GRAF.U Graf Industrial Corp

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING
IN LIEU OF THE 2020 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF
GRAF INDUSTRIAL CORP.

Dear Stockholders of Graf Industrial Corp:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special meeting in lieu of the 2020 annual meeting (the “special meeting”) of stockholders of Graf Industrial Corp. (the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”), a Delaware corporation, will be held at 10:00 a.m., local time, on Thursday, April 16, 2020 at the offices of Winston & Strawn LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166. You are cordially invited to attend the meeting.

At the special meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote on proposals to:

The above matters are more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement. We urge you to read carefully the accompanying proxy statement in its entirety.

The purpose of the Extension Amendment is to allow the Company more time to complete its initial business combination.

Approval of the Extension Amendment is a condition to the implementation of the Extension. In addition, we will not proceed with the Extension if the number of redemptions of our public shares causes us to have less than $5,000,001 of net tangible assets following approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal.

Approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of 65% of the outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote thereon at the special meeting. The election of the director nominees pursuant to the Director Election Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the shares of common stock cast by the Company’s stockholders present in person or by proxy at the special meeting and entitled to vote thereon. Approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote for the proposal by the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock who, being present and entitled to vote at the special meeting, vote at the special meeting.

In connection with the Extension Amendment, public stockholders may elect (the “Election”) to redeem their shares for a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account established in connection with the IPO (the “trust account”), including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“common stock”) included as part of the units (the “units”) sold in the IPO (the “public shares”), regardless of how such public stockholders vote on the Extension Amendment. If the Extension Amendment is approved by the requisite vote of stockholders, the remaining holders of public shares will retain their right to redeem their public shares upon consummation of the initial business combination when it is submitted to the stockholders for approval, subject to any limitations set forth in our charter, as amended. In addition, public stockholders will be entitled to have their shares redeemed for cash if the Company seeks shareholder approval of an initial business combination prior to the Extended Date or if the Company has not completed a business combination by the Extended Date.

Pursuant to the charter, a public stockholder may request that the Company redeem all or a portion of such public stockholder’s public shares for cash if the Extension Amendment is approved. You will be entitled to receive cash for any public shares to be redeemed only if you:

Holders of units must elect to separate the underlying public shares and public warrants prior to exercising redemption rights with respect to the public shares. If holders hold their units in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, holders must notify their broker or bank that they elect to separate the units into the underlying public shares and public warrants, or if a holder holds units registered in its own name, the holder must contact the transfer agent directly and instruct it to do so. Public stockholders may elect to redeem all or a portion of their public shares even if they vote for the Extension Amendment Proposal.

If the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved and we do not consummate a business combination by April 18, 2020, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining stockholders and the Board in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law.

The Company’s sponsor is Graf Acquisition LLC (the “Sponsor”). The Sponsor and the Company’s officers and directors have entered into a letter agreement with the Company, pursuant to which they agreed to waive their rights to participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to the shares of common stock initially purchased by our Sponsor in a private placement prior to the IPO (the “founder shares”) held by them. As a consequence of such waivers, any liquidating distribution that is made will be only with respect to the public shares. There will be no distribution from the trust account with respect to the Company’s warrants, which will expire worthless if the Company fails to complete its initial business combination by April 18, 2020.

If the Company liquidates, the Sponsor has agreed that it will be liable to us if and to the extent any claims by any third party for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has entered into a written letter of intent, confidentiality or other similar agreement or business combination agreement, reduce the amount of funds in the trust account to below the lesser of (i) $10.00 per public share and (ii) the actual amount per public share held in the trust account as of the date of the liquidation of the trust account, if less than $10.00 per share due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, less taxes payable, except if such third party or prospective target business has executed a waiver of any and all rights to the monies held in the trust account and except as to any claims under our indemnity of the underwriters of the IPO against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, the Sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third party claims. There is no assurance that the Sponsor will be able to satisfy its obligations. The per-share liquidation price for the public shares is anticipated to be approximately $10.21 (based on the amount held in the trust account as of December 31, 2019). Nevertheless, the Company cannot assure you that the per share distribution from the trust account, if the Company liquidates, will not be less than $10.21, plus interest, due to unforeseen claims of potential creditors.

Under the DGCL, stockholders may be held liable for claims by third parties against a corporation to the extent of distributions received by them in a dissolution. If the corporation complies with certain procedures set forth in Section 280 of the DGCL intended to ensure that it makes reasonable provision for all claims against it, including a 60-day notice period during which any third-party claims can be brought against the corporation, a 90-day period during which the corporation may reject any claims brought, and an additional 150-day waiting period before any liquidating distributions are made to stockholders, any liability of stockholders with respect to a liquidating distribution is limited to the lesser of such stockholder’s pro rata share of the claim or the amount distributed to the stockholder, and any liability of the stockholder would be barred after the third anniversary of the dissolution.

However, because the Company will not be complying with Section 280 of the DGCL, Section 281(b) of the DGCL requires us to adopt a plan, based on facts known to us at such time that will provide for our payment of all existing and pending claims or claims that may be potentially brought against us within the subsequent ten years. However, because we are a blank check company, rather than an operating company, and our operations have been limited to searching for prospective target businesses to acquire, the only likely claims to arise would be from our vendors (such as lawyers, investment bankers, etc.) or prospective target businesses.

