UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ______________ to ______________

Commission File Number: 001-41462

PONO CAPITAL TWO, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		88-1192288
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

643 Ilalo St. #102

Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

Telephone: (808) 892-6611

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Units, each consisting of one share of Class A Common Stock and one Redeemable Warrant	PTWOU	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Class A Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share	PTWO	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Redeemable Warrants, each warrant exercisable for one share of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share	PTWOW	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer ☐	Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☒	Smaller reporting company ☒
	Emerging growth company ☒

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☒ No ☐

As of June 30, 2023, the aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $19,785,098.

As of March 18, 2024, there were 5,216,290 shares of the registrant’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 1 share of the registrant’s Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, issued and outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

None.

PONO CAPITAL TWO, INC.

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Period Ended December 31, 2023

		Page
PART I		4
ITEM 1.	BUSINESS	4
ITEM 1A.	RISK FACTORS	8
ITEM 1B.	UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS	8
ITEM 1C.	CYBERSECURITY	8
ITEM 2.	PROPERTIES	8
ITEM 3.	LEGAL PROCEEDINGS	8
ITEM 4.	MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES	8
PART II		8
ITEM 5.	MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES	8
ITEM 6.	[RESERVED]	9
ITEM 7.	MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS	9
ITEM 7A.	QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK	14
ITEM 8.	FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA	14
ITEM 9.	CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE	14
ITEM 9A.	CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES	15
ITEM 9B.	OTHER INFORMATION	15
ITEM 9C.	DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS	15
PART III		16
ITEM 10.	DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE	16
ITEM 11.	EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION	23
ITEM 12.	SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS	23
ITEM 13.	CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE	24
ITEM 14.	PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES	27
PART IV		28
ITEM 15.	EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES	28
ITEM 16.	FORM 10–K SUMMARY	29

CERTAIN TERMS

References to “the Company,” “Pono,” “our,” “us” or “we” refer to Pono Capital Two, Inc., a blank check company incorporated in Delaware on March 11, 2022. References to our “Sponsor” refer to Mehana Capital LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. References to our “IPO” refer to the initial public offering of Pono Capital Two, Inc., which closed on August 9, 2022.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act. The statements contained in this report 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’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 “anticipates,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “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 report may include, for example, statements about our:

	●	ability to complete our initial business combination;

	●	success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, our officers, key employees or directors following our initial business combination;

	●	officers and directors allocating their time to other businesses and potentially having conflicts of interest with our business or in approving our initial business combination, as a result of which they would then receive expense reimbursements;

	●	potential ability to obtain additional financing to complete our initial business combination;

	●	pool of prospective target businesses;

	●	the ability of our officers and directors to generate a number of potential investment opportunities;

	●	potential change in control if we acquire one or more target businesses for stock;

	●	the potential liquidity and trading of our securities;

	●	the lack of a market for our securities;

	●	use of proceeds not held in the trust account or available to us from interest income on the trust account balance; or

	●	financial performance following our IPO.

The forward-looking statements contained in this report 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.” 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 and/or if and when management knows or has a reasonable basis on which to conclude that previously disclosed projections are no longer reasonably attainable.

PART I

ITEM 1.

BUSINESS

Introduction

We are a blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities, which we refer to herein as our initial business combination. Our Sponsor is Mehana Capital LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Sponsor”).

We believe that there are many target companies that could become attractive public companies and we will seek a target in the disruptive technology sector with a spotlight on companies in Asia with Japan in particular. While we may pursue an initial business combination target in any industry or geographic region, we will seek to capitalize on the operational and investment experience of our management team and focus on disruptive technology companies that we believe have significant growth prospects and the potential to generate attractive returns for our stockholders. We expect to focus on identifying potential target companies with above-industry-average growth, and a defensible market position where our management team’s operational, strategic, or managerial expertise can assist in maximizing value.

The Registration Statement for our initial public offering was declared effective on August 4, 2022 (the “Initial Public Offering,” or “IPO”). On August 9, 2022, we consummated the Initial Public Offering of 11,500,000 Units, 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. Each Unit consists of one share of Class A common stock and one redeemable warrant (“Public Warrant”). Each Public Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Class A common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per whole share.

Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, we consummated the sale of 634,375 units (the “Placement Units”) at a price of $10.00 per Placement Unit in a private placement to 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, which is described in Note 4.

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 (the “Trust Account”), and will be invested only in U.S. government treasury obligations with maturities of 185 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act, which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations, until the earlier of: (i) the completion of a business combination and (ii) the distribution of the funds held in the Trust Account, as described below.

On May 5, 2023, we held a special meeting of stockholders (the “Special Meeting”), and the chairman adjourned the Special Meeting to May 8, 2023. On May 8, 2023, we held the Special Meeting. During the Special Meeting, stockholders approved an amendment to the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Extension Amendment” (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 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, the Company 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 (as defined below), 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.

If we are unable to complete a business combination within the Combination Period, we will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but no more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding 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 (net of taxes payable and less interest to pay dissolution expenses up to $100,000), 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 liquidation 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 our board of directors, proceed to commence a voluntary liquidation and thereby a formal dissolution of the Company, subject in each case to its obligations to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of applicable law. The underwriters have agreed to waive their rights to the deferred underwriting commission held in the Trust Account in the event we do not complete a business combination within the Combination Period and, in such event, such amounts will be included with the funds held in the Trust Account that will be available to fund the redemption of the Public Shares. In the event of such distribution, it is possible that the per share value of the assets remaining available for distribution will be less than the Initial Public Offering price per Unit ($10.00).

On January 31, 2023, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among us, Pono Two Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and our wholly-owned subsidiary (“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 capacity as Seller Representative.

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, 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 related entities which 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 as of the closing of the Business Combination, collectively will be entitled to receive from us, in the aggregate, a number of our securities with an aggregate value equal to (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.

On April 26, 2023, the parties entered into an amendment to the Merger Agreement. Our board approved the amendment on April 25, 2023. Pursuant to the Amendment, the Sponsor in its sole discretion may direct Pono to issue all or a portion of the Sponsor Shares on an earlier or later date as it may determine, which date will not be earlier than the Closing. In addition, pursuant to the Amendment, the date by which (i) SBC will complete its agreed upon disclosure schedules, (ii) Pono will complete its due diligence review of SBC, and (iii) the parties to the Merger Agreement will agree upon any modifications or amendments to the Merger Agreement to the terms and conditions therein, among other related matters, was extended from April 28, 2023 to May 31, 2023. SBC also agreed to purchase, or to cause one of its Affiliates to purchase, equity in the Sponsor in an amount equal to $1,000,000, by way of a separate agreement to be entered into on or before May 5, 2023.

On May 18, 2023, the parties entered into a Note Purchase Agreement pursuant to which the parties have agreed that Pono will issue and sell to SBC a convertible promissory note of $1,000,000 in aggregate principal amount which note is convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share of Pono.

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 the specified Company account. 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 May 30, 2023, the parties entered into Amendment No. 2 to the Merger Agreement. Our board approved the amendment on May 23, 2023. The amendment extended the time for (i) SBC to deliver disclosure schedules, (ii) Pono to complete its due diligence review of SBC and (iii) the parties to agree upon a modifications or amendments to the Merger Agreement to the terms and conditions therein until June 15, 2023.

On June 15, 2023, the parties entered into Amendment No. 3 to the Merger Agreement. Our board approved the amendment on June 15, 2023. The amendment further extended the time for (i) SBC to deliver disclosure schedules, (ii) Pono to complete its due diligence review of SBC and (iii) the parties to agree upon a modifications or amendments to the Merger Agreement to the terms and conditions therein until June 22, 2023.

