ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS INC /MN/
10-K, 1999-03-26
COMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT
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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549

                                    FORM 10-K
                     Annual Report Under Section 13 or 15(d)
                     of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Mark One)

     [X]  Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
          Exchange Act of 1934 for the year ended December 31, 1998

     [ ]  Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
          Exchange Act of 1934.

Commission File Number 1-2982

                       ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED
                       ----------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          Minnesota                                        41-1569659
          ---------                                        ----------
(State or other jurisdiction of                          (IRS Employer
 incorporation or organization)                        Identification No.)

6130 Blue Circle Drive  Minnetonka, Minnesota                55343
- ---------------------------------------------                -----
   (Address of principal executive offices)                (Zip code)

        Registrant's Telephone number, including area code (612) 932-4000


           Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:


         Title of each class           Name of each exchange on which registered
         -------------------           -----------------------------------------
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share           Pacific Exchange, Inc.

           Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
                         Preferred Share Purchase Rights

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant was required
to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for
the past 90 days. Yes [X]  No [ ]

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. [ ]

As of March 15, 1999, the Company had 24,056,140 shares of Common Stock
outstanding. The aggregate market value of the 23,998,840 shares of Common Stock
held by non-affiliates of the Company was $133,505,547, based on the closing
share price on March 15, 1999 on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market.

Documents incorporated by reference: Certain responses to Part III are
incorporated herein by reference to information contained in the Company's
definitive proxy statement for its 1999 annual meeting of shareholders to be
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or before April 30, 1999.


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<PAGE>
 
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS




Item 1.    Business.........................................................   3

Item 2.    Properties.......................................................   8

Item 3.    Legal Proceedings................................................   8

Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders..............   8

                                     Part II

Item 5.    Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related
           Stockholder Matters..............................................   9

Item 6.    Selected Financial Data..........................................  10

Item 7.    Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
           and Results of Operations........................................  11

Item 7A.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risks......  18

Item 8.    Financial Statements and Supplementary Data......................  18

Item 9.    Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting
           and Financial Disclosure.........................................  18

                                    Part III

Item 10.   Directors, Executive Officers, Promoters and Control Persons:
           Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act................  19

Item 11.   Executive Compensation...........................................  19

Item 12.   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management...  19

Item 13.   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions...................  19

                                     Part IV

Item 14.   Exhibits, Financial Statements, Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K  20

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
                                     PART I

Item 1.    Business

General
- -------

Ancor Communications, Incorporated ("the Company"), incorporated in 1986, is
recognized as a leading developer of Fibre Channel products. Fibre Channel is a
high bandwidth, low latency advance in data storage communications technology,
developed under the auspices of the American National Standards Institute
(ANSI), currently enabling the transfer of data at speeds of one Gigabit per
second. The Company develops, manufactures, and markets Fibre Channel switches
and application specific integrated circuits (ASICs).

Since its inception, the Company's core technology has been built around the
utilization of fiber optic cable for data transmission. In 1992, the Company
delivered its first prototype Fibre Channel products, and commercial deliveries
began in 1993. The Company's Fibre Channel products are used by organizations
worldwide for enhanced network performance, scalability and connectivity. Today
the Company -- an active member of the ANSI Fibre Channel committee and the
Fibre Channel Association -- focuses entirely on the development of Fibre
Channel solutions.

Prior to 1998, the Company focused its business and products on the local area
network (LAN) market, developing and marketing Fibre Channel switches and
adapter cards for the LAN market. However, in 1998 the Company completed the
refocusing of its business and its Fibre Channel products from the local area
network market to the storage area network (SAN) market. With Gigabit Ethernet
the technology of choice for local area networks and with high quality, low-cost
Fibre Channel host adapters now available from other sources, the Company
discontinued that portion of its business to intensify its pursuit of the
emerging Fibre Channel SAN market.

Over the last decade, applications and computer processing performance have
increased by many orders of magnitude. Additionally, with computer networks
running more business critical applications, access to, and availability of, the
associated data is strategic to business operations. Historically, the devices
storing the required data were directly attached to individual servers on the
LAN. However, LAN data paths often do not have the necessary performance to
address storage requirements, resulting in network bottlenecks and overall
system degradation. Thus, separate networks of storage devices are being
developed.

A SAN is a dedicated network optimized for storage-related functions over which
information is permitted to be accessed, managed, and shared among various
storage devices and servers. Although SANs are usually connected to the more
widely accessed LAN, the SAN operates complementary to the LAN. Overall
enterprise network performance improves because the LAN is free from the
cumbersome overhead associated with file access, retrieval, storage, and data
backup functions which place significant demands on network bandwidth. These
functions are instead more effectively and efficiently performed by a network
optimized for the demands of storage functions.

The components of a typical SAN are software to manage and control the SAN,
storage devices, network interface cards which are inserted into the servers,
and a hub or switch to facilitate the

                                       3
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interconnection between the servers and storage devices. The Company develops
and markets Fibre Channel switches.


Products
- --------

The Company currently sells Fibre Channel switches under the Gigworks trademark.
The Company has also developed ASICs which are a component of its switches, but
which may be sold as separate products. The Company's current switches enable
very large SANs to be built by linking multiple switches in 8 and 16 node
increments. Through the Fibre Channel switch, users are able to establish
multiple simultaneous connect links.

During 1998 the Company introduced its GigWorks MKII 8-port switch,
complementing its MKII 16-port switch and previous-generation switches. Net
sales of all types of switches accounted for approximately $3.0 million of
revenue in 1998, $4.2 million of revenue in 1997, and $4.2 million of revenue in
1996.

Prior to 1999 the Company sold interface adapters. Adapter net sales totaled
approximately $746 thousand of revenue in 1998, $3.5 million of revenue in 1997,
and $1.8 million of revenue in 1996.

The Company's ASICs provide building blocks at the chip level for implementing
Fibre Channel technology. These ASICs combine a number of Fibre Channel
functions in a single chip and thereby substantially reduce the number of
components needed to implement Fibre Channel switches. Although the Company's
ASICs may be sold as a separate product, the Company has not done so in recent
years. The Company has, however, licensed the use of the ASIC to a third party,
and may sell its ASICs as a separate product in the future.


Fibre Channel Market
- --------------------

The increased demand for higher storage capacity has stimulated demand for Fibre
Channel products due to Fibre Channel's high bandwidth characteristics and its
ability to accommodate large numbers of attached computers and storage systems
communicating over long distances. Fibre channel products currently are
incorporated primarily in high-end storage applications such as with RAIDs
(redundant array of inexpensive disks). In response to this market demand, the
Company increased its focus on the high-end storage applications. Fibre Channel
switches and hubs provide for increased (and simplified) storage device
scalability, true hot plugging of storage subsystems, and security and isolation
between functions. Various market research firms, such as EMF Associates; Ryan,
Hankin, Kent Inc.; and International Data Corporation estimate the market for
Fibre Channel adaptors, hubs and switches in the year 2000 will be over $1.0
billion.


Sales and Marketing
- -------------------

The Company markets its products through an internal sales force which focuses
on original equipment manufacturers ("OEMs") and system integrators. Sales
efforts are concentrated in North America, Europe and Japan. In addition to
direct selling, various marketing and

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
promotional techniques are employed to increase sales, including seminars, trade
shows, and media advertising.

In 1998 the Company shifted its efforts to concentrate on the SAN market by
selling through OEMs or system integrators which the Company believes are most
appropriate for its products. The Company has historically sold its products in
the LAN market through resellers or directly to end users. In Japan the Company
uses an exclusive distributor. In light of the financial condition of its
previous Japanese distributor, Hucom, Inc., the Company re-evaluated its
distribution plans in Japan and in August 1998 entered into a distribution
agreement with Netmarks, Inc., to represent the Company in the Japanese
marketplace. For purposes of discussion and analysis, Netmarks and Hucom will
collectively be referred to as the Company's "Japanese distributors."

A significant portion of the Company's revenues were generated by three
customers. Netmarks generated 22% of the Company's revenue in 1998. Hucom
generated 4% of the Company's revenue in 1998, 88% in fiscal 1997, and 41% in
fiscal 1996. Additionally, Boeing Company generated 50% of revenue in fiscal
1998, 9% in fiscal 1997, and 1% in fiscal 1996. Product purchased from the
Company by the Company's Japanese distributors is remarketed to OEMs or end
users. A significant portion of the Company's Japanese distributors' sales of
the Company's products in fiscal 1998, fiscal 1997 and fiscal 1996 were to one
end user. In future periods, the Company's Japanese distributors' sales of the
Company's products to this specific end user are expected to decline from
current levels. Additionally, general economic conditions in Japan make future
sales to the Company's Japanese distributors uncertain. Sales to Boeing are
expected to remain at current levels for 1999. The Company's revenues in the
future may also be generated by a small number of significant customers. See
Note 4 to the financial statements.

As of February 28, 1999, the sales organization was made up of fifteen field
sales and application engineering personnel and ten marketing and support
professionals.


Competition
- -----------

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., Vixel, 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., JNI, Gadzoox 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.

The Company's current products are all designed to comply with the applicable
Fibre Channel standards and to compete as a switching device in high performance
SAN markets. The

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
emergence of the Fibre Channel SAN market offered the Company a significant
opportunity to reduce its focus on the LAN market and focus primarily on
switches for the SAN market.

In the SAN market, adoption of Fibre Channel requires computer systems
manufacturers to convert from the lower level SCSI interconnect currently being
used by many manufacturers. Many computer systems manufacturers have announced
their intentions to convert to Fibre Channel as the interconnect protocol for
their products. However, there can be no assurance that this conversion will
happen, or that other computer systems manufacturers will adopt the Fibre
Channel protocol.

Within the SAN market switches and hubs are both being marketed as connectivity
solutions in a Fibre Channel network. However, the only SAN implementation that
consistently meets the performance objectives of Fibre Channel technology is
switched architecture. Only a switched network or "fabric" can provide full
bandwidth to each connected device simultaneously.

Hub architectures, which often precede switched architectures, are shared media,
meaning that each device on the hub must share bandwidth. Hubs can be either
managed or unmanaged. Managed hubs use additional hardware and software to
provide greater stability and other features competitive with switches. However,
each device on the managed hub must continue to share bandwidth. Also, as
management features typically found in switches were added to hubs, the cost of
hubs increased. Thus, while hubs were considered much less expensive than
switches, with the introduction of the Company's MKII 8-port switch, and as
switch volumes have increased, the switch price is now approaching that of a
managed hub. The Company expects that the price for both hubs and switches will
decrease in the future.

The key to a switch's performance is the ASIC. A more integrated ASIC is better
performing, more reliable and easier to manufacture. The Company's current ASIC
supports four ports of a switch, whereas previous versions supported only two
ports. The Company believes that greater performance with fewer components
resulting in lower cost will attract OEMs.


Intellectual Property Rights
- ----------------------------

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. This patent will expire February
6, 2007. The Company may also receive additional patents in the future.

In addition to patents, the source code for the software contained in its
products is protected by copyright law. The Company also intends to rely upon
unpatented trade secrets, the know-how and expertise of its employees and on
non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements with its employees, vendors and
customers. The Company has registered four 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.

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
Research and Development
- ------------------------

The storage area network market is 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. The Company's
current efforts are focused on development of additional switches and ASICs, and
to achieve interoperability with more devices utilizing Fibre Channel
technology. As a result, the Company has developed and capitalized, and is
currently utilizing, its own internally-built test tooling and software to
assist in further development of its products.

While the Company's capital and human resource requirements are minimized
through its strategic design development and contract manufacturing
relationships, the Company will continue to dedicate substantial expenditures to
research and development. Research and development expenditures were $5,450,942,
$4,271,393, and $3,198,155 in 1998, 1997 and 1996 respectively.