If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, the approval of the Extension Amendment will constitute consent for the Company to (i) remove from the trust account an amount (the “Withdrawal Amount”) equal to the number of public shares properly redeemed multiplied by the per-share price, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares and (ii) deliver to the holders of such redeemed public shares their portion of the Withdrawal Amount. The remainder of such funds shall remain in the trust account and be available for use by the Company to complete a business combination on or before the Extended Date. Holders of public shares who do not redeem their public shares now will retain their redemption rights and their ability to vote on a business combination through the Extended Date if the Extension Amendment is approved.

The withdrawal of the Withdrawal Amount will reduce the amount held in the trust account, and the amount remaining in the trust account may be only a small fraction of the $248,988,147 that was in the trust account as of December 31, 2019. In such event, the Company may need to obtain additional funds to complete its initial business combination, and there can be no assurance that such funds will be available on terms acceptable to the parties or at all.

The record date for the special meeting is March 19, 2020. Record holders of the Company’s common stock at the close of business on the record date are entitled to vote or have their votes cast at the special meeting. On the record date, there were [__] outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock including [__] outstanding public shares. The Company’s warrants do not have voting rights in connection with the proposals.

Your attention is directed to the proxy statement accompanying this notice for a more complete description of each of the proposals. We urge you to read the accompanying proxy statement carefully. If you have any questions or need assistance voting your shares of the Company’s common stock, please contact Morrow Sodali LLC, our proxy solicitor, by calling (800) 662-5200, or banks and brokers can call collect at (203) 658-9400, or by emailing GRAF.info@investor.morrowsodali.com.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Special Meeting to be held on April 16, 2020: This notice of meeting and the accompanying proxy statement are available at https://www.cstproxy.com/grafindustrialcorp/sm2020.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The statements contained in this proxy statement that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management team’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this proxy statement may include, for example, statements about:

The forward-looking statements contained in this proxy statement are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward- looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE SPECIAL MEETING

These Questions and Answers are only summaries of the matters they discuss. They do not contain all of the information that may be important to you. You should read carefully the entire document, including the annexes to this proxy statement.

Why am I receiving this proxy statement?

This proxy statement and the enclosed proxy card are being sent to you in connection with the solicitation of proxies by our Board for use at the special meeting, or at any adjournments thereof. This proxy statement summarizes the information that you need to make an informed decision on the proposals to be considered at the special meeting.

The Company is a blank check company formed in 2018 for the purpose of consummating a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. In October 2018, the Company consummated its IPO from which it derived gross proceeds of $243,765,120. Like most blank check companies, our charter provides for the return of the IPO proceeds held in trust to the holders of public shares if there is no qualifying business combination consummated on or before a certain date (in our case, April 18, 2020). Our Board believes that it is in the best interests of the stockholders to continue the Company’s existence until the Extended Date in order to allow the Company more time to complete an initial business combination and is submitting these proposals to the stockholders to vote upon.

What is being voted on?

You are being asked to vote on the following proposals:

Why is the Company proposing the Extension Amendment Proposal?

The purpose of the Extension Amendment is to allow the Company more time to complete its initial business combination. The charter provides that the Company has 18 months after the closing of the Company’s IPO, or until April 18, 2020, to complete a business combination. Our Board believes that there will not be sufficient time before April 18, 2020 to complete a business combination. The purpose of the Extension Amendment is to allow the Company more time to complete an initial business combination, which our Board believes is in the best interests of the Company’s stockholders. If the Extension Amendment is approved, we will hold another stockholder meeting prior to the Extended Date in order to seek stockholder approval of a proposed business combination.

You are not being asked to vote on an initial business combination at this time. If the Extension is implemented and you do not elect to redeem your public shares, you will retain the right to vote on an initial business combination when it is submitted to stockholders and the right to redeem your public shares for cash in the event the proposed business combination is approved and completed or the Company has not consummated a business combination by the Extended Date.

Why should I vote for the Extension Amendment?

Our Board believes stockholders will benefit from the Company consummating an initial business combination and is proposing the Extension Amendment to extend the date by which the Company has to complete a business combination until the Extended Date. The Extension would give the Company the opportunity to complete a business combination.

The charter provides that if the Company’s stockholders approve an amendment to the charter (i) to modify the substance or timing of its obligation to redeem 100% of the public shares if it does not complete an initial business combination by April 18, 2020 or (ii) with respect to any other provision relating to stockholders’ rights or pre-business combination activity, the Company will provide its public stockholders with the opportunity to redeem their public shares upon such approval, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest not previously released to the Company to pay its franchise and income taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. We believe that this charter provision was included to protect the Company’s stockholders from having to sustain their investments for an unreasonably long period if the Company failed to find a suitable business combination in the timeframe contemplated by the charter. We also believe, however, that given the Company’s expenditure of time, effort and money on pursuing an initial business combination, circumstances warrant providing those who believe they might find the potential business combination to be an attractive investment with an opportunity to consider such a transaction.

Whether a holder of public shares votes in favor of or against the Extension Amendment, if such amendment is approved, the holder may, but is not required to, redeem their public shares at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account, including interest not previously released to the Company to pay its franchise and income taxes, divided by the number of then outstanding public shares. We will not proceed with the Extension if redemptions of public shares cause us to have less than $5,000,001 of net tangible assets following approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal.

