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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 4, 1998
Registration No. 333-___________
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under
The Securities Act of 1933
---------------------
ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Minnesota 41-1569659
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
6130 Blue Circle Drive
Minnetonka, Minnesota 55343
(612) 932-4000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area
code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
Kenneth E. Hendrickson Copy to: Amy E. Ayotte
Ancor Communications, Incorporated Dorsey & Whitney LLP
6130 Blue Circle Drive 220 South Sixth Street
Minnetonka, Minnesota 55343 Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 932-4000 (612) 340-6323
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of agent for service)
---------------------
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time
to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. [ ]
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. [x]
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
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Proposed Proposed
Title of Each Amount Maximum Maximum Amount of
Class of Securities to be Offering Price Aggregate Registration
to be Registered Registered(1) Per Share* Offering Price* Fee
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Common Stock
($.01 par value) 16,336,845 $1.1875 $19,400,003.00 $5,724.00
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* Estimated solely for purposes of computing the registration fee and based
upon the average of the high and low sales prices for such Common Stock on
September 2, 1998, as reported on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market.
(1) Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this
Registration Statement also covers such indeterminate number of additional
shares of Common Stock as may become issuable as a result of any future
antidilution adjustments in accordance with the terms of the Series B
Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock, the underlying shares of
Common Stock of which are included for registration.
In accordance with Rule 429 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the Prospectus contained in this Registration Statement relates to a total
of 21,323,545 shares of the Registrant's Common Stock, 2,048,279 of which
were registered in the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No.
333-47793) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 11,
1998, amended on April 3, 1998 and declared effective on May 1, 1998 and
2,938,421 of which were registered in the Company's Registration Statement
on Form S-3 (No. 333- 27841) filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on May 27, 1997, amended on August15, 1997 and declared
effective on August 18, 1997. A filing fee of $6,389.00 was paid on the
filing of the initial Registration Statement (No. 333-47793) on March 11,
1998 and a filing fee of $8,548.00 was paid on the filing of initial
Registration Statement (No. 333-27481) on May 27, 1997. This Registration
Statement, which is a new Registration Statement, also constitutes
Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 333- 47793 and
Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 333- 2741,
which shall hereafter become effective concurrently with the effectiveness
of this Registration Statement in accordance with Section 8(a) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
---------------------
THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS
ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED
---------------------
21,323,545 SHARES OF
COMMON STOCK
($.01 PAR VALUE)
---------------------
This Prospectus relates to the offer and sale by certain persons listed
under "Selling Shareholders" (collectively, the "Selling Shareholders") of up to
an aggregate of 21,323,545 shares (collectively, the "Shares") of common stock,
par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), of Ancor Communications,
Incorporated, a Minnesota corporation ("Ancor" or the "Company"). See "Selling
Shareholders" and "Plan of Distribution." The Company will not receive any
proceeds from the sale of the Shares. The Company has agreed to pay the
expenses of registration of the Shares, including legal and accounting fees.
The Selling Shareholders currently hold 299 shares of the Company's Series
B Preferred Stock (the "Series B Preferred Stock") and 980 shares of the
Company's Series C Preferred Stock (the "Series C Preferred Stock"). Each share
of Series B Preferred Stock has a stated value of $10,000 and converts into
Common Stock, subject to certain restrictions, at a variable conversion rate
equal to the lower of $4.86 (the "Fixed Conversion Price") or 85% of the average
closing bid price of the Common Stock for the five trading days prior to the
date of conversion, subject to a 5% accretion. Each share of the Series C
Preferred Stock has a stated value of $10,000 and converts into Common Stock,
subject to certain restrictions, at a variable conversion rate equal to the
lower of (i) the Maximum Conversion Price (as defined below) or (ii) the average
of the three lowest closing bid prices of the Common Stock during the applicable
Pricing Period (as defined below). The Maximum Conversion Price is equal to
$11.00 per share during the first year following the issuance of the Series C
Preferred Stock and thereafter is equal to the lower of $11.00 per share and the
average closing bid price for the five Wednesdays prior to February 19, 1999.
The applicable Pricing Period is a number of consecutive trading days
immediately preceding the date of conversion of the Series C Preferred Stock
initially equal to twelve and increased by one additional consecutive trading
day for each full calendar month which has elapsed since February 19, 1998.
Any or all of the Shares may be offered from time to time in transactions
on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market or the Pacific Stock Exchange in brokerage
transactions at prevailing market prices or in transactions at negotiated
prices. See "Plan of Distribution."
The Shares offered hereby have not been registered under the blue sky or
securities laws of any jurisdiction, and any broker or dealer should assure the
existence of an exemption from registration or effectuate such registration in
connection with the offer and sale of the Shares.
The Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market and the Pacific
Stock Exchange. On September 1, 1998, the last sale price of the Common Stock
as reported on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market was $1.25 per share.
<PAGE>
THE ACQUISITION AND OWNERSHIP OF THE COMMON STOCK INVOLVE A HIGH DEGREE
OF RISK. THE COMMON STOCK SHOULD BE PURCHASED ONLY BY INVESTORS WHO
ARE ABLE TO AFFORD THE RISK OF LOSS OF THEIR ENTIRE INVESTMENT.
(SEE "RISK FACTORS" ON PAGE 6)
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS
PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE
CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THIS OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS
THAT STABILIZE, MAINTAIN, OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK,
INCLUDING THE ENTRY OF STABILIZING BIDS OR PENALTY BIDS, EFFECTING SYNDICATE
COVERING TRANSACTIONS AND PASSIVE MARKET MAKING.
No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any
representations other than those contained in this Prospectus in connection with
the offer contained herein, and, if given or made, such information or
representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the
Company. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell, or a
solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities offered hereby in any
jurisdiction in which it is not lawful or to any person to whom it is not lawful
to make any such offer or solicitation. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus
nor any sale made hereunder shall, under any circumstances, create any
implication that information herein is correct as of any time subsequent to the
date hereof.
The date of this Prospectus is __________, 1998.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PAGE
<S> <C>
Available Information............................ 5
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.. 5
Risk Factors..................................... 6
Ancor Communications, Incorporated............... 14
Selling Shareholders............................. 15
Plan of Distribution............................. 18
Experts.......................................... 19
Legal Matters.................................... 19
</TABLE>
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<PAGE>
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance
therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). This Prospectus does not
contain all the information set forth in the Registration Statement and exhibits
thereto which the Company has filed with the Commission under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and to which reference is hereby
made. Reports, proxy statements and other information filed by the Company can
be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities of the Commission at
450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of such materials can be
obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. A copy of the
Registration Statement is also available on the Commission's EDGAR site on the
World Wide Web at: http:\\www.sec.gov. In addition, the Common Stock of the
Company is listed on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market and the Pacific Stock Exchange,
and reports, proxy statements and other information concerning the Company can
also be inspected at such exchanges.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents of the Company, which have been filed with the
Commission, are hereby incorporated by reference in this Prospectus:
(a) the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
1997;
(b) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31,
1998;
(c) the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30,
1998; and
(d) the description of the Common Stock contained in the Registration
Statement on Form 8-A dated March 11, 1994, and any amendment or report
filed for the purpose of updating such description filed subsequent to the
date of this Prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering
described herein.
