ILLINOIS SUPERCONDUCTOR CORPORATION
8-K, 1997-04-14
COMMERCIAL PHYSICAL & BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
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<PAGE>   1



                                UNITED STATES
                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                           WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549




                                  FORM 8-K


                               CURRENT REPORT



                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                     The Securities Exchange Act of 1934



      Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): April 14, 1997




                     Illinois Superconductor Corporation
             --------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)




            Delaware                  0-22302             36-3688459
  ---------------------------       -----------        ------------------     
  State or Other Jurisdiction       (Commission          (IRS Employer
      of incorporation)             File Number)       Identification No.



     451 Kingston Court, Mount Prospect, Illinois             60056
     --------------------------------------------          ----------   
       (Address of Principal Executive Offices)            (Zip Code)



       Registrant's telephone number, including area code (847) 391-9400



<PAGE>   2



ITEM 5.   OTHER EVENTS.

On April 14, 1997, the Registrant issued the press release attached as Exhibit
99.1 regarding its entering into an employment agreement with Robert A.
Riccitelli, attached as Exhibit 10.1.  The information contained in this press
release and employment agreement is incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 7.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

    (c)   Exhibits.

          10.1   Employment Agreement between Registrant and
                 Robert A. Riccitelli dated April 1, 1997.

          99.1   Press Release of Registrant dated April 14, 1997






                                      2

<PAGE>   3





                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                           Illinois Superconductor Corporation




Dated:  April 14, 1997               By:  /s/ ORA E. SMITH
                                          ----------------
                                          Ora E. Smith
                                          President and Chief Executive Officer







                                      3
<PAGE>   4




                                Exhibit Index
                                -------------



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 
   
    Exhibit #                 Item
    ---------          --------------------  
      <S>              <C>
      10.1             Employment Agreement
  
      99.1             Press Release

</TABLE>






<PAGE>   1
                                                               Exhibit 10.1

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     Employment Agreement dated and effective as of April 1, 1997, (this
"AGREEMENT"), between ILLINOIS SUPERCONDUCTOR CORPORATION, a Delaware
corporation (with its successors and assigns, referred to as the "COMPANY"),
and ROBERT A. RICCITELLI ("RICCITELLI").


                             PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

     The Company desires to employ Riccitelli, and Riccitelli wishes to be
employed by the Company, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in this Agreement.  The Company and Riccitelli also wish to enter into the
other agreements set forth in this Agreement, all of which are related to
Riccitelli's employment under this Agreement.


                                   AGREEMENT

     Riccitelli and the Company therefore agree as follows:

     1.  EMPLOYMENT FOR TERM.  The Company hereby employs Riccitelli and
Riccitelli hereby accepts employment with the Company for a 12 month period
beginning on April 21, 1997, (the "TERM"), or upon the earlier termination of
the Term pursuant to Section 6 below.  The end of the Term for any reason shall
end Riccitelli's employment under this Agreement, but shall not terminate
Riccitelli's or the Company's other obligations in this Agreement.

     2.  POSITION AND DUTIES.  During the Term, Riccitelli shall serve as the
Vice President of Sales and Marketing of the Company.  During the Term,
Riccitelli shall also hold such other positions and titles as the Board of
Directors of the Company (the "BOARD") may determine from time to time.  During
the Term, Riccitelli shall devote substantially all of his business time and
best efforts to his duties as an employee of the Company.

     3.  COMPENSATION.

     (a)  BASE SALARY.  The Company shall pay Riccitelli a base salary,
beginning on the first day of the Term and ending on the last day of the Term,
of not less than $150,000 per annum, payable at least monthly on the Company's
regular pay cycle for professional employees.