Liquidation of the trust account is a fundamental obligation of the Company to the public stockholders and the Company is not proposing and will not propose to change that obligation to the public stockholders. If holders of public shares do not elect to redeem their public shares, such holders shall retain redemption rights in connection with an initial business combination. Assuming the Extension Amendment is approved, the Company will have until the Extended Date to complete a business combination.

Our Board recommends that you vote in favor of the Extension Amendment, but expresses no opinion as to whether you should redeem your public shares.

How do the Company insiders intend to vote their shares?

All of the Company’s directors, officers and their respective affiliates are expected to vote any common stock over which they have voting control (including any public shares owned by them) in favor of each of the proposals.

The Sponsor and the Company’s directors and officers agreed not to redeem the founder shares held by them. On the record date, the Sponsor, directors and officers beneficially owned and were entitled to vote an aggregate of 6,144,146 shares of common stock (including 6,094,128 founder shares), which represent 20.2% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock.

The Sponsor and the Company’s directors, officers or advisors, or any of their respective affiliates, may purchase public shares in privately negotiated transactions or in the open market prior to the special meeting, although they are under no obligation to do so. Any such purchases that are completed after the record date for the special meeting may include an agreement with a selling stockholder that such stockholder, for so long as it remains the record holder of the shares in question, will vote in favor of the Extension Amendment and/or will not exercise its redemption rights with respect to the shares so purchased. The purpose of such share purchases and other transactions would be to increase the likelihood that the proposals to be voted upon at the special meeting are approved by the requisite number of votes. In the event that such purchases do occur, the purchasers may seek to purchase shares from stockholders who would otherwise have voted against the Extension Amendment and elected to redeem their shares for a portion of the trust account. Any such privately negotiated purchases may be effected at purchase prices that are below or in excess of the per-share pro rata portion of the trust account. Any public shares held by or subsequently purchased by our affiliates may be voted in favor of the Extension Amendment Proposal. None of the Company’s Sponsor, directors, officers, advisors or their affiliates may make any such purchases when they are in possession of any material nonpublic information not disclosed to the seller or during a restricted period under Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

What vote is required to adopt the Extension Amendment?

Approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of 65% of the outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote thereon at the special meeting.

What vote is required to elect the directors?

The election of the director nominees pursuant to the Director Election Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the shares of common stock cast by the Company’s stockholders present in person or by proxy at the special meeting and entitled to vote thereon. This means that a director nominee will be elected if such director receives more affirmative votes than any other nominee for the same position.

What vote is required to approve the Adjournment Proposal?

Approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote for the proposal by the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock who, being present and entitled to vote at the special meeting, vote at the special meeting.

What if I don’t want to vote for the Extension Amendment Proposal?

If you do not want the Extension Amendment to be approved, you must abstain, not vote, or vote against the proposal.

Will you seek any further extensions to liquidate the trust account?

Other than the extension until the Extended Date as described in this proxy statement, we do not anticipate seeking any further extension to consummate a business combination.

What happens if the Extension Amendment is not approved?

If the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved and we do not consummate a business combination by April 18, 2020, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining stockholders and the Board in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under the DGCL to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law.

The Sponsor and the Company’s officers and directors waived their rights to participate in any liquidation distribution with respect to any shares of common stock held by them. In addition, there will be no distribution from the trust account with respect to the Company’s warrants, which will expire worthless if the Company fails to complete its initial business combination by April 18, 2020. The Company will pay the costs of liquidation from its remaining assets outside of the trust account.

If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, what happens next?

The Company is continuing its efforts to complete its initial business combination, which will involve:

The Company is seeking approval of the Extension Amendment because the Company will not be able to complete all of the tasks listed above prior to April 18, 2020. If the Extension Amendment is approved, the Company expects to seek stockholder approval of an initial business combination. If stockholders approve an initial business combination, the Company expects to consummate such business combination as soon as possible following stockholder approval.

Upon approval by 65% of the common stock outstanding as of the record date of the Extension Amendment Proposal, the Company will file an amendment to the charter with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in the form attached as Annex A hereto. The Company will remain a reporting company under the Exchange Act, and its units, common stock and public warrants (as defined below) will remain publicly traded.

If the Extension Agreement Proposal is approved, the removal of the Withdrawal Amount from the Trust Account will reduce the amount remaining in the trust account and increase the percentage interest of the Company’s common stock held by our Sponsor and the Company’s directors and officers through the founder shares. We will not proceed with the Extension if redemptions of public shares cause us to have less than $5,000,001 of net tangible assets following approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal.

If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, the Company’s Sponsor will continue to receive payments from the Company of up to $5,000 per month for the provision of office space, utilities and secretarial and administrative support as may be reasonably required by the Company until the earlier of the Company’s consummation of an initial business combination or the Company’s liquidation pursuant to the terms of the Administrative Support Agreement entered into between the Company and the Sponsor on October 15, 2018 (the “Administrative Support Agreement”).

Would I still be able to exercise my redemption rights in connection with a vote to approve a proposed business combination?

Yes. Assuming you are a stockholder as of the record date for voting on a proposed business combination, you will be able to vote on a proposed business combination when it is submitted to stockholders. If you disagree with the business combination, you will retain your right to redeem your public shares upon consummation of such business combination, subject to any limitations set forth in our charter.

How do I change my vote?

