Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
ITEM
7.
MANAGEMENT’S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
References
in this report (the “Annual Report”) to “we,” “us,” “Pono,” or the
“Company” refer to Pono Capital Two,
Inc. References to our “management” or our “management team” refer to
our officers and directors, and references to the “Sponsor” refer to Mehana Capital LLC .
The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in
conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto contained
elsewhere in this Annual Report. Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Please see “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements” elsewhere in this report for a description of these risks and uncertainties.
Overview
We
are a blank check company incorporated in Delaware on March 11, 2022 formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange,
asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. We intend to effectuate
our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of our initial public offering (the “Initial Public Offering”)
and the sale of the private placement units, the proceeds of the sale of our shares in connection with our initial business combination
pursuant to the shares issued to the owners of the target, debt issued to bank or other lenders or the owners of the target, or a combination
of the foregoing or other sources.
On
January 31, 2023, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, as amended and restated on June 21, 2023 (the “Merger
Agreement”), by and among the Company, Pono Two Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation incorporated in January 2023, and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Company (“Merger Sub”), SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (“SBC”),
Mehana Capital, LLC, in its capacity as Purchaser Representative, and Yoshiyuki Aikawa, in his personal capacity and his capacity as
Seller Representative.
Pursuant
to the Merger Agreement, at the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (the “Closing”), Merger
Sub will merge with and into SBC, with SBC continuing as the surviving corporation. The transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement
are referred to herein as the “Business Combination.”
As
a condition to closing of the Business Combination, SBC will complete certain restructuring transactions pursuant to which SBC Medical
Group Co., Ltd., a Japanese corporation (“SBC-Japan”) and certain affiliated service companies, medical corporations, and
other entities, which collectively carry on the business of SBC-Japan and such other related entities, will become subsidiaries of SBC.
As
consideration for the Business Combination, the holders of SBC securities collectively will be entitled to receive from the Company,
in the aggregate, a number of the Company’s securities with an aggregate value equal to (a) $1,000,000,000, minus (b) the amount,
if any, by which $3,000,000 exceeds SBC’s Net Working Capital, plus (c) the amount, if any, by which SBC’s Net Working Capital
exceeds $3,000,000, minus (d) the aggregate amount of any outstanding indebtedness (minus cash held by SBC) of SBC at Closing, minus
(e) specified transaction expenses of SBC associated with the Business Combination.
In
connection with the Merger Agreement, 1,200,000 Sponsor Shares will be issued to the Sponsor on the date that is the earlier of (a) the
six (6) month anniversary of the Closing or (b) the expiration of the “Founder Shares Lock-up Period” (as defined in the
Company’s Insider Letter with the initial stockholders); provided that, the Sponsor in its sole discretion may direct Pono to issue
all or a portion of the Sponsor Shares on such earlier or later date as it shall determine (which date shall not be earlier than the
Closing).
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On
May 5, 2023, the Company held a special meeting of stockholders (the “Special Meeting”), and the chairman adjourned the Special
Meeting to May 8, 2023. On May 8, 2023, the Company held the Special Meeting. During the Special Meeting, stockholders approved an amendment
to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (i) to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate
a business combination from May 9, 2023 to February 9, 2024 for no additional amount to be paid by the Sponsor into the Trust Account,
and (ii) to provide for the right of a holder of Class B common stock to convert such shares into shares of Class A common stock on a
one-for-one basis prior to the closing of a business combination at the election of the holder. As approved by the stockholders of the
Company, the Company filed an amendment to its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Delaware Secretary of State
on May 8, 2023. The Company’s stockholders elected to redeem an aggregate of 9,577,250 shares of Class A common stock of the Company
in connection with the Special Meeting. Following such redemptions, the amount of funds remaining in the trust account is approximately
$20 million.