On June 21, 2023, the parties entered into an Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger (“A&R Merger Agreement”). Our board approved the A&R Merger Agreement on June 15, 2023. The A&R Merger Agreement revised the target companies to be directly or indirectly purchased by Pono following a restructuring of SBC’s corporate structure, to include only the Service Companies and certain other entities, and to no longer include the direct or indirect purchase of Medical Corporations, and as a result, removed other references to the Medical Corporations, including the related representations and warranties, among others. The Medical Corporations were removed for Japanese regulatory reasons under the Japanese Medical Care Act. Based on the provisions of the Japanese Medical Care Act, in essence, medical corporations are considered not-for-profit organizations with a benevolent purpose of serving human-kind and cannot be controlled by for-profit entities. More specifically, the Medical Corporations, even though considered related parties, are independent business operators and, the Company does not exercise control over the day-to-day operations of their clinics (except to the extent governed by our management services contracts). The removal of the Medical Corporations from the A&R Merger Agreement required a reduction of the valuation. As a result, the schedule was delayed by approximately two months. Other than the reduction of the valuation and delay, the overall transaction was not affected by this removal. The A&R Merger Agreement also extended the date by which the disclosures schedules were to be delivered to August 31, 2023 and extended the date by which the Closing shall occur from September 30, 2023 to December 31, 2023. Pursuant to the A&R Merger Agreement, the parties also agreed that any future expenses incurred in connection with the extension of the time by which Pono must complete its initial business combination shall be borne entirely by Pono, which replaces and supersedes the prior requirement under the Original Agreement for Pono and SBC to share such expenses equally.

On September 8, 2023, the parties entered into the First Amendment to the A&R Merger Agreement, which provided for the holders of SBC securities collectively to be entitled to receive from Pono as Merger consideration, in the aggregate, a number of Pono 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. Our board approved the amendment on September 7, 2023.

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 27, 2024, the Company and SBC entered into an Amendment to the Note Purchase Agreement (the “Amended Note Purchase Agreement”), which increased the purchase price of the Note from $1,000,000 to $2,700,000.

Please see the Current Reports on Form 8-K we filed with the SEC on February 2, 2023, June 22, 2023, September 11, 2023, October 26, 2023, December 29, 2023, and March 1, 2024 for additional information.

Our Company

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 (a “business combination”). We intend to effectuate our initial business combination using cash from the proceeds of 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.

We believe the traditional IPO and direct listing processes are not designed for these types of companies to execute on their ambitious strategies. We believe using a SPAC structure is a disruptive alternative to, and creates more efficiencies than, the traditional IPO approach. We also believe that because the industries in which we have particular expertise, and in which we will seek to identify a potential business combination target, are often overlooked by traditional venture capital, public equity and private equity investors, many high-quality companies in these industries are not well suited to a traditional IPO, direct listing or private equity buyout transaction. Therefore, we believe our focus on these particular industries will provide unique access to the highest quality companies and management teams and a substantial number of proprietary business combination opportunities. Our mission is to create a better solution to the conventional IPO for these high growth, disruptive technology and technology-enabled companies, which addresses their needs for capital and liquidity, while overcoming the key points of friction in the traditional IPO path in particular for businesses in Japan.

We believe our expertise will make us an attractive partner for companies seeking a clear and efficient path to listing their shares with a significant degree of funding certainty including high-quality companies in Japan where certain of the Company’s officers and directors are familiar with Japanese business and M&A culture, which will have an impact on the dynamics of a business combination. There are a large number of companies that desire to have publicly-traded shares to provide liquidity to investors and employees, create a currency for mergers and acquisitions and access to equity capital markets. We may seek to combine with businesses owned by our founder and minority investors, although we may consummate a transaction with businesses controlled by private equity investors or family-owned businesses, which means there is a wide universe of potential partners. We believe our understanding of private deal execution and public capital markets, and valuation dynamics in both markets, make us uniquely positioned to identify and execute a business combination with a growth orientation.

Our Management Team

Our management team is led by Darryl Nakamoto, our Chief Executive Officer and Director, Allison Van Orman, our Chief Financial Officer, and Dustin Shindo, our Chairman of the Board, who will be supported by Pono Capital Two, Inc.’s independent directors, sponsor, accountants and legal counsel, as further described below. We believe our management team is well positioned to identify and evaluate businesses within the technology industry that would benefit from being a public company and from access to our expertise. We believe we can achieve this mission by utilizing our team’s extensive experience in growing and operating technology companies as well as our broad network of contacts in the technology sector.

Competition

In identifying, evaluating and selecting a target business for our initial business combination, we may encounter competition from other entities having a business objective similar to ours, including other blank check companies, private equity groups and leveraged buyout funds, public companies and operating businesses seeking strategic business combinations. Many of these entities are well established and have extensive experience identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Moreover, many of these competitors possess greater financial, technical, human and other resources than we do. Our ability to acquire larger target businesses will be limited by our available financial resources. This inherent limitation gives others an advantage in pursuing the initial business combination of a target business. Furthermore, our obligation to pay cash in connection with our public stockholders who exercise their redemption rights may reduce the resources available to us for our initial business combination and our outstanding warrants, and the future dilution they potentially represent, may not be viewed favorably by certain target businesses. Either of these factors may place us at a competitive disadvantage in successfully negotiating an initial business combination.

