Exhibit 10.1
SUPPORT AGREEMENT
This Support Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of July 2, 2020, is entered into by and among Graf Industrial Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Acquiror”), VL Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Acquiror (“Merger Sub”), and certain of the stockholders of Velodyne LiDAR, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), whose names appear on the signature pages of this Agreement (such stockholders, the “Stockholders”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, concurrently herewith, Acquiror, the Company and Merger Sub are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”; capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement), pursuant to which (and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein) Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company surviving the merger (the “Merger”);
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, each Stockholder is the record and “beneficial owner” (as such term is used herein, within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of, and is entitled to dispose of and vote, the number of shares of Company Common Stock and Company Preferred Stock set forth opposite such Stockholder’s name on Exhibit A hereto (collectively, with respect to each Stockholder, such Stockholder’s “Owned Shares”; and such Owned Shares, together with (1) any additional shares of Company Stock (or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Company Stock) in which such Stockholder acquires record and beneficial ownership after the date hereof, including by purchase, as a result of a stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, combination, reclassification, exchange or change of such shares, or upon exercise or conversion of any securities and (2) any additional shares of Company Stock with respect to which such Stockholder has the right to vote through a proxy, the “Covered Shares”);
WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to the willingness of Acquiror and Merger Sub to enter into the Merger Agreement, the Stockholders are entering into this Agreement.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, Acquiror, Merger Sub and each Stockholder hereby agree as follows:
1. Agreement to Vote. Each Stockholder, in its capacity as a stockholder of the Company, agrees that, at any meeting of the stockholders of the Company (whether annual or special and whether or not an adjourned or postponed meeting, however called and including any adjournment or postponement thereof) and in connection with any written consent of stockholders of the Company, such Stockholder shall, and shall cause any other holder of record of any of such Stockholder’s Covered Shares to:
(a) when such meeting is held, appear at such meeting or otherwise cause such Stockholder’s Covered Shares to be counted as present thereat for the purpose of establishing a quorum;
(b) vote (or execute and return an action by written consent), or cause to be voted at such meeting (or validly execute and return and cause such consent to be granted with respect to), all of such Stockholder’s Covered Shares owned as of the record date for such meeting (or the date that any written consent is executed by such Stockholder) in favor of the Merger and the adoption of the Merger Agreement and any other matters necessary or reasonably requested by the Company for consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement; and
(c) vote (or execute and return an action by written consent), or cause to be voted at such meeting (or validly execute and return and cause such consent to be granted with respect to), all of such Stockholder’s Covered Shares against (i) any Acquisition Proposal and (ii) any other action that would reasonably be expected to (x) materially impede, interfere with, delay, postpone or adversely affect the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (y) result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or other obligation or agreement of the Company under the Merger Agreement or (z) result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or other obligation or agreement of such Stockholder contained in this Agreement.
The obligations of each Stockholder specified in this Section 1 shall apply whether or not the Merger or any action described above is recommended by the Company Board or the Company Board has effected a Company Change in Recommendation.
2. No Inconsistent Agreements. Each Stockholder hereby covenants and agrees that such Stockholder shall not (i) enter into any voting agreement or voting trust with respect to any of such Stockholder’s Covered Shares that is inconsistent with such Stockholder’s obligations pursuant to this Agreement, (ii) grant a proxy or power of attorney with respect to any of such Stockholder’s Covered Shares that is inconsistent with such Stockholder’s obligations pursuant to this Agreement or (iii) enter into any agreement or undertaking that is otherwise inconsistent with, or would interfere with, or prohibit or prevent it from satisfying, its obligations pursuant to this Agreement.
3. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) the Effective Time and (ii) the valid termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms (the earlier of such date under clause (i) and (ii) being referred to herein as the “Termination Date”); provided that the termination of this Agreement shall not relieve any party hereto from any liability resulting from a breach of this Agreement prior to such termination.
4. Representations and Warranties of the Stockholders. Each Stockholder hereby represents and warrants (severally and not jointly as to itself only) to the Acquiror as follows:
(a) Such Stockholder owns exclusively of record (and is the sole beneficial owner of), and has good, valid and marketable title to, such Stockholder’s Covered Shares, free and clear of any Liens (other than as created by this Agreement). As of the date hereof, other than the Owned Shares set forth opposite such Stockholder’s name on Exhibit A, such Stockholder does own (of record or beneficially) any shares of Company Stock (or any securities convertible into shares of capital stock of the Company) or any interest therein.
(b) Such Stockholder (i) except as provided in this Agreement, has full voting power, full power of disposition and full power to issue instructions with respect to the matters set forth herein, in each case, with respect to such Stockholder’s Covered Shares, (ii) has not entered into any voting agreement or voting trust with respect to any of such Stockholder’s Covered Shares that is inconsistent with such Stockholder’s obligations pursuant to this Agreement, (iii) has not granted a proxy or power of attorney with respect to any of such Stockholder’s Covered Shares that is inconsistent with such Stockholder’s obligations pursuant to this Agreement and (iv) has not entered into any agreement or undertaking that is otherwise inconsistent with, or would interfere with, or prohibit or prevent it from satisfying, its obligations pursuant to this Agreement.
(c) Such Stockholder (i) is a legal entity duly organized, validly existing and, to the extent such concept is applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, and (ii) has all requisite corporate or other power and authority and has taken all corporate or other action necessary in order to, execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such Stockholder and constitutes a legally valid and binding agreement of such Stockholder, enforceable against such Stockholder in accordance with the terms hereof (except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy Laws other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights and general principles of equity affecting the availability of specific performance and other equitable remedies).
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(d) Other than the filings, notices and reports pursuant to, in compliance with or required to be made under the Exchange Act, no filings, notices, reports, consents, registrations, approvals, permits, waivers, expirations of waiting periods or authorizations are required to be obtained by such Stockholder from, or to be given by such Stockholder to, or be made by such Stockholder with, any Governmental Authority in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by such Stockholder of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
(e) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by such Stockholder does not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement will not (i) constitute or result in a breach or violation of, or a default under, the governing documents of such Stockholder, (ii) with or without notice, lapse of time or both, constitute or result in a breach or violation of, a termination (or right of termination) of or a default under, the loss of any benefit under, or the creation, modification or acceleration of any obligations under, any Contract binding upon such Stockholder, in each case in a manner that could reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay or impair such Stockholder’s ability to perform its obligations hereunder or to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and this Agreement, (iii) conflict with or violate any Law to which such Stockholder is subject, (iv) require any consent, approval or authorization of, declaration, filing or registration with, or notice to, any Person, or (iv) constitute or result in the creation of any Lien on such Stockholder’s Covered Shares.
(f) There are no Actions pending against such Stockholder or, to the knowledge of such Stockholder, threatened against such Stockholder that, in any manner, question the beneficial or record ownership of such Stockholder’s Covered Shares or challenge or seek to prevent, enjoin or materially delay the performance by such Stockholder of its obligations under this Agreement.
(g) Such Stockholder understands and acknowledges that Acquiror is entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon such Stockholder’s execution and delivery of this Agreement and the representations, warranties, covenants and other agreements of such Stockholder contained herein.
(h) No investment banker, broker, finder or other intermediary is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission for which Acquiror or the Company is or could be liable in connection with the Merger Agreement or this Agreement or any of the respective transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, in each case based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of such Stockholder.
5. Certain Covenants of the Stockholders. Except in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, each Stockholder hereby covenants and agrees as follows:
(a) No Solicitation. Such Stockholder shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates and subsidiaries not to, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its and their respective Representatives not to, directly or indirectly, (i) initiate, solicit or knowingly encourage or knowingly facilitate any inquiries or requests for information with respect to, or the making of, any inquiry regarding, or any proposal or offer that constitutes, or could reasonably be expected to result in or lead to, any Acquisition Proposal, (ii) engage in, continue or otherwise participate in any negotiations or discussions concerning, or provide access to its properties, books and records or any confidential information or data to, any Person relating to any proposal, offer, inquiry or request for information that constitutes, or could reasonably be expected to result in or lead to, any Acquisition Proposal, (iii) approve, endorse or recommend, or propose publicly to approve, endorse or recommend, any Acquisition Proposal, (iv) execute or enter into, any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, confidentiality agreement, merger agreement, acquisition agreement, exchange agreement, joint venture agreement, partnership agreement, option agreement or other similar agreement for or relating to any Acquisition Proposal or (v) resolve or agree to do any of the foregoing. Such Stockholder also agrees that immediately following the execution of this Agreement it shall, and shall cause each of its Affiliates and subsidiaries to, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its and their Representatives to, cease any solicitations, discussions or negotiations with any Person (other than the Parties and their respective Representatives) conducted heretofore in connection with an Acquisition Proposal or any inquiry or request for information that could reasonably be expected to lead to, or result in, an Acquisition Proposal. Such Stockholder shall promptly (and in any event within one Business Day) notify, in writing, Acquiror of the receipt of any inquiry, proposal, offer or request for information received after the date hereof that constitutes, or could reasonably be expected to result in or lead to, any Acquisition Proposal, which notice shall include a summary of the material terms of, and the identity of the Person or group of Persons making, such inquiry, proposal, offer or request for information (provided, that, solely with respect to the identity of the Person or group of Persons making, such inquiry, proposal, offer or request for information, such disclosure is not restricted by confidentiality obligations in existence as of the date of this Agreement) and an unredacted copy of any Acquisition Proposal or inquiry, proposal or offer made in writing or, if not in writing, a written description of the material terms and conditions of such inquiry, proposal or offer (and shall include any other documents evidencing or specifying the terms of such proposal, offer, inquiry or request).
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Such Stockholder shall promptly (and in any event within twenty-four (24) hours) keep Acquiror reasonably informed of any material developments with respect to any such inquiry, proposal, offer, request for information or Acquisition Proposal (including any material changes thereto and copies of any additional written materials received by such Stockholder, the Company, its subsidiaries or their respective Affiliates or Representatives).
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, (i) such Stockholder shall not be responsible for the actions of the Company or the Company Board (or any Committee thereof), any Subsidiary of the Company, or any officers, directors (in their capacity as such), employees and professional advisors of any of the foregoing (collectively, the “Company Related Parties”), (ii) such Stockholder makes no representations or warranties with respect to the actions of any of the Company Related Parties and (iii) any breach by the Company of its obligations under Section 6.07(a) of the Merger Agreement shall not be considered a breach of this Section 5(a) (it being understood that, for the avoidance of doubt, such Stockholder shall remain responsible for any breach by it or its Representatives of this Section 5(a)).
(b) Each Stockholder agrees that it shall not, directly or indirectly, (a) Transfer any of it Covered Shares, except to an Affiliate of such Stockholder that executes this Agreement or (b) deposit any of its Covered Shares into a voting trust or enter into a voting agreement or arrangement or grant any proxy or power of attorney with respect thereto that is inconsistent with this Agreement.
(c) As used herein, the term “Transfer” shall mean the (x) sale of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant of any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agreement to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establishment or increase of a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder with respect to, any security, (y) entry into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (z) public announcement of any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (x) or (y).
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6. Further Assurances. From time to time, at Acquiror’s request and without further consideration, each Stockholder shall execute and deliver such additional documents and take all such further action as may be reasonably necessary or reasonably requested to effect the actions and consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and this Agreement. Each Stockholder further agrees not to commence or participate in, and to take all actions necessary to opt out of any class in any class action with respect to, any action or claim, derivative or otherwise, against Acquiror, Acquiror’s Affiliates, the Sponsor, the Company or any of their respective successors and assigns relating to the negotiation, execution or delivery of this Agreement, the Merger Agreement (including the Merger Consideration) or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
7. Disclosure. Such Stockholder hereby authorizes the Company and Acquiror to publish and disclose in any announcement or disclosure required by the SEC such Stockholder’s identity and ownership of the Covered Shares and the nature of such Stockholder’s obligations under this Agreement.
8. Changes in Capital Stock. In the event of a stock split, stock dividend or distribution, or any change in the Company’s capital stock by reason of any split-up, reverse stock split, recapitalization, combination, reclassification, exchange of shares or the like, the terms “Owned Shares” and “Covered Shares” shall be deemed to refer to and include such shares as well as all such stock dividends and distributions and any securities into which or for which any or all of such shares may be changed or exchanged or which are received in such transaction.
9. Amendment and Modification. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented in any manner, whether by course of conduct or otherwise, except by an instrument in writing signed by Acquiror, Merger Sub and the applicable Stockholder.
10. Waiver. No failure or delay by any party hereto exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies of the parties hereto hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies which they would otherwise have hereunder. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any such waiver shall be valid only if set forth in a written instrument executed and delivered by such party.
11. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, by email (with confirmation of receipt) or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, such as Federal Express, to the parties hereto at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice made pursuant to this Section 11):
If to Acquiror or Merger Sub, to:
Graf Acquisition Corp.
118 Vintage Park Blvd., Suite W-222
Houston, Texas 77070
Attn: James A. Graf
E-mail: james@grafacq.com
with a copy to:
White & Case LLP
1221 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020-1095
Attn: Joel L. Rubinstein
E-mail: joel.rubinstein@whitecase.com
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and
White & Case LLP
3000 El Camino Real
2 Palo Alto Square, Suite 900
Palo Alto, California 94306-2109
Attn: Tali Sealman
E-mail: tali.sealman@whitecase.com
If to the Company to:
Velodyne Lidar, Inc.
5521 Hellyer Ave
San Jose, California 95138
Attn: Anand Gopalan
E-mail: agopalan@velodyne.com
with a copy to:
Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP
550 Allerton Street
Redwood City, CA 94063
Attn: Trevor S. Knapp, Jeffrey Vetter and John H. Olson
E-mail: tknapp@gunder.com, jvetter@gunder.com, jolson@gunder.com
If to a Stockholder, to the address or email address set forth opposite such Stockholder’s name on Exhibit A.
12. Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Merger Agreement constitute the entire agreement, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
13. No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Such Stockholder hereby agrees that its representations, warranties and covenants set forth herein are solely for the benefit of Acquiror in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Agreement, and this Agreement is not intended to, and does not, confer upon any Person, other than the parties hereto, any rights or remedies hereunder, including the right to rely upon the representations and warranties set forth herein, and the parties hereto hereby further agree that this Agreement may only be enforced against, and any Action that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement may only be made against, the Persons expressly named as parties hereto; provided that the Company shall be an express third party beneficiary with respect to Section 4 and Section 5(b).
14. Governing Law and Venue; Service of Process; Waiver of Jury Trial.
(a) This Agreement, and all claims or causes of action based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to principles or rules of conflict of laws to the extent such principles or rules would require or permit the application of Laws of another jurisdiction..
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(b) Any Action based upon, arising out of or related to this Agreement, or the transactions contemplated hereby, shall be brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if such court declines to exercise jurisdiction, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California or any state court located in Santa Clara County, California, and each of the parties irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of each such court in any such Action, waives any objection it may now or hereafter have to personal jurisdiction, venue or to convenience of forum, agrees that all claims in respect of the Action shall be heard and determined only in any such court, and agrees not to bring any Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in any other court. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to affect the right of any party to serve process in any manner permitted by Law, or to commence legal proceedings or otherwise proceed against any other party in any other jurisdiction, in each case, to enforce judgments obtained in any Action brought pursuant to this Section 14. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
15. Assignment; Successors. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall (a) be assigned by any of the Stockholders in whole or in part (whether by operation of Law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the Acquiror and the Company or (b) be assigned by the Acquiror or the Company in whole or in part (whether by operation of Law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of (i) the Company or the Acquiror, respectively, and (ii) the applicable Stockholder. Any such assignment without such consent shall be null and void. This Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
16. Enforcement. The rights and remedies of the parties shall be cumulative with and not exclusive of any other remedy conferred hereby. The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur and that the parties would not have any adequate remedy at law in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches or threatened breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, including each Stockholder’s obligations to vote its Covered Shares as provided in this Agreement (and each party hereby waives any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with such remedy), this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.
17. Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void, unenforceable or against its regulatory policy, the remainder of the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, so long as the economic and legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby, taken as a whole, are not affected in a manner materially adverse to any party hereto. Upon such a determination, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties hereto as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.
18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, it being understood that each party need not sign the same counterpart. This Agreement shall become effective when each party shall have received a counterpart hereof signed by all of the other parties. Signatures delivered electronically or by facsimile shall be deemed to be original signatures.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
| GRAF INDUSTRIAL CORP. | ||
| By: | /s/ James A. Graf | |
| Name: James A. Graf | ||
| Title: Chief Executive Officer | ||
| VL MERGER SUB INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ James A. Graf | |
| Name: James A. Graf | ||
| Title: President | ||
| STOCKHOLDERS: | ||
| DAVID HALL | ||
| /s/ David | ||
[Signature Page to Support Agreement]
Exhibit A