AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MAY 13, 1996
 
                                                    REGISTRATION NO. 333-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                            ------------------------
                                    FORM S-1
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                             ---------------------
                                PRINTWARE, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 

                                                            
           MINNESOTA                           3577                             41-1522267
(State or other jurisdiction of    (Primary Standard Industrial    (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 incorporation or organization)    Classification Code Number)

 
                            ------------------------
 
                           1270 EAGAN INDUSTRIAL ROAD
                               ST. PAUL, MN 55121
                                 (612) 456-1400
              (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
       including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
                            ------------------------
 
                             DANIEL A. BAKER, PH.D.
                                PRINTWARE, INC.
                           1270 EAGAN INDUSTRIAL ROAD
                               ST. PAUL, MN 55121
                                 (612) 456-1400
           (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)
                            ------------------------
 
                                    COPY TO:
 
       Richard D. McNeil, Esq.               Michele D. Vaillancourt, Esq.
        Mary S. Giesler, Esq.                  Trevor V. Gunderson, Esq.
     Lindquist & Vennum P.L.L.P.               Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A.
           4200 IDS Center                      3000 Dain Bosworth Plaza
         80 South 8th Street                     60 South Sixth Street
     Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402             Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
            (612) 371-3211                           (612) 347-0700
 
                            ------------------------
 
          APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO PUBLIC:
AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT.
                            ------------------------
 
    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, 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
 


                                                               PROPOSED            PROPOSED
         TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF            AMOUNT TO BE    MAXIMUM OFFERING   MAXIMUM AGGREGATE      AMOUNT OF
      SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED         REGISTERED (1)  PRICE PER UNIT (2)  OFFERING PRICE (2)  REGISTRATION FEE
                                                                                      
Common Stock, no par value..............    1,840,000           $7.00            $12,880,000         $4,441.02

 
(1)  Includes  240,000 shares  of  Common Stock  issuable  upon exercise  of the
    Underwriters' over-allotment option.
 
(2) Estimated  solely  for  the  purpose of  calculating  the  registration  fee
    pursuant to Rule 457.
                            ------------------------
 
    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 SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                PRINTWARE, INC.
 
                             CROSS REFERENCE SHEET
 
                   PURSUANT TO ITEM 501(B) OF REGULATION S-K
 


ITEM NUMBER AND CAPTION                                                          LOCATION IN PROSPECTUS
- ----------------------------------------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------
                                                            
1.         Forepart of the Registration Statement and Outside
            Front Cover Page of Prospectus......................  Outside Front Cover Page; Inside Front Cover Page
 
2.         Inside Front and Outside Back Cover Pages of
            Prospectus..........................................  Inside Front Cover Page; Additional Information;
                                                                   Outside Back Cover Page
 
3.         Summary Information, Risk Factors and Ratio of
            Earnings to Fixed Charges...........................  Outside Front Cover Page; Prospectus Summary; Risk
                                                                   Factors
 
4.         Use of Proceeds......................................  Prospectus Summary; Use of Proceeds
 
5.         Determination of Offering Price......................  Outside Front Cover Page; Underwriting
 
6.         Dilution.............................................  Dilution
 
7.         Selling Security Holders.............................  Principal and Selling Shareholders; Outside Front
                                                                   Cover Page; Inside Front Cover Page; Underwriting
 
8.         Plan of Distribution.................................  Outside Front Cover Page; Underwriting
 
9.         Description of Securities to be Registered...........  Prospectus Summary; Dividend Policy; Capitalization;
                                                                   Description of Capital Stock
 
10.        Interest of Named Experts and Counsel................  Not Applicable
 
11.        Information with Respect to the Registrant...........  Outside Front Cover Page; Prospectus Summary; Risk
                                                                   Factors; Capitalization; Selected Financial Data;
                                                                   Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
                                                                   Condition and Results of Operations; Business;
                                                                   Management; Certain Transactions; Principal and
                                                                   Selling Shareholders; Description of Capital Stock
 
12.        Disclosure of Commission Position on Indemnification
            for Securities Act Liabilities......................  Not Applicable


INFORMATION   CONTAINED  HEREIN  IS  SUBJECT   TO  COMPLETION  OR  AMENDMENT.  A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT  RELATING TO  THESE SECURITIES  HAS BEEN  FILED WITH  THE
SECURITIES  AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES  MAY NOT BE  SOLD NOR MAY
OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR  TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT  BECOMES
EFFECTIVE.  THIS  PROSPECTUS  SHALL  NOT  CONSTITUTE AN  OFFER  TO  SELL  OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE  SECURITIES
IN  ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER,  SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR
TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.

                   SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MAY 13, 1996
PROSPECTUS
 
                                1,600,000 SHARES
 
                                     [LOGO]
 
                                  COMMON STOCK
                                ----------------
 
    Of the 1,600,000 shares of Common Stock offered hereby, 1,200,000 are  being
sold  by Printware, Inc.  ("Printware" or the "Company")  and 400,000 shares are
being  sold   by  the   Selling  Shareholders.   See  "Principal   and   Selling
Shareholders." The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of
the shares by the Selling Shareholders.
 
    Prior to this offering (the "Offering"), there has been no public market for
the Common Stock of the Company and no assurance can be given that a market will
develop  or be maintained after the Offering. It is currently estimated that the
initial public offering  price will be  between $6.00 and  $7.00 per share.  See
"Underwriting"  for  the factors  considered in  determining the  initial public
offering price. The Company has applied for  listing of the Common Stock on  the
Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "PRTW."
                             ---------------------
 
    THE  COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY  INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE  OF RISK. SEE "RISK
FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 5 OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
                              -------------------
 
       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 REPRE  SENTATION TO
                      THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 


                                                                                               PROCEEDS TO
                                     PRICE TO          UNDERWRITING        PROCEEDS TO           SELLING
                                      PUBLIC           DISCOUNT(1)          COMPANY(2)         SHAREHOLDERS
                                                                                
   Per Share..................          $                   $                   $                   $
    Total(3)..................          $                   $                   $                   $

 
(1) The Company and the Selling Shareholders,  on a pro rata basis, have  agreed
    to  pay R. J. Steichen & Company,  as the representative of the Underwriters
    (the "Representative"), a nonaccountable expense allowance equal to 2.0%  of
    the  total Price to  Public for all  shares purchased. The  Company has also
    agreed to sell to the Representative, for nominal consideration, a five-year
    warrant (the "Representative's Warrant") to purchase up to 120,000 shares of
    Common Stock exercisable at a price per share equal to 120% of the per share
    Price to Public.  The Company and  the Selling Shareholders  have agreed  to
    indemnify  the Underwriters  against certain  liabilities, including certain
    liabilities  under   the   Securities  Act   of   1933,  as   amended.   See
    "Underwriting."
 
(2)  Before  deducting estimated  offering expenses  payable of  $393,000, which
    includes the portion  of the nonaccountable  expense allowance described  in
    Note 1 above which is being paid by the Company.
 
(3)  The Company  and the Selling  Shareholders have granted  the Underwriters a
    30-day option to purchase  up to 240,000 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 Discount, Proceeds to  Company and Proceeds to Selling
    Shareholders will be $       , $       , $       and $       , respectively.
    See "Underwriting."
 
    The shares  of Common  Stock are  offered  by the  Underwriters on  a  "firm
commitment"  basis  subject to  prior  sale when,  as  and if  delivered  to and
accepted by the  Underwriters and  subject to their  right to  reject orders  in
whole  or in part.  It is expected that  delivery of the  shares of Common Stock
will be made on or about            , 1996 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
                                     [LOGO]
 
                The date of this Prospectus is            , 1996

 
                         [Inside Front Cover Graphics]
 
Photo:                      Printware's Model 3240 Platesetter
 
Text above photo:           Printware, Inc. is a leader in Computer-to-Plate
                             Systems, which produce offset printing plates
                             faster and less expensively than traditional
                             methods.
 
Text below photo:           Printware's Model 3240 Platesetter, sold under the
                             Mitsubishi name, produces photographic offset
                             printing plates directly from a computer.
 
    PRIOR TO THIS OFFERING,  THE COMPANY HAS NOT  BEEN SUBJECT TO THE  REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS  OF THE SECURITIES  EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.  AFTER COMPLETION OF THIS
OFFERING, THE COMPANY INTENDS TO DISTRIBUTE TO ITS STOCKHOLDERS AN ANNUAL REPORT
CONTAINING  AUDITED  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  AND  QUARTERLY  REPORTS   CONTAINING
UNAUDITED  FINANCIAL INFORMATION  FOR THE  FIRST THREE  QUARTERS OF  EACH FISCAL
YEAR.
 
    IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING,  THE UNDERWRITER MAY OVER-ALLOT OR  EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK OF
THE  COMPANY AT  A LEVEL ABOVE  THAT WHICH  MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL  IN THE OPEN
MARKET. SUCH TRANSACTIONS MAY BE EFFECTED ON THE NASDAQ NATIONAL MARKET, IN  THE
OVER-THE-COUNTER  MARKET OR  OTHERWISE. SUCH  STABILIZING, IF  COMMENCED, MAY BE
DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
 
                                       2

                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
 
    THE  FOLLOWING SUMMARY INFORMATION IS QUALIFIED  IN ITS ENTIRETY BY THE MORE
DETAILED INFORMATION  AND  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  AND  NOTES  THERETO  APPEARING
ELSEWHERE  IN THIS  PROSPECTUS. SEE "RISK  FACTORS" FOR A  DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN
FACTORS  TO  BE  CONSIDERED  BY  PROSPECTIVE  INVESTORS.  EXCEPT  AS   OTHERWISE
INDICATED,  ALL INFORMATION  IN THIS PROSPECTUS  (I) ASSUMES NO  EXERCISE OF THE
UNDERWRITERS' OVER-ALLOTMENT OPTION, (II) DOES NOT INCLUDE UP TO 120,000  SHARES
OF  COMMON STOCK  ISSUABLE UPON  EXERCISE OF  THE REPRESENTATIVE'S  WARRANT, AND
(III) REFLECTS A ONE-FOR-FOUR REVERSE SPLIT OF THE COMMON STOCK EFFECTIVE  APRIL
25,  1996. SEE "DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL  STOCK." THIS PROSPECTUS CONTAINS FORWARD
LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT  INVOLVE RISKS AND  UNCERTAINTIES. THE COMPANY'S  ACTUAL
RESULTS   MAY   DIFFER  SIGNIFICANTLY   FROM  THE   RESULTS  DISCUSSED   IN  THE
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
    Printware, Inc. ("Printware" or the  "Company") designs, builds and  markets
"Computer-to-Plate"  systems which are  used by the  offset printing industry to
create printing plates directly  from computer data.  These systems replace  the
traditional process of typesetting, paste-up, camera work and processing film to
produce  a printing plate. Computer-to-Plate  technology provides one-step plate
making (including  text,  graphics  and photographic  halftones)  directly  from
computer  data,  much  as a  laser  printer  makes printed  pages  directly from
computer data. The key benefits of Computer-to-Plate technology are lower costs,
faster turnaround  times,  fewer pieces  of  equipment and  fewer  environmental
limitations   on  disposal  of  by-products.  The  key  hardware  element  of  a
Computer-to-Plate  system   is  called   a   Platesetter.  The   Company   sells
Platesetters,  supplies for use in Platesetters  and raster image processors for
connecting the Platesetter to the customer's computer network. Sales of supplies
accounted for approximately 55% of the Company's 1995 revenues.
 
    The  Company  is   a  leader   in  the  development   and  introduction   of
Computer-to-Plate  systems. To date the Company  has sold over 300 Platesetters,
which it  believes is  more  than any  other  single competitor.  The  Company's
marketing strategy is to offer a wide range of Computer-to-Plate products to the
broad  market of "mainstream" printers  who use small format  (18" wide or less)
presses, typically for high-volume printing applications such as check printing,
social printing  (such  as  wedding  invitations)  and  envelope  printing.  The
Company's   customers  include  leading  printers  such  as  Deluxe  Corporation
("Deluxe"),  Pitney  Bowes,  Thomson  Publishing,  Liberty  Check  Printers  and
Northrup-Grumman.
 
    The  Company  currently manufactures  two lines  of Platesetters  in various
configurations. The end-user price ranges from $75,000 to $150,000 for the Model
1440, depending on the configuration, and from $85,000 to $100,000 for the Model
3240. The Company markets the  Model 1440 through its  own sales force, and  the
Model 3240 is marketed by Mitsubishi Imaging (MC), Inc. ("Mitsubishi") under its
name.  Both  of  these  Platesetter  lines  use  patented  resonant galvanometer
technology  which  was  licensed  to   the  Company  by  Minnesota  Mining   and
Manufacturing Company ("3M") when the Company was organized in 1985. In 1993 the
Company  began to focus exclusively on Computer-to-Plate products and phased out
its other products. This  resulted in a reduction  in revenue but a  significant
improvement in profitability in 1994 and 1995.
 
    The  Company is  incorporated in Minnesota  and has  its principal executive
office and  manufacturing facility  at  1270 Eagan  Industrial Road,  St.  Paul,
Minnesota 55121. Its telephone number is (612) 456-1400.
 
                                       3

                                  THE OFFERING
 

                                            
COMMON STOCK OFFERED BY THE COMPANY..........  1,200,000 shares
COMMON STOCK OFFERED BY THE SELLING
 SHAREHOLDERS................................  400,000 shares
COMMON STOCK OUTSTANDING AFTER THE
 OFFERING....................................  4,829,713 shares(1)
USE OF PROCEEDS..............................  Product  development, sales and marketing and
                                                working capital
PROPOSED NASDAQ NATIONAL MARKET SYMBOL.......  PRTW

 
- ---------------------------
 
(1) Does not  include, as of  March 30,  1996 (i) 135,567  shares issuable  upon
    exercise  of stock options  held by executive officers  and employees of the
    Company, (ii) 120,000 shares issuable upon exercise of the  Representative's
    Warrant,  and (iii) 5,000 shares issuable  upon exercise of warrants held by
    Deluxe.
 
                           RISK FACTORS AND DILUTION
 
    An investment in the Common Stock involves a high degree of risk. See  "Risk
Factors."  Purchasers will experience immediate  and substantial dilution in net
tangible book value per share. See "Dilution."
 
                             SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA
 


                                                THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                            --------------------------           YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                             MARCH 30,      APRIL 1,    -----------------------------------------
                                                1996          1995          1995          1994          1993
                                            ------------  ------------  ------------  ------------  -------------
                                                                                     
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
  Revenues................................  $  1,832,013  $  1,807,623  $  8,388,148  $  6,626,925  $   7,296,484
  Gross margin............................       721,967       806,752     3,384,192     2,524,524      1,951,965
  Income (loss) from operations...........       304,555       330,105     1,554,183       622,184     (1,213,897)
  Net income (loss)(1)....................       330,898       326,483     1,793,425       784,029     (1,204,707)
  Net income (loss) per common and common
   equivalent share(1)....................      $.09          $.09          $.48          $.21         $(.33)
  Weighted average common and common
   equivalent shares outstanding(2).......     3,705,403     3,705,627     3,705,627     3,685,580      3,635,226

 


                                                                                         AS OF MARCH 30, 1996
                                                                                     -----------------------------
                                                                                        ACTUAL     AS ADJUSTED(3)
                                                                                     ------------  ---------------
                                                                                             
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
  Cash and cash equivalents........................................................  $  2,795,856   $   9,695,856
  Working capital..................................................................     4,491,641      11,391,641
  Total assets.....................................................................     5,396,406      12,296,406
  Shareholders' equity.............................................................     4,655,666      11,555,666

 
- ---------------------------
 
(1) Net income in 1994 includes an extraordinary item of $140,927, consisting of
    a gain  on  extinguishment  of  debt.  The  income  per  common  and  common
    equivalent share attributable to such extraordinary gain was $.04.
 
(2)  See Note 1 to Financial Statements  for an explanation of the determination
    of weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding.
 
(3) As adjusted to reflect the sale  of shares offered hereby, assuming a  Price
    to  Public of  $6.50 per  share, and  the application  of the  estimated net
    proceeds therefrom of $6.9 million. See "Use of Proceeds" and  "Management's
    Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
 
                                       4

                                  RISK FACTORS
 
    AN  INVESTMENT IN THE COMMON STOCK OFFERED  HEREBY INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF
RISK. IN EVALUATING THE COMPANY  AND ITS BUSINESS, PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS  SHOULD
CAREFULLY  CONSIDER  THE  FOLLOWING  RISK  FACTORS  IN  ADDITION  TO  THE  OTHER
INFORMATION  IN  THIS  PROSPECTUS.  THIS  PROSPECTUS  CONTAINS  FORWARD  LOOKING
STATEMENTS  WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 27A  OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND
SECTION 21E OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934. ACTUAL RESULTS COULD  DIFFER
SIGNIFICANTLY  FROM  THOSE  PROJECTED IN  THE  FORWARD LOOKING  STATEMENTS  AS A
RESULT, IN PART, OF THE RISK FACTORS SET FORTH BELOW.
 
    DEPENDENCE ON CERTAIN CUSTOMERS.   The Company is  heavily dependent on  two
customers, Deluxe and Mitsubishi. Sales to these customers represented 41.7% and
17.5%,  respectively, of 1995 revenues and 43.0% and 2.1%, respectively, of 1994
revenues. Deluxe is a provider of checks and related electronic-based  financial
systems.  As of March 30,  1996 Deluxe owned 51.3%  of the Company's outstanding
Common Stock and  two of  its executive officers  are members  of the  Company's
Board  of  Directors.  Mitsubishi is  a  world  wide supplier  of  equipment and
supplies  to  the  printing  industry  and  markets  the  Company's  Model  3240
Platesetter  under Mitsubishi's trade name. Loss of either of these customers or
a substantial reduction in their purchases would have a material adverse  effect
on the Company. See "Business--Customers" and "Certain Transactions."
 
    DEPENDENCE  ON CERTAIN SUPPLIERS.   The Company is  dependent on several key
single-source  suppliers,   including  the   supplier  of   its  planned   Adobe
PostScript-Registered  Trademark-  raster  image  processor,  the  raster  image
processing software used  in its  ZAPrip-Registered Trademark-  product and  the
plate materials which the Company sells for the Model 1440. All of the Company's
agreements  with  suppliers  can  be  canceled  by  either  party  under certain
circumstances. Furthermore, there can  be no assurance  that technical or  other
problems   might  not  cause  supply  interruptions.  Such  interruptions  could
seriously jeopardize the Company's ability to provide products that are critical
to the Company's business and operations. See "Business--Suppliers."
 
    COMPETITION.  The  Company faces considerable  competition in its  business.
Most  of  the Company's  competitors and  potential competitors  are established
companies that  have significantly  greater financial,  technical and  marketing
resources  than  the  Company. There  can  be  no assurance  that  the Company's
competitors will not succeed in developing and marketing products which  perform
better  or are less expensive than those  developed and marketed by the Company,
or  that  would  render  the  Company's  products  and  technology  obsolete  or
noncompetitive.  There can be no assurance  that competition might not adversely
affect the profitability or  viability of the  Company's supplies business.  The
Company  is highly dependent on its ability  to develop new products with higher
performance and lower  costs, and there  can be no  assurance these  development
efforts will be successful. See "Business--Competition."
 
    OPERATING  RESULTS.    The  Company has  experienced  net  income  (loss) of
$330,898 for the  three months ended  March 30, 1996  and $1,793,425,  $784,029,
($1,204,707),  ($2,543,602) and $103,077  for the five  years ended December 31,
1995, 1994, 1993, 1992 and 1991, respectively. Although the Company has reported
net income in the last two years and the first quarter of 1996, no assurance can
be given  that the  Company's operations  will continue  to be  profitable.  See
"Selected  Financial Data,"  "Management's Discussion and  Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations" and "Financial Statements."
 
    RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL AND MARKET  CHANGES.  Certain  segments of the  printing
industry  are  characterized  by  rapid technological  change  and  the frequent
introduction of new products. The Company's future success will depend, in part,
on its ability  to develop  and introduce new  products that  take advantage  of
technological  advances and  to respond  promptly to  new customer requirements.
There can be no assurance that a shift to large-format presses or higher-quality
color printing might not render the Company's products and technology  obsolete.
Technology   such  as  xerographic  printers,   digital  presses  or  electronic
publishing could  replace  offset  printing,  rendering  the  Company's  current
products  and technology obsolete. There can  be no assurance that the Company's
resonant galvanometer technology  will remain  competitive with  other types  of
laser scanners. See "Business--Competition."
 
                                       5

    PROTECTION  OF  PROPRIETARY  TECHNOLOGY.   Printware  seeks  to  protect its
proprietary technology  by  seeking  patents or  entering  into  confidentiality
agreements  with employees and suppliers,  depending on the circumstances. There
can be no assurance that such measures  will be effective or afford the  Company
any meaningful competitive advantage. See "Business--Proprietary Rights."
 
    DEPENDENCE  ON KEY PERSONNEL; LACK OF  EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS.  The Company's
success depends  in large  part on  its  ability to  attract and  retain  highly
qualified  management,  technical and  marketing personnel.  The Company  has no
employment agreements with any of its management or other personnel and,  except
for  $300,000 of key person  coverage on Dr. Baker,  has no key person insurance
covering any  such  individuals. Competition  for  such personnel  is  generally
intense  and there can be no assurance that  the Company will be able to attract
and retain the  personnel necessary  for the  development and  operation of  its
business.  The  loss of  the services  of  key personnel  could have  a material
adverse effect on  the Company's  business, financial condition  and results  of
operations. See "Management."
 
    CONCENTRATION  OF OWNERSHIP.  Following this Offering, Deluxe, the Company's
current principal shareholder, will continue  to own approximately 32.9% of  the
outstanding Common Stock. Two executive officers of Deluxe serve as directors of
the  Company.  Two of  the  Company's other  directors,  Donald Mager  and Allen
Taylor, will also own  after this Offering 8.1%  and 7.1%, respectively, of  the
outstanding  Common Stock. Accordingly, Deluxe and Messrs. Mager and Taylor will
have the ability to control the election of the Company's Board of Directors and
most corporate actions. This concentration of ownership may also have the effect
of delaying or preventing a change in control of the Company. See "Principal and
Selling Shareholders."
 