Employees

We currently have two executive officers. These individuals are not obligated to devote any specific number of hours to our matters, but they intend to devote as much of their time as they deem necessary to our affairs until we have completed our initial business combination. The amount of time they will devote in any time period will vary based on whether a target business has been selected for our initial business combination and the stage of the initial business combination process we are in. We do not intend to have any full-time employees prior to the completion of our initial business combination.

For additional discussion of the general development of our business, see our final prospectus on Form 424B4, filed with the SEC on August 8, 2022.

ITEM 1A.

RISK FACTORS

As a smaller reporting company, we are not required to make disclosures under this Item.

ITEM 1B.

UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

Not applicable.

ITEM 1C.

CYBERSECURITY

We are a SPAC with no business operations. Since our IPO, our sole business activity has been identifying and evaluating suitable acquisition transaction candidates. Therefore, we do not consider that we face significant cybersecurity risk and have not adopted any cybersecurity risk management program or formal processes for assessing cybersecurity risk. Our board of directors is generally responsible for the oversight of risks from cybersecurity threats, if there is any. We have not encountered any cybersecurity incidents since our IPO.

ITEM 2.

PROPERTIES

We currently maintain our executive offices at 643 Ilalo St., #102, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813, and our telephone number is (808) 892-6611. Our Sponsor is making this space available to us as part of a monthly administrative fee of $10,000. We consider our current office space adequate for our current operations.

ITEM 3.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We may be subject to legal proceedings, investigations and claims incidental to the conduct of our business from time to time. We are not currently a party to any material litigation or other legal proceedings brought against us. We are also not aware of any legal proceeding, investigation or claim, or other legal exposure that has a more than remote possibility of having a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

ITEM 4.

MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not Applicable.

PART II

ITEM 5.

MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Our units began to trade on The Nasdaq Global Market, or Nasdaq, under the symbol “PTWOU” on or about August 5, 2022, and the shares of Class A common stock and warrants began separate trading on Nasdaq under the symbols “PTWO” and “PTWOW,” respectively, on or about September 26, 2022.

Holders of Record

As of March 18, 2024, there were 5,216,290 shares of the registrant’s Class A common stock issued and outstanding held by approximately five stockholders of record, and 1 share of the registrant’s Class B common stock issued and outstanding held by approximately one stockholder of record. The number of record holders was determined from the records of our transfer agent and does not include beneficial owners of shares of common stock whose shares are held in the names of various security brokers, dealers, and registered clearing agencies.

Dividends

We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends prior to the completion of an initial business combination. The payment of cash dividends in the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of a business combination. The payment of any dividends subsequent to a business combination will be within the discretion of our board of directors at such time. It is the present intention of our board of directors to retain all earnings, if any, for use in our business operations and, accordingly, our board of directors does not anticipate declaring any dividends in the foreseeable future. In addition, our board of directors is not currently contemplating and does not anticipate declaring any share dividends in the foreseeable future. Further, if we incur any indebtedness, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may agree to in connection therewith.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

None.

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

There were no unregistered securities to report which have not been previously included in a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or a Current Report on Form 8-K.

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

None.

ITEM 6.

[RESERVED]

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).

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.

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.

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.

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 any 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

ITEM 9A.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As required by Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2023. Based upon their evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15 (e) and 15d-15 (e) under the Exchange Act) were effective.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

During the most recently completed fiscal quarter, there has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Management’s Report on Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting

As required by SEC rules and regulations implementing Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15- d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of our consolidated financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:

(1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of our company,

(2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors, and

(3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect errors or misstatements in our consolidated financial statements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree or compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting at December 31, 2023. In making these assessments, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013). Based on our assessments and those criteria, management determined that we maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023.

This Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include an attestation report of internal controls from our independent registered public accounting firm due to our status as an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act.

ITEM 9B.

SEC Form 10-K filed by Pono Capital Two Inc.