry increases the availability of internally developed
stabilizers to the market. There are several direct competitors that have
recently emerged, of which Pierce Medical Products, Inc. and Medix, Inc. are the
two largest. The Company believes that quick market penetration is the best
strategy for addressing these threats. As in the coating market, the Company
also believes that once its stabilization products are accepted in an
FDA-approved diagnostic test, the likelihood of change is reduced because of the
cost and time required to qualify a new component. SurModics' marketing strategy
for its stabilization products is to develop a strong market presence by
offering superior product performance and technical service.
 
MANUFACTURING
 
    In accordance with its licensing strategy, the Company does not perform the
actual coating of its licensees' medical devices, nor does it manufacture any of
these devices. The Company has, however, adopted a strategy of developing and
manufacturing the reagents itself, allowing it to maintain the quality of the
reagents and their proprietary nature, while providing an additional source of
revenue. PhotoLink reagents are specialty photoreactive chemicals that are
prepared using a proprietary formula in small batch processes (as contrasted
with commodity chemicals prepared by large continuous methods). Generally, all
PhotoLink reagents share a similar production process: a water soluble polymer
is synthesized in a glass reactor; reactive photochemical groups are attached to
the polymer; the solution is purified and freeze-dried, thus removing the water
and creating a solid; and the PhotoLink reagents are packaged in standard
quantities in light- and moisture-proof packaging. The reagents are sold dry,
requiring the licensee, in most cases, to simply add water or a water and
isopropyl alcohol mix before application. The Company has developed proprietary
testing and quality assurance standards for manufacturing the reagents and does
not disclose the reagent formulas or manufacturing methods. Although licensees
may purchase the requisite chemical reagents from any source, all have elected
to purchase them from the Company.
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
    The Company also manufactures its stabilization products. These products are
a group of sterile-filtered liquids that generally share a three-step production
process. A standard recipe of chemicals is mixed in high purity water, these
liquids are sterile-filtered into specific container sizes under aseptic
conditions, and the resultant finished goods are packaged and labeled.
 
    The Company maintains multiple sources of supply for the key raw materials
used to manufacture reagents and stabilization products. The Company does,
however, purchase some raw materials from single sources, but it believes that
additional sources of supply are readily available.
 
    Although not required to follow Good Manufacturing Practice quality
procedures, SurModics does follow such procedures in part to respond to requests
of licensees to establish compliance with their criteria. The Company has not
yet sought ISO 9001 certification but may do so in the future.
 
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
 
    Although PhotoLink technology itself is not directly regulated by the FDA,
the medical devices incorporating this technology are subject to FDA regulation.
The burden of demonstrating safety and efficacy of such medical devices, the
ultimate criteria applied by the FDA, rests with the Company's licensees (the
medical device manufacturers). Medical products incorporating the PhotoLink
technology may generally be marketed only after 510(k) or PMA applications have
been submitted and approved by the FDA, which process can take anywhere from six
months for a 510(k) application and to two or three years for a PMA application.
These applications are prepared by the manufacturer and contain results of
extensive laboratory toxicity, mutagenicity and clinical evaluations on animals
and humans conducted by the manufacturer.
 
    The Company maintains confidential Device Master Files at the FDA regarding
the nature, chemical structure and biocompatibility of the PhotoLink reagents.
Although the Company's licensees do not have access to these files, the
licensees may, with the permission of the Company, reference these files in any
medical device submission to the FDA. This process allows the FDA to understand
in confidence the details of the PhotoLink technology without the Company having
to share this highly confidential information with its licensees.
 
    Recent U.S. legislation allows device manufacturers, prior to obtaining FDA
approval to market a medical device in the U.S., to manufacture such medical
device in the U.S. and export it for sale in international markets, which could
allow SurModics to realize earned royalties sooner. However, sales of medical
devices outside the U.S. are subject to international requirements that vary
from country to country. The time required to obtain approval for sale
internationally may be longer or shorter than that required by the FDA.
 
EMPLOYEES
 
   
    As of February 1, 1998, SurModics had 76 full-time and seven part-time
employees of whom 51 were engaged in development or manufacturing positions,
with the remainder in marketing, quality or administrative positions. Of
SurModics' employees, eight hold Ph.D. degrees and eight hold Masters degrees.
The Company is not a party to any collective bargaining agreements and believes
that its employee relations are good.
    
 
    Management believes that the future success of the Company will depend in
part on its ability to attract and retain qualified technical, management and
marketing personnel. Such experienced personnel are in high demand, and the
Company must compete for their services with other firms which may be able to
offer more favorable benefits.
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
FACILITIES
 
    SurModics leases approximately 35,000 square feet of office/warehouse space
in Eden Prairie, Minnesota under a lease that expires at the end of 1999.
SurModics has an option to extend this lease through the end of 2001. The lease
commitment for fiscal 1998 is approximately $210,000. Of the total leased space,
approximately 15,000 square feet is office space, 13,000 square feet is
laboratory space and 7,000 square feet is manufacturing space. Approximately
6,000 square feet of the manufacturing space is a HEPA-filtered, highly
controlled environment, but not certified as a "clean room" under FDA standards.
The Company believes that projected capacity of the manufacturing area is
adequate to service the needs of its licensees for the foreseeable future.
 
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
    The Company is not a party to nor is any of its property subject to any
material pending legal proceedings.
 
                                       31
<PAGE>
                                   MANAGEMENT
 
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
 
    The directors and executive officers of the Company are as follows:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME                            AGE                       POSITION
- ------------------------------  ---   -------------------------------------------------
<S>                             <C>   <C>
Dale R. Olseth................  67    Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
                                        Executive Officer
 
Stephen C. Hathaway...........  42    Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
Patrick E. Guire, Ph.D........  61    Senior Vice President of Research and Technology
                                        and Director
 
James C. Powell...............  48    Vice President of Technical Operations
 
Andrew B. Summerville.........  52    Vice President of Marketing
 
Walter H. Diers, Jr...........  46    Vice President of Corporate Development
 
Marie J. Versen...............  36    Vice President of Quality Management and
                                        Regulatory Compliance
 
Donald S. Fredrickson, M.D.     73    Director
  (2).........................
 
James J. Grierson (1).........  55    Director
 
Kenneth H. Keller, Ph.D.        63    Director
  (1)(2)......................
 
David A. Koch (1)(2)..........  67    Director
 
Kendrick B. Melrose (1)(2)....  57    Director
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
 
(1) Member of Audit Committee
 
(2) Member of Compensation Committee
 
    DALE R. OLSETH joined the Company in 1986 as its President, Chief Executive
Officer and a director of the Company and has served as Chairman of the Board
since 1988. Mr. Olseth also serves on the Board of Directors of The Toro Company
and Graco, Inc. He served as Chairman or President and Chief Executive Officer
of Medtronic, Inc. from 1976 to 1986. From 1971 to 1976, Mr. Olseth served as
President and Chief Executive Officer of Tonka Corporation. Mr. Olseth received
a B.B.A. degree from the University of Minnesota in 1952 and an M.B.A. degree
from Dartmouth College in 1956.
 
    STEPHEN C. HATHAWAY joined the Company as its Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer in September 1996. Prior to joining SurModics, he served as
Director of Finance for Ceridian Employer Services, Ceridian Corporation from
1995 to 1996. Prior to that, Mr. Hathaway was Vice President-- Finance &
Operations for Wilson Learning Corporation from 1988 to 1995. He also spent ten
years with Arthur Andersen LLP. Mr. Hathaway received a B.S. degree in
accounting in 1977 from Miami University and became a Certified Public
Accountant in 1980.
 
    PATRICK E. GUIRE, PH.D. is a co-founder of the Company and has served as
Senior Vice President of Research and Technology and a director since 1980. Dr.
Guire is responsible for the research affairs of the Company. Prior to founding
SurModics, Dr. Guire was employed by Kallestad Laboratories, Inc. as a senior
scientist from 1978 to 1979 and was a researcher at the Midwest Research
Institute, Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri from 1972 to 1978. He received a B.S.
degree in Chemistry from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville in 1958 and a
Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Illinois in 1963.
 
    JAMES C. POWELL joined the Company in 1987, and in 1992 became its Vice
President of Technical Operations. He was employed at Precision-Cosmet Company,
Inc., a manufacturer of contact and intraocular lenses, from 1978 until he
joined SurModics. Mr. Powell received a B.S. degree in wood
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
sciences from Texas A&M University in 1972 and an M.S. degree in polymer science
in 1975 from the University of Washington.
 
    ANDREW B. SUMMERVILLE joined the Company in 1994, and in 1995 became its
Vice President of Marketing. He held various sales and marketing positions with
Graco, Inc. from 1986 until joining SurModics. Prior to that, Mr. Summerville
held similar positions with 3M Company. Mr. Summerville received a B.A. degree
in applied science and a B.S. degree in material science from Lehigh University
in 1968 and an M.B.A. degree from Dartmouth College in 1970.
 
    WALTER H. DIERS, JR. joined the Company in 1988 and currently serves as Vice
President of Corporate Development. He served as a consultant to several small,
high technology companies from 1984 until he joined SurModics. Prior to that, he
was the Controller of the Laserdyne division of Data Card Corporation. Mr. Diers
received a B.S. degree in economics and a B.S. degree in business in 1977 and an
M.B.A. degree in finance in 1979 from the University of Minnesota.
 
    MARIE J. VERSEN joined the Company in 1987, and in 1996 became its Vice
President of Quality Management and Regulatory Compliance. She was previously
employed at Precision-Cosmet Company, Inc. from 1983 to 1986. Ms. Versen
received a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota
in 1983.
 
    DONALD S. FREDRICKSON, M.D. was elected a director of the Company in
February 1991. He has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of D.S.
Fredrickson Associates, Inc., an international medical research and biomedical
consulting firm since 1987. Dr. Fredrickson served as Vice President, President
and Chief Executive Officer during his tenure at the Howard Hughes Medical
Institute in Washington D.C. from 1983 to 1987. During 1982 and 1983, he served
as a scholar-in-residence at the National Academy of Sciences of the United
States of America. From 1975 to 1981, he served as the Director of the National
Institutes of Health. Dr. Fredrickson received his medical degree from the
University of Michigan.
 
    JAMES J. GRIERSON was elected a director of the Company in 1988. He served
as Vice President of Business Development for Honeywell, Inc. from 1992 until
his retirement in 1996. He was Vice President of Finance of Honeywell from 1987
to 1992 and its Vice President and Treasurer from 1982 to 1987.
 
    KENNETH H. KELLER, PH.D. was elected a director of the Company in 1997. He
has served as Professor of Science and Technology Policy in the Hubert H.
Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota since 1996.
Dr. Keller was a Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations from 1989 to
1997. Dr. Keller joined the Chemical Engineering and Materials Science faculty
of the University of Minnesota in 1964, and through the years assumed increasing
administrative responsibilities, including serving as the twelfth President of
the University in 1985, a position he held until 1988, when he moved to
Princeton University as a Visiting Fellow. Dr. Keller received a B.A. degree in
liberal arts and a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from Columbia University
in 1956 and 1957, respectively, and his M.S.E. and Ph.D. degrees in 1963 and
1964, respectively, from The Johns Hopkins University.
 
    DAVID A. KOCH was elected a director of the Company in 1988. He has served
as the Chairman of Graco, Inc. since 1985, as its Chief Executive Officer from
1962 to 1996 and as its President and Chief Executive Officer from 1962 to 1985.
Mr. Koch is also a director of ReliaStar Financial Corporation and is Chair of
the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.
 
    KENDRICK B. MELROSE was elected a director of the Company in 1988. He has
served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of The Toro Company
since 1987, served as its Chief Executive Officer from 1983 to 1987 and as its
President from 1981 to 1983. Mr. Melrose is also a director of Donaldson
Company, Inc., Valspar Corporation and Jostens, Inc.
 
    The number of directors is determined by the stockholders at their annual
meeting, subject to the right of the stockholders to change such number between
annual meetings and to the right of the Board to increase such number between
annual meetings. All directors hold office until the next annual meeting of
 
                                       33
<PAGE>
stockholders or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified.
Executive officers of the Company are appointed by and serve at the discretion
of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has a Compensation Committee
which provides recommendations concerning salaries and other compensation to be
paid to executive officers of the Company and administers the Company's employee
stock plans. The Board also has an Audit Committee which is responsible for
reviewing the Company's audit process.
 
   
    The Company does not pay any directors' fees. Non-employee directors are
generally compensated with non-qualified options as determined by the Board of
Directors from time to time. The non-employee directors currently hold
non-qualified options to purchase an aggregate of 200,000 shares of Common
Stock. All such options have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of
a share of Common Stock on the day of grant and expire five to ten years after
the date of grant. Such options vest over five year periods commencing on the
date of grant. In addition, Messrs. Grierson and Fredrickson are reimbursed for
their expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board of Directors. See
"Principal Stockholders."
    
 
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
    COMPENSATION SUMMARY.  The following table sets forth certain information
regarding compensation earned or awarded to the President and Chief Executive
Officer and each of the other four most highly compensated executive officers
(the "Named Executive Officers") during the Company's fiscal year ended
September 30, 1997.
 
                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             ANNUAL COMPENSATION
                                                                           -----------------------       ALL OTHER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION                                   FISCAL YEAR  SALARY($)   BONUS($)(1)  COMPENSATION($)(2)
- ------------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------  -----------  -------------------
<S>                                                           <C>          <C>         <C>          <C>
Dale R. Olseth,
  President and Chief Executive Officer.....................        1997   $  109,598   $  20,408        $   2,100
Stephen C. Hathaway,
  Vice President and Chief Financial Officer................        1997   $   90,000   $  22,493        $     618
Patrick E. Guire, Ph.D.,
  Senior Vice President of Research and Technology..........        1997   $   86,250   $  16,327        $   1,680
James C. Powell,
  Vice President of Technical Operations....................        1997   $   96,246   $  18,463        $   1,830
Andrew B. Summerville,
  Vice President of Marketing...............................        1997   $   89,160   $  16,523        $   1,675
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
 
   
(1) Represents amounts earned under a bonus plan established in fiscal 1997 for
    the Company's officers enabling them to receive a payout of up to 24% of
    their base salary. The amount of the bonus was determined based on the
    achievement of certain revenue and profit goals for the year. The plan was
    reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors. Mr. Hathaway's bonus
    includes an additional bonus paid upon commencement of employment with the
    Company.
    
 
   
(2) Represents contributions made by the Company under its 401(k) plan.
    
 
                                       34
<PAGE>
   
    OPTION GRANTS.  The following table sets forth information regarding stock
options granted during the fiscal year ended September 30, 1997 to the Named
Executive Officers.
    
 
                                 OPTION GRANTS
                              (INDIVIDUAL GRANTS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  NUMBER OF          PERCENT OF TOTAL
                                                 SECURITIES         OPTIONS GRANTED TO      EXERCISE OR
                                             UNDERLYING OPTIONS     EMPLOYEES IN FISCAL     BASE PRICE    EXPIRATION
NAME                                             GRANTED(#)                1997               ($/SH)         DATE
- -------------------------------------------  -------------------  -----------------------  -------------  -----------
<S>                                          <C>                  <C>                      <C>            <C>
Dale R. Olseth.............................          --                     --                  --            --
                                                     14,000                9.2%              $    5.00      1/1/02
                                                     30,000               19.8%              $    5.00     11/18/01
                                                     30,000               19.8%              $    5.00     11/18/03
Stephen C. Hathaway........................
Patrick E. Guire, Ph.D.....................          20,000               13.2%              $    5.00      1/1/02
James C. Powell............................          --                     --                  --            --
Andrew B. Summerville......................          16,000               10.6%              $    5.00      1/1/02
</TABLE>
 
    AGGREGATE OPTION EXERCISES AND YEAR-END OPTION VALUES.  The following table
sets forth certain information regarding options exercised and the number and
value of exercisable and unexercisable options to purchase shares of Common
Stock held as of the end of the Company's 1997 fiscal year by the Named
Executive Officers.
 
             AGGREGATE OPTION EXERCISES AND YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                 VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                                                                      NUMBER OF UNEXERCISED      IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS
                                  SHARES ACQUIRED       VALUE         OPTIONS AT FY-END(#)           AT FY-END($)
NAME                              ON EXERCISE(#)     REALIZED(1)     EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE/UNEXERCISABLE(1)
- --------------------------------  ---------------  ----------------  -----------------------  --------------------------
<S>                               <C>              <C>               <C>                      <C>
Dale R. Olseth..................        --                --             112,000/128,000           $96,000/$64,000
Stephen C. Hathaway.............        --                --              8,800/65,200                  $0/$0
Patrick E. Guire, Ph.D..........        --                --              24,400/49,600             $14,400/$9,600
James C. Powell.................        14,000        $   14,000          38,000/56,000             $7,200/$4,800
Andrew B. Summerville...........        --                --              31,600/42,400                 $0/$0
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 
(1) Based on the difference between the fair market value as of September 30,
    1997 ($5.00 per share as determined by the Board of Directors) and the
    option exercise price.
 
STOCK OPTIONS
 
   
    On January 27, 1997, the Board of Directors and stockholders of the Company
adopted the 1997 Incentive Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") in order to provide
for the granting of stock purchase options to employees and officers of the
Company. The Plan permits the granting of incentive stock options meeting the
requirements of Section 422A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The Company
has reserved 600,000 shares of its Common Stock for issuance upon exercise of
options granted under the Plan. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Company
has outstanding options to purchase an aggregate of 30,800 shares under the
Plan. The Company also has outstanding options, granted pursuant to the
Company's 1987 Incentive Stock Option Plan, which plan expired on January 18,
1997, to purchase an aggregate of 299,600 shares. In addition, the Company has
outstanding non-qualified options, granted outside of either of the foregoing
plans, to purchase an aggregate of 902,800 shares of Common Stock.
    
 
                                       35
<PAGE>
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
 
    In August 1997, the Company adopted a plan pursuant to which an employee of
the Company could borrow amounts from the Company to fund option exercises. Any
loan made pursuant to this plan is required to provide for: a five-year term,
subject to automatic acceleration to the earlier of three months after
termination of employment or six months after the shares purchased become
eligible for sale in the public market; interest payable annually at the prime
rate in effect at the time of the loan, paid annually; principal payable at
maturity; and a pledge of the shares of Common Stock acquired with the proceeds
of the loan as security. The Board has the authority to terminate this plan at
any time and will do so upon completion of this offering. Under the terms of
this loan program, (i) Walter H. Diers, Jr., Vice President of Corporate
Development for the Company, borrowed an aggregate of $80,000 on September 19,
1997, at an interest rate of 8.5%, to exercise an option to purchase an
aggregate of 20,000 shares of Common Stock at $4.00 per share and (ii) James C.
Powell, Vice President of Technical Operations for the Company, borrowed an
aggregate of $56,000 on September 19, 1997, at an interest rate of 8.5% to
exercise an option to purchase an aggregate of 14,000 shares of Common Stock at
$4.00 per share.
 
                                       36
<PAGE>
                             PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
 
   
    The following table sets forth as of February 1, 1998, and as adjusted to
reflect the sale of the shares offered hereby, certain information regarding
beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock by (i) each person known by
the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding Common
Stock, (ii) each director of the Company, (iii) each of the Named Executive
Officers and (iv) all executive officers and directors of the Company as a
group.
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     PERCENTAGE OF OUTSTANDING SHARES
                                                                NUMBER OF SHARES
                                                                  BENEFICIALLY      -----------------------------------
NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER                                            OWNED(1)         BEFORE OFFERING    AFTER OFFERING
- ------------------------------------------------------------  --------------------  -----------------  ----------------
<S>                                                           <C>                   <C>                <C>
Dale R. Olseth (2)(3).......................................           546,000              10.8%              7.7%
Stephen C. Hathaway (2)(4)..................................            17,600                 *                 *
Patrick E. Guire, Ph.D. (2)(5)..............................           207,867               4.2%              3.0%
James C. Powell (2)(6)......................................            87,600               1.8%              1.3%
Andrew B. Summerville (2)(4)................................            34,800                 *                 *
Donald S. Fredrickson, M.D. (2)(4)..........................            52,000               1.1%                *
James J. Grierson (2)(7)....................................            75,000               1.5%              1.1%
Kenneth H. Keller, Ph.D. (2)(4).............................             4,000                 *                 *
David A. Koch (2)(8)........................................           441,400               8.9%              6.4%
Kendrick B. Melrose (2)(7)..................................           142,000               2.9%              2.0%
Seven Hundred Company (9)...................................           522,000              10.6%              7.6%
All executive officers and directors                                 1,692,547
  as a group (12 persons) (10)..............................                                34.0%             24.3%
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 
*   Less than one percent.
 
   
 (1) Shares not outstanding but deemed beneficially owned by virtue of the
     individual's right to acquire them as of February 1, 1998, or within 60
     days of such date, are treated as outstanding when determining the percent
     of the class owned by such individual and when determining the percent
     owned by the group. For purposes of calculating the percent of class owned
     after this offering, it was assumed that the officers, directors and
     principal stockholders will not be purchasing shares in this offering.
     Unless otherwise indicated, each person named or included in the group has
     sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares of Common Stock
     set forth opposite his name.
    
 
 (2) The address of the directors and executive officers of the Company is 9924
     West 74th Street, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344.
 
 (3) Includes 144,000 shares purchasable upon exercise of options.
 
 (4) Represents shares purchasable upon exercise of options.
 
 (5) Includes 33,200 shares purchasable upon exercise of options.
 
 (6) Includes 47,600 shares purchasable upon exercise of options.
 
 (7) Includes 32,000 shares purchasable upon exercise of options.
 
 (8) Includes 32,000 shares purchasable upon exercise of options and 16,000
     shares held of record by an affiliate of Mr. Koch's wife.
 
 (9) The address of the Seven Hundred Company is 5140 Norwest Center, 90 South
     Seventh Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402.
 
 (10) Includes 462,480 shares purchasable upon exercise of options.
 
                                       37
<PAGE>
                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
 
    Upon completion of this offering, assuming approval by the stockholders of
the amendment to the Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended,
which is discussed below, the authorized capital stock of the Company will
consist of 20,000,000 shares of capital stock, $0.05 per share par value, of
which 15,000,000 shares are Common Stock and 5,000,000 shares are undesignated.
 
COMMON STOCK
 
   
    As of February 1, 1998, the Company had approximately 200 shareholders of
record holding 3,402,788 shares of issued and outstanding Common Stock,
including 84,000 shares issued pursuant to restricted stock agreements. The
holders of the Common Stock: (i) have equal ratable rights to dividends from
funds legally available therefor, when, as and if declared by the Board of
Directors of the Company; (ii) are entitled to share ratably in all the assets
of the Company available for distribution to holders of the Common Stock upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company; and (iii)
are entitled to one vote per share on all matters which stockholders may vote on
at all meetings of stockholders. All shares of Common Stock now outstanding are
fully paid and nonassessable and the shares of Common Stock to be issued upon
completion of this offering will be fully paid and nonassessable. There are no
redemption, sinking fund, conversion or preemptive rights with respect to the
shares of Common Stock.
    
 
    The holders of the Common Stock do not have cumulative voting rights.
Subject to the rights of any future series of preferred stock, the holders of
more than 50 percent of such outstanding shares voting for the election of
directors can elect all of the directors of the Company to be elected, if they
so choose. In such event, the holders of the remaining shares will not be able
to elect any of the Company's directors.
 
SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
 
   
    Upon the closing of this offering, the 376,828 shares of outstanding Series
A Convertible Preferred Stock, held of record by approximately 70 shareholders,
will be converted automatically into an aggregate of 1,507,312 shares of Common
Stock. The Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, provide for
the automatic cancellation and elimination of the shares authorized as Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock upon conversion of all such shares.
    
 
UNDESIGNATED STOCK
 
    Under governing Minnesota law and the Company's Restated Articles of
Incorporation, as amended, no action by the Company's stockholders is necessary,
and only action of the Board of Directors is required, to authorize the issuance
of any of the undesignated stock. The Board of Directors is empowered to
establish and to designate each class or series of the undesignated shares and
to set the terms of such shares (including terms with respect to redemption,
sinking fund, dividend, liquidation, preemptive, conversion and voting rights
and preferences). Accordingly, the Board of Directors, without stockholder
approval, may issue such undesignated shares in one or more series of preferred
stock having rights, preferences, privileges or restrictions, including voting
rights, that may be greater than the rights of holders of Common Stock.
 