    NO PRIOR PUBLIC  MARKET; POSSIBLE  STOCK PRICE  VOLATILITY.   Prior to  this
Offering,  there has been no public market for the Common Stock and there can be
no assurance that an active trading market for the Common Stock will develop  or
be  sustained following this Offering. The initial public offering price will be
determined through negotiations between the  Company and the Representative  and
may  bear no  relationship to  the price  at which  the Common  Stock will trade
following this Offering. There can be no assurance that future market prices  of
the Common Stock will not be lower than the initial offering price. In addition,
the  stock market historically has experienced volatility which has affected the
market price  of securities  of  many companies  and  which has  sometimes  been
unrelated  to the operating performance of  such companies. Announcements of new
products  and  services  by  the  Company  or  its  competitors,   technological
innovations,  developments with respect to  patents or other proprietary rights,
changes in stock  market analyst  recommendations regarding  the Company,  other
technology  companies  or the  Company's industry  generally and  other external
factors, as well  as period-to-period  fluctuations in  the Company's  financial
results,  may have a significant effect on the market price of the Common Stock.
See "Underwriting."
 
    SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE; REGISTRATION RIGHTS.  Sales of Common Stock
in the public market after this Offering could adversely affect the market price
of the  Common Stock.  Unless purchased  by  an affiliate  of the  Company,  the
1,600,000  shares of  Common Stock to  be sold  in this Offering  will be freely
transferable without restriction. Upon conclusion of this Offering, in  addition
to the shares being sold hereby, 748,876 shares of Common Stock will be eligible
for  sale in  the public market  without registration. Certain  of the Company's
existing shareholders, holding  2,383,425 shares  of Common  Stock, have  agreed
that they will not, without the consent of the Representative, sell or otherwise
dispose  of any  equity securities  of the  Company for  a period  of six months
following the  effective date  of this  Offering. However,  sale of  substantial
amounts  of shares  in the public  market following that  period could adversely
affect the market  price of  the Company's  Common Stock.  In addition,  certain
shareholders  holding 109,961 shares of Common  Stock have the right, subject to
certain conditions, to participate in future Company registrations and to  cause
the Company to register certain Common Stock owned by them. See "Shares Eligible
For Future Sale."
 
    POSSIBLE  ISSUANCES OF PREFERRED STOCK; ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS.  The Board
of Directors is authorized  to issue up to  1,000,000 shares of Preferred  Stock
and  to  fix the  rights,  preferences, privileges  and  restrictions, including
voting rights,  of  those shares  without  any further  vote  or action  by  the
Company's  shareholders. The rights of  the holders of the  Common Stock will be
subject to, and may be adversely affected  by, the rights of the holders of  any
Preferred  Stock that may be issued in  the future. Although there is no current
intention
 
                                       6

to do so, the  issuance of Preferred  Stock could have  the effect of  delaying,
deferring  or preventing a change in control of the Company, which could deprive
the Company's shareholders of opportunities to sell their shares of Common Stock
at a premium. Additionally, the  Company could adopt in  the future one or  more
additional  anti-takeover measures, such  as a shareholder  rights plan, without
first seeking shareholder approval, which measures  could also make a change  in
control of the Company more difficult. The Company is also subject to provisions
of   the  Minnesota  Business   Corporation  Act  that   make  certain  business
combinations or  potential  acquisitions  of the  Company  more  difficult.  See
"Description of Capital Stock."
 
    DILUTION.   Purchasers of shares of Common Stock in this Offering will incur
immediate and  substantial  dilution of  $4.11  per share.  Investors  may  also
experience  additional dilution as a result of the exercise of outstanding stock
options and warrants. See "Dilution" and "Shares Eligible for Future Sale."
 
    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 "Dividend Policy."
 
                                       7

                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
    The net  proceeds  to be  received  by the  Company  from the  sale  of  the
1,200,000  shares of Common Stock offered by the Company hereby, after deducting
the estimated underwriting discount and  offering expenses, are estimated to  be
approximately  $6.9 million  ($8.0 million  if the  Underwriters' over-allotment
option is exercised in full)  at an assumed offering  price of $6.50 per  share.
The  Company will not receive any of the  proceeds from the sale of Common Stock
by the  Selling  Shareholders.  The  Company intends  to  apply  these  proceeds
approximately as follows:
 

                                                       
Product development.....................................  $3,200,000
Sales and marketing.....................................  1,800,000
Working capital.........................................  1,900,000
                                                          ---------
  Total.................................................  $6,900,000
                                                          ---------
                                                          ---------

 
    The  amounts  actually  expended  for each  purpose  may  vary significantly
depending upon numerous  factors, including the  success of product  development
efforts,  market conditions and customer preferences. Pending application of the
net proceeds described above, the Company intends to invest the net proceeds  of
this Offering in short-term, interest-bearing, investment-grade securities.
 
                                DIVIDEND POLICY
 
    The  Company has  never declared  or paid any  cash dividends  on its Common
Stock. The Company currently  intends to retain any  future earnings for use  in
developing its business and does not anticipate paying any cash dividends on its
Common Stock in the foreseeable future.
 
                                 CAPITALIZATION
 
    The  following table sets forth the Company's capitalization as of March 30,
1996, giving  retroactive effect  to the  authorization of  1,000,000 shares  of
Preferred  Stock and  as adjusted to  give effect  to the sale  of the 1,200,000
shares of Common Stock being offered by the Company at an assumed offering price
of $6.50 per share and the application of the estimated net proceeds therefrom.
 


                                                                                            MARCH 30, 1996
                                                                                    ------------------------------
                                                                                      ACTUAL(1)      AS ADJUSTED
                                                                                    --------------  --------------
                                                                                              
Long-term debt....................................................................  $     --        $     --
Shareholders' equity:
  Preferred Stock, no specified par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; no shares
   issued and outstanding.........................................................        --              --
  Common Stock, no par value, 15,000,000 shares authorized, 3,629,713 shares
   issued and outstanding, and 4,829,713 shares issued and outstanding, as
   adjusted(2)....................................................................      15,522,238      22,422,238
  Accumulated deficit.............................................................     (10,866,572)    (10,866,572)
                                                                                    --------------  --------------
    Total shareholders' equity....................................................       4,655,666      11,555,666
                                                                                    --------------  --------------
      Total capitalization........................................................  $    4,655,666  $   11,555,666
                                                                                    --------------  --------------
                                                                                    --------------  --------------

 
- ---------------------------
 
(1) Derived from  the Company's unaudited  financial statements. See  "Financial
    Statements."
 
(2)  Does not  include, as of  March 30,  1996 (i) 135,567  shares issuable upon
    exercise of stock options held by executive officers and other employees  of
    the   Company,   (ii)  120,000   shares  issuable   upon  exercise   of  the
    Representative's Warrant, and (iii) 5,000  shares issuable upon exercise  of
    warrants held by Deluxe.
 
                                       8

                                    DILUTION
 
    The  net  tangible  book value  of  the Company  as  of March  30,  1996 was
$4,622,060 or $1.27 per share. Net tangible book value per share represents  the
total amount of the Company's tangible assets reduced by the amount of its total
liabilities  and divided  by the number  of shares of  Common Stock outstanding.
After giving effect to the sale by the Company of the 1,200,000 shares of Common
Stock offered hereby  (after deducting the  underwriting discount and  estimated
offering expenses payable by the Company) at an initial public offering price of
$6.50  per  share, and  without taking  into  account any  other changes  in net
tangible book value after March 30, 1996, the pro forma net tangible book  value
of the Company at March 30, 1996 would have been $11,522,060 or $2.39 per share.
This  represents an immediate increase  in net tangible book  value of $1.12 per
share to the Company's  existing shareholders and an  immediate dilution in  net
tangible  book value of  $4.11 per share  to new investors.  The following table
illustrates this per share dilution:
 

                                                                   
Assumed public offering price per share.....................             $    6.50
    Net tangible book value per share at March 30, 1996.....  $    1.27
    Increase per share attributable to new investors........       1.12
                                                              ---------
Pro forma net tangible book value per share after this
 Offering...................................................                  2.39
                                                                         ---------
Dilution per share to new investors.........................             $    4.11
                                                                         ---------
                                                                         ---------

 
    The following table summarizes as of March 30, 1996, the differences in  the
total  consideration paid and the  average price per share  paid by the existing
shareholders and  the new  investors with  respect to  the 1,200,000  shares  of
Common  Stock to be issued  by the Company. The  calculations in this table with
respect to  shares of  Common Stock  to be  purchased by  new investors  in  the
Offering reflect an assumed Price to Public of $6.50 per share (before deducting
the  underwriting  discount  and  estimated  offering  expenses  payable  by the
Company):
 


                                         SHARES PURCHASED         TOTAL CONSIDERATION
                                      -----------------------  --------------------------   AVERAGE PRICE
                                        NUMBER      PERCENT       AMOUNT        PERCENT       PER SHARE
                                      ----------  -----------  -------------  -----------  ---------------
                                                                            
Existing shareholders(1)............   3,629,713      75.15%   $  15,522,238      66.56%      $    4.28
New investors(1)....................   1,200,000      24.85%       7,800,000      33.44%      $    6.50
                                      ----------  -----------  -------------  -----------
    Total...........................   4,829,713     100.00%   $  23,322,238     100.00%
                                      ----------  -----------  -------------  -----------
                                      ----------  -----------  -------------  -----------

 
- ---------------------------
 
(1) Sales by the Selling Shareholders in this Offering will reduce the number of
    shares held by existing  shareholders to 3,229,713 shares,  or 66.9% of  the
    total number of shares of Common Stock to be outstanding after the Offering,
    and  will increase the number  of shares held by  new investors to 1,600,000
    shares, or  33.1% of  the  total number  of shares  of  Common Stock  to  be
    outstanding after the Offering.
 
    The  computations in  the tables  above exclude,  as of  March 30,  1996, an
aggregate of 140,567 shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock  options
and  warrants at a weighted average exercise price  of $3.00 per share and up to
120,000 shares of Common  Stock issuable upon  exercise of the  Representative's
Warrant. See "Description of Capital Stock" and "Underwriting."
 
                                       9

                            SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 
    The  following selected financial data as of December 31 and for each of the
five years in  the period  ended December  31, 1995  has been  derived from  the
financial statements of the Company which have been audited by Deloitte & Touche
LLP,  independent  auditors,  whose report  on  the financial  statements  as of
December 31, 1995 and 1994 and for each  of the three years in the period  ended
December 31, 1995 appears elsewhere in this Prospectus. The financial data as of
March 30, 1996 and for the three month periods ended March 30, 1996 and April 1,
1995  has been  derived from the  Company's unaudited  financial statements. The
unaudited financial  statements  reflect,  in the  opinion  of  management,  all
adjustments  (consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a
fair presentation of  the Company's  financial position  as of  these dates  and
results  of  operations for  such  periods. The  results  of operations  for any
interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected  for
the  entire  year.  See  "Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial
Condition and Results of Operations" and "Financial Statements."
 


                                        THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                      ----------------------                     YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                      MARCH 30,    APRIL 1,   -------------------------------------------------------------
                                         1996        1995        1995        1994        1993         1992         1991
                                      ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
                                                                                           
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Revenues............................  $1,832,013  $1,807,623  $8,388,148  $6,626,925  $ 7,296,484  $10,659,994  $14,285,310
Cost of revenues....................   1,110,046   1,000,871   5,003,956   4,102,401    5,344,519    8,234,092    8,907,147
                                      ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Gross margin........................     721,967     806,752   3,384,192   2,524,524    1,951,965    2,425,902    5,378,163
Research and development expenses...     178,941     205,778     757,131     956,807    1,314,355    1,913,431    1,829,219
Selling, general and administrative
 expenses...........................     238,471     270,869   1,072,878     945,533    1,851,507    3,022,684    3,394,216
                                      ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Income (loss) from operations.......     304,555     330,105   1,554,183     622,184   (1,213,897)  (2,510,213)     154,728
Other income (expense), net.........      32,843       8,378     261,742      22,918       10,299      (31,214)     (47,651)
                                      ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Income (loss) before income taxes
 and extraordinary income...........     337,398     338,483   1,815,925     645,102   (1,203,598)  (2,541,427)     107,077
Income taxes........................       6,500      12,000      22,500       2,000        1,109        2,175        4,000
                                      ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Income (loss) before extraordinary
 item...............................     330,898     326,483   1,793,425     643,102   (1,204,707)  (2,543,602)     103,077
Extraordinary income(1).............      --          --          --         140,927      --           --           --
                                      ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Net income (loss)...................  $  330,898  $  326,483  $1,793,425  $  784,029  $(1,204,707) $(2,543,602) $   103,077
                                      ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
                                      ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Net income (loss) per common and
 common equivalent share(2):
  Income (loss) before extraordinary
   item.............................  $      .09  $      .09  $      .48  $      .17  $      (.33) $      (.84) $       .03
                                      ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
                                      ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
  Net income (loss)(1)..............  $      .09  $      .09  $      .48  $      .21  $      (.33) $      (.84) $       .03
                                      ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
                                      ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Weighted average common and common
 equivalent shares outstanding(2)...   3,705,403   3,705,627   3,705,627   3,685,580    3,635,226    3,025,699    3,000,390
                                      ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
                                      ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  -----------  -----------

 


                                                                                        DECEMBER 31,
                                         MARCH 30,    APRIL 1,   ----------------------------------------------------------
                                            1996        1995        1995        1994        1993        1992        1991
                                         ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                                            
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash and cash equivalents..............  $2,795,856  $  626,267  $2,568,852  $  860,668  $1,288,821  $  561,655  $   98,551
Current assets.........................   5,232,381   3,464,348   5,087,328   3,255,959   4,371,149   4,826,294   5,620,695
Working capital........................   4,491,641   2,643,532   4,151,595   2,292,562   1,441,554   2,544,209   2,173,719
Total assets...........................   5,396,406   3,669,342   5,252,401   3,476,928   4,633,747   5,180,631   6,097,071
Shareholders' equity...................   4,655,666   2,848,526   4,316,668   2,513,531   1,704,152   2,898,546   2,650,095

 
- ---------------------------
 
(1) During  1994  the  Company  recognized an  extraordinary  gain  of  $140,927
    resulting  from the extinguishment of debt. The income per common and common
    equivalent share attributable to such extraordinary gain was $.04.
 
(2) See Note 1 to Financial Statements as to method of calculation.
 
                                       10

                    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
                 FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
OVERVIEW
 
    Printware  designs,  builds  and  markets  Computer-to-Plate  systems  which
provide  faster,  less  expensive  production  of  offset  printing  plates. The
Company's products,  called Platesetters,  make  printing plates  directly  from
computer  data, primarily  for high-volume printing.  In 1988  the Company began
selling its first  Platesetter, the  Model 1440  electrostatic Platesetter.  The
Company  also sold  laser printers and  film imagers. In  1993 Printware focused
exclusively on Computer-to-Plate and phased  out other product lines,  resulting
in  a reduction in revenues but an improvement in profitability. The improvement
in profitability  came from  elimination of  low-margin product  lines, such  as
laser  printers, and  elimination of  engineering and  sales expenses associated
with  non-Platesetter  products.  Prototype  shipments  of  a  new  photographic
Platesetter,  the  Model  3240, began  in  late  1993. First  deliveries  of the
production version were made in 1995.
 
    Revenues are generated  from the sale  of Printware's Model  1440 and  Model
3240 Platesetters, as well as from the sale of consumable supplies for the Model
1440. Sales of photographic Platesetters have increased rapidly since production
began  in  1994.  The  Company anticipates  that  future  sales  of photographic
Platesetters will grow  faster than sales  of electrostatic Platesetters.  There
can be no assurance, however, that this growth will continue.
 
    Sales  of supplies used  in Model 1440  Platesetters comprised approximately
55% of the Company's 1995 revenues.  In addition to equipment and supplies,  the
Company  separately charges for installation, training, service and spare parts.
Company technicians  provide  telephone  support as  well  as  on-site  service.
Printware  also  trains  its  customers'  technicians  for  self-sufficiency and
maintains a significant  spare-parts inventory  to support  its installed  base.
Revenues  related to installation, training and  support are recognized when the
services are performed.  Printware has  contracts with  many of  its Model  1440
customers  to  provide preventive  and  emergency maintenance.  Such maintenance
contracts generally  have a  one-year term.  Telephone and  on-site support  are
billed  per incident for customers without support contracts. Printware provides
a 90-day warranty on its products, which may be extended to up to one year based
on additional customer supplies purchases.
 
    Research and  development efforts  are focused  on enhancing  and  improving
existing   products  and  supplies  and  developing  new  Platesetter  versions.
Management estimates that  87% of  product (non-service) revenues  in 1995  were
from  products  introduced within  the prior  three  years. Future  research and
development expenses  are expected  to increase  as a  result of  the  Company's
strategy to broaden its Platesetter line. There can be no assurance, however, of
attaining revenues from this effort.
 
    Printware believes its selling expenses are relatively low compared to other
companies  in similar industries. Printware's  two largest customers, Deluxe and
Mitsubishi, are house accounts and no commissions are paid on those sales.  Most
of  Printware's  selling  expenses  are related  to  the  direct  selling effort
associated with  the Model  1440  Platesetter product  line. These  efforts  are
currently  aimed  at  high-volume  printers in  printing  niches  such  as check
printing, social printing, technical/legal publishing, and newspapers, which the
Company has found can best utilize the product. The Company reaches these niches
with targeted  marketing approaches  such as  trade shows,  direct mailings  and
sales  calls. Consistent  with this targeted  approach, there  is currently very
little advertising for the Model 1440. Sales and marketing expenses are expected
to increase considerably  as the  Company attempts to  broaden its  distribution
network.
 
    Except  for historical information, the matters discussed in this Prospectus
are forward looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties,  including
but  not limited to  economic, competitive, and  technological factors affecting
the Company's operations, markets, products, services, prices and other factors,
which may cause actual results to  differ materially from the results  discussed
in the forward looking statements.
 
                                       11

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
    The  following table summarizes the percentage of revenues for various items
in the Company's Statements of Operations for the periods indicated:
 


                                          THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                      --------------------------                      YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                        MARCH 30,     APRIL 1,    ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1996          1995         1995         1994         1993         1992         1991
                                      -------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
                                                                                                 
Revenues............................       100.0%        100.0%       100.0%       100.0%       100.0%       100.0%       100.0%
Cost of revenues....................        60.6          55.4         59.7         61.9         73.2         77.2         62.4
                                          ------     -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Gross margin........................        39.4          44.6         40.3         38.1         26.8         22.8         37.6
Research and development expenses...         9.8          11.4          9.0         14.4         18.0         17.9         12.8
Selling, general and administrative
 expenses...........................        13.0          15.0         12.8         14.3         25.4         28.4         23.8
                                          ------     -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Income (loss) from operations.......        16.6          18.2         18.5          9.4        (16.6)       (23.5)         1.0
Other income (expense), net.........         1.8           0.5          3.1          0.3          0.1         (0.3)        (0.3)
                                          ------     -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Income (loss) before income taxes
 and extraordinary item.............        18.4          18.7         21.6          9.7        (16.5)       (23.8)         0.7
Income taxes........................         0.3           0.6          0.2          0.0          0.0          0.0          0.0
Extraordinary income................       --            --           --             2.1        --           --           --
                                          ------     -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Net income (loss)...................        18.1%         18.1%        21.4%        11.8%       (16.5)%      (23.8)%        0.7%
                                          ------     -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
                                          ------     -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------

 
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 30, 1996 COMPARED TO THREE MONTHS ENDED APRIL 1, 1995
 
    REVENUES.  First-quarter revenues in 1996 were $1.83 million, an increase of
1% over  first-quarter  1995 revenues  of  $1.81  million. This  was  the  sixth
consecutive  quarter in which revenues  increased from the corresponding quarter
in the previous  year. Revenues were  up despite a  decrease in supplies  sales.
Supplies  revenues declined to $900,000 in the  first quarter of 1996 from $1.06
million in the first quarter of 1995. This was due in part to several  customers
who  determined  that they  had  excess supplies  inventory  and cut  back their
purchases in the first quarter of 1996. Model 3240 revenues for the 1996  period
increased  53% compared  to 1995,  primarily due to  an increase  in unit sales.
Management expects the Model 3240 to  continue to provide an increasing  portion
of  Printware's revenues in the long term. Model 1440 revenues also increased in
the first quarter of 1996. There  were laser printer sales and unusually  strong
raster image processor sales in the first quarter of 1995 which did not recur in
1996.
 
    GROSS  MARGIN.  The Company's gross margin was $722,000 in the first quarter
of 1996 compared to $807,000  in the comparable 1995  period. Gross margin as  a
percentage  of revenues declined from 45% in the first quarter of 1995 to 39% in
the first quarter  of 1996.  The lower  margin in 1996  was due  primarily to  a
change in the product mix towards the lower-margin Model 3240 Platesetter.
 
    RESEARCH  AND  DEVELOPMENT  EXPENSES.    Research  and  development expenses
decreased to $179,000 in the  first quarter of 1996  from $206,000 in the  first
quarter of 1995. Although research and development labor expenses were up 10% in
1996, expenses associated with the Model 3240 declined as the product design was
completed.
 
    SELLING,   GENERAL  AND  ADMINISTRATIVE  EXPENSES.    Selling,  general  and
administrative expenses decreased to $238,000 in the first quarter of 1996  from
$271,000   in  the  first  quarter  of   1995.  Selling  expenses  decreased  by
approximately $10,000 in the first quarter  from 1995 to 1996, due primarily  to
eliminating  the  remaining laser-printer  salesperson  subsequent to  the first
quarter of 1995. Legal expenses were  unusually high in the 1995 period  because
of expenses associated with a dispute with A.B. Dick Company.
 
                                       12

    INTEREST,  OTHER INCOME AND INCOME TAXES.  Interest, other income and income
taxes were $26,000 in the 1996 period compared to $4,000 in 1995. The change was
primarily caused by an  increase in net interest  income to $33,000 from  $8,000
due  to higher  cash balances (cash  and short-term cash  investments were $2.80
million at March 30, 1996, compared to  $626,000 at April 1, 1995). Tax  expense
decreased  to $7,000  in 1996  from $12,000 in  1995. Tax  expense is relatively
small because  the  Company  has  net operating  loss  carryforwards  which  are
available   to  offset  against  taxable  income.  The  Company  is  subject  to
alternative minimum taxes, however.
 