All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior to
the termination of the offering of the Shares shall be deemed to be incorporated
by reference into this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the respective
dates of filing of such documents. Any statement contained herein or in a
document all or part of which is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of
this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any
subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded,
to constitute a part of this Prospectus.
The Company will provide without charge to any person to whom this
Prospectus is delivered, upon the written or oral request of such person, a copy
of any or all of the foregoing documents incorporated herein by reference (other
than certain exhibits to such documents). Requests for such copies should be
directed to Steven E. Snyder, Chief Financial Officer, Ancor Communications,
Incorporated, 6130 Blue Circle Drive, Minnetonka, Minnesota 55343, telephone
number (612) 932-4000.
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RISK FACTORS
Prospective investors in the shares offered hereby should carefully consider
the following risk factors, in addition to the other information appearing in or
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus.
DEPENDENCE ON FIBRE CHANNEL PRODUCTS; COMPETING TECHNOLOGIES; UNCERTAINTY OF
MARKET ACCEPTANCE OF FIBRE CHANNEL TECHNOLOGY
The Company's current products are all designed to comply with the Fibre
Channel standard for data communications network technology and to compete in
the high performance local area network (LAN) market and as a switching device
in high performance storage area network (SAN) markets. The Company's success
will thus depend on the market acceptance of Fibre Channel as a technology for
addressing data communications and data storage needs. The Company has decided
to focus the majority of its marketing and sales efforts on the SAN market.
In the LAN market Fibre Channel competes with a number of other network
technologies, including both established technologies, such as Fiber Distributed
Data Interface ("FDDI"), Ethernet, Fast Ethernet and Token Ring, and newer
technologies that have not yet achieved wide market penetration, such as Gigabit
Ethernet and Asynchronous Transfer Mode ("ATM"). The Company believes that
users generally do not replace existing network technologies until system
demands significantly strain their capacity, relying instead on interim
solutions such as greater segmentation of networks using additional networks and
routers. In addition, many users who install new network technology continue to
choose the older, established technologies rather than newer technologies such
as Fibre Channel. Furthermore, users who are replacing existing data
communications networks may choose other new data communications technologies
rather than Fibre Channel; in particular, many believe that ATM or Gigabit
Ethernet products, which are available from a number of companies, are the most
significant new technologies competitive with Fibre Channel. In order to gain
market acceptance, the Company's products must be priced to provide a cost-
effective alternative to competing technologies. Market acceptance of Fibre
Channel technology may also be affected by the fact that Fibre Channel is not
suitable for wide area network ("WAN") applications due to distance limitations
specified in the American National Standard Institute ("ANSI") standards. There
can be no assurance that Fibre Channel technology will gain widespread
acceptance or that it will be able to compete successfully with existing or
future technologies. The failure of Fibre Channel to gain widespread market
acceptance or of the Fibre Channel market to expand would have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of
operations.
In the SAN market, adoption of Fibre Channel requires computer systems
manufacturers to convert from the Small Computer System Interface (SCSI)
interconnect protocol currently being used by many manufacturers. While many
computer systems manufacturers have announced their intentions to convert to
Fibre Channel as the interconnect protocol for their products, there can be no
assurance that this conversion will happen, or that other computer systems
manufacturers will adopt the Fibre Channel protocol, on a timely basis or at
all. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that these or other companies will
incorporate switching devices, such as those sold by the Company, into their
products on a timely basis or at all.
RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE AND RISK OF TECHNOLOGICAL OBSOLESCENCE
The data network communications and storage markets are characterized by
rapid technological change, including changes in customer requirements, frequent
new product introductions and enhancements, and evolving industry standards.
The Company's success will depend in part on its ability to keep pace with
technological developments and emerging industry standards and to respond to
customer requirements by enhancing its current products and developing and
introducing new products. Failure to anticipate or respond rapidly to advances
in technology and to adapt the Company's products appropriately could render the
Company's products obsolete and have a material adverse effect on the success of
the Company's products and thus on the Company's business, financial condition
and results of operations.
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PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT RISKS
The Company's success will depend in part on its ability to develop and
introduce product enhancements and new products. The success of any product
enhancement or new product depends on many factors, including the amount of
resources devoted to its development, product competition and marketing
campaigns. There can be no assurance that the Company will succeed in
developing, introducing and marketing any product enhancements or new products
in a timely fashion, if at all, or that such enhancements or new products will,
if introduced, gain market acceptance. Failure to develop or introduce
enhancements or new products, or significant delays in doing so, could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and
results of operations.
Products as complex as the Company's frequently contain undetected hardware
or software errors ("bugs") when first introduced or as new versions are
released. Despite testing and quality control efforts by the Company and
current and potential customers, the Company anticipates that such errors may be
found from time to time in new or enhanced products after commercial
introduction. In addition, errors may occur when the Company's products are
integrated with products of other companies which are designed to interoperate
with the Company's products. The occurrence of such errors could, and the
inability to correct errors would, result in the delay or loss of market
acceptance of the Company's products, possible warranty expense, diversion of
engineering and other resources from product development efforts and the loss of
credibility in the market, any of which could have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
HISTORY OF OPERATING LOSSES; UNCERTAINTY OF FUTURE PROFITABILITY; RISK OF
PRODUCT RETURNS
The Company has incurred net losses in each of the past three years and, at
December 31, 1997, had an accumulated shareholders' deficit of approximately
$27.1 million. The Company has incurred operating losses of $10,065,653 for the
six months ended June 30, 1998. Net losses for the years ended December 31,
1995, 1996 and 1997 were approximately $3.3 million, $5.3 million and $9.8
million, respectively. Future operating results will depend on many factors,
including the growth of the Fibre Channel market, demand for the Company's
products, the level of product and price competition, and the Company's ability
to develop and market new products, general economic conditions and other
factors. There can be no assurance that the Company will achieve or sustain
profitability in the future.
In addition, in recognition of the difficulty in obtaining market
penetration of the Company's new technology and the necessity to make
concessions to customers during the initial introduction of a new technology
product, the Company has allowed customers to return products to the Company
which do not meet the customer's needs. As of June 30, 1998, the Company has a
net sales return allowance of $204,000 ($339,000 gross sales less the estimated
value of the product to be returned) as an estimate of future anticipated
returns of product. There can be no assurance that this reserve will be
adequate, or that significant returns will not occur in the future.
As a result of the Company's switch in focus from the LAN market to the SAN
market and general economic conditions in Japan (where the Company's largest
customer during the last two years is located), the Company must develop
relationships with new customers to generate significant revenues in the future.
DEPENDENCE ON CUSTOMER
A significant portion of the Company's revenues ($6,983,000 or 88% in fiscal
1997 and $2,585,000 or 41% in fiscal 1996) were generated by a single customer,
Hucom, Inc. Product purchased from the Company by Hucom is remarketed to end
users. A significant portion of Hucom's sales of Ancor's products in fiscal
1996 and fiscal 1997 have been to one end user. In future periods, Hucom's
sales of Ancor's products to this end user are expected to be significantly less
than in fiscal 1997. Sales to Hucom during the six months ended June 30, 1998
were $641,000 or 54% of the Company's revenues. Additionally, general economic
conditions in Japan make future sales to Hucom uncertain. Unless and until other
end uses are found or additional resellers or additional customer relationships
are established, the Company's revenues are expected to be significantly less
than in prior periods. The Company's business would be
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materially, adversely impacted if other end users are not found to replace this
level of business or if Hucom ceased doing business with the Company unless and
until additional resellers are established. The Company's revenues in the future
may also be generated by a single customer or a small number of significant
customers.
