PERCLOSE INC, POS AM, 1997-11-25

PERCLOSE INC
POS AM, 1997-11-25
SURGICAL & MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS & APPARATUS

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AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON NOVEMBER 25, 1997

REGISTRATION NO. 333-39621
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
--------------------------

POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 2
TO
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

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

PERCLOSE, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

<TABLE>
<S> <C>
DELAWARE 94-3154669
(State of incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer
Identification
Number)
</TABLE>

199 JEFFERSON DRIVE
MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA 94025
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
Registrant's principal executive offices)

HENRY A. PLAIN, JR.
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
PERCLOSE, INC.
199 JEFFERSON DRIVE
MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA 94025
(650) 473-3100
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
of agent for service)
--------------------------

COPIES TO:

J. CASEY MCGLYNN, ESQ. MICHAEL W. HALL, ESQ.
CHRISTOPHER D. MITCHELL, ESQ. ROBERT V. W. ZIPP, ESQ.
ROGER E. GEORGE, ESQ. TAMARA L. THOMPSON, ESQ.
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Venture Law Group
Professional Corporation A Professional Corporation
650 Page Mill Road 2800 Sand Hill Road
Palo Alto, California 94304 Menlo Park, California 94025
(650) 493-9300 (650) 854-4488

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APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement
and the Underwriting Agreement is executed.
--------------------------

If only the securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. / /

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. / /

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please 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 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
AGGREGATE PROPOSED MAXIMUM
TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF NUMBER OF SHARES OFFERING PRICE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF
SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED TO BE REGISTERED PER SHARE OFFERING PRICE(1) REGISTRATION FEE
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock, $.001 par value...... 1,150,000 $23.50 $27,025,000 $8,189(2)
</TABLE>

(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the amount of the registration
fee. The estimate is made pursuant to Rule 457(c) of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended.

(2) Entire amount previously paid.
------------------------

THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE 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 SUCH SECTION 8(a),
MAY DETERMINE.

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<PAGE>
EXPLANATORY NOTE

This post-effective amendment is being filed for the purpose of
incorporating the attached Prospectus Supplement dated November 24, 1997 into
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus constituting a part thereof.
<PAGE>
PERCLOSE, INC.
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT DATED NOVEMBER 24, 1997 TO
PROSPECTUS DATED NOVEMBER 20, 1997

On November 24, 1997, Perclose, Inc. ("Perclose" or "the Company") announced
that it has commenced a voluntary manufacturer's recall of specific lots of
Techstar XL 6 french percutaneous vascular surgery ("PVS") products. These
products include approximately 1,000 units that have been shipped
internationally since September 1997 as well as approximately 1,000 units that
were shipped domestically following receipt of FDA PMA supplement approval for
the Techstar XL 6 french and Techstar 6 french PVS products in November 1997.

The Company has traced the problem resulting in the recall to a defective
mold which resulted in one part of the product being out of specification in
particular production runs. The problem is not attributable to a design defect.
The Company is not aware of any increase in adverse patient consequences as a
result of these product performance issues. In addition, the Company believes,
based on reports received from the field to date, that overall product
performance and the rate of product malfunction have been consistent with
performance observed in clinical trials and that suggested by the labeling of
the product. The Company will voluntarily notify the FDA regional office of the
recall, but will be able to resume production of Techstar XL 6 products
following replacement of the defective mold on the production line, which has
already occurred.

The Company plans to replace the recalled Techstar XL 6 units with Techstar
6 units currently in inventory. The Company believes it has a sufficient
inventory of Techstar 6 units in inventory to meet customer requirements until
Techstar XL 6 shipments resume in early December 1997. The Company intends to
replace the parts out of specification on the recalled units and on the
approximately 3,500 Techstar XL 6 units in inventory and to resterilize and ship
those units.

The Company anticipates that the costs of the recall, replacement and rework
of the Techstar XL 6 products will have only a limited effect on its results of
operations in the current quarter. As previously reported, the Techstar 6 and
Techstar XL 6 received FDA approval for marketing at the same time and the
Company had intended to scrap the Techstar 6 units currently held in inventory
in favor of the more advanced Techstar XL 6 units. The Techstar XL 6 design
enables the operator to achieve proper placement of the device, known as
"marking," in an average of approximately 30 seconds, versus an average of
approximately 80 seconds for the Techstar 6. In all other material respects, the
devices function identically.

There can be no assurance that customers will not react adversely to the
recall and reduce or discontinue their use of the Company's PVS products. Any
such adverse reaction could adversely affect the Company's ability to achieve
its anticipated results of operations for current or future periods. In
addition, any such adverse reaction could be protracted and could adversely
affect long-term market acceptance of the Techstar XL product line and the
Company's other PVS products, which would have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. See "Risk
Factors-- Dependence Upon Prostar and Techstar Products," "--Uncertainty of
Market Acceptance," "--Government Regulation," "--Limited Manufacturing
Experience and Scale-up Risk," "--Product Liability and Recall Risk; Limited
Insurance Coverage," "Business--Products and Technology," "--Manufacturing," and
"--Government Regulation."
<PAGE>
1,000,000 SHARES

[LOGO]

COMMON STOCK
---------

All of the shares of common stock, $.001 par value per share (the "Common
Stock") offered hereby are being sold by Perclose, Inc. ("Perclose" or the
"Company"). The Company's Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market's
National Market (the "Nasdaq National Market") under the symbol "PERC." On
November 19, 1997, the last reported sale price for the Company's Common Stock
was $21.75 per share. See "Price Range of Common Stock and Dividend Policy."

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THE COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY INVOLVED A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK.
SEE "RISK FACTORS" APPEARING ON PAGES 6 TO 13.

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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
DISCOUNTS AND PROCEEDS TO
PRICE TO PUBLIC COMMISSIONS COMPANY(1)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Per Share.................. $21.00 $1.26 $19.74
Total(2)................... $21,000,000 $1,260,000 $19,740,000
</TABLE>

(1) Before deducting expenses of the offering estimated at $350,000 payable by
the Company.

(2) The Company has granted the Underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to
150,000 additional shares of Common Stock solely to cover over-allotments,
if any. To the extent that the option is exercised, the Underwriters will
offer the additional shares at the Price to Public shown above. If the
option is exercised in full, the total Price to Public, Underwriting
Discounts and Commissions and Proceeds to Company will be $24,150,000,
$1,449,000, and $22,701,000, respectively. See "Underwriting."

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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 subject to
the right of the Underwriters to reject any order in whole or in part. It is
expected that delivery of the shares of Common Stock will be made at the offices
of BT Alex. Brown Incorporated, Baltimore, Maryland on or about November 25,
1997.

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BT ALEX. BROWN PIPER JAFFRAY INC.

THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOVEMBER 20, 1997
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CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THIS OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS
THAT STABILIZE, MAINTAIN, OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK.
SUCH TRANSACTIONS MAY INCLUDE THE PURCHASE OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK FOLLOWING
THE OFFERING TO COVER A SYNDICATE SHORT POSITION IN THE COMMON STOCK OR MAINTAIN
THE PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK, AND THE IMPOSITION OF PENALTY BIDS. FOR A
DESCRIPTION OF THESE ACTIVITIES, SEE "UNDERWRITING."

IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, CERTAIN UNDERWRITERS AND OTHER SELLING
GROUP MEMBERS OR THEIR AFFILIATES MAY ENGAGE IN PASSIVE MARKET MAKING
TRANSACTIONS IN THE COMMON STOCK ON THE NASDAQ NATIONAL MARKET IN ACCORDANCE
WITH RULE 103 OF REGULATION M. SEE "UNDERWRITING."

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The following documents which have been filed with the Commission pursuant
to the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") are
hereby incorporated by reference:

(1) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March
31, 1997.

(2) The description of the Company's capital stock, including Preferred
Share Purchase Rights, which is contained in the Registration Statement
on Form 8-A filed pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act on January
28, 1997.

(3) The Company's Proxy Statement for its 1997 annual meeting of
stockholders filed pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act on June 12,
1997.

(4) The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended
June 30, 1997 filed pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act on August
14, 1997.

(5) The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed pursuant to Section 13 of
the Exchange Act on November 20, 1997.

All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Registration Statement of which
this Prospectus forms a part and prior to the termination of the offering of the
Securities offered hereby shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into
this Prospectus and be a part hereof from the date of filing such documents.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of the Registration Statement or this Prospectus to the extent that
a statement contained herein, in a Prospectus Supplement or in any other
document subsequently filed with the Commission which also is or is deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such
statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified
or superseded, to constitute a part of the Registration Statement or this
Prospectus.

The Company will furnish without charge to each person, including any
beneficial owner, to whom this Prospectus is delivered, on the written or oral
request of such person made to the Company's offices, a copy of any or all of
the documents incorporated by reference, other than exhibits to such documents
(unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into such
documents).

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY THE MORE DETAILED
INFORMATION AND THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND NOTES THERETO INCORPORATED BY
REFERENCE HEREIN. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE INDICATED, ALL INFORMATION IN THIS
PROSPECTUS ASSUMES NO EXERCISE OF THE UNDERWRITERS' OVER-ALLOTMENT OPTION. SEE
"UNDERWRITING."

THE COMPANY

Perclose designs, develops, manufactures and markets minimally invasive
medical devices that automate the delivery of needles and sutures for the
surgical closure of arterial access sites in coronary catheterization
procedures. The Company is also developing devices for the connection of blood
vessels in conventional and minimally invasive coronary artery bypass graft
("CABG") procedures. The Company's first products, the Prostar and Techstar
products, are a family of devices that surgically close arterial access sites
after catheterization procedures such as angioplasty, stenting, atherectomy and
angiography, termed percutaneous vascular surgery ("PVS"). The Prostar and
Techstar PVS products are designed to provide routine, definitive closure that
replicates results previously obtainable only through open surgery, without the
associated risks and costs. Randomized clinical trials of the Prostar and
Techstar products have demonstrated significant clinical and economic advantages
over conventional compression methods of arterial access site closure. These
advantages include achieving rapid hemostasis (the cessation of bleeding),
reducing nursing time required to monitor patients, allowing earlier patient
ambulation and discharge, enabling more efficient use of the catheterization
laboratory, reducing overall treatment costs and improving patient comfort. In
addition, for certain high risk patients, such as those who have experienced a
heart attack, the Company's products allow continuation of aggressive
anticoagulation, thrombolytic or anti-restenosis drug therapy without increasing
the risk of bleeding complications at the arterial access site.

The Company commenced international shipments of its first Prostar and
Techstar products in December 1994 and July 1995, respectively. In April 1997,
the Company received FDA Premarket Approval ("PMA") for commercial sale in the
United States of the initial Prostar products. In November 1997, the Company
received PMA supplement approval for commercial sale in the United States of its
initial Techstar and Techstar XL products. In June 1997, the Company submitted
to the FDA a PMA supplement seeking approval for commercial sale in the United
States of certain Prostar Plus and Prostar XL products.

Industry estimates in 1997 indicate that therapeutic and diagnostic coronary
catheterizations represent approximately 3.5 million procedures annually
worldwide, including approximately 2.1 million in the United States. Of the 3.5
million total procedures, approximately 675,000 are therapeutic procedures, of
which approximately 425,000 occur in the United States. Of the remaining
approximately 2.9 million diagnostic procedures, approximately 1.7 million occur
in the United States.

The Company is also developing the Heartflo anastomosis system to allow
cardiac surgeons to automate the rapid placement of sutures in blood vessels
during CABG surgery. The success of a CABG procedure is largely determined by
the quality of the anastomosis (attachment), which dictates the long-term
patency, or blood flow, through the vein graft to the coronary arteries. While
cardiac surgeons have developed effective surgical techniques to perform
hand-sewn anastomoses of coronary blood vessels in conventional CABG surgeries,
the recent emergence of minimally invasive CABG procedures introduces additional
challenges for performing hand-sewn anastomoses during such procedures. Since
the opening to the chest cavity created by ports or mini-thoracotomies used in
minimally invasive CABG procedures is small, accessing and suturing the bypass
graft to the coronary artery is more difficult, may take longer to perform and
may not achieve the same therapeutic results as in conventional open chest CABG
surgery. The Heartflo system is being designed to replicate an ideal suture
pattern in a rapid and automated fashion while still allowing the surgeon
ultimate control over the tensioning and tying of the sutures to complete
attachment of the bypass graft. The Heartflo system is being designed for use
with conventional, open chest CABG procedures and the newer, minimally invasive,
beating heart and

3
<PAGE>
stopped heart procedures. The Heartflo system is currently undergoing
preclinical testing. Industry estimates in 1997 indicate that there are
approximately 540,000 CABG procedures performed annually worldwide, with 320,000
of those occurring in the United States.

The Company's objectives are to become the leader in the design, development
and commercialization of suture-based closure devices, to establish percutaneous
vascular surgery using the Company's products as the standard of care for
post-catheterization arterial access site management and to commercialize new
devices based on the Company's core technology that improve clinical outcomes
and reduce costs. Key elements of the Company's strategy include demonstrating
the clinical and cost advantages of its products over conventional closure
methods, extending the Company's technology platform and expanding the markets
for its existing products. The Company also plans to develop additional versions
of its products for new and emerging catheterization procedures, including
procedures involving large diameter catheter devices where arterial access site
closure can be particularly difficult.

4
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THE OFFERING

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<S> <C>
Common Stock offered hereby....... 1,000,000 shares

Common Stock to be outstanding
after the offering.............. 10,627,497 shares(1)

Use of proceeds................... For funding of product development, capital
expenditures, working capital, leasehold improvements
and general corporate purposes

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

SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIX MONTHS ENDED
YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, SEPTEMBER 30,
-------------------------------- --------------------
1995 1996 1997 1996 1997
--------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Net revenues.......................................... $ 178 $ 2,457 $ 4,456 $ 2,535 $ 2,380
Costs and expenses:
Cost of goods sold, including manufacturing start-up
costs............................................. 2,149 4,772 4,703 2,223 3,249
Research and development............................ 3,066 3,059 4,745 2,395 2,525
Marketing, general and administrative............... 2,155 3,486 6,301 2,496 5,581
--------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------
Loss from operations.................................. (7,192) (8,860) (11,293) (4,579) (8,975)
Interest and other income, net........................ 199 776 1,636 890 613
--------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------
Net loss............................................ $ (6,993) $ (8,084) $ (9,657) $ (3,689) $ (8,362)
--------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- ---------- --------- ---------
Net loss per share.................................... $ (1.34) $ (1.01) $ (0.39) $ (0.87)
Shares used in computing net loss per share........... 6,025 9,517 9,498 9,598
Pro forma net loss per share.......................... $ (1.04)
Shares used in computing pro forma net loss
per share........................................... 6,717
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
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ACTUAL AS ADJUSTED(2)
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(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments.................................. $ 17,983 $ 37,373
Total assets....................................................................... 24,643 44,033
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations, less current portion................. -- --
Accumulated deficit................................................................ (36,328) (36,328)
Total stockholders' equity......................................................... 21,746 41,136
</TABLE>

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(1) Excludes 1,390,773 shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding options
granted pursuant to the Company's stock option plans as of September 30,
1997 at a weighted average exercise price of $15.44 per share.