    NET INCOME.  Net income for the first quarter of 1996 was $331,000, or  $.09
per  common and common equivalent  share, up from $326,000  or $.09 per share in
1995, as  lower margins  were more  than  offset by  lower expenses  and  higher
interest income.
 
1995 COMPARED TO 1994
 
    REVENUES.   Revenues were up 27% to $8.39 million in 1995 from $6.63 million
in 1994, primarily  due to  a sharp  increase in unit  sales of  the Model  3240
Platesetter  line. Model  3240 revenues increased  192% compared to  1994 as the
Model 3240  gained  customer  acceptance.  Model  3240  revenues  accounted  for
approximately 20% of the Company's revenue in 1995, up from 9% in 1994. Supplies
revenues  were up 7%. Laser  printer revenues were down  considerably in 1995 as
the  Company  continued   to  phase   out  that   product  line   to  focus   on
Computer-to-Plate products.
 
    GROSS  MARGIN.  The Company's gross margin increased 34% to $3.38 million in
1995 from $2.52 million in 1994, primarily as a result of increased revenues and
prices. Gross margin  as a percentage  of revenues improved  slightly to 40%  in
1995  from  38%  in 1994.  The  basic Model  1440  list price  was  increased by
approximately 15%  in 1995,  and  margins on  Model  1440 supplies  and  service
increased  slightly. The  Model 1440  and supplies  gross margin  increases were
partially offset by a change in product mix towards the lower-margin Model 3240.
 
    RESEARCH AND  DEVELOPMENT  EXPENSES.    Research  and  development  expenses
decreased  to $757,000 in  1995 from $957,000 in  1994. Expenses associated with
the Model 3240 declined as the product design was completed. In 1995 the Company
also relied  more on  raster image  processor software  from third  parties  and
de-emphasized continuing development of its own raster image processor software.
 
    SELLING,   GENERAL  AND  ADMINISTRATIVE  EXPENSES.    Selling,  general  and
administrative expenses increased 13% to $1.07 million in 1995 from $946,000  in
1994.  Selling expenses decreased to  $380,000 in 1995 from  $447,000 in 1994 as
the Company continued to focus on efficiently serving the target markets for the
Model 1440 Platesetter.  In late 1994  the Company reduced  selling expenses  by
combining   domestic,  international  and  OEM   sales  functions.  General  and
administrative expenses remained at approximately 8% of revenues, increasing  to
$693,000  in 1995 from $499,000 in 1994. In 1995 the Company made investments to
upgrade its computers,  Internet link,  information system  databases and  voice
mail. Employee profit-sharing also began in 1995.
 
    INTEREST,  OTHER INCOME AND  INCOME TAXES.   The Company had  $69,000 of net
interest income in  1995, compared to  $23,000 in 1994.  The increase  coincided
with  the Company's cash position increasing significantly due to cash flow from
operations (cash and short-term cash  investments increased to $2.57 million  at
the  end of 1995 from $861,000 at the end of 1994). Other income in 1995 was due
to  a  $334,000  arbitration  award  for   A.  B.  Dick  Company's  1994   order
cancellation.  Out-of-pocket  arbitration  expenses of  $142,000  were incurred,
resulting in a net gain of $192,000.
 
    NET INCOME.  The Company had net income of $1.79 million or $.48 per  common
and  common  equivalent share  in  1995. 1995  net  income was  21%  of revenue,
compared to 12% in 1994. The improvement in profitability came from  significant
revenue growth in 1995 and lower operating expenses (operating expenses were 22%
of revenues in 1995 versus 29% in 1994).
 
    For  federal  income  tax  purposes,  the  Company  had  net  operating loss
carryforwards of approximately  $10.5 million as  of December 31,  1995. If  not
used,    these   carryforwards   will   begin   to   expire   in   2001.   Under
 
                                       13

current tax law certain changes in ownership resulting from the sale or issuance
of stock may limit the amount of  net operating loss carryforwards which can  be
utilized  on an annual basis. Management does not believe that the Offering will
result in a change in ownership which will trigger that limitation.
 
1994 COMPARED TO 1993
 
    REVENUES.  Revenues declined to $6.63 million in 1994 from $7.30 million  in
1993.  This  decline was  caused by  reduced  sales of  laser printers  and film
imagers due to the  Company's shift to  Computer-to-Plate products. The  decline
was  partially offset  by sales of  the Model 3240  Platesetter, which increased
275% from 1993 to account for approximately 9% of 1994 revenues.
 
    GROSS MARGIN.  Despite lower revenues,  gross margin increased 30% to  $2.52
million  in 1994, from  $1.95 million in  1993. Gross margin  as a percentage of
revenues was 38% in 1994 versus 27% in  1993. The higher margin in 1994 was  due
to  lower costs, a deliberate move away from lower-margin laser printer and film
imager products  and higher  prices. Printware  was able  to raise  the  average
selling  price of a basic  Model 1440 Platesetter by  15% in 1994. Higher prices
were possible because  models introduced in  that year, such  as the Model  1440
ZNX,  had new features such as  larger plate-size capability and digital machine
settings.
 
    RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.  Research  and development expenses decreased  27%
to  $957,000  in 1994  from $1.31  million in  1993. This  was primarily  due to
completing substantial portions of the Model 3240 product development in 1994.
 
    SELLING,  GENERAL  AND  ADMINISTRATIVE  EXPENSES.    Selling,  general   and
administrative  expenses decreased by nearly 50% to $946,000 from $1.85 million.
As part of  Printware's new  mission to focus  exclusively on  Computer-to-Plate
products,  direct-selling efforts were targeted  at specific printing niches. As
part of that  strategy, in late  1993 the  Company reduced its  sales force  and
closed  its field sales  offices, centralizing its sales  force in the Company's
St. Paul headquarters. These  steps resulted in much  lower selling expenses  in
1994  than in the previous  year. Selling expenses decreased  57% to $447,000 in
1994 from $1.05 million in  1993 (to 7% of revenues  in 1994 from 14% in  1993).
General  and administrative expenses  decreased to $499,000  (8% of revenues) in
1994 from  $801,000  (11%  of  revenues) in  1993.  General  and  administrative
expenses  were high in 1993 due to  reserves recorded for legal disputes related
to events which occurred in prior years. These disputes were resolved in 1994.
 
    INTEREST, OTHER INCOME  AND INCOME TAXES.   The Company  had $23,000 in  net
interest income in 1994, compared to $10,000 in 1993, as the Company was able to
repay  its short-term debt in 1993 with  cash flow from operations. Other income
in 1994  came from  a $141,000  extraordinary  gain from  settlement of  a  debt
agreement  with  Minnesota Technology,  Inc. ("MTI").  The Company  issued 5,500
shares of Common Stock to MTI.
 
    NET INCOME.  The  Company had net  income of $784,000  (12% of revenues)  in
1994,  compared  to  a  $1.20  million  loss  (17%  of  revenues)  in  1993. The
improvement in profitability for 1994 came from lower operating expenses (29% of
revenues in 1994  versus 43% in  1993) and a  higher gross margin  (38% in  1994
versus  27% in 1993). Net income was $.21 per common and common equivalent share
in 1994, compared to a loss of $.33 per share in 1993.
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
    Prior to becoming profitable  in 1994, the  Company financed its  operations
through private placements of Common Stock, customer prepayments for merchandise
and  short-term borrowings. Beginning  in 1994, the Company  was able to fulfill
prepayment obligations  and meet  its working  capital and  capital  expenditure
requirements  from cash  flow from operations.  During 1995, 1994  and 1993, the
Company generated  (used)  cash  of  $1.72  million,  ($377,000),  and  $70,000,
respectively,  from operating activities. During the  first quarter of 1996, the
Company's operating  activities  generated  cash  flow  of  $241,000.  Cash  and
short-term  cash investments were  $2.80 million at March  30, 1996, compared to
$2.57 million at December 31, 1995 and $626,000 at April 1, 1995. The  Company's
current  ratio (current assets to current  liabilities) improved to 7.1 at March
30, 1996,  compared to  5.4 at  December  31, 1995  and 4.2  at April  1,  1995.
Inventories  were $1.62 million at March 30,  1996, compared to $1.73 million at
December 31, 1995 and $2.12 million at April 1, 1995, due to a continuing effort
to increase inventory turnover.
 
                                       14

    The Company's liquidity was  such that management elected  not to renew  the
Company's  $1 million bank line of credit,  which expired September 1, 1995. The
Company purchased  property and  equipment of  $15,000, $50,000  and $73,000  in
1995,  1994 and 1993, respectively. The Company purchased property and equipment
of $15,000 during  the first quarter  of 1996. The  Company anticipates  capital
expenditures of approximately $100,000 in the remainder of 1996. The Company has
no  material non-cancelable commitments for the purchase of products or services
other than inventory  purchases in the  normal course of  business. The  Company
believes  that existing cash balances and cash generated from operations will be
sufficient to finance its existing operations for the foreseeable future.
 
BACKLOG
 
    The Company's backlog of customer  orders was approximately $3.0 million  as
of  both March 30, 1996 and April 1, 1995. All backlog orders are expected to be
filled within one year. Backlog consists primarily of the portion of supplies on
long-term contracts  expected to  be  shipped within  one year  and  Platesetter
orders. The Platesetter backlog as of March 30, 1996 is expected to be filled by
September  30, 1996, although the Company expects additional orders to be placed
by that time.
 
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
 
    In October 1995 the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based  Compensation
("SFAS 123"). SFAS 123 requires expanded disclosures of stock-based compensation
arrangements with employees and encourages (but does not require) application of
the  fair value recognition provision of SFAS 123 to such arrangements. SFAS 123
is required  to  be adopted  for  reporting purposes  by  the Company  in  1996.
Companies are permitted, however, to continue to apply APB opinion No. 25, which
recognizes  compensation  cost  based  on  the  intrinsic  value  of  the equity
investment awarded. The Company will continue to apply APB opinion No. 25 to its
stock based compensation awards to employees and will disclose the required  pro
forma effect on net income and earnings per share.
 
                                       15

                                    BUSINESS
 
GENERAL
 
    Printware  designs, builds and markets "Computer-to-Plate" systems which are
used by the  offset printing industry  to create printing  plates directly  from
computer  data. These systems replace the traditional process (see figure below)
of typesetting, paste-up, camera work and film processing to produce a  printing
plate:
 
                        TRADITIONAL PLATEMAKING PROCESS
 
                                [CHART]
 
Chart:  Drawing   depicting  Traditional  Platemaking  Process  of  typesetting,
        paste-up, camera work and film processing to produce a printing plate.
 
    Computer-to-Plate technology provides one-step platemaking (including  text,
graphics  and photographic  halftones) directly  from computer  data, much  as a
laser printer  makes  printed pages  directly  from computer  data  (see  figure
below):
 
                           COMPUTER-TO-PLATE PROCESS
 
                                    [CHART]
 
Chart:  Drawing  depicting Computer-to-Plate  Process in  which a  plate is made
        directly from computer data.
 
    The key benefits of Computer-to-Plate technology are:
 
    - Lower costs from savings in supplies and labor
 
    - Faster turnaround times
 
    - Fewer pieces of equipment
 
    - Fewer environmental limitations on by-product disposal
 
                                       16

    Some of the Company's customers have found that Computer-to-Plate technology
can reduce their  costs for some  printing operations  by up to  50%. The  check
printing,  social  printing  and  envelope  printing  segments  of  the printing
industry have  been  early  adopters of  Computer-to-Plate  technology,  largely
because of higher volumes and early computerization.
 
    The  heart  of Printware's  Platesetters is  a high-resolution  laser marker
system, the key technology obtained  from 3M in 1985. The  system is based on  a
resonant   galvanometer,  which  management  believes  has  certain  performance
advantages over conventional  systems which use  rotating multifaceted  mirrors.
The  Company's system  uses a  proprietary method  where a  mirror mounted  on a
resonating  torsion   bar,   in   conjunction   with   microprocessor-controlled
electronics, precisely controls the laser raster scan. The method was first used
in  Printware's  laser  printers,  then  later  in  its  Platesetters.  In  1990
Printware's Model 1440 Platesetter received  the InterTech Technology Award  for
Innovative  Excellence from the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation. This award is
reserved for products judged  to have the  potential for a  major impact in  the
industry.  There can  be no assurance  that the  Company's resonant galvanometer
technology will  remain competitive  with  other types  of laser  scanners.  The
Company  is exploring the  feasibility of incorporating  laser scanners based on
other technologies into its products.
 
    Printware was organized in  1985 and began deliveries  in 1987 of its  first
product,  a high resolution  laser printer. In 1988  Printware began selling its
first  Platesetter,  the   Model  1440   electrostatic  Platesetter.   Printware
subsequently  expanded its product  line with new  Platesetter models, new laser
printers and filmsetters. In 1993, however, Printware began to focus exclusively
on Computer-to-Plate  products and  phased  out its  other product  lines.  This
resulted  in reduced revenues in 1993 and 1994, but a significant improvement in
profitability. During this period Printware  completed development of and  began
to  deliver a new  photographic process (silver-halide)  Platesetter, called the
Model 3240, to serve a  broader range of users. The  Model 3240 is marketed  for
the Company by Mitsubishi under Mitsubishi's brand name.
 
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
 
    According  to Printing Industries  of America ("PIA"),  a trade association,
there were approximately 52,400 printing firms in the United States in 1995. The
Company believes that most of the printing presses installed at these firms  are
small  format (18" wide or less), one and two color presses, which is the market
segment of the printing industry that the Company serves.
 
    Printers in the United States  are rapidly computerizing. Vantage  Strategic
Marketing,  a  market  research  firm,  estimates that  29%  of  print  jobs now
originate electronically  and that  this will  grow  to 53%  by the  year  2000.
Although   only  a  small  percentage  of  printers  now  use  Computer-to-Plate
technology, this  is expected  to grow  rapidly. A  1995 poll  by PIA  of  6,000
printers  in the United  States and Canada indicated  that approximately 6% were
using  Computer-to-Plate  technology.  According  to  PIA,  this  percentage  is
expected  to grow to  33% by 1997.  State Street Consultants,  a consulting firm
which focuses on the  graphic arts industry,  surveyed 232 in-plant,  commercial
and newspaper printers and found in 1995 that:
 
    - 82%  expect Computer-to-Plate technology to be widely accepted by the year
      2000
 
    - 80% expect to buy a Computer-to-Plate system eventually
 
    - nearly 70% of newspapers expect to shift to Computer-to-Plate technology
 
    Mills-Davis, a consulting firm, in  a study commissioned by the  Association
for  Suppliers of Printing and  Publishing Technologies ("NPES"), predicted that
because of competitive pressure  on printers to  increase efficiency and  reduce
costs,  "Direct-to-Plate will be a boom industry  by 1997 and for the years that
follow." According  to  the NPES  QUARTERLY  ECONOMIC FORECAST  for  the  fourth
quarter  of 1995, much of the  growth in imaging/prepress equipment shipments in
the next two years  will stem from the  purchase of computer-related  equipment,
with only a minor portion attributed to gains in traditional prepress equipment.
A  1995 study by Professor Frank Romano of the Rochester Institute of Technology
estimates that  Platesetter  equipment sales  will  exceed $2  billion  for  the
six-year period between 1995 and the year 2000.
 
                                       17

CUSTOMERS
 
    The  Company has sold  over 300 Platesetters  to date, which  it believes is
more than any other single competitor. Printware's customers include a number of
leading printers,  such as  Deluxe, Pitney  Bowes, Thomson  Publishing,  Liberty
Check  Printers and Northrop-Grumman. Most of the Company's large customers have
one or two year  contracts for service and  supplies. Sales to Deluxe  accounted
for  $3.50 million and $2.85 million of  revenue in 1995 and 1994, respectively,
which constituted 41.7% and 43.0% of 1995 and 1994 revenue, respectively.  Sales
to  Mitsubishi, principally of the  Model 3240 which it  markets for the Company
under Mitsubishi's  brand name,  accounted  for $1.46  million and  $140,000  of
revenue in 1995 and 1994, respectively, which constituted 17.5% and 2.1% of 1995
and  1994 revenue, respectively. The loss of Deluxe or Mitsubishi as a customer,
or a substantial  reduction in their  purchases, would have  a material  adverse
effect  on  the Company.  The  Company provides  a  majority of  the Platesetter
supplies used by Deluxe under a multi-year  contract that expires at the end  of
1997. See "Certain Transactions."
 
BUSINESS STRATEGY
 
    Printware's  strategic  plan is  to continue  to focus  on Computer-to-Plate
products and pursue these specific strategies:
 
    COVER A BROAD RANGE OF MAINSTREAM PRINTING.   In the past several years  the
Company  has focused  on providing  a broad  Computer-to-Plate product  line for
"mainstream" printing,  which management  believes currently  accounts for  most
printing.  The Company  has no plans  to pursue  "high-end" Platesetter business
geared toward  magazine-quality  color  printing  (above  2,400  dots  per  inch
resolution) or large presses over 18" wide.
 
    CUSTOMER  DRIVEN INNOVATION.   The  Company's product  strategy is primarily
driven by customer  requirements, rather than  technology. The Company  believes
that  this  strategy  will  allow  it to  bring  products  and  services  to the
marketplace with the best chance of  success. The Company endeavors to have  all
areas  of the Company maintain a close relationship with current and prospective
customers.
 
    INCREMENTAL INNOVATION FROM  CORE PRODUCTS.   Printware's  philosophy is  to
develop  new products from modules and  technologies that are already available,
either within Printware or  from third parties. The  Company believes that  this
philosophy  will allow the Company to broaden its product line without excessive
research and development expenses or inordinate technical risks.
 
    MAINTAIN EXCEPTIONAL  QUALITY.   The  Company  believes that  its  customers
demand  near-perfect  quality, and  that quality  demands  will increase  in the
future. The Company maintains  a detailed problem  reporting system and  devotes
considerable engineering resources to improving designs and promptly eliminating
problems.  The Company  has improved and  broadened its  incoming inspection and
vendor quality efforts.  Especially in  the area  of supplies,  the Company  has
tightened its specifications in response to customer requirements and instituted
more  rigorous  testing programs.  Management believes  that these  efforts have
resulted in significant quality improvements in recent years.
 
PRODUCTS
 
    The Company makes two lines of Platesetters, the Model 3240 Platesetter line
for digital photographic  (silver-halide) plates  and the Model  1440 family  of
digital   electrostatic  Platesetters.  The  Company   also  sells  service  and
proprietary supplies  (primarily  digital  plate material  for  the  Model  1440
product line).
 
    MODEL 3240 PLATESETTER.  This versatile product uses commodity silver-halide
plate material for a wide range of printing applications. The product is sold by
Mitsubishi  under  its brand  name internationally  and through  several leading
domestic graphic arts dealers, giving it  broad market coverage. The Model  3240
is  approximately 3' wide by 4' high by  4' long, and consists of two integrated
modules: an  imager module,  where a  laser "writes"  the digital  image on  the
plate;  and a processor module, where the  plate is developed and fixed, similar
to conventional photography.  It has  a liquid-crystal operator  panel to  enter
machine  settings and for checking machine status.  The Model 3240 has input and
output cassettes for  rolls of plate  material. Imaged plates  exit the  machine
into a tray already dried, cut to size and press-ready.
 
                                       18

    MODEL  1440  PLATESETTER.   This  product  line  has three  models:  one for
economical paper-based plates; another for durable metal plates; and a third for
either paper  or  metal. The  Model  1440 serves  niche  markets such  as  check
printing, social printing and envelope printing. It is sold by the Company's own
sales  force, which has expertise in  the specialized applications served by the
Model 1440. The Model  1440 is approximately 3'  wide by 1 1/2'  high by 2  1/2'
deep,  and has liquid crystal operator panels  to enter machine settings and for
checking machine status. The units have an area to load a roll of plate material
stock, or in the case of the  metal plate version, a plate sheet feeder.  Imaged
plates  exit the machine  into a tray or  into optional post-processing modules.
The Company sells in-line  plate handling modules  for fully automated  systems.
Optional  equipment includes plate converters  for paper plates, plate decoaters
for metal plates and plate sheet feeders for metal plates.
 
    The Model 3240 resolution is 3,240 thousand dots per square inch (1,800 dots
per inch), which is suitable for  high quality color and photographs. The  Model
1440  resolution is 1,440  thousand dots per  square inch (1,200  dpi), which is
suitable for text, graphics and medium-quality photographs. The imaging speed of
the Model 3240  is up to  36 inches  per minute, and  for the Model  1440 is  40
inches  per minute. Based on independent surveys conducted by THE SEYBOLD REPORT
ON PUBLISHING  SYSTEMS ("THE  SEYBOLD REPORT"),  a trade  journal, in  1995  and
PrintCom  Consulting Group in  1996, the Company believes  that its products are
among the fastest Platesetters available.
 
    End-user pricing  is $85,000  to $100,000  for Model  3240 Platesetters  and
$75,000 to $150,000 for Model 1440 Platesetters, depending on the specific model
and  configuration.  The Company  also  provides consulting  services, software,
support and training for the Model 1440. The Company has been able to raise  the
list  prices of  Model 1440  units by more  than 50%  since 1993  because of the
unique value it provides in certain applications.
 
    RASTER  IMAGE  PROCESSORS   (RIPS).    Printware   sells  RIPs  to   connect
Platesetters to the customer's computer network and convert computer data to the
digital  images which appear on the printing plate. The Company's RIPs are fully
compatible with  the  industry-standard  PostScript language  and  most  popular
networks.  The  Company  has  two  RIP models,  the  economical  ZipRip  and the
high-speed ZAPrip.
 
    SUPPLIES.  Printware specifies,  tests and markets  supplies for Model  1440
Platesetters.  These supplies  consist mostly  of digital  laser sensitive plate
material used in  the Platesetter. The  Company also sells  a paper-based  plate
material  for cost-sensitive  applications and an  aluminum-based plate material
for longer-run printing. Approximately 90% of the Company's supplies revenue  is
from  plate materials, but other supplies  sold by the Company include developer
(toner), conversion  solution, press  fountain solution,  dispersant,  decoating
solution and plate gum.
 
