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AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JULY 1, 1999
REGISTRATION NO. 333-77337
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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AMENDMENT NO. 2
TO FORM S-3
ON FORM S-2
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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ILLINOIS SUPERCONDUCTOR CORPORATION
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
DELAWARE 36-3688459
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) IDENTIFICATION NO.)
451 KINGSTON COURT, MT. PROSPECT, ILLINOIS 60056, (847) 391-9400
(ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF
REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
EDWARD W. LAVES
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
ILLINOIS SUPERCONDUCTOR CORPORATION
451 KINGSTON COURT, MT. PROSPECT, ILLINOIS 60056, (847) 391-9400
(NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA
CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
---------------------------
WITH COPIES TO:
LAWRENCE D. LEVIN, ESQ.
Katten Muchin & Zavis
525 West Monroe Street
Chicago, Illinois 60661
(312) 902-5200
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APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: From
time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be
offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the
Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with
dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: |X|
If the registrant elects to deliver its latest annual report to
security holders, or a complete and legible facsimile thereof, pursuant to Item
11(a)(1) of this form, check the following box: |_|
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering: |_| _____
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule
462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities
Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration
statement for the same offering: |_|____
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule
462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities
Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration
statement for the same offering: |_|____
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule
434, please check the following box. |_|
PURSUANT TO RULE 429 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THE COMBINED
PROSPECTUS CONTAINED IN THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ALSO RELATES TO THE
REGISTRANT'S REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3 (REG. NO. 333-56601), WHICH
REGISTERED 11,592,000 SHARES OF THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK AND WAS DECLARED
EFFECTIVE BY THE COmMISSION ON AUGUST 13, 1998.
THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE
OR DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT
SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SECTION 8(a), MAY
DETERMINE.
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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. The
selling stockholders may not sell these securities until the registration
statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This
prospectus is not an offer to sell, and is not soliciting an offer to buy, these
securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to Completion, Dated July 1, 1999
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PROSPECTUS
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18,340,183 SHARES
[LOGO] ILLINOIS
SUPERCONDUCTOR
CORPORATION
COMMON STOCK
____________
This prospectus relates to the offer and sale from time to time of up
to 18,340,183 shares of our common stock, including preferred stock purchase
rights, by the selling stockholders specified in this prospectus. We have issued
or will issue the shares upon conversion of senior convertible notes and
exercise of certain warrants held by the selling stockholders. We will not
receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares, but we will receive proceeds
from the exercise of the warrants.
Our common stock is traded on the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. over-the-counter electronic bulletin board under the symbol
"ISCO." On June 29, 1999, the closing price of our common stock as reported on
the over-the-counter bulletin board was $0.75 per share. Our principal executive
offices are located at 451 Kingston Court, Mt. Prospect, Illinois 60056 and our
telephone number at that address is (847) 391-9400.
AN INVESTMENT IN THE SHARES OFFERED HEREBY ENTAILS A HIGH DEGREE OF
RISK. SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNiNG ON PAGE 2 FOR INFORMATION THAT YOU SHOULD
CONSIDER BEFORE PURCHaSING THE SHARES OFFERED BY THIS PROSPECTUS.
____________
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this
prospectus if truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.
____________
The date of this Prospectus is ___________, 1999
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RISK FACTORS
An investment in the shares of our common stock entails a high degree
of risk. You should carefully consider the following risks and uncertainties,
and all other information contained or incorporated by reference in this
prospectus, before purchasing the shares of our common stock offered by this
prospectus. Any of the following risks could materially adversely affect our
business, operating results or financial condition and could result in a
complete loss of your investment.
OUR SUPERCONDUCTING TELECOMMUNICATIONS PRODUCTS MAY NEVER ACHIEVE MARKET
ACCEPTANCE.
Our radio frequency filter products, which are based on our patented
and proprietary high-temperature superconducting technology, have not been sold
in very large quantities and a sufficient market may not develop for such
products. Our products may not continue to meet the demanding product
performance and reliability criteria set by wireless telecommunications service
providers. Also, our products may not operate reliably on a long-term basis.
Repeated or widespread quality problems could result in significant warranty
expenses and/or the loss of customer confidence. Failure to successfully
develop, manufacture and commercialize products on a timely and cost-effective
basis will have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and
financial condition.
WE HAVE A LIMITED OPERATING HISTORY, HAVE INCURRED SIGNIFICANT LOSSES SINCE OUR
FOUNDING AND MAY NEVER ACHIEVE PROFITABILITY.
We have only recently begun to generate significant revenues from the
sale of our products and do not expect revenues to increase dramatically until
we ship a significantly larger amount of our products. Accordingly, we have only
a limited operating history upon which an evaluation of our business and
prospects can be based. We must therefore be considered in light of the risks,
expenses and difficulties frequently encountered by companies in their early
stages of product commercialization.
We have incurred substantial net losses in each year since our
inception and expect to continue to incur operating losses through at least the
end of 1999. We must overcome significant manufacturing and marketing hurdles to
sell large quantities of our products. In order to continue to grow revenues, we
may be required to further reduce the prices of our products. In the event of
further price reductions, we may not be able to reduce product costs
sufficiently to achieve acceptable product margins. We may never achieve
profitability or, if profitability is achieved, we may not sustain it.
INSUFFICIENT ADDITIONAL FUNDING MAY PREVENT COMMERCIALIZATION OF OUR PRODUCTS,
AND WE MAY BE UNABLE TO CONTINUE AS A GOING CONCERN.
We will require substantial additional funds during the fourth quarter
of 1999 to finance our product development, manufacturing, marketing and sales
activities. Our outstanding debt instruments contain certain restrictions which
may adversely impair our ability to obtain additional financing. See "Our
significant indebtedness may adversely affect our ability to compete against
better capitalized competitors and restrict our ability to obtain additional
financing" below. If adequate financing is not available on acceptable terms
when needed, we (1) will be required to substantially delay, scale-back or
eliminate the manufacturing, marketing or sales of one or more of our products
or research and development programs or (2) may be required to obtain funds
through arrangements with collaborative partners or others that may require us
to relinquish rights to certain of our technologies or potential products that
we would not otherwise relinquish. In particular, if we do not secure adequate
financing prior to or during the fourth quarter of 1999, we will have to
substantially reduce our operating plans in order to continue our operations
beyond such date. This would materially
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adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition and
impair our ability to compete in the marketplace.
The report of our independent auditors on our financial statements
which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus contain an explanatory
paragraph that states that we have suffered ongoing operating losses and do not
currently have financing commitments in place to meet expected cash requirements
through 1999. These matters raise substantial doubt about our ability to
continue as a going concern. Our financial statements do not include any
adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
BECAUSE OUR COMMON STOCK IS NOT CURRENTLY TRADED ON A NATIONAL SECURITIES MARKET
OR EXCHANGE AND IS SUBJECT TO THE SEC'S "PENNY STOCK" RULES, IT WILL BE MORE
DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO SELL, AND TO QUICKLY AND ACCURATELY OBTAIN QUOTATIONS AS TO
THE PRICE OF, OUR COMMON STOCK.
Nasdaq recently delisted our common stock for trading on the Nasdaq
National Market due to our current inability to meet the net tangible assets
requirement for continued listing. Our common stock is now traded in the
over-the-counter market and quoted on the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. electronic bulletin board. These sources do not provide the same
type of trading information as Nasdaq, and the over-the-counter market does not
provide the same liquidity for the trading of securities as Nasdaq. Therefore,
it will be more difficult for you to (1) quickly and accurately obtain price
quotations for our common stock from these sources and (2) sell our common stock
in the over-the-counter market.
Because our common stock is not traded on a national securities market
or exchange and we do not meet certain net tangible assets, revenue or trading
price requirements, our common stock is subject to the SEC's "penny stock"
rules. These rules require non-exempt brokers and dealers who sell or make a
market in our common stock to, among other things, (1) maintain detailed records
on us and their own trading activities in connection with our common stock and
(2) provide risk and investment suitability disclosure to purchasers of our
common stock. Consequently, this could affect the willingness of brokers and
dealers to sell or make a market in our common stock. This, in turn, could make
it more difficult for you to quickly and easily sell our common stock.
OUR SIGNIFICANT INDEBTEDNESS MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO COMPETE AGAINST
BETTER CAPITALIZED COMPETITORS AND RESTRICT OUR ABILITY TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL
FINANCING.
