Pono Capital Two, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTWO, PTWOW and PTWOU), a special
purpose acquisition company (“Pono”), has announced the execution
of a definitive Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger
Agreement”) with SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated, a
Delaware corporation (“SBC”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, it
is intended that SBC will merge with Pono Two Merger Sub, Inc., a
wholly owned subsidiary of Pono, with SBC continuing as the
surviving corporation as a wholly owned subsidiary of Pono.
Stockholders of SBC will receive shares of Class A Common Stock of
Pono (the “Merger”). In connection with the Merger, it is expected
that SBC will change its name to “SBC Medical Operations, Inc.,”
and that Pono will then change its name to “SBC Medical Group
Holdings Incorporated”.
As a condition to the closing of the merger, SBC
will complete a restructuring of certain of its affiliates, such
that they will become subsidiaries of SBC. The discussion of the
business of SBC as described below assumes that this restructuring
has been completed, as these subsidiaries are currently the
entities undertaking such business operations.
Pono and SBC believe that, if consummated, the
Merger will promote the expansion of the SBC’s business globally,
as SBC will be better positioned to become the global standard for
medical services, marketing and cosmetic procedures.
Transaction Overview
The transaction values SBC at $1.2 billion,
which is expected to result in a combined pro forma equity value of
approximately $1.36 billion, assuming no redemptions in the Merger.
The cash proceeds raised in the transaction, after any redemptions
and payment of transaction expenses, are currently anticipated to
be used for opening new clinics, developing new product lines and
for general company operating purposes.
The boards of directors of SBC and Pono have
unanimously approved the Merger Agreement and the proposed
transactions. The closing of the Merger and related transactions
are subject to approval by Pono stockholders and SBC’s
stockholders, and are also subject to other customary closing
conditions. It is currently expected that the transaction will
close in the fourth quarter of 2023 or the first quarter of 2024,
assuming such closing conditions are met.
About SBC
Since its establishment, SBC Medical Group has
sought to provide the best “medical care” for customers’ problems,
mainly in the field of cosmetic medicine, not only in Japan but
also overseas. Today, SBC provides not only cosmetic medicine, but
also high quality services through “medical corporations.” SBC
considers “medical care” in the broadest sense of the word as a
“service” because it wants to solve each person’s problems and
realize each person’s hopes through “medical care.” SBC refers to
its clients as “customers” rather than “patients” because SBC
provides “medical services” to people who are not medically
ill.
What makes our customers happy?
How can we contribute to society?
What makes our staff proud?
SBC believes resolving all three of these
questions is the “realization of the three good things,” which is
what makes SBC Medical Group distinct and is its purpose.
SBC aims to contribute not only to its customers
but also to society as a whole through the provision of medical
services, and will continue to respond to the voices of its
customers with the utmost in medical services. SBC will continue to
embody the evolution of medical x technology in order to pursue
technology for its customers, pursue further growth, and achieve
globalization.
Official site: https://www.sbc-med.com/
About Pono
Capital Two,
Inc.
Pono is a special purpose acquisition company
whose business purpose is to effect a merger, capital stock
exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or
similar business combination with one or more businesses or
entities. Pono’s units started trading on the Nasdaq Global Market
on August 5, 2022 under the ticker symbol “PTWOU”. The Class A
common stock trades under the symbol “PTWO” and the warrants under
the symbol “PTWOW”, respectively.
Advisors
Loeb & Loeb LLP is acting as US legal
counsel to Pono and Mori Hamada & Matsumoto is acting as
Japanese legal counsel to Pono in the transaction. Anthony L.G.,
PLLC is acting as US legal counsel to SBC in the transaction.
Important Information
About the
Proposed Merger
and Where to
Find It
This press release relates to a proposed
business combination transaction (the Merger) among the parties set
forth above referred to above and herein as the Merger. A full
description of the terms of the Merger will be provided in a proxy
statement of Pono with respect to the solicitation of proxies for
the special meeting of stockholders of Pono to vote on the Merger
(the “Proxy Statement”). This communication is not intended to be,
and is not, a substitute for the Proxy Statement or any other
document Pono has filed or may file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in connection with the proposed
transactions. Each of SBC and Pono urge its investors, stockholders
and other interested persons to read, when available, the Proxy
Statement as well as other documents filed with the SEC because
these documents will contain important information about SBC, Pono,
and the Merger. A definitive proxy statement will be mailed to
stockholders of Pono as of a record date to be established for
voting on the Merger. Before making any voting or investment
decision, investors, and stockholders of Pono are urged to
carefully read the entire Proxy Statement, when it becomes
available, and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as
well as any amendments or supplements to these documents, because
they will contain important information about the proposed Merger.