    The   Company  believes   that  its   metal  printing   plates  have  unique
environmental advantages over other metal printing plates. Tests conducted by an
engineering consulting  firm  concluded  that by-products  from  processing  the
Company's plates can be disposed of without special treatment. Printware's paper
and  metal printing plates are both recyclable  and contain no heavy metals such
as silver. The Company knows of no other digital plates that can be recycled  as
easily  as its plates. The Company believes that the environmental advantages of
its plates will become increasingly important to printers.
 
    Printware's current  generation of  paper  plate material,  called  Platinum
grade, was introduced in 1995. This plate material uses a zinc-oxide coating and
a  triple  plastic-coated  paper  base stock.  The  Company  believes  that this
plasticized stock  provides  more stability  and  consistency than  other  paper
plates.  The plates  can be  used for  run lengths  of up  to 5,000 impressions,
handling  work  which   would  otherwise   require  more   expensive  metal   or
silver-halide plates. Platinum plate material comes in 425-foot rolls in various
widths  up to 16 inches. The plates are  cut to exact length by the Platesetter.
The  Company  believes  that  paper-based  printing  plates  used  in  Printware
Platesetters are the lowest cost digital plates available.
 
MARKETING
 
    Printware   has  separate   marketing  strategies  for   its  two  different
Platesetter lines. The Model 3240 Platesetter is sold by Mitsubishi, Printware's
marketing partner, who sells the Model 3240 to customers
 
                                       19

directly or through graphic arts dealers. The Company has retained the right  to
market  the Model 3240  directly or through other  marketing partners. The Model
1440 line is sold directly by  Printware's own sales force, which has  expertise
in the specialized applications served by the Model 1440.
 
    Through   its  original  equipment  manufacturer  ("OEM")  partnership  with
Mitsubishi, the Company is enjoying much broader product exposure. A significant
advertising campaign, which Mitsubishi began in several industry trade magazines
in late 1994, is raising product awareness for the Model 3240. In 1995 the Model
3240 was introduced  at tradeshows in  the U.  S., Canada, Europe  and Japan  by
Mitsubishi.  Pitman Co.,  the largest  graphic arts  dealer in  the country, and
other dealers are exhibiting and promoting the product.
 
    The Company  believes  that its  OEM  strategy  for the  Model  3240  allows
Mitsubishi  to add value,  such as brand  awareness, promotion, distribution and
service. Mitsubishi also couples the sale of  the Model 3240 to the sale of  its
plate  material supplies.  The Company believes  that Mitsubishi  is the world's
leading supplier of photographic plate material. The Company has been  satisfied
with  the results of the  Mitsubishi partnership, but there  can be no assurance
that the relationship will continue or that the business level will continue  to
grow.  Currently the supplies marketed  by Mitsubishi for the  Model 3240 do not
materially affect the Company's sales of supplies for the Model 1440.
 
    The Company's goal is to  significantly expand distribution of its  products
in  order to reach a broader  customer base. Management envisions this expansion
taking place gradually as the Computer-to-Plate market grows. The Company  plans
to use a portion of the net proceeds of this Offering to expand its distribution
by  hiring additional sales  and marketing personnel,  expanding advertising and
attending trade shows.
 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
 
    Printware has  research  and development  programs  underway or  planned  to
develop   higher   performance   RIPs,   faster   Platesetters   and  lower-cost
Platesetters. The Company believes that these programs are necessary to maintain
its competitive advantage and that  the technology to accomplish these  programs
is  already developed.  The Company  plans to  continue to  make use  of outside
suppliers as part of these development  efforts. No assurance can be given  that
any of these programs will be successful in producing revenue for the Company.
 
    HIGHER-PERFORMANCE RIPS.  The Company is developing a next-generation raster
image  processor using  the current industry  standard Adobe  Level 2 PostScript
software interface. Products using this  interface are intended to be  available
in  1996, and  will allow  Printware equipment to  integrate more  easily with a
wider range of computer and network systems. The Company believes that  offering
the  widely-accepted Adobe software interface will improve the market acceptance
of the Company's products. In addition, Printware plans to improve the speed  of
its RIPs with higher-speed microprocessors and other higher speed components.
 
    FASTER  PLATESETTERS.  Based on independent surveys conducted by THE SEYBOLD
REPORT in 1995 and PrintCom Consulting Group in 1996, the Company believes  that
its  Platesetters are among the fastest in the  industry, with a top speed of 40
inches per minute. The Company plans to maintain and extend its speed  advantage
by  developing a next generation of even faster Platesetters. Through changes in
the laser marker system, the Company believes  it can increase the speed of  its
Platesetters  by up to 50%. If this can be accomplished, the Company believes it
will provide an important competitive advantage by helping the Company meet  the
printing industry's ever-increasing productivity demands.
 
    LOWER-COST  PLATESETTERS.  Printware plans to  develop a Platesetter with an
end-user price in the $50,000 range, compared to $75,000 for Printware's current
lowest-priced model. Costs  will be reduced  by scaling down  the maximum  plate
width  to approximately 13"  and by eliminating certain  features. The 13" width
would allow printing of up to two 8 1/2" by 11" pages simultaneously, and  would
be  compatible with a  large number of  small-format printing presses (sometimes
called duplicator presses). Management believes that such a product would  allow
customers  with  lower plate  volumes to  justify  a Platesetter  purchase, thus
making it viable for  smaller printing operations in  segments such as  business
forms and technical/legal publishing.
 
                                       20

Printware  had completed  the development  of such  a product  for a  former OEM
partner (A. B. Dick  Company) in 1994.  A. B. Dick canceled  its orders for  the
product,  but the Company believes  parts of that design can  be used in the new
product. A current  customer has expressed  strong interest in  such a  product,
although pricing and other supply terms have not been agreed to, and there is no
assurance that an acceptable supply agreement can be reached with the customer.
 
    In  addition  to new  products, the  Company is  committed to  the continual
improvement of its existing products. Based  on the results of rigorous  quality
audits,  the  Company  believes that  Model  3240 product  quality  has improved
steadily since its introduction. The product meets the strenuous quality demands
of the world  market and  a number  of Model 3240  units have  been exported  to
Japan.  In 1996 the Company introduced an  enhanced external design of the Model
3240, which is stronger and has a more rounded look.
 
    In the long term (three  to five years), the  Company plans to develop  more
highly   automated  digital  printing  systems  built  around  Computer-to-Plate
technology. There can  be no assurance  that such a  development effort will  be
successful.  The  Company  believes  that  there  is  and  will  continue  to be
significant competition in this area.
 
COMPETITION
 
    The growth  in the  Computer-to-Plate  business has  attracted  considerable
competition. The Company's competitors and potential competitors are established
companies  that have  significantly greater  financial, technical  and marketing
resources than  the  Company. There  can  be  no assurance  that  the  Company's
competitors  will not succeed in developing and marketing products which perform
better and are less expensive than  the Company's products, or that will  render
the  Company's products and technology obsolete or noncompetitive in other ways.
The Company divides  its competition into  four categories: other  platesetters;
film imagers; enhanced xerographic/laser printers; and supplies competitors.
 
    OTHER  PLATESETTERS.  The Company believes, based on surveys reported in THE
SEYBOLD REPORT and by the PrintCom  Consulting Group and others, that there  are
at  least  50  Platesetter  models  currently being  marketed  by  more  than 20
companies. THE SEYBOLD REPORT recently identified the four leaders as Printware,
Gerber Scientific,  Creo  Products and  the  Optronics division  of  Intergraph.
Another  company, Presstek, a leader in digital presses, has recently introduced
Platesetters. THE SEYBOLD REPORT noted that: "...Printware has manufactured more
[Platesetters] than anyone else, giving it an enviable position in the  market."
The  Company believes  that it  has a  head start  over Platesetter competition,
although there can be  no assurance the  Company will be  able to maintain  that
advantage.
 
    All  major competitors mentioned  above use metal plates,  and most of their
Platesetters are relatively expensive ($250,000 to $500,000), as they are geared
towards the relatively small market  for high-end color printing. Creo  Products
serves   large  printers,   such  as  magazine   publishers.  Gerber  Scientific
specializes in  metal  Platesetters,  and Optronics  focuses  on  craft-oriented
printing.
 
    Printware's   products  are  focused  at  mainstream,  smaller  presses  and
mid-range  quality,  which  management  believes  currently  accounts  for  most
printing.  The Company believes that this type of printing will continue for the
foreseeable future, although  there can be  no assurance that  a shift to  large
format  presses or higher-quality color printing  might not render the Company's
products obsolete. From independent industry  surveys, the Company believes  its
Platesetters  are unmatched  in cost-effectiveness and  speed. Gerber Scientific
and Presstek have announced lower cost models, but the Company believes they are
still more expensive to buy and  to operate than Printware's products. All  four
major  competitors  use metal  plates, which  are much  more expensive  than the
Printware's economical  paper  plates.  Presstek has  introduced  a  nonmetallic
version  of its plate, but the plate  is still much more costly than Printware's
paper-based plates. Printware's latest  Platesetter for paper-based plates,  the
Model  1440 ZNX,  costs $75,000,  which the Company  believes is  less than most
competitive Platesetters. The Company also believes that Printware  Platesetters
have the lowest variable platemaking cost of any digital method.
 
    In  addition  to the  metal  Platesetter competition  summarized  above, the
Company also faces significant competition from other photographic  Platesetters
which  use  non-metallic printing  plates.  This competition  could particularly
affect the Model  3240 photographic  Platesetter. Management  believes the  most
significant
 
                                       21

of  these  competitors include  A. B.  Dick  Company, Eskofot  International and
PrePress Systems. The Company believes  that its advantages over those  products
include  higher speed,  less plate  waste and  the reputation  of the Mitsubishi
brand name.
 
    FILM IMAGERS.  Digital film imagers  are used in the traditional  multi-step
platemaking   process  being  obviated  by  Platesetters.  Several  film  imager
manufacturers are attempting  to adapt  film imagers to  image plates  directly.
Competitors  in  this  category  include  the  Agfa  division  of  Bayer  Corp.,
Linotype-Hell and  ECRM  Incorporated.  From  discussions  with  customers,  the
Company  believes  that  such  "plate-enabled" film  imagers  represent  a slow,
awkward approach, compared to the Company's Platesetters. The Company's  systems
are  fully  daylight-safe  (no  darkrooms)  and  chemical  processing  steps are
contained,   providing   so-called   "dry-to-dry"   operation.   The   Company's
Platesetters  are faster than  most film imagers and,  unlike film imagers, have
virtually no plate waste.
 
    XEROGRAPHIC/LASER PRINTERS.  Enhanced xerographic/laser printers can replace
offset  printing  in  certain  applications,   but  are  currently  limited   to
lower-quality  applications  such  as overseas  check  printing  and low-quality
business forms. These devices  also have a higher  variable cost per  impression
than   Computer-to-Plate  technology.  Companies  in  this  area  include  Check
Technology  Corporation,  Delphax  Systems  and  Xerox  Corporation.  Management
believes that competitors in this area are making efforts to improve the quality
and reduce the cost of their systems, and there can be no assurance that systems
marketed by the Company will sustain their advantage.
 
    SUPPLIES  COMPETITION.   Printware  has  competitors that  sell  paper plate
supplies for Model 1440  Platesetters. The Company is  not aware of  competition
for  metal plates used in the Model 1440. The most significant competitive paper
plate material  is made  by a  Japanese  paper mill  and sold  through a  U.  S.
distributor.  There have also been several  less significant competitors in this
market from time to  time. Printware has addressed  the competitive threat  with
lower  prices  where  appropriate  and  a program  to  improve  the  quality and
consistency of its supplies. The Company believes that competitive materials are
inferior to  Printware  supplies  in  certain respects,  such  as  strength  and
dimensional  stability, but  not inferior  in other  respects. The  Company also
believes that many of its customers would prefer to purchase their supplies from
Printware as the  manufacturer of  the equipment. The  Company expects  supplies
revenues  to grow  at a  modest rate,  but there  can be  no assurance  that the
Company will be able to maintain its product advantage or that competition might
not adversely affect the profitability or viability of its supplies business.
 
PROPRIETARY RIGHTS
 
    PATENTS AND TRADE SECRETS.  Printware's policy is to attempt to protect  its
technology  by seeking patents, maintaining certain trade secrets and continuing
technological innovation. As  of March 30,  1996, the Company  had rights to  17
patents,  consisting of 11 granted to Printware and six licensed from 3M. The 3M
patents expire between 2002 and 2004; the royalties which the Company paid to 3M
in 1995, 1994 and 1993  for licenses of these patents  were not material to  the
Company.  The Company's  own patents  begin to  expire in  2004. In  addition to
patents, the Company relies  on trade secrets  and other unpatented  proprietary
technology.  Printware  seeks  to  protect  its  trade  secrets  and proprietary
know-how with confidentiality agreements with employees and suppliers. There can
be no assurance that the Company's  patent portfolio will provide a  competitive
advantage  in  the  future, or  that  the Company's  agreements  will adequately
protect the Company's trade secrets.
 
    PRODUCT SUPPLY AGREEMENTS.   In  1995 Printware  obtained the  non-exclusive
right  to use  Adobe Systems'  software interface  for all  of its Platesetters.
Adobe originated  the  printing industry  standard  PostScript language  and  is
viewed  as controlling its future evolution.  The Company also has non-exclusive
rights to raster image processing software used in the ZAPrip, to fonts used  in
the ZipRip and to the plate processor module used in the Model 3240. The Company
has  the exclusive  right to  sell the proprietary  plate materials  made by its
suppliers. All of the product supply agreements to which the Company is a  party
can  be canceled by either party  under certain circumstances. Such cancellation
would seriously jeopardize the  Company's ability to  provide products that  are
critical to the Company's revenues.
 
                                       22

SUPPLIERS
 
    The  Company has a number of single  source suppliers for materials that are
critical to  production of  its products.  These include  the suppliers  of  the
Company's  Model 1440  paper plate  material, Model  1440 metal  plate material,
Model  1440  liquid  toner  and  certain  key  components  used  in  Model  1440
Platesetters, Model 3240 Platesetters and/or ZAPrip raster image processors. Any
significant  interruption  of supply  from  any of  these  vendors would  have a
material adverse effect on the Company.
 
MANUFACTURING AND FACILITIES
 
    Printware's manufacturing operation consists  of the assembly,  integration,
testing  and  quality audits  of  equipment. The  Company  purchases all  of its
supplies and many of the hardware  components it uses from third-party  vendors,
some  of which  are single-source  vendors. Printware's  principal manufacturing
areas include laser  markers, transport mechanisms,  electronics/RIPs and  final
assembly/test.  Printware  makes  extensive  use  of  computer-aided  design and
transmits most of its fabricated part drawings to its suppliers  electronically.
The  Company believes that  this use of technology  shortens turnaround time and
improves quality.
 
    Printware's offices and  manufacturing facility  are located  at 1270  Eagan
Industrial  Road, St. Paul,  Minnesota. The Company  occupies 35,410 square feet
pursuant to a lease which expires  July 31, 1998. Management believes that  this
facility will be adequate for Printware's needs at least until the expiration of
the  lease. The lease also has an option to extend for three additional years at
then-existing market rates. Monthly rent expense is currently $7,029, plus a pro
rata share of real estate taxes and common area maintenance.
 
EMPLOYEES
 
    As of March  30, 1996, Printware  had 48 employees,  including 44  full-time
employees  and 4 part-time or contract employees. Of the 44 full-time employees,
17 were in manufacturing,  5 were in marketing,  sales and customer service,  14
were  in  research and  development  and 8  were  in general  and administrative
functions. Management  considers  the  future  success  of  the  Company  to  be
dependent  in  part  upon its  continued  ability to  maintain  a highly-skilled
workforce and to attract, motivate and retain qualified employees.  Accordingly,
Printware  began an employee  profit-sharing plan in  1995. The program provides
payments to each non-officer employee  of up to 3%  of salary, depending on  the
Company's performance against quarterly profit goals. No Printware employees are
covered  by  collective  bargaining  agreements and  the  Company  considers its
relationship with its employees to be good.
 
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
    The Company is  involved in various  legal actions in  the normal course  of
business. Management is of the opinion that the outcome of such actions will not
have  a significant effect on the Company's financial position or its results of
operations.
 
                                       23

                                   MANAGEMENT
 
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
 
    The executive officers  and directors of  the Company and  their ages as  of
March 30, 1996 are as follows:
 


NAME                               AGE      POSITION WITH COMPANY
- -----------------------------      ---      ----------------------------------------------------------
                                      
Allen L. Taylor, Ph.D.(1)(2)           60   Co-chairman of the Board, Director
Donald V. Mager(2)                     60   Co-chairman of the Board, Director
Daniel A. Baker, Ph.D                  38   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Thomas W. Petschauer                   56   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Joseph F. Dayton                       49   Senior Vice President
Brian D. Shiffman(1)(2)                56   Director, Secretary
Jerry K. Twogood(2)                    55   Director
Charles M. Osborne(1)                  42   Director

 
- ---------------------------
 
(1) Member of the Audit Committee.
 
(2) Member of the Compensation Committee
 
    ALLEN L. TAYLOR, PH.D. has served as Co-chairman of the Board since February
1993  and prior to that time as Chairman of the Board beginning in May 1985. Dr.
Taylor is a  co-founder of the  Company but has  never been an  employee of  the
Company.   He  has  been   an  employee  of   3M  (a  publicly-held  diversified
manufacturer) for  over 30  years  and was  instrumental  in obtaining  for  the
Company in 1985 a license from 3M for the key galvanometer technology.
 
    DONALD  V. MAGER has served as Co-chairman  of the Board since February 1993
and prior to that time was President, Chief Executive Officer and a director  of
the  Company since  May 1985. Mr.  Mager is  a co-founder of  the Company. Since
February 1993 Mr.  Mager has been  a part-time employee  acting in a  consulting
capacity  and is no longer  active in the day-to-day  management of the Company.
Mr.  Mager's  employment  by  the  Company  will  terminate  on  June  1,  1996.
Previously,  he was employed by Sperry Corporation (a publicly-held manufacturer
of computer  systems)  and its  predecessors  for  30 years,  most  recently  as
Director of New Product Ventures.
 
    DANIEL A. BAKER, PH.D. has served as the Company's President and a member of
its  Board of Directors since February 1993 and as Chief Executive Officer since
January 1995. Dr.  Baker joined the  Company in  May 1990 as  Vice President  of
Engineering  and  was later  appointed Vice  President  of Sales,  Marketing and
Product Development. He has  20 years of experience  in high-tech industry,  and
personally   holds  15  patents.  His  previous  experience  includes  executive
positions at Minntech Corporation (a  publicly-held manufacturer of medical  and
industrial  devices) and Percom Data  Corporation (a privately-held manufacturer
of computer peripherals).
 
    THOMAS W. PETSCHAUER  has served as  a Vice President  of the Company  since
June  1985 and was named Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in
January 1995. Mr.  Petschauer is a  co-founder of  the Company. He  has over  30
years  of  technical, managerial  and business  experience  in the  computer and
peripheral field. Prior to joining Printware, he was Venture Executive at Sperry
Corporation, where he was employed for over 20 years.
 
    JOSEPH F. DAYTON has served as a Vice President of the Company since October
1986 and was named Senior Vice  President of Manufacturing and Customer  Service
in  January 1995. Prior to October 1986 he was employed by E. F. Johnson Company
(a  publicly-held  manufacturer  of  cellular  radio  systems),  where  he  held
increasingly  responsible executive positions in program management, quality and
manufacturing functions.
 
                                       24

    BRIAN D. SHIFFMAN has served on  the Board of Directors since the  Company's
incorporation in May 1985. Mr. Shiffman has been Business Development Manager at
Minnesota Project Innovation, Inc. since 1991. Previously, Mr. Shiffman was Vice
President  at  the  Minnesota Cooperation  Office,  as a  loaned  executive from
Control Data Corporation, and was instrumental to the formation of the  Company.
Mr.  Shiffman was employed at Control Data Corporation (a publicly-held computer
systems business) for over 20 years.
 
    JERRY K. TWOGOOD has  served on the Board  of Directors since January  1987.
Mr.  Twogood has  been the Executive  Vice President of  Deluxe (a publicly-held
provider of checks and related electronic-based payment systems) since 1987  and
since  November 1995 has been its President of Manufacturing. He has also been a
member of  the Board  of  Directors of  Deluxe since  1987,  where he  has  been
employed  since 1959.  Deluxe owned  51.3% of  the Company's  outstanding Common
Stock as of March 30, 1996 and is one of the Company's major customers.
 
    CHARLES M. OSBORNE joined the Company's Board of Directors in January  1989.
Mr. Osborne has been Deluxe's Chief Financial Officer since 1984 and Senior Vice
President since 1989. He has been employed by Deluxe since 1981. Previously, Mr.
Osborne  was at Deloitte &  Touche LLP, public accountants.  In 1996 Mr. Osborne
completed a term as President of  the Financial Stationers Association. He  also
serves  on the  board of directors  of Graco Corporation  (a publicly-held paint
sprayer  business)  and  of  Computer  Petroleum  Corporation  (a  publicly-held
provider of market research to the petroleum industry).
 
    In  addition to the above executive  officers and directors, the Company has
certain  other  employees  who  the  Company  believes  are  important  to   its
operations.  These key employees are: RODNEY S. CERAR, age 48, who has been with
the Company since March  1992 and has been  Director of Platesetter  Engineering
since  February 1993  and was previously  employed by  ADC Telecommunications (a
publicly-held manufacturer of telecommunications  equipment) from February  1990
to  November 1991 as  Manager of Manufacturing;  ALEXANDER K. KOSS,  age 37, who
joined the Company  in July 1985  and has been  Director of Product  Development
since  August 1994;  TIMOTHY S.  MURPHY, age  32, who  has been  employed by the
Company since October 1987  and has been Director  of Marketing and Sales  since
August 1994; and CORDELL E. LOMEN, age 50, who has been the Company's Controller
since October 1986.
 
    The  Company's Articles of Incorporation provide that the Board of Directors
may consist of up to 11 members. Currently the Board of Directors has 6 members.
Each director  is  elected to  hold  office until  the  next annual  meeting  of
shareholders.
 