As of March 31, 1999, our ratio of total debt to total capitalization
was approximately 103%. Our indebtedness primarily consists of senior
convertible notes held by the selling stockholders. The substantial degree to
which we are leveraged may adversely affect our ability to finance our future
operations, to compete effectively against better capitalized competitors and to
withstand downturns in our business or the economy generally. Although the
outstanding senior convertible notes currently permit, subject to certain
restrictions, us to pay accrued interest on such securities in shares of our
common stock, we may not be permitted to do so in the future. Our business may
not generate sufficient cash flow, or we may not be able to raise sufficient
additional funds, to pay such interest in cash which may cause the outstanding
senior convertible notes to become due and payable immediately. In addition, the
outstanding senior convertible notes contain restrictions that may adversely
affect our ability to obtain additional equity or debt financing. Under the
senior convertible notes, we are not permitted, without the prior approval of
the holders of the senior convertible notes:
- to incur any additional indebtedness, other than pursuant to a
working capital line of credit in an amount not to exceed $1 million
or to trade creditors in the ordinary course of business;
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- to create any lien, pledge, or encumbrance, subject to certain
exceptions, on any of our assets;
- for so long as a significant portion of the senior convertible notes
remain outstanding, to engage in certain sale or merger
transactions, or to engage in certain other transactions which
require the approval of our stockholders;
- to redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any of our equity or debt
securities which are junior in rights or preferences to the senior
convertible notes; or
- to pay any dividend, other than in shares of common stock, with
respect to junior securities.
In addition, in the event that we fail to achieve break-even or positive
operating income during the second quarter of 2000, the outstanding senior
convertible notes may become immediately due and payable unless the holders
agree to modify or waive such provision. Furthermore, for so long as the amount
of our common stock issuable upon conversion of the senior convertible notes
represents 5% or more of the total then outstanding shares of our common stock,
the holders of the senior convertible notes have the right to designate two
members for election to our Board of Directors.
OUR COMMON STOCK PRICE HAS DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY DURING RELATIVELY SHORT
PERIODS OF TIME AND YOUR INVESTMENT COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED IF THESE PRICE
FLUCTUATIONS CONTINUE.
The market price of our common stock, like that of many other
high-technology companies, has fluctuated significantly. Since January 1, 1998,
the closing price of our common stock has ranged from a low of $0.53 per share
to a high of $3.31 per share. We believe the other factors disclosed under the
caption "Risk Factors" could cause the market price of our common stock to
continue to fluctuate significantly in the future. In addition, the stock market
from time to time experiences extreme price fluctuations which particularly
affect the market prices for high-technology companies, such as us, and which
are often unrelated to the operating performance of these companies. Extreme
volatility in the price of our common stock may prevent you from selling your
shares at a price equal to or above the price at which you purchased them.
OUR LIMITED COMMERCIAL MANUFACTURING EXPERIENCE MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR ABILITY
TO PRODUCE LARGE QUANTITIES OF OUR PRODUCTS, AT COMPETITIVE PRICES AND ON A
TIMELY BASIS.
For us to be financially successful, we must manufacture our products
in substantial quantities, at acceptable costs and on a timely basis. We have
only produced limited quantities of our products for commercial installations
and for use in development and customer field trial programs. To produce larger
quantities of our products at competitive prices and on a timely basis, we will
have to further develop our processing, production control, assembly, testing
and quality assurance capabilities. We may be unable to manufacture such
products in sufficient volume and may incur substantial costs and expenses in
connection with manufacturing larger quantities of our products. We may be
unable to make the transition to large scale commercial production successfully.
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IF WE DO NOT FURTHER DEVELOP OUR MARKETING AND SALES TEAM OR SUCCESSFULLY
DEVELOP COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THIRD PARTIES, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO
SUCCESSFULLY SELL LARGE QUANTITIES OF OUR PRODUCTS.
We must further develop our marketing and sales force in order to
effectively demonstrate the advantages of our products over more traditional
products and competitive superconductive products. We may also elect to enter
into agreements or relationships with third parties regarding the
commercialization or marketing of our products. If we enter into such agreements
or relationships, we will be substantially dependent upon the efforts of others
in deriving commercial benefits from our products. We may be unable to establish
adequate sales and distribution capabilities, we may be unable to enter into
marketing agreements or relationships with third parties on financially
acceptable terms, and any third parties with whom we enter into such
arrangements may not be successful in marketing our products.
IF WE DO NOT SUCCESSFULLY COMPETE WITH OTHERS IN THE VERY COMPETITIVE WIRELESS
TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT MARKET, WE MAY NOT ACHIEVE OR MAINTAIN
PROFITABILITY.
In wireless telecommunications applications, we compete with
conventional radio frequency component manufacturers whose products are
currently used by our potential customers. Many of these companies with which we
compete have substantially greater financial resources, larger research and
development staffs and greater manufacturing and marketing capabilities than us.
Other emerging wireless technologies, including "smart antennas" and tower
mounted amplifiers, may also provide protection from radio frequency
interference and offer enhanced range to wireless telecommunications service
providers at lower prices and/or superior performance. High performance radio
frequency filters may not become a preferred technology to address the needs of
these wireless telecommunications service providers. Failure of our products to
improve performance sufficiently, reliably, or at an acceptable price, to
achieve commercial acceptance or to otherwise successfully compete with
conventional and new technologies would have a material adverse effect on our
business, operating results and financial condition.
IF THE SUPERCONDUCTIVE ELECTRONICS MARKET BECOMES VERY COMPETITIVE AND WE ARE
NOT ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPETE WITH OTHERS IN THE MARKET, WE MAY NOT ACHIEVE
OR MAINTAIN PROFITABILITY.
Although the market for superconductive electronics currently is small
and in the early stages of development, we believe it will become intensely
competitive, especially if products with significant market potential are
successfully developed. In addition, if the superconducting industry develops,
additional competitors with significantly greater resources are likely to enter
the field. In order to compete successfully, we must:
- continue to develop and maintain technologically advanced products;
- manufacture and market our products in large commercial quantities,
either alone or with third parties;
- reduce production costs;
- attract and retain highly qualified personnel; and
- obtain additional patent or other intellectual property rights
protection for our technology and products.
We may be unable to achieve these objectives. Our failure to achieve these
objectives would have a material adverse effect on our business, operating
results and financial condition.
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OUR REDUCTION IN PRICES FOR OUR PRODUCTS MAY NOT GENERATE SUSTAINED SALES
GROWTH.
During the fourth quarter of 1998, we implemented a new pricing
strategy pursuant to which we reduced the prices for all of our products.
Although sales of our products increased significantly during the fourth quarter
of 1998, such sales growth was not sustained in the first quarter of 1999 and
may not be sustained over subsequent periods. Similarly, we may be unable to
continue to reduce product costs sufficiently to achieve and maintain acceptable
product margins.
WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO IMPROVE AND IMPLEMENT OPERATIONAL, FINANCIAL,
MANUFACTURING AND INFORMATIONAL SERVICES TO MANAGE OUR GROWTH.
Our growth to date has caused, and will continue to cause, a
significant strain on our management, operational, financial and other
resources. Our ability to manage our growth effectively will require us to
implement new, and improve our current, operational, financial, manufacturing
and management information systems and better train, manage and motivate our
employees. These demands may require the addition of new management personnel
and the development of additional expertise by management. Any increase in
resources devoted to product development and marketing and sales efforts could
have an adverse effect on our financial performance in the next several fiscal
quarters. If we receive substantial orders, we may have to expand our current
facility, which could cause an additional strain on our management personnel and
development resources. The failure of our management team to effectively manage
growth could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results
and financial condition.
WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ADEQUATELY RESPOND TO RAPIDLY CHANGING TECHNOLOGIES THAT
MAY RENDER OUR PRODUCTS NONCOMPETITIVE OR OBSOLETE.
Our success will depend in large part upon our ability to keep pace
with rapidly advancing superconducting technology, high performance radio
frequency filter design and efficient, low cost cryogenic technologies. The
Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, has adopted rules that provide
preferential licensing treatment for parties that develop communications
services and technologies. Therefore, our development efforts may be rendered
obsolete by the adoption of alternative solutions to current wireless
telecommunications operator problems or by technological advances made by
others. In addition, other materials or processes, including other
superconducting materials or fabrication processes, may prove more advantageous
for the commercialization of high performance wireless products than the
materials and processes selected by us.
ADVERSE CHANGES IN THE WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKET COULD DISRUPT THE SALE
OF OUR PRODUCTS.
We have selected the wireless telecommunications market, in particular
the cellular and personal communications services, or PCS, markets, as the first
principal target market for our superconductor-based products. The devotion of
substantial resources to the wireless telecommunications market makes us
vulnerable to adverse changes in this market. Adverse developments in the
wireless telecommunications market, which could come from a variety of sources,
including future competition, new technologies or regulatory decisions, could
affect the competitive position of wireless systems. In addition, the wireless
telecommunications market is currently experiencing an increasing rate of
consolidation among the largest wireless operators, which may cause a
significant disruption and/or delay in the sales of our products. Any adverse
developments in the wireless telecommunications market during the foreseeable
future would have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results
and financial condition.