If you have submitted a proxy to vote your shares and wish to change your vote, you may do so by delivering a later-dated, signed proxy card to the Company’s Secretary prior to the date of the special meeting or by voting in person at the special meeting. Attendance at the special meeting alone will not change your vote. You also may revoke your proxy by sending a notice of revocation to the Company at 118 Vintage Park Blvd., Suite W-222, Houston Texas, 77070, Attn: Secretary.

How are votes counted?

Votes will be counted by the inspector of election appointed for the meeting, who will separately count “FOR” and “AGAINST” votes, abstentions and broker non-votes for each of the proposals.

A stockholder’s failure to vote by proxy or to vote in person at the special meeting will not be counted towards the number of shares of common stock required to validly establish a quorum, and if a valid quorum is otherwise established, such failure to vote will have the effect of a vote “AGAINST” the Extension Amendment Proposal but will have no effect on the outcome of the Director Election Proposal or the Adjournment Proposal. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established and will have the effect of a vote “AGAINST” the Extension Amendment Proposal but will have no effect on the outcome of the Director Election Proposal or the Adjournment Proposal.

If my shares are held in “street name,” will my broker automatically vote them for me?

If you do not give instructions to your broker, your broker can vote your shares with respect to “discretionary” items, but not with respect to “non-discretionary” items. We believe that each of the proposals are “non-discretionary” items.

Your broker can vote your shares with respect to “non-discretionary items” only if you provide instructions on how to vote. You should instruct your broker to vote your shares. Your broker can tell you how to provide these instructions. If you do not give your broker instructions, your shares will be treated as broker non-votes with respect to all proposals. Broker non-votes will be treated as a vote against the Extension Amendment Proposal and will have no effect on the Adjournment Proposal.

What is a quorum requirement?

A quorum of stockholders is necessary to hold a valid meeting. A quorum will be present if at least a majority of the votes that could be cast by the holders of all outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote at the meeting are represented in person or by proxy at the meeting.

Your shares will be counted towards the quorum only if you submit a valid proxy (or one is submitted on your behalf by your broker, bank or other nominee) or if you vote in person at the special meeting. Abstentions (but not broker non-votes) will be counted towards the quorum requirement. If there is no quorum, a majority of the votes present at the special meeting may adjourn the special meeting to another date.

Who can vote at the special meeting?

Only holders of record of the Company’s common stock at the close of business on March 19, 2020 are entitled to have their vote counted at the special meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. On this record date, [___] shares of common stock were outstanding and entitled to vote.

Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name. If on the record date your shares were registered directly in your name with the Company’s transfer agent, Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, then you are a stockholder of record. As a stockholder of record, you may vote in person at the special meeting or vote by proxy. Whether or not you plan to attend the special meeting in person, we urge you to fill out and return the enclosed proxy card to ensure your vote is counted.

Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker or Bank If on the record date your shares were held, not in your name, but rather in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, dealer, or other similar organization, then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” and these proxy materials are being forwarded to you by that organization. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker or other agent on how to vote the shares in your account. You are also invited to attend the special meeting. However, since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares in person at the special meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your broker or other agent.

Does the board recommend voting for the approval of the proposals?

Yes. After careful consideration of the terms and conditions of these proposals, the Board has determined that each of the proposals are in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. The Board recommends that the Company’s stockholders vote “FOR” each of the director nominees and “FOR” each of the Extension Amendment Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal.

What interests do the Company’s directors and officers have in the approval of the proposals?

The Company’s directors and officers have interests in the proposals that may be different from, or in addition to, your interests as a stockholder. These interests include ownership of founder shares and warrants that may become exercisable in the future, loans by them that will not be repaid in the event of our winding up and the possibility of future compensatory arrangements. See the section entitled “The Extension Amendment Proposal — Interests of the Company’s Directors and Officers”

What if I object to the Extension Amendment? Do I have appraisal rights?

Stockholders do not have appraisal rights in connection with the Extension Amendment under the DGCL.

What happens to the Company’s warrants if the Extension Amendment is not approved?

If the Extension Amendment Proposal is not approved and we do not consummate a business combination by April 18, 2020, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem the public shares, at a per-share price, payable in cash, equal to the aggregate amount then on deposit in the trust account including interest earned on the funds held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our franchise and income taxes (less up to $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), divided by the number of then outstanding public shares, which redemption will completely extinguish public stockholders’ rights as stockholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the remaining stockholders and the Board in accordance with applicable law, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company’s obligations under the DGCL to provide for claims of creditors and other requirements of applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to our warrants, which will expire worthless in the event of our winding up.

What happens to the Company’s warrants if the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved?

If the Extension Amendment Proposal is approved, the Company will continue to attempt to consummate a business combination until the Extended Date, and will retain the blank check company restrictions previously applicable to it. The warrants will remain outstanding in accordance with their terms.

How do I vote?

If you are a holder of record of Company common stock, you may vote in person at the special meeting or by submitting a proxy for the special meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the special meeting in person, we urge you to vote by proxy to ensure your vote is counted. You may submit your proxy by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying pre-addressed postage paid envelope. You may still attend the special meeting and vote in person if you have already voted by proxy.

If your shares of Company common stock are held in “street name” by a broker or other agent, you have the right to direct your broker or other agent on how to vote the shares in your account. You are also invited to attend the special meeting. However, since you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares in person at the special meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from your broker or other agent.

How do I redeem my shares of common stock?