In
connection with the Special Meeting, the Company and the Sponsor entered into non-redemption agreements with certain unaffiliated stockholders
owning, in the aggregate, 998,682 shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, pursuant to which such stockholders agreed, among
other things, not to redeem or exercise any right to redeem such public shares in connection with the Extension Amendment. In connection
with the non-redemption agreements, the Sponsor agreed to transfer to the stockholders that entered into such agreements Sponsor Shares
upon the consummation of the Company’s initial business combination.
On
May 8, 2023, the Sponsor converted 2,874,999 Founder Shares of Class B common stock into 2,874,999 shares of Class A common stock.
On
September 8, 2023, Pono entered into the First Amendment to the A&R Merger Agreement (the “Amendment”) with the parties
thereto. Prior to the Amendment, the A&R Merger Agreement provided for the holders of SBC securities collectively to be entitled
to receive from Pono, in the aggregate, a number of Pono securities with an aggregate value equal to (the “Merger Consideration”)
(a) $1,200,000,000, minus (b) the amount, if any, by which $3,000,000 exceeds SBC’s Net Working Capital, plus (c) the amount, if
any, by which SBC’s Net Working Capital exceeds $3,000,000, minus (d) the aggregate amount of any outstanding indebtedness (minus
cash held by SBC) of SBC at Closing, minus (e) specified transaction expenses of SBC associated with the Business Combination. Pursuant
to the Amendment, the $1,200,000,000 amount in the Merger Consideration calculation above was reduced to $1,000,000,000.
On
October 26, 2023, the parties entered into the Second Amendment to the A&R Merger Agreement (the “Second Amendment”)
with the parties thereto. Prior to the Second Amendment, the Company’s board of directors as of the Closing was to be designated
as follows: (i) three persons designated prior to the Closing by SBC, two of whom must qualify as independent directors; (ii) one person
designated prior to the Closing by the Company; and (iii) one person mutually agreed upon and designated prior to the Closing by the
Company and SBC, who must qualify as an independent director. Following the Second Amendment, the Company’s board of directors
as of the Closing will be designated as follows: (i) three persons designated prior to the Closing by SBC, at least one of whom must
qualify as an independent director; (ii) one person designated prior to the Closing by the Company, who must qualify as an independent
director; and (iii) one person mutually agreed upon and designated prior to the Closing by the Company and SBC, who must qualify as an
independent director.
On
December 28, 2023, the parties entered into the Third Amendment to the A&R Merger Agreement (the “Third Amendment”) with
the parties thereto. The Third Amendment was entered into solely to extend the Outside Date (as defined in the A&R Merger Agreement)
from December 31, 2023 to March 31, 2024.
On
February 5, 2024, the Company held another special meeting of stockholders (the “Second Special Meeting”). During the Second
Special Meeting, stockholders approved another amendment to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation to
extend the date by which the Company has to consummate a business combination (the “Combination Period”) from February 9,
2024 to November 9, 2024 for no additional amount to be paid by the Sponsor into the Trust Account. As approved by the stockholders of
the Company, the Company filed another amendment to its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Delaware Secretary
of State on February 5, 2024. The Company’s stockholders elected to redeem an aggregate of 273,334 shares of Class A common stock
of the Company in connection with the Second Special Meeting. Following such redemptions, the amount of funds remaining in the trust
account is approximately $17.9 million.
In
connection with the Second Special Meeting, we entered into a non-redemption agreement with an unaffiliated investor (the
“Holder”) which agreed to acquire from public stockholders of the Company 1,500,000 to 1,700,000 shares of Class A
common stock in the open market, at a prices no higher than the redemption price per share payable to stockholders who exercise
redemption rights in connection with the stockholder vote to approve the Company’s proposed business combination with SBC,
prior to the Second Special Meeting and to agree to waive its redemption rights and hold the shares until after the closing of the
business combination. In consideration of the Holder’s agreement to waive its redemption rights with respect to the shares,
and subject to (i) the Holder acquiring 1,500,000 to 1,700,000 shares of Class A common stock in the open market, and (ii)
Holder’s satisfaction of its other obligations under the non-redemption agreement, the Company, on the closing date of the
business combination, provided that Holder has continued to hold the Holder’s shares through the closing date, SBC and
Yoshiyuki Aikawa, the chief executive officer of SBC, shall cause to be issued or transferred to Holder a number of shares of Class
A common stock held by Dr. Aikawa (the “Incentive Shares”), which will equal one (1) Incentive Share for each public
share purchased in the open market pursuant to the non-redemption agreement that is continuously owned by Holder until the closing
date of the business combination. This non-redemption agreement terminates on the earliest to occur of (i) the closing date of the
business combination, (ii) the termination of the related business combination agreement, or (iii) April 30, 2024 (the
“Clearance Date”) if the Company has not cleared all SEC comments to its proxy statement in connection with the business
combination by that date. On March 15, 2024, the parties to the non-redemption agreement entered into an amendment to the non-redemption agreement
to extend the Clearance Date to June 30, 2024, and to agree to close the business combination on or before August 31, 2024.