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IF WE PURSUE MARKET OPPORTUNITIES UNRELATED TO HIGH-TEMPERATURE SUPERCONDUCTING
PRODUCTS FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKETS, WE MAY ENCOUNTER NEW RISKS WHICH WE ARE
NOT ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY ADDRESS.
Because high-temperature superconducting product development is a new
and emerging field, there may in the future be new opportunities that are more
attractive than those we have initially identified for our targeted markets. As
a result, we may elect in the future to commit our resources to such other
potentially more attractive market opportunities. Such election may require us
to limit or abandon our current focus on developing, manufacturing, marketing
and selling high-temperature superconducting products for cellular, personal
communications services and other telecommunications markets. The risks
associated with other markets may be different from the risks associated with
the cellular, personal communications services and other wireless
telecommunications markets, and we may be unable to successfully address such
risks.
BECAUSE ONLY A FEW CUSTOMERS ACCOUNT FOR A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF OUR REVENUE,
THE LOSS OF ONE OR MORE OF OUR SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS AND OUR FAILURE TO ATTRACT
NEW CUSTOMERS WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS.
To date, our marketing and sales efforts have focused on major cellular
service providers in retrofit applications and, to a lesser extent, on wireless
telecommunications original equipment manufacturers. During 1998, sales to three
of our customers accounted for over 88% of our total revenues for 1998. We
expect that if our products achieve market acceptance, a limited number of
wireless telecommunications service providers and original equipment
manufacturers will account for a substantial portion of our revenue during any
period. The loss of one or more of our significant customers and our failure to
attract new customers would have a material adverse effect on our business,
operating results and financial condition.
OUR INABILITY TO SHORTEN OUR CUSTOMERS' LENGTHY SALES CYCLES COULD MAKE IT
DIFFICULT TO PREDICT OUR FUTURE FLOW OF REVENUE.
Sales of many of our products depend in significant part upon the
decision of prospective customers and current customers to adopt and expand
their use of our products. Wireless telecommunications service providers and our
other customers are significantly larger than, and are able to exert a high
degree of influence over, us. We must generally undergo lengthy approval and
purchase processes with these customers, which can take up to a year or more.
Customers' orders and the length of their approval and purchase processes are
affected by a variety of factors, including:
- the complexity of the product involved and new product
introductions;
- the continued consolidation among our customers or potential
customers;
- regulatory issues affecting customers;
- end user demand for wireless services;
- customer budgeting cycles;
- inventory levels;
- customer integration requirements;
- competitive conditions; and
- general economic conditions.
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Our inability to shorten customers' approval and purchase processes could have a
material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial
condition.
BECAUSE A LIMITED NUMBER OF SOURCES SUPPLY PARTS THAT WE NEED, THE PARTS MAY NOT
BE AVAILABLE WHEN WE NEED THEM OR WE MAY UNNECESSARILY OVERSTOCK THE PARTS IN
ANTICIPATION OF ORDERS THAT DO NOT OCCUR.
Certain parts and components used in our products, including
substrates, vacuum components, and cryogenic refrigerators, are only available
from a limited number of sources and involve long lead times. Our reliance on
these limited source suppliers exposes us to certain risks and uncertainties,
including the possibility of a shortage or discontinuation of certain key
components and reduced control over delivery schedules, manufacturing
capabilities, quality and costs. Business disruption, production shortfalls or
financial difficulties of a limited source supplier could increase product costs
or reduce or eliminate the availability of such parts or components. In such
events, our inability to develop alternative sources of supply quickly and on a
cost-effective basis could materially impair our ability to manufacture and
deliver our products on a timely basis. This could result in the cancellation of
customer orders and have a material adverse effect on our business, operating
results and financial condition.
We have no guaranteed supply arrangements with our limited source
suppliers, do not maintain an extensive inventory of parts or components, and
customarily purchase parts and components pursuant to purchase orders placed
from time to time in the ordinary course of business. In the event of increases
in demand for our products, we may be required to stock certain long lead time
parts to satisfy customer requirements and in anticipation of future orders. The
failure of anticipated orders to materialize as forecasted could limit resources
available for other important purposes or accelerate our requirement for
additional funds. In addition, such excess inventory could become obsolete,
which could materially adversely affect our business, operating results and
financial condition.
IF WE ARE NOT ABLE TO PROTECT OUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND PATENTS
AGAINST INFRINGEMENT OR OTHERS OBTAIN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS RELATING TO
HIGH-TEMPERATURE SUPERCONDUCTING MATERIALS THAT WE USE, WE COULD LOSE OUR
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE IN THE WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKET.
Our success will depend in part on our ability to obtain patent
protection for our products and processes, to preserve our trade secrets and to
operate without infringing upon the patent or other proprietary rights of others
and without breaching or otherwise losing rights in the technology licenses upon
which any of our products are based. We believe that, since the discovery of
high-temperature superconducting materials in 1986, a large number of patent
applications have been filed worldwide and many patents have been granted in the
U.S. relating to high-temperature superconducting materials, including yttrium
barium copper oxide, which is the principal high-temperature superconducting
material in our present and currently proposed products, radio frequency
technologies and other products and technologies that we are pursuing. The
claims in those patents often appear to overlap and there are interference
proceedings pending in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, not currently
involving us, regarding rights to inventions claimed in some of the
high-temperature superconducting materials patent applications. We believe there
is a significant risk that current and potential competitors and other
third-parties have filed or will file patent applications for, or have obtained
or will obtain, patents or other proprietary rights relating to materials,
products or processes used or proposed to be used by us. In any such case, to
avoid infringement, we would have to either license such technologies or design
around any such patents. We may be unable to obtain licenses to such
technologies or, if obtainable, such licenses may not be available on terms
acceptable to us or we may be unable to successfully design around these
third-party patents.
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The patent applications filed by us or by our licensors may not result
in issued patents or the scope and breadth of any claims allowed in any patents
issued to us or our licensors may not exclude competitors or provide competitive
advantages to us. In addition, patents issued to us, or our licensors, may not
be held valid if subsequently challenged or others may claim rights in the
patents and other proprietary technologies owned or licensed by us. Others may
have developed or may in the future develop similar products or technologies
without violating any of our proprietary rights. Furthermore, our loss of any
license to technology that we now have or acquire in the future may have a
material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial
condition. Participation in litigation or patent office proceedings in the U.S.
or other countries may be necessary to enforce patents issued or licensed to us,
to defend against infringement claims made by others or to determine the
ownership, scope or validity of the proprietary rights of us and others. Such
litigation could result in substantial cost to us and diversion of our efforts.
An adverse outcome in any such proceedings could subject us to significant
liabilities to third parties, require us to seek licenses from third parties
and/or require us to cease using certain technologies. This could have a
material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial
condition.
OUR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH FCC OR EXPORT REGULATIONS WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR
ABILITY TO SELL OUR PRODUCTS IN THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD.
The operation of base stations is subject to FCC licensing and the
radio equipment into which our products would be incorporated is subject to FCC
approval. Base stations and the equipment marketed for use therein must meet
specified technical standards. Our ability to sell our products is dependent on
the ability of wireless base station equipment manufacturers and wireless base
station operators to obtain and retain the necessary FCC approvals and licenses.
In order for them to be acceptable to wireless base station equipment
manufacturers and to wireless base station operators, the characteristics,
quality and reliability of our wireless base station products must meet FCC
technical standards. Any failure to meet such standards or delays by wireless
base station equipment manufacturers and wireless base station operators in
obtaining the necessary approvals or licenses could have a material adverse
effect on our business, operating results and financial condition. In addition,
high-temperature superconducting radio frequency filters are on the U.S.
Department of Commerce's export regulation list. Therefore, the exportation of
our products to certain countries may be restricted or subject to export
licenses.
OUR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS AND OUR USE OF HAZARDOUS
MATERIALS COULD BE COSTLY TO US IF WE ARE FINED, OUR OPERATIONS ARE INTERRUPTED
OR WE INCUR ADDITIONAL OPERATIONAL EXPENSES.
We use certain hazardous materials in our research, development and
manufacturing operations. As a result, we are subject to stringent federal,
state and local regulations governing the storage, use and disposal of such
materials. It is possible that current or future laws and regulations could
require us to make substantial expenditures for preventive or remedial action,
reduction of chemical exposure, or waste treatment or disposal. Our operations,
business or assets could be materially and adversely affected by the
interpretation and enforcement of current or future environmental laws and
regulations. In particular, our failure to comply with present or future
regulations could result in fines being imposed, suspension of production or
interruption of our operations. In addition, there is the risk of accidental
contamination or injury from hazardous materials. In the event of an accident,
we could be held liable for any damages that result. Furthermore, the use and
disposal of hazardous materials involves the risk that we could incur
substantial expenditures for such preventive or remedial actions. The liability
in the event of an accident or the costs of such actions could exceed our
resources or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, results
of operations and financial condition.