Pursuant to the charter, a public stockholder may request that the Company redeem all or a portion of such public stockholder’s public shares for cash if the Extension Amendment is approved. You will be entitled to receive cash for any public shares to be redeemed only if you:

Holders of units must elect to separate the underlying public shares and public warrants prior to exercising redemption rights with respect to the public shares. If holders hold their units in an account at a brokerage firm or bank, holders must notify their broker or bank that they elect to separate the units into the underlying public shares and public warrants, or if a holder holds units registered in its own name, the holder must contact the transfer agent directly and instruct it to do so. Public stockholders may elect to redeem all or a portion of their public shares even if they vote for the Extension Amendment Proposal.

What should I do if I receive more than one set of voting materials?

You may receive more than one set of voting materials, including multiple copies of this proxy statement and multiple proxy cards or voting instruction cards, if your shares are registered in more than one name or are registered in different accounts. For example, if you hold your shares in more than one brokerage account, you will receive a separate voting instruction card for each brokerage account in which you hold shares. Please complete, sign, date and return each proxy card and voting instruction card that you receive in order to cast a vote with respect to all of your shares.

Who is paying for this proxy solicitation?

The Company will pay for the entire cost of soliciting proxies. The Company has engaged Morrow Sodali LLC (“Morrow”) to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the annual meeting. The Company has agreed to pay Morrow a fee of $22,500. The Company will reimburse Morrow for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and will indemnify Morrow and its affiliates against certain claims, liabilities, losses, damages and expenses. In addition to these mailed proxy materials, our directors and officers may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone or by other means of communication. These parties will not be paid any additional compensation for soliciting proxies. We may also reimburse brokerage firms, banks and other agents for the cost of forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners.

Who can help answer my questions?

If you have questions about the proposals or if you need additional copies of the proxy statement or the enclosed proxy card you should contact:

Graf Industrial Corp.

117 Vintage Park Blvd., Suite W-222

Houston, Texas 77070

Attn: James A. Graf and Michael Dee

Email: james@grafacq.com

You may also contact the Company’s proxy solicitor at:

Morrow Sodali LLC
470 West Avenue
Stamford, CT 06902
Telephone: (800) 662-5200
(banks and brokers can call collect at (203) 658-9400)
Email: GRAF.info@investor.morrowsodali.com

You may also obtain additional information about the Company from documents filed with the SEC by following the instructions in the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”

If you are a holder of public shares and you intend to seek redemption of your shares, you will need to deliver your public shares (either physically or electronically) to the transfer agent at the address below prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on April 14, 2020. If you have questions regarding the certification of your position or delivery of your stock, please contact:

Mark Zimkind

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
One State Street Plaza, 30^th Floor
New York, New York 10004
E-mail: mzimkind@continentalstock.com

THE SPECIAL MEETING

Date, Time, Place and Purpose of the Special Meeting

The special meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m., local time, on Thursday, April 16, 2020 at the offices of Winston & Strawn LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166.

At the special meeting, stockholders are being asked to consider and vote on proposals to:

Voting Power; Record Date

You will be entitled to vote or direct votes to be cast at the special meeting if you owned Company common stock at the close of business on March 19, 2020, the record date for the special meeting. You will have one vote per proposal for each share of common stock you owned at that time. The Company’s warrants do not carry voting rights.

At the close of business on the record date, there were [__] outstanding shares of Company common stock entitled to vote, of which [__] were founder shares and [__] were public shares.

Votes Required

Approval of the Extension Amendment Proposal requires the affirmative vote of 65% of the outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote thereon at the special meeting. The election of the director nominees pursuant to the Director Election Proposal requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the shares of common stock cast by the Company’s stockholders present in person or by proxy at the special meeting and entitled to vote thereon. Approval of the Adjournment Proposal requires the affirmative vote for the proposal by the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock who, being present and entitled to vote at the special meeting, vote at the special meeting.

A stockholder’s failure to vote by proxy or to vote in person at the special meeting will not be counted towards the number of shares of common stock required to validly establish a quorum, and if a valid quorum is otherwise established, such failure to vote will have the effect of a vote “AGAINST” the Extension Amendment Proposal but will have no effect on the outcome of the Director Election Proposal or the Adjournment Proposal. Abstentions will be counted in connection with the determination of whether a valid quorum is established and will have the effect of a vote “AGAINST” the Extension Amendment Proposal but will have no effect on the outcome of the Director Election Proposal or the Adjournment Proposal.

If you do not want a proposal to be approved, you must abstain, not vote, or vote against the proposal. The Company anticipates that a public stockholder who tenders shares for redemption in connection with the vote to approve the Extension Amendment would receive payment of the redemption price for such shares soon after the completion of the Extension Amendment.

Voting

You can vote your shares at the special meeting by proxy or in person.

You can vote by proxy by having one or more individuals who will be at the special meeting vote your shares for you. These individuals are called “proxies” and using them to cast your ballot at the special meeting is called voting “by proxy.”

If you wish to vote by proxy, you must (i) complete the enclosed form, called a “proxy card,” and mail it in the envelope provided or (ii) submit your proxy by telephone or over the Internet (if those options are available to you) in accordance with the instructions on the enclosed proxy card or voting instruction card.

If you complete the proxy card and mail it in the envelope provided or submit your proxy by telephone or over the Internet as described above, you will designate each of James A. Graf and Michael Dee to act as your proxy at the special meeting. One of them will then vote your shares at the special meeting in accordance with the instructions you have given them in the proxy card or voting instructions, as applicable, with respect to the proposals presented in this proxy statement. Proxies will extend to, and be voted at, any adjoumment(s) of the special meeting.

