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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 17, 2024

 

SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Delaware   001-41462   88-1192288
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
  (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

200 Spectrum Center Dr. STE 300

Irvine, CA

  92618
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

949-593-0250

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

Pono Capital Two, Inc.

643 Ilalo St. #102

Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

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

 

Title of each class   Trading Symbol(s)   Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share   SBC   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Redeemable Warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share   SBCWW   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

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. ☐  

 

 

 

 


 

Introductory Note

 

On September 17, 2024, following the approval at the special meeting of the shareholders of Pono Capital Two, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Pono”) held on August 23, 2024 (the “Special Meeting”), Pono Two Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub”) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pono, consummated a merger (the “Merger”) with and into SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (“SBC”) pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 31, 2023 and as amended and restated on June 21, 2023 (as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated September 8, 2023, Amendment No. 2, dated October 26, 2023, Amendment No. 3, dated December 28, 2023, and Amendment No. 4, dated April 22, 2024, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Pono, Merger Sub, SBC, Mehana Capital LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Sponsor” or “Purchaser Representative”) in its capacity as the representative of the stockholders of Pono, and Yoshiyuki Aikawa in his personal capacity and his capacity as the representative of the stockholders of SBC (“Seller Representative”). Accordingly, the Merger Agreement was adopted, and the Merger and other transactions contemplated thereby (collectively, the “Business Combination”) were approved and completed. At the closing on September 17, 2024 of the Business Combination pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub merged with and into SBC with SBC surviving the Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pono, and Pono changed its name to “SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated.” On September 17, 2024, SBC changed its named to SBC Medical Group, Inc.

 

Item 1.01. Entry into Material Definitive Agreement.

 

Merger Agreement and Amendments Thereto 

 

As disclosed under the section titled “The Merger Agreement” of the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Pono on February 2, 2023, the parties entered into the Merger Agreement, dated as of January 31, 2023, by and among Pono, Merger Sub, the Sponsor in its capacity as the representative of the stockholders of Pono, Yoshiyuki Aikawa in his personal capacity and his capacity as the representative of the stockholders of SBC, and SBC.

 

As disclosed in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Pono on May 1, 2023, the parties to the Merger Agreement entered into that certain First Amendment to the Merger Agreement on April 26, 2023 (the “First Amendment”). Prior to the First Amendment, the Merger Agreement provided that the 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 Pono’s Insider Letter with the initial stockholders). 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. In the event that the parties fail to agree upon and execute the investment documents by May 5, 2023, then, for a period of two business days thereafter, either party may terminate the Merger Agreement by providing written notice to the other party. In the event that SBC does not make payment for the investment on or before May 15, 2023, then, for a period of two business days thereafter, Pono may terminate the Merger Agreement by providing written notice to SBC.

 

As disclosed in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Pono on June 2, 2023, the parties to the Merger Agreement entered into that certain Second Amendment to the Merger Agreement on May 30, 2023 (the “Second Amendment”). Prior to the Second Amendment, the Merger Agreement provided that the date by which (i) SBC shall complete its agreed upon disclosure schedules, (ii) Pono shall complete its due diligence review of SBC, and (iii) the parties to the Merger Agreement shall agree upon any modifications or amendments to the Merger Agreement to the terms and conditions therein, among other related matters, was May 31, 2023. The Second Amendment extended the date by which these actions shall be completed to June 15, 2023.

 

1


 

As disclosed in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Pono on June 16, 2023, the parties to the Merger Agreement entered into that certain Third Amendment to the Merger Agreement on June 15, 2023 (the “Third Amendment”). Prior to the Third Amendment, the Merger Agreement provided that the date by which (i) SBC shall complete its agreed upon disclosure schedules, (ii) Pono shall complete its due diligence review of SBC, and (iii) the parties to the Merger Agreement shall agree upon any modifications or amendments to the Merger Agreement to the terms and conditions therein, among other related matters, was June 15, 2023. The Third Amendment extended the date by which these actions shall be completed to June 22, 2023.