    It is not possible to state the actual effect of the issuance of any shares
of preferred stock upon the rights of holders of the Common Stock until the
Board of Directors determines the specific rights of the holders of such
preferred stock. However, the effects might include, among other things,
restricting dividends on the Common Stock, diluting the voting power of the
Common Stock, impairing the liquidation rights of the Common Stock and delaying
or preventing a change in control of the Company without further action by the
stockholders. The Company has no present plans to issue any shares of preferred
stock.
 
                                       38
<PAGE>
MINNESOTA BUSINESS CORPORATION ACT
 
    Certain provisions of Minnesota law described below could have an
anti-takeover effect. These provisions are intended to provide management
flexibility and to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the
composition of the Company's Board of Directors and in the policies formulated
by the Board and to discourage an unsolicited takeover of the Company, if the
Board determines that such a takeover is not in the best interests of the
Company and its stockholders. However, these provisions could have the effect of
discouraging certain attempts to acquire the Company which could deprive the
Company's stockholders of opportunities to sell their shares of Common Stock at
prices higher than prevailing market prices.
 
    Section 302A.671 of the Minnesota Statutes applies, with certain exceptions,
to any acquisition of voting stock of the Company (from a person other than the
Company, and other than in connection with certain mergers and exchanges to
which the Company is a party) resulting in the beneficial ownership of 20
percent or more of the voting stock then outstanding. Section 302A.671 requires
approval of any such acquisitions by a majority vote of the stockholders of the
Company prior to its consummation. In general, shares acquired in the absence of
such approval are denied voting rights and are redeemable at their then fair
market value by the Company within 30 days after the acquiring person has failed
to give a timely information statement to the Company or the date the
stockholders voted not to grant voting rights to the acquiring person's shares.
 
    Section 302A.673 of the Minnesota Statutes generally prohibits any business
combination by the Company, or any subsidiary of the Company, with any
stockholder which purchases 10 percent or more of the Company's voting shares
(an "interested stockholder") within four years following such interested
stockholder's share acquisition date, unless the business combination is
approved by a committee of all of the disinterested members of the Board of
Directors of the Company serving before the interested stockholder's share
acquisition date.
 
CERTAIN LIMITED LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION PROVISIONS
 
    The Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, limit the
personal liability of its directors. Specifically, directors of the Company will
not be personally liable to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages
for any breach of their fiduciary duty as directors, except to the extent that
the elimination or limitation of liability is in contravention of the MBCA, as
amended. This provision will generally not limit liability under state or
federal securities law.
 
    Section 302A.521 of the MBCA provides that a Minnesota business corporation
shall indemnify any director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation made
or threatened to be made a party to a proceeding, by reason of the former or
present official capacity (as defined) of the person, against judgments,
penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses incurred by the person in
connection with the proceeding if certain statutory standards are met.
"Proceeding" means a threatened, pending or completed civil, criminal,
administrative, arbitration or investigative proceeding, including one by or in
the right of the corporation. Section 302A.521 contains detailed terms regarding
such right of indemnification and reference is made thereto for a complete
statement of such indemnification rights.
 
    Section 5.1 of the Company's Bylaws provides that each director, officer and
employee of the Company shall be indemnified by the Company in accordance with,
and to the fullest extent permissible by, applicable law.
 
    The Company is in the process of obtaining an insurance policy covering
director and officer liability.
 
    Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted to directors, officers or controlling persons of the Company
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Company has been advised that in the
opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable.
 
                                       39
<PAGE>
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
 
    The Transfer Agent and Registrar with respect to the Company's Common Stock
will be Firstar Trust Company.
 
                        SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
 
    Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the Common
Stock. Future sales of substantial amounts of Common Stock in the open market
may adversely affect the market price of the Common Stock offered hereby and the
ability of the Company to raise equity capital in the future.
 
   
    Upon consummation of the offering, the Company will have outstanding an
aggregate of 6,910,100 shares of Common Stock (assuming no exercise of the
Underwriters' over-allotment option). Of the aggregate number of outstanding
shares of Common Stock, the 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock sold in this
offering will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration
under the Securities Act, unless purchased by an "affiliate" of the Company, as
that term is defined by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (an
"Affiliate"), whose sales would be subject to certain volume limitations and
other restrictions described below. The remaining 4,910,100 shares of Common
Stock originally issued and sold by the Company in private transactions in
reliance upon exemptions from the Securities Act held by stockholders upon the
consummation of this offering will be "restricted securities" as that term is
defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, and may be sold in the public
market only if registered or if they qualify for an exemption from registration
under Rule 144, 144(k) or 701 or otherwise.
    
 
   
    All officers and directors and certain stockholders of the Company, owning
an aggregate of 4,101,212 shares, have entered into "lock-up" agreements,
agreeing not to, directly or indirectly, sell, assign, transfer, encumber, offer
to sell, grant any option for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of, any shares
of Common Stock without the consent of the Representative for a period of 180
days after the date of this Prospectus. The Representative may waive these
restrictions at any time in its discretion. In considering any waiver request,
the Representative may take into account prevailing market conditions, the
number of shares subject to the requested waiver, the extent to which other
waivers have been granted and other factors that the Representative may deem
relevant. Taking such restrictions into account, in addition to the 2,000,000
shares of Common Stock offered hereby, (i) approximately 676,552 shares will be
eligible for immediate sale on the date of this Prospectus in accordance with
Rule 144; (ii) approximately 21,600 shares will be eligible for sale on April 1,
1998 upon expiration of certain restrictions under restricted stock awards;
(iii) approximately 17,428 additional shares will become eligible for sale in
the public market beginning 90 days after the date of this Prospectus in
accordance with Rule 144; and (iv) approximately 4,067,212 additional shares
will be eligible for sale beginning 180 days after the date of this Prospectus
upon the expiration of the lock-up agreements, subject, in the case of
Affiliates, to volume and manner of sale limitations under Rule 144.
    
 
    In general, under Rule 144 as currently in effect, a person (or persons
whose shares are aggregated) who beneficially owns shares last acquired
privately from the Company or an Affiliate at least one year previously is
entitled to sell, in "brokers' transactions" or to market makers, within any
three-month period commencing 90 days after the date of this Prospectus, a
number of shares that does not exceed the greater of (i) 1% of the then
outstanding shares of Common Stock (approximately 69,000 shares immediately
after the offering); or (ii) the average weekly trading volume in the Common
Stock during the four calendar weeks preceding the required filing of a Form 144
with respect to such sale. Sales under Rule 144 are generally subject to the
availability of current public information about the Company. Under Rule 144(k),
a person who is not deemed to have been an Affiliate of the Company at any time
during the 90 days preceding a sale, and who beneficially owns shares last
acquired from the Company or an Affiliate at least two years previously, is
entitled to sell such shares without complying with the manner of sale, public
information, volume limitation or notice provisions of Rule 144. Unless
otherwise restricted, "144(k) shares" may therefore be sold immediately upon the
consummation of this offering.
 
                                       40
<PAGE>
    Any employee, officer or director of or consultant to the Company who
purchased his or her shares pursuant to a written compensatory plan or contract
is entitled to rely on the resale provisions of Rule 701, which permits
non-Affiliates to sell their Rule 701 shares without complying with the public
information, holding period, volume limitation or notice provisions of Rule 144
and which permits Affiliates to sell their Rule 701 shares without complying
with the Rule 144 holding period restrictions, in each case commencing 90 days
after the date of this Prospectus.
 
   
    The Company intends to file, after expiration of the lockup agreements
referenced above, Registration Statements on Form S-8 under the Securities Act
to register shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance upon exercise of stock
options, thus permitting the resale of such shares by non-Affiliates in the
public market without restrictions under the Securities Act and by Affiliates
subject to volume and manner of sale limitations under Rule 144. As of the date
of this Prospectus, options to purchase 1,233,200 shares of Common Stock were
outstanding, with 531,520 of the shares issuable upon exercise of such options
subject to vesting requirements extending beyond the terms of the lock-up
agreements. The remaining 701,680 shares issuable upon exercise of such options
will become available for exercise and sale upon vesting and effectiveness of
such Registration Statements on Form S-8.
    
 
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
 
   
    The Company has entered into Registration Rights Agreements with all holders
of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock granting them participatory and demand
registration rights with respect to the shares of Common Stock issuable to them
upon conversion of their shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. The
participatory or "piggyback" rights provide that if the Company determines to
register for public sale with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission any of
the Company's securities, the Company will use its best efforts to cause the
Common Stock acquired upon conversion of the Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock by such stockholders to be included in the offering for the benefit of the
investors desiring to sell such shares. The piggyback registration rights relate
to certain public offerings of the Company, if any, occurring during a
three-year period beginning on the closing of this offering. Such registration
rights are subject to various limitations, including the right of the managing
underwriter of a subsequent offering to determine that marketing factors require
a limitation on the number of shares of Common Stock that can be sold by the
selling stockholders participating in the registered sales. In connection with
any exercise of these piggyback rights, the Registration Rights Agreements
provide that the selling stockholders pay their own selling expenses (including
selling commissions and stock transfer taxes), as well as a proportionate share
of offering and registration fees and expenses.
    
 
   
    The demand registration rights provide that on a one-time basis only, during
a two and one-half year period beginning six months after the effective date of
this offering, upon the request of the holders of a majority in interest
thereof, the Company will promptly take all necessary action to register or
qualify for immediate sale, under the Securities Act and the securities laws of
such states as the holders may reasonably request, the Common Stock obtained
upon conversion. In connection with these demand rights, the Company will bear
all offering and registration fees and expenses other than blue sky fees, fees
and disbursements of underwriter's counsel and selling stockholders' selling
expenses (including selling commissions and stock transfer taxes), which will be
the responsibility of the selling stockholder. Any request for demand
registration made within the period beginning six months and ending twelve
months after the date of this Prospectus may be limited in the event that John
G. Kinnard and Company, Incorporated determines that any such demand
registration would have an adverse effect on the market price of Common Stock.
In the event of any such determination, the Company may delay filing of a
registration statement for such demand registration for up to 180 days.
    
 
                                       41
<PAGE>
   
    The registration rights granted under the Registration Rights Agreements may
not be transferred or assigned to any subsequent holder of Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock or shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof
without the prior written consent of the Company. All registration rights
granted under the Registration Rights Agreements terminate upon the subsequent
transfer of 75% or more of the shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of
the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock.
    
 
                                  UNDERWRITING
 
    The Underwriters named below, for which John G. Kinnard and Company,
Incorporated is acting as representative (the "Representative"), have severally
agreed, subject to the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement with
the Company to purchase from the Company the 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock
offered hereby. The number of shares that each Underwriter has agreed to
purchase is set forth opposite its name below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   NUMBER OF
UNDERWRITER                                                                          SHARES
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ----------
<S>                                                                                <C>
John G. Kinnard and Company, Incorporated........................................
 
                                                                                   ----------
    Total........................................................................   2,000,000
                                                                                   ----------
                                                                                   ----------
</TABLE>
 
    The Underwriting Agreement provides that the several Underwriters will be
obligated to purchase all of the shares offered hereby, if any are purchased.
The obligation of the Underwriters to purchase the shares is several and not
joint meaning that, subject to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, each
Underwriter is obligated to purchase only the number of shares set forth
opposite its name.
 
   
    The Underwriters propose to offer the shares to the public at the Price to
Public set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus and to dealers at such
price less a concession not in excess of $  per share. The Underwriters may
allow, and such dealers may reallow, a concession not in excess of $  per share
to certain other brokers and dealers. The Price to Public, concession and
reallowance will not be changed by the Representative in the initial public
offering, but the offering price and other selling terms may be changed by the
Representative at any time thereafter.
    
 
    The Company has granted the Underwriters an option, exercisable within 30
days after the date of this Prospectus, to purchase up to an additional 300,000
shares at the Price to Public, less the Underwriting Discount and Commission
shown on the cover page of this Prospectus. The Underwriters may exercise such
option only for the purpose of covering any over-allotments in the sale of the
shares offered hereby.
 
    The Representative has informed the Company that the Underwriters do not
intend to confirm sales to any account over which they exercise discretionary
authority.
 
    The Underwriting Agreement provides for reciprocal indemnification between
the Company, the Underwriters and their controlling persons against civil
liabilities in connection with the offering, including liabilities under the
Securities Act. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the
Company has been informed that, in the
 
                                       42
<PAGE>
opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in such Act and is therefore unenforceable.
 
   
    In order to facilitate the offering of Common Stock, the Underwriters may
engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of
Common Stock. Specifically, the Underwriters may over-allot Common Stock in
connection with the offering, creating a short position in Common Stock for
their own account. In addition, to cover over-allotments or to stabilize the
price of Common Stock, the Underwriters may bid for, and purchase, shares of
Common Stock in the open market. The Underwriters may also reclaim selling
concessions allowed to an underwriter or dealer for distributing Common Stock in
the offering, if the Underwriters repurchase previously distributed Common Stock
in transactions to cover their short positions, in stabilization transactions or
otherwise. Finally, the Underwriters may bid for, and purchase, shares of Common
Stock in market making transactions and impose penalty bids. These activities
may stabilize or maintain the market price of Common Stock above the market
level that may otherwise prevail. The Underwriters are not required to engage in
these activities and may end any of these activities at any time. Any such
activities will be undertaken in accordance with Regulation M under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), if at all.
    
 
    Prior to this offering, there has been no public trading market for the
Common Stock. The initial public offering price of the shares has been
determined by negotiations between the Company and the Representative. Among the
factors considered in such negotiations were the prevailing market conditions,
estimates of the business potential of the Company, the results of operations of
the Company in recent periods and other factors deemed to be relevant.
 
    The foregoing is a brief summary of the material provisions of the
Underwriting Agreement and does not purport to be a complete statement of their
terms and conditions. The Underwriting Agreement has been filed as an exhibit to
the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
   
    The validity of the Common Stock offered hereby will be passed upon for the
Company by Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., Minneapolis, Minnesota. Certain legal
matters for the Underwriters will be passed upon by Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly
LLP, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
    
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
   
    The audited financial statements of SurModics, Inc. as of September 30, 1996
and 1997 and for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 1997,
included in this Prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement, have
been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants, as
indicated in their report with respect thereto, and are included herein in
reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in giving said report.
    
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
    The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement under the
Securities Act with respect to the sale of the shares. This Prospectus does not
contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement, certain
portions of which have been omitted as permitted by the rules and regulations of
the Commission. For further information with respect to the Company and the
shares being offered hereby, reference is made to the Registration Statement,
including the exhibits thereto. Statements contained in this Prospectus as to
the contents of any contract or other document referred to are not necessarily
complete, and in each instance reference is made to the copy of such contract or
other document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. The
Registration Statement may be inspected by anyone without charge at the
principal office of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20549, or at one of the Commission's regional offices: 500 West Madison, Suite
1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511 and 7 World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New
York, New York, 10048. Copies of all or any part
 
                                       43
<PAGE>
of such material may be obtained upon payment of the prescribed fees from the
Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington,
D.C. The Commission maintains a World Wide Website at http://www.sec.gov
containing reports, proxy and information statements and other information
regarding registrants that file electronically with the Commission, including
the Company.
 
   
    Prior to this offering, the Company has not been subject to the reporting
requirements of the Exchange Act. After completion of this offering, the Company
intends to comply with such requirements, including distributing to its
stockholders an annual report containing audited financial statements.
    
 
                                       44
<PAGE>
                                SURMODICS, INC.
 
                              FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                                     INDEX
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                               PAGE
                                                                                                             ---------
<S>                                                                                                          <C>
 
Report of Independent Public Accountants...................................................................     F-2
 
Balance Sheets as of September 30, 1996 and 1997, December 31, 1997 (unaudited) and Pro Forma as of
  December 31, 1997 (unaudited)............................................................................     F-3
 
Statements of Operations for the Years Ended September 30, 1995, 1996 and 1997, and for the Three Months
  Ended December 31, 1996 and 1997 (unaudited).............................................................     F-4
 
Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the Years Ended September 30, 1995, 1996 and 1997, for the Three
  Months Ended December 31, 1997 (unaudited) and Pro Forma as of September 30, 1997 (unaudited)............     F-5
 
Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended September 30, 1995, 1996 and 1997, and for the Three Months
  Ended December 31, 1996 and 1997 (unaudited).............................................................     F-6
 
Notes to Financial Statements..............................................................................     F-7
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      F-1
<PAGE>
                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
To SurModics, Inc.:
 
    We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of SurModics, Inc. (a
Minnesota corporation) as of September 30, 1996 and 1997, and the related
statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the
three years in the period ended September 30, 1997. 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, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of SurModics, Inc. as of
September 30, 1996 and 1997, and the results of its operations and its cash
flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 1997, in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
                                          ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
 
Minneapolis, Minnesota,
  November 14, 1997 (except for
  Note 3, as to which the date
  is December 22, 1997)
 
                                      F-2
<PAGE>
                                SURMODICS, INC.
 
   
                                 BALANCE SHEETS
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                       --------------------------  DECEMBER 31,      PRO FORMA
                                                           1996          1997          1997      DECEMBER 31, 1997
                                                       ------------  ------------  ------------  -----------------
<S>                                                    <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>
                                                                                   (UNAUDITED)      (UNAUDITED;
                                                                                                    SEE NOTE 8)
                                                      ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
  Cash and cash equivalents..........................  $  2,012,906  $    491,624  $   566,385   $        566,385
  Short-term investments.............................     1,831,910     1,455,976    1,685,099          1,685,099
  Accounts receivable, less allowance of $5,000,                                       712,873            712,873
    $29,000 and $15,000..............................       627,819       922,466
  Inventories........................................       260,768       264,008      258,985            258,985
  Prepaids and other.................................        61,423        74,124      167,140            167,140
                                                       ------------  ------------  ------------  -----------------
      Total current assets...........................     4,794,826     3,208,198    3,390,482          3,390,482
                                                       ------------  ------------  ------------  -----------------
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
  Laboratory fixtures and equipment..................     1,901,828     2,027,940    2,090,159          2,090,159
  Office furniture and equipment.....................       727,563       815,602      878,827            878,827
  Leasehold improvements.............................     1,038,609     1,049,802    1,049,802          1,049,802
  Construction in progress...........................       --             18,620      193,875            193,875
  Less--Accumulated depreciation and amortization....    (2,452,609)   (2,846,954)  (2,959,654 )       (2,959,654 )
                                                       ------------  ------------  ------------  -----------------
      Property and equipment, net....................     1,215,391     1,065,010    1,253,009          1,253,009
LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS................................       --          1,874,118    1,385,312          1,385,312
OTHER ASSETS, net....................................        36,265       302,930      312,217            312,217
                                                       ------------  ------------  ------------  -----------------
                                                       $  6,046,482  $  6,450,256  $ 6,341,020   $      6,341,020
                                                       ------------  ------------  ------------  -----------------
                                                       ------------  ------------  ------------  -----------------
 
                                       LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Accounts payable...................................  $     52,663  $    280,467  $   144,723   $        144,723
  Accrued liabilities--
    Compensation.....................................       162,108       400,861      294,966            294,966
    Other............................................       111,635        91,807      129,114            129,114
  Deferred revenues..................................       518,786       308,143      272,347            272,347
                                                       ------------  ------------  ------------  -----------------
      Total current liabilities......................       845,192     1,081,278      841,150            841,150
DEFERRED REVENUES AND OTHER, less current portion....       460,850       266,973      231,841            231,841
                                                       ------------  ------------  ------------  -----------------
      Total liabilities..............................     1,306,042     1,348,251    1,072,991          1,072,991
                                                       ------------  ------------  ------------  -----------------
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 6)
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
  Series A Convertible Preferred Stock--
    $.05 par value, 450,000 shares authorized;                                          18,841          --
      376,828 shares issued and outstanding (none pro
      forma).........................................        18,841        18,841
  Voting Common Stock--
    $.05 par value, 15,000,000 shares authorized;                                      169,844            245,208
      3,311,480, 3,400,868 and 3,396,868 shares
      issued and outstanding (4,904,180 pro forma)...       165,576       170,044
  Additional paid-in capital.........................    13,093,961    13,491,665   13,490,865         13,434,342
  Unearned compensation..............................      (142,720)     (259,000)    (243,000 )         (243,000 )
  Stock purchase notes receivable....................       --           (160,000)    (160,000 )         (160,000 )
  Accumulated deficit................................    (8,395,218)   (8,159,545)  (8,008,521 )       (8,008,521 )
                                                       ------------  ------------  ------------  -----------------
      Total stockholders' equity.....................     4,740,440     5,102,005    5,268,029          5,268,029
                                                       ------------  ------------  ------------  -----------------
                                                       $  6,046,482  $  6,450,256  $ 6,341,020   $      6,341,020
                                                       ------------  ------------  ------------  -----------------
                                                       ------------  ------------  ------------  -----------------
</TABLE>
    
 
      The accompanying notes are an integral part of these balance sheets.
 
                                      F-3
<PAGE>
                                SURMODICS, INC.
 
   
                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                              THREE MONTHS
                                                    YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,              ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                             ----------------------------------------  --------------------------
                                                 1995          1996          1997          1996          1997
                                             ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                                                              (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                          <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>
REVENUES:
  Royalties................................  $  2,082,176  $  2,340,187  $  2,913,119  $    603,141  $    941,768
  License fees.............................       857,500       382,500       540,000       232,500       --
  Product sales............................     1,428,951     1,641,226     2,158,572       489,652       497,225
  Research and development.................     1,587,607     1,818,739     1,970,174       330,063       470,443
                                             ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
    Total revenues.........................     5,956,234     6,182,652     7,581,865     1,655,356     1,909,436
                                             ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES:
  Product..................................     1,258,327     1,214,526     1,431,675       328,497       249,818
  Research and development.................     2,966,489     3,316,767     3,597,061       811,740       958,449
  Sales and marketing......................     1,060,728       911,622     1,098,316       222,140       302,886
  General and administrative...............     1,125,494     1,154,412     1,417,524       305,807       296,829
                                             ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
    Total operating costs and
      expenses.............................     6,411,038     6,597,327     7,544,576     1,668,184     1,807,982
                                             ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS..............      (454,804)     (414,675)       37,289       (12,828)      101,454
                                             ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
  Investment income and other, net.........       350,465       275,849       198,384        39,063        49,570
  Loss on investments......................      (217,840)      (54,901)      --            --            --
                                             ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
    Other income, net......................       132,625       220,948       198,384        39,063        49,570
                                             ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
NET INCOME (LOSS)..........................  $   (322,179) $   (193,727) $    235,673  $     26,235  $    151,024
                                             ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
                                             ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE (PRO FORMA)
  (Note 2)
  Basic....................................  $       (.07) $       (.04) $        .05  $        .01  $        .03
  Diluted..................................          (.07)         (.04)          .04           .00           .03
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING (PRO
  FORMA) (Note 2)
  Basic....................................     4,788,963     4,851,123     4,905,394     4,894,317     4,967,496
  Diluted..................................     4,788,963     4,851,123     5,393,031     5,398,559     5,432,114
</TABLE>
    
 
   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
                                      F-4
<PAGE>
                                SURMODICS, INC.
 