     (b)  BONUSES.  Subject to approval by the Board, which approval shall not
be withheld unreasonably, Riccitelli shall be eligible to receive a bonus of one
percent of all Net Revenues received by the Company from the sale of radio
frequency filters during the Term of this Agreement.  Net Revenues shall include
the amount collected on the sale of radio frequency filters, but always
excluding any invoiced or received sums for freight, shipping, handling, sales
tax, use tax, installation work or any other non filter revenues.  Riccitelli's
eligibility for any bonus under this Section 3(b) shall cease upon termination
of this Agreement.  Riccitelli acknowledges that he shall not be eligible for,
entitled to, or a 

<PAGE>   2
procuring cause of any Net Revenues received by the Company on any sales after
the date this Agreement terminates.

     (c)  ADDITIONAL BASE SALARY AND BONUSES.  Sections 3(a) and 3(b) establish 
minimum salary and bonus grant levels for Riccitelli during the Term, and shall
not preclude the Board from awarding Riccitelli a higher salary at any time,
nor shall they preclude the Board from awarding Riccitelli bonuses or other
compensation at the discretion of the Board.

     (d)  SIGN-ON BONUS.  The Company shall pay Riccitelli a sign on bonus
payment of $25,000.  This payment shall be payable on the same day that
Riccitelli receives his first payment of base salary on the Company's regular
pay cycle for professional employees.

     (e)  STOCK OPTIONS.  On and as of the date of this Agreement (the "Grant
Date"), the corporation shall grant to Riccitelli non-qualified options (the
"Options") under the Corporation's Amended and Restated 1993 Stock Option Plan,
as it may be amended from time to time (the "Plan") to purchase up to 50,000
shares of the Corporation's common stock, (a) exercisable upon vesting at a
price per share equal to 100% of the fair Market Value (as defined in the Plan)
of the Corporation's common stock on the Grant date, (b) vesting on the last
day of the calendar month in which the first anniversary of the Grant Date
occurs, with respect to 12,500 shares of common stock, and vesting on the last
day of each of the following thirty-six calendar months, with respect to
1,041-2/3 shares of common stock each month, in each case provided that
Riccitelli is employed by the Corporation at each respective date of vesting,
and (c) otherwise subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

     (f)  RELOCATION BONUS.  The Company shall pay Riccitelli a one time
relocation bonus of $40,000 provided that Riccitelli closes on the purchase of
a primary residence in the Chicago area on or before August 31, 1997.  This
payment shall be payable to Riccitelli at closing or on the first normally
scheduled pay day following Riccitelli's notification of the home purchase to
the Company at Riccitelli's option.  Provided, however, the time will be
extended for up to 3 months if Riccitelli has established permanent residence
in the Chicago area by August 31, 1997.

     (g)  REIMBURSEMENT OF RELOCATION EXPENSES.  Upon presentation of receipts
or other appropriate proofs of payment acceptable to the Company, the Company
will reimburse Riccitelli for the reasonable costs, in accordance with
Company's travel expense policies, he incurs for: (i) a maximum of three
house-hunting trips for Riccitelli and spouse, to include child-care while
Riccitelli and spouse are taking such trips; (ii) sales commission and
reasonable closing costs paid by Riccitelli to sell his house in Grapevine,
Texas; (iii) a maximum of two "points" (2% of the mortgage principal) paid by
Riccitelli to obtain a mortgage for the purchase of a house in the Chicago
area; (iv) reasonable closing costs paid for the purchase of a house in the
Chicago area; (v) the movement of household goods; and (vi) travel expenses of
Riccitelli, spouse and children for the final move to the new house.  The
Company will advance to Riccitelli the sums pursuant to items (iii), (ii) and
(v) upon verification of the required amounts so that Riccitelli can pay for
such items when required.


                                     -2-
<PAGE>   3

     (h)  COMMUTING AND LIVING EXPENSES.  During the time that Riccitelli is
employed by the Company, but has not yet moved his residence to the Chicago
area, the Company will reimburse reasonable travel expenses in accordance with
the Company's travel expense policies for Riccitelli to live in Chicago area as
needed and to return to Texas once per week.  Such reimbursement of commuting
and living expenses will cease as of and for commuting completed by December 1,
1997, and no further reimbursement of commuting and living expenses will be
available after December 1, 1997.