    The Company has not paid any fees to members of its Board of Directors, with
the  exception of  Mr. Shiffman,  who receives $750  per quarter  for serving as
Secretary. Under  the  Company's  1996  Stock Plan,  each  of  the  non-employee
directors  (except for Messrs. Osborne and  Twogood) was automatically granted a
non-qualified stock option  for 1,000  shares of  Common Stock  (at an  exercise
price  of $3.00  per share)  on April  25, 1996  when the  Plan was  approved by
shareholders and will be automatically granted an option for an additional 1,000
shares (at an exercise price equal to  the then fair market value of the  Common
Stock)  upon each election or re-election as  a member of the Board of Directors
(see "Stock Plans" below).
 
    There are no family relationships among  any of the Company's directors  and
executive officers.
 
BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMMITTEES
 
    The Board of Directors has established an Audit Committee and a Compensation
Committee. The Audit Committee consists of Messrs. Osborne, Shiffman and Taylor.
This  committee  will review  the Company's  accounting, auditing  and reporting
practices, make recommendations concerning the work of the Company's independent
auditors  and  review  the  adequacy  of  internal  controls.  The  Compensation
Committee  consists  of  Messrs.  Taylor,  Shiffman,  Twogood  and  Mager.  This
committee  is  responsible   for  establishing  salaries,   bonuses  and   other
compensation for the Company's executive officers, and for the administration of
the  1996 Stock  Plan and  the Employee Stock  Purchase Plan.  See "Stock Plans"
below.
 
                                       25

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
    The following table shows the  compensation earned for services rendered  in
all  capacities to the Company by the  President and Chief Executive Officer and
the two other most  highly compensated executive officers  of the Company  whose
salary  and bonuses exceeded $100,000 for the  year ended December 31, 1995 (the
"Named Executive Officers"):
 
                      SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE FOR 1995
 


                                                                           LONG-TERM COMPENSATION
                                                ANNUAL COMPENSATION        ----------------------
                                          -------------------------------              SECURITIES
                                                             OTHER ANNUAL              UNDERLYING    ALL OTHER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION                SALARY    BONUS   COMPENSATION   AWARDS      OPTIONS     COMPENSATION
- ----------------------------------------  --------  -------  ------------  ---------   ----------   ------------
                                                                                  
Daniel A. Baker                           $110,000  $44,814  $      0      $   7,500(1)  11,203(2)     $1,413(3)
 President and CEO
Thomas W. Petschauer                        95,000   38,703         0              0     9,675(2)       1,226(3)
 Executive Vice President and CFO
Joseph F. Dayton                            83,000   33,814         0              0     8,453(2)         956(3)
 Senior Vice President

 
- ---------------------------
 
(1)  Represents the value of a restricted  stock award of 2,500 shares  approved
     by the Board of Directors.
 
(2)  Consists  of Incentive Stock Options awarded under the Company's 1995 Bonus
     Plan for executive officers (see "Executive Bonus Plan").
 
(3)  Consists of matching  contributions made  under the  Company's 401(k)  Plan
     (see "401(k) Profit Sharing Plan").
 
    None  of the executive officers and directors  of the Company are parties to
any employment or severance agreements, except for a Change in Control Severance
Agreement with Dr. Baker. This agreement provides that in the event of a  change
in  control of  the Company  followed by  termination of  Dr. Baker's employment
within one  year thereafter,  he will  generally receive  a lump  sum  severance
payment equivalent to two years of compensation.
 
    The  following table summarizes option  grants in 1995 to  each of the Named
Executive Officers:
 
                             OPTION GRANTS IN 1995
 


                                                                                                           POTENTIAL REALIZABLE
                                                                                                             VALUE AT ASSUMED
                                                                                                             ANNUAL RATES OF
                                                          INDIVIDUAL GRANTS                                    STOCK PRICE
                             ----------------------------------------------------------------------------    APPRECIATION FOR
                              NUMBER OF SECURITIES     PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL    EXERCISE OR                      OPTION TERM
                               UNDERLYING OPTIONS        OPTIONS GRANTED      BASE PRICE     EXPIRATION    --------------------
                                     GRANTED            EMPLOYEES IN 1995      PER SHARE        DATE         5%(1)     10%(1)
                             -----------------------  ---------------------  -------------  -------------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                                    
Daniel A Baker(2)..........             8,000                   34.4%          $    3.00    Jan. 13, 2005  $  15,093  $  38,250
Thomas W. Petschauer(2)....             7,000                   30.0                3.00    Jan. 13, 2005     13,207     33,469
Joseph F. Dayton(2)........             6,250                   26.9                3.00    Jan. 13, 2005     11,792     29,883

 
- ---------------------------
 
(1)  Represents the  potential net  realizable value  of each  grant of  options
     assuming  that the market price of  the underlying Common Stock appreciates
     in value from its fair market value on the date of grant to the end of  the
     option  term at the indicated annual  rates. As determined by the Company's
     Board of Directors, the fair market value  of the Common Stock on the  date
     of grant of the options described in the table was $3.00 per share.
 
(2)  The options were granted under the 1986 Incentive Stock Option Plan and are
     currently 100% vested.
 
                                       26

    The  following table  summarizes the value  of options held  at December 31,
1995 by the  Named Executive Officers.  There were no  options exercised by  the
Named Executive Officers during 1995.
 
                             YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
 


                                                          NUMBER OF SECURITIES
                                                               UNDERLYING               VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                                                         UNEXERCISED OPTIONS AT       IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS AT
                                                           DECEMBER 31, 1995            DECEMBER 31, 1995(1)
                                                      ----------------------------  ----------------------------
NAME                                                  EXERCISABLE  UNEXERCISABLE(2) EXERCISABLE  UNEXERCISABLE(2)
- ----------------------------------------------------  -----------  ---------------  -----------  ---------------
                                                                                     
Daniel A. Baker.....................................      18,750         11,203      $  65,625      $  39,211
Thomas W. Petschauer................................      22,125          9,675         77,438         33,863
Joseph F. Dayton....................................      25,700          8,453         89,950         29,586

 
- ---------------------------
 
(1)  The amounts set forth represent the difference between the assumed Price to
     Public of $6.50 per share and the exercise price of the options, multiplied
     by the applicable number of shares underlying the options.
 
(2)  The   unexercisable  options  were   granted  in  January   1996  for  1995
     performance.
 
STOCK PLANS
 
    1996 STOCK PLAN
 
    The shareholders  approved the  Company's 1996  Stock Plan  (the "Plan")  on
April  25, 1996. The Plan  is administered by the  Compensation Committee of the
Board of Directors  and expires on  April 25,  2006. The Plan  provides for  the
grant  of  incentive stock  options within  the  meaning of  Section 422  of the
Internal Revenue Code  of 1986,  as amended (the  "Code"), to  employees of  the
Company   and  non-qualified  stock  options  and  restricted  stock  awards  to
employees, consultants  and directors  of  the Company.  Options and  awards  of
restricted  stock for up to 500,000 shares  of Common Stock are authorized under
the  Plan.  The  Compensation  Committee  has  broad  discretion  to   prescribe
conditions  (such as the completion  of a period of  employment with the Company
following the grant  of an  option to  an employee)  to be  satisfied before  an
option  becomes exercisable. The Plan also provides for the automatic grant of a
non-qualified stock option for  1,000 shares at 100%  of the fair market  value,
fully  vested  upon  grant, exercisable  for  five years,  to  each non-employee
director upon adoption of the  Plan and upon each  election or re-election as  a
member of the Board of Directors.
 
    The  Company's 1986 Incentive  Stock Option Plan  and the Company's original
Incentive Stock Option  Plan have been  utilized to grant  all of the  Company's
options through March 30, 1996. The original plan expired in June 1995. Although
the  1986 Incentive Stock Option Plan will not terminate until October 1996, the
Company decided not to grant any additional options under this plan after  March
30, 1996.
 
    1996 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
 
    The  Company's 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Stock Purchase Plan")
was adopted on April  25, 1996 and  provides for the issuance  of up to  100,000
shares  of  Common  Stock.  The  Stock  Purchase  Plan  is  administered  by the
Compensation Committee of the Board  of Directors. With certain exceptions,  all
employees  of the Company who have been employed by the Company for at least six
months and who are employed at least 20 hours per week and at least five  months
per  year, including officers  and directors who are  employees, are eligible to
participate in the  Stock Purchase  Plan. The  Stock Purchase  Plan consists  of
periodic  offerings, with the first  such offering planned to  begin on April 1,
1997. Each  offering  under  the  Stock  Purchase Plan  will  be  for  a  period
determined  by the Compensation Committee of the  Board of Directors, but not to
exceed 27 months. An employee may elect to have up to a maximum of 10%  deducted
from  his or her regular  salary for the purpose  of purchasing shares under the
Stock Purchase Plan. The price at  which the employee's shares are purchased  is
the  lower of (a) 85% of  the closing price of the  Common Stock on the day that
the offering commences or (b)  85% of the closing price  of the Common Stock  on
the day that the offering terminates. No shares have been issued under the Stock
Purchase Plan.
 
                                       27

401(K) PROFIT SHARING PLAN
 
    The  Company's  401(k)  Profit  Sharing  Plan  (the  "401(k)  Plan")  became
effective August 1, 1994. The 401(k)  Plan is intended to qualify under  Section
401(k)  of the Code. All employees employed  by the Company in the United States
for at least 30 hours per week are eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan as
of the  next calendar  quarter following  one year  after date  of hire  by  the
Company.  Each  eligible employee  may contribute  to  the 401(k)  Plan, through
payroll deductions,  up  to 15%  of  his or  her  salary, subject  to  statutory
limitations.   The  401(k)  Plan  permits,  but  does  not  require,  additional
contributions to the 401(k) Plan by the Company of up to 2% of the  compensation
paid  by the  Company to  each employee  in the  previous calendar  quarter. The
Company's contributions are made  at the discretion of  the Board of  Directors,
within  the limits of the 401(k) Plan. The Company has made a contribution of 1%
of the  compensation  of each  participating  employee each  quarter  since  the
adoption  of the 401(k) Plan. Under Section 401(k) of the Code, contributions by
employees or  by the  Company  to the  401(k) Plan  and  income earned  on  plan
contributions are not taxable to employees until withdrawn from the 401(k) Plan.
Contributions  by the Company,  if any, will  be deductible by  the Company when
made.
 
EXECUTIVE BONUS PLAN
 
    The Compensation  Committee authorizes  and  approves an  executive  officer
bonus plan ("Bonus Plan") near the beginning of each year based on the Company's
financial plan for the year and based on its view of the overall compensation of
the  executive  officers.  For  1996  the Bonus  Plan  provides  for  a formula-
determined cash payment of up to 52% of the base salary of each of the executive
officers based on the overall  revenues and profit of  the Company in 1996.  The
Compensation  Committee also reserves the right to make additions to the awarded
bonuses based on additional subjective measures of executive officer performance
and achievement. In addition, each executive officer will receive a grant of  an
Incentive  Stock Option  for a  number of shares  of Common  Stock determined by
dividing by  four the  number of  dollars of  Bonus Plan  cash payment  to  each
officer.  These Incentive Stock  Options will be exercisable  at the fair market
value of the Common Stock  on the date of grant,  will be 100% vested after  one
year and will be exercisable for nine years.
 
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
 
    Each   of  the  current  non-employee   directors  is  entitled  to  receive
compensation in the form  of cash for their  services as directors. At  present,
and during the year ended December 31, 1995, no director or executive officer of
the  Company and no member  of the Compensation Committee  is, or was during the
year ended December 31, 1995, a director or compensation committee member of any
other business entity which had a director  that sits on the Company's Board  of
Directors or Compensation Committee.
 
                                       28

                              CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
 
    Deluxe owned 51.3% of the Company's outstanding Common Stock as of March 30,
1996 and two of its executive officers (Messrs. Osborne and Twogood) are members
of the Company's Board of Directors. From time to time over the last nine years,
the  Company  has had  agreements with  Deluxe to  develop or  deliver products,
supplies and services  to Deluxe.  Under some  of these  agreements the  Company
received  prepayments  as  a  source  of  financing  in  exchange  for providing
favorable pricing to  Deluxe. The Company  has recorded these  prepayments as  a
deferred  revenue  liability and  no revenue  was  recognized until  the Company
delivered the goods or services to Deluxe.
 
    In February 1991 Deluxe  ordered several units of  a film imager version  of
the  Model 3240  and associated  ZipRip raster  image processors  for a purchase
price and advance payment of $516,000. The Company offered favorable pricing  to
Deluxe due to the Company's desire to receive financing from the advance payment
and the need for Deluxe to wait for completion of the development and subsequent
production  of the units. A  change to the product  resulted in Deluxe paying an
additional $40,000 in  November 1991.  The Company  delivered a  portion of  the
Model  3240 film imagers in 1993. In  August 1994 Deluxe replaced its order with
another order for  the Platesetter version  of the Model  3240. The  replacement
order  was for a  number of Model  3240 Platesetters, ZAPrips  and a film imager
Model 3240, for  an increase  of $155,000 in  the aggregate  price. The  Company
delivered the products for the replacement order in 1995.
 
    In  August 1993 the Company  and Deluxe entered into  a contract that called
for the  Company to  provide  special equipment  to  Deluxe for  $1.59  million.
Approximately  $635,000 of  the contract  amount was paid  as a  down payment in
order to  allow  the  Company  to finance  the  procurement  of  components  and
assemblies  to ensure  their availability  for subsequent  equipment production.
Deluxe later determined not to proceed with the transaction and paid the Company
an additional $45,000.  As a result  of the contract  cancellation, the  Company
wrote  down the  related inventory.  The Company  had no  material gain  or loss
resulting from the contract cancellation and settlement.
 
    Effective in January  1995, the  Company entered  into a  three year  supply
contract  with  Deluxe to  supply  Deluxe with  Model  1440 plate  material. The
contract calls for Deluxe  to purchase a fixed  quantity of plate material  each
year.  In 1995 this contract produced revenues  to the Company of between $2 and
$3 million. The Company believes this contract will produce similar revenues for
the Company in 1996 and 1997.
 
    In February 1996, the Company entered  into an $80,000 contract with  Deluxe
under which the Company is performing software research and development work. In
April  1996 Deluxe placed a $102,000 purchase  order for the Company to retrofit
certain Deluxe equipment to  incorporate the results  of this software  research
and development work.
 
                                       29

                       PRINCIPAL AND SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
 
    The  following  table sets  forth  certain information  regarding beneficial
ownership of the Company's Common Stock as of March 30, 1996 and as adjusted  to
reflect  the sale of the  shares offered hereby by (i)  each person known to the
Company to beneficially own  more than five percent  (5%) of Common Stock,  (ii)
each  director, (iii) each  of the Named Executive  Officers, (iv) all directors
and executive  officers  of  the  Company  as  a  group  and  (v)  each  Selling
Shareholder.  Except  as  otherwise indicated  below,  to the  knowledge  of the
Company, all shareholders have sole voting and investment power over the  shares
beneficially  owned, except to  the extent authority is  shared by spouses under
applicable law.
 


                                                      SHARES BENEFICIALLY                   SHARES BENEFICIALLY
                                                        OWNED PRIOR TO                          OWNED AFTER
                                                           OFFERING           SHARES TO          OFFERING
                                                    -----------------------    BE SOLD    -----------------------
NAME                                                  NUMBER      PERCENT    IN OFFERING    NUMBER      PERCENT
- --------------------------------------------------  ----------  -----------  -----------  ----------  -----------
                                                                                       
Deluxe Corporation(1) ............................   1,862,290      51.31%      274,600    1,587,690      32.87%
 P.O. Box 64235
 St. Paul, MN 55164-0235
Donald V. Mager(2)(3) ............................     454,862      12.53%       62,300      392,562       8.13%
 c/o Printware, Inc.
 1270 Eagan Industrial Rd.
 St. Paul, MN 55121
Allen L. Taylor(3) ...............................     405,875      11.18%       62,300      343,575       7.11%
 c/o Printware, Inc.
 1270 Eagan Industrial Rd.
 St. Paul, MN 55121
Thomas W. Petschauer(4)...........................      99,823       2.75%            0       99,823       2.07%
Daniel A. Baker(5)................................      28,750          *             0       28,750          *
Joseph F. Dayton(6)...............................      25,800          *             0       25,800          *
Minnesota Technology, Inc.........................       5,500          *           800        4,700          *
Brian D. Shiffman.................................         500          *             0          500          *
Jerry K. Twogood(7)...............................           0          *             0            0          *
Charles M. Osborne(7).............................           0          *             0            0          *
Directors and executive officers as a group (8
 persons)(8)......................................   2,877,900      79.29%      399,200    2,478,700      51.32%

 
- ---------------------------
 
* Less than 1%
 
(1) Includes 5,000  shares issuable  upon the exercise  of warrants  exercisable
    within  60 days of March 30, 1996. Deluxe is a major customer of the Company
    and two of its officers are members of the Company's Board of Directors. See
    "Business-- Customers" and "Management."
 
(2) Includes 18,700  shares issuable  upon the exercise  of options  exercisable
    within 60 days of March 30, 1996.
 
(3) Mr. Mager and Mr. Taylor are members of the Company's Board of Directors.
 
(4)  Includes 22,125  shares issuable upon  the exercise  of options exercisable
    within 60 days of March 30, 1996. The shares listed above for Mr. Petschauer
    include 5,000  issued to  his wife,  as to  which Mr.  Petschauer  disclaims
    beneficial ownership.
 
(5)  Includes 18,750  shares issuable upon  the exercise  of options exercisable
    within 60 days of March 30, 1996.
 
(6) Includes 25,700  shares issuable  upon the exercise  of options  exercisable
    within 60 days of March 30, 1996.
 
(7) Mr. Twogood and Mr. Osborne are officers of Deluxe.
 
(8)  Includes 85,275  shares issuable upon  the exercise  of options exercisable
    within 60 days  of March  30, 1996,  the shares  owned by  Deluxe and  5,000
    shares  issuable to  Deluxe upon  the exercise  of its  warrants exercisable
    within 60 days of March 30, 1996.
 
                                       30

                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
 
    The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 15,000,000 shares of
Common Stock, no par value per  share, and 1,000,000 shares of Preferred  Stock.
The following summary of the terms and provisions of the Company's capital stock
does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
the Company's Articles of Incorporation and applicable law.
 
COMMON STOCK
 
    On  March 30, 1996, there were  3,629,713 shares of Common Stock outstanding
held by 209 shareholders of record. All shares of Common Stock have equal voting
rights and  have  one  vote per  share  in  all  matters to  be  voted  upon  by
shareholders.  Cumulative voting in the election of directors is not allowed. No
share of Common Stock is entitled to  preference over any other share of  Common
Stock,  and each  share of Common  Stock is equal  to any other  share of Common
Stock in all respects. All  of the outstanding shares  of Common Stock are,  and
the  shares  to  be sold  pursuant  to this  offering  will be,  fully  paid and
nonassessable.
 
    The shares  of Common  Stock have  no preemptive  or conversion  rights,  no
redemption  or sinking fund  provisions and are  not liable for  further call or
assessment. Subject to the rights of holders of the Preferred Stock, each  share
of  Common  Stock is  entitled to  receive a  return of  paid-in capital  and to
participate pro rata in any distribution of capital assets, whether voluntary or
involuntary, after creditors have been paid in full.
 
    Subject to the  rights of holders  of the Preferred  Stock, shareholders  of
Common  Stock are  entitled to  receive dividends  when and  as declared  by the
Company's Board of Directors  out of funds legally  available thereof. Any  such
dividends  may be paid in cash, property  or shares of Common Stock. The Company
has not paid any  cash dividends since its  inception and presently  anticipates
that  no  dividends on  its Common  Stock  will be  declared in  the foreseeable
future.
 
PREFERRED STOCK
 
    There are no shares of Preferred Stock issued and outstanding. The Preferred
Stock is issuable by  the Board of Directors  from time to time  in one or  more
series  without approval of the Company's  shareholders. Each series will have a
distinctive designation or  title as is  fixed by the  Board of Directors.  Each
series  of Preferred  Stock will  have such voting  power (or  no voting power),
preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions as are  adopted
by  the Board of Directors prior to the issuance of the series, and would likely
have rights superior to the rights of Common Stock. The Company presently has no
plan to issue any Preferred Stock.
 
INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
 
    The Company's Bylaws and Minnesota law require the Company to indemnify  any
director, officer, employee or agent of the Company who was or is a party to any
threatened,  pending  or completed  action, suit  or proceeding,  whether civil,
criminal, administrative  or  investigative,  against  certain  liabilities  and
expenses  incurred in  connection with  the action,  suit or  proceeding, except
where such persons have not  acted in good faith  or did not reasonably  believe
that the conduct was in the best interests of the Company.
 
    Insofar  as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933,  as amended  (the "Securities  Act"), may  be permitted  to  directors,
officers  or other  persons controlling  the Company  pursuant to  the foregoing
provisions,  the  opinion  of  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission   (the
"Commission") is that such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
 
ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS OF MINNESOTA BUSINESS CORPORATION ACT
 
    Certain   provisions  of  Minnesota  law   described  below  could  have  an
anti-takeover effect.  These  provisions  are  intended  to  provide  management
flexibility  to  enhance  the  likelihood of  continuity  and  stability  in the
composition of the Company's Board of  Directors and in the policies  formulated
by  the Board and to  discourage an unsolicited takeover  of the Company, if the
Board determines that such a takeover is not in
 
                                       31

the  best  interests  of  the  Company  and  its  shareholders.  However,  these
provisions could have the effect of discouraging certain attempts to acquire the
Company  which could deprive the Company's shareholders of opportunities to sell
their shares of Common stock at prices higher than prevailing market prices.
 
    Section 302A.671 of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act ("MBCA") provides
that, unless the acquisition of certain new percentages of voting control of the
Company (in excess of 20%, 33 1/3%  or 50%) by an existing shareholder or  other
person  is  approved by  a  majority of  the  disinterested shareholders  of the
Company, the shares acquired above such  new percentage level of voting  control
will not be entitled to voting rights. The Company is required to hold a special
shareholders'  meeting to vote on any such  acquisition within 55 days after the
delivery to the Company by the acquiror of an information statement  describing,
among  other things, the acquiror and any  plans of the acquiror to liquidate or
dissolve the  Company and  copies  of definitive  financing agreements  for  any
financing of the acquisition not to be provided by funds of the acquiror. If any
acquiror does not submit an information statement to the Company within ten days
after acquiring shares representing a new threshold percentage of voting control
of the Company, or if the disinterested shareholders vote not to approve such an
acquisition,  the Company may redeem  the shares so acquired  by the acquiror at
their market value. Section 302A.671 generally does not apply to a cash offer to
purchase all shares of voting stock of the issuing corporation if such offer has
been approved by a majority vote  of disinterested board members of the  issuing
corporation.
 