LACK OF OEM SELLING EXPERIENCE
For the Company to be successful in selling into the SAN market it will need
to sell directly to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The Company has
historically sold its products either directly to end users or through resellers
but not to OEMs and, therefore, does not have experience selling its products
through this channel. There can be no assurance that the Company will be
successful selling its products to OEMs.
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH MANAGING GROWTH
The anticipated growth of the Company's operations will place significant
strain on the Company's management, sales and marketing, manufacturing,
operating and financial systems and resources. If such growth occurs, the
Company may encounter difficulties, including problems involving lower than
projected production rates, lower quality control and assurance, decreased
product reliability, increased manufacturing costs, difficulties in maintaining
internal accounting controls, malfunctioning of existing and new equipment,
insufficient or untimely component supplies and shortages of personnel. There
can be no assurance that the Company will be able successfully to plan for or
manage increased production and marketing of its products. The failure to do so
could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
condition and results of operations.
COMPETITION IN FIBRE CHANNEL MARKET
The Company's Fibre Channel products encounter competition from other Fibre
Channel products in addition to competition from other network technology
products. For example, Brocade Communications Systems, Inc., Arcxel, and McData
have developed Fibre Channel switches. Other companies may also be developing
switches. In addition, a number of companies, including Emulex Corp, Q Logic
Corp., Jaycor Corp. Gadzooks Corp., G2 Corp. and Interphase Corp. are developing
Fibre Channel products other than switches, such as adapters or hubs, and the
Company anticipates that these and other companies will introduce commercial
Fibre Channel products in the near future. In the event that Fibre Channel
technology gains wider market acceptance, it is likely that an increasing number
of competitors will begin developing and marketing Fibre Channel products. Some
of the companies that produce or may produce Fibre Channel products competitive
with the Company's products have substantially greater financial, technological
and marketing resources than the Company. There can be no assurance that the
Company will be able to compete effectively against current or future
competitors, or that such competitors will not succeed in adapting more rapidly
and effectively to changes in technology or in the market or in developing or
marketing products that will be more widely accepted. A failure to compete
effectively would prevent the Company from generating sufficient sales to allow
the Company to attain profitable operations.
DEPENDENCE ON SUBCONTRACTORS
The Company subcontracts a majority of its production activities, including
the manufacture, assembly and testing of the Company's proprietary Fibre Channel
switch and adapter designs. Utilization of subcontractors results in
dependence on the timely delivery of high quality products from these
manufacturers and may leave the Company with less flexibility and control over
the manufacturing process than if it conducted all of these operations
internally. There can be no assurance that the timely delivery of quality
products will not be interrupted; any such interruption would have a material
adverse effect on the Company's ability to deliver its products until acceptable
arrangements could be made with a qualified alternative subcontractor. There
can be no assurance that the Company would be able to reach an arrangement with
such a subcontractor at acceptable prices and adequate quality levels on a
timely basis. If the Company were unable to do so, such an interruption would
have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition
and results of operations. Purchases from a major subcontractor were
approximately $6,480,000, $5,086,000 and $870,000 in 1997, 1996 and 1995,
respectively.
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DEPENDENCE ON SUPPLIERS AND AVAILABILITY OF COMPONENTS
Certain of the components used in Ancor's products are available only from a
single supplier or from a limited number of suppliers, and others may from time
to time be in short supply or temporarily be available from only a single
supplier. The unavailability of adequate quantities of components, a reduction
or interruption in component supply, a disruption of existing supplier
relationships, an inability to develop alternative sources or a significant
increase in the price of components could each have a material adverse effect on
the Company's ability to produce and market its products.
NEED TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN KEY PERSONNEL
The success of the Company is dependent on its ability to attract and retain
personnel needed for its business. The Company's personnel needs include highly
trained personnel for such areas as management, sales and engineering. In
particular, the Company's success will depend in part on the continued service
of certain key personnel, including Mr. Ken Hendrickson, who was named its Chief
Executive Officer in August 1997, Mr. Calvin G. Nelson, its President, and Mr.
Steven E. Snyder, its Chief Financial Officer. As the Company increases its
production and sales levels, it will need to attract and retain additional
qualified skilled and unskilled workers for its operations. In recent years
there has been great demand for qualified skilled and unskilled employees in the
Minneapolis area, where the Company's main operations are located. There can be
no assurance that the Company will be successful in attracting and retaining the
personnel needed for its business. Any failure to do so would adversely affect
the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
DEPENDENCE ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
The Company's success will depend in part on its ability to protect its
proprietary rights and to operate without infringing on the proprietary rights
of third parties. The Company currently holds one U.S. patent covering certain
aspects of one of its Fibre Channel switches. The Company may apply for
additional patents in the future. There can be no assurance that any of the
Company's future patent applications will result in issued patents, that the
scope of any current or future patents issued to the Company will prevent
competitors from introducing competitive products or that any current or future
patents issued to the Company would be enforceable if challenged. In addition,
other parties may hold or receive patents that contain claims covering other
technology included in the Company's current or future products that could
hinder or prevent the sale of the Company's products or require the Company to
obtain licenses to such technology, which might not be available on acceptable
terms or at all.
In addition to patents, the Company intends to rely upon unpatented trade
secrets and know-how and on the expertise of its employees. Although the
Company believes that it has in the past taken, and intends in the future to
take, appropriate steps to protect its unpatented proprietary rights, including
requiring that its employees and third parties granted access to the Company's
proprietary technology enter into confidentiality agreements with the Company,
there can be no assurance that these measures will be sufficient to protect the
Company's rights against third parties. Likewise, there can be no assurance that
others will not independently develop or otherwise acquire unpatented
technologies or products similar or superior to those of the Company.
The Company has registered three trademarks with the United States Patent
and Trademark Office (the "PTO") and has filed for registration of four
additional marks in which it claims trademark rights, one of which has been
allowed. United States trademark rights are acquired by use rather than by
registration, and there can be no assurance that others do not have conflicting
or superior rights to the Company's unregistered trademarks. There can thus be
no assurance that any of the trademarks covered by the Company's applications
for registration will be found registrable, that registrations will issue, or
that the Company can support the cost of defense of its trademarks.