   
                       STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
    
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         CONVERTIBLE              VOTING           NONVOTING COMMON
                                       PREFERRED STOCK         COMMON STOCK             STOCK          ADDITIONAL
                                     --------------------  --------------------  --------------------   PAID-IN      UNEARNED
                                      SHARES     AMOUNT     SHARES     AMOUNT     SHARES     AMOUNT     CAPITAL    COMPENSATION
                                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  -------------
<S>                                  <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>         <C>
BALANCE, September 30, 1994........    376,828  $  18,841  3,158,380  $ 157,920     26,232  $   1,312  $12,688,813   $(151,680)
  Common stock options exercised...     --         --         36,040      1,800     --         --          90,860       --
  Restricted stock granted.........     --         --         24,000      1,200     --         --         118,800     (120,000)
  Amortization of unearned
    compensation...................     --         --         --         --         --         --          --           50,560
  Net realized loss on
    investments....................     --         --         --         --         --         --          --           --
  Unrealized gain on investments...     --         --         --         --         --         --          --           --
  Net loss.........................     --         --         --         --         --         --          --           --
                                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  -------------
BALANCE, September 30, 1995........    376,828     18,841  3,218,420    160,920     26,232      1,312  12,898,473     (221,120)
  Common stock options exercised...     --         --         71,628      3,584     --         --         199,088       --
  Conversion of nonvoting common
    stock to voting common stock...     --         --         26,232      1,312    (26,232)    (1,312)     --           --
  Restricted stock canceled........     --         --         (4,800)      (240)    --         --          (3,600)       3,840
  Amortization of unearned
    compensation...................     --         --         --         --         --         --          --           74,560
  Unrealized loss on investments...     --         --         --         --         --         --          --           --
  Realized loss on investments.....     --         --         --         --         --         --          --           --
  Net loss.........................     --         --         --         --         --         --          --           --
                                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  -------------
BALANCE, September 30, 1996........    376,828     18,841  3,311,480    165,576     --         --      13,093,961     (142,720)
  Common stock options exercised...     --         --         45,388      2,268     --         --         179,904       --
  Restricted stock granted.........     --         --         44,000      2,200     --         --         217,800     (220,000)
  Amortization of unearned
    compensation...................     --         --         --         --         --         --          --          103,720
  Net income.......................     --         --         --         --         --         --          --           --
                                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  -------------
BALANCE, September 30, 1997........    376,828     18,841  3,400,868    170,044     --         --      13,491,665     (259,000)
  Restricted stock
    canceled (unaudited)...........     --         --         (4,000)      (200)    --         --         (16,800)      17,000
  Restricted stock
    extension (unaudited)..........     --         --         --         --         --         --          16,000      (16,000)
  Amortization of unearned
    compensation (unaudited).......     --         --         --         --         --         --          --           15,000
  Net income (unaudited)...........     --         --         --         --         --         --          --           --
                                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  -------------
BALANCE, December 31, 1997.........    376,828     18,841  3,396,868    169,844     --         --      13,490,865     (243,000)
  Effects of conversion of Series A
    Convertible Preferred Stock to
    common stock (Note 8)
    (unaudited)....................   (376,828)   (18,841) 1,507,312     75,364     --         --         (56,523)      --
                                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  -------------
BALANCE, pro forma, December 31,
  1997 (unaudited).................     --      $  --      4,904,180  $ 245,208     --      $  --      $13,434,342   $(243,000)
                                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  -------------
                                     ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  -------------
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                        STOCK
                                      PURCHASE    UNREALIZED                    TOTAL
                                        NOTES     INVESTMENT   ACCUMULATED   STOCKHOLDERS'
                                     RECEIVABLE      LOSS        DEFICIT        EQUITY
                                     -----------  -----------  ------------  ------------
<S>                                  <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>
BALANCE, September 30, 1994........   $  --        $(246,390)   $(7,879,312)  $4,589,504
  Common stock options exercised...      --           --            --            92,660
  Restricted stock granted.........      --           --            --            --
  Amortization of unearned
    compensation...................      --           --            --            50,560
  Net realized loss on
    investments....................      --          217,840        --           217,840
  Unrealized gain on investments...      --           28,550        --            28,550
  Net loss.........................      --           --          (322,179)     (322,179)
                                     -----------  -----------  ------------  ------------
BALANCE, September 30, 1995........      --           --        (8,201,491)    4,656,935
  Common stock options exercised...      --           --            --           202,672
  Conversion of nonvoting common
    stock to voting common stock...      --           --            --            --
  Restricted stock canceled........      --           --            --            --
  Amortization of unearned
    compensation...................      --           --            --            74,560
  Unrealized loss on investments...      --          (54,901)       --           (54,901)
  Realized loss on investments.....      --           54,901        --            54,901
  Net loss.........................      --           --          (193,727)     (193,727)
                                     -----------  -----------  ------------  ------------
BALANCE, September 30, 1996........      --           --        (8,395,218)    4,740,440
  Common stock options exercised...    (160,000)      --            --            22,172
  Restricted stock granted.........      --           --            --            --
  Amortization of unearned
    compensation...................      --           --            --           103,720
  Net income.......................      --           --           235,673       235,673
                                     -----------  -----------  ------------  ------------
BALANCE, September 30, 1997........    (160,000)      --        (8,159,545)    5,102,005
  Restricted stock
    canceled (unaudited)...........      --           --            --            --
  Restricted stock
    extension (unaudited)..........      --           --            --            --
  Amortization of unearned
    compensation (unaudited).......      --           --            --            15,000
  Net income (unaudited)...........      --           --           151,024       151,024
                                     -----------  -----------  ------------  ------------
BALANCE, December 31, 1997.........    (160,000)      --        (8,008,521)    5,268,029
  Effects of conversion of Series A
    Convertible Preferred Stock to
    common stock (Note 8)
    (unaudited)....................      --           --            --            --
                                     -----------  -----------  ------------  ------------
BALANCE, pro forma, December 31,
  1997 (unaudited).................   $(160,000)   $  --        $(8,008,521)  $5,268,029
                                     -----------  -----------  ------------  ------------
                                     -----------  -----------  ------------  ------------
</TABLE>
    
 
   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
                                      F-5
<PAGE>
                                SURMODICS, INC.
 
   
                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                   THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                              YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,               DECEMBER 31,
                                                       ----------------------------------------  -----------------------
                                                           1995          1996          1997         1996         1997
                                                       ------------  ------------  ------------  -----------  ----------
                                                                                                       (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                    <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>          <C>
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
  Net income (loss)..................................  $   (322,179) $   (193,727) $    235,673  $    26,235  $  151,024
  Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net
    cash provided by operating activities--
    Depreciation and amortization....................       449,746       427,274       460,039      119,278     116,707
    Realized loss on investments.....................       217,840        54,901       --           --           --
    Amortization of unearned compensation, net.......        50,560        59,200       103,720       17,680      15,000
    Change in deferred rent..........................         8,812         2,174       (11,104)      (1,811)     (3,882)
    Change in assets and liabilities:
      Accounts receivable............................       (29,250)      (67,849)     (294,647)      98,778     209,593
      Inventories....................................      (100,318)       (3,945)       (3,240)      13,598       5,023
      Accounts payable and accrued liabilities.......       113,170        (9,962)      446,729      (29,481)   (204,332)
      Deferred revenue...............................      (311,968)      138,268      (393,416)     (57,971)    (67,046)
      Prepaids and other.............................         2,230       (33,303)      (12,701)     (35,613)    (93,016)
                                                       ------------  ------------  ------------  -----------  ----------
        Net cash provided by operating activities....        78,643       373,031       531,053      150,693     129,071
                                                       ------------  ------------  ------------  -----------  ----------
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
  Purchases of property and equipment, net...........      (190,323)     (201,580)     (298,388)     (50,591)   (300,701)
  Purchases of short-term investments................      (933,428)   (1,497,290)   (2,049,066)    (597,165)     --
  Sales of short-term investments....................       --          2,659,520     2,425,000      725,000     250,000
  Purchases of long-term investments.................      (334,620)      --         (1,874,118)    (971,903)     --
  Other..............................................       (15,000)      --           (277,935)     --           (3,609)
                                                       ------------  ------------  ------------  -----------  ----------
        Net cash provided by (used in) investing
          activities.................................    (1,473,371)      960,650    (2,074,507)    (894,659)    (54,310)
                                                       ------------  ------------  ------------  -----------  ----------
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
  Issuance of common stock, net of offering costs....        92,660       218,032        22,172      --           --
  Borrowings (repayments) under line of credit,
    net..............................................    (1,151,263)      --            --           --           --
  Repayment of long-term debt and capital lease
    obligations......................................       (46,206)      (16,917)      --           --           --
                                                       ------------  ------------  ------------  -----------  ----------
        Net cash provided by (used in) financing
          activities.................................    (1,104,809)      201,115        22,172      --           --
                                                       ------------  ------------  ------------  -----------  ----------
        Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash
          equivalents................................    (2,499,537)    1,534,796    (1,521,282)    (743,966)     74,761
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:
  Beginning of period................................     2,977,647       478,110     2,012,906    2,012,906     491,624
                                                       ------------  ------------  ------------  -----------  ----------
  End of period......................................  $    478,110  $  2,012,906  $    491,624  $ 1,268,940  $  566,385
                                                       ------------  ------------  ------------  -----------  ----------
                                                       ------------  ------------  ------------  -----------  ----------
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
  Interest paid......................................  $     13,462  $      2,254  $      1,700  $     1,700  $   --
  Noncash investing and financing activity-- Issuance
    of stock purchase notes receivable from exercised
    stock options....................................       --            --            160,000      --           --
</TABLE>
    
 
   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
                                      F-6
<PAGE>
   
                                SURMODICS, INC.
                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                          SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND 1997
              (INCLUDING DATA APPLICABLE TO THE UNAUDITED PERIODS)
    
 
1. DESCRIPTION:
 
    SurModics, Inc. (the Company) (formerly BSI Corporation) develops,
manufactures and markets innovative surface modifications for medical,
industrial and diagnostic products. The Company also produces and markets a line
of proprietary biomolecule stabilization products. Its revenues are derived from
the following: the licensing of its surface modification and diagnostic
technologies to major manufacturers, resulting in both license fees and ongoing
royalty streams; the sale of reagents and diagnostic products; and contracts
with the United States government and private industry to conduct biomedical
research.
 
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
 
    CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 
    Cash and cash equivalents consist principally of money market instruments
with original maturities of three months or less and are stated at cost which
approximates fair value.
 
    INVESTMENTS
 
   
    Short-term and long-term investments consist of corporate debt securities
and are classified as available-for-sale as of September 30, 1996 and 1997 and
December 31, 1997. Investments classified as available-for-sale are reported at
fair value with unrealized gains and losses excluded from operations and
reported as a separate component of stockholders' equity, except for
other-than-temporary impairments, which are reported as a charge to current
operations and result in a new cost basis for the investment. As of September
30, 1996 and 1997 and December 31, 1997, the investments' amortized cost
approximated fair value.
    
 
    INVENTORIES
 
   
    Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market using the specific
identification method and include direct labor, materials and overhead.
Inventories consisted of the following:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                   ----------------------------  DECEMBER 31,
                                                       1996           1997           1997
                                                   -------------  -------------  ------------
<S>                                                <C>            <C>            <C>
Raw materials....................................   $    85,197    $    67,099    $  110,313
Finished products................................       175,571        196,909       148,672
                                                   -------------  -------------  ------------
    Total........................................   $   260,768    $   264,008    $  258,985
                                                   -------------  -------------  ------------
                                                   -------------  -------------  ------------
</TABLE>
    
 
    PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
 
    Property and equipment are stated at cost and are depreciated using the
straight-line method over five years, the estimated useful lives of the assets.
Amortization of leasehold improvements is recorded on a straight-line basis over
the estimated useful lives of the assets or the lease term, whichever is
shorter.
 
                                      F-7
<PAGE>
   
                                SURMODICS, INC.
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
    
 
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES: (CONTINUED)
    OTHER ASSETS
 
   
    Other assets consist principally of patents, which are amortized over seven
to twelve years. Accumulated amortization is $12,000, $23,000 and $27,000 as of
September 30, 1996 and 1997 and December 31, 1997, respectively.
    
 
    REVENUE RECOGNITION
 
    Royalties are recognized as third-party licensees report sales of the
product or as minimum royalties become due. Initial nonrefundable license fees
are recognized as revenue upon execution of the license agreement. Certain
nonrefundable license and research and development fees are recoverable by the
licensees as offsets against a percentage of future earned royalties. Revenues
on product sales are recognized as products are shipped and for research and
development as performance progresses under the applicable government contract
or commercial development agreement.
 
   
    Cash received prior to performance is recorded as deferred revenues in the
accompanying balance sheets. Deferred revenues also include advance payments
from a third-party licensee to the Company. The advance payments are being
applied as a reduction of amounts otherwise due for earned royalties up to
$75,000 per quarter and were fully absorbed during the first quarter of fiscal
1998.
    
 
   
    As of December 31, 1997, the Company had approximately $2.1 million of
signed government contracts on which work is yet to be performed and revenue has
yet to be earned.
    
 
    MAJOR CUSTOMERS
 
   
    Revenues from customers which exceed 10% of total revenues are as follows:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                     THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                      YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                                                                        DECEMBER 31,
                                                                   -------------------------------  --------------------
                                                                     1995       1996       1997       1996       1997
                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Government agencies..............................................         20%        21%        16%        13%        12%
Commercial:
  Company A......................................................         23         24         21         19         28
  Company B......................................................         12     --         --         --         --
</TABLE>
    
 
   
    Accounts receivable from these customers were as follows:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                   ----------------------------  DECEMBER 31,
                                                       1996           1997           1997
                                                   -------------  -------------  -------------
<S>                                                <C>            <C>            <C>
Government agencies..............................    $  59,000      $  78,000      $  --
Commercial:
  Company A......................................       73,000          5,000          5,000
</TABLE>
    
 
    INCOME TAXES
 
    The Company utilizes the liability method to account for income taxes, and
deferred taxes are based on the estimated future tax effects of differences
between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities given
the provisions of the enacted tax laws.
 
                                      F-8
<PAGE>
   
                                SURMODICS, INC.
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
    
 
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES: (CONTINUED)
   
    NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE (PRO FORMA)
    
 
   
    Net income (loss) per share (pro forma) was computed by dividing net income
(loss) by the weighted average shares outstanding (pro forma). Basic weighted
average shares outstanding includes common shares outstanding, the conversion of
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock into common stock, and common stock
equivalents issued within the 12-month period prior to the proposed initial
public offering at a price less than the proposed public offering price using
the treasury stock method. Diluted weighted average shares outstanding includes
the basic weighted average shares outstanding and dilutive common stock
equivalents.
    
 
    USE OF ESTIMATES
 
    The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles 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 date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Ultimate results could differ from those estimates.
 
    NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
 
   
    In March 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 128, "Earnings per
Share," which changed the way companies calculated their earnings per share
(EPS). SFAS No. 128 replaced primary EPS with basic EPS. Basic EPS is computed
by dividing reported earnings by weighted average shares outstanding, excluding
potentially dilutive securities. Fully diluted EPS, termed diluted EPS under
SFAS No. 128, is also to be disclosed. The Company adopted SFAS No. 128 in
fiscal 1998, at which time all prior year EPS was restated in accordance with
SFAS No. 128.
    
 
    In June 1997, the FASB issued SFAS No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive
Income," which establishes standards for reporting and displaying comprehensive
income and its components in financial statements. The Company will adopt the
provisions of SFAS No. 130 in fiscal 1999.
 
    In June 1997, the FASB issued SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of
an Enterprise and Related Information," which establishes a new model for
segment reporting, called the "management approach" and requires certain
disclosures for each segment. The management approach is based on the way the
chief operating decision maker organizes segments within a company for making
operating decisions and assessing performance. The Company will be required to
adopt the provisions of SFAS No. 131 in fiscal 1999.
 
   
    INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
    
 
   
    The accompanying balance sheet as of December 31, 1997, the statements of
operations and cash flows for the three months ended December 31, 1996 and 1997
and the statement of stockholders' equity for the three months ended December
31, 1997 are unaudited but, in the opinion of management, include all
adjustments, consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments necessary for a
fair presentation of results for these interim periods. The results of
operations for the three months ended December 31, 1997 are not necessarily
indicative of results to be expected for the entire fiscal year.
    
 
                                      F-9
<PAGE>
   
                                SURMODICS, INC.
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
    
 
3. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
 
    AUTHORIZED SHARES
 
    The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 20,450,000 shares of
capital stock, $0.05 per share par value, of which 15,000,000 shares are common
stock, 450,000 shares are Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and 5,000,000
shares are undesignated.
 
    STOCK SPLIT
 
    On December 22, 1997, the Company's board of directors approved a 4-for-1
stock split of all the Company's outstanding common stock. All share and per
share data have been restated for all periods presented to reflect the common
stock split.
 
    PREFERRED STOCK RIGHTS
 
    The Series A Convertible Preferred Stock has certain preferential
liquidation, conversion and dividend rights as follows:
 
a.  In the event of liquidation of the Company, the holders of these shares are
    entitled to receive $13.50 per share unless a greater amount would be
    distributed or paid with respect to each common share assuming the
    conversion of all outstanding preferred shares.
 
b.  Each preferred share is convertible, at the option of the holder, at any
    time into four shares of voting common stock, subject to adjustment, with
    automatic conversion upon the closing of a registered public offering
    meeting certain minimum parameters.
 
c.  Holders of preferred stock are entitled to receive dividends if, as and when
    declared by the board of directors.
 
    RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS
 
    The Company has entered into restricted stock agreements with certain key
employees, covering the issuance of voting common stock (the Restricted Stock).
The Restricted Stock will be released to the key employees if they are employed
by the Company at the end of a five-year waiting period. Unearned compensation
has been recognized for the estimated fair value of the applicable common
shares, reflected as a reduction of stockholders' equity, and is being charged
to operations over the five-year waiting period.
 
                                      F-10
<PAGE>
   
                                SURMODICS, INC.
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
    
 
3. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: (CONTINUED)
    Transactions in restricted stock are as follows:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      SHARES
                                                                                     ---------
<S>                                                                                  <C>
Outstanding at September 30, 1994..................................................     63,200
  Granted..........................................................................     24,000
                                                                                     ---------
Outstanding at September 30, 1995..................................................     87,200
  Canceled.........................................................................     (4,800)
                                                                                     ---------
Outstanding at September 30, 1996..................................................     82,400
  Granted..........................................................................     44,000
                                                                                     ---------
Outstanding at September 30, 1997..................................................    126,400
  Issued...........................................................................    (42,400)
  Canceled.........................................................................     (4,000)
                                                                                     ---------
Outstanding at December 31, 1997...................................................     80,000
                                                                                     ---------
                                                                                     ---------
</TABLE>
    
 
    STOCK PURCHASE NOTES RECEIVABLE
 
    The Company established a loan program during fiscal 1997 to assist
employees in purchasing shares of the Company's stock. The loans are
collateralized by the employees' purchased shares and require annual interest
payments at a rate equal to prime at the date of issuance, with principal and
any unpaid interest due at the earlier of five years after the date of issuance,
three months after termination of employment, or six months after the Company's
common stock becomes available to the public. Employees may borrow up to 100% of
the option price for the shares purchased or up to 100% of their previous
investment in the Company's stock.
 
4. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS:
 
    Upon adoption of the Company's 1997 Incentive Stock Option Plan (the Plan),
which replaced the 1987 Incentive Stock Option Plan, 600,000 shares of voting
common stock were reserved for issuance to employees and officers. The Plan
requires that the option price per share cannot be less than 100% of the fair
market value of the common stock (as determined by the board of directors) on
the date of the grant of the option or 110% with respect to optionees who own
more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock.
Options expire in five years or upon termination of employment and are
exercisable at a rate of 20% per year from the date of grant.
 
    Nonqualified options have been granted to outside directors, employees and
officers. The options have been granted at fair market value, as determined by
the board of directors at the date of grant. Options expire in five to ten years
and are exercisable at a rate of 20% per year from the date of grant or 20% per
year commencing two years after the date of grant.
 
                                      F-11
<PAGE>
   
                                SURMODICS, INC.
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
    
 
4. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS: (CONTINUED)
    Information regarding stock options under all plans is summarized as
follows:
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                THREE
                                                           YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,                            MONTHS
                                   -------------------------------------------------------------------------    ENDED
                                                                                                               DECEMBER
                                            1995                     1996                     1997             31, 1997
                                   -----------------------  -----------------------  -----------------------  ----------
                                                WEIGHTED                 WEIGHTED                 WEIGHTED
                                                 AVERAGE                  AVERAGE                  AVERAGE
                                                EXERCISE                 EXERCISE                 EXERCISE
OPTIONS                              SHARES       PRICE       SHARES       PRICE       SHARES       PRICE       SHARES
- ---------------------------------  ----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  -----------  ----------
<S>                                <C>         <C>          <C>         <C>          <C>         <C>          <C>
Outstanding, beginning of
  period.........................     856,000   $    3.81    1,396,280   $    4.35    1,163,600   $    4.52    1,204,800
  Granted........................     592,400        5.00        5,400        5.00      157,400        5.00       38,200
  Exercised......................     (36,040)       2.57      (71,628)       3.04      (45,388)       4.01       --
  Canceled.......................     (16,080)       3.55     (166,452)       3.78      (70,812)       4.51       (2,600)
                                   ----------       -----   ----------       -----   ----------       -----   ----------
Outstanding, end of period.......   1,396,280   $    4.35    1,163,600   $    4.52    1,204,800   $    4.60    1,240,400
                                   ----------       -----   ----------       -----   ----------       -----   ----------
                                   ----------       -----   ----------       -----   ----------       -----   ----------
Exercisable, end of period.......     448,880   $    3.84      436,760   $    4.26      589,320   $    4.42      670,880
                                   ----------       -----   ----------       -----   ----------       -----   ----------
                                   ----------       -----   ----------       -----   ----------       -----   ----------
Weighted average fair value of
  options granted................                           $     3.23               $     3.30               $     2.93
                                                            ----------               ----------               ----------
                                                            ----------               ----------               ----------
 
<CAPTION>
                                    WEIGHTED
                                     AVERAGE
                                    EXERCISE
OPTIONS                               PRICE
- ---------------------------------  -----------
<S>                                <C>
Outstanding, beginning of
  period.........................   $    4.60
  Granted........................        5.00
  Exercised......................      --
  Canceled.......................        5.00
                                        -----
Outstanding, end of period.......   $    4.61
                                        -----
                                        -----
Exercisable, end of period.......   $    4.39
                                        -----
                                        -----
Weighted average fair value of
  options granted................
</TABLE>
    
 
   
    The options outstanding at December 31, 1997 have exercise prices ranging
between $2.50 and $5.00, with a weighted average exercise price of $4.61 and a
weighted average remaining contractual life of 2.98 years.
    
 
   
    The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using
the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average
assumptions used for grants in fiscal 1996, fiscal 1997 and for the first
quarter of fiscal 1998, respectively: risk-free interest rates of 6.43%, 6.24%
and 5.85%; expected lives of 5, 5.57 and 5 years; and expected volatility of 73%
for fiscal 1996 and fiscal 1997 and 63% for the first quarter of fiscal 1998.
    
 
   
    The Company accounts for the options under APB Opinion No. 25, under which
no compensation cost has been recognized. Had compensation cost for the options
been determined consistent with SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation," the Company's net income (loss) would have been the following pro
forma amounts:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     YEARS ENDED         THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                    SEPTEMBER 30,           DECEMBER 31,
                                               -----------------------  ---------------------
                                                  1996         1997       1996        1997
                                               -----------  ----------  ---------  ----------
<S>                                            <C>          <C>         <C>        <C>
Net income (loss):
  As reported................................  $  (193,727) $  235,673  $  26,235  $  151,024
  Pro forma..................................     (194,890)    155,541     20,026     120,281
Net income (loss) per common share:
  As reported diluted........................  $      (.04) $      .04  $     .00  $      .03
  Pro forma diluted..........................         (.04)        .03        .00         .02
</TABLE>
    
 
    Because the SFAS No. 123 method of accounting has not been applied to
options granted prior to October 1, 1995, the resulting pro forma information
may not be representative of that to be expected in future periods.
 
                                      F-12
<PAGE>
   
                                SURMODICS, INC.
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
    
 
5. INCOME TAXES:
 
    Deferred income taxes consisted of the following as of September 30:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      1996           1997
                                                                  -------------  -------------
<S>                                                               <C>            <C>
Deferred tax assets.............................................  $   3,025,000  $   2,850,000
Less--Valuation allowance.......................................     (3,025,000)    (2,850,000)
                                                                  -------------  -------------
  Net deferred tax assets.......................................  $    --        $    --
                                                                  -------------  -------------
                                                                  -------------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
    These deferred tax assets result from differences in the recognition of
transactions for income tax and financial reporting purposes. The principal
temporary differences relate to certain financial reserves not deductible for
tax purposes until paid, a capital loss carryforward and net operating loss
carryforwards.
 