     (i)  REIMBURSEMENT TO COMPANY.  Riccitelli agrees that if he resigns his
employment with the Company, or if his employment is terminated for Cause (as
defined in Section 7(a) below), within 12 months after the beginning of the
Term (as stated in Section 1 above):

        [a]  The Company shall have no obligation to provide any remaining
             reimbursement to Riccitelli for Relocation Expenses (as defined,
             respectively, in Section 3(g));

        [b]  Riccitelli shall reimburse the Company pro rata for any sums
             provided to him for Relocation Expenses (as defined in Section
             3(g)), computed on the basis of the number of days remaining in
             the period between the date of Riccitelli's resignation or 
             termination for Cause, and the first anniversary of the beginning 
             of the Term;

        [c]  Riccitelli shall reimburse the Company for the full amount of the
             Sign-on Bonus and any relocation Bonus (as defined, respectively 
             in Sections 3(d) and 3(f)) paid to Riccitelli as of the date of 
             his resignation or termination for Cause;

        [d]  Riccitelli authorizes the Company to deduct from any compensation 
             earned but unpaid to him under Sections 3(a), 3(b) or 3(c) as of 
             the date of his resignation or termination for Cause, all or any 
             part of any reimbursement that Riccitelli may owe to the Company 
             under Sections 3(i)[b] or 3(i)[3] above.

     4.  EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.  During the Term, Riccitelli shall be entitled to 
the employee benefits, including vacation, health and other insurance benefits,
and deferred compensation arrangements, made available by the Company to any 
other employee of the Company.

     5.  EXPENSES.  The Company shall reimburse Riccitelli for actual 
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by him in the performance of his services for
the Company (in accordance with the Company's policy for such reimbursements
applicable to the Company's executive officers on the same terms generally
offered to such officers), upon the receipt of appropriate documentation of
such expenses.


                                     -3-
<PAGE>   4

     6. TERMINATION.

     (a) GENERAL.  The Term shall end immediately upon Riccitelli's death.  The
Company may end the Term at any time for any reason or no reason, with or
without "Cause" (as defined in Section 7(a) below) in the absolute discretion
of the Board (but subject to the Company's obligations under this Agreement).

     (b) NOTICE OF TERMINATION.  Promptly after it ends the Term, the Company 
shall give Riccitelli notice of termination, including a statement of whether 
the termination was for Cause.  The Company's failure to give notice under this
Section 6(b) shall not, however, affect the validity of the Company's 
termination of the Term.

     7. SEVERANCE BENEFITS.

     (a) "CAUSE" DEFINED.  "Cause" means (i) willful malfeasance or willful
misconduct by Riccitelli in connection with his employment; (ii) Riccitelli's
gross negligence in performing any of his duties under this Agreement; (iii)
Riccitelli's conviction of, or entry of a plea of guilty to, or entry of a plea
of nolo contendre with respect to, any crime other than a traffic violation or
infraction which is a misdemeanor; (iv) Riccitelli's willful breach of any
written policy applicable to all employees adopted by the Company concerning
conflicts of interest, political contributions, standards of business conduct
or fair employment practices, procedures with respect to compliance with
securities laws or any similar matters, or adopted pursuant to the requirements
of any government contract or regulation; or (v) material breach by Riccitelli
of any of his agreements in this Agreement.

     (b) TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE.  If the Company ends the Term prior to the
conclusion of the 12 month period beginning on April 21, 1997, other than for
Cause, then the Company shall pay severance to Riccitelli in a maximum amount
equal to Riccitelli's base salary per annum in effect on the day the Term ends,
for a period equal to the greater of: (i) 90 days from the date that the
Company ends the Term, or (ii) the number of days between the date that the
Company ends the Term and the end of the 12-month period beginning on April 21,
1997.  The severance shall be payable in proportionate amounts at least monthly
on the Company's regular pay cycle for professional employees. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no severance shall be owing or
payable to Riccitelli in the event that his employment ends at the conclusion
of the Term ending 12 months after the period beginning on April 21, 1997.