The high technology area frequently features disputes over intellectual
property. The Company may in the future be required to defend its intellectual
property rights against infringement, duplication and discovery by third parties
or to defend itself against third-party claims of infringement. Likewise,
disputes may arise in the future with respect to
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ownership of technology developed by employees who were previously employed by
other companies. Any such litigation or disputes could result in substantial
costs to, and a diversion of effort by, the Company. An adverse determination
could subject the Company to significant liabilities to third parties, require
the Company to seek licenses from or pay royalties to third parties or require
the Company to develop appropriate alternative technology. There can be no
assurance that any such licenses would be available on acceptable terms or at
all, or that the Company could develop alternate technology at an acceptable
price or at all. Any of these events could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
POTENTIAL DILUTION; SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALES; POSSIBLE EFFECT ON
ADDITIONAL EQUITY FINANCING
A substantial number of shares of Common Stock are or will be issuable by
the Company upon the conversion of the Series B and Series C Preferred Stock and
upon the exercise of certain warrants issued to the placement agent of the
Series B and Series C Preferred Stock (the "Agent Warrants") which could result
in dilution to a shareholder's percentage ownership interest in the Company and
could adversely affect the market price of the Common Stock. Under the
applicable conversion formulas of the Series B Preferred Stock and the Series C
Preferred Stock, the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion
is inversely proportional to the market price of the Common Stock at the time of
conversion (i.e., the number of shares increases as the market price of the
Common Stock decreases); and except with respect to certain redemption rights of
the Company for the Preferred Stock, there is no cap on the number of shares of
Common Stock which may be issued. In addition, the number of shares issuable
upon the conversion of the Series B and Series C Preferred Stock and the
exercise of the Agent Warrants is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of
certain dilutive events. For a complete description of the rights of holders of
Series B Preferred stock, see Exhibits 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 10.23 and 10.24 to the
Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1997. For a complete
description of the rights of holders of Series C Preferred Stock and Agent
Warrants, see the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 23,
1998, including the exhibits thereto.
On August 26, 1998, there were issued and outstanding a total of 13,852,080
shares of Common Stock. If all of the convertible preferred stock which the
Company has issued as of August 26, 1998 were converted into shares of Common
Stock on the date hereof and if all warrants issued to the holders of Series B
Preferred Stock ("Investor Warrants") and the Agent Warrants were exercised,
there would be outstanding 25,416,147 shares of Common Stock. The Company has
registered a total of 21,323,545 Shares hereunder for issuance upon conversion
of the Series B and Series C Preferred Stock, the Investor Warrants and the
Agent Warrants. The Company has registered shares in excess of the number of
Shares currently issuable upon conversion of the Series B and Series C Preferred
Stock and exercise of the Investor Warrants and the Agent Warrants, if all such
conversions and exercises occurred on the date hereof, in an effort to ensure
that a sufficient number of Shares are registered in the event the price of the
Company's Common Stock decreases.
All of the Shares registered hereby, if and when issued, will be eligible
for sale in the open market without restriction. Additional shares of Common
Stock, including shares issuable upon conversion of Series B Preferred Stock and
exercise of options and warrants, will also become eligible for sale in the
public market from time to time. The sale or availability for sale of a
significant number of shares of Common Stock in the public market could
adversely affect the market price of the Common Stock. In addition, certain
holders of outstanding securities of the Company have rights to approve and/or
participate in certain types of future equity financing by the Company. The
availability to the Company of additional equity financing, and the terms of any
such financing, may be adversely affected by the foregoing.
FLUCTUATIONS IN QUARTERLY OPERATING RESULTS
The Company's operating results may vary significantly from quarter to
quarter due to such factors as changes in customer buying patterns, the timing
of the announcement and introduction of new products by the Company or its
competitors, the tactics of the Company's competitors, technological
developments affecting the data communication network market, and the overall
strength of the economy. All of these factors, along with the uncertainties
associated with the introduction of any new product or product enhancement, in
gauging ultimate customer demand, and in
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predicting general trends in the market for the Company's products, may limit
management's ability to plan for production and to forecast quarterly results of
operations accurately. Fluctuations in such quarterly operating results or the
Company's failure to meet analysts' projections or public expectations as to
results may adversely affect the market price of the Common Stock. The Company's
operating results for any particular quarter are not necessarily indicative of
results that the Company may achieve for any subsequent quarter or full fiscal
year.
STOCK PRICE VOLATILITY; NO ASSURANCE OF CONTINUED QUOTATION ON THE NASDAQ
SMALLCAP MARKET
The stock markets recently have experienced extreme price and volume
fluctuations, which have particularly affected the market prices of many high
technology companies and which have often been unrelated to the operating
performance of such companies. The trading prices of the Company's Common Stock
have in the past been, and could in the future be, subject to wide fluctuations
in response to a variety of events or factors, many of which are beyond the
Company's control. These could include, without limitation (i) quarterly
variations in the Company's operating results, (ii) the liquidity of the market
for the Common Stock, (iii) announcements of business developments by the
Company or its competitors, (iv) public perception regarding Fibre Channel's
market status, (v) developments or disputes concerning proprietary rights, (vi)
technological innovations or newly introduced products, and (vii) general
conditions in the data communications network industry and the economy.
The Company's Common Stock is currently listed on the Nasdaq SmallCap
Market. On August 22, 1997, the Commission approved a number of proposed
changes to the Nasdaq listing requirements to be effective February 22, 1998.
Common stock must have a minimum bid price of $1. Should the bid price for the
Company's Common Stock fall below $1 and remain below $1 for a period of 30
consecutive business days, the Company will be notified that it has 90 calendar
days from the date of such notice to achieve compliance with the Nasdaq
continued inclusion standards. Compliance requires that the Company's Common
Stock have a minimum bid price of $1 for a minimum of 10 consecutive business
days during the 90-day compliance period. Failure by the Company to be in
compliance with the requirements or to file a plan acceptable to Nasdaq for
meeting such requirements may result in the delisting of the Company's Common
Stock from the Nasdaq SmallCap Market. There can be no assurance that the
Common Stock will continue to be listed on Nasdaq SmallCap Market.
POTENTIAL REDEMPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK
Upon an Event of Default (as defined in the Certificate of Designation for
the Series B Preferred Stock), and upon delivery of a notice of acceleration
from a holder of Series B Preferred Stock, the Company is required to pay such
holder an amount equal to 130% of the Stated Value (as defined therein) of such
holder's Series B Preferred Stock to the date of payment. If the Company fails
to pay this amount within five business days, the holder may require the Company
to issue the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the amounts owed by the
Company divided by the Conversion Price (as defined therein) then in effect
without the conversion restrictions set forth in Section 5(a) of the Certificate
of Designation for the Series B Preferred Stock.
The Company is obligated to redeem the Series C Preferred Stock, at the
option of the holders, at a price equal to the greater of (i) 125% of the Total
Value (as defined in the Certificate of Designation for the Series C Preferred
Stock) or (ii) the product of (A) the Conversion Rate (as defined therein) and
(B) the closing sale price of the Common Stock in the event of announcement of a
Major Transaction (as defined therein) or occurrence of a Triggering Event (as
defined therein).
FUTURE CAPITAL NEEDS; UNCERTAINTY OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING
The Company anticipates that cash on hand, interest expected to be earned
thereon and anticipated revenues from operations will be sufficient to finance
the Company's operations at least through December 1998, although there can be
no assurance that additional capital will not be required sooner. In order to
meet its needs beyond such time, the Company may be required to raise additional
capital. There can be no assurance that sufficient capital will be available if
and when required on terms acceptable to the Company, if at all. Any additional
equity financings may be dilutive
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to purchasers in this offering, and any debt financing may involve restrictive
covenants. Failure to secure additional financing if and when needed could
adversely affect the Company and its operations, including requiring the Company
to delay, scale back, or eliminate market expansion activities and research and
development on existing or new products, or forcing the Company to cease
operations entirely.