    The Company's net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $6.4 million
at September 30, 1997 expire in varying amounts through 2011. Certain
restrictions under the Tax Reform Act of 1986, caused by the change in ownership
resulting from sales of common and convertible preferred stocks, may limit
annual utilization of the net operating loss carryforwards. The Company also has
$519,000 of capital loss carryforwards at September 30, 1997, which expire in
2001. A valuation allowance for the full amount of the deferred tax asset has
been established due to the uncertainty of realization.
 
    During fiscal 1997, the Company utilized $64,000 of net operating loss
carryforwards to offset the 1997 income tax liability.
 
6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:
 
    OPERATING LEASES
 
   
    The Company leases its office and laboratory space under an operating lease
that expires in fiscal 2000. The lease provides for base monthly payments, which
increase annually, and additional amounts to cover the Company's share of common
area expenses and property taxes. The Company is responsible for maintenance,
insurance and other normal operating costs. Rental expense for the base monthly
payments and additional costs was approximately $280,000, $290,000, $290,000,
$73,000 and $74,000 for the years ended September 30, 1995, 1996 and 1997, and
the three months ended December 31, 1996 and 1997, respectively.
    
 
   
    As of December 31, 1997, future commitments under the operating lease are as
follows:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                 <C>
1998 (nine months ended September 30, 1998).......................  $ 158,000
1999..............................................................    216,000
2000..............................................................     54,000
                                                                    ---------
                                                                    $ 428,000
                                                                    ---------
                                                                    ---------
</TABLE>
    
 
    GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS
 
    Under provisions contained in the government research contracts,
representatives of the government agencies have the right to access and review
the Company's underlying records of contract costs. The government retains the
right to reject expenses considered unallowable under the terms of the contract.
 
                                      F-13
<PAGE>
   
                                SURMODICS, INC.
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
    
 
6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES: (CONTINUED)
The Defense Contract Audit Agency has reviewed the contracts through 1989. In
the opinion of management, future amounts due, if any, with respect to open
contract years will not have a material impact on the financial position or
results of operations of the Company.
 
7. DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN:
 
   
    The Company has a profit-sharing/401(k) retirement and savings plan for the
benefit of qualified employees. Under the plan, qualified employees may elect to
defer up to 15% of their compensation, subject to a maximum limit determined by
the Internal Revenue Service. The Company, at the discretion of the board of
directors, may elect to make an additional contribution. Contributions of
approximately $67,000, $78,000, $86,000, $16,000 and $33,000 have been charged
to operations for the years ended September 30, 1995, 1996 and 1997, and the
three months ended December 31, 1996 and 1997, respectively.
    
 
8. EVENTS SUBSEQUENT TO DATE OF REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS:
 
    INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING
 
    The Company has filed a Registration Statement with the Securities and
Exchange Commission for the sale of up to 2,000,000 shares (excluding the
Underwriters' over-allotment option to purchase an additional 300,000 shares) of
common stock (the Offering). The Company intends to use the net proceeds from
the Offering (estimated to be approximately $14.5 million) for research and
development, sales and marketing and upgrades to its manufacturing equipment, to
strengthen its patent protection and for working capital and general corporate
purposes.
 
   
    PRO FORMA BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AS OF DECEMBER
     31, 1997
    
 
   
    As discussed in Note 3, each share of the Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock will be automatically converted into four shares of voting common stock
upon the closing of the Offering and, subject to stockholder approval, the
authorized shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock will be eliminated and
this class of stock canceled. The Company's pro forma balance sheet and pro
forma statement of stockholders' equity as of December 31, 1997 give effect to
the conversion.
    
 
                                      F-14
<PAGE>
[PHOTOGRAPH OF THE MIXING OF THE REAGENTS]
 
   
PhotoLink is a simple, light-activated coating technology. Reagent is dissolved
into solution, applied to the device, and the device is exposed to a light
source. The PhotoLink process is quick, uses cost-effective equipment, and is
easily incorporated into existing manufacturing operations.
    
 
                                                      [PHOTOGRAPH OF DIPPING THE
                                                        DEVICE INTO THE REAGENT]
 
[PHOTOGRAPH OF PREPARING THE COATED
DEVICE FOR EXPOSURE TO DIRECT LIGHT]
 
                                                         [PHOTOGRAPH OF A COATED
                                                                       CATHETER]
 
                                     [LOGO]
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR ANY OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF
GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS
HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR ANY OF THE UNDERWRITERS. THIS
PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF ANY SECURITIES OTHER THAN THOSE TO
WHICH IT RELATES OR AN OFFER TO SELL, OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, TO
ANY PERSON IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE SUCH AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION WOULD BE
UNLAWFUL. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER
SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THE INFORMATION
CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE HEREOF.
 
                            ------------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   PAGE
                                                 ---------
<S>                                              <C>
Prospectus Summary.............................          2
Risk Factors...................................          5
Use of Proceeds................................         12
Dividend Policy................................         12
Capitalization.................................         13
Dilution.......................................         14
Selected Financial Data........................         15
Management's Discussion and Analysis of
  Financial Condition and Results of
  Operations...................................         16
Business.......................................         20
Management.....................................         32
Principal Stockholders.........................         37
Description of Capital Stock...................         38
Shares Eligible for Future Sale................         40
Underwriting...................................         42
Legal Matters..................................         43
Experts........................................         43
Available Information..........................         43
Index to Financial Statements..................        F-1
</TABLE>
    
 
                            ------------------------
 
UNTIL             , 1998 (25 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS), ALL
DEALERS EFFECTING TRANSACTIONS IN THE COMMON STOCK, WHETHER OR NOT PARTICIPATING
IN THIS DISTRIBUTION, MAY BE REQUIRED TO DELIVER A PROSPECTUS. THIS IS IN
ADDITION TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF DEALERS TO DELIVER A PROSPECTUS WHEN ACTING AS
UNDERWRITERS AND WITH RESPECT TO THEIR UNSOLD ALLOTMENTS OR SUBSCRIPTIONS.
 
                                2,000,000 SHARES
 
                                     [LOGO]
 
                                  COMMON STOCK
 
                             ---------------------
 
                                   PROSPECTUS
 
                             ---------------------
 
                          JOHN G. KINNARD AND COMPANY,
                                  INCORPORATED
 
                                          , 1998
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                                    PART II
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 24.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
 
    Section 302A.521, subd. 2, of the Minnesota Statutes requires the Company to
indemnify a person made or threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by
reason of the former or present official capacity of the person with respect to
the Company, against judgments, penalties, fines, including, without limitation,
excise taxes assessed against the person with respect to an employee benefit
plan, settlements, and reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees and
disbursements, incurred by the person in connection with the proceeding with
respect to the same acts or omissions if such person (1) has not been
indemnified by another organization or employee benefit plan for the same
judgments, penalties or fines; (2) acted in good faith; (3) received no improper
personal benefit, and statutory procedure has been followed in the case of any
conflict of interest by a director; (4) in the case of a criminal proceeding,
had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct was unlawful; and (5) in the case
of acts or omissions occurring in the person's performance in the official
capacity of director or, for a person not a director, in the official capacity
of officer, board committee member or employee, reasonably believed that the
conduct was in the best interests of the Company, or, in the case of performance
by a director, officer or employee of the Company involving service as a
director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another organization
or employee benefit plan, reasonably believed that the conduct was not opposed
to the best interests of the Company. In addition, Section 302A.521, subd. 3,
requires payment by the Company, upon written request, of reasonable expenses in
advance of final disposition of the proceeding in certain instances. A decision
as to required indemnification is made by a disinterested majority of the Board
of Directors present at a meeting at which a disinterested quorum is present, or
by a designated committee of the Board, by special legal counsel, by the
stockholders, or by a court.
 
    Provisions regarding indemnification of officers and directors of the
Company are contained in Section 5.1 of the Bylaws (Exhibit 3.2 to this
Registration Statement). The Company is in the process of obtaining a director
and officer liability policy.
 
    Under Section 6 of the Underwriting Agreement, filed as Exhibit 1.1 hereto,
the Underwriters agree to indemnify, under certain conditions, the Company, its
directors, certain of its officers and persons who control the Company within
the meaning of the Securities Act against certain liabilities.
 
ITEM 25.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
 
    The following expenses will be paid by the Company in connection with the
distribution of the securities registered hereby and do not include the
underwriting discount to be paid to the Underwriters. All of such expenses,
except for the SEC registration fee, NASD fee and Nasdaq listing fee, are
estimated.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                 <C>
SEC Registration Fee..............................................  $   5,768
NASD Fee..........................................................      2,455
Nasdaq National Market Listing Fee................................     35,000
Legal Fees........................................................    100,000
Accountants' Fees and Expenses....................................     70,000
Printing Expenses.................................................     50,000
Blue Sky Fees and Expenses........................................      3,000
Transfer Agent Fees and Expenses..................................      5,000
Miscellaneous.....................................................     78,777
                                                                    ---------
  Total...........................................................  $ 350,000
                                                                    ---------
                                                                    ---------
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>
ITEM 26.  RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES.
 
    During the past three years, the Registrant has sold the securities listed
below pursuant to exemptions from registration under the Securities Act. The
information below is presented on a post stock split basis.
 
   
        1.  On January 6, 1995, the Company issued an aggregate of 18,000 shares
    of Common Stock to three directors at a price of $2.50 per share upon
    exercise of non-qualified stock options.
    
 
        2.  On January 22, 1995, the Company issued 6,000 shares of Common Stock
    to an executive officer at a price of $2.50 per share upon exercise of an
    incentive stock option.
 
        3.  On March 13, 1995, the Company issued 1,120 shares of Common Stock
    to an employee at a price of $3.64 per share upon exercise of an incentive
    stock option.
 
        4.  On March 20, 1995, the Company issued 600 shares of Common Stock to
    an employee at a price of $2.50 per share upon exercise of an incentive
    stock option.
 
        5.  On May 31, 1995, the Company issued an aggregate of 9,200 shares of
    Common Stock to eight employees, including one executive officer, at a price
    of $2.50 per share upon exercise of incentive stock options.
 
        6.  On September 18, 1995, the Company issued an aggregate of 24,000
    shares of Common Stock to six employees pursuant to restricted stock
    agreement at a price of $5.00 per share.
 
        7.  On October 31, 1995, the Company issued an aggregate of 1,120 shares
    of Common Stock to an employee at a price of $3.64 per share upon exercise
    of non-qualified stock options.
 
        8.  On October 31, 1995, the Company issued 3,200 shares and 1,400
    shares of Common Stock to an employee at prices of $3.53 and 3.73 per share,
    respectively, upon exercise of incentive stock options.
 
        9.  On February 4, 1996, the Company issued an aggregate of 16,400
    shares of Common Stock to eight employees at a price of $2.50 per share upon
    exercise of incentive stock options.
 
        10. On February 4, 1996, the Company issued an aggregate of 12,000
    shares of Common Stock to three directors at a price of $2.50 per share upon
    exercise of non-qualified stock options.
 
        11. On June 21, 1996, the Company issued 88 shares of Common Stock to an
    employee at a price of $5.00 per share upon exercise of an incentive stock
    option.
 
        12. On September 18, 1996, the Company issued an aggregate of 38,540
    shares of Common Stock to 26 employees, including two executive officers, at
    a price of $3.38 per share upon exercise of incentive stock options.
 
        13. On January 1, 1997, the Company issued 44,000 shares of Common Stock
    pursuant to restricted stock agreements to 14 employees at a price of $5.00
    per share.
 
        14. On April 29, 1997, the Company issued 600 shares of Common Stock to
    an employee at a price of $5.00 per share upon exercise of an incentive
    stock option.
 
        15. On April 29, 1997, the Company issued 400 shares of Common Stock to
    an employee at a price of $4.00 per share upon exercise of an incentive
    stock option.
 
        16. On May 5, 1997, the Company issued 20 shares of Common Stock to an
    employee at a price of $5.00 per share upon exercise of an incentive stock
    option.
 
        17. On September 21, 1997, the Company issued 44,368 shares of Common
    Stock to 14 employees, including two executive officers, at a price of $4.00
    per share upon exercise of stock options.
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>
   
    The above described sales of securities were made to officers, directors and
employees of the Company in connection with stock option exercises pursuant to
written compensatory benefit plans or restricted stock grants pursuant to
written compensation contracts. The Company relied on Rule 701 or Section 4(2)
of the Securities Act for these sales. Rule 701 exempts offers and sales by a
nonpublic issuer of its own securities to employees and certain other classes of
individuals. The Company relied on Section 4(2) for sales to officers and
directors, who are accredited by definition, and for isolated sales to employees
who were familiar with the Company's business (financial and otherwise). The
purchasers of securities described above acquired them for their own account and
not with a view to any distribution thereof to the public. The certificates
evidencing the securities bear legends stating that the shares are not to be
offered, sold or transferred other than pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the Securities Act, or an exemption from such registration
requirements. No underwriting commissions or discounts were paid with respect to
the sales of unregistered securities described above.
    
 
ITEM 27.  EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  EXHIBIT
  NUMBER     DESCRIPTION
- -----------  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C>          <S>
      1.1    Form of Underwriting Agreement
      3.1    Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended
      3.2    Restated Bylaws*
 
      4.1    Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended (filed as Exhibit 3.1)
 
      4.2    Restated Bylaws (filed as Exhibit 3.2)*
 
      4.3    Specimen Stock Certificate
 
      5.1    Opinion and Consent of Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.*
 
     10.1    Lease Agreement, dated November 18, 1991, relating to manufacturing and office space located at 9924
               West 74th Street, Eden Prairie, Minnesota*
 
     10.2    Company's 1987 Incentive Stock Option Plan, including specimen of Incentive Stock Option Agreement*
 
     10.3    Company's 1997 Incentive Stock Option Plan, including specimen of Incentive Stock Option Agreement*
 
     10.4    Form of Restricted Stock Agreement*
 
     10.5    Form of Non-qualified Stock Option Agreement*
 
     10.6    Form of License Agreement*
 
     10.7**  License Agreement with Abbott Laboratories dated November 20, 1990, as amended*
 
     10.8    Form of Promissory Note from Walter H. Diers, Jr. and James C. Powell*
 
     11      Statement re computation of pro forma per share earnings
 
     23.1    Consent of Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. (included in Exhibit 5.1)*
 
     23.2    Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP
 
     24      Power of Attorney (included on signature page of the Registration Statement)*
 
     27      Financial Data Schedule
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
 
   
*   Previously filed.
    
 
   
**  Portions of this document have been deleted and a confidentiality request
    regarding such portions has been filed with the SEC.
    
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>
ITEM 28.  UNDERTAKINGS.
 
    The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriter
at the closing specified in the underwriting agreements certificates in such
denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriter to
permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
 
    Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act
of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
    The undersigned Registrant further undertakes that:
 
        (1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act
    of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part
    of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a
    form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4)
    or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this
    registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
 
        (2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
    Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of
    prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to
    the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
    time shall be deemed to be the initial BONA FIDE offering thereof.
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES
 
   
    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form SB-2 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Minneapolis, State of Minnesota, on February 3, 1998.
    
 
<TABLE>
<S>                             <C>  <C>
                                SURMODICS, INC.
 
                                By:              /s/ DALE R. OLSETH
                                     -----------------------------------------
                                                   Dale R. Olseth
                                       PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
</TABLE>
 
   
    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                      SIGNATURES                                       TITLE                         DATE
- ------------------------------------------------------  ------------------------------------  -------------------
 
<C>                                                     <S>                                   <C>
                                                        President, Chief Executive Officer
                  /s/ DALE R. OLSETH                      and Chairman of the Board of
     -------------------------------------------          Directors (principal executive      February 3, 1998
                    Dale R. Olseth                        officer)
 
                          *                             Vice President and Chief Financial
     -------------------------------------------          Officer (principal financial and             *
                 Stephen C. Hathaway                      accounting officer)
 
                          *
     -------------------------------------------        Senior Vice President of Research              *
                   Patrick E. Guire                       and Technology and Director
 
                          *
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                       *
                Donald S. Fredrickson
 
                          *
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                       *
                  James J. Grierson
 
                          *
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                       *
                    David A. Koch
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      II-5
<PAGE>
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                      SIGNATURES                                       TITLE                         DATE
- ------------------------------------------------------  ------------------------------------  -------------------
 
<C>                                                     <S>                                   <C>
                          *
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                       *
                 Kendrick B. Melrose
 
                          *
     -------------------------------------------        Director                                       *
                  Kenneth H. Keller
</TABLE>
    
 
   
*By:  /s/ DALE R. OLSETH
      -------------------------
      Dale R. Olseth, AS
      ATTORNEY-IN-FACT
      Date: February 3, 1998
 
                                      II-6
    
<PAGE>
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                SURMODICS, INC.
                           EXHIBIT INDEX TO FORM SB-2
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  EXHIBIT
  NUMBER     DESCRIPTION
- -----------  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C>          <S>                                                                                       <C>
      1.1    Form of Underwriting Agreement
      3.1    Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended
      3.2    Restated Bylaws*
 
      4.1    Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended (filed as Exhibit 3.1)
 
      4.2    Restated Bylaws (filed as Exhibit 3.2)*
 
      4.3    Specimen Stock Certificate
 
      5.1    Opinion and Consent of Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.*
 
     10.1    Lease Agreement, dated November 18, 1991, relating to manufacturing and office space
               located at 9924 West 74th Street, Eden Prairie, Minnesota*
 
     10.2    Company's Incentive 1987 Stock Option Plan, including specimen of Incentive Stock Option
               Agreement*
 
     10.3    Company's Incentive 1997 Stock Option Plan, including specimen of Incentive Stock Option
               Agreement*
 
     10.4    Form of Restricted Stock Agreement*
 
     10.5    Form of Non-qualified Stock Option Agreement*
 
     10.6    Form of License Agreement*
 
     10.7**  License Agreement with Abbott Laboratories dated November 20, 1990, as amended*
 
     10.8    Form of Promissory Note from Walter H. Diers Jr. and James C. Powell*
 
     11      Statement re computation of pro forma per share earnings
 
     23.1    Consent of Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. (included in Exhibit 5.1)*
 
     23.2    Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP
 
     24      Power of Attorney (included on signature page of the Registration Statement)*
 
     27      Financial Data Schedule
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
 
   
*   Previously filed.
    
 
   
**  Portions of this document have been deleted and a confidentiality request
    regarding such portions has been filed with the SEC.
    

<PAGE>



                                                                         2/4/98

                               2,000,000 SHARES
                                       
                                SURMODICS, INC.
                                       
                                 COMMON STOCK
                                $0.05 PAR VALUE
                                       
                            UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT



_________________, 1998


John G. Kinnard and Company, Incorporated
As Representative of the Several Underwriters
c/o John G. Kinnard and Company, Incorporated
920 Second Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55402

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     SurModics, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (the "Company"), hereby 
confirms its agreement to issue and sell to the underwriters named in 
Schedule A attached hereto (the "Underwriters"), for which you are acting as 
the representative (the "Representative"), an aggregate of 2,000,000 shares 
(the "Firm Shares") of authorized common stock, $0.05 par value, of the 
Company (the "Common Stock").  The Company also hereby confirms its agreement 
to issue and sell to the Underwriters an aggregate of up to 300,000 
additional shares of Common Stock upon the request of the Representative 
solely for the purpose of covering overallotments (the "Option Shares").  The 
Firm Shares and the Option Shares are collectively referred to as the 
"Shares."

     The Company hereby confirms the arrangements with respect to the 
purchase of the Shares severally by each of the Underwriters.  The Company 
has been advised and hereby acknowledges that John G. Kinnard and Company, 
Incorporated has been duly authorized to act as the representative of the 
Underwriters.  As used in this Agreement, the term "Underwriter" refers to 
any individual member of the underwriting syndicate and includes any party 
substituted for an Underwriter under Section 9 hereof.

     1.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.
          
     The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with each of the 
several Underwriters as follows:

<PAGE>

          (a)  A registration statement on Form SB-2 (Registration No. 
333-43217) with respect to the Shares has been prepared by the Company in 
conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended 
(the "Act"), and the rules and regulations (the "Rules and Regulations") of 
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") promulgated 
thereunder and has been filed with the Commission under the Act.  If the 
Company has elected to rely upon Rule 462(b) under the Act to increase the 
size of the offering registered under the Act, the Company will prepare and 
file with the Commission a registration statement with respect to such 
increase pursuant to Rule 462(b). Copies of the registration statement as 
amended to date have been delivered by the Company to the Representative.  
Such registration statement, including a registration statement (if any) 
filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act and the information (if any) 
deemed to be part thereof pursuant to Rules 430A and 434(d) under the Act, 
and all prospectuses included as a part thereof, all financial statements 
included in such registration statement, and all schedules and exhibits 
thereto, as amended at the time when the registration statement shall become 
effective, are herein referred to as the "Registration Statement," and the 
term "Prospectus" as used herein shall mean the final prospectus included as 
a part of the Registration Statement on file with the Commission when it 
becomes effective (except that if a prospectus is filed by the Company 
pursuant to Rules 424(b) and 430A under the Act, the term "Prospectus" as 
used herein shall mean the prospectus so filed pursuant to Rules 424(b) and 
430A (including any term sheet meeting the requirements of Rule 434 under the 
Act provided by the Company for use with a prospectus subject to completion 
within the meaning of Rule 434 in order to meet the requirements of Section 
10(a) of the Act)).  The term "Preliminary Prospectus" as used herein means 
any prospectus used prior to the Effective Date (as defined in Section 5(a) 
hereof) and included as a part of the Registration Statement, prior to the 
time it becomes or became effective under the Act and any prospectus subject 
to completion as described in Rules 430A or 434 under the Act.  Copies of the 
Registration Statement, including all exhibits and schedules thereto, any 
amendments thereto and all Preliminary Prospectuses have been delivered to 
you.

          (b)  The Registration Statement has been declared effective, and at 
all times subsequent thereto up to each closing date, the Registration 
Statement and Prospectus and all amendments thereof and supplements thereto, 
will comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Act and the 
Rules and Regulations.  Neither the Commission nor any state securities 
division has issued any order (i) preventing or suspending the use of any 
Preliminary Prospectus, (ii) issuing a stop order with respect to the 
offering of the Shares or (iii) requiring the recirculation of a Preliminary 
Prospectus.  The Registration Statement (as amended, if the Company shall 
have filed with the Commission any post effective amendments thereto) does 
not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to 
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the 
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, 
not misleading.  Each Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, 
the Registration Statement as of the date declared effective and at all times 
subsequent thereto up to each closing date, and the Prospectus (as amended or 
supplemented, if the Company shall have filed with the Commission any 
amendment thereof or supplement thereto) conformed and conforms in all 
material respects to the requirements of the Act and the 

                                  -2-

<PAGE>

Rules and Regulations and did not, does not and will not contain any untrue 
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be 
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light 
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, 
however, that none of the representations and warranties in this Subsection 
1(b) shall apply to statements in, or omissions from, the Registration 
Statement or the Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto) 
which are based upon and conform to information furnished to the Company by 
the Underwriters in writing specifically for use in the preparation of the 
Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement. 
There is no contract or other document of the Company of a character 
required by the Act or the Rules and Regulations to be described in the 
Registration Statement or Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the 
Registration Statement that has not been described or filed as required.

          (c)  The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing 
as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Minnesota, 
with full corporate power and authority, to own, lease and operate its 
properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration 
Statement and Prospectus.  The Company is duly qualified to do business as a 
foreign corporation in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the 
ownership or lease of its properties, or the conduct of its business, 
requires such qualification and in which the failure to be qualified or in 
good standing would have a material adverse effect on the condition 
(financial or otherwise), results of operations, shareholders' equity, 
business, property or prospects of the Company.

          (d)  The Company has no subsidiaries, is not affiliated with or 
owns any stock or other equity interest, or any other company or business 
entity.

          (e)  The Company has all necessary material authorizations, 
licenses, approvals, consents, permits, certificates and orders of and from 
all state, federal, foreign and other governmental or regulatory authorities 
to own its properties and to conduct its business as described in the 
Registration Statement and Prospectus, is conducting its business in 
substantial compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations of the 
jurisdictions in which it is conducting business, and has received no notice 
of nor has it knowledge of any basis for any proceeding or action for the 
revocation or suspension of any such authorizations, licenses, approvals, 
consents, permits, certificates or orders.

