Document:

Exhibit 10.9

 

[•], 2016

GEF Acquisition Corporation

2 Bethesda Metro Center, Suite 440

Bethesda, Maryland 20814

 

Gentlemen:

 

GEF Acquisition Corporation
(“Corporation”), a blank check company formed for the purpose of acquiring one or more businesses or
entities (a “Business Combination”), intends to register its securities under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (“Securities Act”), in connection with its initial public offering (“IPO”).

 

The undersigned hereby
commits to purchase an aggregate of 250,000 warrants of the Corporation (“Initial Warrants”), each Initial
Warrant to purchase one Class A ordinary share, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Corporation (“Ordinary Shares”),
at $1.00 per Initial Warrant for an aggregate purchase price of $250,000 (the “Initial Purchase Price”).
Additionally, if the underwriters in the IPO exercise their over-allotment option in full or part, the undersigned further commits
to purchase up to an additional 37,500 warrants (“Additional Warrants” and together with the Initial
Warrants, the “Private Warrants”) at $1.00 per Additional Warrant for an aggregate purchase price of
up to $37,500 (the “Over-Allotment Purchase Price” and together with the Initial Purchase Price, the
“Purchase Price”). At least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement
(defined below), the undersigned will cause the Purchase Price to be delivered to Graubard Miller (“GM”),
counsel for the underwriters, by wire transfer as set forth in the instructions attached as Exhibit A to hold in
a non-interest bearing account until the Corporation consummates the IPO and over-allotment option, if any.  

 

The consummation of
the purchase and issuance of the Initial Warrants and Additional Warrants (if any) shall occur simultaneously with the consummation
of the IPO and over-allotment option, respectively. Simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO, GM shall deposit the Initial
Purchase Price, without interest or deduction, into the trust fund (“Trust Fund”) established by the
Corporation for the benefit of the Corporation’s public stockholders as described in the Corporation’s registration
statement filed in connection with the IPO (“Registration Statement”). Simultaneously with the consummation
of all or any part of the over-allotment option, GM shall deposit the pro-rata portion of the Over-Allotment Purchase Price, based
upon the amount of the over-allotment option that has been exercised, without interest or deduction, into the Trust Fund. Upon
expiration of the over-allotment option, GM shall return any unused portion of the Over-Allotment Purchase Price to the undersigned.
If the Corporation does not complete the IPO within two (2) months from the date of this letter, the Purchase Price (without interest
or deduction) will be returned to the undersigned.

 

Each of the Corporation
and the undersigned acknowledges and agrees that GM is serving hereunder solely as a convenience to the parties to facilitate the
purchase of the Private Warrants and GM’s sole obligation under this letter agreement is to act with respect to holding and
disbursing the Purchase Price for the Private Warrants as described above. GM shall not be liable to the Corporation or the undersigned
or any other person or entity in respect of any act or failure to act hereunder or otherwise in connection with performing its
services hereunder unless GM has acted in a manner constituting gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Corporation shall indemnify
GM against any claim made against it (including reasonable attorney’s fees) by reason of it acting or failing to act in connection
with this letter agreement except as a result of its gross negligence or willful misconduct. GM may rely and shall be protected
in acting or refraining from acting upon any written notice, instruction or request furnished to it hereunder and believed by it
to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein, GM agrees that it does not have any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies of the Trust Fund (“Claim”)
and hereby waives any Claim it may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of, any services provided to the Corporation
and will not seek recourse against the Trust Fund for any reason whatsoever.

 

    	 	 

     

    

 

The Private Warrants
shall have the terms set forth in a Warrant Agreement to be entered into by the Corporation and a warrant agent in connection with
the IPO (a “Warrant Agreement”). Additionally:

 

		·	the Private Warrants and underlying securities will not be transferable until after the consummation
of a Business Combination except (i) to the undersigned’s members and/or shareholders upon its liquidation, (ii) to relatives
and trusts for estate planning purposes, (iii) by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death, (iv) pursuant to a
qualified domestic relations order, (v) by certain pledges to secure obligations incurred in connection with purchase of the Corporation’s
securities, (vi) by private sales made at or prior to the consummation of a Business Combination at prices no greater than the
price at which the Private Warrants were originally purchased or (vii) to the Corporation for cancellation in connection with the
consummation of a Business Combination, in each case (except for clause vi (if the Corporation consents) and clause vii) where
the transferee agrees to the terms of the transfer restrictions;

 

		·	the Private Warrants (and underlying securities) may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged
or hypothecated, or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the effective
disposition of the securities by any person for a period of 180 days immediately following the effective date of the Registration
Statement, except to any underwriter and selected dealer participating in the Corporation’s initial public offering and their
bona fide officers or partners and except as otherwise provided in Rule 5110(g)(2) of the FINRA Conduct Rules; and

 

		·	the Private Warrants will be subject to customary registration rights, pursuant to a Registration
Rights Agreement on terms agreed upon by the Corporation and the Underwriters to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement
provided that the undersigned may not exercise its demand and “piggy-back” registration rights pursuant to such Registration
Rights Agreement after five (5) and seven (7) years after the effective date of the Registration Statement, respectively, and the
undersigned may not exercise its demand registration rights thereunder more than one time.