LITIGATION
The Company, along with Stephen O'Hara, Lee B. Lewis and Dale Showers, has
been named as a defendant in a securities action captioned Richard Radman and
Sol Rosenthal v. Ancor Communications, Inc., et al. filed in the United States
District Court for the District of Minnesota on July 24, 1997. The lawsuit, a
putative class action, alleges that the Company violated sections 10(b) and
20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 when it allegedly made misleading
public disclosures relating to the Company's contract with Sequent Computer
Systems, Inc. and the Company's quarterly revenues. This action is in the
preliminary stage and the parties have not begun discovery. The Company
believes that the lawsuit is without merit and intends to defend it vigorously.
However, there is no assurance that any judgment, order or decree against the
Company arising out of this action will not have a material adverse effect on
the Company or its business.
THE YEAR 2000 ISSUE
The Company has completed an assessment of Year 2000 compliance for its
critical operating and application systems, specifically its enterprise-wide
information systems, analysis tools, computer-aided design systems and
supporting operating system infrastructure. As a result of this assessment, it
has been determined that through normal recurring system upgrades, the vast
majority of the Company's systems are currently, or will be by early 1999, Year
2000 compliant. During fiscal 1996 the Company purchased from a world-wide
supplier and developer of information systems an enterprise-wide information
system. The developer of this information system has provided its clients
written assurance that the system will correctly function across the year 2000,
as verified by previous system tests and Year 2000 certification by the
International Technology Association of America. Additionally, the Company's
products, including software, are not date sensitive as to functionality. Since
Year 2000 compliance with regard to the Company's internal systems has been, or
will be, significantly achieved through normal system upgrades and not through
accelerated or dedicated efforts, the costs of becoming Year 2000 compliant has
not had and is not expected to have a material effect on the Company's financial
position, operations or cash flow.
Ultimately, the potential impact of the Year 2000 issue will depend not only
on the Company's internal Year 2000 compliance, but also on the way in which the
Year 2000 is addressed by customers, vendors, service utilities, government and
other external entities. The Company is communicating with such external
parties to determine how they are addressing the Year 2000 issue and to evaluate
any likely impact on the Company. The Company has requested commitment dates
from these parties as to their Year 2000 readiness. This process will likely
continue into fiscal 1999. The efforts of third parties are not within the
Company's control, however, and their failure to remedy Year 2000 issues
successfully could result in business disruption, loss of revenue and increased
operating cost. At the present time, it is not possible to determine whether
any such events are likely to occur, or to quantify any potential negative
impact they may have on the Company's future results of operations and financial
condition. The Company has not established contingency plans, but expects to
assess its need for contingency plans during 1999.
The foregoing discussion regarding Year 2000 contains forward-looking
statements which are based on management's best estimates derived using various
assumptions. These forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and
uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those
contemplated by such statements. Factors that might cause material differences
include, but are not limited to, (i) the Company's ability to obtain alternative
manufacturing sources should its current sources' operations be disrupted due to
Year 2000 complications, and (ii) the Company's ability to respond to unforeseen
Year 2000 complications. Such material differences could result in, among other
things, business disruption, operational problems, financial loss, legal
liability and similar risks.
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INVENTORY OBSOLESCENCE
The market in which the Company operates is characterized by rapid
technological change, including changes in customer requirements, frequent new
product introductions and enhancements, and evolving industry standards. Such
changes could render the Company's inventory obsolete, thereby having a material
adverse effect on the Company's business, financial conditions and results of
operations.
ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS
Under the Company's Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, the
Board of Directors may issue up to five million shares of preferred stock, $0.01
par value, on such terms, and with such rights, preferences and designations, as
the Board of Directors may determine, without further shareholder action. The
Board of Directors exercised this power to create and issue a series of 1,100
shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock in March 1996, to create and
issue a series of 900 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock in March
1997 and to create and issue a series of 1,100 shares of Series C Convertible
Preferred Stock in February 1998. The rights of the holders of the Common Stock
will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of any holders
of any preferred stock so issued. Furthermore, under the Company's Amended and
Restated Articles of Incorporation, the Company's Board of Directors is
classified and directors serve for staggered three-year terms. In addition to
these provisions in its Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, the
Company is subject to certain provisions of the Minnesota Business Corporation
Act that limit the voting rights of shares acquired in certain acquisitions and
restrict certain business combinations. The existence or issuance of "blank
check" preferred stock, the existence of a staggered board and the effect of
other anti-takeover provisions in the Company's charter documents or Minnesota
law, individually or in the aggregate, may render more difficult or discourage
any attempt to obtain control of the Company by means of a tender offer, merger,
proxy contest or otherwise, which could deprive the Company's shareholders of
opportunities to sell their shares of Common Stock at prices higher than
prevailing market prices.
NO DIVIDENDS
The Company has never paid or declared a dividend on its capital stock and
does not anticipate doing so for the foreseeable future.
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<PAGE>
ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED
Ancor Communications, Incorporated, incorporated in 1986, is recognized as a
leading developer of Fibre Channel network products. Fibre Channel is a high
bandwidth, low latency advance in data communications technology developed under
the auspices of the ANSI. Ancor develops, manufactures, and markets Fibre
Channel switches, interface adapters and application specific integrated
circuits ("ASICs") and router products.
In 1992, Ancor delivered its first prototype Fibre Channel switches and
interface adapters. Commercial Fibre Channel switch and interface deliveries
began in 1993. Ancor's Fibre Channel products are used by organizations
worldwide for enhanced network performance, scalability and connectivity. Fibre
Channel enables the transfer of data at speeds ranging from 266 Mbps to 1
Gigabit per second.
Since its inception, Ancor's core technology has been built around the
utilization of fiber optic cable for data transmission. Originally, through its
Anderson Cornelius division, Ancor provided fiber optic manufacturing data
collection systems to Ford Motor Company. In 1989, Ancor began selling its
fiber optic defense communication products to the U.S. Navy. Its current Fibre
Channel product category was initiated in 1988 when Ancor participated as an
original member of the founding task group of the ANSI committee dedicated to
the creation of the Fibre Channel standard. Today Ancor -- an active member of
the ANSI Fibre Channel committee and the Fibre Channel Association --focuses
entirely on the development of Fibre Channel solutions.
Today, Ancor offers one of the industry's most complete lines of Fibre
Channel solutions for high performance network environments. Ancor's product
line includes: quarter and full gigabit speed switches, stackable in modules of
8 or 16 ports and scaleable to support a Fibre Channel network of more than
3,000 nodes; Fibre Channel adapters and drivers for EISA, MCA, PCI, SBus and VME
bus types, offering connectivity to popular work stations and servers; and
router products offering seamless connectivity between Fibre Channel networks
and legacy LAN's. Customers for Ancor Fibre Channel products run high band
width, mission critical applications that require optimal network performance
and quality of service in data storage, client/server and network backbone
market segments. Specific applications include data mining and backup, CAD/CAM,
scientific visualization, storage clusters, server interconnect and data backup.