          (f)  The Company is not in violation of or in default under (i) its 
Restated Articles of Incorporation, as Amended or Restated Bylaws, (ii) or in 
default in the performance or observance of any material obligation, 
agreement, covenant or condition contained in any bond, debenture, note or 
other evidence of indebtedness or in any contract, license, indenture, bond 
mortgage, loan agreement, joint venture or partnership agreement, lease, 
agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the 
Company or any of its properties are bound, (iii) any law, order, rule, 
regulation, writ, injunction or decree of any government, governmental 
instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, which violation or default 
would have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or 
otherwise), results of operations, 

                                      -3-

<PAGE>

shareholders' equity, business, property or prospects of the Company or the 
ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

          (g)  The Company has full requisite power and authority to enter 
into this Agreement.  This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and 
delivered by the Company and will be a valid and binding agreement on the 
part of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, if and when 
this Agreement shall have become effective in accordance with Section 8, 
except as enforceability may be limited by the application of bankruptcy, 
insolvency, moratorium or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors 
generally and by judicial limitations on the right of specific performance 
and other equitable remedies, and except as the enforceability of the 
indemnification or contribution provisions hereof may be affected by 
applicable federal or state securities laws.  The performance of this 
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated will 
not result in a material breach or violation of any of the terms and 
provisions of or constitute a material default under (i) any bond, debenture, 
note or other evidence of indebtedness, or any contract, license, indenture, 
mortgage, loan agreement, joint venture or partnership agreement, lease, 
agreement or other instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the 
property of the Company is bound, (ii) the Company's Restated Articles of 
Incorporation, as Amended or Restated Bylaws, or (iii) any statute or any 
order, rule or regulation of any court, governmental agency or body having 
jurisdiction over the Company.  No consent, approval, authorization or order 
of any court, governmental agency or body is required for the consummation by 
the Company of the transactions on its part herein contemplated, except such 
as may be required under the Act or under state or other securities laws.

          (h)  There are no actions, suits or proceedings pending before any 
court or governmental agency, authority or body to which the Company is a 
party or of which the business or property of the Company is the subject 
which (i) might result in any material adverse change in the condition 
(financial or otherwise), shareholders' equity, results of operations, 
business or prospects of the Company, (ii) materially and adversely affect 
its properties or assets, or (iii) prevent consummation of the transactions 
contemplated by this Agreement.  To the best of the Company's knowledge, no 
such actions, suits or proceedings are threatened.

          (i)  The Company has the duly authorized and outstanding 
capitalization set forth under the caption "Capitalization" in the 
Prospectus.  The outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been 
duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. The Shares 
conform in substance to all documents relating thereto contained in the 
Registration Statement and Prospectus.  The Shares to be sold by the Company 
hereunder have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered pursuant 
to this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and 
will conform to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus.  No 
statutory preemptive rights or similar rights to subscribe for or purchase 
shares of capital stock of any security holders of the Company exist with 
respect to the issuance and sale of the Shares by the Company.  Except as 
described in the Prospectus, the Company has no agreement with any security 
holder which gives such security holder the right to require the Company to 
register under the Act any securities of any nature owned or held by such 
person in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  
Except as described in the 

                               -4-

<PAGE>

Prospectus, there are no outstanding options, warrants, agreements, 
contracts or other rights to purchase or acquire from the Company any shares 
of its capital stock.  Except as described in the Prospectus, there are no 
agreements among the Company's executive officers and directors and any other 
persons with respect to the voting or transfer of the Company's capital stock 
or with respect to other aspects of the Company's affairs.  Upon payment for 
and delivery of the Shares to be sold by the Company pursuant to this 
Agreement, the Underwriters will acquire good and marketable title to such 
Shares, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances or claims created by 
actions of the Company.  The certificates evidencing the Shares will comply 
as to form with all applicable provisions of the laws of the State of 
Minnesota.

          (j)  The financial statements of the Company, together with the 
related notes, included in the Registration Statement and Prospectus (the 
"Financial Statements") fairly and accurately present the financial position, 
the results of operations and changes in stockholder's equity and cash flows 
of the Company at the dates and for the respective periods to which such 
Financial Statements apply.  The Financial Statements have been prepared in 
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently 
applied throughout the periods involved, and all adjustments necessary for a 
fair presentation of results for such periods have been made, except as 
otherwise stated therein; and the supporting schedules included in the 
Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be stated 
therein.  No other financial statements or schedules are required to be 
included in the Registration Statement.  The summary and selected 
consolidated financial data included in the Registration Statement present 
fairly the information shown therein on the basis stated in the Registration 
Statement and have been compiled on a basis consistent with the financial 
statements presented therein.

          (k)  Arthur Andersen, LLP, which has expressed its opinion with 
respect to the financial statements filed with the Commission as part of the 
Registration Statement, are independent public accountants as required by the 
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

          (l)  Since the respective dates as of which information is given in 
the Registration Statement and Prospectus, (i) there has not been any 
material adverse change, or any development, event or occurrence in the 
business of the Company that, taken together with other developments, events 
and occurrences with respect to such business, would have or would reasonably 
be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or 
otherwise) of the Company or the management, shareholders' equity, results of 
operations, business, property or prospects of the Company, whether or not 
occurring in the ordinary course of business, (ii) there has not been any 
transaction not in the ordinary course of business entered into by the 
Company which is material to the Company, other than transactions described 
or contemplated in the Registration Statement, (iii) the Company has not 
incurred any material liabilities or obligations, which are not in the 
ordinary course of business or which could result in a material reduction in 
the future earnings of the Company, (iv) the Company has not sustained any 
material loss or interference with its business or properties from fire, 
flood, windstorm, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by 
insurance, (v) there has not been any change in the capital stock of the 
Company (other than upon the exercise of options described in the 
Registration Statement) or any material increase in the short-term or 
long-term debt (including capitalized lease obligations) of the Company, (vi) 
there has not been any declaration 

                                        -5-

<PAGE>

or payment of any dividends or any distributions of any kind with respect to 
the capital stock of the Company, other than any dividends or distributions 
described or contemplated in the Registration Statement, or (vii) there has 
not been any issuance of warrants, options, convertible securities or other 
rights to purchase or acquire capital stock of the Company.

          (m)  The Company has filed all necessary federal, state, local and 
foreign income and franchise tax returns and paid all taxes shown as due 
thereon.  The Company has no knowledge of any tax deficiency which either has 
been or might be asserted against it which would materially and adversely 
affect the Company's business or properties.

          (n)  The Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls 
sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed 
in accordance with management's general or specific authorizations and (ii) 
transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial 
statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to 
maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only 
in accordance with management's general or specific authorization; and (iv) 
the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at 
reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any 
differences.

          (o)  The Company has good and marketable title to all of the 
property, real and personal, described in the Registration Statement or 
Prospectus as being owned by the Company, free and clear of all liens, 
encumbrances, equities, charges or claims, except as do not materially 
interfere with the uses made and to be made by the Company of such property 
or as disclosed in the Financial Statements. The Company has valid and 
binding leases to the real and personal property described in the 
Registration Statement or Prospectus as being under lease to the Company, 
except as to those leases which are not material to the Company or the lack 
of enforceability of which would not materially interfere with the use made 
and to be made by the Company of such leased property.

          (p)  There has been no unlawful storage, treatment or disposal of 
waste by the Company at any of the facilities owned or leased thereby, except 
for such violations which would not have a material adverse effect on the 
condition, (financial or otherwise) or the shareholders' equity, results of 
operation, business, properties or prospects of the Company.  There has been 
no material spill, discharge, leak, emission, ejection, escape, dumping or 
release of any kind onto the properties owned or leased by the Company, or 
into the environment surrounding those properties, of any toxic or hazardous 
substances, as defined under any federal, state or local regulations, laws or 
statutes, except for those releases either permissible under such 
regulations, laws or statutes or otherwise allowable under applicable permits 
or which would not have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial 
or otherwise) or the shareholders' equity, results of operation, business, 
properties or prospects of the Company.

          (q)  Each employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of the 
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA")) 
("Employee Benefit Plan"), and each bonus, retirement, pension, profit 
sharing, stock bonus, thrift, stock option, stock purchase, incentive, 
severance, deferred or other compensation or welfare benefit plan, program, 

                                       -6-

<PAGE>

agreement or arrangement of, or applicable to employees or former employees 
of, the Company or with respect to which the Company could have any liability 
("Benefit Plans"), was or has been established, maintained and operated in 
all material respects in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and 
local statutes, orders, governmental rules and regulations, including, but 
not limited to, ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the 
"Code").  No Benefit Plan is or was subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 
302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code.  The Company does not, either 
directly or indirectly as a member of a controlled group within the meaning 
of Sections 414(b), (c), (m) and (o) of the Code ("Controlled Group"), have 
any material liability that remains unsatisfied or arising under Section 502 
of ERISA, Subchapter D of Chapter 1 of Subtitle A of the Code or under 
Chapter 43 of Subtitle D of the Code.  No action, suit, grievance, 
arbitration or other matter of litigation or claim with respect to any 
Benefit Plan (other than routine claims for benefits made in the ordinary 
course of plan administration for which plan administrative procedures have 
not been exhausted) is pending or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened or 
imminent against or with respect to any Benefit Plan, any member of a 
Controlled Group that includes the Company, or any fiduciary within the 
meaning of Section 3(21) of ERISA with respect to a Benefit Plan which, if 
determined adversely to the Company, would have a material adverse effect on 
the Company. Neither the Company nor any member of a Controlled Group that 
includes the Company, has any knowledge of any facts that could give rise to 
any action, suit, grievance, arbitration or any other manner of litigation or 
claim with respect to any Benefit Plan.

          (r)  No labor disturbance or dispute by the employees or 
consultants or contractors of the Company exists or, to the Company's 
knowledge, is threatened which could reasonably be expected to have a 
material adverse effect on the conduct of the business or the financial 
condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, properties or 
prospects of the Company. 

          (s)  Except as disclosed in the Prospectus:

               (i)  The Company owns or possesses the full rights to use or is 
          licensed to use those rights of the Company represented by its 
          patents, patent applications, inventions, copyrights, trademarks, 
          service marks, applications for registration of trademarks and 
          service marks, trade secrets, know-how (the "Proprietary Rights") 
          reasonably necessary for the conduct of its present or intended 
          business as described in the Prospectus; there are no pending legal,
          governmental or administrative proceedings relating to the Proprietary
          Rights to which the Company is a party or of which any property of 
          the Company is subject; and no such proceedings are, to the best of 
          the Company's knowledge, threatened or contemplated against the 
          Company by any governmental agency or authority or by others;
          
              (ii) The Company has not received any notice of conflict or claim 
          with asserted intellectual property rights of any third parties;

                                       -7-

<PAGE>

             (iii) To the best of the Company's knowledge, the Company does 
          not infringe upon the rights or claimed rights of any person under 
          or, with respect to, any of the Proprietary Rights referred to in 
          Section 1(s)(i) above; except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the 
          Company is not obligated nor is it under any liability whatsoever 
          to make any payments by way of royalties, fees or otherwise to any 
          owner of, licensor of, or other claimant to, any Proprietary 
          Rights, with respect to the use thereof or in connection with the 
          conduct of its business or otherwise; and to the best of the 
          Company's knowledge, the Company is not using any confidential 
          information or trade secrets of any other party in the conduct of 
          its business;

              (iv) The Company has not entered into any consent, 
          indemnification, forbearance to sue or settlement agreement with 
          respect to the Proprietary Rights other than in the ordinary course 
          of business;

               (v) To the best of the Company's knowledge, the Proprietary 
          Rights are valid and enforceable and no registration relating thereto 
          has lapsed, expired or been abandoned or canceled or is the subject of
          cancellation or other adversarial proceedings, and all applications 
          therefor are pending and are in good standing;

              (vi) The Company has complied in all material respects with its 
          respective contractual obligations relating to the protection of 
          any Proprietary Rights used pursuant to licenses; and

             (vii) The Company owns and/or has the unrestricted right to use all
          trade secrets, including know-how, customer lists, inventions, 
          designs, processes, computer programs and any other technical data 
          or information necessary to the development, manufacture, operation 
          and sale of all products sold or proposed to be sold by it, free 
          and clear of any rights, liens and claims of others.

          (t)  The Company maintains insurance, which is in full force and 
effect, of the types and in the amounts reasonably adequate for its business 
and, to the best of its knowledge, consistent with coverage comparable to the 
insurance maintained by similar companies or businesses.

          (u)  The Company has not sold any securities in violation of 
Section 5 of the Act.

          (v)  The conditions for use of a registration statement on Form 
SB-2 for the distribution of the Shares have been satisfied with respect to 
the Company.

          (w)  The Company intends to apply the proceeds from the sale of the 
Shares by it to the purposes and substantially in the manner set forth in the 
Prospectus.

                                      -8-

<PAGE>

          (x)  No person is entitled, directly or indirectly, to compensation 
from the Company or the Underwriters for services as a finder in connection 
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

          (y)  All material transactions between the Company and its 
stockholders who beneficially own more than 5% of any class of the Company's 
voting securities have been accurately disclosed in the Prospectus, and the 
terms of each such transaction are fair to the Company and no less favorable 
to the Company than the terms that could have been obtained from unrelated 
parties.

          (z)  The Company has not distributed and will not distribute any 
prospectus or other offering material in connection with the offering and 
sale of the Shares other than any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or 
other materials permitted by the Act to be distributed by the Company.

          (aa) The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or 
indirectly, any action designed to, or which has constituted, or which might 
reasonably be expected to cause or result in, stabilization or manipulation 
of the price of the Common Stock.

          (bb) The Company's application for listing on the Nasdaq National 
Market ("Nasdaq") has been approved, and, on the date the Registration 
Statement became effective, the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A 
or other applicable form under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as 
amended (the "Exchange Act"), became effective.

          (cc) To the Company's knowledge, none of the Company's officers, 
directors or security holders has any affiliations with the National 
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., except as set forth in the 
Registration Statement or as otherwise disclosed in writing to the 
Representative.

          (dd) The Company has obtained a written agreement in the form 
substantially as set forth in Schedule B, enforceable by the Representative, 
from each officer and director of the Company and such shareholders as may be 
requested by the Representative that for 180 days following the Effective 
Date, such person will not, without the Representative's prior written 
consent, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, or agree to sell, transfer 
or otherwise dispose of, other than by gift to donees who agree to be bound 
by the same restriction or by will or the laws of descent, any of his or her 
Common Stock, or any options, warrants or rights to purchase Common Stock or 
any shares of Common Stock received upon exercise of any options, warrants or 
rights to purchase Common Stock, which are beneficially held by such persons 
during such 180 day period.

          (ee) The Company is not, and upon completion of the sale of the 
Shares contemplated hereby will not be, required to register as an 
"investment company" under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

          (ff) The Company has complied and will comply with all provisions 
of Florida Statutes Section 517.075 (Chapter 92-198, Laws of Florida).  
Neither the Company, nor any 

                                  -9-

<PAGE>


affiliate thereof, does business with the government of Cuba or with any 
person of affiliate located in Cuba.

          (gg) Other than as contemplated by this Agreement, the Company has 
not incurred any liability for any finder's fee, broker's fee or other 
agent's commission in connection with the execution and delivery of this 
Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

          (hh) Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and 
delivered to the Representative or counsel to the Underwriters shall be 
deemed to be a representation and warranty of the Company to each Underwriter 
as to the matters covered thereby.

     2.   PURCHASE, SALE, DELIVERY AND PAYMENT.
          
          (a)  On the basis of the representations, warranties, and 
agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein 
set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, 
and the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the 
Company the Firm Shares, at a purchase price equal to ____% of the per Share 
price to public of  $_____ (the "Offering Price"), the respective amount of 
Firm Shares set forth opposite such Underwriter's name in Schedule A hereto.  
The Underwriters will collectively purchase all of the Firm Shares if any are 
purchased.

          (b)  On the basis of the representations and warranties herein 
contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the 
Company hereby grants an option to the Underwriters to purchase an aggregate 
of up to 300,000 Option Shares at the same purchase price as the Firm Shares 
for use solely in covering any overallotments made by the Underwriters in the 
sale and distribution of the Firm Shares.  The option granted hereunder may 
be exercised at any time (but not more than once) within 30 days after the 
Effective Date (as defined in Section 5(a) hereof) upon notice (confirmed in 
writing) by the Representative to the Company setting forth the aggregate 
number of Option Shares as to which the Underwriters are exercising the 
option and the date on which certificates for such Option Shares are to be 
delivered. Option Shares shall be purchased severally for the account of each 
Underwriter in proportion to the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the 
name of such Underwriter in Schedule A hereto.  The option granted hereby may 
be canceled by the Representative upon notice to the Company as to the Option 
Shares for which the option is unexercised at the time of expiration of the 
30 day period.

          (c)  The Company will deliver the Firm Shares to the Representative 
at the offices of Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP, Plaza VII, 45 South 
Seventh Street, Suite 3400, Minneapolis, MN 55402, unless some other place is 
agreed upon, at 10:00 a.m., Minneapolis time, against payment of the purchase 
price at the same place, on the third full business day after trading of the 
Shares has commenced, or, if the offering commences after 4:30 p.m., on the 
fourth full business day after commencement of the offering, or such earlier 
time as may be agreed upon between the Representative and the Company, such 
time and place being herein referred to as the "First Closing Date."

                                     -10-

<PAGE>


          (d)  The Company will deliver the Option Shares being purchased by 
the Underwriters to the Representative at the above-referenced offices of 
Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP set forth in Section 2(c) above, unless some 
other place is agreed, at 10:00 a.m., Minneapolis time, against payment of 
the purchase price at such place, on the date determined by the 
Representative and of which the Company has received notice as provided in 
Section 2(b), which shall not be earlier than two nor later than five full 
business days after the exercise of the option as set forth in Section 2(b), 
or at such other time not later than ten full business days thereafter as may 
be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company, such time and date 
being herein referred to as the "Second Closing Date."

          (e)  Certificates for the Shares to be delivered will be registered 
in such names and issued in such denominations as the Underwriters shall 
request two business days prior to the First Closing Date or the Second 
Closing Date, as the case may be.  The certificates will be made available to 
the Underwriters in definitive form for the purpose of inspection and 
packaging at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the respective closing 
dates.

          (f)  Payment for the Shares shall be made by wire transfer to a 
designated account of the Company for the Shares to be sold by it or by 
certified or official bank check or checks in Clearing House funds, payable 
to the order of the Company for the Shares to be sold by it.

     3.   UNDERWRITERS' OFFERING TO THE PUBLIC.
          
          (a)  The Underwriters will make a public offering of the Shares 
directly to the public (which may include selected dealers who are members in 
good standing of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the 
"NASD") or foreign dealers not eligible for membership in the NASD but who 
have agreed to abide by the interpretation of the NASD Board of Governor's 
with respect to free-riding and withholding) as soon as the Underwriters deem 
practicable after the Registration Statement becomes effective at the 
Offering Price, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and in 
accordance with the Prospectus. Concessions from the Offering Price may be 
allowed selected dealers who are members of the NASD as the Underwriters 
determine and the Underwriters will furnish the Company with such information 
about the distribution arrangements as may be necessary for inclusion in the 
Registration Statement.  It is understood that the Offering Price and such 
concessions may vary after the public offering.  The Underwriters shall offer 
and sell the Shares only in jurisdictions in which the offering of Shares has 
been duly registered or qualified, or is exempt from registration or 
qualification, and shall take reasonable measures to effect compliance with 
applicable state and local securities laws.

          (b)  It is understood that the Representative, individually and not 
as a Representative, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment on 
behalf of any Underwriter or Underwriters for the Shares to be purchased by 
such Underwriter or Underwriters.  No such payment by the Representative 
shall relieve such Underwriter or Underwriters from any of its or their other 
obligations hereunder.

                                     -11-

<PAGE>

     4.   COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.
          
     The Company hereby covenants and agrees with each of the several 
Underwriters as follows:

          (a)  If the Company has elected to rely on Rule 430A under the Act, 
the Company will prepare and file a Prospectus (or term sheet within the 
meaning of Rule 434 under the Act) containing the information omitted 
therefrom pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act with the Commission within the 
time period required by, and otherwise in accordance with the provisions of, 
Rules 424(b), 430A and 434, if applicable, under the Act; if the Company has 
elected to rely upon Rule 462(b) under the Act to increase the size of the 
offering registered under the Act, the Company will prepare and file a 
registration statement with respect to such increase with the Commission 
within the time period required by, and otherwise in accordance with the 
provisions of, Rule 462(b) under the Act; the Company will prepare and file 
with the Commission, promptly upon the request of the Representative, any 
amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus 
(including any term sheet within the meaning of Rule 434 under the Act) that, 
in the opinion of the Representative, may be necessary or advisable in 
connection with distribution of the Securities by Underwriters; and the 
Company will not file any amendment or supplement to the Registration 
Statement or Prospectus (including any term sheet within the meaning of Rule 
434 under the Act) to which the Representative shall reasonably object by 
notice to the Company after having been furnished with a copy a reasonable 
time prior to the filing.

          (b)  The Company will advise the Representatives promptly of (i) 
any request of the Commission for amendment of the Registration Statement or 
for supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, (ii) the 
issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of 
the Registration Statement or the use of the Prospectus, (iii) the suspension 
of the qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, 
or (iv) the institution or threatening of any proceedings for that purpose, 
and the Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such 
stop order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or suspending 
such qualification and to obtain as soon as possible the lifting thereof, if 
issued.

          (c)  The Company will promptly prepare and file at its own expense 
with the Commission any amendments of, or supplements to, the Registration 
Statement and the Prospectus which may be necessary in connection with the 
distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters.  During the period when a 
Prospectus relating to the Shares is required to be delivered under the Act, 
the Company will promptly file any amendments of, or supplements to, the 
Registration Statement and the Prospectus which may be necessary to correct 
any untrue statement of a material fact or any omission to state any material 
fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances 
under which they were made, not misleading.  The Company will not file any 
amendment of, or supplement to, the Registration Statement or Prospectus, 
after the Effective Date, which shall not previously have been submitted to 
the Representative and its counsel a reasonable time prior to such proposed 
filing or to which the Representative shall have reasonably objected.  In 
case any Underwriter is required to deliver a 

                                 -12-

<PAGE>

prospectus in connection with sales of any Shares at any time nine months or 
more after the effective date of the Registration Statement, upon the request 
of the Representative but at the expense of such Underwriter, the Company 
will prepare and deliver to such Underwriter as many copies as the 
Representative may request of an amended or supplemented Prospectus complying 
with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act.

          (d)  The Company will endeavor to qualify the Shares for sale under 
the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative may 
reasonably designate and the Company will file such consents to service of 
process or other documents necessary or appropriate in order to effect such 
qualification or registration.  In each jurisdiction in which the Shares 
shall have been qualified or registered as above provided, the Company will 
continue such qualifications or registrations in effect for so long as may be 
required for purposes of the distribution of the Shares and make and file 
such statements and reports in each year as are or may be reasonably required 
by the laws of such jurisdiction to permit secondary trading of the same; 
provided, however, that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify 
to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to 
take any action which would subject it to the service of process in suits, 
other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Shares.

          (e)  The Company will furnish to the Representative, as soon as 
available, copies of the Registration Statement and all amendments (two of 
which will be signed and which shall include all exhibits), each Preliminary 
Prospectus, if any, the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements to such 
documents including any prospectus prepared to permit compliance with Section 
10(a)(3) of the Act, all in such quantities as the Representative may from 
time to time reasonably request.  The Company specifically authorizes the 
Underwriters and all dealers to whom any of the Shares may be sold by the 
Underwriters to use and distribute copies of such Preliminary Prospectuses 
and Prospectuses in connection with the sale of the Shares as and to the 
extent permitted by the federal and applicable state and local securities 
laws.