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Issuance
of Convertible Promissory Note
On
May 18, 2023, we entered into a Note Purchase Agreement (the “Note Purchase Agreement”) with SBC. On May 26, 2023, we issued
and sold to SBC a convertible promissory note (the “Note”) of $1,000,000 in aggregate principal amount (the “Principal
Amount”). The Note is convertible into shares of our Class A common stock. On May 26, 2023, the closing date of the purchase and
sale of the Note, SBC delivered the Note reflecting the Principal Amount and SBC deposited $1,000,000 by wire transfer into a specified
Company. The Note does not bear interest (unless otherwise required by applicable law, in which event interest will accrue at the minimum
rate required by applicable law) and the Principal Amount may be prepaid at any time. On February 27, 2024, we entered into an Amendment to the Note Purchase Agreement (the “Amended Note Purchase
Agreement”) with SBC, which increased the purchase price of the Note from $1,000,000 to $2,700,000.
Immediately
prior to the merger being effected in connection with the consummation of the Business Combination, the outstanding Principal Amount
will be converted automatically into the number of shares of common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the Principal
Amount by (y) $10.00, subject to customary adjustments for any stock splits or combinations occurring prior to conversion.
Results
of Operations
We
have neither engaged in a ny operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities
from March 11, 2022 (inception) through December 31, 2023 were organizational activities, those necessary to prepare for the Initial
Public Offering, described below, and, after our Initial Public Offering, identifying a target company for a business combination. We
do not expect to generate any operating revenues until after the completion of our initial business combination. We will generate non-operating
income in the form of interest income from the proceeds derived from the Initial Public Offering. We incur expenses as a result of being
a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as for due diligence expenses.
For
the year ended December 31, 2023 , we had net income of $339,767, which resulted from interest and
dividend income on investments held in the Trust Account of $2,641,407, partially offset by operating and formation costs of $1,635,452,
franchise tax expense of $137,379, and income tax expense of $528,809.
For
the period from March 11, 2022 (inception) through December 31, 2022, we had net income of $552,813, which resulted from operating and
formation costs of $382,051, income tax expenses of $248,508 and franchise tax expenses of $161,644, partially offset by interest and
dividend income on investments held in the Trust Account for $1,345,016.
Liquidity,
Capital Resources, and Going Concern
For
the year ended December 31, 2023 , net cash used in operating activities was $2,132,921, which
was due to interest and dividends earned on marketable securities held in the Trust Account of $2,641,407, offset by net income
of $339,767, and a change in operating assets and liabilities of $168,719.
For
the period from March 11, 2022 (inception) through December 31, 2022, net cash used in operating
activities was $462,816, which was due to interest earned on marketable securities held in the Trust Account of $1,345,016, offset by
net income of $552,813 and a change in operating assets and liabilities of $329,387.
For
the year ended December 31, 2023, net cash provided by investing activities was $101,010,630, which was due to proceeds from the Trust
Account for payment to redeeming shareholders of $100,078,879, proceeds from the Trust Account to pay franchise taxes of $931,751.
For
the period from March 11, 2022 (inception) through December 31, 2022 net cash used in investing activities was $117,875,000 which was
due to the investment of cash in the Trust Account.