Alternatively, you can vote your shares in person by attending the special meeting. You will be given a ballot at the special meeting.

A special note for those who plan to attend the special meeting and vote in person: if your shares are held in the name of a broker, bank or other nominee, you must bring a statement from your brokerage account or a letter from the person or entity in whose name the shares are registered indicating that you are the beneficial owner of those shares as of the record date. In addition, you will not be able to vote at the special meeting unless you obtain a legal proxy from the record holder of your shares.

Our Board is asking for your proxy. Giving our Board your proxy means you authorize it to vote your shares at the special meeting in the manner you direct. You may vote for or withhold your vote for the nominee or proposal or you may abstain from voting. All valid proxies received prior to the special meeting will be voted. All shares represented by a proxy will be voted, and where a stockholder specifies by means of the proxy a choice with respect to any matter to be acted upon, the shares will be voted in accordance with the specification so made. If no choice is indicated on the proxy, the shares will be voted “FOR” each of the director nominees and “FOR” each of the Extension Amendment and the Adjournment Proposal and as the proxy holders may determine in their discretion with respect to any other matters that may properly come before the special meeting.

Stockholders who have questions or need assistance in completing or submitting their proxy cards should contact our proxy solicitor, Morrow, at (800) 662-5200 or by sending a letter to 470 West Avenue, Stamford, CT 06902.

Stockholders who hold their shares in “street name,” meaning the name of a broker or other nominee who is the record holder, must either direct the record holder of their shares to vote their shares or obtain a legal proxy from the record holder to vote their shares at the special meeting.

Revocability of Proxies

Any proxy may be revoked by the person giving it at any time before the polls close at the special meeting. A proxy may be revoked by filing with the Secretary at Graf Industrial Corp., 118 Vintage Park Blvd., Suite W-222, Houston, Texas 77070, either a written notice of revocation bearing a date later than the date of such proxy or a subsequent proxy relating to the same shares or by attending the special meeting and voting in person.

Simply attending the special meeting will not constitute a revocation of your proxy. If your shares are held in the name of a broker or other nominee who is the record holder, you must follow the instructions of your broker or other nominee to revoke a previously given proxy.

Attendance at the Special Meeting

Only holders of common stock, their proxy holders and guests we may invite may attend the special meeting. If you wish to attend the special meeting in person but you hold your shares through someone else, such as a broker, you must bring proof of your ownership and identification with a photo at the special meeting. For example, you may bring an account statement showing that you beneficially owned shares of the Company as of the record date as acceptable proof of ownership. In addition, you must bring a legal proxy from the broker, bank or other nominee holding your shares, confirming your beneficial ownership of the shares and giving you the right to vote your shares.

Solicitation of Proxies

Your proxy is being solicited by our Board on the proposals being presented to stockholders at the special meeting. The Company has agreed to pay Morrow a fee of $22,500. The Company will reimburse Morrow for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and will indemnify Morrow and its affiliates against certain claims, liabilities, losses, damages and expenses. In addition to these mailed proxy materials, our directors and officers may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone or by other means of communication. These parties will not be paid any additional compensation for soliciting proxies. We may also reimburse brokerage firms, banks and other agents for the cost of forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners. You may contact Morrow at:

Morrow Sodali LLC
470 West Avenue
Stamford, CT 06902
Telephone: (800) 662-5200
(banks and brokers can call collect at (203) 658-9400)

Email: GRAF.info@investor.morrowsodali.com

The cost of preparing, assembling, printing and mailing this proxy statement and the accompanying form of proxy, and the cost of soliciting proxies relating to the special meeting, will be borne by the Company.

Some banks and brokers have customers who beneficially own common stock listed of record in the names of nominees. We intend to request banks and brokers to solicit such customers and will reimburse them for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for such solicitations. If any additional solicitation of the holders of our outstanding common stock is deemed necessary, we (through our directors and officers) anticipate making such solicitation directly.

No Right of Appraisal

The Company’s stockholders do not have appraisal rights under the DGCL in connection with the proposals to be voted on at the special meeting. Accordingly, our stockholders have no right to dissent and obtain payment for their shares.

Other Business

We are not currently aware of any business to be acted upon at the special meeting other than the matters discussed in this proxy statement. The form of proxy accompanying this proxy statement confers discretionary authority upon the named proxy holders with respect to amendments or variations to the matters identified in the accompanying Notice of Special Meeting and with respect to any other matters which may properly come before the special meeting. If other matters do properly come before the special meeting, or at any adjournment(s) of the special meeting, we expect that the shares of common stock represented by properly submitted proxies will be voted by the proxy holders in accordance with the recommendations of our Board.

Principal Executive Offices

Our principal executive offices are located at 118 Vintage Park Blvd., Suite W-222, Houston Texas 77070.