Manufacturing
- -------------

The Company subcontracts the majority of its production activities, including
the manufacture, assembly and testing of the Company's proprietary Fibre Channel
switch and ASIC designs, to organizations specializing in contract
manufacturing. 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. However, the Company conducts
its own development, design and production management efforts. Purchases from a
major subcontractor were approximately $4,071,000, $6,480,000, and $5,086,000 in
1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively, which included obligations for excess and
obsolete inventory (see Note 2).

The majority of the components used in the Company's products are generally
available from multiple sources. However, certain of the components used in the
Company's products are available only from a single supplier or from a limited
number of suppliers. 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 successfully.


Employees
- ---------

As of February 28, 1999, the Company had 79 full time employees and 3 part time
employees, including 43 in engineering and product development, 25 in sales and
marketing, 6 in manufacturing and 8 in general administration and finance. None
of the Company's employees is represented by a labor union or subject to any
collective bargaining agreement. The Company has never experienced any work
stoppages and it believes its employee relations are good.

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
Item 2.    Properties

The Company's offices are located in Minnetonka, Minnesota, where it leases
27,560 square feet of space under a lease that expires in April 1999. The annual
rent is approximately $207,000. To meet its increasing space requirements, the
Company is in the process of negotiating new lease space, which it plans to
occupy in the second half of 1999. The Company believes its rental cost will
increase when it occupies new lease space. The Company intends to rent its
current space on a month-to-month basis after April 1999 until it occupies new
lease space. The current facility, in the opinion of management, is adequately
covered by insurance.


Item 3.    Legal Proceedings

Ancor was a defendant in a consolidated class action captioned In re Ancor
Communications, Inc. Securities Litigation, Case No. 97-CV-1696 (D. Minn.)
alleging violations of the federal securities laws. The lawsuit was settled in
November 1998 and dismissed by the district court on February 5, 1999. Pursuant
to the terms of the settlement, a fund was created in the amount of $1,650,000.
The Company paid $250,000 of the total settlement and the remaining $1,400,000
was paid by the Company's insurer. The $250,000 payment by the Company was
recorded as an expense in the third quarter of 1998.

The Company is also a defendant in a lawsuit brought by Hoyt Properties, Inc.
("Hoyt") venued in Hennepin County District Court in the State of Minnesota.
Hoyt, as Landlord, and the Company, as Tenant, entered into an Agreement on May
29, 1998 which provided that Hoyt would build and lease to the Company an office
building to be located in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, subject to certain
contingencies, conditions, and agreements. Hoyt claims that the Company breached
the Agreement, and asserts damages in excess of $2,500,000. The Company denies
all liability, and alleges that Hoyt refused to provide improvements desirable
and necessary to the Company's occupancy of the proposed leased space, and
multiple contingencies, conditions, and agreements did not occur and no binding
agreement exists. The Company is vigorously defending the case. There has been
no discovery completed to date. 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 Company
is unable to determine at this time if there will be a material adverse outcome.
No provision has been made for any loss that may occur as a result of an adverse
outcome of the suit.


Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

        None.

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
                                     Part II

Item 5.    Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Shareholder Matters

The Company's common stock has been quoted on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market and the
Pacific Exchange, Inc., since its initial public offering on May 3, 1994. The
following table sets forth the high and low sale prices of the Company's common
stock for each full quarterly period within the two most recent fiscal years, as
reported by the Nasdaq SmallCap Market.

                             Quarterly Stock Prices

                                                     Sale Price
                                                     ----------
                                                  High           Low
                                                  ----           ---
        Quarter of 1997:
             First                             $  16 7/8      $      3
             Second                                    9       3 13/16
             Third                                12 1/2             7
             Fourth                             10 13/16        3 9/16

        Quarter of 1998:
             First                             $   9 1/8      $ 4 7/16
             Second                               7 5/16         2 1/2
             Third                                     4             1
             Fourth                               4 7/16        1 1/16

Holders.

As of February 23, 1999, there were 310 holders of record of the Company's
common stock and the Company estimates there were approximately 10,000
beneficial holders at such date. As of March 15, 1999, the last sale price of
the Company's common stock as reported by the Nasdaq SmallCap Market was $5.563.

Dividends.

The Company has never paid cash dividends on its common stock and has no current
intentions to do so.

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
Item 6.    Selected Financial Data

The information set forth below should be read in conjunction with "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and
with the financial statements, related notes thereto and other financial
information included in this Report.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Statements of Operations Data:
- ------------------------------
                                                               Year Ended December 31,
                                              --------------------------------------------------------
                                                1998        1997        1996        1995        1994
                                              --------    --------    --------    --------    --------
                                                        (in thousands, except per share data)
<S>                                           <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>     
    Net sales .............................   $  4,393    $  7,924    $  6,258    $  4,673    $  4,761
    Cost of sales .........................      6,431       5,991       3,566       2,533       2,743
                                              --------    --------    --------    --------    --------
        Gross profit (loss) ...............     (2,038)      1,933       2,692       2,140       2,018
    Operating expenses
        Selling, general and administrative      7,195       7,685       4,944       2,785       2,377
        Research and development ..........      5,451       4,271       3,198       2,542       2,056
                                              --------    --------    --------    --------    --------
           Total operating expenses .......     12,646      11,956       8,142       5,327       4,433
                                              --------    --------    --------    --------    --------
        Operating loss ....................    (14,684)    (10,023)     (5,450)     (3,187)     (2,415)
    Interest expense ......................        (34)        (19)        (64)       (153)       (275)
    Other income (expense), net ...........        220         219         224          71          95
    Income taxes ..........................          0           0           0           0           0
                                              --------    --------    --------    --------    --------

    Net loss ..............................    (14,498)     (9,823)     (5,290)     (3,269)     (2,595)

    Accretion on convertible
        preferred stock ...................       (762)       (345)       (331)          0           0
                                              --------    --------    --------    --------    --------

    Net loss attributable to common
        shareholders ......................   $(15,260)   $(10,168)   $ (5,621)   $ (3,269)   $ (2,595)
                                              ========    ========    ========    ========    ========

    Basic and diluted net loss per share(1)   $  (1.04)   $  (0.93)   $  (0.60)   $  (0.44)   $  (0.47)
                                              ========    ========    ========    ========    ========
    Weighted average common
        shares outstanding ................     14,741      10,963       9,351       7,449       5,516
                                              ========    ========    ========    ========    ========

Balance Sheet Data:
- -------------------
                                                                   At December 31,
                                              --------------------------------------------------------
                                                1998        1997        1996        1995        1994
                                              --------    --------    --------    --------    --------
                                                                  (in thousands)

    Working capital ........................   $ 5,598     $ 4,432     $ 6,384     $ 1,561     $ 2,101
    Total assets ...........................    12,738      10,164      12,262       5,773       4,443
    Long-term debt net of current maturities       111         130         178         200       1,657
    Shareholders' equity ...................     5,208       8,316       9,907       2,759       1,299

</TABLE>

- --------------------
(1) See Note 1 to financial statements.

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
Item 7.   Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
          Results of Operations

Results of Operations - For the Years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996.

The following table sets forth selected information derived from the Company's
Statement of Operations as a percentage of net sales:

                                                   For the Twelve Months
                                                     Ended December 31
                                                 -------------------------

                                                  1998      1997      1996
                                                 -----     -----     -----

      Net sales                                  100.0%    100.0%    100.0%
      Cost of sales                              146.4      75.6      57.0
                                                 -----     -----     -----

           Gross profit (loss)                   (46.4)     24.4      43.0

      Operating expenses
           Selling, general and administrative   163.8      97.0      79.0
           Research and development              124.1      53.9      51.1
                                                 -----     -----     -----

      Total operating expenses                   287.9     150.9     130.1
                                                 -----     -----     -----

      Operating loss                            (334.3)   (126.5)    (87.1)

      Nonoperating income (expense)
           Interest expense                       (0.8)     (0.2)     (1.0)
           Other, net                              5.0       2.7       3.6
                                                 -----     -----     -----

      Net loss                                  (330.0)%  (124.0)%   (84.5)%
                                                 =====     =====     =====


        Net Sales Net sales for 1998 decreased by approximately $3,531,000 (45%)
from 1997 to approximately $4,393,000. The decrease in net sales is attributable
to: (i) decreased sales to the Company's Japanese distributors; and (ii) the
Company's shift in emphasis to opportunities in the storage area networks market
resulting in diminished sales to customers in the high-performance local area
networking market. Net sales to the Company's Japanese distributors decreased
84% from approximately $6,983,000 (88% of total sales) in 1997 to $1,141,000
(26% of total sales) in 1998. General economic conditions in Japan continue to
make future sales to the Company's Japanese distributors uncertain. The decline
in net sales to the Company's Japanese distributors was partially offset by net
sales of approximately $967,000 to Boeing and license fee revenue of
approximately $312,000 from INRANGE Technologies Corporation (see Liquidity and
Capital Resources) generated during the fourth quarter.

The Company's shift in marketing focus to opportunities in the storage area
network market has resulted in diminished revenues from customers in the
high-performance local area network market. Although the Company intends to
continue to offer its Fibre Channel products to select

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
customers in the high-performance network market, the Company plans to focus its
resources on the storage area network market. The slower-than-anticipated market
development in the storage area network market combined with the lack of orders
from the Company's Japanese distributors and diminished revenues from the local
area network market, will likely result in continued weak revenues until the
storage area network market develops.

Net sales for 1997 increased by approximately $1,666,000 (27%) from 1996 to
$7,924,000. The increase in net sales was due primarily to a significant
increase in net sales to the Company's Japanese distributors, offset by a
decrease in sales domestically. International net sales increased $4,063,000
(124%) from approximately $3,277,000 in 1996 to $7,340,000 in 1997, representing
93% of total net sales for the year. Net sales to the Company's Japanese
distributors increased from $2,585,000 (79% of international sales) in 1996 to
$6,983,000 (95% of international sales) in 1997, and represented 88% of total
net sales for the year. Domestic sales volume decreased by approximately
$2,397,000 (80%) from 1996 to $584,000, as several large sales transactions
included in revenue for 1996 were not replaced in 1997.

The increase in net sales for 1997 included the effect of an allowance against
sales of $1,500,000 for product returns and customer stock rotation. There was
no addition to the allowance recorded in 1998. The Company does not generally
provide customers with a right of return at the date of sale; however, in
response to significant pressure from the marketplace, the Company has allowed
product returns in the past from certain customers as a marketing concession to
stimulate a positive impression of the Company and its products in the
marketplace. In addition, resellers have incorrectly anticipated the
configuration needed by end user equipment purchasers and have requested that
purchased but unused product be exchanged for the product needed to meet the end
user requirements. Further, certain end users have requested that they purchase
their initial products from the Company, instead of the reseller, which resulted
in credits issued to the resellers in the first quarter of 1997. Additionally,
in the fourth quarter 1997, the Company recorded additional reserves for sales
returns and allowances which may occur as a result of the Company's shift in
marketing focus to OEMs and resellers who are more experienced in and are
focused on specific vertical markets that the Company believes are most
appropriate for its products. As a result of all of these factors, the Company's
1997 net assets included a reserve to provide for potential future return of
product sold in 1997 and previous periods. The reserve balance at December 31,
1997, was approximately $695,000 ($1,050,000 gross sales less the estimated
value of the product to be returned). The reserve was fully utilized during 1998
with a resulting balance of zero at December 31, 1998.