(2) Adjusted to give effect to the estimated net proceeds of this offering based
upon the public offering price of $21.00 per share, and after deducting
underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. See
"Use of Proceeds."

5
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RISK FACTORS

IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS, THE FOLLOWING
FACTORS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED CAREFULLY IN EVALUATING AN INVESTMENT IN THE SHARES
OF COMMON STOCK OFFERED BY THIS PROSPECTUS. STATEMENTS INCLUDED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS THAT ARE NOT HISTORICAL OR CURRENT FACTS ARE "FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS" MADE PURSUANT TO THE SAFE HARBOR PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE
SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995 AND ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RISKS AND
UNCERTAINTIES THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY. WHEN USED IN
THIS PROSPECTUS, THE WORDS "EXPECTS," "ANTICIPATES," "ESTIMATES," AND SIMILAR
EXPRESSIONS ARE INTENDED TO IDENTIFY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. SUCH STATEMENTS
ARE SUBJECT TO RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER
MATERIALLY FROM THOSE PROJECTED. THESE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES INCLUDE, BUT ARE
NOT LIMITED TO, THOSE RISKS DISCUSSED BELOW AND, IN PARTICULAR, THE STATEMENTS
RELATING TO THE COMPANY'S DEPENDENCE ON THE PROSTAR AND TECHSTAR PRODUCTS,
UNCERTAINTY OF MARKET ACCEPTANCE, HISTORY OF LOSSES AND EXPECTATION OF FUTURE
LOSSES, FLUCTUATIONS IN OPERATING RESULTS, GOVERNMENT REGULATION, COMPETITION,
LIMITED MANUFACTURING EXPERIENCE, UNCERTAINTY RELATING TO NEW PRODUCT
DEVELOPMENT, LIMITED SALES AND MARKETING EXPERIENCE, RELIANCE ON PATENTS AND
PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGY AND UNCERTAINTY RELATING TO THIRD-PARTY REIMBURSEMENT.

DEPENDENCE UPON PROSTAR AND TECHSTAR PRODUCTS. The Prostar and Techstar
products for percutaneous closure of arterial access sites following
catheterization procedures are currently the Company's only product families.
The Prostar 9F and 11F products and Techstar 6F and Techstar XL 6F products have
received FDA PMA approval for commerical sale in the United States. The Prostar
and Techstar products have also been approved for sale in certain international
markets by the appropriate regulatory authorities. The Company has submitted PMA
supplements to the FDA for the Prostar Plus 8F and 10F and Prostar XL 8F
products; however, such products have not yet been approved as safe and
effective under applicable FDA regulatory guidelines. There can be no assurance
that these products will prove to be safe and effective under applicable
regulatory guidelines. In addition, clinical trial data may identify significant
technical or other obstacles to be overcome prior to obtaining necessary U.S.
regulatory approvals for the Prostar Plus and Prostar XL products or U.S. and
international reimbursement approvals. If the Company is unable to commercialize
the Prostar and Techstar products successfully in the United States, the
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations will be
materially and adversely affected. In addition, there can be no assurance as to
when or whether the Company will receive FDA clearance or approval for sale of
other PVS products or any other products in the United States. There can be no
assurance that the Company's development efforts will be successful or that any
further PVS products or any other product developed by the Company will be safe
or effective, capable of being manufactured in commercial quantities at
acceptable costs, approved by appropriate regulatory and reimbursement
authorities or successfully marketed. Furthermore, because the Prostar and
Techstar products represent the Company's sole near-term product focus, the
Company could be materially and adversely affected if these products are not
successfully commercialized and if future generation products are not
successfully developed, do not receive regulatory approvals and are not
successfully commercialized. See "Business -- Products and Technology."

UNCERTAINTY OF MARKET ACCEPTANCE. The Company's Prostar and Techstar
products represent a new method of closing arterial access sites and there can
be no assurance that these products will gain any significant degree of market
acceptance among physicians, patients and health care payors, even if necessary
international and U.S. regulatory and reimbursement approvals are obtained. The
Company believes that recommendations and endorsements by physicians will be
essential for market acceptance of the Prostar and Techstar products, and there
can be no assurance that any such recommendations or endorsements will be
obtained. Physicians will not use the Prostar and Techstar products unless they
determine, based on clinical data and other factors, that these products are an
attractive alternative to other means of closing arterial access sites and that
the clinical benefits to the patient and cost savings achieved through use of
these products outweigh the cost of the products. Such determinations will
depend, in part, on the ability of the Company's products to reduce the time to
ambulation and the length of hospital stays associated with coronary
catheterization procedures. Acceptance among physicians will also depend upon
the Company's ability to train interventional cardiologists and other

6
<PAGE>
potential users of the Company's products in percutaneous vascular surgery
closure techniques, which such physicians typically have not performed, and the
willingness of such users to learn these new techniques. Failure of the
Company's products to achieve significant market acceptance will have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of
operations. See "Business -- Clinical and Regulatory Status," " -- Marketing and
Distribution" and " -- Third-Party Reimbursement."

HISTORY OF LOSSES AND EXPECTATION OF FUTURE LOSSES. The Company has a
limited history of operations. Since its inception in March 1992, the Company
has been primarily engaged in research and development of its percutaneous
arterial access site closure products. The Company has generated limited
revenues from international sales in certain markets, which sales commenced in
December 1994. Since May 1997, the Company has generated limited revenues from
domestic sales. The Company has experienced significant operating losses since
inception and, as of September 30, 1997, had an accumulated deficit of $36.3
million. The development and commercialization of the Company's current products
and other new products, if any, will require substantial research and
development, clinical, regulatory, manufacturing and other expenditures. The
Company's net loss for the six months ended September 30, 1997 increased to $8.4
million from $3.7 million in the six months ended September 30, 1996 primarily
as a result of increased sales and marketing expenses associated with hiring
sales personnel in preparation for introduction of the Prostar 9F and 11F
products and the Techstar 6F and Techstar XL 6F products. The Company expects
its operating losses to continue for at least the next three fiscal quarters as
it continues to expend substantial resources in funding clinical trials in
support of regulatory and reimbursement approvals, expansion of manufacturing,
marketing and sales activities and research and development. There can be no
assurance that the Company will achieve or sustain profitability. See "Business
- -- Clinical and Regulatory Status," " -- Third-Party Reimbursement," " --
Competition" and " -- Government Regulation."

FLUCTUATIONS IN OPERATING RESULTS. The Company anticipates that its results
of operations will fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter and will
depend upon numerous factors, including actions relating to regulatory and
reimbursement matters, progress and results of clinical trials, the extent to
which the Company's or its competitors' products gain market acceptance,
introduction of alternative means for arterial access site closure and
competitive developments. Due to the elective nature of many coronary
catheterization procedures, patients may defer such procedures during the summer
vacation season. As a result, the Company may experience seasonal fluctuations
in its results of operations, particularly in the second fiscal quarter. Results
of operations will also be affected by the timing of orders received from
distributors, the extent to which the Company is able to expand its
manufacturing capabilities and its international and domestic distribution
networks and the ability of distributors to effectively promote the Company's
products. In addition, depending upon the timing of new product introductions,
competitive factors and warranty claims and product returns, the Company may
need to make allowances for product obsolescence, excess inventory and warranty
claims and product returns. While the Company is currently and will likely
continue making such allowances, there can be no assurance that such allowances
will be adequate to cover all costs associated with such items. See "Business --
Clinical and Regulatory Status," " -- Third-Party Reimbursement," " -- Marketing
and Distribution," " -- Competition" and " -- Government Regulation."

GOVERNMENT REGULATION. Clinical testing, manufacture, promotion and sale of
the Company's products are subject to extensive regulation by numerous
governmental authorities in the United States, principally the FDA, and
corresponding foreign regulatory agencies. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic
Act ("FDC Act"), and other federal and state statutes and regulations govern or
influence the testing, manufacture, labeling, advertising, distribution and
promotion of drugs and devices. Noncompliance with applicable requirements can
result in fines, injunctions, civil penalties, recall or seizure of products,
total or partial suspension of production, refusal to authorize the marketing of
new products or to allow the Company to enter into government supply contracts,
and criminal prosecution.

7
<PAGE>
The Company's Prostar and Techstar PVS products are regulated as Class III
medical devices for which FDA approval of a PMA application must be obtained
prior to U.S. commercial sales. A PMA application must be supported by extensive
information, including preclinical and clinical trial data. The PMA process is
expensive, lengthy and uncertain, and a number of products for which PMA
applications have been submitted have never been approved for marketing. In
April 1997, the Company received PMA approval for commercial sale in the United
States of its Prostar 9F and 11F products. In November 1997, the Company
received PMA approval for commercial sale in the United States of its Techstar
6F and Techstar XL 6F products. In June 1997, the Company submitted to the FDA a
PMA supplement for the Prostar Plus 8F and 10F and Prostar XL 8F products for
sale in the United States. There can be no assurance that the Company will be
able to obtain further PMA application or PMA supplement approvals to market its
products, or any other products, on a timely basis, if at all, and delays in
receipt or failure to receive such approvals, the loss of previously received
approvals, or 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.

In August 1997, a competitor of the Company petitioned the FDA for review of
the PMA approval granted to the Prostar 9F and 11F products. The petition was
filed pursuant to a provision of the FDC Act permitting any interested party to
initiate a process by which the FDA may review an approval order and may issue
an order affirming, reversing or modifying the approval. To the Company's
knowledge, the FDA has conducted a review pursuant to this provision only twice
since the enactment of the Medical Device Amendments of 1976. The Company
responded to the petition by submitting comments in September 1997 arguing that
the FDA should deny it. No assurance can be given that the FDA will not conduct
a review of the PMA approval granted to the Prostar 9F and 11F products, nor can
assurance be given that the FDA will not, after such review, issue an order
reversing or unfavorably modifying the original PMA approval. Any such action by
the FDA would have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Sales of medical devices outside of the United States 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, and the requirements may differ.
The Company has obtained the certifications necessary to enable the CE mark to
be affixed to the Company's Prostar and Techstar products for commercial sales
in member countries of the European Union. The Company has not obtained all
other such international certifications and there can be no assurance it will be
able to do so in a timely manner. The Company has received regulatory approval
to market the Prostar, Prostar Plus, Techstar and Techstar XL products in Japan.
The Company, through its Japanese distributor, intends to commence clinical
trials in Japan that will form the basis of an application for reimbursement
approvals in the Japanese health care system. There can be no assurance Japanese
reimbursement approvals will be obtained in a timely manner or at all. Many
other countries in which the Company currently operates or intends to operate
either do not currently regulate medical devices or have minimal registration
requirements; however, these countries may develop more extensive regulations in
the future that could affect the Company's ability to market its products. In
addition, significant costs and requests for additional information may be
encountered by the Company in its efforts to obtain and maintain regulatory
approvals. Any such events could substantially delay or preclude the Company
from marketing its products in the United States or internationally.

Regulatory approvals, if granted, may include significant limitations on the
indicated uses for which a product may be marketed. In addition, to obtain such
approvals, the FDA and certain foreign regulatory authorities impose numerous
other requirements with which medical device manufacturers must comply. FDA
enforcement policy strictly prohibits the marketing of approved medical devices
for unapproved uses. In addition, product approvals could be withdrawn for
failure to comply with regulatory standards or the occurrence of unforeseen
problems following the initial marketing. The Company will be required to adhere
to the FDA's Quality System Regulation ("QS Reg.") and similar regulations in
other countries, which include testing, control, documentation and other quality
assurance procedures. Ongoing compliance with the QS Reg. and other applicable
regulatory requirements will be monitored through periodic inspections by
federal and state agencies, including the FDA and the California Department of
Health

8
<PAGE>
Services ("CDHS"), and by comparable agencies in other countries. Failure to
comply with applicable regulatory requirements, including marketing products for
unapproved uses, could result in, among other things, warning letters, fines,
injunctions, civil penalties, recall or seizure of products, total or partial
suspension of production, refusal of the FDA to grant approvals or clearances,
withdrawal of approvals and criminal prosecution. Changes in existing
regulations or adoption of new governmental regulations or policies could
prevent or delay regulatory approval of the Company's products. Certain material
changes to medical devices also are subject to FDA review and clearance or
approval. See "Business -- Clinical and Regulatory Status" and " -- Government
Regulation."

COMPETITION AND RISK OF TECHNOLOGICAL OBSOLESCENCE. Competition in the
emerging market for arterial access site closure devices is intense and expected
to increase. The Company believes its principal competition will come from
conventional compression devices and collagen plug closure devices. Conventional
compression products are marketed by several companies that supply C-clamp
closure devices. C.R. Bard, Inc. ("C.R. Bard") markets the Femostop compression
arch device. Datascope Corp. ("Datascope") and Kensey Nash Corporation ("Kensey
Nash") have received PMA approval from the FDA for products that use collagen
plugs to achieve hemostasis. American Home Products Corporation ("American Home
Products") has exclusive worldwide distribution rights to the Kensey Nash
device. Most of the Company's competitors have significantly greater name
recognition, experience, financial, technical, research, marketing, sales,
distribution and other resources than the Company. There can be no assurance
that the Company's competitors will not succeed in developing or marketing
technologies and products that are technologically superior, more effective or
commercially attractive than any that are being developed by the Company, or
that such competitors will not succeed in obtaining regulatory approval,
introducing or commercializing any such products prior to the Company. Such
developments could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the medical device
market is generally characterized by rapid and significant technological change
and frequent emergence of new technologies, products and procedures.
Accordingly, the Company's success will also depend in part on its ability to
respond quickly to medical and technological changes. See " -- Fluctuations in
Operating Results" and "Business -- Competition."