     (c) TERMINATION FOR ANY OTHER REASON.  If the Company ends the Term for 
Cause, or if Riccitelli resigns as an employee or officer of the Company, or if
Riccitelli dies, then the Company shall have no obligation to pay Riccitelli
any amount, whether for salary, benefits, bonuses, or other compensation or
expense reimbursements of any kind, accruing after the end of the Term, and
such rights shall, except as otherwise required by law, be forfeited
immediately upon the end of the Term.

                                     -4-
<PAGE>   5

     8. CONFIDENTIALITY, OWNERSHIP, AND COVENANTS OF NON-COMPETITION AND
NON-SOLICITATION.

     (a) "COMPANY INFORMATION" AND "INVENTIONS" DEFINED.  "COMPANY INFORMATION"
means all information, knowledge or data of or pertaining to (i) the Company,
and (ii) any other person, firm, corporation or business organization with
which the Company may do business during the Term, that is not in the public
domain (and whether relating to methods, processes, techniques, discoveries,
pricing, marketing or any other matters).  Riccitelli acknowledges that it is
not necessary for the Company to label information as "Confidential" or to
utilize expensive security systems (although the Company may do so in its
discretion) in order to maintain the confidentiality of such information.
"INVENTIONS" collectively refers to any and all inventions, trade secrets,
ideas, processes, formulas, source and object codes, data, programs, other
works of authorship, know-how, improvements, discoveries, developments,
designs, and techniques regarding any of the foregoing.

     (b) CONFIDENTIALITY.  Except as provided in the next two sentences, 
Riccitelli covenants and agrees that all Company Information shall be kept 
secret and confidential at all times during and after the end of the Term and 
shall not be used or divulged by him outside the scope of his employment as 
contemplated by this Agreement, except as the Company may otherwise expressly 
authorize by action of the Board.  In the event that Riccitelli is required by
a court or governmental agency of competent jurisdiction to disclose any of the
Company Information, Riccitelli will promptly so notify the Company so that the
Company may seek a protective order or other appropriate remedy and/or waive 
compliance with this Agreement.

     (c) OWNERSHIP.  Riccitelli hereby assigns to the Company all of 
Riccitelli's right (including patent rights, copyrights, trade secret rights, 
and all other rights throughout the world), title and interest in and to 
Inventions, whether or not patentable or registrable under copyright or 
similar statutes, made or conceived or reduced to practice or learned by 
Riccitelli, either alone or jointly with others, during the course of the 
performance of services for the Company.  Riccitelli shall also assign to, or 
as directed by, the Company, all of Riccitelli's right, title and interest in 
and to any and all Inventions, the full title to which is required to be in the
United States government by a contract between the Company and the United 
States government or any of its agencies.  The provisions of Sections 8(a), 
8(b) and this Section 8(c) are not intended to supersede or limit the effect of
any prior confidentiality or proprietary rights agreements previously executed
by Riccitelli.

     (d) PERIOD DEFINED.  "NON-COMPETITION PERIOD" means the period beginning on
the day following the date of termination of Riccitelli's employment with the
Company and ending on the second anniversary of the day following the date of
termination of Riccitelli's employment with the Company.