          (f)  The Company will make generally available to its security 
holders an earnings statement, in a form complying with requirements of 
Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 thereunder, as soon as practicable and 
in any event not later than 45 days after the end of its fiscal quarter in 
which occurs the first anniversary date of the Effective Date, meeting the 
requirements of Section 11(a) of the Act covering a period of at least 12 
consecutive months beginning after the Effective Date, and will advise you in 
writing when such statement has been so made available.

          (g)  The Company will, for such period up to five years from the 
First Closing Date, deliver to the Representatives copies of its annual 
report and copies of all other documents, and information furnished by the 
Company to its security holders or filed with any securities exchange 
pursuant to the requirements of such exchange or with the Commission pursuant 
to the Act or the Exchange Act, or any state securities commission by the 
Company.  The Company will deliver to the Representatives similar reports 
with respect to significant subsidiaries, if any, as that term is defined in 
the rules and regulations under the Act, which are not consolidated in the 
Company's financial statements.

                                  -13-

<PAGE>

          (h)  The Company will not, without the prior written consent of the 
Representative, offer, sell or otherwise dispose of any capital stock of the 
Company or warrants, options, convertible securities or other rights to 
assign any shares of capital stock (other than pursuant to employee stock 
options, the conversion of convertible securities outstanding on the date of 
this Agreement, or currently outstanding options and warrants) for a period 
of 180 days after the Effective Date.

          (i)  The Company shall be responsible for and pay all costs and 
expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement 
including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (i) all costs 
and expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the 
Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits), 
Preliminary Prospectuses, if any, the Prospectus and any amendments thereof 
or supplements to any of the foregoing; (ii) the issuance and delivery of the 
Shares, including taxes, if any; (iii) the cost of all certificates 
representing the Shares; (iv) the fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent for 
the Shares; (v) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company; (vi) 
all fees and other charges of the independent public accountants of the 
Company; (vii) the cost of furnishing and delivering to the Underwriters and 
dealers participating in the offering copies of the Registration Statement 
(including appropriate exhibits), Preliminary Prospectuses, the Prospectus 
and any amendments of, or supplements to, any of the foregoing; (viii) the 
NASD filing fee; (ix) all fees and expenses of counsel for the Representative 
incurred in qualifying the Shares for sale under the laws of such 
jurisdictions designated by the Representative (including filing fees).

          (j)  The Company will not take, and will use its best efforts to 
cause each of its officers and directors not to take, directly or indirectly, 
any action designed to or which might reasonably be expected to cause or 
result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of 
the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares and will not 
effect any sales of any security of the Company which are required to be 
disclosed in response to Item 701 of Regulation S-X of the Commission which 
have not been so disclosed in the Registration Statement.

          (k)  Upon completion of this offering, the Company will use its 
best efforts to maintain the listing of its Common Stock on the National 
Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System ("Nasdaq") 
National Market or any other national securities exchange.

          (l)  The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the 
Shares substantially in the manner set forth in the Prospectus.

          (m)  During the period ending 270 days from the Effective Date, the 
Company agrees that it will issue press releases, make public statements and 
respond to inquiries of the press and securities analysts only after 
conferring with its counsel and with the Representative.

          (n)  Prior to or as of either closing date, the Company shall have 
performed each condition to closing required to be performed by the Company 
pursuant to Section 5 hereof.

                                       -14-

<PAGE>

     5.   CONDITIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS' OBLIGATIONS.
          
     The respective obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for 
the Shares as provided herein shall be subject to the accuracy of the 
representations and warranties of the Company, in the case of the Firm Shares 
as of the date hereof and the First Closing Date (as if made on and as of the 
First Closing Date), and in the case of the Option Shares, as of the date 
hereof and the Second Closing Date (as if made on and as of the Second 
Closing Date), to the performance by the Company of its obligations 
hereunder, and to the satisfaction of the following additional conditions on 
or before the First Closing Date in the case of the Firm Shares and on or 
before the Second Closing Date in the case of the Option Shares:

          (a)  The Registration Statement has been declared effective as of 
_________.m Minneapolis time on ____________, 1998 (the "Effective Date").  
All filings required by Rules 424, 430A and 434 under the Act shall have been 
timely made. No stop order suspending the effectiveness thereof shall have 
been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or, 
to the knowledge of the Company or the Representative, threatened by the 
Commission or any state securities commission or similar regulatory body.  
Any request of the Commission for additional information (to be included in 
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise) shall have been 
complied with to the satisfaction of the Underwriters and their legal counsel.

          (b)  The Representative shall not have advised the Company that the 
Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment thereof or supplement 
thereto, contains any untrue statement of a fact which is material or omits 
to state a fact which is material and is required to be stated therein or is 
necessary to make the statements contained therein, in light of the 
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, 
that this Section 5(b) shall not apply to statements in, or omissions from, 
the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment thereof or 
supplement thereto, which are based upon and conform to written information 
furnished to the Company by any of the Underwriters specifically for use in 
the preparation of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any such 
amendment or supplement.

          (c)  Subsequent to the Effective Date, and except as contemplated 
or referred to in the Prospectus, the Company shall not have incurred any 
direct or contingent liabilities or obligations material to the Company, or 
entered into any material transactions, except liabilities, obligations or 
transactions in the ordinary course of business, or declared or paid any 
dividends or made any distribution of any kind with respect to its capital 
stock; and there shall not have been any change in the capital stock (other 
than a change in the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock due to the 
exercise of options or warrants described in the Registration Statement and 
the Prospectus), or any change in the short-term debt or long-term debt 
(including capitalized lease obligations) of the Company, or any issuance of 
options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights to purchase the 
capital stock of the Company or any change or any development involving a 
prospective change in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial 
position, shareholders' equity or results of operations of the Company, 
otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus, the effect of 
which, in the judgment of the Representatives 

                                      -15-

<PAGE>

makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or 
the delivery of the Shares being delivered.

          (d)  The Representative shall have received the opinion of 
Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., counsel for the Company, dated the First Closing 
Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, addressed to the 
Underwriters covering certain corporate matters to the effect that:

               (i)    The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly 
          existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of 
          Minnesota; has the corporate power to own, lease and operate its 
          properties and conduct its businesses as described in the Prospectus;
          and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good
          standing in all jurisdictions where the ownership or leasing of its 
          properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification 
          and in which the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would 
          have a material adverse effect on condition (financial or otherwise),
          shareholders' equity, results of operations, business, properties or 
          prospects of the Company.
          
               (ii)   The Company has the number of authorized and 
          outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company as set forth 
          under the caption "Capitalization" of the Prospectus, and all 
          issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company has been duly 
          authorized and is validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. 
          There are no statutory preemptive rights, or to the knowledge of 
          such counsel, no similar subscription or purchase rights of 
          securities holders of the Company with respect to issuance or sale 
          of the Shares by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, and to the 
          knowledge of such counsel, except as described in the Prospectus, 
          no rights to require registration of shares of Common Stock or 
          other securities of the Company because of the filing of the 
          Registration Statement exist.  The Shares conform as to matters of 
          law in all material respects to the description of such made in the 
          Prospectus, and such description accurately sets forth the material 
          legal provisions thereof required to be set forth in the Prospectus.

               (iii)  The Shares have been duly authorized and, upon delivery 
          to the Underwriters against payment therefor as contemplated 
          therein, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

               (iv)   The certificates evidencing the Shares comply as to 
          form with the applicable provisions of the laws of the State of 
          Minnesota.

               (v)    The Registration Statement has become effective under 
          the Act and, to the knowledge of such counsel, no stop orders 
          suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement have 
          been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been 
          instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of such counsel, 
          contemplated under the Act.

                                      -16-

<PAGE>


               (vi)   There are not material legal or governmental 
          proceedings pending, or to such counsel's knowledge threatened, 
          before any court or administrative body or regulatory agency, to 
          which the Company or its affiliates is a party or to which any of 
          the properties of the Company or its affiliates are subject that 
          are required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement or 
          Prospectus that are not so described, nor any statutes, 
          regulations, nor legal or governmental proceedings pending, or to 
          such counsel's knowledge threatened, that are required to be 
          described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus that are not 
          so described.

               (vii)  No authorization, approval or consent of any 
          governmental authority or agency is necessary in connection with 
          the issuance and sale of the Shares as contemplated under this 
          Agreement, except such as may be required under the Act or under 
          state or other securities laws in connection with the purchase and 
          distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters.

               (viii) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any 
          amendments thereof or supplements thereto (other than the financial 
          statements and schedules and supporting financial and statistical 
          data and information included or incorporated therein, as to which 
          such counsel need express no opinion) conform in all material 
          respects with the requirements of the Act and the Rules and 
          Regulations, and the conditions for use of a registration statement 
          on Form SB-2 for the distribution of the Shares have been satisfied 
          with respect to the Company.

               (ix)   The statements (i) in the Prospectus under the caption 
          "Risk Factors --Government Regulation," "-- Hazardous Materials," 
          "--Anti-Takeover Laws," "--Potential Adverse Market Impact of 
          Shares Eligible for Future Sale," "Business -- Current Licensing 
          Arrangements," "-- Government Regulation," "-- Facilities," "-- 
          Legal Proceeding," "Management - Stock Option Plan," "Description 
          of Capital Stock," "Shares Eligible for Future Sale" and (ii) in 
          the Registration Statement in Item 14 insofar as such statements 
          constitute a summary of statutes, legal and governmental proceeding 
          contracts and other documents, are accurate summaries and fairly 
          present the information called for with respect to such matters.

               (x)    Such counsel does not know of any contracts, 
          agreements, documents or instruments required to be filed as 
          exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the 
          Registration Statement or the Prospectus which are not so filed or 
          described as required, and does not know of any amendment to the 
          Registration Statement required to be filed that has not been 
          filed; and insofar as any statements in the Registration Statement 
          or the Prospectus constitute summaries of any contract, agreement, 
          document or instrument to which the Company is a party, such 
          statements are accurate summaries and fairly present the 
          information called for with respect to such matters.

                                      -17-

<PAGE>

               (xi)   To such counsel's knowledge, there are no defects in 
          title to the Company's real property or real estate leasehold 
          interests, nor any liens, encumbrances, equities, charges or claims 
          against any real or personal property owned or leased by the 
          Company, not disclosed in the Registration Statement or Prospectus 
          which would materially affect the present occupancy or use of any 
          of such real or personal property owned or leased by the Company.

               (xii)  The Company has the corporate power and authorization 
          to enter this Agreement and to authorize, issue and sell the Shares 
          as contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly authorized, 
          executed and delivered by, and is a valid and binding agreement of 
          the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as 
          enforceability may be limited by the application of bankruptcy, 
          insolvency, moratorium or similar laws affecting the rights of 
          creditors generally and judicial limitations on the right of 
          specific performance and other equitable remedies and except as the 
          enforceability of indemnification or contribution provisions hereof 
          may be limited by action of a court interpreting or applying 
          federal or state securities laws or equitable principles.

               (xiii) The performance of this Agreement and the consummation 
          of the transactions described herein will not result in a violation 
          of or default under, the Company's Restated Articles of 
          Incorporation, as Amended, Restated Bylaws or other governing 
          documents.  To the best of such counsel's knowledge, (a) the 
          Company is not in violation of, or in default under, its Restated 
          Articles of Incorporation, as Amended, Restated Bylaws or other 
          governing documents; and (b) the performance of this Agreement and 
          the consummation of the transactions described herein will not 
          result in a material violation of, or a material default under, the 
          terms or provisions of (A) any bond, debenture, note, or other 
          evidence of indebtedness or any contract, license, indenture, 
          mortgage, loan agreement, joint venture or partnership agreement, 
          lease, agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or 
          by which the Company or any of its properties is bound, or (B) any 
          law, order, rule, regulation, writ, injunction, or decree known to 
          such counsel of any government, governmental agency or court having 
          jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties.

               (xiv)  To such counsel's knowledge, unregistered sales of 
          securities by the Company within three years prior to the Effective 
          Date were exempt from registration requirements of the Act and are 
          not required to be integrated, under Rule 502(a) of Regulation D of 
          the Act, with the public offering contemplated hereby.

               (xv)   To such counsel's knowledge, based on information 
          regarding the Company's current and contemplated business contained 
          in the Registration Statement, the Company is not, and immediately 
          upon  completion of the sale of the Shares contemplated hereby will 
          not be required to register as, an "investment company" under the 
          Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

                                      -18-

<PAGE>

               (xvi)  To such counsel's knowledge, the Company is not engaged 
          in any negotiations regarding any form of business combination with 
          another entity.

          In expressing the foregoing opinion, as to matters of fact relevant 
to conclusions of law, counsel may rely, to the extent that they deem proper, 
upon certificates of public officials and of the officers of the Company, and 
opinions of other legal counsel to the Company, provided that copies of all 
such certificates and opinions are attached to the opinion.

          In addition to the matters set forth above, such opinion shall also 
include a statement to the effect that, although such counsel cannot 
guarantee the accuracy, completeness or fairness of any of the statements 
contained in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, in connection with 
such counsel's representation, investigation and due inquiry of the Company 
in the preparation of the Registration Statement and Prospectus, such counsel 
has no reason to believe that, (i) as of its Effective Date, the Registration 
Statement or any further amendment thereto (other than the financial 
statements and related schedules therein, as to which such counsel need 
express no opinion) made by the Company prior to the First Closing Date or 
the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, contained an untrue statement of 
a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated 
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (ii), 
as of its date, the Prospectus or any further amendment or supplement thereto 
(other than the financial statements and related schedules therein, as to 
which such counsel need express no opinion) made by the Company prior to the 
First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, contained 
an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact 
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in 
which they were made, not misleading or (iii), as of the First Closing Date 
or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, either the Registration 
Statement or the Prospectus or any further amendment or supplement thereto 
(other than the financial statements and related schedules therein, as to 
which such counsel need express no opinion) made by the Company prior to the 
First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, contains 
an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact 
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in 
which they were made, not misleading.

          (e)  The Representative shall have received on the First Closing 
Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, the opinion of 
Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., intellectual property counsel for the Company, 
dated the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, 
addressed to the Underwriters, covering matters relating to the patents and 
other intellectual property owned or licensed by the Company to the effect 
that:

               (i)    To such counsel's knowledge, the statements in the 
          Registration Statement and the Prospectus under the caption 
          "Business -- Patents and Proprietary Technology" are accurate 
          summaries of the matters therein set forth.
          
               (ii)   Based upon counsel's search of the dockets and a 
          certificate of the Company officers, there are no pending legal 
          proceedings relating to Proprietary Rights of the Company, and, to 
          such counsel's knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened except 
          for three matters arising out of the Company's licensing.

                                      -19-

<PAGE>

               (iii)  To such counsel's knowledge, based on  a certificate of 
          officers of the Company and on the basis of the limited reviews of 
          the patent and trademark matters requested of such counsel by the 
          Company to date, (a) the Company's products do not infringe any 
          patents of others, nor does the Company infringe or otherwise 
          violate any copyrights, trade secrets, trademarks, service marks, 
          or proprietary information of others, and (b) except as described 
          in paragraph (ii) above, no person is infringing or otherwise 
          violating any of the Company's Proprietary Rights in a way which 
          could materially affect the use thereof by the Company.

               (iv)   The Company is listed in the records of the United 
          States Patent and Trademark Office as the sole owner or assignee of 
          record of each of the Company's issued patents listed on a schedule 
          to the opinion (the "Patents") and each of the applications listed 
          on  a schedule to the opinion (the "Applications").  To such 
          counsel's knowledge, there are no asserted or unasserted claims of 
          any persons relating to the scope or ownership of the Patents or 
          Applications, there are no liens which have been filed against any 
          of the Patents or Applications, there are no material defects of 
          form in the preparation or filing of the Applications, and the 
          Applications are being diligently prosecuted.

               (v)    Such counsel has no reason to believe that the 
          Applications will not eventuate in issued patents, or that any 
          patents issued in respect of any such Applications will not be 
          valid or will not afford the Company reasonable patent protection 
          relative to the subject matter thereof.

               (vi)   Nothing has come to the attention of such counsel that 
          causes such counsel to believe that the discussion of the 
          Proprietary Rights set forth in (A) the Registration Statement or 
          any amendment thereof, at the time the Registration Statement 
          became effective and as of the First Closing Date or the Second 
          Closing Date, as the case may be, contained or contains any untrue 
          statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state any 
          material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make 
          the statements therein not misleading or (B) the Prospectus as 
          amended or supplemented, as of the date of the Prospectus or any 
          such amendment of supplement and as of the First Closing Date or 
          the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, contained or contains 
          any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to 
          state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary 
          to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in 
          which they were made, not misleading.

          (f)  The Representative shall have received from Oppenheimer Wolff 
& Donnelly LLP, its counsel, such opinion or opinions as the Representative 
may reasonably require, dated the First Closing Date or the Second Closing 
Date, as the case may be, with respect to the sufficiency of corporate 
proceedings and other legal matters relating to this Agreement and the 
transactions contemplated hereby, and other related matters as the 
Representative may reasonably request; and the Company and its counsel shall 
have furnished to 

                                      -21-

<PAGE>

said counsel such documents as they may have reasonably requested for the 
purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.  In connection with such 
opinion, as to matters of fact relevant to conclusions of law, such counsel 
may rely, to the extent that they deem proper, upon representations or 
certificates of public officials and of responsible officers of the Company.

          (g)  The Representative and the Company shall have received 
letters, dated the date hereof and the First Closing Date and the Second 
Closing Date, as the case may be, from Arthur Andersen LLP, to the effect 
that they are independent public accountants with respect to the Company 
within the meaning of the Act and the related rules and regulations, stating 
that in their opinion the financial statements and schedules examined by them 
an included in the Registration Statement comply in form in all material 
respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the 
related rules and regulations, and containing such other statements and 
information of the type ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" 
to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain 
financial information contained in the Registration Statement and the 
Prospectus.

          (h)  The Representative shall have received from the Company a 
certificate, dated as of each Closing Date, of the Chief Executive Officer 
and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company to the effect that as of the 
First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date:

               (i)    The representations and warranties of the Company in this
          Agreement are true and correct as if made on and as of each Closing 
          Date.  The Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied
          all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at, or 
          prior to, each such Closing Date.
          
               (ii)   No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the 
          Registration Statement has been issued, and no proceeding for that 
          purpose has been instituted or is pending or to the best knowledge 
          of such officers contemplated under the Act.

               (iii)  Neither the Registration Statement nor the Prospectus 
          nor any amendment thereof or supplement thereto includes any untrue 
          statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact 
          required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements 
          therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not 
          misleading, and, since the Effective Date, there has occurred no 
          event required to be set forth in an amended or supplemented 
          prospectus which has not been so set forth; provided, however, that 
          such certificate does not require any representation concerning 
          statements in, or omissions from, the Registration Statement or 
          Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, which 
          are based upon and conform to written information furnished to the 
          Company by any of the Underwriters specifically for use in the 
          preparation of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any 
          such amendment or supplement.

               (iv)   Subsequent to the respective dates as of which 
          information is given in the Registration Statement and the 
          Prospectus and except as contemplated or referred to in the 
          Prospectus, the Company has not incurred any direct or

                                      -21-

<PAGE>

          contingent liabilities or obligations material to the Company, or 
          entered into any material transactions, except liabilities, 
          obligations or transactions in the ordinary course of business, or 
          declared or paid any dividend or made any distribution of any kin 
          with respect to its capital stock, and there has not been any 
          change in the capital stock (other than a change in the number of 
          outstanding shares of Common Stock due to the exercise of options 
          or warrants described in the Registration Statement and the 
          Prospectus) and there has not been any material adverse change in 
          the capital stock, short-term debt, or long-term debt (including 
          capitalized lease obligations) of the Company, or any material 
          adverse change or any development involving a prospective material 
          adverse change (whether or not arising in the ordinary course of 
          business) in or affecting the general affairs, condition (financial 
          or otherwise), business, key personnel, property, prospects, 
          shareholders' equity or results of operations of the Company.

               (v)    Subsequent to the respective dates as of which 
          information is given in the Registration Statement and the 
          Prospectus, the Company has not sustained any material loss of, or 
          damage to, its properties, whether or not insured.

               (vi)   Except as is otherwise expressly stated in the 
          Registration Statement and Prospectus there are no material 
          actions, suits or proceedings pending before any court or 
          governmental agency, authority or body, or, to the best of such 
          officer's knowledge, threatened, to which the Company is a party or 
          of which the business or property of the Company is the subject.

          (i)  The Representative shall have received, dated as of each 
Closing Date, from the Secretary of the Company a certificate of incumbency 
certifying the names, titles and signatures of the officers authorized to 
execute the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company authorizing 
and approving the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, a 
copy of such resolutions to be attached to such certificate, certifying such 
resolutions and certifying that the Restated Articles of Incorporation, as 
Amended and the Restated Bylaws of the Company have been validly adopted and 
have not been amended or modified, except as described in the Prospectus.

          (j)  The Representative shall have received a written agreement in 
the form substantially as set forth in Schedule B, enforceable by the 
Representative, from each of officer and director of the Company and such 
shareholders as may be requested by the Representative that for 180 days 
following the Effective Date, such person will not, without the 
Representative's prior written consent, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose 
of, or agree to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, other than by gift to 
donees who agree to be bound by the same restriction or by will or the laws 
of descent, any of his or her Common Stock, or any options, warrants or 
rights to purchase Common Stock or any shares of Common Stock received upon 
exercise of any options, warrants or rights to purchase Common Stock, all of 
which are beneficially held by such persons during the 180 day period.

                                      -22-

<PAGE>

          (k)  The Company's Common Stock shall have been approved for 
listing on the Nasdaq National Market.

          (l)  The Company shall have furnished to the Underwriters, dated as 
of the date of each Closing Date, such further certificates and documents as 
the Underwriters shall have reasonably required.

          (m)  All such opinions, certificates, letters and documents will be 
in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are reasonably 
satisfactory to the Representative and their legal counsel.  All statements 
contained in any certificate, letter or other document delivered pursuant 
hereto by, or on behalf of, the Company shall be deemed to constitute 
representations and warranties of the Company.

          (n)  The Representative may waive in writing the performance of any 
one or more of the conditions specified in this Section 5 or extend the time 
for their performance.

          (o)  If any of the conditions specified in this Section 5 shall not 
have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement to be fulfilled, 
this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be 
canceled at, or at any time prior to, each closing date by the 
Representative.  Any such cancellation shall be without liability of the 
Underwriters to the Company or to any other party, and shall not relieve the 
Company of its obligations under Section 4(h) hereof.  Notice of such 
cancellation shall be given to the Company at the address specified in 
Section 11 hereof in writing, or by facsimile or telephone and confirmed in 
writing.

     6.   INDEMNIFICATION.
          
          (a)  The Company hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each 
Underwriter, each officer and director thereof, and each person, if any, who 
controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act, against any losses, 
claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter 
or each such person may become subject, under the Act, the Exchange Act, the 
common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or 
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), arise out of, or are based upon, 
(i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact 
contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the 
Prospectus including any amendment thereof, or (ii) the omission or alleged 
omission to state in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus 
or Prospectus including any amendment thereof a material fact required to be 
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the 
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or (iii) any untrue 
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any 
application or other statement executed by the Company or based upon written 
information furnished by the Company filed in any jurisdiction in order to 
quality the Shares under, or exempt the Shares or the sale thereof from 
qualification under, the securities laws of such jurisdiction, or the 
omission or alleged omission to state in such application or statement a 
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the 
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, 
not misleading; and the Company will reimburse each Underwriter and each such 
controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably 

                                      -23-

<PAGE>

incurred by such Underwriter or controlling person (subject to the limitation 
set forth in Section 6(c) hereof, in connection with investigating or 
defending against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such 
expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable 
in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability 
arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement, or alleged untrue 
statement, omission or alleged omission, made in reliance upon and in 
conformity with information furnished to the Company by, or on behalf of, any 
Underwriter in writing specifically for use in the preparation of the 
Registration Statement or any such post effective amendment thereof, any such 
Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any such amendment thereof or 
supplement thereto; and provided further, that the foregoing indemnity 
agreement is subject to the condition that, insofar as it relates to any 
untrue statement, alleged untrue statement, omission or alleged omission made 
in any Preliminary Prospectus but eliminated, remedied or corrected in the 
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) such indemnity agreement 
shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter (or to the benefit of any 
person who controls such Underwriter), if the person asserting any loss, 
claim, damage or liability as a result of such untrue statement or omission 
purchased the Shares from such Underwriter and was not sent or given a copy 
of the Prospectus with, or prior to, the written confirmation of the sale of 
such Shares to such person by such Underwriter unless such failure to deliver 
the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) was the result of noncompliance 
by the Company with Section 4(c).  This indemnity agreement is in addition to 
any liability which the Company may otherwise have.