LIMITED MANUFACTURING EXPERIENCE AND SCALE-UP RISK. The Company has only
limited experience in manufacturing the Prostar and Techstar products. The
Company currently manufactures in limited quantities the Prostar and Techstar
products for U.S. clinical trials, limited domestic commercial sales,
international clinical trials and limited international commercial sales. The
Company does not have experience in manufacturing its products in commercial
quantities. Manufacturers often encounter difficulties in scaling up production
of new products, including problems involving production yields, quality control
and assurance, component supply and shortages of qualified personnel, compliance
with FDA regulations, and the need for further FDA approval of new manufacturing
processes. Difficulties encountered by Perclose in manufacturing scale-up could
have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results
of operations. There can be no assurance that future manufacturing difficulties,
which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
condition and results of operations, will not occur. See "Business --
Manufacturing" and "-- Government Regulation."

DEPENDENCE UPON KEY SUPPLIERS. Perclose purchases components used in its
products from various suppliers and relies on single sources for several
components. For certain of these components, there are relatively few
alternative sources of supply. Establishing additional or replacement suppliers
for any of the components used in the Company's products, if required, may not
be accomplished quickly and could involve significant additional costs. Any
supply interruption from vendors or failure of the Company to obtain alternative
vendors, if required, for any of the components used to manufacture the
Company's products would limit the Company's ability to manufacture its products
and could therefore have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition and results of operations. See "Business -- Manufacturing."

9
<PAGE>
UNCERTAINTY RELATING TO NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT. The Company's strategy
involves the design and development of new products designed to allow cardiac
surgeons to automate the rapid placement of sutures in blood vessels during CABG
surgery. The product development process is time-consuming and costly, and there
can be no assurance that product development will be successfully completed,
that necessary regulatory clearances or approvals will be granted by the FDA on
a timely basis, or at all, or that the potential products will achieve market
acceptance. Failure by the Company to develop, obtain necessary regulatory
clearances or approvals for, or successfully market potential new products could
have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition
and results of operations. See "Business -- Research and Development."

DEPENDENCE UPON INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS AND SALES. Prior to 1997, all of
the Company's product sales were derived from export sales to international
distributors, none of which are affiliated with the Company. The Company markets
and sells its products outside the United States through a network of
international distributors, and the Company's international sales are largely
dependent on the marketing efforts of, and sales by, these distributors. Sales
through distributors are subject to several risks, including the risk of
financial instability of distributors, the risk of manufacturing and quality
control problems with contract manufacturers and the risk that distributors will
not effectively promote the Company's products. Loss or termination of
distribution relationships could have a material adverse affect on the Company's
international sales efforts and could result in the Company repurchasing unsold
inventory from former distributors by virtue of local laws applicable to
distribution relationships, provisions of distribution agreements or negotiated
settlements entered into with such distributors. In addition, a number of risks
are inherent in international operations and transactions. International sales
and operations may be limited or disrupted by the imposition of government
controls, export license requirements, political instability, trade
restrictions, changes in tariffs, difficulties in staffing, coordinating
communications among and managing international operations. Additionally, the
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations may be
adversely affected by fluctuations in international currency exchange rates as
well as increases in duty rates, difficulties in obtaining export licenses,
constraints on its ability to maintain or increase prices, and competition.
There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully
commercialize the Prostar or Techstar products or any future product in any
international market. See "Business -- Marketing and Distribution."

LIMITED SALES AND MARKETING EXPERIENCE. The Company has only limited
experience marketing and selling the Prostar and Techstar products, and does not
have experience marketing and selling its products in commercial quantities. The
Company currently has a limited network of distributors that cover certain
European and Pacific Rim countries. In 1997, the Company established a direct
sales force in the United States. Establishing marketing and sales capability
sufficient to support sales in commercial quantities will require significant
resources, and there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to
obtain, train and retain direct sales personnel or that future sales efforts of
the Company will be successful. See "Business -- Marketing and Distribution."

RELIANCE ON PATENTS AND PROTECTION OF PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGY. The Company's
ability to compete effectively will depend in part on its ability to develop and
maintain proprietary aspects of its technology. There can be no assurance that
the Company's issued patents, any patents that may be issued as a result of the
Company's U.S. or international patent applications, or the patent under which
the Company has license rights, will offer any degree of protection. There can
be no assurance that any patents that may be issued or licensed to the Company
or any of the Company's patent applications will not be challenged, invalidated
or circumvented in the future. In addition, there can be no assurance that
competitors, many of which have substantial resources and have made substantial
investments in competing technologies, will not seek to apply for and obtain
patents that will prevent, limit or interfere with the Company's ability to
make, use or sell its products either in the United States or in international
markets.

The medical device industry has been characterized by extensive litigation
regarding patents and other intellectual property rights, and companies in the
medical device industry have employed intellectual property litigation to gain a
competitive advantage. There can be no assurance that the Company will

10
<PAGE>
not in the future become subject to patent infringement claims and litigation or
interference proceedings declared by the United States Patent and Trademark
Office ("USPTO") to determine the priority of inventions. The defense and
prosecution of intellectual property suits, USPTO interference proceedings and
related legal and administrative proceedings are both costly and time consuming.
Litigation may be necessary to enforce patents issued to the Company, to protect
trade secrets or know-how owned by the Company or to determine the
enforceability, scope and validity of the proprietary rights of others.

Any litigation or interference proceedings will result in substantial
expense to the Company and significant diversion of effort by the Company's
technical and management personnel. An adverse determination in litigation or
interference proceedings to which the Company may become a party could subject
the Company to significant liabilities to third parties or require the Company
to seek licenses from third parties. Although patent and intellectual property
disputes in the medical device area have often been settled through licensing or
similar arrangements, costs associated with such arrangements may be substantial
and could include ongoing royalties. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that
necessary licenses would be available to the Company on satisfactory terms if at
all. Adverse determinations in a judicial or administrative proceeding or
failure to obtain necessary licenses could prevent the Company from
manufacturing and selling its products, which would have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.

In addition to patents, the Company relies on trade secrets and proprietary
know-how, which it seeks to protect, in part, through appropriate
confidentiality and proprietary information agreements. These agreements
generally provide that all confidential information developed or made known to
the individual by the Company during the course of the individual's relationship
with the Company, is to be kept confidential and not disclosed to third parties,
expect in specific circumstances. The agreements generally provide that all
inventions conceived by the individual in the course of rendering services to
the Company shall be the exclusive property of the Company; however, certain of
the Company's agreements with consultants, who typically are employed on a
full-time basis by academic institutions or hospitals, do not contain assignment
of invention provisions. There can be no assurance that proprietary information
or confidentiality agreements with employees, consultants and others will not be
breached, that the Company would have adequate remedies for any breach, or that
the Company's trade secrets will not otherwise become known to or independently
developed by competitors. See "Business -- Patents and Proprietary Rights."

UNCERTAINTY OF THIRD-PARTY REIMBURSEMENT. In the United States, health care
providers, such as hospitals and physicians that purchase medical devices such
as the Company's products, generally rely on third-party payors, principally
federal Medicare, state Medicaid and private health insurance plans, to
reimburse all or part of the cost of therapeutic and diagnostic catheterization
procedures. Reimbursement for catheterization procedures performed using devices
that have received FDA approval has generally been available in the United
States. The Company anticipates that in a prospective payment system, such as
the disease related group ("DRG") system utilized by Medicare, and in many
managed care systems used by private health care payors, the cost of the
Company's products will be incorporated into the overall cost of the procedure
and that there will be no separate, additional reimbursement for the Company's
products. Furthermore, the Company could be adversely affected by changes in
reimbursement policies of governmental or private health care payors,
particularly to the extent any such changes affect reimbursement for therapeutic
or diagnostic catheterization procedures in which the Company's products are
used. Failure by physicians, hospitals and other users of the Company's products
to obtain sufficient reimbursement from health care payors for procedures in
which the Company's products are used or adverse changes in governmental and
private third-party payors' policies toward reimbursement for such procedures
would have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
condition and results of operations.

In international markets, market acceptance of the Company's products may be
dependent in part upon the availability of reimbursement within prevailing
health care payment systems. However, in

11
<PAGE>
general, hospitals using the Company's products do not receive specific,
cost-based, direct reimbursement for the use of Perclose PVS products.
Reimbursement and health care payment systems in international markets vary
significantly by country. Failure of the Company to receive international
reimbursement approvals could have an adverse effect on market acceptance of the
Company's products in the international markets in which such approvals are
sought. See "Business -- Third-Party Reimbursement."

RISK OF INADEQUATE FUNDING. The Company plans to continue to expend
substantial funds for clinical trials in support of regulatory and reimbursement
approvals, expansion of sales and marketing activities, research and
development, and establishment of commercial-scale manufacturing capabilities.
The Company may be required to expend extra funds if unforeseen difficulties
arise in the course of expansion of manufacturing and marketing activities,
clinical trials of products, obtaining necessary regulatory and reimbursement
approvals or in other aspects of the Company's business. Although the Company
believes that its current cash balances (including the net proceeds from this
offering) and cash generated from the future sale of products will be sufficient
to meet the Company's operating and capital requirements through fiscal 1999,
there can be no assurance that the Company will not require additional financing
within this time frame. The Company's future liquidity and capital requirements
will depend upon numerous factors, including the progress of the Company's
clinical trials, actions relating to regulatory and reimbursement matters, the
costs and timing of expansion of marketing, sales, manufacturing and product
development activities, the extent to which the Company's products gain market
acceptance, and competitive developments. Any additional required financing may
not be available on satisfactory terms, if at all. Future equity financings may
result in dilution to the holders of the Company's Common Stock. See "Use of
Proceeds"

PRODUCT LIABILITY AND RECALL RISK; LIMITED INSURANCE COVERAGE. The
manufacture and sale of medical products entail significant risk of product
liability claims or product recalls. There can be no assurance that the
Company's existing insurance coverage limits are adequate to protect the Company
from any liabilities it might incur in connection with the clinical trials or
sales of its products. In addition, the Company may require increased product
liability coverage as its products are commercialized. Such insurance is
expensive and in the future may not be available on acceptable terms, if at all.
A successful product liability claim or series of claims brought against the
Company in excess of its insurance coverage, or a recall of the Company's
products, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition and results of operations. See "Business -- Product
Liability and Insurance."

DEPENDENCE UPON KEY PERSONNEL. The Company is dependent upon a number of
key management and technical personnel. The loss of the services of one or more
key employees would have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Company's
success will depend on its ability to attract and retain additional highly
qualified management and technical personnel. The Company faces intense
competition for qualified personnel, many of whom are often subject to competing
employment offers, and there can be no assurance that the Company will be able
to attract and retain such personnel. Furthermore, the Company relies on the
services of several medical and scientific consultants, all of whom are employed
on a full-time basis by hospitals or academic or research institutions. Such
consultants are therefore not available to devote their full time or attention
to the Company's affairs. See "Business -- Employees" and "Management."

BROAD DISCRETION OF MANAGEMENT TO ALLOCATE OFFERING PROCEEDS. The Company
expects that the proceeds of this offering will be used to fund capital
expenditures relating to expanding manfacturing capacity, leasehold improvements
to facilities, expansion of product development activities, working capital
needs and for general corporate purposes. The Company is not currently able to
estimate precisely the allocation of the proceeds among such uses, and the
timing and amount of expenditures will vary depending upon numerous factors. The
Company's management will have broad discretion to allocate the proceeds of this
offering and to determine the timing of expenditures. See "Use of Proceeds."

12
<PAGE>
POSSIBLE VOLATILITY OF STOCK PRICE. The stock market has recently and from
time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are
unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. These broad
market fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of the Company's
Common Stock. In addition, the market price of the shares of Common Stock is
likely to be highly volatile. Factors such as fluctuations in the Company's
operating results, announcements of technological innovations or new products by
the Company or its competitors, FDA and international regulatory actions,
actions with respect to reimbursement matters, developments with respect to
patents or proprietary rights, public concern as to the safety of products
developed by the Company or others, changes in health care policy in the United
States and internationally, changes in stock market analyst recommendations
regarding the Company, other medical device companies or the medical device
industry generally and general market conditions may have a significant effect
on the market price of the Common Stock.

EFFECT OF CERTAIN CHARTER AND BYLAW PROVISIONS. Certain provisions of the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws may have the effect of making
it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or of discouraging a third party
from attempting to acquire, control of the Company. Such provisions could limit
the price that certain investors might be willing to pay in the future for
shares of the Company's Common Stock. Certain of these provisions allow the
Company to issue Preferred Stock without any vote or further action by the
stockholders, provide for a classified board of directors, eliminate the right
of stockholders to act by written consent without a meeting and eliminate
cumulative voting in the election of directors. These provisions may make it
more difficult for stockholders to take certain corporate actions and could have
the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of the Company.

SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN; ISSUANCE OF PREFERRED STOCK. The Board of
Directors of the Company adopted a Shareholder Rights Plan in January 1997 (the
"Rights Plan"). Pursuant to the Rights Plan, the Board declared a dividend of
one Preferred Stock Purchase Right per share of Common Stock (the "Rights") and
each such Right has an exercise price of $100.00 per one-thousandth of a
Preferred Share (total exercise price of $100,000 per whole share). The Rights
become exercisable upon the occurrence of certain events, including the
announcement of a tender offer or exchange offer for the Company's Common Stock
or the acquisition of a specified percentage of the Company's Common Stock by a
third party. The exercise of the Rights could have the effect of delaying,
deferring or preventing a change in control of the Company, including, without
limitation, discouraging a proxy contest or making more difficult the
acquisition of a substantial block of the Company's Common Stock. These
provisions could also limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in
the future for shares of the Company's Common Stock. The Board of Directors has
the authority to issue up to 30,000 shares of Series A Participating Preferred
Stock and has determined the powers, preferences and rights and the
qualifications, limitations or restrictions granted to or imposed upon such
shares. The Preferred Stock could be issued with voting, liquidation, dividend
and other rights superior to those of the holders of Common Stock. The issuance
of Preferred Stock under certain circumstances could have the effect of
delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of the Company.

IMMEDIATE AND SUBSTANTIAL DILUTION. Purchasers of shares of Common Stock in
this offering will incur immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible
book value of their purchased shares of Common Stock (approximately $17.13 per
share, at the offering price of $21.00 per share). Investors may also experience
additional dilution as a result of the exercise of outstanding stock options.

NO DIVIDENDS. The Company has never paid any cash dividends on its Common
Stock and does not anticipate paying such dividends for the foreseeable future.
See "Price Range of Common Stock and Dividend Policy."