Once available, Pono shareholders and other interested persons will
also be able to obtain a copy of the Proxy Statement, and other
documents filed with the SEC, without charge, by directing a
request to: Pono Capital Two, Inc, 643 Ilalo St. #102, Honolulu,
Hawaii 96813, (808) 892-6611 or on the SEC’s website at
www.sec.gov.
Participants in
Solicitation
SBC and Pono, and their respective directors and
executive officers, may be deemed participants in the solicitation
of proxies of Pono’s stockholders in respect of the proposed
Merger. Information about the directors and executive officers of
Pono and their ownership is set forth in Pono’s filings with the
SEC, including its prospectus relating to its initial public
offering, which was filed with the SEC on August 8, 2022. Pono’s
stockholders and other interested persons may obtain more detailed
information about the names and interests of the directors and
officers of SBC and Pono in the Merger will be set forth in Pono’s
filings with the SEC, including, when filed with the SEC, the
preliminary proxy statement and the amendments thereto, the
definitive proxy statement, and other documents filed with the SEC.
These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources
specified above and at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov.
This press release does not contain all the
information that should be considered concerning the Merger and is
not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any
other decision in respect of the Merger. Before making any voting
or investment decision, investors and security holders are urged to
read the Proxy Statement and all other relevant documents filed or
that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed
Merger as they become available because they will contain important
information about the proposed Merger.
No Offer of
Solicitation
This press release will not constitute a
solicitation of a proxy, consent, or authorization with respect to
any securities or in respect of the Merger. This press release will
also not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an
offer to buy any securities, nor will there be any sale of
securities in any states or jurisdictions in which such offer,
solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or
qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.
No offering of securities will be made except by means of a
prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities
Act, as amended, or an exemption therefrom.
Forward-Looking Statements
The information in this press release contains
certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the
“safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the proposed Merger. These
forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words
“believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,”
“strategy,” “aim,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,”
“should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely
result” and similar expressions, but the absence of these words
does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.
Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other
statements about future events that are based on current
expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks
and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from their
expectations, estimates and projections and consequently, you
should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions
of future events. Many factors could cause actual future events to
differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press
release, including but not limited to: (i) the risk that the Merger
may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may
adversely affect the price of Pono’s securities; (ii) the failure
to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the Merger,
including the approval of the merger agreement by the stockholders
of Pono; (iii) the occurrence of any event, change or other
circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the merger
agreement; (iv) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be
instituted against any of the parties to the merger agreement
following the announcement of the entry into the merger agreement
and proposed Merger; (v) redemptions exceeding anticipated levels
or the failure to meet The Nasdaq Capital Market’s initial listing
standards in connection with the consummation of the proposed
Merger; (vi) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the
proposed Merger on SBC’s business relationships, operating results
and business generally; (vii) risks that the proposed Merger
disrupts the current plans of SBC; (viii) changes in the markets in
which SBC compete, including with respect to its competitive
landscape, technology evolution or regulatory changes; (ix) the
risk that Pono and SBC will need to raise additional capital to
execute its business plans, which may not be available on
acceptable terms or at all; (x) the ability of the parties to
recognize the benefits of the merger agreement and the Merger; (xi)
the lack of useful financial information for an accurate estimate
of future capital expenditures and future revenue; (xii) statements
regarding SBC’s industry and market size; (xiii) financial
condition and performance of SBC and Pono, including the
anticipated benefits, the implied enterprise value, the expected
financial impacts of the Merger, potential level of redemptions of
Pono’s public stockholders, the financial condition, liquidity,
results of operations, the products, the expected future
performance and market opportunities of SBC; and (xiv) those
factors discussed in Pono’s filings with the SEC and that that will
be contained in the Proxy Statement relating to the Merger. You
should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks
and uncertainties that will be described in the “Risk Factors”
section of the Proxy Statement and other documents to be filed by
Pono from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and
address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual events and results to differ materially from those contained
in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak
only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put
undue reliance on forward- looking statements, and while SBC and
Pono may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some
point in the future, they assume no obligation to update or revise
these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, subject to applicable law.
None of SBC or Pono gives any assurance that SBC and Pono will
achieve their respective expectations.
Contacts
Pono Capital Two, Inc.Inquiries (PR):
643 Ilalo St. #102,Honolulu, Hawaii 96813(808) 892-6611
SBC Medical Group Holdings IncorporatedInquiries (PR): Group
Representative Office, Corporate Strategy Division Akira
Komatsusbc-holdings@sbc.or.jp
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