        Gross Profit Gross profit in 1998 decreased to a loss of approximately
$2,038,000 or a negative 46% of sales, from a profit of approximately
$1,933,000, or 24% of sales in 1997. The decrease in gross profit for 1998 from
the prior year was primarily attributable to special charges of approximately
$4,428,000 recorded in the cost of sales for the second quarter. These charges
included: (i) $4,015,000 provision for excess or obsolete inventory, (ii)
$243,000 provision for future commitments to purchase excess or obsolete
inventory, and (iii) $170,000 fee for canceling an order for excess or obsolete
inventory. The Company made these provisions because its shift in focus from
local area networks to storage area networks and lack of demand in Japan have
caused it to believe its inventory of certain product exceeds current and future
market demands. Gross profit for 1998 excluding the effects of the special
charges was $2,389,786 (54%). A similar lesser provision was recorded in 1997.

                                       12
<PAGE>
 
The decrease in gross margin is also due in part to the decreased sales volume
and is affected by indirect costs, such as normal scrap and overhead
allocations, the impact of which is decreased as sales increase. Gross profit
percentage is impacted by the mix of product sold within a period. In general,
adapter cards have lower margins than switch and service revenue and different
switch types have different margins. For 1998, the gross margin percentage was
positively impacted because the mix of product sold during the period carried
greater margins than that sold in the comparable periods in 1997. However, due
to the significantly lower sales volume, the indirect costs caused the overall
gross profit percentage to decrease over 1997.

Gross profit in 1997 decreased to approximately $1,933,000, or 24% of sales,
from approximately $2,692,000, or 43% in 1996. Although a higher mix of switches
versus adapters was sold in 1997 than 1996, the higher gross margins on the
switches were offset by provisions made for excess and obsolete inventory.
Included in the cost of sales for 1997 is $1,000,000 provision for excess and
obsolete inventory which had the effect of decreasing gross profit as a
percentage of sales by 13%. The Company made this provision because changes in
the Fibre Channel market caused it to believe (i) its inventory of certain host
bus adapter cards exceeded market demands as customers transitioned to newer
server and workstation platforms; and (ii) its inventory of certain component
parts used for earlier version switches was made obsolete by newer generation of
switches. For these same excess and obsolescence reasons, when calculating the
allowance for potential returns, the Company reduced the estimated value of the
product to be returned.

        Operating Expenses The Company's operating expenses for 1998 were
approximately $12,646,000, or 288% of net sales, compared to approximately
$11,956,000, or 151% of net sales, in 1997. The Company believes that the level
of expense incurred is appropriate to address the opportunities available to it
in the OEM storage and high-performance networking marketplaces. The decrease in
selling, general and administrative ("SGA") expenses is primarily due to a
change in the process of allocation of depreciation and a decrease in indirect
marketing efforts, offset by increases in the cost for personnel. Although the
Company did not change its methods of depreciation, it did change its process
for allocating total depreciation to reflect the usage of the related assets,
such that approximately $586,000 of depreciation expense was reclassified in
1998 from SGA to research and development when compared to 1997. Additionally,
the shift in the Company's marketing focus required changes in marketing
tactics, employing direct contact with potential OEM customers through increased
sales staff and less indirect contact through seminar presentations and
advertising. Thus, indirect marketing expenses decreased approximately $528,000
in 1998 compared to 1997. However, reorganization and a 14% growth in personnel,
particularly in sales and marketing senior management positions, resulted in
personnel and related expenses increasing approximately $558,000 in 1998 as
compared with 1997. Further, the shareholder litigation against the Company
received final settlement approval by the District Court on February 5, 1999,
for which the Company recorded a charge in the 1998 SGA expenses of $250,000
(see Shareholder Litigation section below). In addition to the $586,000
depreciation allocation described above, the Company's ongoing commitment to
product development and enhancements, including the cost of additional
engineering personnel, caused an increase in development expenses of
approximately $536,000 in 1998 as compared with 1997.

The Company's operating expenses for 1997 were approximately $11,956,000 (151%
of net sales), compared to approximately $8,142,000 (130% of net sales) in 1996.
The increase in

                                       13
<PAGE>
 
operating expense is due to an increase in the cost for personnel, increased
marketing and sales expenses to prepare for the OEM storage market, and
increased depreciation. Personnel and related expenses increased approximately
$2,017,000 in 1997 as compared with 1996. This increase was caused in part by a
10% increase in the number of employees at December 31, 1997 than at December
31, 1996. Also included in this increase is a third quarter 1997 charge of
$250,000, recorded to reflect compensation owed to a former executive of the
Company whose services were discontinued. The amount of the accrual was based on
the compensation payable to such executive under the terms of the executive's
employment contract. Additionally, the Company's ongoing aggressive commitment
to front end spending for marketing and sales tactics resulted in advertising
and marketing expense increasing approximately $946,000 over 1996. Further,
primarily due to amortization of capitalized software development costs,
depreciation and amortization expense increased approximately $460,000 as
compared with 1996.

        Other Income (Expense) Interest expense increased to approximately
$34,000 in 1998 from approximately $19,000 in 1997 as a result of the Company's
payments on an increased level of capitalized lease obligations. However, the
1997 interest expense of approximately $19,000 decreased from approximately
$64,000 in 1996 as a result of the Company's repayment of a $1.5 million note
payable in June 1996. Interest income of approximately $220,000, $218,000 and
$224,000 in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively, was earned from the investment of
the net proceeds of preferred stock offerings occurring in the first quarter of
each year.


Liquidity and Capital Resources
- -------------------------------

The Company's principal source of liquidity at December 31, 1998 was cash, cash
equivalents and short term investments of approximately $7,447,000. This
compares to approximately $2,001,000 at year end 1997, and to approximately
$1,511,000 at year end 1996. Net cash used in operating activities of
approximately $4,354,000 in 1998 decreased from approximately $6,057,000 in 1997
and from approximately $8,058,000 in 1996. The primary reason for the decrease
in 1998 was the receipt of approximately $6,000,000 by the Company as part of
the technology license agreement the Company signed with INRANGE Technologies,
Inc., which will be performed over the next five years (see below). This was
offset by the operating loss and excess and obsolete inventory purchase
commitments incurred. In 1997, the decrease was due to collections of accounts
receivable, offset by the operating loss, net payments to vendors and inventory
purchases in anticipation of future sales. Additionally, customers are also
encouraged to install the Company's products through a free evaluation period
lasting over a number of months. This equipment remains the property of the
Company, thus increasing inventory, unless the evaluation is converted into a
sale.

Cash flow used in investing activities totaled approximately $4,626,000 in 1998,
as compared with approximately $527,000 in 1997 and approximately $2,536,000 in
1996. Increases in investing activities was a result primarily of purchases of
short-term investments using a portion of the Company's private placement
proceeds. Capital expenditures in 1997 included upgrades to and additions of
desktop systems, development of salable software, and continued internal
construction of internally-built testing and tooling equipment. Major capital
expenditures in 1996 included upgrades and additions to facilities, development
of a new worldwide management information system, upgrades of desktop systems,
development of salable software

                                       14
<PAGE>
 
and internally-built testing and tooling equipment for the next generation of
Fibre Channel switching products.

On September 24, 1998, the Company entered into a technology licensing agreement
with INRANGE Technologies Corporation ("INRANGE"), a unit of General Signal
Corporation. INRANGE will develop a series of Fibre Channel enhancements to
their successful CD/9000 Channel Director. Under the agreement, INRANGE, a
worldwide provider of data center networking connectivity technologies, is to
pay the Company $9,000,000 in three equal installments: on September 25, 1998,
December 15, 1998, and March 31, 1999. The $9,000,000 is comprised of (i)
approximately $6,200,000 for licensing fees; (ii) approximately $800,000 (as
valued using the Black-Scholes methodology) in warrants to purchase 750,000
shares of the Company's common stock at prices ranging from $2.50 to $10.00; and
(iii) $2,000,000 prepaid royalties. The $6,200,000 licensing fee will be
recognized as revenue evenly over 60 months, which is the term over which the
Company has agreed to support and keep current the technology which INRANGE has
licensed. The $800,000 in warrants has been recorded as an increase to
Additional Paid in Capital. The $2,000,000 royalty will be recorded as revenue
as INRANGE products ship and royalties are earned. Any additional royalties
after this first $2,000,000 will result in both additional royalty revenue and
cash payments to the Company.

On February 19, 1998, the Company completed a private placement of $11,000,000
(1,100 shares) of Series C Preferred Stock which resulted in net proceeds of
approximately $10,239,724. The Securities were privately sold to accredited
investors by Dunwoody Brokerage Services, Inc. ("Dunwoody"). As consideration
for its services, Dunwoody received a fee equal to 6% of the gross proceeds,
plus a five-year warrant to purchase 90,644 shares of Common Stock at a price
per share equal to $7.281. The securities were sold pursuant to Rule 506 under
Regulation D.

The Series C Preferred Stock is convertible into Common Stock of the Company,
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 for the first
year is $11.00. After the first year, the Maximum Conversion Price is equal to
the lesser of $11 and the average closing bid price of the five Wednesdays
immediately preceding the first anniversary of the date the Series C Preferred
Stock was issued ($7.575). 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.

The Company believes that the proceeds received from the private placement and
the INRANGE agreement, together with interest earned thereon, and anticipated
revenues from operations will provide adequate liquidity to fund growth,
operations, and capital expenditures for 1999. However, the Company anticipates
the need to secure additional financing in order to fund operating and working
capital requirements thereafter. There can be no assurance that additional
financing can be obtained with terms acceptable to the Company. Any additional
equity financings may be dilutive to existing shareholders, and any debt
financing may contain restrictive covenants. The Company's inability to obtain
additional financing if and when needed could adversely affect the Company and
its operations.

                                       15
<PAGE>
 
        Litigation. Ancor was a defendant in a consolidated class action
captioned In re Ancor Communications, Inc. Securities Litigation, Case No.
97-CV-1696 (D. Minn.) alleging violations of the federal securities laws. The
lawsuit was settled in November 1998 and dismissed by the district court on
February 5, 1999. Pursuant to the terms of the settlement, a fund was created in
the amount of $1,650,000. The Company paid $250,000 of the total settlement and
the remaining $1,400,000 was paid by the Company's insurer. The $250,000 payment
by the Company was recorded as an expense in the third quarter of 1998.

The Company is also a defendant in a lawsuit brought by Hoyt Properties, Inc.
("Hoyt") venued in Hennepin County District Court in the State of Minnesota.
Hoyt, as Landlord, and the Company, as Tenant, entered into an Agreement on May
29, 1998 which provided that Hoyt would build and lease to the Company an office
building to be located in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, subject to certain
contingencies, conditions, and agreements. Hoyt claims that the Company breached
the Agreement, and asserts damages in excess of $2,500,000. The Company denies
all liability, and alleges that Hoyt refused to provide improvements desirable
and necessary to the Company's occupancy of the proposed leased space, and
multiple contingencies, conditions, and agreements did not occur and no binding
agreement exists. The Company is vigorously defending the case. There has been
no discovery completed to date. 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 Company
is unable to determine at this time if there will be a material adverse outcome.
No provision has been made for any loss that may occur as a result of an adverse
outcome of the suit

        Option Repricing. In order to retain its employees in a competitive
employment market, and given the price of the Company's common stock at the
time, on October 21, 1998, the Company's Board of Directors voted and approved
to reprice outstanding options to purchase 1,091,333 shares of common stock held
by active employees to an exercise price of $1.78, the closing price of the
Company's common stock on that day. These options were originally issued before
May 1, 1998 to employees at a weighted average exercise price of $7.16. The
repriced options may not be exercised until October 21, 1999, at which point the
options are exercisable subject to the vesting schedule of the original option
agreements.