Ancor Fibre Channel products include gigabit speed network performance,
scalability, interoperability and an ANSI standard that specifies a road map to
increase network performance of two and four gigabits per second transfer rates.
Ancor's principal executive offices are located at 6130 Blue Circle
Drive, Minnetonka, Minnesota 55343, (telephone number (612) 932-4000). For
further information concerning Ancor, see the documents incorporated by
reference herein as described under "Incorporation of Certain Documents by
Reference."
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<PAGE>
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
The following table sets forth the names of the Selling Shareholders, the
number of shares of Common Stock owned beneficially by each of the Selling
Shareholders as of August 26, 1998, and the number of shares which may be
offered for sale pursuant to this Prospectus. Except under certain limited
circumstances, no holder of the Series C Preferred Stock or Agent Warrants is
entitled to convert or exercise such Securities to the extent that the Shares to
be received by such holder upon such conversion or exercise would cause such
holder to beneficially own more than 5.00% of the Common Stock of the Company
and Nelson Partners, Olympus Securities, Ltd. and Capital Ventures International
may not convert or exercise such securities to the extent that the Shares to be
received upon such conversion or exercise would cause such entity to
beneficially own more than 4.9% of the Common Stock of the Company. Therefore,
the number of shares which a Selling Shareholder may sell pursuant to the
Prospectus may exceed the number of shares of Common Stock such Selling
Shareholder would otherwise beneficially own as determined pursuant to Section
13(d) of the Exchange Act. Because the Selling Shareholders may offer all, some
or none of their Common Stock, no definitive estimate as to the number of shares
that will be held by the Selling Shareholders after such offering can be
provided and the following table has been prepared on the assumption that all
shares of Common Stock covered by this Prospectus will be sold.
The Company has agreed to register 21,323,545 shares for resale by the
Selling Shareholders holding the Series B and Series C Preferred Stock, Investor
Warrants and Agent Warrants, as well as certain other warrants.
Unless otherwise indicated, the persons and entities named in the table have
sole voting and sole investment power with respect to all Shares beneficially
owned. subject to community property laws where applicable. Except as noted,
Shares beneficially owned are deemed to include Shares which may be acquired
within 60 days of August 26, 1998.
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES OF
SERIES C NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON
SERIES B PREFERRED SHARES SERIES B SERIES C STOCK UNDERLYING
PREFERRED STOCK BENEFICIALLY CONVERSION CONVERSION WARRANTS COMMON STOCK
STOCK OWNED OWNED OWNED PRIOR SHARES SHARES BENEFICIALLY BENEFICIALLY
PRIOR TO PRIOR TO TO OFFERING BEING BEING OWNED AND BEING OWNED AFTER
NAME OFFERING(1) OFFERING(2) (3)(4) OFFERED(5) OFFERED(5) OFFERED OFFERING(9)
- ---- ----------- ----------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ---------------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
The Tail Wind Fund Ltd. 30 173 692,604 438,856 2,931,524 18,519(6) 0
CCG Capital Ltd. (10) 4 33,890 67,780 0
Nelson Partners (10) 100 145 678,751 1,461,188 2,457,058 58,848(6) 0
Olympus Securities, Ltd.
(10) 94 271 678,751 1,373,516 4,592,156 58,436(6) 0
CC Investments, L.D.C. 382 692,604 6,473,076 10,288(6) 0
CCG Investment Fund Ltd.
(10) 5 42,363 84,726 0
Capital Ventures
International 75 678,751 1,095,891 34,979(6) 0
Eric S. Swartz 32,959(7) 0
Kendrick Family
Partnership, L.P. 32,959(7) 0
P. Bradford Hathorn 7,500(7) 0
Charles M. Whiteman 2,500(7) 0
Carlton M. Johnson, Jr. 1,500(7) 0
Davis C. Holden 1,000(7) 0
Swartz Investments, LLC 2,833(7) 0
Charles B. Krusen 5,253(7) 0
Frank G. Mauro 1,500(7) 0
H. Nelson Logan 1,000(7) 0
Kelley E. Smith 500(7) 0
Sandra M. Mallory 1,000(7) 0
Robert L. Hopkins 500(7) 0
Dwight B. Bronnum 500(7) 0
John G. Kinnard and
Company, Incorporated 75,700(8) 0
Total 299 980 3,497,714 4,368,951 16,606,320 348,274 0
</TABLE>
____________________
(1) The Company's Series B Preferred Stock was issued pursuant to subscription
agreements dated March 21, 1997. Each share of Series B Preferred Stock has
a stated value of $10,000 and converts into Common Stock, subject to certain
restrictions, at a variable conversion rate equal to the lower of the Fixed
Conversion Price or 85% of the average closing bid price of the Common Stock
for the five trading days prior to the date of conversion, subject to a 5%
accretion.
(2) The Company's Series C Preferred Stock was issued pursuant to subscription
agreements dated February 19, 1998. Each share of Series C Preferred Stock
has a stated value of $10,000 and converts into Common Stock, subject to
certain restrictions, at a variable conversion rate equal to the lower of
(i) the Maximum Conversion Price (as defined below) or (ii) the average of
the three lowest closing bid prices of the Common Stock during the
applicable Pricing Period (as defined below). The Maximum Conversion Price
is equal to $11.00 per share until February 19, 1999. The applicable
Pricing Period is a number of consecutive trading days immediately preceding
the date of conversion of the Series C Preferred Stock initially equal to
twelve and increased by one additional consecutive trading day for each full
calendar month which has elapsed since February 19, 1998.
(3) Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission and generally includes voting or
investment power with respect to securities and includes any securities
which the person has the right to acquire within 60 days of August 26, 1998
through the conversion or exercise of any security or other right.
(4) Includes shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series B
Preferred Stock calculated using the conversion price as of August 26, 1998
of $1.0996875 (representing the average closing bid prices for the Common
Stock for the five trading days immediately preceding August 26, 1998
multiplied by .85) and the stated value of the Series B Preferred Stock plus
an accretion of 5% per year, based upon certain conversion provisions of the
Series B Preferred Stock (which conversion price could fluctuate from time
to time based on changes in the market price of the Common Stock). Also
includes shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series C
Preferred Stock calculated using the conversion price as of August 26, 1998
of $1.229166 (representing the average of the three lowest closing bid
prices for the Common Stock during the seventeen
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<PAGE>
consecutive trading days ending the trading day immediately preceding
August 26, 1998) and the stated value of the Series C Preferred Stock plus
an accretion of 8% per year, based upon certain conversion provisions of
the Series C Preferred Stock (which conversion price could fluctuate from
time to time based on changes in the market price of the Common Stock).
Pursuant to the terms of the Series C Preferred Stock, no holder thereof
can convert or exercise any portion of such Series C Preferred Stock if
such conversion would increase such holder's beneficial ownership of the
Common Stock in excess of 5.0% and Nelson Partners, Olympus Securities,
Ltd. and Capital Ventures International cannot convert or exercise any
portion of its Series B Preferred Stock if such conversion would increase
such entity's beneficial ownership of Common Stock in excess of 4.9%.
(These limitations may be waived upon 61 days notice to the Company).