     (e) COVENANTS OF NON-COMPETITION AND NON-SOLICITATION.  Riccitelli
acknowledges that his services pursuant to this Agreement are unique and
extraordinary, that 

                                     -5-
<PAGE>   6

the Company will be dependent upon Riccitelli for the development and growth of
its business and related functions, and that he will continue to develop 
personal relationships with significant customers of the Company and to have 
control of confidential information concerning, and lists of customers of, the
Company.  Riccitelli agrees that the customer relationships he develops will 
occur because of the Company's relationship with its customers and clients and
because of Riccitelli's employment with the Company.  Riccitelli further 
acknowledges that the business of the Company is international in scope and 
cannot be confined to any particular geographic area of the United States.  For
the foregoing reasons, Riccitelli covenants and agrees that during the 
Non-Competition Period Riccitelli shall not, directly or indirectly, engage in,
be financially interested in, represent, render any advice or services to, or 
be employed by, affiliated or in any way associated with, any other business 
(conducted for profit or not for profit) that is engaged in the development or 
production of (i) high temperature superconducting materials, (ii) radio 
frequency filter devices, or (iii) fault current limiter devices, in any such 
case for or related to uses which are or could reasonably deemed to be 
competitive with the current or currently contemplated business of the Company 
in the world.  For the reasons acknowledged by Riccitelli at the beginning of 
this Section 8(e), Riccitelli additionally acknowledges, covenants, and agrees 
that, during the Non-Competition Period, Riccitelli shall not, directly or 
indirectly, whether on his own behalf or on behalf of any other person or 
entity, in any manner (A) solicit the business of or otherwise contact in any 
commercial capacity any person or entity that is, or is reasonably anticipated 
to become, at the date of termination, a customer, supplier, or contractor of
the Company for the purpose of obtaining business of the type performed by the 
Company, or (B) solicit for employment or engagement any persons who were 
officers or employees of the Company upon the date of termination of his 
employment hereunder, or at any time during a ninety-day period preceding such 
date, or aid any competitive business organization in any attempt to hire any 
such officers or employees of the Company.

     (f) EQUITABLE REMEDIES.  Riccitelli acknowledges, covenants and agrees 
that, in the event he shall violate any provisions of this Section 8, the 
Company will not have an adequate remedy at law and will therefore be entitled 
to enforce such provision by temporary or permanent injunctive or mandatory 
relief obtained in an action or proceeding without the necessity of posting 
any bond of any kind whatsoever, and without prejudice to any other remedies 
that may be available at law or in equity.  The foregoing restrictions shall 
not preclude Riccitelli from the ownership of not more than three percent (3%)
of the vote securities of any corporation whose voting securities are
registered under Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, even if
its business competes with that of the Company.

     (g) If, as a result of Riccitelli's actual or threatened breach of any of
his obligations under this Agreement, the Company retains counsel for the
purposes of enforcing or preventing a breach of any provisions hereof,
including without limitation, instituting any suit or proceeding to enforce any
provision hereof, by seeking any judicial remedy, then the Company shall be
entitled, in addition to such other relief as may be granted, to recover from
Riccitelli all costs and expenses incurred by the Company, including without
limitations, its reasonable attorneys' fees.

                                     -6-
<PAGE>   7

     9. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.

     (a) RICCITELLI.  This Agreement is a personal contract, and the rights and
interests that the Agreement accords to Riccitelli may not be sold,
transferred, assigned, pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated by him.  Riccitelli
shall not have any power of anticipation, alienation or assignment of the
payments contemplated by this Agreement, all rights and benefits of Riccitelli
shall be for the sole personal benefit of Riccitelli, and no other person shall
acquire any right, title or interest under this Agreement by reason of any
sale, assignment, transfer, claim or judgment or bankruptcy proceedings against
Riccitelli.  Except as so provided, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon Riccitelli and his personal representatives,
distributees and legatees.

