VISION SCIENCES INC /DE/
10-K, EX-10.26, 2000-06-29
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                                                               EXHIBIT NO. 10.26
                              VISION-SCIENCES, INC.

                            2000 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

1.       PURPOSE

         The purpose of this 2000 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan") of
VISION-SCIENCES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), is to advance the
interests of the Company's stockholders by enhancing the Company's ability to
attract, retain and motivate persons who make (or are expected to make)
important contributions to the Company by providing such persons with equity
ownership opportunities and performance-based incentives and thereby better
aligning the interests of such persons with those of the Company's stockholders.
Except where the context otherwise requires, the term "Company" shall include
any of the Company's present or future subsidiary corporations as defined in
Section 424(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any
regulations promulgated thereunder (the "Code").

2.       ELIGIBILITY

         All of the Company's employees, officers, directors, consultants and
advisors are eligible to be granted options, restricted stock awards, or other
stock-based awards (each, an "Award") under the Plan. Each person who has been
granted an Award under the Plan shall be deemed a "Participant."

3.       ADMINISTRATION AND DELEGATION

         (a) ADMINISTRATION BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The Plan will be administered
by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"). The Board shall have
authority to grant Awards and to adopt, amend and repeal such administrative
rules, guidelines and practices relating to the Plan as it shall deem advisable.
The Board may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any
inconsistency in the Plan or any Award in the manner and to the extent it shall
deem expedient to carry the Plan into effect and it shall be the sole and final
judge of such expediency. All decisions by the Board shall be made in the
Board's sole discretion and shall be final and binding on all persons having or
claiming any interest in the Plan or in any Award. No director or person acting
pursuant to the authority delegated by the Board shall be liable for any action
or determination relating to or under the Plan made in good faith.

         (b) APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES. To the extent permitted by applicable
law, the Board may delegate any or all of its powers under the Plan to one or
more committees or subcommittees of the Board (a "Committee"). All references in
the Plan to the "Board" shall mean the Board or a Committee of the Board to the
extent that the Board's powers or authority under the Plan have been delegated
to such Committee.

4.       STOCK AVAILABLE FOR AWARDS

         (a) NUMBER OF SHARES. Subject to adjustment under Section 8, Awards may
be made under the Plan for up to 4,000,000 shares of common stock, $.01 par
value per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock"). If any Award expires or is
terminated, surrendered

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or canceled without having been fully exercised or is forfeited in whole or in
part or results in any Common Stock not being issued, the unused Common Stock
covered by such Award shall again be available for the grant of Awards under the
Plan, subject, however, in the case of Incentive Stock Options (as hereinafter
defined), to any limitation required under the Code. Shares issued under the
Plan may consist in whole or in part of authorized but unissued shares or
treasury shares.

         (b) PER-PARTICIPANT LIMIT. Subject to adjustment under Section 8, for
Awards granted after the Common Stock is registered under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), the maximum number of shares of
Common Stock with respect to which Awards may be granted to any Participant
under the Plan shall be 2,000,000 per calendar year. The per-Participant limit
described in this Section 4(b) shall be construed and applied consistently with
Section 162(m) of the Code ("Section 162(m)").

5.       STOCK OPTIONS

         (a) GENERAL. The Board may grant options to purchase Common Stock
(each, an "Option") and determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be
covered by each Option, the exercise price of each Option and the conditions and
limitations applicable to the exercise of each Option, including conditions
relating to applicable federal or state securities laws, as it considers
necessary or advisable. An Option which is not intended to be an Incentive Stock
Option (as hereinafter defined) shall be designated a "Nonstatutory Stock
Option."

         (b) INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS. An Option that the Board intends to be an
"incentive stock option" as defined in Section 422 of the Code (an "Incentive
Stock Option") shall only be granted to employees of the Company and shall be
subject to and shall be construed consistently with the requirements of Section
422 of the Code. The Company shall have no liability to a Participant, or any
other party, if an Option (or any part thereof) which is intended to be an
Incentive Stock Option is not an Incentive Stock Option.