9
<PAGE> 11
OUR INABILITY TO HIRE AND RETAIN EXPERIENCED KEY PERSONNEL COULD ADVERSELY
AFFECT THE DEVELOPMENT AND SALE OF OUR PRODUCTS.
Our success will depend in large part upon our ability to attract and
retain highly qualified management, administrative, manufacturing, marketing,
sales and research and development personnel that are experienced in the
wireless telecommunications and/or superconductive electronics industries. The
specialized nature of our business and the intense competition for qualified
high-technology and advanced science personnel in northern Illinois make it
difficult to locate and hire qualified personnel. The loss of services of any of
our executive officers or other key personnel, or our failure to attract and
retain other executive officers or key personnel, could have a material adverse
effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.
OUR SINGLE FACILITY MAKES US SUSCEPTIBLE TO BUSINESS INTERRUPTIONS.
Our primary operations, including engineering, manufacturing, research,
distribution and general administration, are housed in a single facility in Mt.
Prospect, Illinois. Any material disruption in our operations, whether due to
fire, flooding, natural disaster, power loss or otherwise, would have a material
adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.
FUTURE SALES OF A LARGE NUMBER OF SHARES OF OUR COMMON STOCK BY THE SELLING
STOCKHOLDERS COULD CAUSE OUR STOCK PRICE TO DECLINE AND ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR
ABILITY TO RAISE NEW FUNDS IN EQUITY OFFERINGS.
As of May 31, 1999, excluding shares which may be issued as interest,
an aggregate of at least 16,337,778 shares of our common stock registered for
public resale pursuant to this prospectus were issuable upon conversion of
outstanding senior convertible notes and exercise of outstanding warrants held
by the selling stockholders. This equalled approximately 128% of our common
stock outstanding as of that date. The sale of a substantial number of shares of
our common stock by the selling stockholders upon the conversion of a
substantial portion of the senior convertible notes and/or the exercise of a
substantial portion of the warrants, or the perception that such sales could
occur, could adversely affect the prevailing market price of our common stock.
In addition, any such sale or such perception could make it more difficult for
us to raise capital through future sales of equity securities at a time and
price that we deem appropriate.
OUR STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN AND PROVISIONS IN OUR CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
AND BY-LAWS COULD DISCOURAGE TENDER OFFERS OR TAKEOVER ATTEMPTS.
We have certain provisions which may be deemed to have a potential
"anti-takeover" effect in that such provisions may delay, defer or prevent a
change of control of us. For example, we have a stockholders rights plan that,
by substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire us on
terms not approved by our Board of Directors, may interfere with certain
acquisitions, including acquisitions that may offer a premium over market price
to some or all of our stockholders. In addition, our certificate of
incorporation and by-laws contain provisions that include:
- a requirement that stockholder action may be taken only at
stockholders' meetings;
- the authority of our Board of Directors to issue series of our
preferred stock with such voting rights and other powers as our
Board of Directors may determine;
- a requirement that special meetings of stockholders can only be
called by certain of our officers or a majority of our Board of
Directors;
- notice requirements in our by-laws relating to nominations to our
Board of Directors and to the raising of business matters at
stockholders' meetings; and
10
<PAGE> 12
- the classification of our Board of Directors into three classes,
each serving for staggered three-year terms.
In addition, the outstanding senior convertible notes held by the selling
stockholders contain provisions which allow the selling stockholders to
significantly influence most matters which would require stockholder approval,
including many change of control transactions. The interests of the holders of
senior convertible notes could conflict with the interests of our stockholders.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Because we want to provide you with more meaningful and useful
information, this prospectus contains, and incorporates by reference, certain
forward-looking statements, as such term is defined in Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
that reflect our current expectations regarding our future results of
operations, performance and achievements. We intend for such forward-looking
statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We have tried, wherever possible, to identify
these forward-looking statements by using words such as "anticipates,"
"believes," "estimates," "expects," "plans," "intends" and similar expressions.
These statements reflect our current beliefs and are based on information
currently available to us. Accordingly, these statements are subject to certain
risks, uncertainties and contingencies, including the factors set forth under
the caption "Risk Factors ," which could cause our actual results, performance
or achievements for 1999 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed
in, or implied by, any of these statements. You should not place undue reliance
on any forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise required by federal
securities laws, we undertake no obligation to release publicly the results of
any revisions to any such forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect
events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus or to reflect the
occurrence of unanticipated events.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
At our annual meeting of stockholders held on June 9, 1999, our
stockholders approved an amendment to our certificate of incorporation to
increase our authorized shares of common stock from 30 million shares to 60
million shares.
Because we did not meet the net tangible assets requirements for
continued listing of our common stock for trading on the Nasdaq National Market,
Nasdaq delisted our common stock for trading on the Nasdaq National Market,
effective June 24, 1999.
11
<PAGE> 13
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
This prospectus is part of two registration statements we have filed
with the SEC. This prospectus does not contain all of the information contained
in the registration statements or the exhibits to the registration statements.
For further information about us, please see the complete registration
statements. Summaries of agreements or other documents in this prospectus are
not necessarily complete. Please refer to the exhibits to the registration
statements for complete copies of these documents.
We are subject to the information requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and file reports, proxy statements and other information
with the SEC. You may read and copy such reports, proxy statements and other
information, including the registration statements and all of their exhibits, at
the following SEC public reference rooms:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
450 Fifth Street, N.W. Seven World Trade Center Citicorp Center
Judiciary Plaza Suite 1300 500 West Madison Street
Room 1024 New York, NY 10048 Suite 1400
Washington, D.C. 20549 Chicago, IL 60661
</TABLE>
You may obtain information on the operation of the SEC public reference
room in Washington, D.C. by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Our SEC filings,
including the registration statements of which this prospectus forms a part and
the documents incorporated by reference that are listed below, are also
available from the SEC's Web site at http://www.sec.gov, which contains reports,
proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that
file electronically.
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" into this prospectus
certain information that we file with it. This means that we can disclose
important information to you by referring you to another document that we filed
separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to
be part of this prospectus, except for any information superseded by information
in this prospectus. You should read the information incorporated by reference
because it is an important part of this prospectus .
We incorporate by reference the following documents that we previously
filed with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act:
1. The Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December
31, 1998, as amended by Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A filed on June 16, 1999;
2. The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for our fiscal quarter ended March
31, 1999; and
3. The Current Reports on Form 8-K and Form 8-K/A dated March 31, 1999,
the Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 28, 1999 and the Current Report on
Form 8-K dated June 23, 1999.
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<PAGE> 14
This prospectus is accompanied by a copy of our most recent Annual Report on
Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The documents incorporated by
reference in this prospectus that are not delivered with this prospectus may be
obtained from us without charge. You may obtain these documents incorporated by
reference in this prospectus by telephoning us at (847) 391-9400 or writing us
at the following address:
Corporate Secretary
Illinois Superconductor Corporation
451 Kingston Court
Mt. Prospect, Illinois 60056
Our Web site is located at http://www.ilsc.com. Information contained
in our Web site is not a part of this prospectus.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The selling stockholders will receive all of the net proceeds from the
sale of their shares of our common stock. Accordingly, we will not receive any
proceeds from the sale of the shares by the selling stockholders. If and when
the selling stockholders exercise their warrants, we will receive any proceeds
from the sale of the up to 5,460,000 shares to be issued to the selling
stockholders. If the warrants are exercised in full and paid for in cash, we
will receive $12,423,000. We intend to use such proceeds for working capital and
other general corporate purposes, including funding of our product development
programs, expansion of our sales and marketing efforts, and acquisition of
manufacturing equipment.
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
The following tables list certain information, as of May 31, 1999,
regarding the beneficial ownership of our outstanding common stock by each of
the selling stockholders, both before the offering of the shares and as adjusted
to reflect the sale of the shares. The 18,340,183 shares of our common stock
registered for public resale pursuant to this prospectus and listed under the
column "Number of Shares Being Offered" include (1) 143,814 shares held by the
selling stockholders, (2) up to 10,877,783 shares which we may issue to the
selling stockholders upon conversion of $13.45 million aggregate face principal
amount of the senior convertible notes, (3) up to 1,858,586 shares which we may
issue to the selling stockholders as accrued interest upon conversion of the
senior convertible notes and (4) up to 5,460,000 shares which we may issue to
the selling stockholders upon exercise of warrants. The shares of our common
stock listed under the column "Number of Shares Being Offered" assumes the
accrued interest on the senior convertible notes is fully paid in shares of our
common stock. At our option, we may pay accrued interest on the senior
convertible notes in cash, quarterly in arrears, or in shares of our common
stock, upon conversion of the senior convertible notes. The information provided
under this caption "Selling Stockholders" is based on information obtained from
the selling stockholders.