     (b) THE COMPANY.  This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and 
inure to the benefit of the Company and of its successors and assigns, 
including (but not limited to) any corporation that may acquire all or 
substantially all of the Company's assets or business or into or with which 
the Company may be consolidated or merged.  This Agreement shall continue in 
full force and effect in the event that the Company sells all or substantially
all of its assets, merges or consolidates, otherwise combines or affiliates 
with another business, dissolves and liquidates, or otherwise sells or disposes
of substantially all of its assets.  The Company's obligations under this 
Agreement shall cease, however, if the successor to, the purchaser or acquiror
either of the Company or of all or substantially all of its assets, or the 
entity with which the Company has affiliated, shall assume in writing the 
Company's obligations under this Agreement (and deliver an executed copy of 
such assumption to Riccitelli), in which case such successor or purchaser, but
not the Company, shall thereafter be the only party obligated to perform the 
obligations that remain to be performed on the part of the Company under this 
Agreement.

     10. ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  This Agreement represents the entire agreement 
between the parties concerning Riccitelli's employment with the Company and 
supersedes all prior negotiations, discussions, understandings and agreements,
whether written or oral, between Riccitelli and the Company relating to the 
subject matter of this Agreement.

     11. AMENDMENT OR MODIFICATION, WAIVER.  No provision of this Agreement may
be amended or waived unless such amendment or waiver is agreed to in writing
signed by Riccitelli and by a duly authorized officer of the Company other than
Riccitelli.  No waiver by any party to this Agreement of any breach by another
party of any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such
other party shall be deemed a waiver of a similar or dissimilar condition or
provision at the same time, any prior time or any subsequent time.

     12. NOTICES.  All notices, demands or other communications of any kind to
be given or delivered under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been properly given if (a) delivered by hand, (b) delivered by a
nationally recognized overnight courier service, (c) sent by registered or
certified United States Mail, return receipt requested and first class postage
prepaid, or (d) facsimile transmission followed by a confirmation copy

                                     -7-
<PAGE>   8

delivered by a nationally recognized overnight courier service.  Such
communications shall be sent to the parties at their respective addresses as
follows:


<TABLE>
<S>                            <C>
If to Riccitelli:               Robert A. Riccitelli
                                3502 Windsor Forrest Drive
                                Grapevine, TX 76051

If to the Company:              Illinois Superconductor Corporation
                                451 Kingston Court
                                Mount Prospect, Illinois 60056
                                Attention:  Chief Executive Officer

with a copy to:                 Bruce A. Zivian
                                Eilenberg & Zivian
                                30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2900
                                Chicago, Illinois  60602
</TABLE>


Either party may change such address for delivery to the other party by
delivery of a notice in conformity with the provisions of this section
specifying such change.  Notice shall be deemed to have been properly given (i)
on the date of delivery, if delivery is by hand, (ii) three (3) days after the
date of mailing if sent by certified or registered mail, (iii) one (1) day
after date of delivery to the overnight courier if sent by overnight courier,
or (iv) the next business day after the date of transmission by facsimile.

     13. SEVERABILITY.  If any provision of this Agreement or the application
of any such provision to any party or circumstances shall be determined by any
court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid and unenforceable to any extent,
the remainder of this Agreement or the application of such provision to such
person or circumstances other than those to which it is so determined to be
invalid and unenforceable shall not be affected, and each provision of this
Agreement shall be validated and shall be enforced to the fullest extent
permitted by law. If for any reason any provision of this Agreement containing
restrictions is held to cover an area or to be for a length of time that is
unreasonable or in any other way is construed to be too broad or to any extent
invalid, such provision shall not be determined to be entirely null, void and
of no effect; instead, it is the intention and desire of both the Company and
Riccitelli that, to the extent that the provision is or would be valid or
enforceable under applicable law, any court of competent jurisdiction shall
construe and interpret or reform this Agreement to provide for a restriction
having the maximum enforceable area, time period and such other constraints or
conditions as shall be valid and enforceable under the applicable law.

     14. SURVIVORSHIP.  The respective rights and obligations of the parties
hereunder shall survive any termination of this Agreement to the extent
necessary to the intended preservation of such rights and obligations.