13
<PAGE>
THE COMPANY

Perclose was incorporated in California in March 1992 and reincorporated in
Delaware in October 1995. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in
this Prospectus to "Perclose" and the "Company" refer to Perclose, Inc., a
Delaware corporation, and where applicable, its California predecessor. The
Company's principal executive offices are located at 199 Jefferson Drive, Menlo
Park, California 94025. Its telephone number is (650) 473-3100.

USE OF PROCEEDS

The net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the 1,000,000 shares of
Common Stock offered hereby are estimated to be $19,390,000 ($22,351,000 if the
over-allotment option is exercised in full) after deducting the underwriting
discounts and the estimated expenses of the offering.

The Company expects to use a majority of the net proceeds to fund capital
expenditures relating to expanding manufacturing capacity, leasehold
improvements to facilities, expansion of product development activities, working
capital needs and general corporate purposes. The amounts actually expended for
each purpose and the timing of such expenditures may vary significantly
depending upon numerous factors, including the progress of the Company's
clinical trials, actions relating to regulatory and reimbursement matters, the
costs and timing of expansion of marketing, sales, manufacturing and product
development activities, the extent to which the Company's products gain market
acceptance and competition. Pending such uses, the Company intends to invest the
net proceeds of this offering in short-term, interest-bearing, investment grade
securities.

PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK AND DIVIDEND POLICY

Since November 8, 1995, the Company's Common Stock has been quoted on the
Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "PERC". The following table sets forth,
for each quarterly period indicated, the high and low closing sales price for
the Common Stock as reported by the Nasdaq National Market.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
HIGH LOW
-------- -------
<S> <C> <C>
FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 1996
Third Quarter (beginning November 8, 1995)................................... $19 1/8 $12 3/4
Fourth Quarter............................................................... 26 1/4 15
FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 1997
First Quarter................................................................ 24 3/4 20 1/2
Second Quarter............................................................... 23 1/4 13
Third Quarter................................................................ 24 1/4 16
Fourth Quarter............................................................... 28 1/2 19
FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 1998
First Quarter................................................................ 27 1/4 20
Second Quarter............................................................... 27 3/8 20 3/4
Third Quarter (through November 19, 1997).................................... 26 13/16 21 3/4
</TABLE>

The Company has not paid any cash dividends since its inception and does not
anticipate paying any dividends in the foreseeable future.

14
<PAGE>
CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth the capitalization of the Company as of
September 30, 1997, and as adjusted to reflect the sale by the Company of
1,000,000 shares of Common Stock offered hereby (after deducting estimated
underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses) and the
application of the net proceeds therefrom:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
------------------------
ACTUAL AS ADJUSTED
---------- ------------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C>
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred Stock: $.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, actual and as
adjusted; none issued and outstanding, actual and as adjusted...................... $ -- $ --
Common Stock: $.001 par value, 30,000,000 shares authorized, 9,627,497 shares issued
and outstanding actual, 10,627,497 shares issued and outstanding, as adjusted(1)... 10 11
Additional paid-in capital........................................................... 58,798 78,187
Accumulated deficit.................................................................. (36,328) (36,328)
Deferred compensation................................................................ (734) (734)
---------- ------------
Total stockholders' equity......................................................... $ 21,746 $ 41,136
---------- ------------
---------- ------------
</TABLE>

- ---------

15
<PAGE>
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The statements of operations data presented below for the period from
inception (March 24, 1992) through March 31, 1993 and for each of the four years
in the period ended March 31, 1997 and with respect to the balance sheet data as
of March 31, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997 is derived from financial
statements of the Company not included herein that have been audited by Ernst &
Young LLP, independent auditors. The statements of operations data for the
six-month periods ended September 30, 1996 and 1997 and with respect to the
balance sheet data as of September 30, 1997 is derived from unaudited financial
statements not included herein and include, in the opinion of the Company, all
adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a
fair presentation of the Company's results of operations for those periods and
financial position at that date. The results for the six months ended September
30, 1997 are not necessarily indicative of the results for any future period.
The Company has not paid any cash dividends on its Common Stock or Preferred
Stock. The selected financial data set forth below is qualified in its entirety
by, and should be read in conjunction with, "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and the financial
statements and notes thereto not included in this Prospectus.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIX MONTHS ENDED
INCEPTION TO YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, SEPTEMBER 30,
MARCH 31, ------------------------------------------ --------------------
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1996 1997
--------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Net revenues................................. $ -- $ -- $ 178 $ 2,457 $ 4,456 $ 2,535 $ 2,380
Operating expenses:
Cost of goods sold, including manufacturing
start-up costs........................... -- 136 2,149 4,772 4,703 2,223 3,249
Research and development................... 411 1,595 3,066 3,059 4,745 2,395 2,525
Marketing, general and administrative...... 204 945 2,155 3,486 6,301 2,496 5,581
------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total operating expenses................... 615 2,676 7,370 11,317 15,749 7,114 11,355
------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Loss from operations......................... (615) (2,676) (7,192) (8,860) (11,293) (4,579) (8,975)
Interest and other income.................... 18 66 258 941 1,753 954 705
Interest expense............................. (9) (14) (59) (165) (117) (64) (92)
------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Loss before income taxes..................... 606 (2,624) (6,993) (8,084) (9,657) (3,689) (8,362)
Provision for income taxes................... 1 -- -- -- -- -- --
------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Net loss................................... $ (607) $ (2,624) $ (6,993) $ (8,084) $ (9,657) $ (3,689) $ (8,362)
------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Net loss per share........................... $ (1.34) $ (1.01) $ (0.39) $ (0.87)
Shares used in computing net loss per
share...................................... 6,025 9,517 9,498 9,598
Pro forma net loss per share................. $ (1.04)
Shares used in computing pro forma net loss
per share.................................. 6,717
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MARCH 31,
----------------------------------------------------- SEPTEMBER 30,
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1997
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term
investments..................................... $ 1,441 $ 5,540 $ 8,127 $ 37,857 $ 27,673 $ 17,983
Total assets...................................... 1,613 6,386 10,949 40,916 32,514 24,643
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations, less
current portion................................. -- 174 593 511 128 --
Accumulated deficit............................... (608) (3,232) (10,225) (18,437) (28,044) (36,328)
Total stockholders' equity........................ 1,507 5,725 9,041 38,500 29,382 21,746
</TABLE>

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BUSINESS

THE COMPANY

The Company's objectives are to become the leader in the design, development
and commercialization of suture-based closure devices, to establish percutaneous
vascular surgery using the Company's

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products as the standard of care for post-catheterization arterial access site
management and to commercialize new devices based on the Company's core
technology that improve clinical outcomes and reduce costs. Key elements of the
Company's strategy include demonstrating the clinical and cost advantages of its
products over conventional closure methods, extending the Company's technology
platform and expanding the markets for its existing products. The Company also
plans to develop additional versions of its products for new and emerging
catheterization procedures, including procedures involving large diameter
catheter devices where arterial access site closure can be particularly
difficult.

INDUSTRY OVERVIEW

THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY MARKET

CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE. More than 6 million people in the United States
have been diagnosed with coronary artery disease, which is a formation of
atherosclerotic plaque that causes blood flow restrictions, or blockages, within
the coronary arteries. These blockages can occur anywhere within the complex
network of arteries that provide blood to the heart muscle. If left untreated,
coronary artery disease can cause severe chest pain and lead to heart attacks.
The principal means of treating coronary artery disease if diet, exercise or
drug therapy fail to achieve therapeutic results include CABG, a highly invasive
open surgical procedure, and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
("balloon angioplasty") as well as other percutaneous catheter-based procedures
including stenting and atherectomy. Prior to the late 1970's, CABG was the only
alternative for treating coronary artery disease that failed to respond to
non-invasive therapy. Since its clinical introduction in 1978, balloon
angioplasty, either alone or in conjunction with stents, has emerged as the
principal less invasive alternative to CABG. Industry estimates in 1997 indicate
that there are approximately 540,000 CABG procedures performed annually
worldwide, with 320,000 of those occurring in the United States. Industry
sources estimate that there are approximately 675,000 balloon angioplasty,
stenting and atherectomy procedures performed annually worldwide, including
approximately 425,000 such procedures in the United States. In addition,
minimally invasive forms of CABG have been recently introduced and continue to
be developed. These procedures attempt to reduce the invasiveness of CABG by
minimizing the size of the incisions required.

BALLOON ANGIOPLASTY AND STENTING PROCEDURE. At the beginning of a balloon
angioplasty procedure, the physician initiates anticoagulation drug therapy to
prevent formation of blood clots which can cause arterial blockages.
Anticoagulation therapy is typically continued throughout the procedure. A local
anesthetic is administered and a small incision is made in the groin area to
gain access to the femoral artery, which is punctured to create an access site
for catheterization devices. The cardiologist inserts an introducer sheath into
the femoral artery and places a guiding catheter through the introducer sheath
to create a path from outside the patient to the arteries of the heart. The
cardiologist advances a small guidewire through the inside of the guiding
catheter, into the coronary artery and across the site of the blockage. A
balloon catheter is delivered over the guidewire through the inside of the
guiding catheter into the artery and across the site of the blockage. The
balloon is inflated to compress the blockage against the walls of the artery,
thereby enlarging the diameter of the arterial lumen and increasing blood flow
to the heart muscle. During this procedure, anticoagulation drug therapy is
ordinarily used to prevent clot formation in the coronary arteries. At the
conclusion of the procedure, the cardiologist decides if the benefits of
continued anticoagulation therapy outweigh the increased risk of bleeding at the
femoral artery access site. This decision influences the level of post-procedure
nursing observation and the length of the hospital stay, which is typically one
to three days.

Other catheter-based therapeutic coronary procedures include stenting and
atherectomy. Stents are implantable, metal, tube shaped devices delivered on a
balloon catheter and permanently deployed at a blockage site to maintain
increased lumen diameter by mechanically supporting the artery. Stenting
procedures have been reported to reduce the risk of abrupt coronary artery
closure, thereby creating the possibility for outpatient stenting due to a
reduced need to keep patients under post-procedure nursing observation. The
current potential for outpatient stenting is, however, limited by the inability
to achieve predictable, sustained hemostasis of the arterial access site.
Atherectomy encompasses several types of devices that are designed to remove
atherosclerotic plaque that blocks blood flow in the arteries.

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DIAGNOSTIC ANGIOGRAPHY AND OTHER PERCUTANEOUS VASCULAR PROCEDURES

Patients believed to have coronary artery disease typically undergo
diagnostic angiography to determine the extent and location of their arterial
blockages. Angiography is a procedure in which radiopaque dye visible under
x-ray is delivered through a catheter directly into the coronary arteries,
allowing real-time visualization with an x-ray imaging system. Like therapeutic
angioplasty, angiography is also performed using a catheter placed into the
vascular system through a puncture in the femoral artery. Industry estimates in
1997 indicate that angiography is performed annually on approximately 2.9
million patients worldwide including approximately 1.7 million patients in the
United States. Angiography procedures represent a significant market opportunity
for arterial closure devices because under conventional treatment protocols,
many of these patients are kept under nursing observation for several hours
following the procedure primarily to confirm achievement of hemostasis.

Many other catheterization procedures rely on percutaneous access to the
vascular system through a puncture in the femoral artery. These procedures
include peripheral vascular therapeutic and diagnostic procedures, of which
approximately 1.0 million and 1.3 million, respectively, are performed annually
worldwide. These procedures may represent a significant market opportunity for
arterial closure devices because under conventional treatment protocols, many of
these patients are kept under nursing observation following the procedure
primarily to confirm achievement of hemostasis. Therefore, the availability of
reliable arterial access site closure devices could facilitate early discharge
of these patients. Percutaneous vascular surgery devices could also be used to
close femoral artery access sites in interventional neuroradiology
catheterization procedures, electrophysiology procedures to map and ablate
cardiac arrhythmias and intra-aortic balloon pump procedures. In addition,
emerging percutaneous catheterization procedures and other new interventional
procedures, including catheter-based vascular grafts, cardiopulmonary support
procedures and percutaneous treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms, may also
represent new market opportunities for larger versions of the Company's PVS
products.

ARTERIAL ACCESS SITE MANAGEMENT

Following catheter-based coronary procedures such as balloon angioplasty,
stenting, atherectomy or angiography, the physician or nursing staff must close
the arterial access site. With procedures relying on conventional compression
closure techniques, anticoagulation therapy (which is used in all interventional
cases) is discontinued for up to four hours prior to closure of the access site
to allow the patient's clotting function to normalize. During this period, the
introducer sheath is left in place and the patient must remain immobile in bed
to prevent bleeding at the access site. Once the introducer sheath is removed,
intense direct pressure is applied to the puncture site for a period of time
ranging from 15 minutes to over one hour to facilitate formation of a blood clot
in order to seal the arterial access site. This pressure is applied either
manually or with a large C-clamp or other pressure device placed around the
patient's leg. A dislodged clot can result in internal or external bleeding,
which may necessitate transfusions or result in other vascular complications if
not immediately controlled. Because any movement may dislodge the clot, the
patient is required to remain immobile under close nursing observation in a
coronary care unit for an additional four to 24 hours after the procedure,
depending on the amount of anticoagulation drug therapy used and the type of
procedure performed. Conventional closure methods may result in substantial
costs, limit operating efficiencies and constrain the scheduling and usage of
the catheterization laboratory by the number of beds and nursing staff in the
coronary care unit.

The arterial access site can be affected by other complications associated
with conventional compression methods, including a hematoma in which a
coagulated blood mass forms at the access site, a pseudoaneurysm in which blood
continues to flow from the artery into the coagulated blood mass at the access
site, femoral nerve damage from extended compression, and a vagal response
characterized by a sharp drop in blood pressure. Patients often experience
significant pain and discomfort during compression of the artery and in the
period in which they are required to be immobile, and may require pain
medication. Many patients report that the pain associated with compression of
the artery and immobilization is the most uncomfortable and difficult aspect of
the catheterization procedure.