James A. Graf, 55, has been our chief executive officer since our inception in June 2018 and was a member of our board of directors from June 2018 to October 2019. Mr. Graf was a director of Platinum Eagle Acquisition Corp., from January 2018 to March 2019. Mr. Graf served as the vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer of Double Eagle Acquisition Corp. from its inception in June 2015 through its business combination with Williams Scotsman, Inc. in November 2017. He served as vice president, chief financial officer, treasurer and secretary of Silver Eagle Acquisition Corp. from its inception in April 2013 through Silver Eagle’s business combination with Videocon d2h Limited (“VDTH”), and he served as vice president, chief financial officer, treasurer and secretary of Global Eagle Acquisition Corp. (“GEE”) from its inception in February 2011 to its business combination with Row 44, Inc. and Advanced Inflight Alliance AG in January 2013. He was vice chairman of Global Entertainment AG, the German entity holding GEE’s equity in AIA from 2013 to 2014 and special advisor to GEE in 2013. He served as a special advisor to VDTH from 2015 to 2016. From 2008 to 2011 Mr. Graf served as a managing director of TC Capital Ltd., an investment bank, in Singapore. From 2007 to 2008, Mr. Graf was engaged as a consultant to provide financial advisory services to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. In 2001, Mr. Graf founded and became chief executive officer of Praedea Solutions Inc. (“Praedea”), an enterprise software company with operations in the United States, Malaysia and Ukraine. The assets of Praedea were sold in 2006 to Mergent Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Xinhua Finance Ltd., and renamed Mergent Data Technology, Inc., where Mr. Graf continued to serve as chief executive officer from 2006 to 2007. Praedea was renamed PSI Capital Inc. (“PSIC"), and currently serves as an investment holding company for Mr. Graf. Mr. Graf continues to be chief executive officer of PSIC. Prior to founding Praedea, Mr. Graf was a managing director at Merrill Lynch, in Singapore from 1998 to 2000 and a consultant to Merrill Lynch in 2001. From 1996 to 1998, Mr. Graf served as a director and then managing director and president of Deutsche Bank’s investment banking entity in Hong Kong, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell (Hong Kong) Ltd. From 1993 to 1996, he was a vice president at Smith Barney in Hong Kong and Los Angeles. From 1987 to 1993, Mr. Graf was an analyst and then associate at Morgan Stanley in New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Singapore. Mr. Graf received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Chicago in 1987.

Michael Dee, 63, has been our President and Chief Financial Officer since September 2018 and is a member of our board of directors. Mr. Dee was a Senior Advisor to the President for Finance of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in Beijing from January to July 2016 and also served as a member of its Investment Committee. From 2010 to 2015, Mr. Dee managed various private investments, including providing advice to SeaOne Maritime Corp., a startup focused on the monetization of natural gas and gas liquids and based in Texas. Mr. Dee was Senior Managing Director — International of Temasek Holdings Private Limited, Singapore’s sovereign investment company, from 2008 to 2010 and also served as a senior member of its Management Committee and Investment Committee. Prior to joining Temasek, Mr. Dee worked at Morgan Stanley from 1981 to 2007 in a variety of senior positions in its capital markets, mergers and acquisitions and firm management divisions, including acting as Regional Chief Executive Officer for Southeast Asia and as Head of Morgan Stanley’s Houston office. Mr. Dee served as the regional chairman of the Houston branch of Teach For America, Inc. and as a director of the Greater Houston Partnership. He was also appointed Singapore’s Honorary Consul General in Houston. Mr. Dee received a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1981.

Mr. Dee’s qualifications to serve on our board of directors include his extensive experience in public markets, corporate finance, private equity and mergers and acquisitions.

Keith W. Abell, 62, is a member of our board of directors. Mr. Abell has been a member of the board of directors of FGL Holdings, formerly known as CF Corporation, since May 2017. Mr. Abell is the co-founder of Sungate Properties, LLC, a real estate investment company, which he co-founded in 2009 after managing private investments during 2007 and 2008. From 1994 to 2007, Mr. Abell was a co-founder of, and served in a variety of senior management roles at, GSC Group (and its predecessor, Greenwich Street Capital Partners, L.P.), an alternative asset manager. From 1990 to 1994, Mr. Abell was a managing director at Blackstone where he, among other things, founded the firm’s first Hong Kong office. From 1986 to 1990, Mr. Abell was a vice president at Goldman, Sachs & Co. where he worked in the global finance, corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions departments. Mr. Abell serves as the treasurer and as a director of the National Committee on United States-China Relations. Throughout his career, Mr. Abell has served as a director of a number of public, private and not-for-profit entities. Mr. Abell received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University in 1979, an MBA from the Wharton School in 1986 and a Master of Arts degree in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania in 1986.

Mr. Abell’s qualifications to serve on our board of directors include his extensive experience in public markets, corporate finance, private equity and mergers and acquisitions.

Julie J. Levenson, 57, is a member of our board of directors. Ms. Levenson is a capital markets and mergers and acquisitions advisory professional with over 35 years of experience, with particular experience in equity private placements for both private and public companies. Ms. Levenson has been a partner and co-founder at La Honda Advisors LLC, an investment bank based in Menlo Park, California, since 2012. Previously, Ms. Levenson was a senior advisor at PGP Capital Advisors from 2011 to 2012, managing director and head of the private placement group at Cowen and Company from 2007 to 2011, managing director and co-head of the private finance group at Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin from 2003 to 2007, senior managing director and head of the private equity placements / strategic finance group at Bear Stearns from 2003 to 2004, managing director and head of west coast / technology private placements at Merrill Lynch from 1999 to 2002, served in various positions including director in private equity placements and equity capital markets at Smith Barney and Salomon Smith Barney from 1994 to 1999, and assistant director in corporate development at Paramount Communications from 1993 to 1994. She began her investment banking career as an associate at Morgan Stanley from 1990 to 1993. Ms. Levenson received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College in 1984 and JD and MBA degrees from The Wharton School and the School of Law at the University of Pennsylvania in 1990.