For
the year ended December 31, 2023, net cash used in financing activities was $99,078,879, which was due to payment to redeeming shareholders
of $100,078,879, partially offset by proceeds from convertible promissory note of $1,000,000.
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For
the period from March 11, 2022 (inception) through December 31, 2022, net cash provided by financing
activities was $118,823,380, which was due to the proceeds from the sale of Units (as defined below) (net of the underwriting discount)
of $113,045,000, proceeds from the sale of Placement Units (as defined below) of $6,343,750, and proceeds from the issuance of Class
B common stock to the Sponsor of $25,000, offset in part by payment of offering costs of $590,370.
The
registration statement for the Company’s Initial Public Offering was declared effective on August 4, 2022. On August 9, 2022, the
Company consummated the Initial Public Offering of 11,500,000 units, (the “Units” and, with respect to the shares of Class
A common stock included in the Units sold, the “Public Shares”), including 1,500,000 Units issued pursuant to the exercise
of the underwriters’ over-allotment option in full, generating gross proceeds of $115,000,000.
Simultaneously
with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the sale of 634,375 units (the “ Placement
Units ”) at a price of $10.00 per Placement Unit in a private placement to Mehana Capital
LLC (the “Sponsor”), including 63,000 Placement Units issued
pursuant to the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option in full, generating gross proceeds of $6,343,750.
Following
the closing of the Initial Public Offering on August 9, 2022, an amount of $117,875,000 ($10.25 per Unit) from the net proceeds of the
sale of the Units in the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Placement
Units was placed in a trust account.
We
intend to use substantially all of the funds held in the trust account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the funds
held in the trust account and not previously released to us to pay our taxes (which interest shall be net of taxes payable and excluding
deferred underwriting commissions) to complete our initial business combination. We may withdraw interest to pay our taxes, if any. Our
annual income tax obligations will depend on the amount of interest and other income earned on the amounts held in the trust account.
We expect the interest earned on the amount in the trust account will be sufficient to pay our taxes. We expect the only taxes payable
by us out of the funds in the trust account will be income and franchise taxes, if any. To the extent that our common stock or debt is
used, in whole or in part, as consideration to complete our initial business combination, the remaining proceeds held in the trust account
will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business or businesses, make other acquisitions and pursue our
growth strategies.
As
of December 31, 2023, the Company had $284,394 in cash held outside of the Trust Account, working capital deficit, net of income tax
payable and franchise tax payable of $1,129,417 and accumulated deficit of $5,995,269. The Company has incurred and expects to continue
to incur significant costs in pursuit of the Company’s financing and acquisition plans. For the year ended December 31, 2023 the
Company had loss from operations of $(1,772,831) and net cash used in operating activities was $2,132,921. The Company has further satisfied
liquidity needs through a Convertible Promissory Note of $1,000,000. The Company expects that it will need additional capital to satisfy
its liquidity needs beyond the net proceeds from the consummation of the Initial Public Offering held outside of the Trust Account for
paying existing accounts payable and consummating the Business Combination. Although certain of the Company’s initial stockholders,
officers and directors or their affiliates have committed up to $1,500,000 Working Capital Loans (see Note 5) from time to time or at
any time, there is no guarantee that the Company will receive such funds. In addition, the Company will have until November 9, 2024 to
consummate a business combination. If a business combination is not consummated by November 9, 2024, less than one year after the date
these consolidated financial statements are issued, there will be a mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution
of the Company. Management has determined that the mandatory liquidation, along with the lack of liquidity, should a business combination
not occur, and potential subsequent dissolution, raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
No adjustments have been made to the carrying amounts of assets or liabilities should the Company be required to liquidate after November
9, 2024. The Company intends to complete the initial business combination before the mandatory liquidation date. However, there can be
no assurance that the Company will be able to consummate any business combination by November 9, 2024.