    Section  302A.673  of the  MBCA restricts  certain transactions  between the
Company and a shareholder who  becomes the beneficial holder  of 10% or more  of
the  Company's outstanding voting  stock (an "interested  shareholder") unless a
majority of the disinterested directors of  the Company have approved, prior  to
the  date on which the shareholder acquired  a 10% interest, either the business
combination transaction suggested by  such a shareholder  or the acquisition  of
shares  that made such a shareholder a statutory interested shareholder. If such
prior approval is not obtained, the statute imposes a four-year prohibition from
the statutory interested shareholder's share acquisition date on mergers,  sales
of  substantial assets, loans, substantial issuances  of stock and various other
transactions involving the Company and  the statutory interested shareholder  or
its affiliates.
 
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
 
    The  Transfer Agent and Registrar  with respect to the  Common Stock will be
American Securities Transfer, Incorporated of Denver, Colorado.
 
                        SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
 
    Prior to this Offering, there has been no market for the Common Stock of the
Company. Sales of  substantial amounts  of Common Stock  of the  Company in  the
public  market after  restrictions lapse  could adversely  affect the prevailing
market price and  the ability  of the  Company to  raise equity  capital in  the
future.
 
    Upon the completion of this Offering, the Company will have 4,829,713 shares
of  Common  Stock outstanding,  assuming  no exercise  of  currently outstanding
options or warrants. Of these shares, the 1,600,000 shares sold in this Offering
will be freely tradeable  without restriction under  the Securities Act,  unless
held  by "affiliates" of the Company, as that  term is defined in Rule 144 under
the Securities  Act. The  remaining 3,229,713  shares of  Common stock  held  by
existing  stockholders  were  issued and  sold  by  the Company  in  reliance on
exemptions from  the  registration requirements  of  the Securities  Act.  These
shares  may be sold in  the public market only if  registered, or pursuant to an
exemption from registration such as Rule 144, 144(k) or 701 under the Securities
Act. Holders of an aggregate of 2,383,425 shares of Common Stock and holders  of
options and warrants to purchase an additional 119,606 shares, have entered into
lock-up  agreements under which they have agreed not to offer, sell or otherwise
dispose, or directly  or indirectly  cause or permit  the offer,  sale or  other
disposition,  of any Common Stock of the Company owned of record or beneficially
and of which such  shareholder has the  power to control  the disposition for  a
period  of  six months  after the  date  of this  Prospectus, without  the prior
written consent  of the  Underwriter. The  Company has  entered into  a  similar
agreement,  except that the Company may grant  options and issue stock under its
current stock option plans and pursuant to other currently outstanding options.
 
                                       32

    As of March 30,  1996, 135,567 shares were  subject to outstanding  options.
Following this Offering, the Company intends to file a Registration Statement on
Form  S-8 covering  shares issuable under  the Company's  Incentive Stock Option
Plan adopted in 1985, 1986 Incentive Stock Option Plan, 1996 Stock Plan and 1996
Employee Stock Purchase Plan, thus permitting  the resale of such shares in  the
public  market without restrictions under the Securities Act after expiration of
the applicable lock-up agreements.
 
    Upon the effective date of the Offering, 748,876 shares of Common Stock will
become eligible for sale in the public market pursuant to Rule 144(k). Beginning
90 days after the  date of this Prospectus,  23,698 additional shares of  Common
Stock  (including  14,792 shares  subject  to outstanding  vested  options) will
become available for sale in the public market subject, in certain cases, to the
vesting requirements and volume and manner of sale limitations of Rule 144. Upon
expiration of the lock-up agreements,  an additional 2,473,700 shares of  Common
Stock  (including 66,575 shares subject to  outstanding vested options and 5,000
shares  subject  to  outstanding  vested  warrants)  will  become  eligible  for
immediate  public resale, subject in some cases to vesting provisions and volume
limitations pursuant  to  Rule  144.  The remaining  4,700  shares  will  become
eligible for public resale at various times over a period of less than two years
following  the completion  of this  Offering, subject  in some  cases to vesting
provisions and volume limitations.
 
    In general, under  Rule 144  as currently in  effect, a  person (or  persons
whose  shares are aggregated) who has beneficially owned shares for at least two
years (including the holding period of any prior owner, except an affiliate)  is
entitled  to sell  in "broker's  transactions" or  to market  makers, within any
three-month period  commencing 90  days after  the date  of this  Prospectus,  a
number  of shares  that does not  exceed the greater  of (i) one  percent of the
number of shares of Common  Stock then outstanding (approximately 48,297  shares
immediately  after this Offering)  or (ii) the average  weekly trading volume of
the Common Stock during the four calendar weeks preceding the required filing of
a Form 144 with respect to such sale. Sales under Rule 144 are generally subject
to certain  manner  of  sale  provisions and  notice  requirements  and  to  the
availability of current public information about the Company. Under Rule 144(k),
a  person who is not deemed to have been an affiliate of the Company at any time
during the 90 days preceding a sale,  and who has beneficially owned the  shares
proposed  to be sold for  at least three years, is  entitled to sell such shares
without having to  comply with the  manner of sale,  public information,  volume
limitation or notice provisions of Rule 144. Under Rule 701 under the Securities
Act,  persons who purchase shares upon exercise  of options granted prior to the
effective date of this Offering are entitled  to sell such shares 90 days  after
the  effective date of this Offering in  reliance on Rule 144, without having to
comply with the  holding period requirements  of Rule  144 and, in  the case  of
non-affiliates,  without having  to comply  with the  public information, volume
limitation or notice provisions of Rule 144.
 
    The Securities and  Exchange Commission has  recently proposed reducing  the
initial  Rule 144 holding period to one  year and the Rule 144(k) holding period
to two years. There can be no assurance as to when or whether such rule  changes
will be enacted. If enacted, such modification may have a material effect on the
time when shares of the Company's Common Stock become eligible for resale.
 
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
 
    In  connection with their  acquisition of securities of  the Company, two of
the Company's existing shareholders have agreements with the Company under which
the shareholders have the right to have their shares of Common Stock included in
future registration statements filed by the Company under the Securities Act.
 
                                       33

                                  UNDERWRITING
 
    Subject to  the terms  and conditions  of the  Underwriting Agreement,  each
Underwriter  named below has  severally agreed to purchase,  and the Company and
the Selling Stockholders have agreed to sell to such Underwriters, the number of
shares of Common Stock set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter below, at
the Price to Public  set forth on  the cover page of  this Prospectus, less  the
underwriting discount.
 


UNDERWRITERS                                                                           NUMBER OF SHARES
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ------------------
                                                                                   
R.J. Steichen & Company.............................................................
 
                                                                                           ----------
  Total.............................................................................        1,600,000
                                                                                           ----------
                                                                                           ----------

 
    The Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligations of the Underwriters
are  subject  to certain  conditions precedent  and  that the  Underwriters will
purchase all  of the  shares  of the  Common Stock  offered  hereby if  any  are
purchased.
 
    The   Company  and  the  Selling  Shareholders  have  been  advised  by  the
Representative that the Underwriters propose to offer the shares of Common Stock
to the  public at  the Price  to Public  set forth  on the  cover page  of  this
Prospectus  and to certain selected  dealers at such Price  to Public less usual
and customary concessions not in excess of $     per share. The Underwriters may
allow, and such  dealers may reallow,  a concession  not in excess  of $.05  per
share  to certain other securities dealers. Each of the concessions allowed will
be to members of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. After  the
initial  public  offering, the  offering price  and other  selling terms  may be
changed by the Underwriters.
 
    The Company and the Selling Shareholders have granted to the Underwriters an
option, exercisable not later than 30 days after the date of this Prospectus, to
purchase up to an  additional 180,000 shares of  Common Stock from the  Company,
and  up to  an additional  60,000 shares from  the Selling  Shareholders, at the
Price to Public less the  underwriting discount set forth  on the cover page  of
this  Prospectus.  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 1,600,000 shares are being offered.
 
    The  Company and the Selling Shareholders have  agreed to pay, on a pro rata
basis, to the Representative a nonaccountable expense allowance equal to 2.0% of
the aggregate offering price of the shares offered hereby, including the  shares
sold  by the Selling Shareholders,  or $        ($         if the over-allotment
option is exercised in full), of which $10,000 has been paid. Such allowance  is
included  in the expenses  of the Offering set  forth on the  cover page of this
Prospectus.
 
    The Company has  agreed to sell  to the Representative  upon the closing  of
this  Offering,  for  nominal  consideration,  the  Representative's  Warrant to
purchase 120,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price per share equal  to
120% of the Price to Public. The Representative's Warrant contains anti-dilution
provisions  providing for appropriate adjustments upon the occurrence of certain
events and  contains  a one-time  demand  and certain  "piggyback"  registration
rights  with respect to the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of
the Representative's Warrant. The Representative's Warrant will have a "cashless
exercise" feature entitling the holder  to convert the Representative's  Warrant
into   shares  of  Common  Stock.  This  provision  allows  the  holder  of  the
Representative's Warrant to apply the difference
 
                                       34

between the exercise price of the  Representative's Warrant and the higher  fair
market  value of the Common Stock underlying the Representative's Warrant to the
payment of the exercise price. The Representative's Warrant will be  exercisable
commencing one year from the date of this Prospectus until five years after such
date.  The Representative's Warrant is not transferable for a period of one year
after the effective date of the  Offering, except for transfers by operation  of
law,  by will or pursuant to the laws of descent and distribution or to officers
of the Representative.  Furthermore, the  Representative's Warrant  will not  be
transferable  absent an exemption  from applicable state  and federal securities
laws. Any profits realized upon the sale of the Representative's Warrant or  the
Common  Stock  issuable  upon  exercise  thereof  may  be  deemed  to constitute
additional underwriting compensation.
 
    The Company, the Selling  Shareholders and the  Underwriters have agreed  to
indemnify  each other  against certain liabilities,  including liabilities under
the Securities Act. Such  indemnification is limited  or unavailable in  certain
circumstances, including where legally unavailable.
 
    Insofar  as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted to directors, officers  and controlling persons of the  Company
pursuant  to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, the Company has been advised
that  in  the   opinion  of   the  Securities  and   Exchange  Commission   such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act, and
is, therefore, unenforceable.
 
    Shareholders  of the  Company holding in  the aggregate  2,383,425 shares of
Common Stock  and holders  of options  and warrants  to purchase  an  additional
119,606  shares have agreed not to offer, sell or otherwise dispose, or directly
or indirectly  cause or  permit the  offer, sale  or other  disposition, of  any
Common  Stock of the Company  owned of record or  beneficially and of which such
shareholder has the power to control the disposition for a period of six  months
after   the  date  of   this  Prospectus  without  the   prior  consent  of  the
Representative. See "Shares Eligible for Future Sale."
 
    The Underwriters have advised the Company that they do not intend to confirm
sales to any account over which any of them exercises discretionary authority.
 
    Prior to this Offering, there has been no public market for the Common Stock
of the Company. Consequently, the initial  public offering price for the  Common
Stock   will  be  determined   by  negotiation  between   the  Company  and  the
Representative. Among  the  factors  considered in  such  negotiations  will  be
prevailing market conditions, the results of operations of the Company in recent
periods, the market capitalizations and stages of development of other companies
which  the  Company  and the  Representative  believe  to be  comparable  to the
Company, estimates of the business potential  of the Company, the present  state
of the Company's development and other factors deemed relevant.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
    The financial statements of the Company as of December 31, 1995 and 1994 and
for  each of the three  years in the period ended  December 31, 1995 included in
this Prospectus  have  been  audited  by  Deloitte  &  Touche  LLP,  independent
auditors,  as stated in their report appearing herein, and have been so included
in reliance upon the report of such  firm given upon their authority as  experts
in accounting and auditing.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
    The  validity of the Common Stock offered hereby will be passed upon for the
Company by Lindquist  & Vennum P.L.L.P.,  Minneapolis, Minnesota. Certain  legal
matters  relating to the  Offering will be  passed upon for  the Underwriters by
Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A., Minneapolis, Minnesota.
 
                                       35

                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
    The Company has filed with the  Commission a Registration Statement on  Form
S-1  under the Securities Act  with respect to the  Common Stock offered hereby.
This Prospectus  does  not contain  all  of the  information  set forth  in  the
Registration  Statement and the  exhibits thereto. For  further information with
respect to  the  Company  and  the  Common Stock,  reference  is  made  to  such
Registration  Statement and exhibits.  Statements made in  this Prospectus as to
the contents of any contract, agreement  or other documents referred to are  not
necessarily  complete. With  respect to each  such contract,  agreement or other
document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, reference is made to
the exhibit  for  a  more  complete description  of  the  matter  involved.  The
Registration  Statement and exhibits may be  inspected without charge and copied
at the public  reference facilities maintained  by the Commission  at 450  Fifth
Street,  N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549; Citicorp  Center, 500 West Madison, Suite
1400, Chicago, Illinois  60661; and  7 World Trade  Center, New  York, New  York
10048.  Copies of  such material  may be obtained  at prescribed  rates from the
Commission's Public Reference  Section at  450 Fifth  Street, N.W.,  Washington,
D.C. 20549.
 
                                       36

                         INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                                PRINTWARE, INC.
 


                                                                        PAGE
                                                                        ----
 
                                                                     
Independent Auditors' Report..........................................  F-2
 
Balance Sheets as of March 30, 1996 (unaudited) and December 31, 1995
 and 1994.............................................................  F-3
 
Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 30, 1996 and
 April 1, 1995 (unaudited) and the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994
 and 1993.............................................................  F-4
 
Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity for the three months
 ended March 30, 1996 (unaudited) and the years ended December 31,
 1995, 1994 and 1993..................................................  F-5
 
Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 30, 1996 and
 April 1, 1995 (unaudited) and the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994
 and 1993.............................................................  F-6
 
Notes to Financial Statements for the three months ended March 30,
 1996 and April 1, 1995 (unaudited) and the years ended December 31,
 1995, 1994 and 1993..................................................  F-7

 
                                      F-1

                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
 
To The Shareholders of Printware, Inc.:
 
    We  have audited  the accompanying  balance sheets  of Printware,  Inc. (the
Company) as  of  December  31, 1995  and  1994  and the  related  statements  of
operations,  shareholders' equity and cash flows for  each of the three years in
the  period  ended  December  31,  1995.  These  financial  statements  are  the
responsibility  of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
 
    We conducted  our  audits in  accordance  with generally  accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence  supporting
the  amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles used  and  significant estimates  made  by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
    In our opinion, such  financial statements present  fairly, in all  material
respects,  the financial  position of Printware,  Inc. at December  31, 1995 and
1994 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the  three
years  in  the period  ended  December 31,  1995,  in conformity  with generally
accepted accounting principles.
 
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
 
Minneapolis, Minnesota
February 2, 1996
(April 25, 1996 as to the
first paragraph of Note 3)
 
                                      F-2

                                PRINTWARE, INC.
 
                                 BALANCE SHEETS
 
                                     ASSETS
 


                                                                                   DECEMBER 31,
                                                                            --------------------------
                                                                                1995          1994
                                                               MARCH 30,    ------------  ------------
                                                                  1996
                                                              ------------
                                                              (UNAUDITED)
                                                                                 
CURRENT ASSETS:
  Cash and cash equivalents.................................  $  2,795,856  $  2,568,852  $    860,668
  Receivables (Note 2)......................................       743,094       773,740       507,942
  Inventories (Notes 1 and 2)...............................     1,624,238     1,727,342     1,843,698
  Prepaid expenses..........................................        69,193        17,394        43,651
                                                              ------------  ------------  ------------
    Total current assets....................................     5,232,381     5,087,328     3,255,959
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net of accumulated depreciation and
 amortization (Notes 1 and 2)...............................       130,419       130,677       183,415
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net of accumulated amortization (Notes 1
 and 2).....................................................        33,606        34,396        37,554
                                                              ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                              $  5,396,406  $  5,252,401  $  3,476,928
                                                              ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                              ------------  ------------  ------------
 
                                 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
  Accounts payable..........................................  $    390,602  $    436,852  $    445,059
  Accrued expenses (Notes 1 and 2)..........................       308,650       469,108       342,988
  Deferred revenues (Note 7)................................        41,488        29,773       175,350
                                                              ------------  ------------  ------------
    Total current liabilities...............................       740,740       935,733       963,397
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Notes 4, 5, 7 and 11)
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Note 3):
  Preferred Stock, no specified par value; 1,000,000 shares
   authorized; none issued and outstanding..................       --            --            --
  Common Stock, no par value, authorized 15,000,000 shares:
   issued and outstanding 3,629,713 shares at March 30,
   1996; 3,627,013 and 3,623,776 shares at December 31, 1995
   and 1994, respectively...................................    15,522,238    15,514,138    15,504,426
  Accumulated deficit.......................................   (10,866,572)  (11,197,470)  (12,990,895)
                                                              ------------  ------------  ------------
    Total shareholders' equity..............................     4,655,666     4,316,668     2,513,531
                                                              ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                              $  5,396,406  $  5,252,401  $  3,476,928
                                                              ------------  ------------  ------------
                                                              ------------  ------------  ------------

 
                       See notes to financial statements.
 
                                      F-3

                                PRINTWARE, INC.
 
                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 


                                                                THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                              ----------------------        YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                              MARCH 30,    APRIL 1,   -----------------------------------
                                                                 1996        1995        1995        1994        1993
                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------
                                                                   (UNAUDITED)
                                                                                               
REVENUES (Note 1, 7, 8 and 10)..............................  $1,832,013  $1,807,623  $8,388,148  $6,626,925  $ 7,296,484
COST OF REVENUES............................................   1,110,046   1,000,871   5,003,956   4,102,401    5,344,519
                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------
Gross margin................................................     721,967     806,752   3,384,192   2,524,524    1,951,965
PERIOD COSTS:
  Research and development..................................     178,941     205,778     757,131     956,807    1,314,355
  Selling, general and administrative.......................     238,471     270,869   1,072,878     945,533    1,851,507
                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------
    Total...................................................     417,412     476,647   1,830,009   1,902,340    3,165,862
                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS...............................     304,555     330,105   1,554,183     622,184   (1,213,897)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
  Net gain on arbitration award (Note 11)...................      --          --         192,335      --          --
  Interest expense..........................................        (235)     (1,250)     (3,333)     (4,457)      (8,143)
  Interest and other income.................................      33,078       9,628      72,740      27,375       18,442
                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND EXTRAORDINARY ITEM....     337,398     338,483   1,815,925     645,102   (1,203,598)
INCOME TAXES (Note 9).......................................       6,500      12,000      22,500       2,000        1,109
                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE EXTRAORDINARY ITEM.....................     330,898     326,483   1,793,425     643,102   (1,204,707)
EXTRAORDINARY ITEM -- GAIN ON EXTINGUISHMENT OF DEBT (Note
 3).........................................................      --          --          --         140,927      --
                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------
NET INCOME (LOSS)...........................................  $  330,898  $  326,483  $1,793,425  $  784,029  $(1,204,707)
                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------
                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON AND COMMON EQUIVALENT SHARE
 (Note 1):
  Income (loss) before extraordinary item...................  $      .09  $      .09  $      .48  $      .17  $      (.33)
  Extraordinary item........................................      --          --          --             .04      --
                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------
  Net income (loss).........................................  $      .09  $      .09  $      .48  $      .21  $      (.33)
                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------
                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON AND COMMON EQUIVALENT
 SHARES OUTSTANDING (Note 1)................................   3,705,403   3,705,627   3,705,627   3,685,580    3,635,226
                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------
                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------

 
                       See notes to financial statements.
 
                                      F-4

                                PRINTWARE, INC.
                       STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
                 THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 30, 1996 (UNAUDITED)
                AND YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995, 1994 AND 1993
 


                                                              COMMON STOCK                             TOTAL
                                                        -------------------------   ACCUMULATED    SHAREHOLDERS'
                                                          SHARES       AMOUNT         DEFICIT         EQUITY
                                                        ----------  -------------  --------------  -------------
                                                                                       
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 1992..........................   3,611,889  $  15,468,763  $  (12,570,217)  $ 2,898,546
Shares issued pursuant to exercise of stock options...         750          2,250        --               2,250
Shares redeemed and retired at $3.00 per share........        (700)        (2,100)       --              (2,100)
Shares issued for services performed for the
 Company..............................................       3,387         10,163        --              10,163
Net loss..............................................      --           --            (1,204,707)   (1,204,707)
                                                        ----------  -------------  --------------  -------------
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 1993..........................   3,615,326     15,479,076     (13,774,924)    1,704,152
Shares issued in connection with extinguishment of
 debt.................................................       5,500         16,500        --              16,500
Shares issued pursuant to exercise of stock options...         150            450        --                 450
Shares issued for services performed for the
 Company..............................................       2,800          8,400        --               8,400
Net income............................................      --           --               784,029       784,029
                                                        ----------  -------------  --------------  -------------
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 1994..........................   3,623,776     15,504,426     (12,990,895)    2,513,531
Shares issued pursuant to exercise of stock options...         737          2,212        --               2,212
Shares issued for services performed for the
 Company..............................................       2,500          7,500        --               7,500
Net income............................................      --           --             1,793,425     1,793,425
                                                        ----------  -------------  --------------  -------------
BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 1995..........................   3,627,013     15,514,138     (11,197,470)    4,316,668
Shares issued pursuant to exercise of stock options
 (unaudited)..........................................         200            600        --                 600
Shares issued for services performed for the Company
 (unaudited)..........................................       2,500          7,500        --               7,500
Net income (unaudited)................................      --           --               330,898       330,898
                                                        ----------  -------------  --------------  -------------
BALANCE AT MARCH 30, 1996 (UNAUDITED).................   3,629,713  $  15,522,238  $  (10,866,572)  $ 4,655,666
                                                        ----------  -------------  --------------  -------------
                                                        ----------  -------------  --------------  -------------

 
                       See notes to financial statements.
 