Ms. Levenson’s qualifications to serve on our board of directors include her extensive experience in the areas of financial advisory work, corporate finance, equity capital markets and private and public equity placements.

Sabrina McKee, 52, is a member of our board of directors. Ms. McKee is currently Head of North America Strategy at Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F), which she joined in February 2017. Ms. McKee, previously Head of Mobility Strategy from February 2019 to January 2020 and Director of Investor Relations at Ford from February 2017 to February 2019, is a capital markets professional with over 20 years of experience in all aspects of the investment process, has a unique blend of sellside, buyside and corporate experience offering a comprehensive understanding of the investment process. From April 2014 to June 2016, Ms. McKee was Managing Director, Head of Equity Capital Markets at Sterne Agee CRT LLC, where she worked with public and private companies on all aspects of the capital-raising process, including special purpose acquisition companies. From 2011 to 2014, Ms. McKee worked as a Director of the Corporate Access businesses at Guggenheim Securities LLC and during 2010 she worked as an Executive Director at Morgan Stanley where she connected public and private companies to the investment community. From 2007 to 2010, Ms. McKee was Vice President at Two Sigma Investments LP, where she helped build out a successful, global, Alpha Capture business, enabling quantitative investment managers to integrate fundamental factors into quantitative stock selection models. In addition, from 2000 to 2007, Ms. McKee worked for UBS Investment Bank as an Executive Director of Equity Research Sales and Equities, from 1999 to 2000 for Schroders plc as a Senior Vice President and from 1991 to 1998 for Tucker Anthony as a Senior Vice President of Institutional Research Sales, where she covered a diverse range of large institutional investors. Ms. McKee received a Bachelor of Arts degree from William Smith College in 1989.

Ms. McKee’s qualifications to serve on our board of directors include her extensive experience in corporate finance and marketing initial business combinations for special purpose acquisition companies.

Kevin Starke, 51, is a member of our board of directors. Since 2016, Mr. Starke has been a senior analyst at Owl Creek Asset Management, L.P., a credit and equity long-short hedge fund in New York City, which is an affiliate of a member of our Sponsor. From 2008 until he joined Owl Creek Asset Management, L.P. in 2016, Mr. Starke was at CRT Capital, where he served as a senior analyst covering distressed and special situations, with an emphasis on complex situations and litigations. He previously worked at Weeden & Co. LP from 2005 to 2008, as a senior analyst focused on special situations, distressed and post-reorganization securities. Prior to Weeden, Mr. Starke served in a similar role at Imperial Capital LLC from 2004 to 2005. From 1999 to 2004, he was an analyst at Bear Stearns & Co., where he focused on small-cap special situations companies. Mr. Starke began his career in Asia, where he worked for several financial firms in Hong Kong, following a year in the Philippines on the Henry Luce Scholarship.

Mr. Starke is a Chartered Financial Analyst. Mr. Starke received a Bachelor of Arts degree from New York University in Politics in 1990 and a Master of Arts degree from Yale University in Ethics in 1992. Mr. Starke was designated as a director by Owl Creek pursuant to its agreement with James A. Graf and our Sponsor.

Mr. Starke’s qualifications to serve on our board of directors include his extensive experience in investing in SPACs, evaluating business combinations for the purposes of making private and backstop investments, and in investment situations involving complex changes to capital structures.

Corporate Governance

Number and Terms of Office of Officers and Directors

Our board of directors consists of five members. Our board is divided into three classes, with only one class of directors being elected in each year, and with each class (except for those directors appointed prior to our first annual meeting of stockholders) serving a three-year term. The term of office of the first class of directors, consisting of Sabrina McKee and Julie J. Levenson, will expire at the special meeting. The term of office of the second class of directors, consisting of Keith W. Abell and Kevin Starke, will expire at our 2021 annual meeting of stockholders. The term of office of the third class of directors, consisting of Michael Dee, will expire at our 2022 annual meeting of stockholders. Subject to any other special rights applicable to the stockholders, any vacancies on our board of directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present and voting at the meeting of our board that includes any directors representing our Sponsor then on our board, or by a majority of the holders of our common stock. Our officers are appointed by the board of directors and serve at the discretion of the board of directors, rather than for specific terms of office. Our board of directors is authorized to appoint persons to the offices set forth in our bylaws as it deems appropriate. Our bylaws provide that our officers may consist of a Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Secretaries and such other offices as may be determined by the board of directors.

Director Independence

The listing standards of the NYSE require that a majority of our Board be independent. An “independent director” is defined generally as a person other than an officer or employee of the company or its subsidiaries or any other individual having a relationship which in the opinion of the company’s board of directors, would interfere with the director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Our Board has determined that each of Keith W. Abell, Sabrina McKee and Julie J. Levenson are “independent directors” as defined in Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act and the rules of the NYSE. Our independent directors have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.

Risk Oversight

The Board’s oversight of risk is administered directly through the Board, as a whole, or through its audit committee. Various reports and presentations regarding risk management are presented to the Board to identify and manage risk. The audit committee addresses risks that fall within the committee’s area of responsibility. For example, the audit committee is responsible for overseeing the quality and objectivity of the Company’s financial statements and the independent audit thereof. Management furnishes information regarding risk to the Board as requested.