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In addition to the anticoagulation therapy administered during routine
coronary catheterization procedures, post-procedure anticoagulation or
antiplatelet therapy is necessary in certain patients who are at an elevated
risk of formation of a life-threatening blood clot in the coronary arteries. The
Company believes that this group may represent up to 30% of therapeutic coronary
catheterization patients and includes patients who have experienced a heart
attack or undergone complicated balloon angioplasty characterized by dissection
of the arterial wall during expansion of the balloon. For these patients,
optimal treatment usually requires continued anticoagulation therapy to keep
blood clots from forming, new drugs to reduce the risk of restenosis or
thrombolytic drugs to dissolve existing clots. With conventional arterial access
site closure therapies, the interventional cardiologist is faced with the choice
of discontinuing anticoagulation therapy and closing the arterial access site
using compression or continuing drug therapy and leaving the sheath in place
overnight, which requires the patient to remain immobile and extends the
hospital stay. The cardiologist must therefore manage the difficult balance of
preventing clot formation in the coronary arteries while encouraging a clot
formation to close the arterial access site. In high clinical need patients,
conventional arterial access site management options may lead to a greater risk
of heart attack, higher vascular complication rates, significant patient
discomfort during clamping and immobilization, intensive nursing monitoring,
extended hospitalization and increased costs of care.

PERCLOSE PVS SOLUTION

The Company believes that its PVS products, which achieve rapid closure of
arterial access sites following percutaneous catheterization procedures,
overcome the clinical disadvantages of conventional closure methods and enable
catheterization laboratories to achieve increased operating efficiencies and
cost savings. The Company's PVS products enable the physician to suture arterial
access sites percutaneously, providing a means of closure that has previously
been possible only through open vascular surgery. Since the introduction of
catheterization procedures, vascular surgery has been the definitive method used
to close arterial access sites that do not respond to conventional compression
therapy. Open surgery requires a long incision in the patient's groin area,
involves a significant recovery period and increases overall treatment costs.
While surgeons can close the arterial access site with one or two sutures, the
invasive nature of open surgery makes it unsuitable for routine use in
catheterization patients. Perclose PVS products are designed to provide routine,
definitive closure that replicates, through a minimally invasive procedure, the
results previously obtainable only through open surgery without the associated
risks and costs. The products are designed to be easy to use, relying on
standard techniques that are familiar to physicians performing these procedures.

Perclose PVS products are used in the catheterization laboratory to close
the arterial access site as the final step in the catheterization procedure. By
achieving rapid hemostasis, PVS products reduce the need for the patient to
remain immobile under close observation in the coronary care unit. This
minimizes the patient's pain and discomfort and allows the patient to ambulate
shortly after the catheterization procedure. Early ambulation of patients can
also improve utilization of hospital resources. For example, in conventional
practice, angiography is usually performed in the morning to permit same-day
discharge following observation and confirmation of hemostasis. Earlier
ambulation and discharge of these patients may contribute to more efficient
usage of the of catheterization laboratory by allowing scheduling of diagnostic
procedures throughout the day.

MINIMALLY INVASIVE CABG SURGERY PRODUCTS

The Company's first application of its core technology and technical
competency outside of the PVS area is the Heartflo anastomosis system for use in
conventional, open chest CABG procedures and the newer minimally invasive
beating heart and stopped heart procedures. The success of a CABG procedure is
largely determined by the quality of the anastomosis (attachment), which
dictates the long-term patency, or blood flow, through the vein graft to the
coronary arteries. While effective surgical techniques enabling cardiac surgeons
to perform hand-sewn anastomoses of coronary blood vessels in conventional

20
<PAGE>
CABG surgeries exist, the recent emergence of minimally invasive CABG procedures
introduces additional challenges for hand-sewn anastomoses during such
procedures. Since the opening to the chest cavity created by ports or
mini-thoracotomies used in minimally invasive CABG procedures is small,
accessing and suturing the bypass graft to the coronary artery is more
difficult, may take longer to perform and may not achieve the same therapeutic
results as in conventional open chest CABG surgery.

The Heartflo system is being designed to consistently replicate the ideal,
hand-sewn pattern used by cardiac surgeons during a CABG procedure by
automatically deploying needles and sutures in a precise pattern in both the
bypass vein graft and the coronary artery while still allowing the cardiac
surgeon to maintain control over the joining of the bypass grafts to the
coronary artery. When using the Heartflo system, the surgeon would first deploy
needles and sutures through the bypass graft vessel and then through the
coronary artery. Once the sutures have been deployed by the system, the cardiac
surgeon would then tie the two vessels together using standard surgical knots.

The Company believes that by automating the placement of the sutures, the
pattern and positioning of the sutures will be more precise, consistent and
reliable, leading to more clinically efficacious attachments of vein grafts to
coronary arteries (i.e. higher patency rates). In addition, the Company believes
that by automating the suture placement process, the Heartflo system may reduce
the time needed to perform an anastomosis, especially in minimally invasive CABG
procedures. Finally, by allowing the cardiac surgeon to maintain control of the
final suture tensioning and tying enables the surgeon to make clinical decisions
based upon the anatomy, thickness and calcification of the vessels to be joined.

Most of the recent product development announcements and introductions for
minimally invasive CABG procedures have focused on improving access to the chest
cavity by reducing the need to perform a medial sternotomy during the CABG
procedure. One of the limitations of minimally invasive CABG is the inability to
bypass all blockages of the arteries of the heart. During these less-invasive
procedures, the surgeon has a difficult time rotating the heart to access to all
coronary vessels and is often unable to reach the aorta in order to attach the
proximal end of the graft. The Heartflo system is being designed to facilitate
the attachment of bypass grafts for these more difficult attachments in the
smaller working spaces used in minimally invasive CABG procedures. The Company
believes that the Heartflo system will enable surgeons in the newer minimally
invasive CABG procedures to obtain a quality of anastomosis similar to that
obtained in conventional CABG procedures, whether surgeons perform these newer
procedures through ports or mini-thoracotomies and whether on still or beating
hearts. The Company believes that the availability of tools for improving the
quality of the anastomosis for minimally invasive CABG procedures could
encourage the adoption and enhance the long term effectiveness of these
procedures.

The Company plans to develop three types of anastomosis devices: a proximal
device which would attach one end of the graft to the aorta, a distal
end-to-side device which would attach the distal end of the graft to the
coronary artery, and a distal side-to-side device that would attach the middle
of the graft to a coronary artery.

BUSINESS STRATEGY

The Company's objective is to be a leader in the development, manufacture
and marketing of minimally invasive medical devices that automate the delivery
of needles and sutures in cardiovascular surgical procedures. Key elements of
the Company's strategy include:

EMPHASIZE CLINICAL UTILITY AND COST-EFFECTIVENESS. In five randomized
trials with over 2,000 patients enrolled, the Company has established that
percutaneous vascular surgical repair of the arterial access site decreases time
to hemostasis, ambulation and discharge and improves patient comfort. The
Company uses data collected from clinical trials to demonstrate the clinical and
cost advantages of its products to physicians, administrators and health care
payors.

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APPLY FOCUSED MARKETING, SALES AND PHYSICIAN TRAINING. The Company's
approved products are currently marketed to interventional cardiologists,
radiologists and catheterization laboratory administrators. These products are
currently marketed in the United States through a direct sales organization and
internationally through distributors in Germany, France, Japan and other major
countries, under regulatory approvals where required. The Company believes that
the majority of interventional catheterization procedures in the United States
are performed in high volume catheterization laboratories that can be served
effectively by a relatively small, focused sales force. Perclose develops and
maintains close working relationships with its customers to address their needs
for products and services and to receive input regarding the Company's product
development plans. The Company builds these relationships through focused
physician training, which the Company believes will also be an important factor
in encouraging cardiologists to use the Company's products. Perclose provides a
standardized, in-the-field training course in the markets it enters.

EXTEND THE TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM. The Company applies its core technology to
other high value cardiovascular surgical areas in which remote and precise
delivery of needles and sutures would improve clinical outcomes and reduce
health care costs. Anastomosis of coronary blood vessels during CABG procedures
represents the first application of the Company's core technology beyond
arterial access site closure. The Company intends to develop new applications
for its technology in other minimally invasive surgical procedures.

EXPAND MARKETS FOR EXISTING PRODUCTS. The Company believes that several
other minimally invasive catheterization procedures, both currently used and
under development, will be candidates for application of its existing PVS
products. The Company intends to expand its product marketing efforts into these
new clinical applications, including electrophysiology, interventional
neuroradiology and intra-aortic balloon pump procedures, where percutaneous
surgical closure of arterial access sites can meet significant clinical needs
and achieve cost reductions.

MAINTAIN TECHNOLOGICAL LEADERSHIP. The Company continually evaluates new
developments in percutaneous catheterization procedures and will seek to expand
its product development efforts to address access site closure following these
new procedures, including catheter-based vascular grafts, treatment of abdominal
aortic aneurysms and cardiac pulmonary support procedures. Because the large
diameter catheter devices required for these procedures make closure of the
arterial access site difficult using conventional compression methods, open
surgical procedures are ordinarily used to close the access sites. The Company
believes that larger diameter versions of its current PVS products could be used
to close the arterial access sites in these procedures, making it feasible to
perform such procedures in a less invasive manner. The Company also focuses on
improving the performance and ease of use and reducing the manufacturing costs
of its PVS products.

PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGY

The Company has introduced two PVS product families, the Techstar and
Prostar. Techstar products are single-suture devices for suturing 6F and 7F
arterial access sites(1). Prostar products provide two sutures for closing
arterial access sites ranging in diameter from 7F to 11F. Products within each
product family can have the added designation of Plus or XL. The Plus and XL
designations signify the second and third generations, respectively, of the
Techstar and Prostar product evolution. The Plus and XL enhancements reduce
procedure time, increase ease of use and reduce manufacturing costs. The XL
series, or third generation design of both the Techstar and Prostar devices, has
reduced procedure time to less than five minutes, compared with over 10 minutes
required for the first generation Prostar devices.

PROSTAR PRODUCTS. The Prostar products are single-use, hand-held medical
devices which consist of a four-needle, two-suture Prostar PVS device and a
Perclose Knot Pusher. In addition, the 9F and 11F sizes

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

(1) Interventional cardiology devices are measured in French sizes,
abbreviated "F."

One French size is equal to one-third of a millimeter in diameter
(3F=1mm).

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require a pre-dilator and a guidewire. Prostar products are currently marketed
internationally in the 8F and 10F sizes and are marketed in the United States in
the 9F and 11F sizes. Prostar products are used to close arterial access sites
following balloon angioplasty, stenting and atherectomy procedures.

At the end of the catheterization procedure, the introducer sheath used in
the procedure is removed utilizing a standard over-the-wire exchange technique.
Next, the flexible sheath of the PVS device is inserted in the artery over a
guidewire (use of the first generation Prostar product requires pre-dilation
prior to insertion of the sheath). The unique design of the device allows the
physician to maintain hemostasis throughout the procedure. The device includes a
marker port in the needle guide, proximal to the tips of the needles. Arterial
blood flow into the marker port indicates that the device has been properly
positioned with the needles and sutures inside the arterial lumen. Once
positioned, the pull handle is drawn away from the patient, deploying the
needles and sutures. As the needles advance toward the artery wall, they are
guided by a ramp that precisely positions the needles around the arterial access
site. The needles are captured in the barrel of the device which also positions
the needles for removal. Two needles, each attached to the end of a single
suture, will create one surgical stitch. The needles are removed from the device
and detached from the sutures which are then tied in a standard surgical square
knot. The device is removed and the knots are advanced to the arterial access
site with the Perclose Knot Pusher. The knots can be further secured with
additional throws, which are also advanced with the Knot Pusher.

TECHSTAR PRODUCTS. Techstar products consist of a two-needle, single-suture
Techstar PVS device and a Perclose Knot Pusher. Techstar products are currently
marketed internationally in 6F, 7F and 6FS (short) sizes. The Techstar 6F
product is suitable for closure of arterial access sites in therapeutic and
diagnostic procedures having puncture sites dilated by 6F or smaller introducer
sheaths while the 7F diameter product is suitable for closure of puncture sites
dilated by 7F interventional and diagnostic introducer sheaths. The Techstar 6FS
is shorter in length than the Techstar 6F and is suitable for use after
peripheral diagnostic and interventional procedures for vascular disease of the
lower legs.

CLINICAL AND REGULATORY STATUS

Perclose PVS products are currently being marketed internationally in
Germany, France, Japan and other major countries under regulatory approvals
where required. The Company obtained CE mark certification in 1996 which allows
it to market its products in all member countries of the European Union and to
ship its products to European Union countries directly from its United States
manufacturing facility.

The Company has received regulatory approval to market the Prostar and
Techstar products in Japan and has commenced a clinical trial in Japan that will
form the basis for an application for reimbursement approvals in the Japanese
health care system. Getz Brothers Company Ltd., the Company's Japanese
distributor, will be responsible for management of clinical trials, obtaining
reimbursement approval for the Company's products and obtaining and holding
regulatory approvals in Japan. There can be no assurance that such reimbursement
approvals will be obtained in a timely manner or at all. See "Risk Factors --
Government Regulation."

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MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION

The Company markets its PVS products in the United States through a direct
sales organization. The Company believes that the majority of interventional
catheterization procedures in the United States are performed in high volume
catheterization laboratories, and that these institutions can be effectively
served by a relatively small, focused sales force. The Company develops and
maintains close working relationships with its customers to address their needs
for products and services and to receive input regarding the Company's product
development plans. The Company builds these relationships through focused
physician training, which the Company believes will also be a key factor in
encouraging physicians to use the Company's products. The Company provides a
standardized, in-the-field training course in the markets it enters.

The Company's international sales and marketing strategy for PVS products
focuses on interventional cardiologists and radiologists through established
distributors in major international markets, subject to required regulatory
approvals. The Company generally operates under written distribution agreements
with its distributors, although the Company does not have written agreements
with certain distributors, typically those in smaller markets. Distributors with
which the Company has distribution agreements generally have the exclusive right
to sell the Company's products within a defined territory. These distributors
also typically market other medical products, although the Company generally
seeks to obtain covenants from its distributors prohibiting them from marketing
medical devices that compete directly with the Company's products. The Company's
distributors typically purchase the Company's products at a discount from the
end user list price and resell the products to hospitals and clinics. Sales to
international distributors are denominated in U.S. dollars, except to the
Company's German and French distributors. The distributor and end-user price
varies from country to country. The Company has seven employees directly
involved with physician training and assisting distributors assigned to European
and Asian territories.

All of the Company's revenues through March 31, 1997 were derived from
export sales to international distributors, primarily in Europe, none of which
are affiliated with the Company. Sales to A.D. Krauth GmbH, Medicorp S.A. and
Getz Brothers Company Ltd., the Company's German, French and Japanese
distributors, respectively, accounted for approximately 59%, 15% and 15%,
respectively, of net sales for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997. For the six
months ended September 30, 1997, sales to A.D. Krauth GmbH were 14% of net
sales.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

The Company's research and development activities are performed by an
internal research and development staff. The Company has a three-part strategy
in research and development. First, the Company continues to enhance its
existing PVS products to maintain its technological leadership in percutaneous
vascular surgery. Second, the Company plans to apply its core technology to the
closure of other arterial access sites including those for vascular grafts,
treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms and cardiac pulmonary support
procedures. Third, the Company is applying its core technology to other high
value surgical areas such as coronary anastomosis with its Heartflo system.
Research and development expenses for fiscal 1995, 1996 and 1997 were $3.1
million, $3.1 million and $4.7 million respectively and were $2.5 million for
the six-month period ending September 30, 1997.