        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.

                                       16
<PAGE>
 
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 continue in
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 currently established contingency plans, but has established a committee 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.

        New Accounting Pronouncements. In June 1998, the Financial Accounting
Standards Board issued SFAS 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and
Hedging Activities." This statement establishes standards for derivative
instruments and hedging activities. The Company is required to adopt SFAS 133 in
the first quarter of fiscal year 2000. The Company does not anticipate that SFAS
133 will have a material impact on its financial statements.


Safe Harbor Cautionary Statement
- --------------------------------

Statements made in this Management's Discussion and Analysis that are not
historical in nature, including statements regarding the level of future
revenues and expenses, are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are subject to risks and
uncertainties. Factors that may affect the Company's future performance and
results are set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission and include the level of market acceptance of Fibre Channel
technology and the Company's products and the timing of such acceptance, the
ability of the Company to successfully market and sell its products to OEMs and
others, the Company's ability to compete with others providing Fibre Channel
technology, the timing of customer orders, including whether customers will
purchases products form the Company at the rates and times projected by those
customers, the success of the products incorporating the Company's technology
marketed by INRANGE, the ability of the Company to develop enhancements to its
products and technology and keep pace with technological developments, the
Company's ability to manage growth, the Company's ability to attract and retain
qualified personnel and the ability of the Company's products to interoperate
with products manufactured by others. Retention of $2.0 million of prepaid
royalties from

                                       17
<PAGE>
 
INRANGE is contingent upon the Company's completion of certain deliverables
defined in the Company's technology license agreement with INRANGE.


Item 7A.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risks

        The Company has no history of, and does not anticipate in the future,
investing in derivative financial instruments, derivative commodity instruments
or other such financial instruments. Contracts with international customers are
entered into in US dollars, precluding the need for foreign currency hedges.
Additionally, the Company invests in money market funds and in U.S. government
obligations (primarily U.S. Treasury bills) which experience minimal volatility.
Thus, the exposure to market risk is immaterial.


Item 8.    Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

The following financial statements are included as a separate section following
the signature page to this Form 10-K:

                          INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                                                      Page
                                                                      ----

Independent Auditors' Reports....................................      F-2

Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1998 and 1997..................      F-4

Statements of Operation's for the years ended
    December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996.............................      F-5

Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the years ended
    December  31, 1998, 1997 and 1996............................      F-6

Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended
    December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996.............................      F-8

Notes to Financial Statements....................................  F-9 to F-19

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts..................     F-20


Item 9.    Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and
           Financial Disclosure

        None.

                                       18
<PAGE>
 
                                    PART III

Item 10.   Directors, Executive Officers, Promoters and Control Persons:
           Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act

The information set forth under the heading "ELECTION OF DIRECTORS," "EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS" and "SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE" in the
Company's definitive proxy statement for its 1999 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or before April 30,
1999 (the "Proxy Statement") is hereby incorporated by reference.


Item 11.   Executive Compensation

The information set forth under the heading "EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION" in the
Proxy Statement referred to in Item 10 above is hereby incorporated by
reference.


Item 12.   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

The information set forth under the heading "PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS" in the
Proxy Statement referred to in Item 10 above is hereby incorporated by
reference.


Item 13.   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

The information set forth under the heading "CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS" in the Proxy
Statement referred to in Item 10 above is hereby incorporated by reference.

                                       19
<PAGE>
 
                                     Part IV

Item 14.       Exhibits, Financial Statements, Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K

(a.) The following documents are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form
     10-K

     1.   Financial Statements: The financial statements filed as part of this
          report are listed in the "Index to Financial Statements" on Page F-1
          hereof.

     2.   Financial Statement Schedules. The financial statement schedule filed
          as part of this report is listed in the "Index to Financial
          Statements" on Page F-1 hereof.

     3.   Exhibits

          3.1(a)    Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the
                    Company.

          3.2(a)    Amended Bylaws of the Company.

          3.3(k)    Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Articles of
                    Incorporation of the Company relating to an increase of the
                    number of authorized shares.

          3.4(m)    Amendment to Bylaws adopted October 21, 1998.

          4.1(a)    Loan and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 24,
                    1992, between Ancor Communications, Incorporated and
                    International Business Machines Incorporated.

          4.2(a)    Agreement and Amendment to Loan and Warrant Purchase
                    Agreement, dated March 10, 1994, by and among Ancor
                    Communications, Incorporated, International Business
                    Machines Corporation and IBM Credit Corporation.

          4.3(b)    Second Amendment to Loan and Warrant Purchase Agreement
                    dated April 25, 1994, by and among Ancor Communications,
                    Incorporated, International Business Machines Corporation
                    and IBM Credit Corporation.

          4.4(a)    Shareholders Agreement, dated as of June 24, 1992, among
                    Ancor Communications, Incorporated, International Business
                    Machines Incorporated and the shareholders of the Company
                    named on the signature page thereto.

          4.5(c)    Representative's Warrant.

          4.6       [Reserved.]

                                       20
<PAGE>
 
          4.7(d)    Form of Warrant issued April 28, 1995.

          4.8       [Reserved.]

          4.9(e)    Form of Warrant issued to John G. Kinnard & Company on
                    October 23, 1995.

          4.10(f)   Certificate of Designation of Series A Preferred Stock.

          4.11(f)   Form of Warrant issued to Swartz Investments, Inc. on March
                    7, 1996.

          4.12(g)   Form of Warrant issued to Dunwoody Brokerage Services, Inc.
                    on March 24, 1997.

          4.13(g)   Form of Warrant issued to Purchasers of the Company's Series
                    B Preferred Stock.

          4.14(g)   Certificate of Designation of Series B Preferred Stock.

          4.15(i)   Certificate of Designation of Series C Preferred Stock.

          4.16(j)   Form of Warrant issued to Dunwoody Brokerage Services, Inc.
                    on February 19, 1998.

          4.17(l)   Form of Warrant issued to Inrange Technologies, Inc. on
                    September 24, 1998.

          10.1      [Reserved.]

          *10.2(a)  Ancor Communications, Incorporated 1990 Stock Option Plan.

          *10.3(a)  Ancor Communications, Incorporated 1994 Long-Term Incentive
                    and Stock Option Plan.

          10.4      [Reserved.]

          *10.5(a)  Employment Agreement, dated January 1, 1994, between Ancor
                    Communications, Incorporated and Stephen C. O'Hara.

          10.6      [Reserved.]

          10.7      [Reserved.]

                                       21
<PAGE>
 
          10.8(a)   Sublease, dated March 29, 1988, by and between Anderson
                    Cornelius and Unisys Corporation, formerly known as
                    Burroughs Corporation.

          10.9(a)   Sublease, Amendment Agreement, dated March 8, 1989, by and
                    between Anderson Cornelius and Unisys Corporation, formerly
                    known as Burroughs Corporation.

          10.10(a)  Sublease, Amendment Agreement, dated August 31, 1992, by and
                    between the Company and Unisys Corporation, formerly known
                    as Burroughs Corporation.

          10.11     [Reserved.]

          10.12     [Reserved.]

          10.13     [Reserved.]

          10.14     [Reserved.]

          10.15     [Reserved.]

          10.16     [Reserved.]

          *10.17(e) Ancor Communications, Inc. 1995 Employee Stock Purchase
                    Plan.

          *10.18(m) Amendment to Ancor Communications, Inc., 1995 Employee Stock
                    Purchase Plan, effective September 1, 1998.

          *10.19(e) Ancor Communications, Inc. Non-Employee Director Stock
                    Option Plan.

          10.20     [Reserved.]

          10.21     [Reserved.]

          10.22     [Reserved.]

          10.23(g)  Form of Subscription Agreement between the Company and
                    Purchasers of the Company's Series B Preferred Stock (March
                    1997).

          10.24(g)  Registration Rights Agreement dated March 24, 1997 between
                    the Company, Swartz Investments, Inc. and Purchasers of the
                    Company's Series B Preferred Stock.

          *10.25(h) Letter Employment Agreement with Kenneth E. Hendrickson
                    dated July 25, 1997.

                                       22
<PAGE>
 
          *10.26(h) Letter Employment Agreement with Steven E. Snyder dated
                    September 23, 1997.

          10.27(i)  Form of Subscription Agreement, dated as of February 19,
                    1998, between Ancor Communications, Incorporated and each
                    purchaser of Series C Preferred Stock.

          10.28(i)  Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of February 19,
                    1998, by and between Ancor Communications, Incorporated, the
                    placement agent and each purchaser of Series C Preferred
                    Stock.

          *10.29(j) Termination of Employment Agreement dated August 29, 1997,
                    between the Company and Dale C. Showers.

          10.30(j)  Sublease, Amendment Agreement, dated February 11, 1998, by
                    and between the Company and Unisys Corporation, formerly
                    known as Burroughs Corporation.

          *10.31(j) Separation and General Release Agreement between the Company
                    and Lee B. Lewis.

          *10.32(j) Amendments to Ancor Communications, Inc. Non-Employee
                    Director Stock Option Plan filed as exhibit 10.18.

          23.1(m)   Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

          23.2(m)   Consent of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP.

          27.1(m)   Financial Data Schedule.

- ------------------------------
*       Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or agreement.

a       Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on
        form SB-2 filed March 11, 1994.

b       Incorporated by reference to Amendment No. 2 to the Company's
        Registration Statement on form SB-2 Filed April 28, 1994.

                                       23
<PAGE>
 
c       Incorporation by reference to the Company's Form 10-QSB filed for the
        quarterly period ended March 31, 1994.

d       Incorporated by reference to the Company's form 10-QSB filed for the
        quarterly period ended March 31, 1995.

e       Incorporated by reference to the Company's form 10-QSB filed for the
        quarterly period ended September 30, 1995.

f       Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-KSB filed for the
        fiscal year ended December 31, 1995.

g       Incorporated by reference to the Company's form 10-Q filed for the
        quarterly period ended March 31, 1997.

h       Incorporated by reference to the Company's form 10-Q filed for the
        quarterly period ended September 30, 1997.

i       Incorporated by reference to the Company's form 8-K filed February 23,
        1998.

j       Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-K filed for the
        fiscal year ended December 31, 1997.

k       Incorporated by reference to the Company's form 10-Q filed for the
        quarterly period ended June 30, 1998.

l       Incorporated by reference to the Company's form 10-Q filed for the
        quarterly period ended September 30, 1998.

m       Included herewith.


(b.)    Reports on Form 8-K

        Form 8-K (Item 5 - Other Events) filed November 3, 1998, reporting the
        declaration of a dividend of one preferred share purchase right per
        share of common stock outstanding in connection with the adoption of the
        Company's Shareholders Rights Plan

(c.)    See subitem (a.) above.

(d.)    See subitem (a.) above.

                                       24
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                       ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED

                                       By  /S/Kenneth E. Hendrickson
                                         -----------------------------------
                                           Kenneth E. Hendrickson
                                           Chairman of the Board & CEO

Dated:  March 19, 1999
        --------------------

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, this report has been
signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

         Name                             Title                        Date
         ----                             -----                        ----

/S/Kenneth E. Hendrickson        Chairman, Director and CEO      March 19, 1999
- -----------------------------    (principal executive officer)
Kenneth E. Hendrickson

/S/Steven E. Snyder              Chief Financial Officer         March 19, 1999
- -----------------------------    (principal financial officer)
Steven E. Snyder

/S/Amyl Ahola                    Director                        March 19, 1999
- -----------------------------
Amyl Ahola

/S/Gerald M. Bestler             Director                        March 19, 1999
- -----------------------------
Gerald M. Bestler

/S/John F. Carlson               Director                        March 19, 1999
- -----------------------------
John F. Carlson

/S/Thomas F. Hunt, Jr.           Director                        March 19, 1999
- -----------------------------
Thomas F. Hunt, Jr.