                                      F-5

                                PRINTWARE, INC.
 
                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 


                                                               THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                              ---------------------        YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                              MARCH 30,   APRIL 1,   ------------------------------------
                                                                 1996       1995        1995        1994         1993
                                                              ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------  -----------
                                                                   (UNAUDITED)
                                                                                               
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
  Net income (loss).........................................  $  330,898  $ 326,483  $1,793,425  $   784,029  $(1,204,707)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash
 provided by (used in) operating activities:
  Depreciation and amortization.............................      16,097     20,432      71,271       92,813      190,217
  Common Stock issued for services..........................       7,500      7,500       7,500        8,400       10,163
  Extraordinary item........................................      --         --          --         (140,927)     --
  Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
    Receivables.............................................      30,646   (166,160)   (265,798)      66,497      696,437
    Inventories.............................................     103,104   (273,018)    116,356      636,099      405,332
    Prepaid expenses........................................     (51,799)    (3,612)     26,257      (15,559)      80,542
    Accounts payable........................................     (46,250)   106,558      (8,207)    (479,317)      56,946
    Accrued expenses........................................    (160,458)   (96,089)    126,120     (227,093)     221,916
    Deferred revenues.......................................      11,715   (153,050)   (145,577)  (1,102,361)    (387,064)
                                                              ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------  -----------
      Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities...     241,453   (230,956)  1,721,347     (377,419)      69,782
                                                              ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------  -----------
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
  Purchases of property and equipment.......................     (15,049)    (4,457)    (15,375)     (50,200)     (72,771)
  Increase in intangible assets.............................      --         --          --             (984)     (25,707)
                                                              ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------  -----------
      Net cash used in investing activities.................     (15,049)    (4,457)    (15,375)     (51,184)     (98,478)
                                                              ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------  -----------
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
  Advances on equipment and consumable sales................      --         --          --          --           755,712
  Proceeds from issuance of Common Stock....................         600      1,012       2,212          450        2,250
  Common Stock redeemed and retired.........................      --         --          --          --            (2,100)
                                                              ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------  -----------
      Net cash provided by financing activities.............         600      1,012       2,212          450      755,862
                                                              ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------  -----------
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS........     227,004   (234,401)  1,708,184     (428,153)     727,166
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD..............   2,568,852    860,668     860,668    1,288,821      561,655
                                                              ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------  -----------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD....................  $2,795,856  $ 626,267  $2,568,852  $   860,668  $ 1,288,821
                                                              ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------  -----------
                                                              ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------  -----------
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW DISCLOSURE:
  Cash paid during the period for:
    Interest................................................  $      236  $   1,250  $    3,333  $     4,457  $     8,143
                                                              ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------  -----------
                                                              ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------  -----------
    Income taxes............................................  $    6,500  $  12,000  $   15,488  $     2,000  $     1,109
                                                              ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------  -----------
                                                              ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------  -----------
OTHER NON CASH ITEM:
  Issuance of Common Stock for extinguishment of debt (Note
   3).......................................................      --         --          --      $    16,500      --
                                                              ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------  -----------
                                                              ----------  ---------  ----------  -----------  -----------

 
                       See notes to financial statements.
 
                                      F-6

                                PRINTWARE, INC.
            NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
        MARCH 30, 1996 AND APRIL 1, 1995 (UNAUDITED) AND THE YEARS ENDED
                        DECEMBER 31, 1995, 1994 AND 1993
 
1.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
    NATURE OF BUSINESS
 
    Printware,  Inc. ("Printware" or the  "Company") designs, builds and markets
"Computer-to-Plate" systems that  are used  by the offset  printing industry  to
create  printing plates directly  from computer data.  These systems replace the
traditional process of typesetting, paste-up, camera work and processing film to
produce a printing plate.
 
    INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
    The accompanying balance sheet  as of March 30,  1996 and the statements  of
operations and cash flows for the three months ended March 30, 1996 and April 1,
1995, the statement of shareholders' equity for the three months ended March 30,
1996  and the interim information as of and for the three months ended March 30,
1996 and  April 1,  1995 appearing  in  the notes  to financial  statements  are
unaudited.  In the  opinion of  management, such  unaudited financial statements
include  all  adjustments,  consisting  of  only  normal,  recurring   accruals,
necessary  for a  fair presentation thereof.  The results of  operations for any
interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results for the year.
 
    REVENUE RECOGNITION
 
    Revenue for equipment and supply sales is recognized at the time of shipment
to customers.  Revenue from  development  projects and  their related  costs  is
recognized  as the work is performed.  Revenue related to installation, training
and support  is  recognized  when  the  services  are  performed.  Revenue  from
development  projects, installation,  training and support  is less  than 10% of
total revenues for the three months ended  March 30, 1996 and April 1, 1995  and
the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993.
 
    NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON AND COMMON EQUIVALENT SHARE
 
    Net  income (loss)  per common  and common  equivalent share  is computed by
dividing net income (loss)  by the weighted average  number of shares of  Common
Stock  and  dilutive Common  Stock equivalents  outstanding. The  total weighted
average number  of common  and  common equivalent  shares outstanding  has  been
adjusted  to give effect to the reverse  stock split authorized by the Company's
shareholders effective April 25, 1996 (Note 3). Common Stock equivalents  result
from  dilutive  stock options  and warrants.  Common  equivalent shares  are not
included in the per share calculations when the effect of their inclusion  would
be  antidilutive,  except  that,  in  accordance  with  Securities  and Exchange
Commission requirements, common and common  equivalent shares issued during  the
12  months prior  to the  Company's proposed  initial public  offering have been
included in the calculation (using the treasury stock method based on an assumed
initial public offering price  of $6.50 per share)  as if they were  outstanding
for all periods presented. The net income (loss) per common share will change if
the actual initial public offering price differs from the assumed initial public
offering  price per share  utilized in this  calculation. Fully diluted earnings
(loss) per  common share  is substantially  equivalent to  primary earnings  per
share and is therefore not separately presented.
 
    CASH EQUIVALENTS
 
    Cash  equivalents consist primarily  of investments in  commercial paper and
certificate of deposits, which have original maturities of three months or less.
 
    CREDIT RISK
 
    The Company generally  does not  require collateral for  its trade  accounts
receivable.  The  Company  manages credit  risk  by  evaluating creditworthiness
regularly. Accounts  receivable  for which  collectibility  is not  assured  are
reserved  for  through  establishment  of an  allowance  for  doubtful accounts.
Customer accounts considered by management to be uncollectible are written off.
 
                                      F-7

                                PRINTWARE, INC.
            NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
        MARCH 30, 1996 AND APRIL 1, 1995 (UNAUDITED) AND THE YEARS ENDED
                  DECEMBER 31, 1995, 1994 AND 1993 (CONTINUED)
 
1.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
    INVENTORIES
 
    Inventories are  valued at  the lower  of cost  (determined on  a  first-in,
first-out  basis)  or  market.  The  Company  has  recorded  inventory valuation
reserves of $562,000 at March 30, 1996 and $545,000 and $516,000 at December 31,
1995 and 1994, respectively.
 
    Inventories are  periodically reviewed  for obsolescence  or surplus  stock.
Items  considered obsolete or surplus are written  off or a valuation reserve is
established to write such inventories down to their net realizable value.
 
    The Company is  dependent on several  key suppliers for  plate material  and
raster  image processing  software. All of  the Company's  agreements with these
suppliers can be canceled by either party under certain circumstances.
 
    PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
 
    Property and equipment  are recorded  at cost.  Office equipment,  software,
machinery  and equipment  and tooling are  depreciated on  a straight-line basis
over five years. Motor  vehicles are depreciated on  a straight-line basis  over
three  years. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over
the term of the lease.
 
    IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS
 
    Management periodically reviews the carrying  value of long-term assets  for
potential  impairment by  comparing the  carrying value  of these  assets to the
estimated undiscounted future  cash flows  expected to  result from  the use  of
these  assets. Should the sum of the  related, expected future net cash flows be
less than  the  carrying value,  an  impairment  loss would  be  recognized.  An
impairment  loss would be measured by the  amount by which the carrying value of
the asset  exceeds  the  fair  value  of the  asset.  To  date,  management  has
determined that no impairment of these assets exists.
 
    INTANGIBLE ASSETS
 
    Intangible  assets  are  recorded  at  cost and  are  being  amortized  on a
straight-line basis over the following lives:
 


                                                                   YEARS
                                                                   -----
                                                                
Patents..........................................................    17
License rights...................................................   2-5

 
    RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENDITURES
 
    Research and development expenditures are charged to expense as incurred.
 
    ACCOUNTING FOR WARRANTY COSTS
 
    The Company records estimated  future warranty costs  when the equipment  is
shipped to customers.
 
    MANAGEMENT ESTIMATES
 
    The  preparation  of  financial  statements  in  conformity  with  generally
accepted  accounting  principles  requires  management  to  make  estimates  and
assumptions  that  affect the  reported amounts  of  assets and  liabilities and
disclosure of contingent  assets and liabilities  at the date  of the  financial
statements  and  the  reported  amounts  of  revenues  and  expenses  during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
                                      F-8

                                PRINTWARE, INC.
            NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
        MARCH 30, 1996 AND APRIL 1, 1995 (UNAUDITED) AND THE YEARS ENDED
                  DECEMBER 31, 1995, 1994 AND 1993 (CONTINUED)
 
1.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
    FINANCIAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES
 
    In accordance  with  American  Institute  of  Certified  Public  Accountants
Statement  of Position  No. 94-6,  DISCLOSURE OF  CERTAIN SIGNIFICANT  RISKS AND
UNCERTAINTIES, the Company  has disclosed  in the  financial statements  certain
financial   risks  and   uncertainties  to   which  it   is  subject,  including
concentration of sales to  a limited number of  customers, certain suppliers  of
raw  materials and other  key components included  in its manufactured equipment
and the use of estimates to review the carrying value of long-lived assets.  The
nature  of  the Company's  operations exposes  the  Company to  certain business
risks. The  market for  "Computer-to-Plate" systems  is highly  competitive  and
subject  to rapid technological change and  evolving industry standards that may
affect both the  operations, operating  results and financial  condition of  the
Company and its customers.
 
    RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
 
    In  October, 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
of  Financial  Accounting   Standards  No.  123,   ACCOUNTING  FOR   STOCK-BASED
COMPENSATION  (SFAS 123). SFAS 123  requires expanded disclosures of stock-based
compensation arrangements with employees and  encourages (but does not  require)
application  of  the  fair value  recognition  provisions  of SFAS  123  to such
arrangements. SFAS 123 is required to  be adopted for reporting purposes by  the
Company  in 1996.  Companies are  permitted, however,  to continue  to apply APB
opinion No. 25, which recognizes compensation cost based on the intrinsic  value
of the equity instrument awarded. The Company will continue to apply APB opinion
No. 25 to its stock based compensation awards to employees and will disclose the
required pro forma effect on net income and earnings per share.
 
                                      F-9

                                PRINTWARE, INC.
            NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
        MARCH 30, 1996 AND APRIL 1, 1995 (UNAUDITED) AND THE YEARS ENDED
                  DECEMBER 31, 1995, 1994 AND 1993 (CONTINUED)
 
2.  DETAILS OF SELECTED BALANCE SHEET ACCOUNTS
 


                                                                DECEMBER 31,
                                               MARCH 30,   ----------------------
                                                  1996        1995        1994
                                               ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                              
RECEIVABLES:
  Trade......................................  $  765,565  $  795,538  $  528,463
  Employees..................................       2,442       3,115       1,017
  Allowance for doubtful accounts............     (24,913)    (24,913)    (21,538)
                                               ----------  ----------  ----------
    Total receivables........................  $  743,094  $  773,740  $  507,942
                                               ----------  ----------  ----------
                                               ----------  ----------  ----------
INVENTORIES:
  Raw materials..............................  $  687,200  $  782,189  $  860,885
  Work-in-process............................     153,292     165,246     109,701
  Finished goods.............................     783,746     779,907     873,112
                                               ----------  ----------  ----------
    Total inventories........................  $1,624,238  $1,727,342  $1,843,698
                                               ----------  ----------  ----------
                                               ----------  ----------  ----------
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
  Office equipment...........................  $  400,061  $  395,650  $  386,697
  Software...................................      98,685      94,547      94,154
  Machinery and equipment....................     232,406     225,906     219,876
  Leasehold improvements.....................      74,762      74,762      74,763
  Tooling and spares.........................     334,001     334,001     334,001
  Motor vehicles.............................      10,063      10,063      10,063
                                               ----------  ----------  ----------
    Total property and equipment.............   1,149,978   1,134,919   1,119,554
  Less accumulated depreciation and
   amortization..............................   1,019,559   1,004,252     936,139
                                               ----------  ----------  ----------
    Net property and equipment...............  $  130,419  $  130,677  $  183,415
                                               ----------  ----------  ----------
                                               ----------  ----------  ----------
INTANGIBLE ASSETS:
  License rights.............................  $  560,020  $  560,020  $  560,020
  Patents....................................      53,701      53,701      53,701
                                               ----------  ----------  ----------
    Total intangible assets..................     613,721     613,721     613,721
  Less accumulated amortization..............     580,115     579,325     576,167
                                               ----------  ----------  ----------
    Net intangible assets....................  $   33,606  $   34,396  $   37,554
                                               ----------  ----------  ----------
                                               ----------  ----------  ----------
ACCRUED EXPENSES:
  Accrued payroll and related................  $   50,560  $   77,339  $   75,932
  Accrued vacation and benefits..............     127,927     126,479     102,750
  Accrued professional services..............      77,844     204,175      97,175
  Accrued warranty reserve...................      31,965      33,038      29,310
  Accrued income taxes.......................      --           7,012      --
  Accrued other..............................      20,354      21,065      37,821
                                               ----------  ----------  ----------
    Total accrued expenses...................  $  308,650  $  469,108  $  342,988
                                               ----------  ----------  ----------
                                               ----------  ----------  ----------

 
                                      F-10

                                PRINTWARE, INC.
            NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
        MARCH 30, 1996 AND APRIL 1, 1995 (UNAUDITED) AND THE YEARS ENDED
                  DECEMBER 31, 1995, 1994 AND 1993 (CONTINUED)
 
3.  SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
    On  April  25,  1996,  the Company's  shareholders  approved  a one-for-four
reverse stock  split, effective  immediately. All  references in  the  financial
statements  to the number of  shares, per share amounts,  stock option plan data
and the statements  of shareholders' equity  have been restated  to reflect  the
split. On April 25, 1996 the Company's shareholders approved an amendment to the
Company's Articles of Incorporation, whereby the authorized stock of the Company
was  stated as  15,000,000 shares  of Common Stock,  no par  value and 1,000,000
shares of  Preferred Stock,  no  specified par  value.  The Company's  Board  of
Directors  may designate any series and  fix any relative rights and preferences
of the  Preferred  Stock.  The  authorized shares  have  been  restated  in  the
financial  statements  to reflect  the impact  of this  amendment. No  shares of
Preferred Stock are issued and outstanding.
 
    During the three months  ended March 30, 1996  and the years ended  December
31, 1995, 1994 and 1993, certain employees exercised their options and purchased
a  total of 200, 737, 150 and 750 shares of Common Stock, respectively, at $3.00
per share.
 
    The Company also issued 2,500, 2,500, 2,800 and 3,387 shares of Common Stock
valued at  $7,500, $7,500,  $8,400  and $10,163  in consideration  for  services
rendered  during  the three  months ended  March  30, 1996  and the  years ended
December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively.
 
    During 1994, the Company extinguished debt of $157,427 through the  issuance
of  5,500 shares of the Company's Common  Stock valued at $16,500 which resulted
in an extraordinary gain  of $140,927. The repurchase  of the debt canceled  the
Company's obligation under a research agreement with a governmental agency.
 
    Common  Stock values were based on  management's estimates of the fair value
of the Company's Common Stock.
 
    STOCK OPTIONS
 
    On April 25,  1996 the Company's  shareholders approved a  new stock  option
plan  (the  1996 Stock  Plan) which  provides  for the  granting of  options and
restricted stock to  certain officers, employees,  directors and consultants  to
purchase  up to 500,000 shares  of Common Stock. On  April 25, 1996, the Company
granted options to purchase 900 shares of the Company's Common Stock under  this
plan  to certain employees. The options become  exercisable 33 1/3% per year for
three years. The exercise price is $3.00 per share. The options expire six years
after the date of  grant. The 1996  Stock Plan also  provides for the  automatic
grant  of an option for 1,000 shares  of the Company's Common Stock, exercisable
for a period of five years, to each non-employee director, upon the adoption  of
the  1996 Stock  Plan and upon  the election or  re-election as a  member of the
Board of  Directors. Such  Board of  Directors options  will be  issued with  an
exercise  price equal to the  fair market value of the  Common Stock on the date
the option is granted. On  April 25, 1996, options  to purchase 2,000 shares  of
Common  Stock were granted under  this plan with an  exercise price of $3.00 per
share.
 
    The Company's prior incentive stock option plans provided that stock options
to purchase an aggregate  of 375,000 shares  of Common Stock  may be granted  to
certain  officers and employees. The exercise price  could not be less than 100%
of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date the option was granted.
No additional options under the Company's prior plans will be granted.
 
    All options  issued  after  August  1992  and  before  March  30,  1996  are
exercisable  33 1/3% per year for three years  or 100% one year after grant. All
of these options expire either five, six or ten years from the date of grant.
 
                                      F-11

                                PRINTWARE, INC.
            NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
        MARCH 30, 1996 AND APRIL 1, 1995 (UNAUDITED) AND THE YEARS ENDED
                  DECEMBER 31, 1995, 1994 AND 1993 (CONTINUED)
 
3.  SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (CONTINUED)
    Stock option activity is summarized as follows:
 


                                                                          AGGREGATE
                                               NUMBER OF    PRICE PER     EXERCISE
EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTIONS                          SHARES        SHARE         PRICE
- ---------------------------------------------  ---------   ------------   ---------
                                                                 
Balance at December 31, 1992.................   116,028       $3.00       $ 348,084
  Granted....................................     3,175        3.00           9,525
  Canceled...................................   (23,293)       3.00         (69,879)
  Exercised..................................      (750)       3.00          (2,250)
                                               ---------                  ---------
Balance at December 31, 1993.................    95,160        3.00         285,480
  Granted....................................     1,912        3.00           5,736
  Canceled...................................   (14,516)       3.00         (43,548)
  Exercised..................................      (150)       3.00            (450)
                                               ---------                  ---------
Balance at December 31, 1994.................    82,406        3.00         247,218
  Granted....................................    23,087        3.00          69,261
  Canceled...................................    (1,784)       3.00          (5,352)
  Exercised..................................      (737)       3.00          (2,211)
                                               ---------                  ---------
Balance at December 31, 1995.................   102,972        3.00         308,916
  Granted....................................    33,382        3.00         100,146
  Canceled...................................      (587)       3.00          (1,761)
  Exercised..................................      (200)       3.00            (600)
                                               ---------                  ---------
Balance at March 30, 1996....................   135,567       $3.00       $ 406,701
                                               ---------                  ---------
                                               ---------                  ---------

 
    At March  30, 1996  and December  31, 1995,  there were  100,067 and  79,548
options exercisable at $3.00 per share, respectively.
 
    WARRANTS
 
    Warrant activity is summarized as follows:
 


                                                                           AGGREGATE
                                               NUMBER OF     PRICE PER     EXERCISE
                                                SHARES         SHARE         PRICE
                                               ---------   -------------  -----------
                                                                 
Balance at December 31, 1993.................   530,069    $3.00 - 12.00  $ 5,515,119
Canceled.....................................  (525,069)    9.22 - 12.00   (5,500,119)
                                               ---------                  -----------
Balance at December 31, 1994 and 1995 and
 March 30, 1996..............................     5,000        $3.00      $    15,000
                                               ---------                  -----------
                                               ---------                  -----------

 
    All outstanding warrants expire on August 28, 1997.
 
    RESTRICTED STOCK
 
    The  Company has entered  into a restricted stock  compensation plan with an
officer of  the  Company  under  which  the  Company  issued  10,000  shares  of
restricted  stock to  the officer  over a  four year  period, provided  that the
officer remained an employee of  the Company as of  the anniversary date of  the
plan.  Under this plan the  last 2,500 shares were issued  as of March 30, 1996.
Compensation expense  related  to  these restricted  stock  issuances  has  been
recorded in the statements of operations.
 
                                      F-12

                                PRINTWARE, INC.
            NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
        MARCH 30, 1996 AND APRIL 1, 1995 (UNAUDITED) AND THE YEARS ENDED
                  DECEMBER 31, 1995, 1994 AND 1993 (CONTINUED)
 
3.  SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (CONTINUED)
    1996 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
 
    The  Company's 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Stock Purchase Plan")
was adopted on April  25, 1996 and  provides for the issuance  of up to  100,000
shares  of Common Stock.  With certain exceptions, all  employees of the Company
who have  been employed  by the  Company for  at least  six months  and who  are
employed at least 20 hours per week and at least five months per year, including
officers  and directors  who are employees,  are eligible to  participate in the
Stock Purchase Plan.  The Stock  Purchase Plan consists  of periodic  offerings,
with  the first offering planned to begin  on April 1, 1997. Each offering under
the Stock Purchase  Plan will  be for a  period determined  by the  Compensation
Committee  of the Board of  Directors, but not to  exceed 27 months. An employee
may elect to have up to a maximum of 10% deducted from his or her regular salary
for the purpose of purchasing shares under the Stock Purchase Plan. The price at
which the employee's shares are purchased is the lower of (a) 85% of the closing
price of the Common Stock on the day  that the offering commences or (b) 85%  of
the  closing price of the Common Stock  on the day that the offering terminates.
No shares have been issued under the Stock Purchase Plan.
 
4.  LEASES
    During 1993,  the Company  moved into  new leased  office and  manufacturing
space  of 35,410 square feet under a noncancelable operating lease which expires
on July 31,  1998 and contains  an option to  renew for up  to three  additional
years.   The  Company  is  also  responsible   for  all  taxes,  utilities,  and
assessments. Rent expense for all leases  was approximately $21,000 for each  of
the  three month periods  ended March 30,  1996 and April  1, 1995, and $87,000,
$107,000 and $129,000 for the years ended  December 31, in 1995, 1994 and  1993,
respectively.
 