MANUFACTURING

The Company currently manufactures its PVS products in a Class 10,000 clean
room facility in Menlo Park, California. The Company purchases components from
various suppliers and relies on single sources for several parts. To date, the
Company has not experienced any significant adverse affects resulting from
shortages of components. Delays associated with any future part shortages,
particularly as the Company scales up its manufacturing activities in support of
commercial sales in the United States and for international distributor orders,
would have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
condition and results of operations. The Company does not have experience in
manufacturing

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<PAGE>
its products in large-scale commercial quantities. Manufacturers often encounter
difficulties in scaling up production of new products, including problems
involving production yields, quality control and assurance, component supply and
lack of qualified personnel. Difficulties encountered by the Company in
manufacturing scale-up could have a material adverse effect on its business,
financial condition and results of operations.

The Company is also required to register as a medical device manufacturer
with the FDA and to list its products with the FDA. As such, the Company is
subject to inspections by the FDA for compliance with the FDA's good
manufacturing practices ("GMP") and other applicable regulations. In addition,
in connection with international sales, the Company is required to comply with
GMP requirements and ISO 9001 standards. These standards require that the
Company maintain processes and documentation in a prescribed manner with respect
to manufacturing, testing and quality control activities. Failure to either
attain or maintain compliance with the applicable regulatory requirements or
standards of various regulatory agencies would have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. See "Risk
Factors -- Limited Manufacturing Experience and Scale-Up Risk."

COMPETITION

Competition in the emerging market for arterial access site closure devices
is intense and is expected to continue to increase. The Company believes its
principal competition will come from conventional manual compression devices,
mechanical compression devices and collagen plug closure devices. Conventional
compression products are marketed by several companies that supply C-clamp
closure devices. C.R. Bard markets the Femostop compression arch, a cuff that
imposes pressure on the access site. Several new collagen-based closure devices
have been developed in response to the need for improved methods of arterial
access site closure following catheterization procedures. These collagen plug
devices are delivered through a sheath and placed at the site of the femoral
artery puncture. These collagen plugs rely on the body's clotting function,
which is enhanced by the presence of collagen, and may still require external
pressure to achieve closure of the arterial access site. In contrast, the
Company's percutaneous vascular surgery products provide a mechanical suture
closure which aids in the natural healing process and, like open surgical
repair, do not rely on the body's clotting function. Datascope and Kensey Nash
have received PMA approval from the FDA for products that use collagen plugs to
achieve hemostasis. American Home Products has exclusive worldwide distribution
rights to the Kensey Nash device. Several other companies are reported to be
developing or have tried to develop arterial closure devices, some of which have
an established presence in the field of interventional cardiology, including
Boston Scientific Corporation, C.R. Bard, Schneider (a subsidiary of Pfizer,
Inc.), United States Surgical Corporation and Guidant Corporation. In addition,
several companies are developing fibrin sealants for use as arterial access site
closure devices. The Company believes that the primary competitive factors in
the market for arterial closure devices are clinical need, complication rates,
efficacy, time to patient ambulation and discharge, ease of use and price. In
addition, the length of time required for products to be developed and to
receive regulatory and, in some cases, reimbursement approval are important
competitive factors.

Competition in the market for conventional and emerging minimally invasive
CABG surgical devices is also intense and is also expected to increase. In
September 1997, United States Surgical Corporation received FDA approval to
market an anastomosis device. The Company believes that other companies,
including major interventional cardiology device companies focused on both the
conventional and minimally invasive CABG markets, are currently attempting to
develop anastomosis devices.

Many of the Company's competitors have substantially greater name
recognition and financial resources than the Company and also have greater
resources and expertise in the areas of research and development, manufacturing,
marketing and regulatory affairs. There can be no assurance that the Company's
competitors will not succeed in developing and marketing technologies and
products that are more effective than those developed and marketed by the
Company or that would render the Company's technology and products obsolete or
noncompetitive. Additionally, there is no assurance that

25
<PAGE>
the Company will be able to compete effectively against such competitors in
terms of manufacturing, marketing and sales. Also, there can be no assurance
that the Company's products will be able to demonstrate clinical efficacy or
cost effectiveness advantages over competing products, or that clinical trials
will demonstrate such advantages.

In addition, the medical device market is generally characterized by rapid
and significant technological change and frequent emergence of new technologies,
products and procedures. There can be no assurance that any such new
technologies, products or procedures will not reduce the number of coronary
catheterization or CABG procedures performed. The Company's success will also
depend in part on its ability to respond quickly to medical and technological
changes through the development and introduction of new products. Product
development involves a high degree of risk and there can be no assurance that
the Company's new product development efforts will result in any commercially
successful products. The Company believes it competes favorably with respect to
these factors, although there is no assurance that it will be able to continue
to do so. See "Risk Factors -- Competition and Risk of Technological
Obsolescence."

PATENTS AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS

Perclose's policy is to protect its proprietary position by, among other
methods, filing United States and foreign patent applications to protect
technology, inventions and improvements that are important to its business. The
Company has three issued United States patents covering certain aspects of the
percutaneous suturing technology used in the Company's PVS products and has
exclusive licenses under two additional issued patents relating to a different
method of percutaneous suturing not currently employed by the Company's
products. The Company has seven United States patent applications pending in the
areas of device design, percutaneous suturing for vascular puncture sites and
accessory devices. The Company has also licensed, on a nonexclusive basis,
certain coating technology used in its products. Under the license, the Company
is obligated to pay royalties on sales of products using this coating
technology. The Company has filed two United States patent applications covering
its anastomosis products and intends to file additional patents in the future.
The Company has also filed several international patent applications
corresponding to certain of its United States patent applications.

The patent positions of medical device companies, including those of the
Company, are uncertain and involve complex and evolving legal and factual
questions. The coverage sought in a patent application either can be denied or
significantly reduced before or after the patent is issued. Consequently, there
can be no assurance that any patent applications will result in the issuance of
patents, or that the Company's issued or any future patents will provide
significant protection or commercial advantage or will not be circumvented by
others. Since patent applications are secret until patents are issued in the
United States or corresponding applications are published in international
countries, and since publication of discoveries in the scientific or patent
literature often lags behind actual discoveries, the Company cannot be certain
that it was the first to make the inventions covered by each of its pending
patent applications or that it was the first to file patent applications for
such inventions. There can be no assurance that patents held by or licensed to
the Company or any patents that may be issued as a result of the Company's
pending or future patent applications will be of commercial benefit, afford the
Company adequate protection from competing products or technologies or will not
be challenged by competitors or others or declared invalid. Also, there can be
no assurance that the Company will have the financial resources to defend its
patents from infringement or claims of invalidity.

In the event a third party has also filed a patent application relating to
an invention claimed in a Company patent application, the Company may be
required to participate in an interference proceeding declared by the USPTO to
determine priority of invention, which could result in substantial uncertainties
and costs to the Company, even if the eventual outcome is favorable to the
Company. There can be no assurance that any patents issued to the Company would
be held valid by a court of competent jurisdiction.

26
<PAGE>
The Company relies upon trade secret protection for certain unpatented
aspects of other proprietary technology. There is no assurance that others will
not independently develop or otherwise acquire substantially equivalent
proprietary information or techniques, others will not otherwise gain access to
the Company's proprietary technology or disclose such technology, or the Company
can meaningfully protect its trade secrets.

The Company typically requires its employees and consultants to execute
appropriate confidentiality and proprietary information agreements upon the
commencement of an employment or a consulting relationship with the Company.
These agreements generally provide that all confidential information developed
or made known to the individual by the Company during the course of the
individual's relationship with the Company is to be kept confidential and not
disclosed to third parties, except in specific circumstances. The agreements
generally provide that all inventions conceived by the individual in the course
of rendering services to the Company shall be the exclusive property of the
Company; however, certain of the Company's agreements with consultants, who
typically are employed on a full-time basis by academic institutions or
hospitals, do not contain assignment of invention provisions. There can be no
assurance, however, that these agreements will provide meaningful protection or
adequate remedies for the Company in the event of unauthorized use, transfer or
disclosure of such information or inventions. See "Risk Factors -- Reliance on
Patents and Protection of Proprietary Technology."

GOVERNMENT REGULATION

UNITED STATES REGULATION

The Company's products are regulated in the United States as "medical
devices" by the FDA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ("FDC Act")
and require premarket clearance or approval by the FDA prior to
commercialization. In addition, certain material changes or modifications to
medical devices also are subject to FDA review and clearance or approval.
Pursuant to the FDC Act, the FDA regulates the research, testing, manufacture,
safety, labeling, storage, record keeping, advertising, distribution and
production of medical devices in the United States. Noncompliance with
applicable requirements can result in warning letters, fines, injunctions, civil
penalties, recall or seizure of products, total or partial suspension of
production, failure of the government to grant premarket clearance or premarket
approval for devices, and criminal prosecution. Medical devices are classified
into one of three classes, Class I, II or III, on the basis of the controls
deemed by the FDA to be necessary to reasonably ensure their safety and
effectiveness. Class I devices are subject to general controls (e.g., labeling,
premarket notification and adherence to GMPs). Class II devices are subject to
general controls and to special controls (e.g., performance standards,
postmarket surveillance, patient registries and FDA guidelines). Generally,
Class III devices are those which must receive premarket approval by the FDA to
ensure their safety and effectiveness (e.g., life-sustaining, life-supporting
and implantable devices, or new devices which have not been found substantially
equivalent to legally marketed devices), and require clinical testing to ensure
safety and effectiveness and FDA approval prior to marketing and distribution.
The FDA also has the authority to require clinical testing of Class I and Class
II devices. A PMA application must be filed if the proposed device is not
substantially equivalent to a legally marketed predicate device or if it is a
preamendment Class III device (i.e. one that has been in commercial distribution
since before May 28, 1976) for which the FDA has called for such applications.

If human clinical trials of a device are required and if the device presents
a "significant risk," the manufacturer or the distributor of the device is
required to file an investigational device exemption ("IDE") application prior
to commencing human clinical trials. The IDE application must be supported by
data, typically including the results of animal and, possibly, mechanical
testing. If the IDE application is approved by the FDA, human clinical trials
may begin at a specific number of investigational sites with a maximum number of
patients, as approved by the agency. Sponsors of clinical trials are permitted
to sell those devices distributed in the course of the study provided such costs
do not exceed recovery of the

27
<PAGE>
costs of manufacture, research, development and handling. The clinical trials
must be conducted under the auspices of an independent institutional review
board ("IRB") established pursuant to FDA regulations.

Generally, before a new device can be introduced into the market in the
United States, the manufacturer or distributor must obtain FDA clearance of a
510(k) notification or approval of a PMA application. If a medical device
manufacturer or distributor can establish that a device is "substantially
equivalent" to a "predicate device" which is a legally marketed Class I or Class
II device or to a preamendment Class III device for which the FDA has not called
for PMAs, the manufacturer or distributor may seek clearance from the FDA to
market the device by submitting a 510(k) notification. The 510(k) notification
may need to be supported by appropriate data, including clinical data,
establishing the claim of substantial equivalence to the satisfaction of the
FDA. The FDA recently has been requiring a more rigorous demonstration of
substantial equivalence.

Following submission of the 510(k) notification, the manufacturer or
distributor may not place the device into commercial distribution until an order
is issued by the FDA. No law or regulation specifies the time limit by which the
FDA must respond to a 510(k) notification. At this time, the Company believes
that the FDA typically responds to the submission of a 510(k) notification
within 90 to 120 days, although it can take longer. An FDA order may declare
that the device is substantially equivalent to another legally marketed device
and allow the proposed device to be marketed in the United States. The FDA,
however, may determine that the proposed device is not substantially equivalent
or require further information, including clinical data, to make a determination
regarding substantial equivalence. Such determination or request for additional
information could delay market introduction of the products that are the subject
of the 510(k) notification.

If a manufacturer or distributor of medical devices cannot establish that a
proposed device is substantially equivalent to a predicate device, the
manufacturer or distributor must seek premarket approval of the proposed device
through submission of a PMA application. A PMA application must be supported by
extensive data, including preclinical and clinical trial data, as well as
extensive literature to prove the safety and effectiveness of the device.
Following receipt of a PMA application, if the FDA determines that the
application is sufficiently complete to permit a substantive review, the FDA
will "file" the application. Under the FDC Act, the FDA has 180 days to review a
PMA application, although the review of such an application more often occurs
over a protracted time period, and generally takes more than one year or more
from the date of filing to complete.

The PMA application approval process can be expensive, uncertain and
lengthy. A number of devices for which premarket approval has been sought have
never been approved for marketing. The review time is often significantly
extended by the FDA, which may require more information or clarification of
information already provided in the submission. During the review period, an
advisory committee likely will be convened to review and evaluate the
application and provide recommendations to the FDA as to whether the device
should be approved. In addition, the FDA will inspect the manufacturing facility
to ensure compliance with the FDA's GMP requirements prior to approval of an
application. If granted, the approval of the PMA application may include
significant limitations on the indicated uses for which a product may be
marketed.

In April 1997, the Company received PMA approval for commercial sale in the
United States of its Prostar 9F and 11F products. In November 1997, the Company
received PMA supplement approval for commercial sale in the United States of its
Techstar 6F and Techstar XL 6F products. In June 1997, the Company submitted to
the FDA a PMA supplement for the Prostar Plus 8F and 10F and Prostar XL 8F
products for sale in the United States. There can be no assurance that the
Company will be able to obtain further PMA application or PMA supplement
approvals to market its products, or any other products, on a timely basis, if
at all, and delays in receipt or failure to receive such approvals, the loss of
previously received approvals, or 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.