Absent these limitations, at August 26, 1998, the Series C Preferred Stock,
Series B Preferred Stock and warrants held by the Selling Shareholders
would have been convertible into or exercisable for a total of the
following number of shares of Common Stock: The Tail Wind Fund
Ltd.-1,776,518 shares; CCG Capital Ltd.-33,890 shares; Nelson Partners-
2,261,502 shares; Olympus Securities, Ltd.-3,270,191 shares; CC
Investments, L.D.C.-3,246,826 shares; CCG Investment Fund Ltd.-42,363
shares; Capital Ventures International-765,573 shares.
(5) The number of shares of Common Stock registered pursuant to the Registration
Statement on behalf of the Selling Shareholders holding Series B and Series
C Preferred Stock and the number of Shares offered hereby by such holders
have been determined by agreement between the Company and such Selling
Shareholders. Because the number of shares that will ultimately be issued
upon conversion of the Series B and Series C Preferred Stock is dependent,
subject to certain limitations, upon the average of certain closing bid
prices of the Common Stock prior to conversion, as described in footnotes
(1) and (2) above, such number of shares (and therefore the number of Shares
offered hereby) cannot be determined at this time..
(6) Consists of warrants to purchase a total of 181,070 shares of Common Stock
by certain purchasers of the Series B Preferred Stock in connection with
that certain Subscription Agreement dated March 21, 1997 (the "Subscription
Agreement") between the Company and such purchasers pursuant to which such
purchasers were granted warrants to purchase the Company's Common Stock
equal to twenty percent (20%) of the aggregate purchase price of such
purchasers Series B Preferred Stock which was outstanding and unconverted on
March 24, 1998, divided by the Conversion Price (as such term is defined in
the Subscription Agreement) for the Series B Preferred Stock then in effect
at an exercise price per share of $4.86, which is equal to one hundred
fifteen percent (115%) of the average Closing Bid Price (as such term is
defined in the Subscription Agreement) for the five (5) trading days
preceding March 24, 1998.
(7) Consists of warrants to purchase 91,504 shares of Common Stock by the
designees of Dunwoody Brokerage Services, Inc. in connection with such
company's role as placement agent for the private placement of the Company's
Series C Preferred Stock in February 1998.
(8) Consists of warrants to purchase 75,700 shares of Common Stock by John G.
Kinnard and Company, Incorporated in connection with such company's role as
placement agent for private placements of the Company's Common Stock in
April 1995 and October 1995.
(9) Gives effect to the conversion of all shares of Series B and Series C
Preferred Stock and the exercise of all warrants by all Selling Shareholders
and the sale of all shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to such
conversions and exercises. Includes shares of Common Stock registered by
the Company in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated August 15, 1997
(Commission File Number 333-27841) pursuant to the sale of the Series B
Preferred Stock.
(10) Citadel Limited Partnership is the managing general partner of Nelson
Partners and the trading manager of each of Olympus Securities, Ltd., CCG
Capital Ltd. and CCG Investment Fund Ltd. (collectively, the "Citadel
Entities") and consequently has voting control and investment discretion
over securities held by the Citadel Entities. The ownership for each of
the Citadel Entities does not include the ownership information for the
other Citadel Entities. Citadel Limited Partnership and each of the
Citadel Entities disclaims beneficial ownership of the Shares held by the
other Citadel Entities.
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<PAGE>
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Shares will be offered and sold by the Selling Shareholders for their
own accounts. The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the
Shares pursuant to this Prospectus. The Company has agreed to pay the expenses
of registration of the Shares, including legal and accounting fees.
The Shares offered hereby may be sold by the Selling Shareholders or by
pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors in interest that receive such
shares as a gift, partnership distribution or other non-sale related transfer.
The Shares may be sold from time to time in transactions in the over-the-counter
market, in negotiated transactions, or a combination of such methods of sale, at
fixed prices which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of
sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.
The Selling Shareholders may effect such transaction by selling the Shares to or
through broker-dealers, including block trades in which brokers or dealers will
attempt to sell the Shares as agent but may position and resell the block as
principal, or in one or more underwritten offerings on a firm commitment or best
efforts basis. Sales of Selling Shareholders' Shares may also be made pursuant
to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, where applicable.
To the extent required under the Securities Act, the aggregate amount of
Selling Shareholders' Shares being offered and the terms of the offering, the
names of any such agents, brokers, dealers or underwriters and any applicable
commission with respect to a particular offer will be set forth in an
accompanying Prospectus supplement. Any underwriters, dealers, brokers or
agents participating in the distribution of the Shares may receive compensation
in the form of underwriting discounts, concessions, commissions or fees from a
Selling Shareholder and/or purchasers of Selling Shareholders' Shares, for whom
they may act (which compensation as to a particular broker-dealer might be in
excess of customary commissions).
From time to time, one or more of the Selling Shareholders may pledge,
hypothecate or grant a security interest in some or all of the Shares owned by
them, and the pledgees, secured parties or persons to whom such securities have
been hypothecated shall, upon foreclosure in the event of default, be deemed to
be Selling Shareholders hereunder. In addition, a Selling Shareholder may, from
time to time, sell short the Common Stock of the Company, and in such instances,
this Prospectus may be delivered in connection with such short sales and the
Shares offered hereby may be used to cover such short sales.
From time to time, one or more of the Selling Shareholders may transfer,
pledge, donate or assign such Selling Shareholders' Shares to lenders or others
and each of such persons will be deemed to be a "Selling Shareholder" for
purposes of this Prospectus. The number of Selling Shareholders' Shares
beneficially owned by those Selling Shareholders who so transfer, pledge, donate
or assign Selling Shareholders' Shares will decrease as and when they take such
actions. The plan of distribution for Selling Shareholders' shares sold
hereunder will otherwise remain unchanged, except that the transferees,
pledgees, donees or other successors will be Selling Shareholders hereunder.
A Selling Shareholder may enter into hedging transactions with broker-
dealers and the broker-dealers may engage in short sales of the Common Share in
the course of hedging the positions they assume with such Selling Shareholder,
including, without limitation, in connection with distributions of the Common
Share by such broker-dealers. A Selling Shareholder may also enter into option
or other transactions with broker-dealers that involve the delivery of the
Common Stock to the broker-dealers, who may then resell or otherwise transfer
such Common Stock. A Selling Shareholder may also loan or pledge the Common
Stock to a broker-dealer and the broker-dealer may sell the Common Stock so
loaned or upon a default may sell or otherwise transfer the pledged Common
Stock.
Shares to be sold hereunder may be issued upon conversion of the Series C
Preferred Stock in accordance with its terms, or in other transactions with the
Company involving the Series C Preferred Stock, including, without limitation,
issuance of Shares in exchange for shares of Series C Preferred Stock and
issuance of Shares pursuant to modification of the terms of the Series C
Preferred Stock, or in settlement of claims with respect to rights of holders of
Series C Preferred Stock.
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<PAGE>
In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if
applicable, the Shares will be sold in such jurisdictions only through
registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in certain states the
Shares may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in
the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification
requirement is available and is complied with.
The Selling Shareholders and any broker-dealer or agents that participate
with the Selling Shareholders in the distribution of the Shares may be deemed to
be "underwriters" within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act, and
any commissions received by them and any profit on the resale of the Shares
purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts
under the Securities Act.