Pursuant to the terms of the senior convertible notes and warrants, the
selling stockholder cannot convert its senior convertible notes or exercise its
warrants to the extent such conversion and/or exercise would cause the number of
shares of our common stock beneficially owned by the selling stockholder and its
affiliates, other than shares deemed beneficially owned through ownership of
unconverted senior convertible notes and unexercised warrants, to exceed a
certain percentage of the then issued and outstanding shares of our common stock
following such conversion and/or exercise. For Alexander Finance, LP, the
percentage limitation is 4.9%. For Elliott Associates, L.P.,
13
<PAGE> 15
Westgate International, L.P., State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company,
Spring Point Partners, L.P. and Spring Point Offshore Fund, the percentage
limitation is 9.9%. Each of Alexander Finance, LP, Elliott Associates, L.P. and
Westgate International, L.P. disclaims beneficial ownership of the number of
shares listed under the column "Shares Beneficially Owned Prior to Offering"
that would result in it beneficially owning shares of our common stock in excess
of its percentage limitation.
The shares listed under the column "Number of Shares Being Offered"
represents the number of shares that may be sold by each selling stockholder
pursuant to this prospectus. Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of
1933, the registration statements of which this prospectus is a part also cover
any additional shares of our common stock which become issuable in connection
with the such shares because of any stock dividend, stock split,
recapitalization or other similar transaction effected without the receipt of
consideration which results in an increase in the number of outstanding shares
of our common stock.
The information under the column "Beneficial Ownership After Offering"
assumes each selling stockholder sells all of its shares offered pursuant to
this prospectus to unaffiliated third parties. Each selling stockholder may sell
all, part or none of its shares.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED
PRIOR TO OFFERING
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHARES ISSUABLE SHARES ISSUABLE SHARES ISSUABLE
SHARES UPON CONVERSION AS INTEREST ON UPON EXERCISE
NAME OF SELLING STOCKHOLDER DIRECTLY HELD OF NOTES THE NOTES OF WARRANTS TOTAL
- ---------------------------- ------------- ---------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Alexander Finance, LP -- 4,345,680 119,852 2,133,333 6,598,865
Elliott Associates, L.P. 125,357 2,627,162 71,911 1,350,725 4,175,155
Westgate International, L.P. 125,457 2,627,161 71,911 1,350,724 4,175,253
State Farm Mutual Automobile
Insurance Company 225,000 1,044,446 28,607 520,000 1,818,053
Spring Point Partners, L.P. -- 216,667 5,332 130,000 351,999
Spring Point Offshore Fund -- 16,667 410 10,000 27,077
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP AFTER OFFERING
SHARES BEING -----------------------------------
NAME OF SELLING STOCKHOLDER OFFERED NUMBER OF SHARES PERCENT
- ------------------------------------------ ------------ ---------------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Alexander Finance, L.P. 7,223,561 -- --
Elliott Associates, L.P. 4,493,427 70,891 *
Westgate International, L.P. 4,493,525 70,891 *
State Farm Mutual Automobile
Insurance Company 1,737,384 225,000 *
Spring Point Partners, L.P. 364,265 -- --
Spring Point Offshore Fund 28,021 -- --
- ------------------
* Less than 1%.
</TABLE>
14
<PAGE> 16
Mark Brodsky, an employee of a company under common management with
Elliott Associates, L.P. and Westgate International, L.P., served as a director
on our Board of Directors from June 1998 to March 1999. Howard Hoffmann has
served as a director on our Board of Directors since July 1998. Messrs. Brodsky
and Hoffmann were designated as nominees for election to our Board of Directors
by the selling stockholders pursuant to the terms of a securities purchase
agreement, as amended, between the selling stockholders and us.
According to a Schedule 13D filed by Elliott Associates, L.P., Westgate
International, L.P. and Martley International, Inc. with the SEC on April 8,
1999, as amended on April 12, 1999:
- Paul E. Singer and Braxton Associates, L.P., which is controlled by
Mr. Singer, are the general partners of Elliott Associates, L.P.;
- Martley International, Inc., is the investment manager for Westgate
International, L.P. and shares power with Westgate International,
L.P. to vote or direct the vote of, and to dispose or direct the
disposition of, the shares of our common stock owned by Westgate
International, L.P. Martley International, Inc. expressly disclaims
equitable ownership of, and pecuniary interest in, any of our common
stock; and
- Hambledon, Inc. is the sole general partner of Westgate
International, L.P.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Pursuant to registration rights agreements dated as of May 15, 1998 and
March 31, 1999, by and between us and the selling stockholders, we agreed to
register for public resale shares of our common stock which may in the future be
issued to the selling stockholders, or their pledgees, donees, transferees or
other successors in interest, upon the conversion of the notes, as accrued
interest on the notes and/or upon exercise of the warrants. The registration
statements of which this prospectus is a part, including our registration
statement on Form S-3 (Reg. No. 333-56601) declared effective by the SEC on
August 13, 1998, have been filed with the SEC pursuant to the registration
rights agreements. We have agreed to use our best efforts to keep each
registration statement effective for a period of four years commencing on the
effective date of the applicable registration statement, or a shorter period if
all of such shares registered under the applicable registration statement have
been sold or may be sold without volume restrictions pursuant to Rule 144 under
the Securities Act prior to the expiration of the four-year period. The
aggregate proceeds to the selling stockholders from the sale of shares offered
pursuant to this prospectus will be the prices at which such securities are
sold, less any commissions. The selling stockholders may choose to not sell any
or all of the shares of our common stock offered pursuant to this prospectus.
The senior convertible notes provide that if any one of several
enumerated events occurs, including:
- the registration statements of which this prospectus is a part cease
to be effective prior to expiration of the above-mentioned
effectiveness period;
- failure of the shares to be registered or qualified for sale
pursuant to the securities laws of applicable states;
- suspension of trading of our common stock on the Nasdaq National
Market for more than three consecutive trading days or delisting of
our common stock from the Nasdaq
15
<PAGE> 17
National Market, unless such delisting is due to our failure to
satisfy the net tangible assets or minimum bid price maintenance
requirements of the Nasdaq
National Market or unless our common stock is listed on another
national market or exchange within three trading days; and
- suspension of a selling stockholder's rights to convert its notes,
then the conversion price of the senior convertible notes will be decreased by
2.5% for each monthly anniversary of such event until the earlier to occur of
the second month anniversary of the event and the curing of such event. After
the second month anniversary, each selling stockholder, at its option, may
instead receive 2.5% of the outstanding principal of its senior convertible
notes for each month thereafter until the applicable event is cured. If the
event is not cured by the third month anniversary, each selling stockholder has
the option to require us to redeem its senior convertible notes.
The selling stockholders, or their pledgees, donees, transferees or
other successors in interest, may, from time to time, sell all or a portion of
the shares of our common stock at fixed prices that may be changed, at market
prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such market prices
or at negotiated prices. The selling stockholders may offer their shares of our
common stock at various times in one or more of the following transactions:
- in the over-the counter market;
- on any national securities exchange or market, if any, on which our
common stock may be listed at the time of sale;
- through block trades in which the broker or dealer so engaged will
attempt to sell the shares as agent, but may position and resell a
portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;
- through purchases by a broker or dealer as principal and resale by
such broker or dealer for its account pursuant to this prospectus;
- in ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the
broker solicits purchasers;
- through options, swaps or derivatives;
- in privately negotiated transactions;
- in transactions to cover short sales; and
- through a combination of any such methods of sale.
The selling stockholders may also sell their shares of our common stock in
accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, rather than pursuant to this
prospectus.
The selling stockholders may sell their shares of our common stock
directly to purchasers or may use brokers, dealers, underwriters or agents to
sell such shares. In effecting sales, brokers and
16
<PAGE> 18
dealers engaged by the selling stockholders may arrange for other brokers or
dealers to participate. Brokers or dealers may receive commissions, discounts or
concessions from a selling stockholder or, if any such broker-dealer acts as
agent for the purchaser of such shares, from a purchaser in amounts to be
negotiated. Such compensation may, but is not expected to, exceed that which is
customary for the types of transactions involved. Broker-dealers may agree with
a selling stockholder to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated
price per share, and, to the extent such broker-dealer is unable to do so acting
as agent for a selling stockholder, to purchase as principal any unsold shares
at the price required to fulfill the broker-dealer commitment to the selling
stockholders. Broker-dealers who acquire shares as principal may thereafter
resell such shares from time to time in transactions, which may involve block
transactions and sales to and through other broker-dealers, including
transactions of the nature described above, in the over-the-counter market or
otherwise at prices and on terms then prevailing at the time of sale, at prices
then related to the then-current market price or in negotiated transactions. In
connection with such resales, broker-dealers may pay to or receive from the
purchasers of such shares commissions as described above.