28
<PAGE>
In August 1997, a competitor of the Company petitioned the FDA for review of
the PMA approval granted to the Prostar 9F and 11F products. The petition was
filed pursuant to a provision of the FDC Act permitting any interested party to
initiate a process by which the FDA may review an approval order and may issue
an order affirming, reversing or modifying the approval. To the Company's
knowledge, the FDA has conducted a review pursuant to this provision only twice
since the enactment of the Medical Device Amendments of 1976. The Company
responded to the petition by submitting comments in September 1997 arguing that
the FDA should deny it. No assurance can be given that the FDA will not conduct
a review of the PMA approval granted to the Prostar 9F and 11F products, nor can
assurance be given that the FDA will not, after such review, issue an order
reversing or unfavorably modifying the original PMA approval. Any such action by
the FDA would have a material adverse effect on the Company.

The Company is also required to register as a medical device manufacturer
with the FDA and state agencies, such as the CDHS, and to list its products with
the FDA. The Company has been inspected by both the FDA and the CDHS for
compliance with the FDA's QS Reg. and other applicable regulations that require
the Company to manufacture its products according to elaborate testing, control
activities documentation and other quality assurance procedures. Further, the
Company is required to comply with various FDA requirements for design, safety,
advertising and labeling. In June 1995, the Company's Menlo Park, California
facility was inspected by the CDHS, and the Company was subsequently granted a
California medical device manufacturing license.

The Company is required to provide information to the FDA on death or
serious injuries alleged to have been associated with the use of its medical
devices, as well as product malfunctions that would likely cause or contribute
to death or serious injury if the malfunction were to recur. In addition, the
FDA prohibits an approved device from being marketed for unapproved
applications. If the FDA believes that a company is not in compliance with the
law, it can institute proceedings to detain or seize products, issue a recall,
enjoin future violations and assess civil and criminal penalties against the
company, its officers and its employees. Failure to comply with the regulatory
requirements could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition and results of operations.

The advertising of most FDA-regulated products is subject to both FDA and
Federal Trade Commission jurisdiction. The Company also is subject to regulation
by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and by other governmental
entities.

Regulations regarding the manufacture and sale of the Company's products are
subject to change. The Company cannot predict what impact, if any, such changes
might have on its business, financial condition or results of operations. See
"Risk Factors -- Government Regulation."

INTERNATIONAL REGULATION

International sales of the Company's products are subject to the regulatory
agency product registration requirements of each country. The regulatory review
process varies from country to country. The Company's distributors have obtained
regulatory approval in several international markets. At this time, the Prostar
8F and 10F and the Techstar 6F, 7F and 6FS products are being marketed in
Germany, France, Japan and other major countries under regulatory approvals
where required.

Commercial sales of medical devices, including the Company's PVS products,
in member countries of the European Union require the manufacturer to obtain the
right to affix the CE mark, an international symbol of adherence to quality
assurance standards and compliance with applicable European medical device
directives. In July 1996, the Company received CE mark certification for its
Techstar and Prostar PVS products. In connection with CE mark certification, the
Company received ISO 9001 qualification of its manufacturing and quality
assurance processes. Certification under the ISO 9000 series of standards is one
of the CE mark certification requirements.

The Company, through its Japanese distributor, has received regulatory
approval for commercial sale of its products in Japan and has commenced clinical
trials in Japan that will form the basis of an application for reimbursement
approvals in the Japanese health care system. The Company's distributor

29
<PAGE>
will be responsible for management of clinical trials and obtaining
reimbursement approval for the Prostar and Techstar products in Japan. There can
be no assurance such approvals will be obtained in a timely manner or at all.
See "Risk Factors -- Government Regulation."

THIRD-PARTY REIMBURSEMENT

In the United States, health care providers, such as hospitals and
physicians that purchase medical devices such as the Company's products,
generally rely on third-party payors, principally federal Medicare, state
Medicaid and private health insurance plans, to reimburse all or part of the
cost of therapeutic and diagnostic catheterization procedures. Reimbursement for
catheterization procedures performed using devices that have received FDA
approval has generally been available in the United States. The Company
anticipates that in a prospective payment system, such as the DRG system
utilized by Medicare, and in many managed care systems used by private health
care payors, the cost of the Company's products will be incorporated into the
overall cost of the procedure and that there will be no separate, additional
reimbursement for the Company's products. The Company anticipates that hospital
administrators and physicians will justify the additional cost of an arterial
access site closure device by the attendant cost savings and clinical benefits
derived from the use of the Company's products.

Separate reimbursement for the Company's products is not expected to be
available in the United States and there can be no assurance that reimbursement
for the Company's products will be available in international markets under
either governmental or private reimbursement systems. Furthermore, the Company
could be adversely affected by changes in reimbursement policies of governmental
or private health care payors, particularly to the extent any such changes
affect reimbursement for therapeutic or diagnostic catheterization procedures in
which the Company's products are used. Failure by physicians, hospitals and
other users of the Company's products to obtain sufficient reimbursement from
health care payors for procedures in which the Company's products are used or
adverse changes in governmental and private third-party payors' policies toward
reimbursement for such procedures could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.

In international markets, market acceptance of the Company's products may be
dependent in part upon the availability of reimbursement within prevailing
health care payment systems. However, in general, hospitals using the Company's
products do not receive specific, cost-based, direct reimbursement for the use
of Perclose PVS products. Reimbursement and health care payment systems in
international markets vary significantly by country. The main types of health
care payment systems in international markets are government sponsored health
care and private insurance. Countries with government sponsored health care,
such as the United Kingdom, have a centralized, nationalized health care system.
New devices are brought into the system through negotiations between departments
at individual hospitals at the time of budgeting. In most foreign countries,
there are also private insurance systems that may offer payments for alternative
therapies. Although not as prevalent as in the United States, health maintenance
organizations are emerging in certain European countries. Currently, users of
the Company's products in Germany have obtained reimbursement from certain
private payors. The Company's products have also been purchased by hospitals in
nationalized systems in the United Kingdom and Canada. The Company received
governmental reimbursement approvals for private hospitals in France that were
subsequently withdrawn in October 1996. The Company is attempting to restore its
reimbursement approvals with the French health care regulatory authorities. In
Japan, the Company is currently undertaking a clinical study to support
governmental reimbursement approvals. The Company may not receive reimbursement
approvals in Japan in a timely manner, or at all. The Company may seek
additional international reimbursement approvals, although there can be no
assurance that any such approvals will be obtained in a timely manner, or at
all, and failure to receive additional international reimbursement approvals
could have an adverse effect on market acceptance of the Company's products in
the international markets in which such approvals are sought. See "Risk Factors
- -- Uncertainty of Third-Party Reimbursement."

30
<PAGE>
PRODUCT LIABILITY AND INSURANCE

The Company's business involves the risk of product liability claims. The
Company has not experienced any product liability claims to date. Although the
Company maintains product liability insurance, there can be no assurance that
product liability claims will not exceed such insurance coverage limits, which
could have a material adverse effect on the Company, or that such insurance will
be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all.

EMPLOYEES

As of September 30, 1997, the Company had 136 full-time employees.
Approximately 14 persons were engaged in research and development activities, 57
persons were engaged in manufacturing and manufacturing engineering, 14 persons
were engaged in quality assurance and regulatory affairs, 39 persons were
engaged in sales and marketing and 12 persons were engaged in general and
administrative functions. No employees are covered by collective bargaining
agreements, and the Company believes it maintains good relations with its
employees. The Company is dependent upon a number of key management and
technical personnel, and the loss of services of one or more key employees could
have a material adverse effect on the Company.

FACILITIES

The Company leases an approximately 31,000 square foot facility in Menlo
Park, California. This facility includes an environmentally controlled, Class
10,000 clean room for device assembly together with warehouse, laboratory and
office space. The facility is leased under three separate leases which expire at
various times between September 1998 and March 1999. The Company is currently
negotiating an extension of its existing leases and is evaluating relocating to
a larger facility in 1999. The Company believes it will be able to satisfy its
facilities requirements on commercially reasonable terms.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company is not a party to any material pending legal proceedings.

31
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

The executive officers and directors of the Company and their ages as of
September 30, 1997 are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AGE POSITION
- -------------------------------------------- --- --------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
John B. Simpson, Ph.D., M.D.(1)(5).......... 53 Chairman of the Board
Henry A. Plain, Jr.(5)...................... 39 President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Randolph E. Campbell........................ 40 Vice President of Operations
Ronald W. Songer............................ 40 Vice President of Research and Development
Kenneth E. Ludlum........................... 44 Vice President of Finance and Administration and Chief
Financial Officer
Coy F. Blevins.............................. 49 Vice President of United States Sales
John G. McCutcheon.......................... 37 Vice President of Marketing and International Sales
Vaughn D. Bryson(1)(5)...................... 59 Director
Michael L. Eagle(2)(3)...................... 50 Director
Serge Lashutka(3)........................... 50 Director
James W. Vetter, M.D.(4).................... 40 Director
Mark A. Wan(1)(2)(4)........................ 32 Director
</TABLE>

- ---------

(1) Member of the Compensation Committee

(2) Member of the Audit Committee

(3) Class I director (defined below)

(4) Class II director (defined below)

(5) Class III director (defined below)

DR. SIMPSON co-founded Perclose in March 1992 and has served as Chairman of
the Board since the Company's inception. He has served as a Staff Cardiologist
at Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City, California since 1981. Dr. Simpson is a
professor of clinical medicine at Stanford University. Dr. Simpson founded
Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. ("ACS") in 1978 and Devices for Vascular
Intervention, Inc. ("DVI") in 1984, each of which are currently divisions of
Guidant Corporation. Dr. Simpson is a director of several privately held
companies. Dr. Simpson holds a B.S. in Agriculture from Ohio State University, a
Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Texas at Houston and an M.D.
from Duke University.

MR. PLAIN joined Perclose in February 1993 as President and Chief Executive
Officer and a member of the Company's board of directors. From 1981 until
joining the Company, Mr. Plain held various management positions in the
pharmaceutical, agricultural and medical device units of Eli Lilly and Company
("Lilly"), a diversified pharmaceutical and medical products company, including
Director of Marketing at DVI, then a subsidiary of Lilly, from 1991 to 1992. Mr.
Plain holds a B.S. in Finance from the University of Missouri.

MR. BLEVINS joined Perclose as Director of U.S. Sales in January 1994 and
was promoted to Vice President, U.S. Sales in July 1996. From 1990 through 1993,
Mr. Blevins was a Regional Sales Manager with DVI. Prior to 1990, Mr. Blevins
held various sales and sales management positions at Baxter Healthcare, Inc. Mr.
Blevins holds a B.S. in Accounting from Baylor University.

MR. CAMPBELL joined Perclose in January 1994 as Vice President of
Operations. From 1986 until joining the Company, Mr. Campbell held various
management positions at DVI, serving most recently as Director of Manufacturing
Engineering from 1992 to 1994 and previously as Director of Product Development
from 1990 to 1992. Mr. Campbell holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the
University of California at Berkeley.

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<PAGE>
MR. LUDLUM joined Perclose as Vice President of Finance and Administration
and Chief Financial Officer in May 1996. From November 1995 until joining
Perclose, Mr. Ludlum was an independent business and financial consultant to
health care and high growth companies. From November 1993 to November 1995, Mr.
Ludlum was Vice President, Finance & Administration and Chief Financial Officer
of RiboGene, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company. From December 1991 to November
1993, Mr. Ludlum was Vice President, Finance and Administration, Treasurer,
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Alteon Inc., a publicly traded
biopharmaceutical company developing therapies for diabetes. From 1986 to 1991,
Mr. Ludlum held various positions with Montgomery Securities in the health care
finance group. Mr. Ludlum holds a B.S. in business from Lehigh University and an
M.B.A. from Columbia Business School.

MR. MCCUTCHEON joined Perclose in January 1994 as Director of Marketing. In
July 1996, Mr. McCutcheon was promoted to Vice President, Marketing and in July
1997 was promoted to Vice President of Marketing and International Sales. From
1992 until joining the Company, Mr. McCutcheon was a Marketing Manager at DVI.
From 1985 to 1992, Mr. McCutcheon held positions in sales and marketing with the
Bentley Laboratories Division of Baxter Healthcare Corporation. Mr. McCutcheon
holds a B.A. in Economics and in Psychology and an M.B.A., both from the
University of California, Los Angeles.

MR. SONGER joined Perclose in April 1993 as Vice President of Research and
Development. From 1990 until joining Perclose, Mr. Songer was Director of
Catheter Systems Research and Development for the Spectranetics Corporation, a
manufacturer of laser atherectomy systems. Prior to joining Spectranetics, Mr.
Songer was Manager of Research and Development for the movable wire systems unit
of ACS. Mr. Songer holds a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering from the University of
California at Santa Barbara and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the
University of California at Berkeley.

MR. BRYSON has served as a Director of Perclose since January 1995. Mr.
Bryson is President of Life Science Advisors, a consulting firm focused on
assisting biopharmaceutical and medical device firms in building shareholder
value. From April 1994 to December 1996, Mr. Bryson served as Vice Chairman of
Vector Securities International, an investment bank. For 32 years, Mr. Bryson
was an employee of Lilly, where he served as Executive Vice President from 1986
until October 1991 and President and Chief Executive Officer from November 1991
to June 1993. He was a director of Lilly from 1984 until his retirement in 1993.
Mr. Bryson is a director of Ariad Pharmaceuticals, Chiron Corporation, Endo
Vascular Technologies, Fusion Medical Technologies, NaPro Bio Therapeutics and
Quintiles Transnational Corporation.

MR. EAGLE has served as a Director of Perclose since September 1996. He has
held various management positions in Lilly's pharmaceutical and medical device
units since 1983 and currently serves as Vice President, Manufacturing. From
June 1993 until January 1994, he served as Vice President of pharmaceutical
manufacturing for Lilly and from January 1991 until June 1993 he served as Vice
President of the vascular intervention component of the Medical Devices and
Diagnostics Division of Lilly. From 1988 to 1991, Mr. Eagle was President and
Chief Executive Officer of IVAC Corporation, a Lilly subsidiary. From 1983 to
1988, he held various positions with ACS, a former Lilly subsidiary, serving
most recently as Senior Vice President of Manufacturing from 1985 to 1988. Mr.
Eagle holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from GMI Engineering and Management
Institute and an M.S. in Industrial Administration from Purdue University.

MR. LASHUTKA has served as a Director of Perclose since September 1996. He
is currently a Manager of Organizational Development of Unocal Corporation, a
major oil, gas and chemical company. From 1993 to 1996, Mr. Lashutka was
Director, Organization Development, and Senior Consultant of Pacific Health
Systems, Inc., a managed health care organization. From 1979 to 1993, he was
Manager of the Organization Effectiveness Department at the Kaiser Permanente
Medical Care Program, a major managed health care organization operating in
California. Mr. Lashutka holds a B.A. from Ohio State University, an M.A. in
Psychology from the United States International University and an M.B.A. from
the University of California at Berkeley.