EXPERTS
The audited financial statements of the Company for the years ended
December 31, 1997, December 31, 1996 and December 31, 1995 incorporated herein
and in the registration statement by reference to the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K have been audited by McGladrey & Pullen, LLP, independent accountants,
to the extent set forth in their report included therein and incorporated herein
by reference. Such financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in
reliance upon such report given upon the authority of such firm as experts in
accounting and auditing.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the Shares offered hereby has been passed upon for the
Company by Dorsey & Whitney LLP, 220 South Sixth Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota
55402.
-19-
<PAGE>
PART II.
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
SEC Registration Fee.......... $ 5,724.00
Accounting Fees and Expenses.. $ 1,000.00
Legal Fees and Expenses....... $ 5,000.00
----------
Total.................... $11,724.00
</TABLE>
All fees and expenses other than the SEC registration fee are estimated.
The expenses listed above will be paid by the Company.
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Article eight of the Company's Second Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation provides that a director shall not be liable to the Company or its
stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director,
except for liability (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the
Company or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or
which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under
Sections 302A.559 or 80A.23 of the Minnesota Statutes, (iv) for any transaction
from which the director derived an improper personal benefit, or (v) for any act
or omission occurring prior to the date when such Article eight became
effective.
The Restated Bylaws of the Company provide that the officers and directors
of the Company and certain others shall be indemnified to substantially the same
extent permitted by Minnesota law.
Section 302A.521 of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act provides that a
corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is made or is threatened to be
made a party to any proceeding, by reason of the former or present official
capacity (as defined) of such person, against judgments, penalties, fines,
settlements and reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees and
disbursements, incurred by such person in connection with the proceeding if
certain statutory standards are met. "Proceeding" means a threatened, pending
or complete civil, criminal, administrative, arbitration or investigative
proceeding, including one by or in the right of the corporation. Section
302A.521 contains detailed terms regarding such right of indemnification and
reference is made thereto for a complete statement of such indemnification
rights.
The Company maintains a standard policy of officers' and directors'
insurance.
ITEM 16. LIST OF EXHIBITS
5 Opinion of Dorsey & Whitney LLP
23.1 Form of Consent of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP
23.2 Consent of Dorsey & Whitney LLP (included in Exhibit 5 to this
Registration Statement)
24 Power of Attorney
II-1
<PAGE>
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the
Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
the effective date of the registration statement (or most recent post-
effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the
registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any
deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range
may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and
price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering
price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the
effective registration statement;
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of
distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any
material change in the information set forth in the registration statement;
Provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the
registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form S-8, and the information
required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is
contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to section 13
or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
incorporated by reference in the registration statement.
(2) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
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 Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.
II-2
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Minneapolis, State of Minnesota, on September 3,
1998.
ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED
By /s/ Kenneth E. Hendrickson
-------------------------
Kenneth E. Hendrickson
Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on September 3, 1998.
Signature Title
--------- -----
/s/ Kenneth E. Hendrickson Chief Executive Officer and Director
- ----------------------------- (principal executive officer)
Kenneth E. Hendrickson
/s/ Steve E. Snyder Chief Financial Officer
- ----------------------------- (principal financial officer)
Steve E. Snyder
*
- ----------------------------- Director
Amyl Ahola
*
- ----------------------------- Director
Gerald M. Bestler
*
- ----------------------------- Director
Thomas F. Hunt, Jr.
*
- ----------------------------- Director
Paul F. Lidsky
- ----------------------------- Director
John F. Carlson
*By /s/ Kenneth E. Hendrickson
--------------------------
Kenneth E. Hendrickson
<PAGE>
Exhibit 5
DORSEY & WHITNEY LLP
220 SOUTH SIXTH STREET
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA 55402
(612) 340-2600
FAX (612) 340-2868
Ancor Communications, Inc.
6130 Blue Circle Drive
Minnetonka, Minnesota 55343
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Ancor Communications, Inc., a Minnesota
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with a Registration Statement on Form
S-3 (the "Registration Statement") to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the sale of
16,336,845 shares (the "Shares") of common stock of the Company, par value $.01
per share, which will be sold from time to time by the persons named in the
Registration Statement (the "Selling Shareholders"), on the Nasdaq SmallCap
Market, the Pacific Stock Exchange or otherwise, directly or through
underwriters, brokers or dealers.
We have examined such documents and have reviewed such questions of law as
we have considered necessary and appropriate for the purposes of our opinions
set forth below. In rendering our opinions set forth below, we have assumed the
authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of
all signatures and the conformity to authentic originals of all documents
submitted to us as copies. We have also assumed the legal capacity for all
purposes relevant hereto of all natural persons and, with respect to all parties
to agreements or instruments relevant hereto other than the Company, that such
parties had the requisite power and authority (corporate or otherwise) to
execute, deliver and perform such agreements or instruments, that such
agreements or instruments have been duly authorized by all requisite action
(corporate or otherwise), executed and delivered by such parties and that such
agreements or instruments are the valid, binding and enforceable obligations of
such parties. As to questions of fact material to our opinions, we have relied
upon certificates of officers of the Company and of public officials.
Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares to be sold by
the Selling Shareholders pursuant to the Registration Statement, upon conversion
of the Company's Series C Preferred Stock and exercise of the warrants to
purchase Common Stock issued by the Company on February 19, 1998 will be duly
authorized by all requisite corporate action, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.
Our opinions expressed above are limited to the laws of the State of
Minnesota.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement, and to the reference to our firm under the heading
"Legal Matters" in the Prospectus constituting part of the Registration
Statement.
Dated: September 4, 1998
Very truly yours,
/s/ DORSEY & WHITNEY LLP
AEA
<PAGE>
Exhibit 23.1
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT'S CONSENT
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement on Form S-3 of our report, dated February 19, 1998, relating to the
financial statements of Ancor Communications, Incorporated, appearing in the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997 and to
the reference to our Firm under the caption "Experts" in the Prospectus.
/s/ McGladrey & Pullen, LLP
St. Paul, Minnesota
September 4, 1998
<PAGE>
Exhibit 24
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below hereby constitutes and appoints Kenneth E. Hendrickson and Steven E.
Snyder, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full powers of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities to execute a Registration Statement on Form S-3 to be
filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for the registration of the
resale of shares of Common Stock of Ancor Communications, Incorporated to be
issued in connection with the conversion of shares of Series B and Series C
Preferred Stock and the exercise of certain outstanding warrants, and any and
all post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits
thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power
and authority to do and perform to all intents and purposes as he might or could
do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact
and agents, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.
Dated: September 3, 1998
/s/ Kenneth E. Hendrickson /s/ Gerald M. Bestler
- ----------------------------- ------------------------------
Kenneth E. Hendrickson Gerald M. Bestler
/s/ Amyl Ahola /s/ Thomas F. Hunt, Jr.
- ----------------------------- ------------------------------
Amyl Ahola Thomas F. Hunt, Jr.
/s/ Paul F. Lidsky
- ----------------------------- ------------------------------
John F. Carlson Paul F. Lidsky