 

Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary herein, the issuance of the Private Warrants hereunder shall comply with FINRA Rules 5110(g)(1) and 5110(f)(2)(G).

 

The undersigned hereby
represents and warrants that, as applicable:

 

		(a)	the undersigned is acquiring the Private Warrants and, upon exercise of the Private Warrants, the
Ordinary Shares issuable upon such exercise (collectively, the “Securities”), for the undersigned’s
own account, for investment purposes only and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, any public sale or distribution
thereof;

 

		(b)	the undersigned is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501(a)(3)
of Regulation D, and the undersigned has not experienced a disqualifying event as enumerated pursuant to Rule 506(d) of Regulation
D under the Securities Act;

 

		(c)	the undersigned understands that the Securities are being offered and will be sold to it in reliance
on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States federal and state securities laws and that the Corporation
is relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and the undersigned’s compliance with, the representations and warranties of the
undersigned set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the undersigned to
acquire such Securities;

 

		(d)	the undersigned did not decide to enter into this agreement as a result of any general solicitation
or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) under the Securities Act;

 

    	 	 

     

    

 

		(e)	the undersigned has been furnished with all materials relating to the business, finances and operations
of the Corporation and materials relating to the offer and sale of the Securities which have been requested by the undersigned.
The undersigned has been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the executive officers and directors of the Corporation.
The undersigned understands that its investment in the Securities involves a high degree of risk and it has sought such accounting,
legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to the acquisition of
the Securities;

 

		(f)	the undersigned understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government
or governmental agency has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities or the fairness or suitability
of the investment in the Securities by the undersigned nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering
of the Securities;

 

		(g)	the undersigned understands that: (a) the Securities have not been and are not being registered
under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless (1) subsequently
registered thereunder or (2) sold in reliance on an exemption therefrom; and (b) except as specifically set forth in
the Registration Rights Agreement, neither the Corporation nor any other person is under any obligation to register the Securities
under the Securities Act or any state securities laws or to comply with the terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder;

 

		(h)	the undersigned has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters, knowledge
of the high degree of risk associated with investments in the securities of companies in the development stage such as the Corporation,
is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Securities and is able to bear the economic risk of an investment
in the Securities in the amount contemplated hereunder for an indefinite period of time. The undersigned has adequate means of
providing for his, her or its current financial needs and contingencies and will have no current or anticipated future needs for
liquidity which would be jeopardized by the investment in the Securities. The undersigned can afford a complete loss of his, her
or its investments in the Securities;

 

		(i)	the undersigned possesses all requisite power and authority necessary to carry out the transactions
contemplated by this agreement ;and

 

		(j)	this letter constitutes its respective legal, valid and binding obligation, and is enforceable
against it.

 

    	 	 

     

    

 

	 	Very truly yours,
	 	 
	 	[EARLYBIRDCAPITAL, INC.]
	 	[MAXIM GROUP LLC]
	 	 	 
	 	By:	 
	 	 	Name:
	 	 	Title:

 

	Accepted and Agreed:	 
	 	 
	GEF ACQUISITION CORPORATION	 
	 	 	 
	By:	 	 
	 	Name:	 
	 	Title:	 

 

	Graubard Miller	 
	(solely with respect to its obligations to hold 	 
	and disburse monies for the Private Warrants)	 
	 	 	 
	By:	 	 
	 	Name:	 
	 	Title:	 

    	 	 

     

    

 

Exhibit A

Wire InstructionsExhibit 10.1

 

Voting Agreement

Each of the undersigned, being all of the directors and executive officers of LaPorte Bancorp, Inc. (“LPB”) and The LaPorte Savings Bank, an Indiana state-chartered savings bank and wholly-owned subsidiary of LPB (“LPSB”) having, in the case of the LPB directors, voted for the approval and adoption by LPB of that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger (“Agreement and Plan of Merger”) among LPB and Horizon Bancorp (“Horizon”), whereby Horizon will acquire all of the outstanding capital stock of LPB in exchange for shares of Horizon common stock, no par value per share (the “Holding Company Merger”), in consideration of the benefits to be derived from the consummation of such merger and in consideration of the mutual agreements made in the Agreement and Plan of Merger and herein, and in order to induce Horizon to execute and deliver the Agreement and Plan of Merger to LPB and to proceed with the consummation of the Holding Company Merger and to incur the expenses required in connection therewith, hereby irrevocably (in his or her individual capacity and not in his or her capacity as a director or officer of LPB and LPSB) covenants and agrees with Horizon that:

(a)            will vote all shares of common stock of LPB (“LPB Common Stock”) now or hereafter beneficially owned by him or her, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of the shareholders of LPB or adjournments thereof, in favor of the approval and adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger and the Holding Company Merger (provided that the term “LPB Common Stock” shall not include:  (1) any securities beneficially owned by the undersigned as a trustee or fiduciary; (2) any shares as to which the undersigned does not have, directly or indirectly, sole voting power; (3) any unexercised stock options to purchase shares of LPB Common Stock); and

(b)            until such time as the Holding Company Merger has been consummated or the Agreement and Plan of Merger has been duly terminated in accordance with the provisions thereof, will not transfer any shares of LPB Common Stock, or any right or option with respect thereto or any interest therein, including any shares of restricted stock, other than: (a) to any immediate family member of the undersigned, or to a trust for the benefit of the undersigned or his or her immediate family members or upon the undersigned’s death; provided that, as a precondition to such permitted transfer, the transferee has agreed in writing to abide by the terms of this Agreement in a form reasonably satisfactory to Horizon; (b) transfers by will or operation or law; (c) transfers in connection with estate planning or similar purposes, including transfers to relatives, trusts, foundations and charitable organizations, subject to the transferee first agreeing in writing to abide by the terms of this Agreement; (d) the withholding of LPB Common Stock by LPB to satisfy tax obligations upon the vesting of any shares of restricted stock or the exercise of stock options; or (e) such transfers as Horizon may otherwise permit in its sole discretion.

The undersigned represents and warrants that he or she (except to the extent indicated below) is the sole record and/or beneficial owner of (and has sole rights to vote and to dispose of) the number of shares of LPB Common Stock indicated beside his or her signature below.

This Voting Agreement shall be effective from the date hereof and shall terminate and be of no further force and effect upon the earlier of (a) the consummation of the Holding Company

Merger; (b) the termination of the Agreement and Plan of Merger in accordance with its terms; or (c) the taking of such action whereby a majority of LPB’s Board of Directors, in accordance with the terms and conditions of Section 5.06 of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, withdraws its favorable recommendation of the Agreement and Plan of Merger to the shareholders of LPB.

This Voting Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and delivered by facsimile, pdf or other means of electronic communication, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement. This Voting Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana and applicable federal laws, without regard to principles of conflicts of law. The parties hereto hereby agree that all claims, actions, suits and proceedings between the parties hereto relating to this Voting Agreement shall be filed, tried and litigated only in the Circuit or Superior Courts of La Porte County, Indiana or the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana. In connection with the foregoing, the parties hereto consent to the jurisdiction and venue of such courts and expressly waive any claims or defenses of lack of personal jurisdiction of or proper venue by such courts. The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Voting Agreement was not performed in accordance with its specific terms on a timely basis or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or other equitable relief to prevent breaches of this Voting Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Voting Agreement in any court identified above, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING INVOLVING, DIRECTLY, IN ANY MATTERS (WHETHER SOUNDING IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH THIS VOTING AGREEMENT.

It is understood and agreed that the provisions of this Agreement relate solely to the capacity of the undersigned as a shareholder or other beneficial owner of shares of LPB Common Stock and is not in any way intended to affect the exercise by the undersigned of the undersigned’s responsibilities as a director or executive officer of LPB.  It is further understood and agreed that this Agreement is not in any way intended to affect the exercise by the undersigned of any fiduciary responsibility which the undersigned may have in respect of any shares of LPB Common Stock held or controlled by the undersigned as of the date hereof.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank.]

Page 2

Executed and Delivered as of March 10, 2016.

Executive Officers:

	 /s/ Lee A. Brady	 	
(85,476 shares)

	
Lee A. Brady

	 	 
	 	 	 
	 /s/ Michele M. Thompson	 	
(67,291 shares)

	
Michele M. Thompson

	 	 
	 	 	 
	 /s/ Patrick W. Collins	 	
(29,004 shares)

	
Patrick W. Collins

	 	 
	 	 	 
	 /s/ Kevin N. Beres	 	
(44,185 shares)

	
Kevin N. Beres

	 	 
	 	 	 
	 /s/ Daniel P. Carroll	 	
(19,012 shares)

	
Daniel P. Carroll

	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	
 

Directors:

	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 /s/ Paul G. Fenker	 	
(33,574 shares)

	
Paul G. Fenker

	 	 
	 	 	 
	 /s/ Ralph F. Howes	 	
(39,399 shares)

	
Ralph F. Howes

	 	 
	 	 	 
	 /s/ Mark A. Krentz	 	
(10,568 shares)

	
Mark A. Krentz

	 	 
	 	 	 
	 /s/ L. Charles Lukmann, III	 	
(51,532 shares)

	
L. Charles Lukmann, III

	 	 
	 	 	 
	 /s/ Jerry L. Mayes	 	
(24,064 shares)

	
Jerry L. Mayes

	 	 
	 	 	 
	 /s/ Dale A. Parkison	 	
(21,107 shares)

	
Dale A. Parkison

	 	 
	 	 	 
	 /s/ Robert P. Rose	 	
(26,639 shares)

	
Robert P. Rose

	 	 

Page 3

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