          (b)  Each Underwriter severally, but not jointly, agrees to 
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of the Company's directors, 
each of the Company's officers who has signed the Registration Statement and 
each person who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act against 
any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company or any such 
director, officer, or controlling person may become subject, under the Act, 
the Exchange Act, the common law, or otherwise, insofar as such losses, 
claims, damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of, 
or are based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a 
material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary 
Prospectus or Prospectus, including any amendment thereof, (ii) the omission 
or alleged omission to state in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary 
Prospectus or Prospectus including any amendment thereof a material fact 
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in 
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or 
(iii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact 
contained in any application or other statement executed by the Company or by 
any Underwriter and filed in any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Shares 
under, or exempt the Shares or the sale thereof from qualification under, the 
securities laws of such jurisdiction, or the omission or alleged omission to 
state in such application or statement a material fact required to be stated 
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the 
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; in each of the 
above cases to the extent, but only the extent, that such untrue statement, 
alleged untrue statement, omission or alleged omission, was made in reliance 
upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company by, or on 
behalf of, any Underwriter in writing specifically for use in the preparation 
of the Registration Statement or any such post effective amendment thereof, 
any such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any such amendment 
thereof or supplement thereto, or in any application or other statement 
executed 

                                      -24-

<PAGE>

by the Company or by any Underwriter and filed in any jurisdiction; and each 
Underwriter will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by 
the Company or any such director, officer or controlling person in connection 
with investigating or defending against any such loss, claim, damage, 
liability or action as such expenses are incurred.  This indemnity agreement 
is in addition to any liability which the Underwriters may otherwise have.

          (c)  Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this 
Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding 
(including any governmental investigation), such indemnified party will, if a 
claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under 
this Section 6, notify in writing the indemnifying party of the commencement 
thereof.  The failure to so notify the indemnifying party will not relieve 
such party from any liability under this Section 6 as to the particular item 
for which indemnification is then being sought, unless such failure so to 
notify prejudices the indemnifying party's ability to defend such action.  In 
case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and the 
indemnified party notifies an indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, 
the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the 
extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly 
notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel who shall be reasonably 
satisfactory to such indemnified party; and after notice from the 
indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the 
defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such 
indemnified party under this Section 6 for any legal or other expenses 
subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the 
defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, 
however, that if, in the reasonable judgment of the indemnified party, it is 
advisable for such parties and controlling persons to be represented by 
separate counsel, any indemnified party shall have the right to employ 
separate counsel to represent it and all other parties and their controlling 
persons who may be subject to liability arising out of any claim in respect 
of which indemnity may be sought by the Underwriters against the Company or 
by the Company against the Underwriters hereunder, in which event the fees 
and expenses of such separate counsel shall be borne by the indemnifying 
party; provided, however, if the indemnified party shall have reasonably 
concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other 
indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available 
to the indemnifying party, or the indemnified and indemnifying parties may 
have conflicting interests which would make it inappropriate for the same 
counsel to represent both of them, the indemnified party shall have the right 
to select separate counsel to assume such defense and to otherwise 
participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party 
and all other parties and their controlling persons.  Any such indemnifying 
party shall not be liable to any such indemnified party on account of any 
settlement of any claim or action effected without the consent of such 
indemnifying party.

     7.   CONTRIBUTION.
          
          (a)  If the indemnification provided for in Section 6 is 
unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless any indemnified party in respect 
of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each 
indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such 
indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities 
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits 
received by the Company and the 

                                      -25-

<PAGE>

Underwriters from the offering of the Shares.  In the event that the 
allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by 
applicable law, then each indemnifying party shall contribute in such 
proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits 
referred to above but also the relative fault of the Company and the 
Underwriters in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in 
such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant 
equitable considerations.  The Company and the Underwriters agree that 
contribution determined by per capita allocation (even if the Underwriters 
were considered a single person) would not be equitable.  The respective 
relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand, and the 
Underwriters, on the other, shall be deemed to be in the same proportion (a) 
in the case of the Company, as the total price paid to the Company for the 
Shares by the Underwriters (net of underwriting discount received but before 
deducting expenses) bears to the aggregate Offering Price of the Shares, and 
(b) in the case of the Underwriters, as the aggregate underwriting discount 
received by them bears to the aggregate Offering Price of the Shares, in each 
case as reflected in the Prospectus.  The relative fault of the Company and 
the Underwriters shall be determined by reference to, among other things, 
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the 
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information 
supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties' relative 
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or 
prevent such statement or omission.  The amount paid or payable by a party as 
a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to above 
shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably 
incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any 
action or claim.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no 
Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the 
amount by which the total price at which the Shares underwritten by it were 
offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such 
Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any untrue or 
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission in the Registration 
Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or 
supplement thereto.  The Underwriters' obligation to contribute pursuant to 
this Section 7 is several and not joint.  No person guilty of fraudulent 
misrepresentation (within the meaning of the Act) shall be entitled to 
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent 
misrepresentation.  For purposes of this Section 7, each person who controls 
an Underwriter within the meaning of the Act or the Exchange Act shall have 
the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, each person who controls 
the Company within the meaning of the Act or the Exchange Act shall have the 
same rights to contribution as the Company and each officer of the Company 
who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of the 
Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.

          (b)  Promptly after receipt by a party to this Agreement of notice 
of the commencement of any action, suit, or proceeding, such person will, if 
a claim for contribution in respect thereof is to be made against another 
party (the "Contributing Party"), notify the Contributing Party of the 
commencement thereof, but the failure to so notify the Contributing Party 
will not relieve the Contributing Party from any liability which it may have 
to any party other than under this Section 7, unless such failure to so 
notify prejudices the Contributing Party's ability to defend such action. Any 
notice given pursuant to Section 6 hereof shall be deemed to be like notice 
hereunder.  In case any such action, suit or proceeding is brought 

                                      -26-

<PAGE>

against any party, and such person notifies a Contributing Party of the 
commencement thereof, the Contributing Party will be entitled to participate 
therein with the notifying party and any other Contributing Party similarly 
notified.

          (c)  The obligations of the Company under this Section 7 shall be 
in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have, and the 
obligations of the Underwriter under this Section 7 shall be in addition to 
any liability which the Underwriters may otherwise have.

     8.   EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERMINATION.
          
          (a)  This Agreement shall become effective at the later of (i) the 
day upon which this Agreement shall have been executed and delivered by the 
parties hereto, or (ii) (ii) at 10:00 a.m. Minneapolis time, on the first 
full business day following the Effective Date, or at such earlier time after 
the Effective Date as the Representative in its discretion shall first 
release the Shares for offering to the public. For purposes of this Section 
8, the Shares shall be deemed to have been released to the public upon 
release by the Representative of the publication of a newspaper advertisement 
relating to the Shares or upon release of a telegram or a letter offering the 
Shares for sale to securities dealers, whichever shall first occur.

          (b)  The Representative shall have the right to terminate this 
Agreement by giving notice to the Company as hereinafter specified at any 
time prior to the First Closing Date, and the option referred to in Section 
2(b), if exercised, may be canceled at any time by the Representative by 
giving such notice to the Company at any time prior to the Second Closing 
Date, if (i) the Company shall have failed, refused or been unable, at or 
prior to the First Closing Date, to perform any material agreement on its 
part to be performed hereunder; (ii) any other condition of the Underwriters' 
obligations hereunder is not fulfilled; (iii) trading in securities generally 
on the New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock 
Market shall have been suspended, or minimum or maximum prices for trading 
shall have been required or established by the Commission or by any such 
exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market; (iv) a banking moratorium shall have 
been declared by federal, New York or Minnesota authorities; (v) there shall 
have been such a material adverse change in general economic, monetary, 
political or financial conditions, or the effect of international conditions 
on the financial markets in the United States shall be such as, in the 
judgment of the Representative, makes it impracticable or inadvisable to 
proceed with the completion of the sale of and payment for the Shares; (vi) 
there shall have been the enactment, publication, decree or other 
promulgation of any federal or state statute, regulation, rule or order of 
any court or other governmental authority, which in the judgment of the 
Representative materially and adversely affects or will materially and 
adversely affect the business or operations of the Company; or (vii) there 
shall be an outbreak of major hostilities (or an escalation thereof) in which 
the United States is involved or a formal declaration of war by the United 
States of America shall have occurred or any other substantial national or 
international calamity or any other event or occurrence of a similar 
character shall have occurred since the execution of this Agreement that, in 
the judgment of the Representative, makes it impracticable or inadvisable to 
proceed with the completion of the sale of and payment for the Shares. Any 
such termination shall be without 

                                      -27-

<PAGE>

liability of any party to any other party, except as provided in Sections 6 
and 7 hereof; provided, however, that the Company shall remain obligated to 
pay costs and expenses to the extent provided in Section 4(i) hereof.

          (c)  If the Representative elects to prevent this Agreement from 
becoming effective or to terminate this Agreement as provided in this Section 
8, it shall notify the Company promptly by telecopy or telephone, confirmed 
by letter sent to the address specified in Section 11 hereof.  If the Company 
shall elect to prevent this Agreement from becoming effective, it shall 
notify the Representative promptly by telecopy or telephone, confirmed by 
letter sent to the address specified in Section 11 hereof.

          (d)  If the Company shall fail at the First Closing Date to sell 
and deliver the number of Shares which it is obligated to sell hereunder, 
then this Agreement shall terminate without any liability on the part of any 
Underwriter. No action taken pursuant to this Section 8(d) shall relieve the 
Company from liability, if any, in respect of such default.

     9.   DEFAULT OF UNDERWRITER.
          
     If on the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may
be, any Underwriter shall fail to purchase and pay for the portion of the
Shares which such Underwriter has agreed to purchase and pay for on such date
(otherwise than by reason of any default on the part of the Company), you, as
Representative of the Underwriters, shall use your best efforts to procure
within 36 hours thereafter one or more of the other Underwriters, or any
others, to purchase from the Company such amounts as may be agreed upon, and
upon the terms set fort herein, of the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the
case may be, which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to
purchase. If during such 36 hours you, as Representative, shall not have
procured such other Underwriters, or any others, to purchase the Firm Shares or
Option Shares, as the case may be, agreed to be purchased by the defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters, then (i) if the aggregate number of Shares with
respect to which such default shall occur does no exceed 10% of the Firm Shares
or Option Shares, as the case may be, covered hereby the other Underwriters
shall be obligated, severally, in proportion to the respective numbers of Firm
Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, which they are obligated to
purchase hereunder, to purchase the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case
may be, which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to purchase or
(ii) if the aggregate number of shares of Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the
case may be, with respect to which such default shall occur exceeds 10% of the
Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, covered hereby, the Company
or you as the Representative of the Underwriters will have the right, by
written notice given within the next 36-hour period to the parties to this
Agreement, to terminate this Agreement without liability on the part of the non-
defaulting Underwriters or of the Company except for expenses to be borne by
the Company and the Underwriters as provided in Section 4(i) hereof and the
indemnity and contribution agreements in Sections 6 and 7 hereof. In the event
of a default by any Underwriter or Underwriters, as set forth in this Section
9, the First Closing Date or Second Closing Date, as the case may be, may be
postponed for such period, not exceeding seven days, as you, as
Representatives, may determine in order that the required 

                                      -28-

<PAGE>

changes, not including a reduction in the number of Firm Shares, in the 
Registration Statement or in the Prospectus or in any other documents or 
arrangements may be effected.  The term "Underwriter" includes any person 
substituted for a defaulting Underwriter. Any action taken under this Section 
9 shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of 
any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

     10.  SURVIVAL.
          
     The respective indemnity and contribution agreements of the Company and 
the Underwriters contained in Sections 6 and 7, respectively, the 
representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 1 hereof 
and the covenants of the Company set forth in Section 4 hereof shall remain 
operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made 
by, or on behalf of, the Underwriters, the Company, any of its officers and 
directors or any controlling person referred to in Sections 6 and 7 and shall 
survive the delivery of and payment for the Shares.  The aforesaid indemnity 
and contribution agreements shall also survive any termination or 
cancellation of this Agreement.  Any successor of any party or of any such 
controlling person, or any legal representative of such controlling person, 
as the case may be, shall be entitled to the benefit of the respective 
indemnity and contribution agreements.

     11.  NOTICES.
          
     All notices or communications hereunder, except as herein otherwise 
specifically provided, shall be in writing and, if sent to the Representative 
or any of the Underwriters, shall be mailed, delivered, or telecopied and 
confirmed, to John G. Kinnard and Company, Incorporated, 920 Second Avenue 
South, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402, Attention: Jerry S. Johnson, with a copy 
to D. William Kaufman, Esq., Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP, Plaza VII, 45 
South Seventh Street, Suite 3400, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402; or, if sent 
to the Company, shall be mailed, delivered, or telegraphed, and confirmed, to 
SurModics, Inc., 9924 West 74th Street, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344, 
Attention: Dale R. Olseth, with a copy to David R. Busch, Esq., Fredrikson & 
Byron, P.A., 900 Second Avenue South, Suite 1100, Minneapolis, Minnesota 
55401.

     12.  INFORMATION FURNISHED BY THE UNDERWRITER.
          
     The statements relating to the stabilization activities of the 
Underwriters and the statements in paragraphs 3, 5 and 7 under the caption 
"Underwriting" in any Preliminary Prospectus and in the Prospectus constitute 
the information furnished by, or on behalf of, the Underwriters in writing 
specifically for use with reference to the Underwriters referred to in 
Section 1(b) and Section 6 hereof.

     13.  PARTIES.
          
     This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon each of
the Underwriters and the Company, their respective successors and assigns and
the officers, directors and controlling persons referred to in Sections 6 and
7.  Nothing expressed in this Agreement is 

                                      -29-

<PAGE>

intended or shall be construed to give any person or corporation, other than 
the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns and the 
controlling persons, officers and directors referred to in Sections 6 and 7 
any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under, or in respect of, this 
Agreement or any provision herein contained, this Agreement and all 
conditions and provisions hereof being intended to be and being for the sole 
and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their respective executors, 
administrators, successors, assigns and such controlling persons, officers 
and directors, and for the benefit of no other person or corporation.  No 
purchaser of any Shares from the Underwriters shall be construed to be a 
successor or assign merely by reason of such purchase.

     14.  GOVERNING LAW.
          
     This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the 
laws of the State of Minnesota, without regard to conflict of law provisions.

     If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our 
agreement, kindly sign and return to us the enclosed counterpart of this 
Agreement, whereupon it will become a binding agreement between the Company 
and each of the several Underwriters in accordance with its terms.

                                       Very truly yours,

                                       SURMODICS, INC.


                                       By
                                         -------------------------------------
                                         Its
                                            ----------------------------------

The foregoing Underwriting Agreement
is hereby confirmed and accepted by us
for itself and as Representative of the
several Underwriters referred to in the
foregoing Agreement as of the date
first above written.

JOHN G. KINNARD
AND COMPANY, INCORPORATED

By
  ---------------------------------

Its
   --------------------------------


                                      -30-

<PAGE>


                                  SCHEDULE A


NAME OF UNDERWRITER                                      NUMBER OF FIRM SHARES

John G. Kinnard and Company, Incorporated


                    Total                                       2,000,000



                                      -31-

<PAGE>

                                      SCHEDULE B

                               FORM OF LOCK UP AGREEMENT


John G. Kinnard & Company, Incorporated
  As Representative of the Several Underwriters
920 Second Avenue South
Suite 200
Minneapolis, MN 55402

     Re:  SurModics, Inc.

Ladies & Gentlemen:

The undersigned is an owner of certain shares of common Stock of the Company 
("Common Stock") or securities convertible into or exchangeable or 
exercisable for Common Stock.  The Company proposes to carry out a public 
offering of Common Stock (the "Offering") for which you will act as 
representative to the Underwriters (the "Representative").  In that regard, 
the Company intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the 
"SEC") a registration statement on Form S-1 (the "Registration Statement") 
for the offer and sale of shares of  Common Stock.  The undersigned 
recognizes that the Offering will benefit the undersigned and the Company by, 
among other things, raising additional capital for the Company's operations.  
The undersigned acknowledges that you will rely upon the representations and 
agreements of the undersigned contained in this letter in carrying out the 
Offering and entering into underwriting arrangements with the Company.

In consideration of the foregoing, for a period commencing on today's date 
and continuing to a date 180 days from the effective date of the Registration 
Statement, the undersigned hereby agrees that the undersigned will not, 
without the prior written consent of John G. Kinnard & Company, Incorporated 
(which consent may be withheld in its sole discretion), directly or 
indirectly, sell, assign, offer, pledge, transfer, encumber, grant any option 
for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock, options 
or warrants to acquire shares of Common Stock, or securities exchangeable or 
exercisable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock currently or 
hereafter owned by the undersigned, or publicly announce the undersigned's 
intention to do any of the foregoing.

During the time period described above, the undersigned also agrees and 
consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company's 
transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of shares of Common Stock 
or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common 
Stock held by the undersigned.  This Agreement is irrevocable and will be 
binding on the undersigned and the respective successors, heirs, personal 
representatives, and assigns of the undersigned.

If the SEC does not declare the Registration Statement effective by June 30, 
1998, this Lock Up Agreement shall be null and void.



DATED:                                    Shareholder or Optionee:
      ----------------------------

                                          X
                                           -----------------------------------
                                           (SIGNATURE of Shareholder, Optionee
                                           or authorized person)



                                           By:
                                              --------------------------------
                                           (If Shareholder or Optionee is not
                                           an individual, print name and title
                                           of signatory)




                                         -32-

<PAGE>

                                                                          012698

                 ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
                                         OF
                      SURMODICS, INC. (f/k/a BSI CORPORATION)


     Pursuant to the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, Section 302A.135, the 
following amendments of Section 3.1 of Article 3 and Section 4.5 of Article 4 
of the Articles of Incorporation of SurModics, Inc. (f/k/a BSI Corporation) 
were adopted on January 26, 1998, by the shareholders of the corporation:

     Section 3.1 of Article 3 is amended in its entirety to read as follows: 

          "3.1 AUTHORIZED SHARES.  The aggregate number of shares which the
          corporation shall have the authority to issue shall be 20,376,828,
          15.0 million of which shall be designated Voting Common Stock, $.05
          Par Value; 5.0 million of which shall be undesignated shares and
          376,828 of which shall be designated Series A Convertible Preferred
          Stock, $.05 Par Value (hereinafter referred to as the "Preferred
          Stock").  (The Voting Common Stock, any shares issued from the
          undesignated shares, and the Preferred Stock are hereinafter referred
          to collectively as the "Capital Stock".)  The Board of Directors of
          the corporation is authorized to establish from the undesignated
          shares, by resolution adopted and filed in the manner provided by
          law, one or more classes or series of shares, to designate each such
          class or series (which may include but is not limited to designation
          as additional common shares), and to fix the relative rights and
          preferences of each such class or series."

     Section 4.5 of Article 4 is amended to add the following to the end of 
such section:

               "(d) If and when all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock have
               been converted pursuant to this Section 4.5, such shares shall
               be deemed canceled and shall not be reissuable by the
               corporation, this Section 4.5 shall be null and void and any
               restatement of these Articles of Incorporation may exclude this
               Section 4.5 and the reference to Series A Convertible Preferred
               Stock contained in Section 3.1 of Article 3."

     The undersigned swears that the foregoing is true and accurate and that 
the undersigned has the authority to sign this document on behalf of the 
corporation.

Dated:  January 26, 1998.

                                   /s/ David R. Busch
                                   ---------------------------------------
                                   David R. Busch, Its Corporate Secretary


<PAGE>

               ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                                 BSI CORPORATION



     Pursuant to the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, Section 302A.135, the
following amendment of Section 1.1 of Article 1 of the Articles of Incorporation
of BSI Corporation was adopted on June 4, 1997, by the shareholders of the
corporation:


     Section 1.1 of Article 1 is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

               "1.1 The name of the corporation shall be SurModics, Inc."


     The undersigned swears that the foregoing is true and accurate and that the
undersigned has the authority to sign this document on behalf of the
corporation.


Dated:  June 4, 1997.



                              /s/  David R. Busch
                              --------------------------------------------------
                                     David R. Busch, Its Corporate Secretary
<PAGE>

               ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                BSI CORPORATION (f/k/a BIO-METRIC SYSTEMS, INC.)



     Pursuant to the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, Section 302A.135, the
following amendment of Section 3.1 of Article 3 of the Articles of Incorporation
of BSI Corporation (f/k/a Bio-Metric Systems, Inc.) was adopted on January 27,
1997, by the shareholders of the corporation:


     Section 3.1 of Article 3 is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

               "3.1   AUTHORIZED SHARES.  The aggregate number of shares which
          the corporation shall have the authority to issue shall be 20,450,000,
          15.0 million of which shall be designated Voting Common Stock, $.05
          Par Value; 5.0 million of which shall be undesignated shares and
          450,000 of which shall be designated Series A Convertible Preferred
          Stock, $.05 Par Value (hereinafter referred to as the "Preferred
          Stock").  (The Voting Common Stock, any shares issued from the
          undesignated shares, and the Preferred Stock are hereinafter referred
          to collectively as the "Capital Stock".)  The Board of Directors of
          the corporation is authorized to establish from the undesignated
          shares, by resolution adopted and filed in the manner provided by law,
          one or more classes or series of shares, to designate each such class
          or series (which may include but is not limited to designation as
          additional common shares), and to fix the relative rights and
          preferences of each such class or series."


     The undersigned swears that the foregoing is true and accurate and that the
undersigned has the authority to sign this document on behalf of the
corporation.


Dated:  January 29, 1997.



                              /s/  David R. Busch
                              ---------------------------------------------
                              David R. Busch, Its Corporate Secretary


                                        2
<PAGE>

               ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                            BIO-METRIC SYSTEMS, INC.



     Pursuant to the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, Section 302A.135, the
following amendments of Section 1.1 of Article 1 and Section 2.1 of Article 2 of
the Articles of Incorporation of Bio-Metric Systems, Inc. were adopted on
January 17, 1994, by the shareholders of the corporation:

                                "ARTICLE 1 - NAME

          1.1)  The name of the corporation shall be BSI Corporation.

                          ARTICLE 2 - REGISTERED OFFICE

          2.1)  The registered office of the corporation is located at 9924 West
74th Street, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344."


     The undersigned swears that the foregoing is true and accurate and that the
undersigned has the authority to sign this document on behalf of the
corporation.


Dated:  January 17, 1994.



                              /s/  David R. Busch
                              --------------------------------------------------
                              David R. Busch, Its Corporate Secretary


                                        3
<PAGE>


                       RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                            BIO-METRIC SYSTEMS, INC.

     We, the undersigned, DALE R. OLSETH and DAVID R. BUSCH, the
Chairman/President/Chief Executive officer and Secretary, respectively, of Bio-
Metric Systems, Inc., a Minnesota corporation, do hereby certify that at a
special meeting of the shareholders of Bio-Metric Systems, Inc. held on April
10, 1989, notice of such meeting having been mailed to each shareholder entitled
to vote thereon at least ten (10) days prior to such meeting, the shareholders,
by at least a majority of the voting power of the shares of Voting Common Stock,
present in person or by proxy, adopted resolutions to restate the Articles of
Incorporation of Bio-Metric Systems, Inc. as set forth below.

                                ARTICLE 1 - NAME

     1.1)  The name of the corporation shall be BIO-METRIC SYSTEMS, INC.

                          ARTICLE 2 - REGISTERED OFFICE

     2.1)  The registered office of the corporation is located at 9942 West 74th
Street, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344.