The selling stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that
participate with the selling stockholders in sales of their shares of our common
stock may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities
Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by
such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of such shares
purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts
under the Securities Act.
From time to time the selling stockholders may engage in short sales,
short sales against the box, puts and calls and other hedging transactions in
our securities, and may sell and deliver their shares of our common stock in
connection with such transactions or in settlement of securities loans. These
transactions may be entered into with broker-dealers or other financial
institutions. In addition, from time to time a selling stockholder may pledge
its shares pursuant to the margin provisions of its customer agreements with its
broker-dealer. Upon delivery of such shares or a default by a selling
stockholder, the broker-dealer or financial institution may offer and sell such
pledged shares from time to time.
We are required to pay all fees and expenses incident to the
registration of the shares of our common stock, including fees and
disbursements, not to exceed an aggregate of $5,000, of counsel to the selling
stockholders. We have agreed to indemnify the selling stockholders against
certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act. We have advised the selling stockholders that during such time
as they may be engaged in a distribution of the shares of our common stock, they
are required to comply with the anti-manipulative provisions of Regulation M
under the Securities Exchange Act.
DESCRIPTION OF OFFERED SECURITIES
GENERAL
Our authorized capital stock consists of 60,000,000 shares of common
stock and 100,000 shares of preferred stock. As June 30, 1999, there were
12,760,908 shares of our common stock and no shares of our preferred stock
outstanding.
COMMON STOCK
Holders of our common stock will be entitled to one vote per share on
all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. However, the outstanding senior
convertible notes held by the selling stockholders contain provisions which
allow the selling stockholders to significantly influence most matters which
would require stockholder approval, including many change of control
transactions.
17
<PAGE> 19
The interests of the holders of the senior convertible notes could conflict with
the interests of holders of our common stock.
Subject to the rights of holders of any outstanding shares of our
preferred stock, the holders of outstanding shares of our common stock will be
entitled to the dividends and other distributions as may be declared from time
to time by our Board of Directors from legally available funds. Holders of our
common stock do not have preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion
rights. Subject to the rights of holders of any shares of our outstanding
preferred stock, upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up and after
payment of all prior claims, the holders of shares of our common stock
outstanding at that time will be entitled to receive pro rata all of our assets.
All shares of our common stock currently outstanding are, and all shares of our
common stock offered in this offering will be, fully paid and nonassessable.
PREFERRED STOCK
Our Board of Directors, without further stockholder approval, may issue
our preferred stock in one or more series from time to time and fix or alter the
designations, relative rights, priorities, preferences, qualifications,
limitations and restrictions of the shares of each series. The rights,
preferences, limitations and restrictions of different series of our preferred
stock may differ with respect to dividend rates, amounts payable on liquidation,
voting rights, conversion rights, redemption provisions, sinking fund provisions
and other matters. Our Board of Directors may authorize the issuance of our
preferred stock which ranks senior to our common stock for the payment of
dividends and the distribution of assets on liquidation. In addition, our Board
of Directors can fix limitations and restrictions, if any, upon the payment of
dividends on our common stock to be effective while any shares of our preferred
stock are outstanding. Our Board of Directors, without stockholder approval, can
also issue our preferred stock with voting and conversion rights which could
adversely affect the voting power of the holders of common stock. Our issuance
of our preferred stock may delay, defer or prevent a change in our control. We
have no present intention to issuing shares of our preferred stock.
We have designated 10,000 shares of our preferred stock as series A
junior participating preferred stock in connection with our stockholder rights
agreement. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not issued any shares of
our series A preferred stock. Please read "Item 5. Market for Registrant's
Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters -- Rights Plan" in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K accompanying this prospectus for a description of our
stockholder rights agreement and the series A preferred stock.
ANTI-TAKEOVER EFFECTS OF CERTAIN CHARTER AND BY-LAW PROVISIONS
Our certificate of incorporation and by-laws contain a number of
provisions relating to corporate governance and to the rights of stockholders.
These provisions include:
- a requirement that stockholder action may be taken only at
stockholder meetings and not by written consent;
- notice requirements relating to nominations to our Board of
Directors and to the raising of business matters at stockholder
meetings;
- a requirement that special meetings of stockholders can only be
called by certain of our officers or a majority of our Board of
Directors;
18
<PAGE> 20
- the authority of our Board of Directors to issue series of our
preferred stock with such voting rights and other powers as our
Board of Directors may determine; and
- the classification of our Board of Directors into three classes,
with directors serving for staggered three-year terms.
These provisions may be deemed to have a potential "anti-takeover"
effect in that they may delay, defer or prevent a change of our control.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters with respect to the validity of the shares
offered by the selling stockholders will be passed upon for us by William M.
Kochlefl, Esq., our Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary.
EXPERTS
Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, have audited our financial
statements and schedule included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended
on Form 10-K/A, for our fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, as set forth in
their report, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Our
financial statements and schedule are incorporated by reference in reliance on
Ernst & Young LLP's report, given on their authority as experts in accounting
and auditing.
19
<PAGE> 21
================================================================================
If it is against the law in any state to make an offer to sell the shares, or
to solicit an offer from someone to buy the shares, then this prospectus does
not apply to any person in that state, and no offer or solicitation is made by
this prospectus to any such person. You should rely only on the information
provided or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any supplement.
Neither we nor any of the selling stockholders have authorized anyone to provide
you with different information. You should not assume that the information in
this prospectus or any supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date
on the front of such documents.
---------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
----
Risk Factors.............................................................. 2
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements...................... 11
Recent Developments....................................................... 11
Where You Can Find More Information....................................... 12
Use of Proceeds........................................................... 13
Selling Stockholders...................................................... 13
Plan of Distribution...................................................... 15
Description of Offered Securities ........................................ 17
Legal Matters............................................................. 19
Experts................................................................... 19
================================================================================
================================================================================
[LOGO] ILLINOIS
SUPERCONDUCTOR
CORPORATION
18,340,183 Shares
Common Stock
------------
PROSPECTUS
------------
_________, 1999
================================================================================
<PAGE> 22
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
Set forth below is an estimate of the approximate amount of
fees and expenses (other than underwriting commissions and discounts) payable by
us in connection with the issuance and distribution of our common stock pursuant
to the prospectus contained in this registration statement. We will pay all of
these expenses. All amounts are estimates except the SEC registration fee and
the Nasdaq National Market listing fee.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
APPROXIMATE
AMOUNT
------------
<S> <C>
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee.............. $ 1,269
Nasdaq National Market listing fee............................... 17,500
Accountants' fees and expenses................................... 5,000
Legal fees and expenses.......................................... 20,000
Miscellaneous expenses........................................... 1,231
------------
Total.......................................................... $45,000
============
</TABLE>
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Article 9 of our Certificate of Incorporation provides that we shall
indemnify our directors to the full extent permitted by the General Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware and may indemnify our officers and employees to
such extent, except that we shall not be obligated to indemnify any such person
(1) with respect to proceedings, claims or actions initiated or brought
voluntarily by any such person and not by way of defense, or (2) for any amounts
paid in settlement of an action indemnified against by us without our prior
written consent. We have entered into indemnity agreements with each of our
directors and officers. These agreements may require us, among other things, to
indemnify such directors and officers against certain liabilities that may arise
by reason of their status or service as directors or officers, as the case may
be, to advance expenses to them as they are incurred, provided that they
undertake to repay the amount advanced if it is ultimately determined by a court
that they are not entitled to indemnification and to obtain directors' and
officers' liability insurance if available on reasonable terms.
In addition, Article 8 of our Certificate of Incorporation provides
that a director of ours shall not be personally liable to us or our stockholders
for monetary damages for breach of his or her fiduciary duty as a director,
except for liability (1) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to us
or our stockholders, (2) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which
involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (3) for willful or
negligent conduct in paying dividends or repurchasing stock out of other than
lawfully available funds or (iv) for any transaction from which the director
derives an improper personal benefit.
Reference is made to Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware which provides for indemnification of directors and officers
in certain circumstances.
The Company has obtained a directors' and officers' liability insurance
policy which entitles the Company to be reimbursed for certain indemnity
payments it is required or permitted to make to its directors and officers.
II-1
<PAGE> 23
Under a registration rights agreement, we have agreed to indemnify the
selling stockholders, and the selling stockholders have agreed to indemnify us
and our directors, our officers, and certain control persons against, certain
liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with the registration statement,
including with respect to their respective obligations under the Securities Act.