/S/Michael Huntley               Director                        March 19, 1999
- -----------------------------
Michael Huntley

/S/Paul Lidsky                   Director                        March 19, 1999
- -----------------------------
Paul Lidsky

                                       25
<PAGE>
 
                          INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                                                       Page
                                                                       ----

Independent Auditors' Reports.....................................      F-2

Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1998 and 1997...................      F-4

Statements of Operation's for the years ended
    December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996..............................      F-5

Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the years ended
    December  31, 1998, 1997 and 1996.............................      F-6

Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended
    December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996..............................      F-8

Notes to Financial Statements.....................................  F-9 to F-19

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts...................     F-20

                                      F-1
<PAGE>
 
                           INDEPENDENT AUDITORS REPORT



THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS --ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Ancor Communications, Inc. as
of December 31, 1998, and the related statements of operations, shareholders'
equity and cash flows for the year then ended. 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 audit.

We conducted our audit 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 audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the 1998 financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of Ancor Communications, Inc.
as of December 31, 1998, and the results of its operations and its cash flows
for the year then ended, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.

KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.

Minneapolis, Minnesota
February 5, 1999

                                      F-2
<PAGE>
 
                           INDEPENDENT AUDITORS REPORT



To the Board of Directors
Ancor Communications, Incorporated
Minnetonka, Minnesota

We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Ancor Communications,
Incorporated as of December 31, 1997 and the related statements of operations,
shareholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the two years in the period
ended December 31, 1997. These financial statements are the responsibility of
the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audits.

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

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of Ancor Communications,
Incorporated as of December 31, 1997 and the results of its operations and its
cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 1997, in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.


McGLADREY & PULLEN, LLP




Minneapolis, Minnesota
February 19, 1998

                                      F-3
<PAGE>
 
ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED
BALANCE SHEETS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          December 31,
                                                                                  ----------------------------
                                                                                      1998            1997
                                                                                  ------------    ------------
         ASSETS
<S>                                                                               <C>             <C>
Current Assets:
   Cash and cash equivalents                                                      $  3,477,236    $  2,001,404
   Short-term investments                                                            3,970,137            --
   Accounts receivable, less allowances of $39,492 and $804,000, respectively          442,600       1,499,634
   Inventories                                                                       1,288,868       2,493,722
   Prepaid expenses and other current assets                                           110,398         154,983
                                                                                  ------------    ------------
            Total current assets                                                     9,289,239       6,149,743

Equipment, at cost                                                                   5,865,404       5,875,424
   Less accumulated depreciation                                                     2,744,786       2,601,896
                                                                                  ------------    ------------
                                                                                     3,120,618       3,273,528
                                                                                  ------------    ------------
Patents, prepaid royalties, and other assets,
       net of accumulated amortization                                                 195,668         269,190
Capitalized software development costs, less accumulated
       amortization of $470,581 and $342,900, respectively                             132,568         471,043
                                                                                  ------------    ------------
                                                                                       328,236         740,233
                                                                                  ------------    ------------
TOTAL ASSETS                                                                      $ 12,738,093    $ 10,163,504
                                                                                  ============    ============

         LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current Liabilities:
   Current maturities of long-term debt                                           $    139,791    $     65,145
   Accounts payable                                                                    448,383         963,321
   Accrued compensation and benefits                                                   577,206         477,464
   Other accrued liabilities                                                           378,470         210,526
   Unearned revenue, current                                                         2,146,936           1,000
                                                                                  ------------    ------------
            Total current liabilities                                                3,690,786       1,717,456

Long-term unearned revenue, less current                                             3,727,919            --
Long-term debt, less current maturities                                                110,997         129,702

Commitments and Contingencies

Shareholders' Equity
   Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share,
        authorized 5,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding
        Series A, 0 shares in 1998 and 42 shares in 1997                                  --                 1
        Series B, 0 shares in 1998 and 440 shares in 1997                                 --                 4
        Series C, 229 shares in 1998 and none issued in 1997, liquidation value              2
           of $2,290,000
   Common stock, par value $.01 per share,
        authorized 40,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding
        23,265,819 shares in 1998 and 11,778,006 shares in 1997                        232,658         117,780
   Additional paid-in capital                                                       46,566,386      35,290,763
   Accumulated deficit                                                             (41,590,655)    (27,092,202)
                                                                                  ------------    ------------
            Total shareholders' equity                                               5,208,391       8,316,346
                                                                                  ------------    ------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY                                        $ 12,738,093    $ 10,163,504
                                                                                  ============    ============
</TABLE>

                        See notes to Financial Statements

                                      F-4
<PAGE>
 
ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             Years Ended December 31
                                                  --------------------------------------------
                                                      1998            1997            1996
                                                  ------------    ------------    ------------
<S>                                               <C>             <C>             <C>         
Net sales                                         $  4,393,197    $  7,924,001    $  6,257,840
Cost of goods sold                                   6,431,411       5,990,661       3,565,393
                                                  ------------    ------------    ------------

   Gross profit (loss)                              (2,038,214)      1,933,340       2,692,447

Operating expenses
   Selling, general and administrative               7,195,294       7,684,638       4,944,166
   Research and development                          5,450,942       4,271,393       3,198,155
                                                  ------------    ------------    ------------

   Total operating expenses                         12,646,236      11,956,031       8,142,321
                                                  ------------    ------------    ------------

   Operating loss                                  (14,684,450)    (10,022,691)     (5,449,874)

Nonoperating income (expense)
   Interest expense                                    (33,532)        (18,717)        (63,896)
   Other, primarily interest income                    219,529         218,408         224,086
                                                  ------------    ------------    ------------

   Net loss                                        (14,498,453)     (9,823,000)     (5,289,684)

   Accretion on convertible preferred stock           (761,704)       (344,939)       (331,334)
                                                  ------------    ------------    ------------

   Net loss attributable to common shareholders   $(15,260,157)   $(10,167,939)   $ (5,621,018)
                                                  ============    ============    ============

Basic and diluted net loss per common share       $      (1.04)   $      (0.93)   $      (0.60)
                                                  ============    ============    ============

Weighted average common shares outstanding          14,741,431      10,963,416       9,351,060
                                                  ============    ============    ============
</TABLE>

                        See notes to Financial Statements

                                      F-5
<PAGE>
 
ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED
STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Years Ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             Preferred Stock
                                                     -------------------------------------------
                                                         Series A                 Series B
                                                     -------------------------------------------
                                                      Shares      Amount      Shares      Amount
                                                     -------------------------------------------
<S>                                                    <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>   
Balance, December 31, 1995                                --      $   --          --      $   --
   Sales of Series A Preferred Stock (net of
      issuance costs of $756,466)                      1,030          10          --          --
   Conversions of Series A Preferred Stock              (856)         (8)         --          --
   Exercise of stock options and warrants (net of
      issuance costs of $33,915)                          --          --          --          --
   Employee stock purchases                               --          --          --          --
   Net loss                                               --          --          --          --
                                                     -------------------------------------------
Balance, December 31, 1996                               174           2          --          --
   Sales of Series B Preferred Stock (net of
      issuance costs of $602,253)                         --          --         855           8
   Conversions of Series A Preferred Stock              (132)         (1)         --          --
   Conversions of Series B Preferred Stock                --          --        (415)         (4)
   Exercise of stock options and warrants                 --          --          --          --
   Employee stock purchases                               --          --          --          --
   Net loss                                               --          --          --          --
                        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, December 31, 1997                                42           1         440           4
   Sales of Series C Preferred Stock (net of
      issuance costs of $791,814)                         --          --          --          --
   Warrants issued in connection with license             --          --          --          --
      agreement
   Conversions of Series A Preferred Stock               (42)         (1)         --          --
   Conversions of Series B Preferred Stock                --          --        (440)         (4)
   Conversions of Series C Preferred Stock                --          --          --          --
   Exercise of stock options and warrants                 --          --          --          --
   Employee stock purchases                               --          --          --          --
   Net loss                                               --          --          --          --
                                                     -------------------------------------------
Balance, December 31, 1998                                --      $   --          --      $   --
                                                     ===========================================
</TABLE>

                        See notes to Financial Statements

                                      F-6
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

      Series C               Common Stock         Additional
- --------------------  ------------------------      Paid-In     Accumulated
  Shares     Amount      Shares         Amount      Capital        Deficit          Total
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>          <C>       <C>           <C>         <C>            <C>             <C>        
      --     $   --    8,273,426     $  82,734   $ 14,656,203   $(11,979,518)   $ 2,759,419

      --         --           --            --      9,543,524             --      9,543,534
      --         --    1,352,494        13,525        (13,517)            --             --

      --         --      773,519         7,735      2,832,061             --      2,839,796
      --         --        8,248            83         53,549             --         53,632
      --         --           --            --             --     (5,289,684)    (5,289,684)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      --         --   10,407,687       104,077     27,071,820    (17,269,202)     9,906,697

      --         --           --            --      7,947,739             --      7,947,747
      --         --      407,444         4,074         (4,073)            --             --
      --         --      876,383         8,764         (8,760)            --             --
      --         --       74,775           748        222,925             --        223,673
      --         --       11,717           117         61,112             --         61,229
      --         --           --            --             --     (9,823,000)    (9,823,000)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      --         --   11,778,006       117,780     35,290,763    (27,092,202)     8,316,346

   1,100         11           --            --     10,208,175             --     10,208,186
      --         --           --            --        768,064             --        768,064

      --         --      134,268         1,343         (1,342)            --             --
      --         --    3,999,976        40,000        (39,996)            --             --
    (871)        (9)   7,196,487        71,965        (71,956)            --             --
      --         --       58,020           580        215,301             --        215,881
      --         --       99,062           990        197,377             --        198,367
      --         --                         --             --    (14,498,453)   (14,498,453)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     229     $    2   23,265,819     $ 232,658   $ 46,566,386   $(41,590,655)   $ 5,208,391
===========================================================================================
</TABLE>

                        See notes to Financial Statements

                                      F-7
<PAGE>
 
ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 Years Ended December 31,
                                                                       --------------------------------------------
                                                                           1998            1997            1996
                                                                       --------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                    <C>             <C>             <C>          
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
   Net loss                                                            $(14,498,453)   $ (9,823,000)   $ (5,289,684)
   Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net
   cash used in operating activities:
       Provisions for receivables allowances                                     --       1,028,000         164,000
       Provision for obsolete inventories                                 4,262,000       1,045,000          50,000
       Writedown of equipment                                               100,538         248,953              --
       Depreciation and amortization                                      1,342,653       1,077,796         617,419
       Changes in current assets and liabilities:
            Accounts receivable                                           1,057,034       1,491,366      (2,360,117)
            Inventories                                                  (2,814,146)       (842,761)     (1,926,201)
            Prepaid expenses and other                                       44,585         181,751        (155,886)
            Accounts payable                                               (514,938)       (788,937)        913,569
            Accrued liabilities                                              24,686         323,926         (71,200)
            Unearned revenue                                              6,641,919           1,000              --
                                                                       --------------------------------------------

   Net cash used in operating activities                                 (4,354,122)     (6,056,906)     (8,058,100)
                                                                       --------------------------------------------


CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
   Purchases of equipment                                                  (606,533)     (1,334,183)     (2,202,259)
   Purchase of short-term investments                                   (17,394,136)     (9,469,670)     (1,003,530)
   Sale of short-term investments                                        13,423,999      10,473,200       1,300,178
   Capitalized software development costs                                        --        (125,035)       (577,488)
   Other, net                                                               (49,078)        (70,934)        (52,569)
                                                                       ------------    ------------    ------------

   Net cash used in investing activities                                 (4,625,748)       (526,622)     (2,535,668)
                                                                       ------------    ------------    ------------


CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
   Net proceeds from sale of preferred stock                             10,208,186       7,947,747       9,543,534
   Net proceeds from exercise of warrants,
       exercise of options, and employee stock purchases                    414,248         284,902       2,893,428
   Principal payments on long-term debt                                    (166,732)       (154,758)     (1,587,628)
                                                                       ------------    ------------    ------------

   Net cash provided by financing activities                             10,455,702       8,077,891      10,849,334
                                                                       ------------    ------------    ------------


Net increase in cash                                                      1,475,832       1,494,363         255,566
Cash, beginning of period                                                 2,001,404         507,041         251,475
                                                                       ------------    ------------    ------------
Cash, end of period                                                    $  3,477,236    $  2,001,404    $    507,041
                                                                       ============    ============    ============

Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures
  Cash payments for interest                                           $     33,532    $     18,717    $     63,896
                                                                       ============    ============    ============

Supplemental Schedule of Noncash Investing and Financing Activities:
   Equipment acquired under capital lease                              $    222,673    $    110,300    $     87,280
                                                                       ============    ============    ============
   Warrants issued under license agreement                             $    768,064    $         --    $         --
                                                                       ============    ============    ============
</TABLE>

                        See notes to Financial Statements

                                      F-8
<PAGE>
 
ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note 1.    Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of business: Ancor Communications, Incorporated (the Company) operates in
one business segment, the development and marketing of various products for the
communications market. The Company's products are components in fiber-optic
communications networks. The Company also previously designed, produced, and
marketed system components used in United States military communications
systems. Sales are made to customers throughout the United States, in Japan, and
in certain other foreign countries. Credit, including foreign credit, is
determined on an individual customer basis.

Accounting estimates: The preparation of the 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.

Revenue recognition: Revenue on firm customer orders is generally recognized at
the time product is shipped or services are provided. Product shipped for
customer evaluation is recorded as consigned inventory. In certain circumstances
during 1996, revenue was recognized upon completion of production under specific
contractual arrangements for billing and delivery. The Company provides an
allowance for product returns based on management's periodic assessment of the
need for such an allowance. License revenue is recognized when all of the
following criteria have been met: there is an executed license agreement, the
product has been shipped to the customer, no significant vendor obligations
remain, the license fee is fixed and payable within twelve months and collection
is deemed probable.

Cash and cash equivalents: For purposes of reporting cash flows, the Company
considers all unrestricted cash and any U.S. Treasury bills, commercial paper,
and money market funds with an original maturity of three months or less to be
cash equivalents. The Company maintains its cash in bank deposit and money
market accounts, which, at times, exceed federally insured limits. The Company
has not experienced any losses in such accounts.

Short-term investments: Short-term investments consisted primarily of
investments in money market funds and in U.S. government obligations (primarily
U.S. Treasury bills). Short-term investments are recorded at cost which
approximates market.

Inventories: Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out
method) or market. The Company has recorded a reserve for potential obsolete
inventory based primarily on management's estimate of future sales levels of
products and related components in inventory (see Note 9).

Depreciation and amortization: Equipment purchases are stated at cost.
Depreciation is computed by the straight-line method over estimated useful lives
of three to five years. Intangible assets consist principally of patents,
prepaid royalties, and cost in excess of net assets acquired. Amortization is
computed by the straight-line method over estimated useful lives ranging from 5
to 15 years.

The Company reviews its long-lived assets periodically to determine potential
impairment by comparing the carrying value of the long-lived assets with the
estimated future net undiscounted cash flows

                                      F-9
<PAGE>
 
ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

expected to result from the use of the assets, including cash flows from
disposition. Should the sum of the expected future net cash flows be less than
the carrying value, the Company would recognize an impairment loss at that
date. An impairment loss would be measured by comparing the amount by which the
carrying value exceeds the fair value (estimated discounted future cash flows)
of the long-lived assets. In connection with such a review, during 1998 and 1997
management wrote down certain assets resulting in a loss of $100,538 and
$248,953, respectively.

Fair value of financial instruments: The financial statements include the
following financial instruments: cash and cash equivalents, short-term
investments, and long-term debt. No separate comparison of fair values versus
carrying values is presented for the aforementioned financial instruments since
their fair values are not significantly different than their balance sheet
carrying amounts.

Income taxes: Deferred taxes are provided on an asset and liability method
whereby deferred tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary differences
and operating loss or tax credit carryforwards and deferred tax liabilities are
recognized for taxable temporary differences. Temporary differences are the
differences between the amounts of assets and liabilities recorded for income
tax and financial reporting purposes. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a
valuation allowance when management determines that it is more likely than not
that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets and liabilities will not be
realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of
changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment. Income tax expense or
benefit would be the tax payable or refundable for the year plus or minus the
change in deferred tax assets and liabilities during the year.

Capitalized software development costs: The Company capitalizes software
development costs incurred after the establishment of technological feasibility.
These costs are amortized to cost of goods sold at the greater of (i) the amount
computed using the ratio of current gross revenues for the product to the total
of current and anticipated future gross revenues, or (ii) the straight-line
method over the remaining estimated economic life of the product. An original
estimated economic life ranging from one to five years is assigned to
capitalized software development costs. It is reasonably possible that those
estimates of anticipated future gross revenues, the remaining estimated economic
life of the product, or both, could be reduced as a result of the rapid
technological changes occurring in the markets in which the Company sells its
products.

Research and development: Research and development costs applicable to both
present and future products are charged to operations as incurred.

Net loss per share: The FASB has issued Statement No. 128, Earnings Per Share,
which supersedes APB Opinion No. 15. Statement No. 128 requires the presentation
of earnings per share by all entities that have common stock or potential common
stock, such as options, warrants and convertible securities, outstanding that
trade in a public market. Those entities that have only common stock outstanding
are required to present basic earnings per-share amounts. Basic per-share
amounts are computed, generally, by dividing net income or loss, as adjusted for
by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. All other entities
are required to present basic and diluted per-share amounts. Diluted per-share
amounts assume the conversion, exercise, or issuance of all potential common
stock instruments unless the effect is anti-dilutive, thereby reducing the loss
or increasing the income per common share.

                                      F-10
<PAGE>
 
ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Company initially applied Statement No. 128 for the year ended December 31,
1997, and, as required by the statement, has restated all per-share information
for the prior years to conform to the statement. In calculating the basic loss
per share, the premium earned by the preferred shareholders ($761,704 in 1998,
$344,939 in 1997 and $331,334 in 1996) was added to the net loss in all years
presented. Potential common shares, consisting of options, warrants and
convertible preferred stock for all periods, were not included in the
computation as their effect was anti-dilutive. Basic and diluted loss per-share
amounts are the same in each period presented.

New Accounting Pronouncements: Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No.
131, "Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information" was
adopted by the Company in 1998. This statement establishes standards for the
reporting of information concerning operating segments in the financial
statements.


Note 2.    Inventories

Inventories at December 31, 1998 and 1997, consisted of:

                                                        1998            1997
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Raw materials                                        $ 4,031,546    $ 2,398,066
Finished goods consigned to customers and others         779,054        527,078
Finished goods                                         1,289,577        663,500
Reserve for obsolescence                              (4,811,309)    (1,094,922)
                                                    ---------------------------
                                                     $ 1,288,868    $ 2,493,722
                                                    ===========================

During the quarter ended June 30, 1998 the Company recorded the following
special charges relating to excess and obsolete inventory: (i) $4,015,000
provision-for excess or obsolete inventory, (ii) $243,000 provision for future
commitments to purchase excess or obsolete inventory, and (iii) $170,000 fee for
canceling an order for excess or obsolete inventory. The Company made these
charges due to its shift in focus from local area networks to storage area
networks, along with a lack of demand in Japan for this old technology, causing
the Company to believe its inventory of certain products is in excess of market
demands.


Note 3.    Notes Payable and Long-term Debt

Long-term debt consists of the following at December 31, 1998 and 1997:

                                                        1998             1997
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note payable to shareholder (1)                     $   81,946        $  85,642
Capital lease obligations (2)                          168,842          109,205
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                       250,788          194,847

Less current maturities                                139,791           65,145
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                    $  110,997        $ 129,702
                                                  =============================

                                      F-11
<PAGE>
 
ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1)     Payments are made to the note holder in an amount equal to 0.94 percent
        of Company sales in excess of $4,000,000 in any calendar year.

(2)     The Company has capitalized certain equipment held under capital leases
        with a capitalized cost of $396,855 and $296,796 and accumulated
        depreciation of $133,752 and $99,745 at December 31, 1998 and 1997,
        respectively. The related obligations are recorded in the accompanying
        financial statements based on the present value of the future minimum
        lease payments based on an implicit interest rate of 13 percent.

Approximate aggregate annual maturities of long-term debt, including capital
lease obligations, at December 31, 1998, are as follows:

Years ending December 31:
      1999                                                     $ 131,000
      2000                                                        32,000
      2001                                                         6,000
      Note with no specified maturity                             82,000
                                                               ---------
                                                               $ 251,000
                                                               =========


Note 4.    Major Customers and Concentration of Credit Risk

Major customers:  A summary of major customers follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                             1998                   1997                    1996
                   -----------------------  ----------------------  ----------------------
                                  Percent                 Percent                 Percent
  Customer            Sales       to Total     Sales      to Total     Sales      to Total
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                <C>              <C>     <C>             <C>     <C>             <C>
Boeing             $ 2,193,000       50%    $  679,000        9%    $   78,000        1%
Netmarks, Inc.         967,000       22              -        -              -        -
Hucom, Inc.            174,000        4      6,983,000       88      2,585,000       41
Falcon Systems               -        -              -        -        757,000       12
</TABLE>

Accounts receivable from major customers totaled approximately $537,000 at
December 31, 1998.

Export net sales totaled approximately $1,159,000, $7,340,000, and $3,277,000 in
1998, 1997, and 1996, respectively. The Company's Japanese distributors
comprised 98, 95, and 79 percent of export net sales in 1998, 1997, and 1996,
respectively.

                                      F-12
<PAGE>
 
ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note 5.    Income Taxes

Deferred tax assets consist of the following components as of December 31, 1998
and 1997:

                                                       1998             1997
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loss carryforwards                                $ 14,711,000    $  8,594,000
Tax credit carryforwards                             1,042,000         694,000
Accrued expenses                                       188,000          51,000
Allowances for obsolete inventory, product
  returns, and doubtful accounts                     2,317,000         833,000
Property, plant and equipment                         (440,000)              -
Other Items                                                  -         157,000
                                                 ------------------------------
                                                    17,818,000      10,329,000

Less valuation allowance                          $(17,818,000)   $(10,329,000)
                                                 ------------------------------
                                                  $          -    $          -
                                                 ==============================


The income tax benefit differed from the statutory federal rate as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   1998           1997           1996
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                           <C>            <C>            <C>          
Statutory rate applied to loss before taxes   $ (4,929,000)  $ (3,438,000)  $ (1,851,000)
Current period tax benefits not utilized         4,929,000      3,438,000      1,851,000
                                              -------------------------------------------
                                              $          -   $          -   $          -
                                              ===========================================
</TABLE>

At December 31, 1998, the Company has net operating loss, research and
development credit, and investment tax credit carryforwards (under existing tax
laws) as follows:

  Carryforward                                         Net              Tax
   Expiration                                    Operating Loss       Credits
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      1999                                            $       -     $   15,000
      2000                                              900,000              -
      2006                                            1,100,000         82,000
      2007                                            3,100,000        117,000
      2008                                            2,100,000        126,000
      2009                                            3,000,000        138,000
      2010                                            3,500,000         82,000
      2011                                            5,100,000        104,000
      2012                                            7,400,000        278,000
      2018                                           10,600,000        100,000
                                                -------------------------------
                                                   $ 36,800,000    $ 1,042,000
                                                ===============================

Because of the changes in ownership that have occurred in connection with the
company's initial public offering (IPO) in 1994, as well as the sales of
securities that have occurred subsequent to the IPO, the Company's future use of
its net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards are subject to certain
annual limitations.