         (c) EXERCISE PRICE. The Board shall establish the exercise price at the
time each Option is granted and specify it in the applicable option agreement.

         (d) DURATION OF OPTIONS. Each Option shall be exercisable at such times
and subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may specify in the
applicable option agreement; provided, however, that no Option will be granted
for a term in excess of 10 years.

         (e) EXERCISE OF OPTION. Options may be exercised by delivery to the
Company of a written notice of exercise signed by the proper person or by any
other form of notice (including electronic notice) approved by the Board
together with payment in full as specified in Section 5(f) for the number of
shares for which the Option is exercised.

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         (f) PAYMENT UPON EXERCISE. Common Stock purchased upon the exercise of
an Option granted under the Plan shall be paid for as follows:

              (1) in cash or by check, payable to the order of the Company;

              (2) except as the Board may, in its sole discretion, otherwise
provide in an option agreement, by (i) delivery of an irrevocable and
unconditional undertaking by a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the
Company sufficient funds to pay the exercise price or (ii) delivery by the
Participant to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional
instructions to a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company cash or
a check sufficient to pay the exercise price;

              (3) when the Common Stock is registered under the Exchange Act, by
delivery of shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant valued at their fair
market value as determined by (or in a manner approved by) the Board in good
faith ("Fair Market Value"), provided (i) such method of payment is then
permitted under applicable law and (ii) such Common Stock was owned by the
Participant at least six months prior to such delivery;

              (4) to the extent permitted by the Board, in its sole discretion
by (i) delivery of a promissory note of the Participant to the Company on terms
determined by the Board, or (ii) payment of such other lawful consideration as
the Board may determine; or

              (5) by any combination of the above permitted forms of payment.

         (g) SUBSTITUTE OPTIONS. In connection with a merger or consolidation of
an entity with the Company or the acquisition by the Company of property or
stock of an entity, the Board may grant Options in substitution for any options
or other stock or stock-based awards granted by such entity or an affiliate
thereof. Substitute Options may be granted on such terms as the Board deems
appropriate in the circumstances, notwithstanding any limitations on Options
contained in the other sections of this Section 5.

6.       RESTRICTED STOCK

         (a) GRANTS. The Board may grant Awards entitling recipients to acquire
shares of Common Stock, subject to the right of the Company to repurchase all or
part of such shares at their issue price or other stated or formula price (or to
require forfeiture of such shares if issued at no cost) from the recipient in
the event that conditions specified by the Board in the applicable Award are not
satisfied prior to the end of the applicable restriction period or periods
established by the Board for such Award (each, a "Restricted Stock Award").

         (b) TERMS AND CONDITIONS. The Board shall determine the terms and
conditions of any such Restricted Stock Award, including the conditions for
repurchase (or forfeiture) and the issue price, if any. Any stock certificates
issued in respect of a Restricted Stock Award shall be registered in the name of
the Participant and, unless otherwise determined by the Board, deposited by the
Participant, together with a stock power endorsed in blank, with the Company (or
its designee). At the expiration of the applicable restriction periods, the
Company (or such designee) shall deliver the certificates no longer subject to
such restrictions to the Participant or if the Participant has died, to the
beneficiary designated, in a manner determined by the Board, by a Participant to
receive amounts due or exercise rights of the Participant in the event of the
Participant's death (the "Designated Beneficiary"). In the absence of an
effective designation by a Participant, Designated Beneficiary shall mean the
Participant's estate.

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7.       OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS

         The Board shall have the right to grant other Awards based upon the
Common Stock having such terms and conditions as the Board may determine,
including the grant of shares based upon certain conditions, the grant of
securities convertible into Common Stock and the grant of stock appreciation
rights.