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
4.1 Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-3/A filed with the SEC on
August 13, 1998 (Reg. No. 333-56601) (the "August 1998 S-3").
4.2 Bylaws of the Company, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2
to Amendment No. 3 to the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-1 filed with the SEC on October 23, 1993 (Reg. No.
33-67756) (the "IPO Registration Statement").
4.3* Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of
the Company.
4.4 Specimen stock certificate representing Common Stock,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the IPO Registration
Statement.
4.5 Form of 2% Senior Convertible Note due May 15, 2002,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the August 1998 S-3.
4.6 Form of Warrant dated May 15, 1998, incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.3 to the August 1998 S-3.
4.7 Rights Agreement dated as of February 9, 1996, by and between
the Company and LaSalle National Trust, N.A., filed as the
Exhibit to the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A,
filed February 12, 1996, and incorporated herein by reference.
4.8 Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of May 15, 1998, by and
between the Company and Elliott Associates, L.P., Westgate
International, L.P., Alexander Finance, LP, State Farm Mutual
Automobile Insurance Company, Spring Point Partners, L.P. and
Spring Point Offshore Fund incorporated by reference to Exhibit
4.5 to the August 1998 S-3.
4.9 Registration Rights Agreement dated as of May 15, 1998, by and
between the Company and Elliott Associates, L.P., Westgate
International, L.P., Alexander Finance, LP, State Farm Mutual
Automobile Insurance Company, Spring Point Partners, L.P. and
Spring Point Offshore Fund, incorporated by reference to Exhibit
4.6 to the August 1998 S-3.
4.10 Form of 6% Senior Convertible Note due May 15, 2002,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.18 to the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December
31, 1998 (the "1998 10-K").
4.11 Form of Warrant dated May 31, 1999, incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.19 to the 1998 10-K.
4.12 Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of March 31, 1999, by and
between the Company and Elliott Associates, L.P., Westgate
International, L.P., Alexander Finance, LP and State Farm Mutual
Automobile Insurance Company, incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.20 to the 1998 Form 10-K.
4.13 Registration Rights Agreement dated as of March 31, 1999, by and
between the Company and Elliott Associates, L.P., Westgate
International, L.P., Alexander Finance, LP and State Farm Mutual
Automobile Insurance Company, incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.21 to the 1998 Form 10-K.
4.14 Amendment to Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of March 31,
1999, by and between the Company and Elliott Associates, L.P.,
Westgate International, L.P., Alexander Finance, LP, State Farm
Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, Spring Point Partners, L.P.
and Spring Point Offshore Fund, incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.22 to the 1998 Form 10-K.
5.0* Opinion of William M. Kochlefl, Esq. as to the legality of the
securities being registered (including consent).
10.1 1993 Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan, as amended,
incorporated by reference to Exhibits A and B to the Company's
Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on April 30,
1999.
II-2
<PAGE> 24
10.2 Form of Amended and Restated Director Indemnification Agreement,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10 to the Company's
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended
September 30, 1998.
10.3 Third Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement dated
as of July 14, 1993, as amended, incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.4 to the IPO Registration Statement.
10.4 Public Law Agreement dated February 2, 1990 between Illinois
Department of Commerce and Community Affairs and the Company,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the IPO
Registration Statement.
10.5 Public Law Agreement dated December 30, 1991 between Illinois
Department of Commerce and Community Affairs and the Company,
amended as of June 30, 1992, incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.6 to the IPO Registration Statement.
10.6 Representative Warrant Agreement, incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.7 to the IPO Registration Statement.
10.7 Subcontract and Cooperative Development Agreement dated as of
June 1, 1993 between American Telephone and Telegraph Company
and the Company, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to
the IPO Registration Statement.
10.8 Intellectual Property Agreement dated as of June 1, 1993 between
American Telephone and Telegraph Company and the Company,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the IPO
Registration Statement.
10.10 License Agreement dated January 31, 1990 between the Company and
Northwestern University, incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.13 to the IPO Registration Statement.
10.11 License Agreement dated February 2, 1990 between the Company and
ARCH Development Corporation, incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.14 to the IPO Registration Statement.
10.12 License Agreement dated August 9, 1991 between the Company and
ARCH Development Corporation, incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.15 to the IPO Registration Statement.
10.13 License Agreement dated October 11, 1991 between the Company and
ARCH Development Corporation, incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.16 to the IPO Registration Statement.
10.14 Public Law Agreement dated August 18, 1993 between Illinois
Department of Commerce and Community Affairs and the Company,
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the IPO
Registration Statement.
10.16 Form of Officer Indemnification Agreement, incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 (the "1998
10-K").
10.17 Employment Agreement dated July 1, 1998 between the Company and
Edward W. Laves, Ph.D., incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.17 to the 1998 10-K.
10.18 Employment Agreement dated November 9, 1998 between the Company
and Dennis Craig, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to
the 1998 10-K.
10.19 Single-Tenant Industrial building Lease between Teachers'
Retirement System of the State of Illinois, landlord, and
Illinois Superconductor Corporation, tenant, dated June 24,
1994, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's
Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ending June 30, 1994.
10.20 Employment Agreement dated April 12, 1999 between the Company
and Amr Abdelmonem.
13.0 The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal
quarter ended March 31, 1999, filed May 17, 1999 and
incorporated herein by reference.
23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
23.2* Consent of William M. Kochlefl, Esq. (contained in his opinion
filed as Exhibit 5 hereto).
24.0* Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of the initial
filing of this Registration Statement).
--------
*Previously filed.
II-3
<PAGE> 25
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i) to include any prospectus required by Section
10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
arising after the effective date of the
registration statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which,
individually or in the aggregate, represent a
fundamental change in the information set forth in
the registration statement; and
(iii) to include any material information with respect
to the plan of distribution not previously
disclosed in the Registration Statement or any
material change to such information in the
Registration Statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each such post-effective
amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at
the termination of the offering.
(b) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Company
has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Company in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Company will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
II-4
<PAGE> 26
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Company
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-2 and has duly caused this Amendment to the
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Mt. Prospect, State of Illinois on the 1st day
of July, 1999.
ILLINOIS SUPERCONDUCTOR CORPORATION
By: /s/ EDWARD W. LAVES
-------------------------------------
Edward W. Laves,
President and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following
persons on July 1, 1999 in the capacities indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLE
- ------------------------------------ -----------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
/s/ EDWARD W. LAVES Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive
- ------------------------------------ Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
Edward W. Laves
* Controller and Treasurer (Principal Financial and
- ------------------------------------ Accounting Officer)
Kenneth E. Wolf
*
- ------------------------------------
Howard Hoffmann Director
*
- ------------------------------------
Robert D. Mitchum Director
*
- ------------------------------------
Terry S. Parker Director
*
- ------------------------------------
Tom L. Powers Director
</TABLE>
* By: /s/ EDWARD W. LAVES
------------------------------
Edward W. Laves
As attorney-in-fact
II-5
<PAGE> 27
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT
NUMBER EXHIBIT
------------- --------------------------------------------------------------
10.20 Employment Agreement dated April 12, 1999 between the Company
and Amr Abdelmonem.
23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 10.20
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Employment Agreement dated and effective as of April 12, 1999 (this
"AGREEMENT"), between ILLINOIS SUPERCONDUCTOR CORPORATION, a Delaware
corporation (with its successors and assigns, referred to as the "COMPANY"), and
Amr Abdelmonem ("ABDELMONEM").
PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
Abdelmonem has been employed by the Company since January 1995. As of
the effective date of this Agreement, Abdelmonem was appointed Vice President,
Development of the Company. In consideration of such appointment, the Company
desires to continue to employ Abdelmonem, and Abdelmonem wishes to continue to
be employed by the Company, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement.
AGREEMENT
1. EMPLOYMENT FOR TERM. The Company hereby agrees to continue to employ
Abdelmonem, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and
Abdelmonem hereby accepts such continued employment with the Company upon such
terms and conditions, for the period beginning on the effective date of this
Agreement and ending on December 31, 1999 (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 Abdelmonem's employment under this Agreement, but shall not
terminate Abdelmonem's or the Company's other obligations in this Agreement.
2. POSITION AND DUTIES. During the Term, Abdelmonem shall continue to
serve as the Vice President, Development of the Company. During the Term,
Abdelmonem shall also hold such additional positions and titles as the Board of
Directors of the Company (the "BOARD") or the President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company may determine from time to time. During the Term,
Abdelmonem 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. Effective as of April 12, 1999 and ending on
December 31, 1999, the Company shall pay Abdelmonem a base salary at a rate of
$120,000 per annum, payable at least monthly on the Company's regular pay cycle
for professional employees.