    At December 31, 1995, future minimum lease payments due, excluding taxes and
utilities, were as follows:
 


                 YEAR ENDING
                DECEMBER 31,                    AMOUNT
               ---------------                 --------
                                            
  1996.......................................  $ 84,000
  1997.......................................    84,000
  1998.......................................    50,000
                                               --------
                                               $218,000
                                               --------
                                               --------

 
5.  LICENSING AND ROYALTY AGREEMENTS
    The Company has a licensing agreement with a minority shareholder whereby it
received  all associated laser printer  technology, including rights to patents,
know-how, software, firmware, documentation and access to their experts who were
involved  in  the  development  effort.  The  Company  also  received   multiple
prototypes of two models. In return, the minority shareholder receives royalties
of  up to 2%  of net revenues from  laser imager sales  and received warrants to
purchase shares of Common Stock  of the Company which  were issued in 1987.  The
warrants  expired during  1994. Royalty expense  relating to  this agreement was
$600 and  nil for  the three  months ended  March 30,  1996 and  April 1,  1995,
respectively, and $1,800, $9,014 and $11,640 for the years ended December 31, in
1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively.
 
    The  Company had a  software development and license  agreement with a third
party in which the Company was  to fund certain software development costs,  and
to  pay royalties on  products sold. The agreement  expired during 1994. Royalty
expense relating to this agreement was insignificant during 1994 and 1993.
 
                                      F-13

                                PRINTWARE, INC.
            NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
        MARCH 30, 1996 AND APRIL 1, 1995 (UNAUDITED) AND THE YEARS ENDED
                  DECEMBER 31, 1995, 1994 AND 1993 (CONTINUED)
 
5.  LICENSING AND ROYALTY AGREEMENTS (CONTINUED)
    The Company has  purchased license rights  for up to  100,000 copies of  300
fonts  (typefaces) for $395,000. In December  1989, the Company paid $100,000 to
extend the original  agreement through  December 31, 1993.  These payments  have
been  included in intangible assets and were amortized over the four years ended
December 31, 1993.  During 1994 and  1995, the Company  extended this  agreement
through December 31, 1997 at no additional cost.
 
6.  BANK LINE OF CREDIT
    During 1995, due to its cash position, the Company did not renew its line of
credit  with a local bank.  The agreement had provided  for borrowings up to the
lesser of $1,000,000 or  75% of receivables outstanding  less than 90 days  from
invoice date.
 
7.  DEFERRED REVENUES
    During  1993, the Company entered into several agreements with customers for
the purchase of new products, supplies and research and development projects. As
part of  these  agreements,  the  Company  received  advance  payments  totaling
$755,712 during 1993. The Company had shipped equipment and supplies under these
agreements  totaling $142,750, $385,450 and $387,064 during 1995, 1994 and 1993,
respectively. During 1994, a customer, who is a shareholder, canceled a contract
for equipment which led to the forfeiture of certain equipment advances totaling
$679,434. As a  result of the  contract cancellation, the  Company devalued  the
related  inventory.  There  was no  material  gain  or loss  resulting  from the
contract cancellation.
 
8.  MAJOR CUSTOMERS AND EXPORT REVENUES
    Revenues to one customer,  excluding the related  party total revenues  (see
note  10), amounted to  $539,000 (29.4% of total  revenues) and $253,000 (14.0%)
for the three  months ended  March 30,  1996 and  April 1,  1995 and  $1,464,000
(17.5%), $140,000 (2.1%) and nil for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and
1993,  respectively.  No  other customer  accounted  for  10% or  more  of total
revenues for these periods.
 
    The Company's export revenues did not  exceed 10% of total revenues for  the
three  months ended March 30, 1996 and April 1, 1995 or the years ended December
31, 1995, 1994 and 1993.
 
9.  INCOME TAXES
    The Company  records  income taxes  under  the provisions  of  Statement  of
Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes."
 
    For income tax purposes, the Company had net operating loss carryforwards of
approximately   $10,500,000  as  of  December  31,  1995.  If  not  used,  these
carryforwards will begin to expire  in 2001. Under the  Tax Reform Act of  1986,
certain future changes in ownership resulting from the sale or issuance of stock
may  limit the amount of net operating  loss carryforwards which can be utilized
on an annual basis.
 
    Deferred tax assets and liabilities represent temporary differences  between
the  basis of  assets and liabilities  for financial reporting  purposes and tax
purposes. Deferred tax  assets are  primarily comprised of  reserves which  have
been  deducted for financial statement purposes,  but have not been deducted for
income tax purposes and the tax effect of net operating loss carryforwards.  The
Company  has  recorded a  valuation allowance  to  reduce recorded  deferred tax
assets to the amount of deferred tax benefit expected to be realized.
 
                                      F-14

                                PRINTWARE, INC.
            NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
        MARCH 30, 1996 AND APRIL 1, 1995 (UNAUDITED) AND THE YEARS ENDED
                  DECEMBER 31, 1995, 1994 AND 1993 (CONTINUED)
 
9.  INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)
    Deferred taxes as of December 31, 1995 and 1994 are summarized as follows:
 


                                                  1995         1994
                                               -----------  -----------
                                                      
Current deferred tax assets:
  Inventory reserves.........................  $   192,000  $   181,000
  Accrued vacation...........................       35,000       30,000
  Allowance for doubtful accounts............        9,000        8,000
  Other......................................       18,000       24,000
  Valuation allowance........................     (254,000)    (243,000)
                                               -----------  -----------
    Total....................................  $   --       $   --
                                               -----------  -----------
                                               -----------  -----------
Long-term deferred tax assets:
  Tax net operating loss carryforwards.......    3,675,000    4,305,000
  Tax credit carryforwards...................       32,000      --
  Valuation allowance........................   (3,707,000)  (4,305,000)
                                               -----------  -----------
    Total....................................  $   --       $   --
                                               -----------  -----------
                                               -----------  -----------

 
    A reconciliation of the expected  federal income taxes, using the  effective
statutory  federal  rate of  35%,  with the  provision  for income  taxes  is as
follows:
 


                                                 1995       1994       1993
                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                            
Expected federal expense (benefit)...........  $ 635,000  $ 275,000  $(421,300)
State taxes, net of federal benefits.........      2,000      2,000      1,109
Net operating loss which cannot currently be
 recognized..................................     --         --        419,200
Change in valuation allowance................   (587,000)  (275,000)    --
Other........................................    (27,500)    --          2,100
                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
                                               $  22,500  $   2,000  $   1,109
                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
                                               ---------  ---------  ---------

 
10. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
    The Company sells products to two of its shareholders and also contracts for
certain products and production services  with these shareholders. A summary  of
these transactions as of and for the three months ended March 30, 1996 and April
1, 1995 and the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993 are as follows:
 


                                                                                DECEMBER 31,
                                               MARCH 30,   APRIL 1,  ----------------------------------
                                                 1996        1995       1995        1994        1993
                                               ---------   --------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                              
Total revenues...............................  $706,000    $802,000  $3,498,000  $2,851,000  $2,948,000
Total purchases of production services.......     1,000       1,000      44,000      91,000     210,000
Accounts receivable..........................   302,000     241,000      63,000     232,000     200,000
Accounts payable.............................     1,000       1,000      --           8,000      28,000

 
11. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
    During  1995,  the Company  received a  favorable  arbitration award  from a
dispute with A.  B. Dick Company,  a former customer.  The Company recognized  a
gain  of $192,000 after expenses of approximately $142,000 in this dispute. This
gain is included in the statements of operations under other income (expense).
 
                                      F-15

                                PRINTWARE, INC.
            NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
        MARCH 30, 1996 AND APRIL 1, 1995 (UNAUDITED) AND THE YEARS ENDED
                  DECEMBER 31, 1995, 1994 AND 1993 (CONTINUED)
 
11. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONTINUED)
    The Company is involved in various other legal actions in the normal  course
of  business. Management is of the opinion that the outcome of such actions will
not have a significant effect on the Company's financial position or results  of
operations.
 
    401(K) PROFIT SHARING PLAN
 
    The  Company's  401(k)  Profit  Sharing  Plan  (the  "401(k)  Plan")  became
effective August 1, 1994. The 401(k)  Plan is intended to qualify under  Section
401(k)  of the Internal Revenue  Code. All employees employed  by the Company in
the United States for at least 30 hours per week are eligible to participate  in
the 401(k) Plan as of the next calendar quarter following one year after date of
hire  by the Company. Each eligible employee  may contribute to the 401(k) Plan,
through payroll deductions, up to 15% of his or her salary, subject to statutory
limitations.  The  401(k)  Plan  permits,  but  does  not  require,   additional
contributions  to the 401(k) Plan by the Company of up to 2% of the compensation
paid by  the Company  to each  employee in  the previous  calendar quarter.  The
Company's  contributions are made  at the discretion of  the Board of Directors,
within the limits of the 401(k) Plan. The Company has made a contribution of  1%
of  the  compensation  of each  participating  employee each  quarter  since the
adoption of the 401(k) Plan. The Company's contributions to the 401(k) Plan were
$4,576 and $4,246 for the  three months ended March 30,  1996 and April 1,  1995
and  $13,352  and  $4,769  for  the years  ended  December  31,  1995  and 1994,
respectively. There were no contributions in 1993.
 
12. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
    The Company is planning  an initial public offering  of 1,200,000 shares  of
Common  Stock at an assumed initial public offering price of $6.50 per share. In
addition, current shareholders are  planning to offer  400,000 shares of  Common
Stock  to the public at such time. The Company will grant to the Underwriters an
over-allotment option pursuant to which an additional 240,000 shares may be sold
(180,000 shares from the Company  and 60,000 shares from existing  shareholders)
on  the same terms for the purpose  of covering any over-allotment sales made in
the public offering. In  connection with the  proposed initial public  offering,
the  Representative of the Underwriters would be granted warrants to purchase up
to 120,000 shares of Common  Stock at 120% of  the price to public,  exercisable
commencing one year after the date of the Offering for a period of four years.
 
                                      F-16

 
                          [INSIDE BACK COVER GRAPHICS]
 
Photographs showing various Printware products:
 
Top right-hand photo:       Model 1440 APF Platesetter
Text below photo:           The Model 1440 APF Platesetter for bulk-fed metal
                             printing plates.
 
Middle right-hand photo:    Model 1440 EZ Platesetter
Text next to photo:         The Model 1440 EZ Platesetter produces paper and
                             metal printing plates.
 
Lower right-hand photo:     Supplies for Model 1440 Platesetters
Text next to photo:         Printware provides a full line of supplies for its
                             Model 1440 Platesetters.
 
Top left-hand photo:        Model 1440 ZNX Platesetter
Text below photo:           The Model 1440 ZNX Platesetter produces paper
                             printing plates directly from a computer.
 
Bottom left-hand photo:     Raster Image Processor
Text below photo:           Raster Image Processor (RIPs) connect Platesetters
                             to computer networks.
 

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    NO  DEALER,  SALESPERSON OR  OTHER PERSON  HAS BEEN  AUTHORIZED TO  GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE  ANY REPRESENTATION NOT CONTAINED  IN THIS PROSPECTUS  IN
CONNECTION  WITH THE OFFER MADE  IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND,  IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH
INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN  AUTHORIZED
BY  THE COMPANY, THE  UNDERWRITERS OR THE  SELLING SHAREHOLDERS. THIS PROSPECTUS
DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR  SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY  OF
THE  SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY BY ANYONE IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER
OR SOLICITATION IS NOT AUTHORIZED  OR IN WHICH THE  PERSON MAKING SUCH OFFER  OR
SOLICITATION  IS NOT QUALIFIED TO DO  SO OR TO ANYONE TO  WHOM 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  AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY  SINCE THE DATE HEREOF  OR THE INFORMATION HEREIN IS
CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
                             ---------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 


                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----
                                                                         
Prospectus Summary........................................................     3
Risk Factors..............................................................     5
Use of Proceeds...........................................................     8
Dividend Policy...........................................................     8
Capitalization............................................................     8
Dilution..................................................................     9
Selected Financial Data...................................................    10
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
 Operations...............................................................    11
Business..................................................................    16
Management................................................................    24
Certain Transactions......................................................    29
Principal and Selling Shareholders........................................    30
Description of Capital Stock..............................................    31
Shares Eligible for Future Sales..........................................    32
Underwriting..............................................................    34
Experts...................................................................    35
Legal Matters.............................................................    35
Additional Information....................................................    36
Index to Financial Statements.............................................   F-1

 
                             ---------------------
 
    UNTIL            , 1996, ALL  DEALERS EFFECTING TRANSACTIONS  IN THE  COMMON
STOCK,  WHETHER OR  NOT PARTICIPATING IN  THIS DISTRIBUTION, MAY  BE REQUIRED TO
DELIVER A  PROSPECTUS. THIS  IS IN  ADDITION  TO THE  OBLIGATION OF  DEALERS  TO
DELIVER  A  PROSPECTUS WHEN  ACTING AS  UNDERWRITERS AND  WITH RESPECT  TO THEIR
UNSOLD ALLOTMENTS OR SUBSCRIPTIONS.
 
                                1,600,000 SHARES
 
                                     [LOGO]
 
                                  COMMON STOCK
 
                             ---------------------
 
                                   PROSPECTUS
 
                               ------------------
 
                                     [LOGO]
 
                                          , 1996
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                    PART II
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 13.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
 
    The  following fees and expenses  will be paid by  the Company in connection
with issuance and distribution  of the securities registered  hereby and do  not
include underwriting commissions and discounts. All of such expenses, except for
the SEC, NASD and Nasdaq fees are estimated.
 

                                                                  
SEC registration fee...............................................  $   4,441
NASD filing fee....................................................      1,788
Nasdaq fee.........................................................     36,750
Legal fees and expenses............................................      *
Accounting fees and expenses.......................................      *
Blue Sky fees and expenses.........................................      *
Transfer agent and registrar fees..................................      *
Printing expenses..................................................      *
Miscellaneous......................................................      *
                                                                     ---------
    Total..........................................................  $
                                                                     ---------
                                                                     ---------

 
- ---------------------------
 
* To be filed by amendment
 
ITEM 14.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
 
    The  Articles of  Incorporation and  Bylaws of  Printware, Inc.  provide for
indemnification of  directors to  the  full extent  permitted by  the  Minnesota
Business  Corporation Act.  Minnesota Statutes  Section302A.521 provides  that a
Minnesota business corporation shall  indemnify any director, officer,  employee
or  agent  of  the corporation  made  or threatened  to  be  made a  party  to a
proceeding, by reason  of the former  or present official  capacity (as  defined
therein)  of the  person, against  judgments, penalties,  fines, settlements and
reasonable expenses incurred by the person in connection with the proceeding  if
certain statutory standards are met. "Proceeding" means a threatened, pending or
completed   civil,  criminal,   administrative,  arbitration   or  investigative
proceeding, including one by or in the right of Printware, Inc.
 
    Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities  Act
may  be permitted to directors, officers  or persons controlling Printware, Inc.
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, Printware, Inc. has been informed 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.
 
    Under  Section  7(c)  of the  Underwriting  Agreement filed  as  Exhibit 1.1
hereto, the  Underwriters  agree to  indemnify,  under certain  conditions,  the
Company,  its directors,  certain of  its officers  and persons  who control the
Company within the meaning of the Securities Act against certain liabilities.
 
ITEM 15.  RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES.
 
    The information in this  Item gives retroactive  effect to the  one-for-four
reverse stock split of the Company which was effective April 25, 1996.
 
                                      II-1

    The  Company has sold the following  unregistered securities during the past
three years (since March 30, 1993):
 


  DATE         TYPE OF SALE       NO. SHARES      PRICE
- ---------  --------------------  -------------  ---------
                                       
04/21/93   Trade for services            587    $    3.00
09/01/93   Trade for services            300         3.00
11/26/93   ISO exercise                  650         3.00
11/26/93   ISO exercise                   50         3.00
12/27/93   ISO exercise                   50         3.00
 
01/22/94   Trade for services          2,500         3.00
02/11/94   ISO exercise                   50         3.00
03/14/94   ISO exercise                   50         3.00
03/18/94   Trade for services            300         3.00
08/30/94   ISO exercise                   25         3.00
10/28/94   ISO exercise                   25         3.00
12/29/94   Trade for debt              5,500         3.00
 
01/20/95   ISO exercise                   75         3.00
01/22/95   Trade for services          2,500         3.00
03/24/95   ISO exercise                  262         3.00
09/29/95   ISO exercise                   25         3.00
12/01/95   ISO exercise                  375         3.00
01/22/96   Trade for services          2,500         3.00
02/28/96   ISO exercise                  200         3.00

 
    The Company believes that all  transactions were exempt pursuant to  Section
4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933.
 
ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
    (a) Exhibits
 

       
   1.1*   Underwriting Agreement
   1.2    Selected Dealers' Agreement
   1.3    Agreement Among Underwriters
   3.1    Articles of Incorporation, as amended
   3.2    Bylaws of the Company
   4.1*   Form of Common Stock Certificate
   5.1*   Opinion of Lindquist & Vennum P.L.L.P.
  10.1    Incentive Stock Option Plan of 1985
  10.2    1986 Incentive Stock Option Plan
  10.3    1996 Stock Plan
  10.4    1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
  10.5    Form of 1996 Bonus Compensation Plan for executive officers
  10.6    Change in Control Severance Agreement dated April 25, 1996
  10.7    Office/Warehouse Lease dated December 22, 1992 between the Company and
           The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company
  10.8    Plate  Material Agreement dated December  11, 1991 between the Company
           and E.J. Gaisser, Inc.(1)
  10.9    Supply Agreement dated May 2, 1991 between the Company and  Polychrome
           Corporation(1)

 
                                      II-2


       
  10.10   License  Agreement  dated May  17, 1985  among the  Company, Minnesota
           Mining and Manufacturing Company and Allen L. Taylor
  10.11   Purchase Agreement  dated  January 1,  1995  between the  Company  and
           Deluxe Corporation, as amended December 12, 1995(1)
  11.1    Statement re computation of Per Share Earnings/Losses
  23.1    Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
  23.2    Consent of Lindquist & Vennum P.L.L.P., included in Exhibit 5.1
  24.1    Power of Attorney, included in the Signature Page

 
- ---------------------------
 
 *  To be filed by amendment
 
(1)  Certain information has been deleted from this exhibit and filed separately
    with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  pursuant to  a  request  for
    confidential treatment under Rule 406.
 
    (b) Financial Statement Schedules
 
        All  schedules have been  omitted because they  are either not required,
    are not applicable, or  the required information is  shown in the  Financial
    Statements and related notes.
 
ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS
 
    Insofar  as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to  directors, officers and controlling persons of  the
Registrant  pursuant to the  foregoing provisions, or  otherwise, the Registrant
has been advised that in the  opinion of the Securities and Exchange  Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act
and  is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the  payment by the Registrant of  expenses
incurred  or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities  being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
had  been settled  by controlling  precedent, submit  to a  court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is public policy as
expressed in the Securities Act and  will be governed by the final  adjudication
of such issue.
 
    The Registrant hereby undertakes that:
 
        (1)  It will provide to the Underwriter  at the closing specified in the
    Underwriting Agreement certificates in such denominations and registered  in
    such  names as required by the Underwriter to permit prompt delivery to each
    purchaser.
 
        (2) For purposes of determining  any liability under the Securities  Act
    of  1933, the information omitted from the  form of prospectus filed as part
    of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a
    form of prospectus  filed by the  Registrant pursuant to  Rule 424(b)(1)  or
    (4),  or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall  be deemed to be part of this
    Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective.
 
        (3) For the purpose  of determining any  liability under the  Securities
    Act  of  1933,  each  post-effective  amendment  that  contains  a  form  of
    prospectus shall be deemed  to be a new  registration statement relating  to
    the securities offered therein, and this offering of such securities at that
    time be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
                                      II-3

                                   SIGNATURES
 
    Pursuant  to the requirements of the  Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
has duly caused this Registration  Statement to be signed  on its behalf by  the
undersigned,  thereunto  duly authorized,  in  the City  of  St. Paul,  State of
Minnesota, on the 13th day of May, 1996.
 
                                PRINTWARE, INC.
 
                                By:              /s/ Daniel A. Baker
                                      -----------------------------------------
                                               Daniel A. Baker, Ph.D.,
                                         PRESIDENT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                                    AND DIRECTOR
 
    Each person whose  signature appears below  hereby constitutes and  appoints
Daniel  A. Baker and Thomas W. Petschauer, and each of them, his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power  of substitution, to sign on his  or
her  behalf, individually and in each  capacity stated below, all amendments and
post-effective amendments to this Registration Statement on Form S-1 and to file
the same,  with all  exhibits  thereto and  any  other documents  in  connection
therewith,  with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act
of 1933,  granting  unto  said  attorneys-in-fact  and  agents  full  power  and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to  be done in and about the premises,  as fully and to all intents and purposes
as each might or could  do in person, hereby  ratifying and confirming each  act
that  said attorneys-in-fact and agents  may lawfully do or  cause to be done by
virtue thereof.
 
    Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of   the  Securities  Act  of  1933,   this
Registration  Statement has  been signed below  by the following  persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
 


               SIGNATURE                           TITLE                DATE
- ----------------------------------------  ------------------------  ------------
                                                              
          /s/ Daniel A. Baker             President, Chief
 -------------------------------------     Executive Officer and
         Daniel A. Baker, Ph.D.            Director
 
                                          Executive Vice President
        /s/ Thomas W. Petschauer           and Chief Financial
 -------------------------------------     Officer (principal
          Thomas W. Petschauer             financial and
                                           accounting officer)
 
          /s/ Allen L. Taylor
 -------------------------------------    Director
         Allen L. Taylor, Ph.D.
 
          /s/ Donald V. Mager
 -------------------------------------    Director
            Donald V. Mager
 
         /s/ Brian D. Shiffman
 -------------------------------------    Director and Secretary
           Brian D. Shiffman
 
          /s/ Jerry K. Twogood
 -------------------------------------    Director
            Jerry K. Twogood
 
         /s/ Charles M. Osborne
 -------------------------------------    Director
           Charles M. Osborne

 
                                      II-4