8.       ADJUSTMENTS FOR CHANGES IN COMMON STOCK AND CERTAIN OTHER EVENTS

         (a) CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION. In the event of any stock split, reverse
stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares,
reclassification of shares, spin-off or other similar change in capitalization
or event, or any distribution to holders of Common Stock other than a normal
cash dividend, (i) the number and class of securities available under this Plan,
(ii) the per-Participant limit set forth in Section 4(b), (iii) the number and
class of securities and exercise price per share subject to each outstanding
Option, (iv) the repurchase price per share subject to each outstanding
Restricted Stock Award, and (v) the terms of each other outstanding Award shall
be appropriately adjusted by the Company (or substituted Awards may be made, if
applicable) to the extent the Board shall determine, in good faith, that such an
adjustment (or substitution) is necessary and appropriate. If this Section 8(a)
applies and Section 8(c) also applies to any event, Section 8(c) shall be
applicable to such event, and this Section 8(a) shall not be applicable.

         (b) LIQUIDATION OR DISSOLUTION. In the event of a proposed liquidation
or dissolution of the Company, the Board shall upon written notice to the
Participants provide that all then unexercised Options will (i) become
exercisable in full as of a specified time at least 10 business days prior to
the effective date of such liquidation or dissolution and (ii) terminate
effective upon such liquidation or dissolution, except to the extent exercised
before such effective date. The Board may specify the effect of a liquidation or
dissolution on any Restricted Stock Award or other Award granted under the Plan
at the time of the grant of such Award.

         (c) REORGANIZATION EVENTS

              (1) DEFINITION. A "Reorganization Event" shall mean:

                   (i) any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into
another entity as a result of which the Common Stock is converted into or
exchanged for the right to receive cash, securities or other property;

                   (ii) any exchange of shares of the Company for cash,
securities or other property pursuant to a share exchange transaction;

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                   (iii) the acquisition by an individual, entity or group
(within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person") of beneficial
ownership of any capital stock of the Company if, after such acquisition, such
Person beneficially owns (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the
Exchange Act) 20% or more of either (x) the then-outstanding shares of common
stock of the Company (the "Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (y) the
combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of the Company entitled
to vote generally in the election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting
Securities"); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that for purposes of this subsection (i), the
following acquisitions shall not constitute a Reorganization in Control Event:
(A) any acquisition directly from the Company (excluding an acquisition pursuant
to the exercise, conversion or exchange of any security exercisable for,
convertible into or exchangeable for common stock or voting securities of the
Company, unless the Person exercising, converting or exchanging such security
acquired such security directly from the Company or an underwriter or agent of
the Company), (B) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related
trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by
the Company, (C) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a Business
Combination (as defined below) which complies with clauses (x) and (y) of
subsection (iii) of this definition, (D) any acquisition by Katsumi Oneda or
Lewis C. Pell, or any affiliate thereof (within the meaning of Rule 405
promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) (or their respective
spouses and minor children or by a trust for the benefit of any of such persons)
(each party is referred to herein as an "Exempt Person") of any shares of Common
Stock; provided that, after such acquisition, such Exempt Person does not
beneficially own more than 40% of either (i) the Outstanding Company Common
Stock of (ii) the Outstanding Company Voting Securities;

                   (iv) such time as the Continuing Directors (as defined below)
do not constitute a majority of the Board (or, if applicable, the Board of
Directors of a successor corporation to the Company), where the term "Continuing
Director" means at any date a member of the Board (x) who was a member of the
Board on the date of the initial adoption of this Plan by the Board or (y) who
was nominated or elected subsequent to such date by at least a majority of the
directors who were Continuing Directors at the time of such nomination or
election or whose election to the Board was recommended or endorsed by at least
a majority of the directors who were Continuing Directors at the time of such
nomination or election; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that there shall be excluded from
this clause (y) any individual whose initial assumption of office occurred as a
result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election
or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or
consents, by or on behalf of a person other than the Board; or

                   (v) the consummation of a merger, consolidation,
reorganization, recapitalization or share exchange involving the Company or a
sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company (a "Business Combination"), unless, immediately following such Business
Combination, each of the following two conditions is satisfied: (x) all or
substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners
of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting
Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own,
directly or indirectly, more than 50%

                                      -5-

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of the then-outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of
the then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors, respectively, of the resulting or acquiring corporation in such
Business Combination (which shall include, without limitation, a corporation
which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or substantially all of
the Company's assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) (such
resulting or acquiring corporation is referred to herein as the "Acquiring
Corporation") in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the
Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities,
respectively, immediately prior to such Business Combination and (y) no Person
(excluding any Exempt Person, the Acquiring Corporation or any employee benefit
plan (or related trust) maintained or sponsored by the Company or by the
Acquiring Corporation) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of
the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Acquiring Corporation, or of
the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (except to the extent
that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination).