(b) BONUSES. Abdelmonem shall be eligible to receive bonuses during
the Term as determined in the sole discretion of the Board.
(c) OTHER AND ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION. Sections 3(a) and 3(b)
establish minimum salary and bonus grant levels for Abdelmonem during the Term,
and shall not
<PAGE> 2
preclude the Board from awarding Abdelmonem a higher salary or stock options at
any time, nor shall they preclude the Board from awarding Abdelmonem bonuses or
other compensation in the discretion of the Board.
4. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS. During the Term, Abdelmonem 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 Abdelmonem 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.
6. TERMINATION.
(a) GENERAL. The Term shall end immediately upon Abdelmonem'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 Abdelmonem notice of termination, including a statement of
whether the termination was for Cause. The Company's failure to give notice
under this Section shall not, however, affect the validity of the Company's
termination of the Term.
7. SEVERANCE BENEFITS.
(a) "CAUSE" DEFINED. "CAUSE" means willful malfeasance or willful
misconduct by Abdelmonem in connection with his employment; Abdelmonem's gross
negligence in performing any of his duties under this Agreement; Abdelmonem's
conviction of, or entry of a plea of guilty to, or entry of a plea of nolo
contendere with respect to, any crime other than a traffic violation or
infraction which is a misdemeanor; Abdelmonem's willful and continuing 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 and continuing breach by
Abdelmonem of any of his agreements in this Agreement.
(b) TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE. If the Company ends the Term prior to
December 31, 1999, other than for Cause, then the Company shall make the
"Severance Payment" (as defined below) to Abdelmonem for and during the
"Severance Period" (as defined below). The Severance Payment shall be payable in
proportionate amounts at least monthly on
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<PAGE> 3
the Company's regular pay cycle for professional employees and (if the last day
of the Severance Period is not the last day of a pay period) on the last day of
the Severance Period. Regardless of anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
if Abdelmonem resigns as a result of a material change, or a related series of
changes taken as a whole, in the scope or nature of his responsibilities as Vice
President, Development of the Company, such change or changes shall be deemed to
be a constructive termination of Abdelmonem's employment by the Company without
Cause for all purposes of this Agreement, including without limitation the
obligation of the Company to make the Severance Payments during the Severance
Period.
For purposes of this Agreement: (i) the term "SEVERANCE PAYMENT"
means, for the period of 180 days from the commencement of the Severance Period,
an amount equal to Abdelmonem's base salary in effect on the day prior to the
date on which the Severance Period commences; and (ii) the term "SEVERANCE
PERIOD" means the period commencing on the day following the date of termination
of Abdelmonem's employment with the Company and ending on the six-month
anniversary of the date of termination, subject to earlier termination as of the
date that Abdelmonem commences full time employment with any other person or
entity.
Abdelmonem agrees that during the Severance Period he shall endeavor
to render reasonable advisory and consulting services to the Company with
respect to matters pertaining to the business of the Company as the Board of
Directors or the President and Chief Executive Officer may reasonably request in
writing, provided that the Company acknowledges and agrees that Abdelmonem shall
be obligated to perform such services only to the extent that Abdelmonem
determines in his discretion that such services shall not interfere with the
conduct of Abdelmonem's then current business and personal affairs at the time
of any such request. The Company shall pay all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
incurred by Abdelmonem in the performance of such advisory and consulting
services.
(c) TERMINATION FOR ANY OTHER REASON. If the Company ends the Term
for Cause, or, subject to the first paragraph of Section 7(b) above, if
Abdelmonem resigns as an employee or officer of the Company, or if Abdelmonem
dies, then the Company shall have no obligation to pay Abdelmonem 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.
(d) OPTION MATTERS. If the Company ends the Term without Cause, the
Company and Abdelmonem agree that notwithstanding any term or provision of any
agreement between Abdelmonem and the Company to the contrary, (i) all options
held by Abdelmonem to acquire shares of the common stock of the Company at the
time of termination shall immediately become vested, and shall be immediately
exercisable by Abdelmonem or his personal representative, and (ii) Abdelmonem
(or his personal representative, as the case may be) shall have the right to
exercise such vested options, and all other options previously vested in
Abdelmonem prior to the date of termination, for a period of 365 days following
such end of the Term. Abdelmonem and the Company agree that except as set forth
above, all option agreements
-3-
<PAGE> 4
referred to above shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their
terms.
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). "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,
Abdelmonem 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 Abdelmonem is requested in a
judicial, administrative or governmental proceeding to disclose any of the
Company Information, Abdelmonem 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. If disclosure of any of the Company Information
is required, Abdelmonem may furnish the material so required to be furnished,
but Abdelmonem will furnish only that portion of the Company Information that
legally is required.
(c) OWNERSHIP. Abdelmonem hereby assigns to the Company all of
Abdelmonem'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 Abdelmonem,
either alone or jointly with others, during the course of the performance of
services for the Company. Abdelmonem shall also assign to, or as directed by,
the Company, all of Abdelmonem'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 Abdelmonem.
(d) PERIODS DEFINED. "NON-COMPETITION PERIOD" means the period
beginning on the day following the date of termination of Abdelmonem's
employment with the Company and ending on the first anniversary of the day
following the date of termination of Abdelmonem's employment with the Company.
"NON-SOLICITATION PERIOD" means the period beginning on the day following the
date of termination of
-4-
<PAGE> 5
Abdelmonem's employment with the Company and ending on the second anniversary of
the day following the date of termination of Abdelmonem's employment with the
Company.
(e) COVENANTS OF NON-COMPETITION AND NON-SOLICITATION. Abdelmonem
acknowledges that his services pursuant to this Agreement are unique and
extraordinary, that the Company will be dependent upon Abdelmonem 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. Abdelmonem 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, Abdelmonem
covenants and agrees that during the Non-Competition Period, Abdelmonem shall
not, directly or indirectly, engage in, be financially interested in, represent,
render any advice or services to, or be employed by, 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 Abdelmonem at the beginning of
this Section, Abdelmonem additionally acknowledges, covenants, and agrees that,
during the Non-Solicitation Period, Abdelmonem 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 to become, 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 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this
Section (e) shall terminate and be of no further force or effect if the Company
fails to make any payment or otherwise perform any obligation owed to Abdelmonem
pursuant to Sections 3, 4, 5 and 7(b) above.
(f) EQUITABLE REMEDIES. Abdelmonem 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 each 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 Abdelmonem from the ownership of not more than three percent (3%) of
the voting 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.
9. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.
-5-
<PAGE> 6
(a) ABDELMONEM. This Agreement is a personal contract, and the
rights and interests that this Agreement accords to Abdelmonem may not be sold,
transferred, assigned, pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated by him. Except as
contemplated in Section 7(d) above, Abdelmonem shall not have any power of
anticipation, alienation or assignment of the payments contemplated by this
Agreement, all rights and benefits of Abdelmonem shall be for the sole personal
benefit of Abdelmonem, 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 Abdelmonem. Except as so provided,
this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon Abdelmonem 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 Abdelmonem), 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 Abdelmonem's employment with the Company and
supersedes all prior negotiations, discussions, understandings and agreements,
whether written or oral, between Abdelmonem and the Company relating to the
subject matter of this Agreement. All prior employment agreements, if any,
between the Company and Abdelmonem shall remain in full force and effect with
respect all matters addressed in such prior employment agreements occurring on
or before the effective date 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 Abdelmonem and by a duly authorized officer of the Company other than
Abdelmonem. 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
-6-
<PAGE> 7
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 delivered by a nationally
recognized overnight courier service. Such communications shall be sent to the
parties at their respective addresses as follows:
If to Abdelmonem: Amr Abdelmonem
Illinois Superconductor Corporation
451 Kingston Court
Mt. Prospect, Illinois 60056
If to the Company: Illinois Superconductor Corporation
451 Kingston Court
Mt. Prospect, Illinois 60056
Attention: General Counsel
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
Abdelmonem 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 (although not greater than those contained currently contained in
this Agreement) 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.
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<PAGE> 8
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 Abdelmonem 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 Abdelmonem 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 Abdelmonem 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
President and Chief Executive Officer
/s/ Amr Abdelmonem
----------------------------------------
AMR ABDELMONEM
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EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in Amendment
No. 2 on Form S-2 to the Form S-3 Registration Statement (File No. 333-77337)
and the related Prospectus of Illinois Superconductor Corporation for the
registration of 18,382,683 shares of its common stock and to the incorporation
by reference therein of our report dated February 26, 1999 (except Note 3, as to
which the date is March 31, 1999), with respect to the financial statements and
schedule of Illinois Superconductor Corporation included in its Annual Report
(Form 10-K, as amended on Form 10-K/A) for the year ended December 31, 1998,
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
---------------------------
Chicago, Illinois
July 1, 1999