                            ARTICLE 3 - CAPITAL STOCK

     3.1)  AUTHORIZED SHARES; ESTABLISHMENT OF CLASSES AND SERIES.  The
aggregate number of shares which the corporation shall have the authority to
issue shall be 5,500,000 shares, 5,000,000 of which shall be designated Voting
Common Stock, $.05 par value; 50,000 of which shall be designated Nonvoting
Common Stock, $.05 par value; and 450,000 of which shall be designated Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock, $.05 par value, (hereinafter referred to as the
"Preferred Stock").  The Common Stock and Preferred Stock are hereinafter
referred to collectively as the "Capital Stock".

     3.2)  ISSUANCE OF SHARES.  The Board of Directors of the corporation is
authorized from time to time to accept subscriptions for, issue, sell and
deliver shares of Capital Stock of the corporation to such persons, at such
times and upon such terms and conditions as the Board shall determine, valuing
all nonmonetary consideration and establishing a price in money or other
consideration, or a minimum price, or a general formula or method by which the
price will be determined.

     3.3)  ISSUANCE OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE SHARES.  The Board of Directors is
further authorized from time to time to grant and issue rights to subscribe for,
purchase, exchange securities for, or convert securities into, shares of Capital
Stock, and to fix the terms, provisions and conditions of such rights, including
the exchange or conversion basis or the price at which such shares may be
purchased or subscribed for.


                                        4
<PAGE>


     3.4)  ISSUANCE OF SHARES TO HOLDERS OF ANOTHER CLASS OR SERIES.  The Board
is further authorized to issue shares of one class or series of Capital Stock to
holders of that class or series of Capital Stock or to holders of another class
or series of Capital Stock to effect share dividends or splits.

                      ARTICLE 4 - RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OF
                           SHARES AND OF SHAREHOLDERS

     The rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions granted to or imposed
upon the Capital Stock or the holders thereof are set forth below.

     4.1)  VOTING PRIVILEGES.  Each holder of Voting Common Stock shall have one
vote on all matters submitted to the shareholders for each share of Voting
Common Stock standing in the name of such holder on the books of the
corporation.  Each holder of Preferred Stock shall have one vote on all matters
submitted to the shareholders for each share of Voting Common Stock which such
holder of Preferred Stock would be entitled to receive upon the conversion of
his Preferred Stock as provided in subsection 4.5(c). In addition, each holder
of Preferred Stock shall have the special voting rights which are described in
subsection 4.5(b). Except as may be required by the Minnesota Business
Corporation Act, the holders of Nonvoting Common Stock shall have no voting
rights with respect to any matter submitted to a vote of the shareholders of the
corporation.

     4.2)  PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS.  No holder of shares of any class or series of
Capital Stock shall be entitled as such, as a matter of right, to subscribe for
or purchase additional shares of that class or series or any other class or
series of Capital Stock of the corporation now or hereafter authorized or
issued.

     4.3)  NO CUMULATIVE VOTING.  There shall be no cumulative voting by the
shareholders of the corporation.

     4.4)  DISTRIBUTIONS.  Except as provided in subsection 4.5(a) on the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, shares of Capital
Stock shall share ratably in any dividends or distributions of the corporation,
whether paid in cash, property or stock.

     4.5)  SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK.

           (a)   LIQUIDATION PREFERENCE.  In the event of the liquidation,
     dissolution or winding up of the corporation, whether voluntary or
     involuntary, the holders of the Preferred Stock shall be entitled to
     receive out of assets of the corporation, an amount equal to $13.50
     (hereinafter referred to as the "Liquidation Preference") for each
     outstanding share of Preferred Stock before any payment shall be made or
     any assets distributed to the holders of Voting Common Stock or Nonvoting
     Common Stock or any other class of stock of this corporation ranking junior
     to the Preferred Stock upon liquidation or dissolution of the corporation.
     If, upon any liquidation, dissolution, or


                                        5
<PAGE>


     winding up of the corporation, the assets of the corporation are
     insufficient to pay the Liquidation Preference for each outstanding share
     of Preferred Stock, the holders of Preferred Stock shall share pro rata in
     any such distribution in proportion to the full amounts to which they would
     otherwise be entitled.  If, upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up
     of the corporation, the holders of Preferred Stock would be entitled to
     receive in excess of the Liquidation Preference for each outstanding share
     of Preferred Stock in any such distribution if all such shares of Preferred
     Stock had been converted to shares of Voting Common Stock pursuant to
     subsection 4.5(c), instead of receiving the Liquidation Preference, each
     holder of Preferred Stock shall receive an amount equal to the distribution
     such holder would receive if all his outstanding shares of Preferred Stock
     had been converted to shares of Voting Common Stock pursuant to subsection
     4.5(c) on the day preceding the date of such liquidation, dissolution or
     winding up.  The Liquidation Preference shall be appropriately adjusted to
     reflect stock splits and reverse stock splits of the Preferred Stock or
     dividends or distributions payable in shares of Preferred Stock.

           Nothing hereinabove set forth shall affect in any way the right or
     obligation of each holder of shares of Preferred Stock to convert such
     shares into shares of Voting Common Stock, at any time and from time to
     time, in accordance with subsection 4.5(c) below.

           (b)   SPECIAL VOTING RIGHTS.  Without the affirmative vote of the
     holders (acting together as a class) of at least a majority of the
     Preferred Stock at the time outstanding given in person or by proxy at any
     annual meeting, or at such special meeting called for that purpose, or, if
     permitted by law, in writing without a meeting, the corporation shall not:

                 (1)   authorize or issue any shares of stock having priority
           over the Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends or the
           payment or distribution of assets upon the liquidation or
           dissolution, voluntary or involuntary, of the corporation; or

                 (2)   amend the Articles of Incorporation of the corporation so
           as to alter this Article 4 in any respect.

           (c)   CONVERSION RIGHTS; MANDATORY CONVERSION.

                 (1)   At the option of the holder thereof, each share of
           Preferred Stock shall be convertible, at the offices of the
           corporation (or at such other office or offices, if any, as the Board
           of Directors may designate), into one (1) share of Voting Common
           Stock of the corporation, subject to adjustment as provided in
           subsection 4.5(c)(2) below.  In order to convert shares of Preferred
           Stock into shares of Voting Common Stock, the holder thereof, shall
           surrender at the principal executive offices of the corporation the
           certificate or certificates therefor, duly endorsed to the
           corporation or in blank, and give written notice to the corporation
           at such office that such holder elects to convert a specified portion
           or all of such shares of Preferred Stock into shares of Voting Common
           Stock.  Shares


                                        6
<PAGE>


           of Preferred Stock shall be deemed to have been converted on the day
           of surrender of the certificate representing such shares for
           conversion in accordance with the foregoing provisions (the
           "Conversion Date"), and the person entitled to receive the shares of
           Voting Common Stock of the corporation issuable upon such conversion
           shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder of such shares
           of Voting Common Stock at that time.  As promptly as practicable on
           or after the Conversion Date, the corporation shall issue and mail or
           deliver or cause to be issued and mailed or delivered to such holder
           a certificate or certificates for the number of shares of Voting
           Common Stock issuable upon conversion and a certificate or
           certificates for the balance of the Preferred Stock surrendered, if
           any, not so converted into shares of Voting Common Stock.

                 (2)   The number of shares of Voting Common Stock issuable in
           exchange for shares of Preferred Stock upon the exercise of these
           conversion rights (the "Conversion Ratio"), which shall initially be
           one share of Voting Common Stock for one share of Preferred Stock,
           shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as hereinafter
           provided:

                       (i)    In case the corporation shall at any time
                 subdivide or split its outstanding Common Stock into a greater
                 number of shares, the Conversion Ratio in effect immediately
                 prior to such subdivision or split shall be proportionately
                 increased; and, conversely, in case the outstanding Common
                 Stock of the corporation shall be combined into a smaller
                 number of shares the Conversion Ratio in effect immediately
                 prior to such combination shall be proportionately reduced.

                       (ii)   If any capital reorganization or reclassification
                 of the Capital Stock of the corporation or consolidation or
                 merger of the corporation with another corporation or the sale
                 of all or substantially all of its assets to another
                 corporation shall be affected in such a way that holders of
                 Common Stock shall be entitled to receive stock, securities or
                 assets with respect to or in exchange for Common Stock, then,
                 as a condition of such reorganization, reclassification,
                 consolidation, merger or sale, lawful and adequate provision
                 shall be made whereby the holders of Preferred Stock shall
                 thereafter have the right to receive, in lieu of the Voting
                 Common Stock of the corporation immediately theretofore
                 receivable upon the conversion of any such Preferred Stock,
                 such shares of stock, securities or assets as may be issued or
                 payable with respect to or in exchange for a number of
                 outstanding shares of Voting Common Stock equal to the number
                 of shares of Voting Common Stock immediately theretofore
                 receivable upon the conversion of such Preferred Stock had such
                 reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger or sale
                 not taken place; and, in any such case, appropriate provision
                 shall be made with respect to the rights and interests of the
                 holders of the Preferred Stock to the end that the provisions
                 hereof (including without limitation provisions


                                        7
<PAGE>


                 for adjustments of the Conversion Ratio and of the number of
                 shares receivable upon the conversion of such Preferred Stock)
                 shall thereafter be applicable as nearly as may be, in relation
                 to any shares of stock, securities or assets hereafter
                 receivable upon the conversion of such Preferred Stock.  The
                 corporation shall not effect any such consolidation, merger or
                 sale, unless prior to the consummation thereof the surviving
                 corporation (if other than the corporation), the corporation
                 resulting from such consolidation or the corporation purchasing
                 such assets shall ASSUME by written instrument executed and ma
                 i led to the registered holders of the Preferred Stock at the
                 last address of such holders appearing on the books of the
                 corporation, the obligation to deliver to such holders such
                 shares of stock, securities or assets as, in accordance with
                 the foregoing provisions, such holders may be entitled to
                 receive.

                       (iii)  If and whenever the corporation shall issue or
                 sell any Common Stock for a consideration per share less than
                 the Liquidation Preference (except for the issuance or sale of
                 up to 50,000 shares of Nonvoting Common Stock pursuant to the
                 corporation's 1984 Stock Option Plan, up to 200,000 shares of
                 Voting Common Stock pursuant to the corporation's 1987 Stock
                 Option Plan and up to 50,000 shares of Voting Common Stock to
                 Simplot Development Corporation (hereinafter referred to as the
                 "Excluded Stock Issuances")) or shall issue any options,
                 warrants or other rights for the purchase of shares of Common
                 Stock at a consideration per share of less than the Liquidation
                 Preference, forthwith upon such issuance or sale of such
                 shares, options, warrants or other rights for purchase, the
                 Conversion Ratio in effect immediately prior to such issuance
                 or sale for the Preferred Stock shall be adjusted so that each
                 share of Preferred Stock shall thereafter be convertible into
                 that number of shares of Voting Common Stock as is equal to the
                 number determined by multiplying the Conversion Ratio by a
                 fraction, the numerator of which shall be the amount determined
                 by multiplying (aa) the number of shares of Common Stock
                 outstanding immediately after such issuance or sale plus the
                 number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of
                 any purchase rights thus issued, by (bb) the Liquidation
                 Preference, and the denominator of which shall be an amount
                 equal to the sum of (aa) the number of shares of Common Stock
                 outstanding immediately prior to such issuance or sale
                 multiplied by the Liquidation Preference, and (bb) the total
                 consideration payable to the corporation upon such issuance or
                 sale of such shares and such purchase rights and upon the
                 exercise of such purchase rights.  If any options or purchase
                 rights taken into account in any such adjustment of the
                 Conversion Ratio subsequently expire without exercise, the
                 Conversion Ratio shall be recomputed by deleting such options
                 or purchase rights.  For purposes of this subsection 4.5(c)(2),
                 the number of shares of Voting Common Stock or Nonvoting Common
                 Stock which may be issued as Excluded Stock Issuances shall be
                 appropriately adjusted to


                                        8
<PAGE>


                 reflect stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations,
                 consolidations and similar changes.

                       (iv)   The anti-dilution provisions of this subsection
                 4.5(c)(2) may be waived by the affirmative vote of the holders
                 (acting together as a class) of at least a majority of the then
                 outstanding shares of Preferred Stock,

                 (3)   Upon receipt of a written notice to the corporation from
           a holder of shares of Preferred Stock delivered to the corporation's
           principal executive offices requesting a computation of the then
           current Conversion Ratio, the corporation shall promptly give written
           notice by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the holder
           of the Preferred Stock making such request at the address of such
           holder as shown on the books of the corporation which notice shall
           state the then current Conversion Ratio, setting forth in reasonable
           detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such
           calculation is based.

                 (4)   In case any time:

                       (i)    the corporation shall pay any dividend payable in
                 stock upon its Common Stock or make any distribution (other
                 than regular cash dividends) to the holders of its Common
                 Stock; or

                       (ii)   the corporation shall offer for subscription pro
                 rata to the holders of its Common Stock any additional shares
                 of stock of any class or other rights; or

                       (iii)  there shall be any capital reorganization,
                 reclassification of the Capital Stock of the corporation or
                 consolidation or merger of the corporation with or sale of all
                 or substantially all of its assets to another corporation; or

                       (iv)   there shall be a voluntary or involuntary
                 dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the corporation;

           then in any one or more of said cases the corporation shall give
           written notice, by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to
           the holders of the Preferred Stock at the addresses of such holders
           as shown on the books of this corporation, of the date on which (aa)
           the books of the corporation shall close or a record shall be taken
           for such dividend, distribution or subscription rights or (bb) such
           reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale,
           dissolution, liquidation or winding up shall take place, as the case
           may be.  Such notice shall also specify the date as of which the 
           holders of Common Stock of record shall participate in such dividend,
           distribution or subscription rights or shall be entitled to exchange 
           their Common Stock for securities or other property deliverable upon 
           such reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale,
           dissolution, liquidation


                                        9
<PAGE>


           or winding up, as the case may be.  Such written notice shall be 
           given at least 20 days prior to the action in question and not less 
           than 20 days prior to the record date or the date on which this 
           corporation's transfer books are closed in respect thereto.

                 (5)   As used in this subsection 4.5(c), the term Common Stock
           shall mean and include the corporation's presently authorized Voting
           Common Stock and Nonvoting Common Stock and shall also include any
           capital stock of any class of the corporation hereafter authorized
           which shall have the right to vote on all matters submitted to the
           shareholders of the corporation and shall not be limited to a fixed
           sum or percentage in respect of the rights of the holders thereof to
           participate in dividends or in the distribution of assets upon the
           voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
           the corporation; provided that the shares receivable pursuant to
           conversion of the Preferred Stock shall include shares designated as
           Voting Common Stock of the corporation as of the date of issuance of
           such Preferred Stock or, in the case of any reclassification of the
           outstanding shares thereof, the stock, securities or assets provided
           for in subsection 4.5(c)(2)(ii) above.

                 (6)   The number of shares of Voting Common Stock issuable upon
           conversion of shares of Preferred Stock shall be computed to the
           nearest one hundredth of a full share; however, no fractional shares
           of Voting Common Stock shall be issued upon conversion.  The
           corporation shall pay a cash adjustment in respect of any fraction of
           a share in an amount-equal to the same fraction of the market price
           per share of Voting Common Stock as of the close of business on the
           day of conversion.  "Market price" shall mean the average of the high
           and low prices of the Voting Common Stock sales on all exchanges on
           which the Voting Common Stock may at the time be listed or as
           reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
           Automated Quotation System National Market System ("NASDAQ-NMS"), or,
           if there shall have been no sales on any such exchange or as reported
           by NASDAQ-NMS on any such day, the average of the bid and asked
           prices at the end of such day, or, if the Voting Common Stock shall
           not be so listed or transactions so reported, the average of the bid
           and asked prices at the end of the day in the over-the-counter
           market, in each case averaged over a period of 20 consecutive
           business days prior to the date as of which I, market price" is being
           determined.  If at any time the Voting Common Stock is not listed on
           any exchange, reported by NASDAQ-NMS or quote in the over-the-counter
           market, the "market price" shall be deemed to be the higher of (a)
           the book value thereof as determined by any firm of independent
           public accountants of recognized standing selected by the Board of
           Directors of the Corporation as of the last day of any month ending
           within 60 days preceding the date as of which the determination is to
           be made, or (b) the fair value thereof determined in good faith by
           the Board of Directors of the Corporation as of a date which is
           within 15 days of the date as of which the determination is to be
           made.


                                       10
<PAGE>


                 (7)   Notwithstanding the foregoing right to convert at the
           option of the holder, each share of Preferred Stock shall
           automatically be converted into the appropriate number of shares of
           Voting Common Stock of the corporation in the manner and upon the
           terms set forth herein, without any act by the corporation or the
           holders of Preferred Stock, concurrently with the closing of:

                       (i)    the sale by the corporation of shares of Voting
                 Common Stock in a public offering which was registered under
                 the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, was underwritten by an
                 investment banking firm on a firm commitment basis and results
                 in the Voting Common Stock being of the corporation being
                 quoted on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
                 Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ") or listed on the New York
                 Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange or other national stock
                 exchange; or

                       (ii)   a merger of the corporation with or the
                 acquisition of the corporation by another entity in which the
                 surviving entity is a corporation with a class of securities
                 which are quoted on NASDAQ or listed on the New York Stock
                 Exchange, the American Stock Exchange or other national stock
                 exchange.

                          ARTICLE 5 - MERGER, EXCHANGE,
                         SALE OF ASSETS AND DISSOLUTION

     5.1)  Where approval of shareholders is required by law, the affirmative
vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all shares
entitled to vote shall be required to authorize the corporation (i) to merge
into or with one or more other corporations, (ii) to exchange its shares for
shares of one or more other corporations, (iii) to sell, lease, transfer or
otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its property and assets,
including its goodwill, or (iv) to commence voluntary dissolution.

               ARTICLE 6 - AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

     6.1)  Subject to the special voting rights of the holders of Preferred
Stock set forth in subsection 4.5(b), any provision contained in these Articles
of Incorporation may be amended, altered, changed or repealed by the affirmative
vote of the holders of at least majority of the voting power of the shares
present and entitled to vote at a duly held meeting or such greater percentage
as may be otherwise prescribed by the laws of the State of Minnesota.


                                       11
<PAGE>


                            ARTICLE 7 - INCORPORATORS

     7.1)  The name and mailing address of the original incorporator was as
follows:
                              Stephen A. A. Goddard
                           1645 Hennepin Avenue South
                                    Suite 212
                          Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403

                         ARTICLE 8 - DIRECTOR LIABILITY

     8.1)  LIMITATION ON DIRECTOR LIABILITY.  To the fullest extent permitted by
the Minnesota Business Corporation Act, as the same exists or may hereafter be
amended, a director of this corporation shall not be personally liable to the
corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary
duty as a director.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands this 10th day of
April, 1989.



                                   /s/  Dale R. Olseth
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   Dale R. Olseth, Chairman, President,
                                   and Chief Executive Officer


                                   /s/ David R. Busch
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   David R. Busch, Secretary





STATE OF MINNESOTA  )
                    )ss.
COUNTY OF HENNEPIN  )

          The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 10th day of
April, 1989, by Dale R. Olseth and David R. Busch, Chairman/President/Chief
Executive Officer and Secretary, respectively, of Bio-Metric Systems, Inc., a
Minnesota corporation, on behalf of the corporation.


                                   /s/  Walter H. Diers
                                   -----------------------------------
                                   Notary Public


                                       12

<PAGE>
 COMMON SHARES                                                     COMMON SHARES
 
                                     [LOGO]
 
                                SURMODICS, INC.

                                                             CUSIP 868873 10 0



             INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA
                                                                              
                                           SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS





THIS CERTIFIES THAT
 
IS THE OWNER OF
 
    FULLY PAID AND NONASSESSABLE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK, $0.05 PAR VALUE, OF
 
                                  SURMODICS, INC.

    TRANSFERABLE ON THE BOOKS OF THE CORPORATION BY THE HOLDER HEREOF IN
    PERSON OR BY ATTORNEY UPON SURRENDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE PROPERLY
    ENDORSED. THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT VALID UNLESS COUNTERSIGNED BY THE
    TRANSFER AGENT-REGISTRAR.
 
        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, THE SAID CORPORATION HAS CAUSED THIS CERTIFICATE
    TO BE SIGNED BY ITS DULY AUTHORIZED OFFICERS.
 
    DATED:
 
                               SECRETARY                         PRESIDENT

COUNTERSIGNED AND REGISTERED:
FIRSTAR TRUST COMPANY
(MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN)   TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR

BY:

                                AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE

<PAGE>
       The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face
   of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in
   full according to applicable laws or regulations:
 
<TABLE>
<S>          <C>                               <C>                       <C>
TEN COM      -- as tenants in common           UNIF GIFT MIN ACT--       ...........  Custodian  ...........
TEN ENT      -- as tenants by the entireties                                (Cust)               (Minor)
JT TEN       -- as joint tenants with right                                 under Uniform Gifts to Minors
                of survivorship and not as                               Act  ..............................
                tenants in common                                                      (State)
             
               
</TABLE>
 
         Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.
               
                FOR VALUE RECEIVED____ HEREBY SELL, ASSIGN AND TRANSFER UNTO
 
     PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
         IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
    ------------------------------------------

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


- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS OF ASSIGNEE



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



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


                                         Shares of the capital stock represented
- ----------------------------------------



by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint



                                                                       Attorney
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------



to transfer the said stock on the books of the within-named Corporation with 


full power of substitution in the premises.



Dated 
                                 ----------------------------------------------



                                 ----------------------------------------------
                                 NOTICE: THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST
                                 CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE
                                 FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR
                                 WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE
                                 WHATEVER.
 
SIGNATURE GUARANTEED BY:


<PAGE>

                                                                     Exhibit 11



                                   SURMODICS, INC.

                     Computation of Pro Forma Per Share Earnings


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                              Years Ended September 30,            Three Months Ended December 31,
                                                     --------------------------------------------  -------------------------------
                                                         1995            1996            1997            1996           1997
                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------    ------------   ------------
<S>                                                  <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>            <C>
NET INCOME (LOSS)                                    $  (322,179)    $  (193,727)    $   235,673     $    26,235    $   151,024
                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------    ------------   ------------
                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------    ------------   ------------
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING:
 Common shares outstanding                             3,206,126       3,268,286       3,334,853       3,311,480      3,396,955
 Conversion of Series A Convertible 
  Preferred Stock into common stock                    1,507,312       1,507,312       1,507,312       1,507,312      1,507,312
 Common stock equivalents calculated 
  pursuant to Securities and Exchange 
  Commission Staff Bulletin No. 83(1)                     75,525          75,525          63,229          75,525         63,229
                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------    ------------   ------------
BASIC WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES 
 OUTSTANDING (PRO FORMA)                               4,788,963       4,851,123       4,905,394       4,894,317      4,967,496

Common stock equivalents                                      --              --         487,637         504,242        464,618
                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------    ------------   ------------
DILUTED WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING
  (PRO FORMA)                                          4,788,963       4,851,123       5,393,031       5,398,559      5,432,114
                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------    ------------   ------------
                                                     ------------    ------------    ------------    ------------   ------------

NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE (PRO FORMA)
 Basic                                               $      (.07)    $      (.04)    $       .05     $       .01    $       .03
 Diluted                                             $      (.07)    $      (.04)    $       .04     $       .00    $       .03

</TABLE>



(1) Reflects the issuance of restricted voting common stock and stock options
    issued to purchase voting common stock within the 12-month period prior to
    the Company's proposed initial public offering at a price less than the
    proposed public offering price using the treasury stock method. 



<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 23.2


                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS



As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the use of our report
and to all references to our firm included in or made a part of this
registration statement.


                                        ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP


Minneapolis, Minnesota,
  February 4, 1998




<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                             566
<SECURITIES>                                     1,685
<RECEIVABLES>                                      728
<ALLOWANCES>                                      (15)
<INVENTORY>                                        259
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 3,390
<PP&E>                                           4,213
<DEPRECIATION>                                   2,960
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   6,341
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              841
<BONDS>                                              0
                                0
                                         19
<COMMON>                                           170
<OTHER-SE>                                       5,079
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     6,341
<SALES>                                            497
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 1,909
<CGS>                                              250
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    1,808
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    10
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    151
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                151
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       151
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .03
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .03
        

</TABLE>


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission