EX-99.1 2 e620297_ex99-1.htm JOINT FILING AND SOLICITATION AGREEMENT

 

JOINT FILING AND SOLICITATION AGREEMENT

 

WHEREAS, certain of the undersigned are stockholders, direct or beneficial, of Velodyne Lidar, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”);

 

WHEREAS, David S. Hall and Marta Thoma Hall (collectively, the “Hall Group”) and Eric Singer (the “Nominee”) wish to form a group for the purpose of seeking representation on the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) at the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders of the Company (including any other meeting of stockholders held in lieu thereof, and any adjournments, postponements, reschedulings or continuations thereof, the “Annual Meeting”) and for the purpose of taking all other action necessary to achieve the foregoing.

 

NOW, IT IS AGREED, this 11th day of February 2021 by the parties hereto:

 

1.       In accordance with Rule 13d-1(k)(1)(iii) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), each of the undersigned (collectively, the “Group”) agrees to the joint filing on behalf of each of them of statements on Schedule 13D, and any amendments thereto, with respect to the securities of the Company. Each member of the Group shall be responsible for the accuracy and completeness of his or her own disclosure therein, and is not responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the information concerning the other members, unless such member knows or has reason to know that such information is inaccurate.

 

2.       So long as this Agreement is in effect, the Nominee agrees to provide the Hall Group, Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP (“Olshan”) and Perkins Coie LLP (“Perkins”) advance written notice prior to effecting any purchase, sale, acquisition or disposal of any securities of the Company which he has, or would have, direct or indirect beneficial ownership so that the Hall Group has an opportunity to review the potential implications of any such transaction in the securities of the Company and pre-clear any such potential transaction in the securities of the Company by the Nominees. The Nominee agrees that he shall not undertake or effect any purchase, sale, acquisition or disposal of any securities of the Company without the prior written consent of the Hall Group.

 

3.       Each of the undersigned agrees to form the Group for the purpose of (i) soliciting proxies or written consents for the election of the persons nominated by the Group to the Board at the Annual Meeting, (ii) taking such other actions as the parties deem advisable, and (iii) taking all other action necessary or advisable to achieve the foregoing.

 

4.       The Nominee shall not incur any expenses in connection with the Group’s activities without the prior written consent of the Hall Group. The Hall Group shall have the right to pre-approve all expenses incurred in connection with the Group’s activities and the Nominee’s expenses related to the Group’s activities and agrees to pay directly all such pre-approved expenses.

 

5.       Each of the undersigned agrees that any SEC filing, press release or stockholder communication proposed to be made or issued by the Group or any member of the Group in connection with the Group’s activities set forth in Section 3 shall be first approved by the Hall Group, or its representatives, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

6.       The relationship of the parties hereto shall be limited to carrying on the business of the Group in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Such relationship shall be construed and deemed to be for the sole and limited purpose of carrying on such business as described herein. Nothing herein shall be construed to authorize any party to act as an agent for any other party, or to create a joint venture or partnership, or to constitute an indemnification. Except as set forth in Section 2 above, nothing herein shall restrict any party’s right to purchase or sell securities of the Company, as he or she deems appropriate, in his or her sole discretion, provided that all such sales are made in compliance with all applicable securities laws.

 

 

 

8.       This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which, taken together, shall constitute but one and the same instrument, which may be sufficiently evidenced by one counterpart.

 

9.       In the event of any dispute arising out of the provisions of this Agreement or their investment in the Company, the parties hereto consent and submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal and State Courts in the State of California.

 

10.       Any party hereto may terminate his or her obligations under this Agreement on 24 hours’ written notice to all other parties, with a copy by email to Elizabeth Gonzalez-Sussman at Olshan, egonzalez@olshanlaw.com and Stewart Landefeld at Perkins, SLandefeld@perkinscoie.com.

 

11.       Each party acknowledges that Olshan and Perkins shall act as counsel for both the Group and the Hall Group relating to their investment in the Company.

 

12.       Each of the undersigned parties hereby agrees that this Agreement shall be filed as an exhibit to a Schedule 13D pursuant to Rule 13d-1(k)(1)(iii) under the Exchange Act.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this agreement to be executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

   
  /s/ David S. Hall
  David S. Hall
   
  /s/ Marta Thoma Hall
 

Marta Thoma Hall

Individually and as attorney-in-fact for Eric Singer