33
<PAGE>
DR. VETTER is a co-founder of the Company and has served as a Director of
the Company and a consultant and medical advisor to the Company since its
inception. Since 1989, Dr. Vetter has served as a Staff Cardiologist at Sequoia
Hospital in Redwood City, California. Dr. Vetter holds a B.A. in Biology and
Chemistry from Augustana College and an M.D. from the University of Wisconsin.

MR. WAN has served as a Director of Perclose since September 1992. He has
been a General Partner of Three Arch Partners, a venture capital firm
specializing in health care investments, since October 1993. From 1987 to 1993,
Mr. Wan held various positions at Brentwood Associates, a venture capital firm,
most recently as a General Partner. Mr. Wan has been involved in the formation
of several privately held, venture capital-backed health care companies and
serves as a director of several privately held companies. Mr. Wan holds a B.S.
in Electrical Engineering and a B.A. in Economics from Yale University and an
M.B.A. from Stanford University.

Currently all directors hold office until the next annual meeting of
stockholders and until their successors have been duly elected and qualified.
The Company's board of directors has been divided into three classes. The terms
of office of the Company's Class I, Class II and Class III directors expire on
the annual meetings of stockholders in 1999, 2000, and 1998 respectively. The
board of directors has a compensation committee, which establishes compensation
policies and is responsible for determinations regarding cash and equity
compensation for executive officers, and an audit committee, which is
responsible for reviewing the scope of and work performed by the Company's
independent auditors. Officers are elected by and serve at the discretion of the
board of directors. There are no family relationships among the directors or
officers of the Company.

34
<PAGE>
UNDERWRITING

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement, the
Underwriters named below (the "Underwriters"), through their Representatives, BT
Alex. Brown Incorporated and Piper Jaffray Inc., have severally agreed to
purchase from the Company the following respective number of shares of Common
Stock at the public offering price less the underwriting discounts and
commissions set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
UNDERWRITER SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------
<S> <C>
BT Alex. Brown Incorporated...................................................... 480,000
Piper Jaffray Inc................................................................ 320,000
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc....................................................... 50,000
UBS Securities LLC............................................................... 50,000
Vector Securities International, Inc............................................. 50,000
Wessels, Arnold & Henderson, L.L.C............................................... 50,000
-----------
Total............................................................................ 1,000,000
-----------
-----------
</TABLE>

The Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligations of the Underwriters
are subject to certain conditions precedent and that the Underwriters will
purchase all shares of the Common Stock offered hereby if any of such shares are
purchased.

The Company has been advised by the Representatives of the Underwriters that
the Underwriters propose to offer the shares of Common Stock to the public at
the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus and to
certain dealers at such price less a concession not in excess of $.72 per share.
The Underwriters may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a concession not in
excess of $.10 per share to certain other dealers. After the public offering,
the offering price and other selling terms may be changed by the
Representatives.

The Company has granted to the Underwriters an option, exercisable not later
than 30 days after the date of this Prospectus, to purchase up to 150,000
additional shares of Common Stock at the public offering price less the
underwriting discounts and commissions set forth on the cover page of this
Prospectus. To the extent that the Underwriters exercise such option, each of
the Underwriters will have a firm commitment to purchase approximately the same
percentage thereof that the number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased by
it shown in the above table bears to 1,000,000 and the Company will be
obligated, pursuant to the option, to sell such shares to the Underwriters. The
Underwriters may exercise such option only to cover over-allotments made in
connection with the sale of Common Stock offered hereby. If purchased, the
Underwriters will offer such additional shares on the same terms as those on
which the 1,000,000 shares are being offered.

The Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

The Representatives of the Underwriters have advised the Company that the
Underwriters do not intend to confirm sales to any account over which they
exercise discretionary authority.

The Company, its executive officers and directors have agreed not to offer,
sell, pledge, contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of any Common Stock for a
period of 90 days after the date of this Prospectus without the prior consent of
BT Alex. Brown Incorporated.

The Underwriters have advised the Company that, as permitted by Regulation M
under the Exchange Act, certain persons participating in this offering may
engage in transactions, including stabilizing bids, syndicate covering
transactions or the imposition of penalty bids, which may have the effect of
stabilizing or maintaining the market price of the Common Stock at a level above
that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. A "stabilizing bid" is a
bid for or the purchase of Common Stock on behalf of the Underwriters for the
purpose of fixing or maintaining the price of the Common Stock. A "syndicate

35
<PAGE>
covering transaction" is the bid for or the purchase of the Common Stock on
behalf of the Underwriters to reduce a short position incurred by the
Underwriters in connection with the offering. A "penalty bid" is an arrangement
permitting the Underwriters to reclaim the selling concession otherwise accruing
to an Underwriter or dealer in connection with the offering if the Common Stock
originally sold by such Underwriter or dealer is purchased by the Underwriters
in a syndicate covering transaction and has therefore not been effectively
placed by such Underwriter or dealer. The Underwriters have advised the Company
that such transactions may be effected on the Nasdaq National Market or
otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

As permitted by Rule 103 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act,
Underwriters or prospective Underwriters that are market makers ("passive market
makers") in the Common Stock may make bids for or purchases of Common Stock on
the Nasdaq National Market until such time, if any, when a stabilizing bid for
such securities has been made. Rule 103 generally provides that: (i) a passive
market maker's net daily purchases of the Common Stock may not exceed 30% of its
average daily trading volume in such securities for the two full consecutive
calendar months (or any 60 consecutive days ending within the 10 days)
immediately preceding the filing date of the Registration Statement of which
this Prospectus forms a part, or 200 shares, whichever is greater; (ii) a
passive market maker may not effect transactions or display bids for the Common
Stock at a price that exceeds the highest independent bid for the Common Stock
by persons who are not passive market makers; and (iii) bids made by passive
market makers must be identified as such.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the Common Stock offered hereby will be passed upon for the
Company by Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation, Palo
Alto, California. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the Underwriters
by Venture Law Group, A Professional Corporation, Menlo Park, California. As of
the date of this Prospectus, members of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati,
Professional Corporation who have represented the Company in connection with
this offering, beneficially own 3,005 shares of the Company's Common Stock. J.
Casey McGlynn is Secretary of the Company and a member of Wilson Sonsini
Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation.

EXPERTS

The financial statements of Perclose, Inc. incorporated by reference in the
Company's Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended March 31, 1997, have been
audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their report
thereon incorporated by reference therein. Such financial statements are
incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given upon the
authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

The Company is subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act,
and in accordance therewith files reports, proxy statements and other
information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such
reports, proxy statements and other information filed by the Company can be
inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the
Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20549, and at
the Commission's Regional Offices located at Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison
Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661 and 7 World Trade Center, Suite
1300, New York, New York 10048. Copies of such material can be obtained from the
Public Reference Section of the Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington,
D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. The Commission maintains a World Wide Web site
that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information
regarding registrants that file electronically with the Commission. The address
of the World Wide Web site is http://www.sec.gov.

The Company has filed with the Commission a registration statement on Form
S-3 (herein, together with all amendments and exhibits, referred to as the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act

36
<PAGE>
of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to the shares of Common
Stock offered hereby. This Prospectus, which constitutes part of the
Registration Statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the
Registration Statement, certain parts of which are omitted in accordance with
the rules and regulations of the Commission. For further information with
respect to the Company and the shares of Common Stock offered hereby, reference
is made to the Registration Statement and the exhibits and the financial
statements, notes and schedules filed as a part thereof or incorporated by
reference therein, which may be inspected at the public reference facilities of
the Commission at the addresses set forth above or through the Commission's
World Wide Web site.

Statements contained in this Prospectus as to the contents of any contract
or other document are not necessarily complete, and in each instance are
qualified in all respects by reference to the copy of such contract or document
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

37
<PAGE>
- -------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------

NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING MADE HEREBY TO
GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION NOT CONTAINED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE
RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR ANY UNDERWRITER. THIS
PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF ANY OFFER
TO BUY ANY OF THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY TO ANY PERSON OR BY ANYONE IN ANY
JURISDICTION IN WHICH IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION. 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 DATE SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE HEREOF.

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

TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
-----
<S> <C>
Incorporation of Certain Documents by
Reference.................................... 2
Prospectus Summary............................. 3
Risk Factors................................... 6
The Company.................................... 14
Use of Proceeds................................ 14
Price Range of Common Stock and Dividend
Policy....................................... 14
Capitalization................................. 15
Selected Financial Data........................ 16
Business....................................... 17
Management..................................... 32
Underwriting................................... 35
Legal Matters.................................. 36
Experts........................................ 36
Available Information.......................... 36
</TABLE>

1,000,000 SHARES

[LOGO]

COMMON STOCK

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

BT ALEX. BROWN

PIPER JAFFRAY INC.

November 20, 1997

- -------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 13. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

The following table sets forth the costs and expenses, other than
underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by the Company in connection
with the sale of Common Stock being registered. All amounts are estimates except
the SEC registration fee and the NASD filing fee.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
SEC registration fee.................................................................................. $ 8,189
NASD filing fee....................................................................................... 3,203
Nasdaq National Market listing fee.................................................................... 17,500
Printing and engraving costs.......................................................................... 100,000
Legal fees and expenses............................................................................... 150,000
Accounting fees and expenses.......................................................................... 50,000
Blue Sky fees and expenses............................................................................ 10,000
Transfer Agent and Registrar fees..................................................................... 3,500
Miscellaneous expenses................................................................................ 7,608
----------
Total............................................................................................. $ 350,000
----------
----------
</TABLE>

ITEM 14. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits a corporation to
include in its charter documents, and in agreements between the corporation and
its directors and officers, provisions expanding the scope of indemnification
beyond that specifically provided by the current law.

Article VIII of the Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation provides for
the indemnification of directors to the fullest extent permissible under
Delaware law.

Article VI of the Registrant's Bylaws provides for the indemnification of
officers, directors and third parties acting on behalf of the corporation if
such person acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in and
not opposed to the best interest of the corporation, and, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, the indemnified party had no reason to believe
his conduct was unlawful.

The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with its
directors and executive officers, in addition to indemnification provided for in
the Registrant's Bylaws, and intends to enter into indemnification agreements
with any new directors and executive officers in the future.

II-1
<PAGE>
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

(A) EXHIBITS

<TABLE>
<C> <S> <C>
1.1* Underwriting Agreement.

3.3(1) Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.

3.5(1) Bylaws of the Registrant.

5.1* Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation.

23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.

23.2* Consent of Counsel (Included in Exhibit 5.1).

24.1* Power of Attorney (see page II-3).

27.1* Financial Data Schedule
</TABLE>

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

(1) Exhibit incorporated by reference to like numbered exhibit to Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration Number 33-97128).

(*) Exhibit previously filed.

ITEM 16. UNDERTAKINGS

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the Underwriters
at the closing specified in the Underwriting Agreement certificates in such
denominations and registered in such names as required by the Underwriters to
permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.

Insofar as indemnification by the Registrant for liabilities arising under
the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the provisions referenced in Item 14 of
this Registration Statement 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, 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 hereunder, 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 and will be governed by
the final adjudication of such issue.

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that:

(1) For purposes of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933,
each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or
section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable,
each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference
in the registration statement 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.

(2) To deliver or cause to be delivered with the prospectus, to each person
to whom the prospectus was sent or given, the latest annual report to security
holders that is incorporated by reference in the prospectus and furnished
pursuant to and meeting the requirements of Rule 14a-3 or Rule 14c-3 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and, where interim financial information
required to be presented by Article 3 of regulation S-X are not set forth in the
prospectus, to deliver, or cause to be delivered to each

II-2
<PAGE>
ITEM 16. UNDERTAKINGS (CONTINUED)
person to whom the prospectus is sent or given, the latest quarterly report that
is specifically incorporated by reference in the prospectus to provide such
interim financial information.

(3) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, 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.

(4) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act,
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-3
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant has duly
caused this Post-effective amendment to Registration Statement to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Menlo
Park, State of California, on the 24th day of November, 1997.

PERCLOSE, INC.

By: /s/ HENRY A. PLAIN, JR.*

-----------------------------------
Henry A. Plain, Jr.,
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this
Post-effective amendment to Registration Statement has been signed by the
following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
- ------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------- ----------------------

<C> <S> <C>
/s/ HENRY A. PLAIN, JR.* President, Chief Executive Officer and
-------------------------------------- Director (Principal Executive November 24, 1997
Henry A. Plain, Jr. Officer)

/s/ KENNETH E. LUDLUM Vice President and Chief Financial
-------------------------------------- Officer (Principal Financial and November 24, 1997
Kenneth E. Ludlum Accounting Officer)

/s/ VAUGHN D. BRYSON*
-------------------------------------- Director November 24, 1997
Vaughn D. Bryson

/s/ MICHAEL L. EAGLE*
-------------------------------------- Director November 24, 1997
Michael L. Eagle

/s/ SERGE LASHUTKA*
-------------------------------------- Director November 24, 1997
Serge Lashutka

/s/ JOHN B. SIMPSON, PH.D., M.D.*
-------------------------------------- Director November 24, 1997
John B. Simpson, Ph.D., M.D.

/s/ JAMES W. VETTER, M.D.*
-------------------------------------- Director November 24, 1997
James W. Vetter, M.D.

/s/ MARK A. WAN*
-------------------------------------- Director November 24, 1997
Mark A. Wan
</TABLE>

*By: /s/ KENNETH E. LUDLUM
- --------------------------------------
Attorney-in-fact

II-4
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBITS
- -----------
<C> <S>
1.1* Underwriting Agreement.
3.3(1) Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company
3.5(1) Bylaws of the Registrant
5.1* Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation.
23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.
23.2* Consent of Counsel included in Exhibit 5.1.
24.1* Power of Attorney (See page II-3).
27.1* Financial Data Schedule
</TABLE>

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

(1) Exhibit incorporated by reference to like numbered exhibit to Registrant's
Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration Number 33-97128).

(*) Exhibit previously filed.

<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23.1

CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the reference to our firm under the captions "Selected
Financial Data" and "Experts" in the Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the
Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-39621) and related Prospectus of
Perclose, Inc. for the registration of 1,150,000 shares of its common stock and
to the incorporation by reference therein of our reports dated April 25, 1997,
with respect to the financial statements of Perclose, Inc. incorporated by
reference in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended March 31, 1997 and
the related financial statement schedule included therein, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.

ERNST & YOUNG LLP

San Jose, California
November 24, 1997