                                     -8-
<PAGE>   9

     15. HEADINGS.  All descriptive headings of sections and paragraphs in this
Agreement are intended solely for convenience of reference, and no provision of
this Agreement is to be construed by reference to the heading of any section or
paragraph.

     16. WITHHOLDING TAXES.  All salary, benefits, reimbursements and any other
payments to Riccitelli under this Agreement shall be subject to all applicable
payroll and withholding taxes and deductions required by any law, rule or
regulation of and federal, state or local authority.

     17. APPLICABLE LAW:  JURISDICTION.  The laws of the State of Illinois
shall govern the interpretation, validity and performance of the terms of this
Agreement, without reference to rules relating to conflicts of law.  Any suit,
action or proceeding against Riccitelli with respect to this Agreement, or any
judgment entered by any court in respect thereof, may be brought in any court
of competent jurisdiction in the State of Illinois, as the Company may elect in
its sole discretion, and Riccitelli hereby submits to the nonexclusive
jurisdiction of such courts for the purpose of any such suit, action,
proceeding or judgment.

     18. INTERPRETATION AND CONSTRUCTION.  Each of the parties to this
Agreement has been represented by their own counsel, each has reviewed and
approved this Agreement as executed, and neither party shall be charged with
the responsibility of having drafted any provision of this Agreement so as to
cause any rule of strict construction to be applied against such party.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Employment
Agreement as of the date first above written.




     ILLINOIS SUPERCONDUCTOR CORPORATION



                       By:       /S/ EDWARD W. LAVES
                            -----------------------------
                            Edward W. Laves
                            Executive Vice President and
                            Chief Operating Officer


                                 /S/ ROBERT A. RICCITELLI
                            -----------------------------
                            ROBERT A. RICCITELLI


                                                                        4/1/97

                                     -9-

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1


               [ILLINOIS SUPERCONDUCTOR CORPORATION LETTERHEAD]


                                                        NEWS

                                                                RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                          CONTACT:  Stephen G. Wasko
                                               PHONE:   (847) 391-9400
                                               Internet:  [email protected]

            ILLINOIS SUPERCONDUCTOR CORPORATION APPOINTS NORTHERN
              TELECOM EXECUTIVE TO KEY SALES AND MARKETING POST

        Mount Prospect, IL (April 14, 1997) -- Illinois Superconductor
Corporation (Nasdaq:  ISCO) today announced the appointment of Robert A.
Riccitelli to the position of vice president, sales and marketing.

        Riccitelli, 40, will be responsible for leading worldwide sales and
marketing activities for the company, whose products include the award-winning
SpectrumMaster(TM) filter and the newly introduced RangeMaster(TM) high
performance receiver front-end product for cellular and Personal Communications
Services (PCS) base stations.

        Prior to joining Illinois Superconductor, Riccitelli spent 17 years in
various telecommunications sales positions at Northern Telecom, where he most
recently served as vice president of sales for Nortel Wireless Networks.

        "ISCO is extremely happy to have a wireless equipment sales executive
of Bob Riccitelli's caliber join our company," said Ora Smith, president and
CEO.  "Bob has a great record of success in selling base station equipment into
the cellular and PCS infrastructure markets, and these are exactly the segments
we are targeting.  We look forward to having Bob help us accelerate our sales
and marketing efforts."

        "I am very excited to join the Illinois Superconductor team," said
Riccitelli.  "The company's SpectrumMaster(TM) and RangeMaster(TM) products
offer wireless carriers unique solutions in their ongoing efforts to reduce
interference and cost-effectively increase coverage."

        Riccitelli received a bachelor's degree in business from Syracuse
University, and will be relocating with his family to the Chicago area from
Dallas.

        Illinois Superconductor Corporation (ISC) is a leader in the
commercialization of high temperature superconducting (HTS) technology for the
wireless telecommunications industry.  The company develops, manufactures, and
markets radio frequency (RF) products to enhance the quality and capacity of
cellular telephone and other wireless telecommunications services.


                                    # # #





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