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Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements
As
of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
Contractual
Obligations
Registration
and Stockholder Rights Agreement
The
holders of the Founder Shares and Placement Units (including securities contained therein) and Units (including securities contained
therein) that may be issued upon conversion of working capital loans and extension loans, and any shares of Class A common stock issuable
upon the exercise of the Placement Warrants and any shares of Class A common stock and warrants (and underlying Class A common stock)
that may be issued upon conversion of the Units issued as part of the working capital loans and extension loans and Class A common stock
issuable upon conversion of the Founder Shares, will be entitled to registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement signed
on the effective date of the Initial Public Offering, requiring the Company to register such securities for resale (in the case of the
Founder Shares, only after conversion to the Class A common stock). The holders of these securities are entitled to make up to two demands,
excluding short form demands, that the Company registers such securities. In addition, the holders have certain “piggy-back”
registration rights with respect to registration statements filed subsequent to the completion of the initial business combination and
rights to require the Company to register for resale such securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act.
Administrative
Support Agreement
The
Company’s Sponsor has agreed, commencing from the date of the Initial Public Offering through the earlier of the Company’s
consummation of a business combination and its liquidation, to make available to the Company certain general and administrative services,
including office space, utilities and administrative services, as the Company may require from time to time. The Company has agreed to
pay to Mehana Capital LLC, the Sponsor, $10,000 per month for these services to complete a business combination. For the year ended December
31, 2023, $120,000 was incurred and paid to Mehana Capital LLC for these services. For the period from March 11, 2022 (inception) through
December 31, 2022, $50,000 was paid to Mehana Capital LLC for these services.
Underwriting
Agreement
Simultaneously
with the Initial Public Offering, the underwriters fully exercised the over-allotment option to purchase an additional 1,500,000 Units
at an offering price of $10.00 per Unit for an aggregate purchase price of $15,000,000.
The
underwriters were paid a cash underwriting discount of $0.17 per Unit, or $1,955,000 in the aggregate, upon the closing of the Initial
Public Offering. In addition, $0.35 per unit, or $4,025,000 in the aggregate will be payable to the underwriters for deferred underwriting
commissions. The deferred fee will become payable to the underwriters from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event
that the Company completes a business combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.
Promissory
Note - Related Party
On
April 25, 2022, the Sponsor agreed to loan the Company an aggregate of up to $300,000 to cover expenses related to the Initial Public
Offering pursuant to a promissory note (the “Promissory Note”). This loan is non-interest bearing and payable on the earlier
of (i) March 31, 2023 or (ii) the date on which Company consummates the Initial Public Offering. Prior to the Initial Public Offering,
the Company had borrowed $300,000 under the Promissory Note. The outstanding balance under the Promissory Note of $300,000 was repaid
at the closing of the Initial Public Offering on August 9, 2022.
Critical
Accounting Estimates
We
prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, which require our management
to make estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the
balance sheet dates, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. To the extent that there
are material differences between these estimates and actual results, our financial condition or results of operations would be affected.
We base our estimates on our own historical experience and other assumptions that we believe are reasonable after taking account of our
circumstances and expectations for the future based on available information. We evaluate these estimates on an ongoing basis.
We
consider an accounting estimate to be critical if: (i) the accounting estimate requires us to make assumptions about matters that were
highly uncertain at the time the accounting estimate was made, and (ii) changes in the estimate that are reasonably likely to occur from
period to period or use of different estimates that we reasonably could have used in the current period, would have a material impact
on our financial condition or results of operations. There are items within our financial statement that require estimation but are not
deemed critical, as defined above.
For
a detailed discussion of our significant accounting policies and related judgments, see Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements in "Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules" of this report.
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Recent
Accounting Standards
In
December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures,” which requires
public entities to disclose consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation and for income
taxes paid. It also includes certain other amendments to improve the effectiveness of income tax disclosures. The guidance is effective
for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The accounting pronouncement
is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
ITEM
7A.
QUANTITATIVE
AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Not
required for smaller reporting companies.
ITEM
8.
FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
This
information appears following Item 15 of this Report and is included herein by reference.
ITEM
9.
CHANGES
IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
14
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