                                      F-13
<PAGE>
 
ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note 6. Shareholders' Equity

Preferred stock: The Company has authorized 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock
at December 31, 1998. There is one series of preferred stock outstanding at
December 31, 1998.

Series A: In 1996, the Board of Directors designated 1,100 shares of the
authorized preferred stock as Series A Preferred Stock. In March 1996, the
Company sold 1,030 shares of Series A Preferred Stock in a private placement
transaction which provided proceeds of $9,543,534, net of issuance costs of
$756,466. In addition, the placement agent was granted warrants to purchase
111,094 shares of common stock at $6.49 per share.

The Series A Preferred Stock had a stated value and liquidation preference of
$10,000, plus an 8 percent per annum premium. The holders of the Series A
Preferred Stock were not entitled to vote or to receive dividends. Each share of
Series A Preferred Stock was convertible into common stock at the option of the
holder based on its stated value at the conversion date divided by a conversion
price. The conversion price was defined as the lesser of $6.49 per share or 85
percent of the average closing bid price of the Company's common stock for the
five days preceding the conversion date. During 1998, 1997 and 1996, all shares
of Series A Preferred Stock were converted into 1,894,206 shares of common
stock.

Series B: In 1997, the Board of Directors designated 900 shares of the
authorized preferred stock as Series B Preferred Stock. On March 24, 1997, the
Company completed a private placement transaction by selling 855 shares of
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock which provided proceeds of $7,947,747, net
of issuance costs of $602,253. In conjunction with the transaction, the
placement agent was granted a five-year warrant to purchase 105,556 shares of
common stock at $4.86 per share.

The Series B Preferred Stock had a stated value and liquidation preference of
$10,000, plus a 5 percent per annum premium. The holders of the Series B
Preferred Stock were not entitled to vote or to receive dividends. Each share of
Series B preferred Stock was convertible into common stock at the option of the
holder based on its stated value at the conversion date divided by a conversion
price. The conversion price was defined as the lesser of $4.86 per share or 85
percent of the average closing bid price of the Company's common stock for the
five days preceding the conversion date. In addition, the investors received
warrants to purchase common stock equal to 20 percent of their original
investment not converted to common stock as of March 24, 1998, divided by the
conversion price then in effect, with an exercise price equal to 115 percent of
the average closing bid price for five days ending on the one-year anniversary
date. Based on this calculation, warrants to purchase 181,070 shares of common
stock were issued with an exercise price of $6.67. During 1998 and 1997, all
shares of Series B Preferred Stock were converted into 4,876,359 shares of
common stock.

The Series B Preferred Stock also included provisions for (i) adjustment of the
conversion rate and price in the event of stock splits, stock dividends, and
mergers, (ii) restrictions on the Company's ability to issue capital stock with
distribution or liquidation preferences senior to the Series B Preferred Stock,
(iii) registration rights, and (iv) redemption by the Company in certain
circumstances.

Series C: On February 19, 1998, the Company completed a private placement
transaction by selling 1,100 shares of Series C Preferred Stock , that accretes
at the rate of 8 percent per year which provided proceeds of $10,208,186, net of
issuance costs of $791,814. In conjunction with this transaction, the

                                      F-14
<PAGE>
 
ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

placement agent was granted a five-year warrant to purchase 90,644 shares of
common stock at $7.28 per share.

The Series C Preferred Stock is convertible into Common Stock of the Company,
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 for the first
year is $11.00. After the first year, the Maximum Conversion Price is equal to
the lesser of $11 per share and the average closing bid price of the five
Wednesdays immediately preceding the first anniversary of the date the Series C
Preferred Stock was issued ($7.575). 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. The Series C Preferred Stock is junior to the
Series A and B Preferred Stock.

The Series C Preferred Stock also includes provisions for (i) adjustment of the
conversion rate and price in the event of stock splits, stock dividends, and
mergers, (ii) restrictions on the Company's ability to issue capital stock with
distribution or liquidation preferences senior to the Series C Preferred Stock,
(iii) registration rights, and (iv) redemption by the Company in certain
circumstances.


Shareholder Rights Plan: The Company declared a dividend of one right for each
common share outstanding on November 10, 1998. Each right will entitle a
shareholder to buy a fraction of a share of a newly authorized series of
preferred stock at an exercise price of $20 per share. The rights will become
exercisable in the event that a person or group acquires 15% or more of the
Company's common shares or a tender offer is commenced that would result in
ownership by a person or group of 15% or more of the Company's common shares
(subject to certain exceptions).

If a potential acquiror purchases at least 15% of the Company's outstanding
Common Stock, shareholders other than the acquiror would be able to exercise the
rights issued under the plan to purchase shares of the Company's Common Stock,
or in some cases cash, property or other securities of the Company or shares of
the acquiror's common stock, at a 50% discount from the market price. In
addition, the Board may elect to exchange the rights for the Company's Common
Stock.

The Company's Board of Directors will be entitled to redeem the rights at $.01
per right at any time prior to an acquiror purchasing 15% or more of the
Company's Common Stock.

The new purchase rights will be distributed as a non-taxable dividend and will
trade with the Company's Common Stock. There will be no rights certificates
issued unless the rights become exercisable. The rights will expire on November
3, 2008.


Options and warrants: The Company's 1994 Long-Term Incentive and Stock Option
plan provides for the granting of stock options, stock appreciation rights,
restricted stock awards, and performance awards to officers, directors,
employees, and independent contractors of the Company. The options may be
granted at an exercise price of not less than the fair market value of common
stock at the date of grant (110 percent for more than 10 percent shareholders).

                                      F-15
<PAGE>
 
ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In order to retain its employees in a competitive employment market, and given
the price of the Company's common stock at the time, on October 21, 1998, the
Company's Board of Directors voted and approved to reprice outstanding options
to purchase 1,091,333 shares of common stock held by active employees to an
exercise price of $1.78, the closing price of the Company's common stock on that
day. These options were originally issued before May 1, 1998 to employees at a
weighted average exercise price of $7.16. The repriced options may not be
exercised until October 21, 1999, at which point the options are exercisable
subject to the vesting schedule of the original option agreements.

The Company has adopted the disclosure-only provisions of Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.
Accordingly, no compensation cost has been recognized for the stock option plan.
Had compensation cost for the Company's stock option plan been determined based
on the fair value at the grant date for awards in 1998, 1997 and 1996 consistent
with the provisions of SFAS No. 123, the Company's net loss and net loss per
share would have been increased to the pro forma amounts indicated as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           Years Ended December 31
                                                 ------------------------------------------
                                                    1998             1997         1996
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>            <C>            <C>         
Net loss, as reported                            $(14,498,453)  $ (9,823,000)  $(5,289,684)
Net loss, pro forma                               (16,750,953)   (11,241,000)   (5,781,684)
Basic and diluted net loss per share, as
    reported                                            (1.04)         (0.93)        (0.60)
Basic and diluted net loss per share, pro forma         (1.19)         (1.06)        (0.65)
</TABLE>

The above pro forma effects on net loss and net loss per share are not likely to
be representative of the effects on reported net income (loss) for future years
because options vest over several years and additional awards generally are made
each year.

The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the
Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average
assumptions used for grants in 1998, 1997 and 1996:

                                                  Years Ended December 31
                                          -------------------------------------
                                              1998         1997          1996
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expected dividend yield                   $      --      $    --        $  --
Expected stock price volatility                 131%         124%          82%
Risk-free interest rate                        5.11%        6.30%        6.05%
Expected life of options (years)                3.5            3            2

The weighted-average fair value, as determined using the Black-Scholes option
pricing model, of options and warrants granted during 1998, 1997 and 1996 was
$1.76, $4.53 and $4.70, respectively.

On September 24, 1998, the Company issued a warrant to purchase 750,000 shares
of common stock (the "Warrant") to INRANGE Technologies Corporation ("INRANGE")
in connection with a Technology License Agreement entered into between the
Company and INRANGE on such date. The Warrant is exercisable for a period of
five years. Of the 750,000 shares subject to the Warrant, 250,000 may be
purchased at an exercise price

                                      F-16
<PAGE>
 
ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

of $2.50 per share, 250,000 may be purchased at an exercise price of $5.00 per
share and 250,000 may be purchased at an exercise price of $10.00 per share. The
Warrant was issued pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.

Transactions involving stock options and warrants during the three years ended
December 31, 1998, are summarized as follows:

                                                                   Weighted
                                                                    Average
                                                                Exercise Price
                                   Warrants      Stock Options     Per Share
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, December 31,1995           685,500          472,166       $     4.26
   Granted                          111,094          471,000             9.39
   Exercised                       (705,762)         (89,791)            3.72
   Expired                                -          (12,942)            5.00
                                ----------------------------------------------
Balance, December 31,1996            90,832          840,433             7.31
   Granted                          105,556          746,500             6.77
   Exercised                        (25,182)         (60,808)            4.08
   Expired                                -         (102,459)            8.71
                                ----------------------------------------------
Balance, December 31,1997           171,206        1,423,666             7.15
   Granted                        1,021,704        2,392,591             2.44
   Exercised                              -          (58,020)            3.28
   Expired                                -         (261,063)            7.05
                                ----------------------------------------------
Balance, December 31,1998         1,192,910        3,497,174       $     2.50
                                ==============================================

Currently exercisable             1,192,910          162,497       $     5.93
Not currently exercisable                 -        3,334,677             2.32
                                ----------------------------------------------
                                  1,192,910        3,497,174       $     2.50
                                ==============================================

The following tables summarize information about stock options and warrants
outstanding as of December 31, 1998:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 Options and Warrants
                           Options and Warrants Outstanding         Exercisable
                          -----------------------------------  ----------------------
                                         Weighted
                                         Average
                                        Remaining    Weighted                Weighted
                           Number of   Contractual    Average   Number of    Average
                             Units       Life (in    Exercise     Units      Exercise
Range of Exercise Price   Outstanding     Years)       Price   Exercisable    Price
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                          <C>           <C>      <C>         <C>          <C>
$1.12 - 1.78                 2,760,674     7.8      $   1.76            -    $     -
$2.00 - 5.31                 1,226,459     6.1          4.34      699,625       3.95
$5.37 - 13.25                  702,951     3.4          7.97      655,782       8.03
                         --------------            ----------  -----------  ---------
                             4,690,084     6.7      $   3.37    1,355,407    $  5.93
                         ==============            ==========  ===========  =========
</TABLE>

                                      F-17
<PAGE>
 
ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note 7.    Commitments

Operating leases: The Company leases its office facility and certain equipment
under operating leases. The total minimum annual future rentals under these
noncancelable operating leases are approximately $98,497 and $12,991 in 1999 and
2000, respectively. The office facility lease requires the Company to pay real
estate taxes, insurance and maintenance costs. Total rent expense under the
operating lease-arrangements for 1998, 1997 and 1996, was approximately
$361,000, $391,000, and $439,000, respectively.