              (2) CONSEQUENCES OF A REORGANIZATION EVENT ON OPTIONS. Upon the
occurrence of a Reorganization Event, or the execution by the Company of any
agreement with respect to a Reorganization Event, the Board, or the board of
directors of any corporation assuming the obligations of the Company, shall, as
to outstanding options, take one or more of the following actions: (i) provide
that such options shall be assumed, or equivalent options shall be substituted,
by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof), (ii) upon
written notice to the optionees, provide that all unexercised options will
terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction unless
exercised by the optionee within a specified period following the date of such
notice, or (iii) if, under the terms of an acquisition or merger transaction,
holders of the Common Stock of the Company will receive upon consummation
thereof a cash payment for each share surrendered in such acquisition or merger
(the "Acquisition Price"), make or provide for a cash payment to the optionees
equal to the difference between (A) the Acquisition Price times the number of
shares of Common Stock subject to such outstanding options as have an exercise
price not in excess of the Acquisition Price) and (B) the aggregate exercise
price of all such outstanding options, in exchange for the termination of such
options.

              (3) CONSEQUENCES OF A REORGANIZATION EVENT ON RESTRICTED STOCK
AWARDS. Upon the occurrence of a Reorganization Event, or the execution by the
Company of any agreement with respect to a Reorganization Event, the Board, or
the directors of any corporation assuming the obligation of the Company, shall,
as to outstanding Restricted Stock Awards, take one or more of the following
actions: (i) provide that the repurchase and other rights of the Company under
each outstanding Restricted Stock Award shall inure to the benefit of the
Company's successor or (ii) waive the repurchase and other rights of the Company
under each outstanding Restricted Stock Award.

              (4) CONSEQUENCES OF A REORGANIZATION EVENT ON OTHER AWARDS. Upon
the occurrence of a Reorganization Event, or the execution by the Company of any
agreement with respect to a Reorganization Event, the Board, or the directors of
any corporation assuming the

                                      -6-

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obligation of the Company, may take such action with respect to any other Award
granted under the Plan as it deems appropriate.

9.       GENERAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS

         (a) TRANSFERABILITY OF AWARDS. Except as the Board may otherwise
determine or provide in an Award, Awards shall not be sold, assigned,
transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered by the person to whom they are
granted, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws
of descent and distribution, and, during the life of the Participant, shall be
exercisable only by the Participant. References to a Participant, to the extent
relevant in the context, shall include references to authorized transferees.

         (b) DOCUMENTATION. Each Award shall be evidenced by a written
instrument in such form as the Board shall determine. Each Award may contain
terms and conditions in addition to those set forth in the Plan.

         (c) BOARD DISCRETION. Except as otherwise provided by the Plan, each
Award may be made alone or in addition or in relation to any other Award. The
terms of each Award need not be identical, and the Board need not treat
Participants uniformly.

         (d) TERMINATION OF STATUS. The Board shall determine the effect on an
Award of the disability, death, retirement, authorized leave of absence or other
change in the employment or other status of a Participant and the extent to
which, and the period during which, the Participant, the Participant's legal
representative, conservator, guardian or Designated Beneficiary may exercise
rights under the Award.

         (e) WITHHOLDING. Each Participant shall pay to the Company, or make
provision satisfactory to the Board for payment of, any taxes required by law to
be withheld in connection with Awards to such Participant no later than the date
of the event creating the tax liability. Except as the Board may otherwise
provide in an Award, when the Common Stock is registered under the Exchange Act,
Participants may, to the extent then permitted under applicable law, satisfy
such tax obligations in whole or in part by delivery of shares of Common Stock,
including shares retained from the Award creating the tax obligation, valued at
their Fair Market Value. The Company may, to the extent permitted by law, deduct
any such tax obligations from any payment of any kind otherwise due to a
Participant.

         (f) AMENDMENT OF AWARD. The Board may amend, modify or terminate any
outstanding Award, including but not limited to, substituting therefor another
Award of the same or a different type, changing the date of exercise or
realization, changing the option exercise price and converting an Incentive
Stock Option to a Nonstatutory Stock Option, provided that the Participant's
consent to such action shall be required unless the Board determines that the
action, taking into account any related action, would not materially and
adversely affect the Participant.

         (g) CONDITIONS ON DELIVERY OF STOCK. The Company will not be obligated
to deliver any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan or to remove
restrictions from shares previously delivered under the Plan until (i) all
conditions of the Award have been met or

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removed to the satisfaction of the Company, (ii) in the opinion of the Company's
counsel, all other legal matters in connection with the issuance and delivery of
such shares have been satisfied, including any applicable securities laws and
any applicable stock exchange or stock market rules and regulations, and (iii)
the Participant has executed and delivered to the Company such representations
or agreements as the Company may consider appropriate to satisfy the
requirements of any applicable laws, rules or regulations.

         (h) ACCELERATION. The Board may at any time provide that any Options
shall become immediately exercisable in full or in part, that any Restricted
Stock Awards shall be free of restrictions in full or in part or that any other
Awards may become exercisable in full or in part or free of some or all
restrictions or conditions, or otherwise realizable in full or in part, as the
case may be.

10.      MISCELLANEOUS

         (a) NO RIGHT TO EMPLOYMENT OR OTHER STATUS. No person shall have any
claim or right to be granted an Award, and the grant of an Award shall not be
construed as giving a Participant the right to continued employment or any other
relationship with the Company. The Company expressly reserves the right at any
time to dismiss or otherwise terminate its relationship with a Participant free
from any liability or claim under the Plan, except as expressly provided in the
applicable Award.

         (b) NO RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDER. Subject to the provisions of the
applicable Award, no Participant or Designated Beneficiary shall have any rights
as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock to be distributed
with respect to an Award until becoming the record holder of such shares.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Company effects a split of the
Common Stock by means of a stock dividend and the exercise price of and the
number of shares subject to such Option are adjusted as of the date of the
distribution of the dividend (rather than as of the record date for such
dividend), then an optionee who exercises an Option between the record date and
the distribution date for such stock dividend shall be entitled to receive, on
the distribution date, the stock dividend with respect to the shares of Common
Stock acquired upon such Option exercise, notwithstanding the fact that such
shares were not outstanding as of the close of business on the record date for
such stock dividend.

         (c) EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF PLAN. The Plan shall become effective on
the date on which it is adopted by the Board, but no Award granted to a
Participant that is intended to comply with Section 162(m) shall become
exercisable, vested or realizable, as applicable to such Award, unless and until
the Plan has been approved by the Company's stockholders to the extent
stockholder approval is required by Section 162(m) in the manner required under
Section 162(m) (including the vote required under Section 162(m)). No Awards
shall be granted under the Plan after the completion of ten years from the
earlier of (i) the date on which the Plan was adopted by the Board or (ii) the
date the Plan was approved by the Company's stockholders, but Awards previously
granted may extend beyond that date.

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         (d) AMENDMENT OF PLAN. The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the
Plan or any portion thereof at any time, provided that to the extent required by
Section 162(m), no Award granted to a Participant that is intended to comply
with Section 162(m) after the date of such amendment shall become exercisable,
realizable or vested, as applicable to such Award, unless and until such
amendment shall have been approved by the Company's stockholders as required by
Section 162(m) (including the vote required under Section 162(m)).

         (e) GOVERNING LAW. The provisions of the Plan and all Awards made
hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of
the State of Delaware, without regard to any applicable conflicts of law.




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