Potential contingent consideration: In connection with its 1986 acquisition of
Anderson Cornelius Company (subsequently merged into Ancor Communications,
Inc.), the Company agreed to pay additional contingent consideration. This
additional consideration (up to a remaining maximum of approximately $200,000)
is payable annually at 4.0 percent of Company sales in excess of $4,000,000 in
any calendar year and is recorded as cost in excess of assets acquired. Amounts
payable under this arrangement were not material in any year presented.

Profit sharing plan: The Company has a profit sharing/401(k) plan which provides
that an annual contribution, up to the maximum amount allowed as a deduction by
the Internal Revenue Code, may be contributed by the Company to the plan.
Company contributions to the plan are discretionary as determined by the Board
of Directors. No contributions were made by the Company during 1998, 1997, and
1996.

Major supplier: The Company outsources the manufacturing of its products with a
contract manufacturer. Purchases from this manufacturer were approximately
$4,071,000, $6,480,000, and $5,086,000 in 1998, 1997, and 1996, respectively.
Management believes that alternative contract manufacturers are available.


Note 8.    Lawsuits

Ancor was a defendant in a consolidated class action captioned In re Ancor
Communications, Inc. Securities Litigation, Case No. 97-CV-1696 (D. Minn.)
alleging violations of the federal securities laws. The lawsuit was settled in
November 1998 and dismissed by the district court on February 5, 1999. Pursuant
to the terms of the settlement, a fund was created in the amount of $1,650,000.
The Company paid $250,000 of the total settlement and the remaining $1,400,000
was paid by the Company's insurer. The $250,000 payment by the Company was
recorded as an expense in the third quarter of 1998.

The Company is also a defendant in a lawsuit brought by Hoyt Properties, Inc.
("Hoyt") venued in Hennepin County District Court in the State of Minnesota.
Hoyt, as Landlord, and the Company, as Tenant, entered into an Agreement on May
29, 1998 which provided that Hoyt would build and lease to the Company an office
building to be located in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, subject to certain
contingencies, conditions, and agreements. Hoyt claims that the Company breached
the Agreement, and asserts damages in excess of $2,500,000. The Company denies
all liability, and alleges that Hoyt refused to provide improvements desirable
and necessary to the Company's occupancy of the proposed leased space, and
multiple contingencies, conditions, and agreements did not occur and no binding
agreement exists. The Company is vigorously defending the case. There has been
no discovery completed to date. However, there is no assurance that any
judgment, order or decree against the

                                      F-18
<PAGE>
 
ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Company arising out of this action will not have a material adverse effect on
the Company or its business. The Company is unable to determine at this time if
there will be a material adverse outcome. No provision has been made for any
loss that may occur as a result of an adverse outcome of the suit.


Note 9.    Fourth-Quarter Adjustments

1997 fourth-quarter adjustments: After experiencing further difficulties with
the collections from certain of its customers, most notably the value added
resellers, the Company increased its allowances for both future product returns
and bad debts by a total of $543,000 during the quarter ended December 31, 1997.
In addition, in connection with a revision to its business plan to not actively
promote certain of its products which have been replaced by more technologically
advanced versions, the Company increased its allowance for obsolescence by
approximately $482,000. These adjustments had the effect of reducing
fourth-quarter sales by approximately $530,000 and increasing the fourth-quarter
net loss and net loss per common share by approximately $1,025,000 and $0.09 per
share, respectively.

1996 fourth-quarter adjustments: In the fourth quarter of 1996, the Company made
significant adjustments relating to customer cancellations of sales made in
prior 1996 quarters, the recording of product returns reserve (discussed in the
accounting policies relating to revenue recognition), inventory reserves and
write-offs, and other asset write-offs. These adjustments had the effect of
increasing the fourth-quarter net loss and net loss per common share by
approximately $944,000 and $0.09 per share, respectively.

                                      F-19
<PAGE>
 
                                                                     SCHEDULE II
ANCOR COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED

VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
Year Ended December 31, 1998

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           Charged to
                                                            Cost and
                                             Balance at      Expenses                    Balance
                                             Beginning      or Against                    at End
              Description                    of Period      Net Sales    Deductions     of Period
              -----------                    ---------      ---------    ----------     ---------
<S>                                         <C>            <C>           <C>            <C>       
Deducted in the balance sheet from the
   assets to which it applies:
   Allowance for doubtful accounts:
      Year ended December 31, 1998          $  109,000     $       --    $   69,508     $   39,492
   Allowance for future product returns:
     Year ended December 31, 1998              695,000(1)          --       695,000(2)          --
   Inventory valuation reserve:
     Year ended December 31, 1998            1,094,922      4,183,180       466,793      4,811,309
</TABLE>

(1) The amount at the beginning of the period is net of the estimated value of
    product returns of $355,000.

(2) The gross sales value of the actual products returned by customers of
    $1,152,874 is offset by the actual value of the related products which were
    returned of $457,874, resulting in a net deduction to the allowance of
    $695,000.

                                      F-20

<PAGE>
 
                                                                     EXHIBIT 3.4

                       Ancor Communications, Incorporated
                     Amendments to the Bylaws Adopted by the
                    Board of Directors on October 21, 1998


        RESOLVED, that the current Section 2.10 of the By-Laws is deleted and
the following Section 2.10 is hereby added to the By-Laws to read in its
entirety as follows:

                Section 2.10. Nomination of Directors. Nominations of persons
        for election as directors may be made at a regular meeting of
        shareholders (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or
        (ii) by any shareholder who (A) was a shareholder of record at the time
        of giving of notice provided for in these bylaws, (B) is entitled to
        vote at the meeting and (C) gives prior notice of the nomination in the
        manner herein provided. For a nomination to be properly made by a
        shareholder, the shareholder must give written notice to the Secretary
        of the corporation so as to be received at the principal executive
        offices of the corporation at least 120 days before the date that is one
        year after the date of the corporation's proxy statement for the prior
        year's regular meeting. Such notice shall set forth (i) as to the
        shareholder giving the notice: (A) the name and record address of the
        shareholder and of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the
        nomination will be made, and (B) the class and number of shares of the
        corporation owned by the shareholder and beneficially owned by the
        beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination will be made
        and (ii) as to each person the shareholder proposes to nominate: (A) the
        name, age, business address and residence address of the person, (B) the
        principal occupation or employment of the person and (C) the class and
        number of shares of the corporation's capital stock beneficially owned
        by the person. The chairman of the meeting may refuse to acknowledge the
        nomination of any person not made in compliance with the foregoing
        procedure.

        RESOLVED, that the current Section 2.11 of the By-Laws is deleted and
the following Section 2.11 is hereby added to the By-Laws to read in its
entirety as follows:

                Section 2.11 Proposals. To be properly brought before a regular
        meeting of shareholders, business must be (i) specified in the notice of
        the meeting, (ii) directed to be brought before the meeting by the Board
        of Directors or (iii) proposed at the meeting by a shareholder who (A)
        was a shareholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for
        in these bylaws, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (C) gives
        prior notice of the matter, which must otherwise be a proper matter for
        shareholder action, in the manner herein provided. For business to be
        properly brought before a regular meeting by a shareholder, the
        shareholder must give written notice to the Secretary of the corporation
        so as to be received at the principal executive offices of the
        corporation at least 120 days before the date that is one year after the
        date of the corporation's proxy statement for the prior year's regular
        meeting. Such notice shall set forth (i) the name and record address
<PAGE>
 
        of the shareholder and of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf
        the proposal will be made, (ii) the class and number of shares of the
        corporation owned by the shareholder and beneficially owned by the
        beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal will be made,
        (iii) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before
        the regular meeting and the reasons for conducting such business and
        (iv) any material interest in such business of the shareholder and the
        beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made. The
        chairman of the meeting may refuse to acknowledge any proposed business
        not made in compliance with the foregoing procedure.

        RESOLVED, that the current Section 2.09 of the By-Laws is deleted and
the following Section 2.09 is hereby added to the By-Laws to read in its
entirety as follows:

                Section 2.09 Conduct of Meetings. The presiding officer of the
        meeting shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules,
        regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment
        of such presiding officer, are appropriate for conduct of the meeting.
        To the extent not prohibited by law, such rules, regulations or
        procedures may include, without limitation, establishment of (i) an
        agenda or order of business for the meeting and the method by which
        business may be proposed, (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining
        order at the meeting and the safety of those present, (iii) limitations
        on attendance at or participation in the meeting to shareholders of
        record of the corporation, their duly authorized proxies or such other
        persons as the presiding officer of the meeting shall determine, (iv)
        restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the
        commencement thereof and (v) limitations on the time allotted to
        questions or comments by participants. Any proposed business contained
        in the notice of a regular meeting is deemed to be on the agenda and no
        further motions or other actions shall be required to bring such
        proposed business up for consideration. Unless and to the extent
        otherwise determined by the presiding officer of the meeting, it shall
        not be necessary to follow Robert's Rules of Order or any other rules of
        parliamentary procedure at the meeting of the shareholders. Following
        completion of the business of the meeting as determined by the presiding
        officer of the meeting, the presiding officer of the meeting shall have
        the exclusive authority to adjourn the meeting.

<PAGE>
 
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.18

                       Ancor Communications, Incorporated
                 Amendments to 1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
             Adopted by the Board of Directors on September 1, 1998


               WHEREAS, the Company's 1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the
"Plan") currently provides for issuance of up to 75,000 shares of Common Stock.

               WHEREAS, The Board of Directors believes that it is in its best
interests of the Company to amend the Plan to provide for the issuance of an
additional 300,000 shares of Common Stock.

               RESOLVED, that the Plan is hereby amended to provide for the
issuance of an additional 300,000 shares (the "Shares") of Common Stock.

               FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors authorizes the
issuance of the Shares pursuant to the terms of the Plan.

               FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Shares issued pursuant to the Plan
shall be, upon issuance and payment therefor, duly authorized, validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable.

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 23.1

                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

The Board of Directors
Ancor Communications, Inc:

We consent to incorporation by reference in the registration statements (file
nos. 333-05379, 333-27841, 333-47793, and 333-62969) on form S-3 and in the
registration statements (file nos. 333-70539, 33-82976 and 33-95138) on form S-8
of Ancor Communications, Inc., of our report dated February 5, 1999, relating to
the balance sheet of Ancor Communications, Inc. as of December 31, 1998, and the
related statements of operations, shareholders' equity and cash flows for the
year ended December 31, 1998, and related schedule, which report appears in the
December 31, 1998, annual report on Form 10-K of Ancor Communications, Inc.

/s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP


Minneapolis, Minnesota
March 19, 1999

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 23.2


                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT


We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statements on Form S-3 (file nos. 333-05379, 333-27841, 333-47793, and
333-62969) and in the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (file nos. 333-70539,
33-82976 and 33-95138) of our report, dated February 19, 1998, with respect to
the 1996 and 1997 financial statements of Ancor Communications, Incorporated
included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.



                                              /s/ McGladrey & Pullen, LLP




Minneapolis, Minnesota
March 19, 1999

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                       3,477,236
<SECURITIES>                                 3,970,137
<RECEIVABLES>                                  482,092
<ALLOWANCES>                                  (39,492)
<INVENTORY>                                  1,288,868
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             9,289,239
<PP&E>                                       5,865,404
<DEPRECIATION>                             (2,744,786)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              12,738,093
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        3,690,786
<BONDS>                                        110,997
                                0
                                          2
<COMMON>                                       232,658
<OTHER-SE>                                   4,975,731
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                12,738,093
<SALES>                                      4,393,197
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             4,393,197
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