 

As disclosed in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Pono on June 22, 2023, the parties to the Merger Agreement entered into an Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger on June 21, 2023 (the “A&R Merger Agreement”). Prior to the A&R Merger Agreement, the Merger Agreement provided that by June 22, 2023: (i) SBC shall complete its agreed upon disclosure schedules, (ii) Pono shall complete its due diligence review of SBC, and (iii) the parties to the Original Agreement shall agree upon any modifications or amendments to the Original Agreement to the terms and conditions therein. The parties entered into the A&R Merger Agreement in connection with such requirements. Unless otherwise defined herein, the capitalized terms used in this paragraph are defined in the A&R Merger Agreement. 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 Other Entities, and to no longer include the direct or indirect purchase of SBC’s Medical Corporations, and as a result, removed other references to the Medical Corporations, including the related representations and warranties, among others. Pursuant to the A&R Merger Agreement, the parties agreed that, following the date of the A&R Merger Agreement, SBC will use its commercially reasonable efforts to complete its disclosure schedules and deliver them to Pono by August 31, 2023. Upon delivery of the disclosure schedules to Pono, the disclosure schedules will be deemed to modify and supplement SBC’s representations and warranties set forth in the A&R Merger Agreement. In the event that SBC’s disclosure schedules are not delivered to Pono by August 31, 2023, or in the event that the disclosure schedules are so delivered by such deadline, but thereafter Pono reasonably determines that there are matters or items disclosed in the disclosure schedules which are materially adverse to the operations of the target companies, then, for a period of two business days following the delivery of the disclosure schedules, Pono has the right to terminate the A&R Merger Agreement upon written notice to SBC. The A&R Merger Agreement also extended the date by which the Closing shall occur from September 30, 2023 (subject to extension) 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.

 

As disclosed in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Pono on September 11, 2023, the parties to the Merger Agreement entered into that certain First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger on September 8, 2023 (the “Amendment No. 1”). Prior to the Amendment No. 1, the 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.

 

As disclosed in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Pono on October 26, 2023, the parties to the Merger Agreement entered into that certain Second Amendment to the Amended and Restated Merger Agreement on October 26, 2023 (the “Amendment No. 2”). Prior to the Amendment No. 2, the Pono 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 Pono; and (iii) one person mutually agreed upon and designated prior to the Closing by Pono and SBC, who must qualify as an independent director. Following the Amendment No. 1, the Pono 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 Pono, who must qualify as an independent director; and (iii) one person mutually agreed upon and designated prior to the Closing by Pono and SBC, who must qualify as an independent director.

 

2


 

As disclosed in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Pono on December 29, 2023, the parties to the Merger Agreement entered into that certain Third Amendment to the Amended and Restated Merger Agreement on December 28, 2023 (the “Amendment No. 3”). Amendment No. 3 was entered into solely to extend the Outside Date (as defined in the Merger Agreement) from December 31, 2023 to March 31, 2024.

 

As disclosed in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Pono on April 23, 2024, the parties to the Merger Agreement entered into that certain Fourth Amendment to the Amended and Restated Merger Agreement on April 22, 2024 (the “Amendment No. 4”). Amendment No. 4 was entered into solely to extend the Outside Date (as defined in the Merger Agreement) to September 30, 2024.

 

Accordingly, on September 17, 2024 (a) Merger Sub merged with and into SBC with SBC surviving the Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pono, and (b) Pono, which had been formed as a Delaware corporation solely for the purpose of facilitating the Business Combination, changed its name to SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated. On September 17, 2024, SBC changed its named to SBC Medical Group, Inc. Except where context provides otherwise, the term “SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated” refers to SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated and its consolidated subsidiaries, including SBC and after giving effect to the Business Combination and referred to herein as the “Company.”

 

Item 2.01 of this Current Report discusses the consummation of the Business Combination and events contemplated by the Merger Agreement which took place on September 17, 2024 (the “Closing”), and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The foregoing description of the Merger Agreement, the First Amendment, the Second Amendment, the Third Amendment, the A&R Merger Agreement, Amendment No. 1, Amendment No. 2, Amendment No. 3 and Amendment No. 4 is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Merger Agreement the First Amendment, the Second Amendment, the Third Amendment, the A&R Merger Agreement, Amendment No. 1, Amendment No. 2, Amendment No. 3 and Amendment No. 4, copies of which are included as Exhibits 2.1 through 2.9 hereto, and the terms of which are incorporated by reference.

 

Lock-up Agreements 

 

In connection with the Business Combination, certain stockholders of SBC and certain of SBC’s officers and directors (such stockholders, the “Company Holders”) entered into a lock-up agreement (the “Lock-up Agreement”) pursuant to which they will be contractually restricted, during the Lock-up Period (as defined below), from selling or transferring any of (i) their shares of SBC common stock held immediately following the Closing and (ii) any of their shares of SBC common stock that result from converting securities held immediately following the Closing (the “Lock-up Shares”). The “Lock-up Period” means the period commencing at Closing and end the earliest of: (a) six months from the Closing, (b) the date the Company consummates a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction with an unaffiliated third party that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of common stock for cash, securities or other property and (c) the date on which the closing sale price of the Company’s common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations and the like) for any twenty (20) trading days within any thirty (30) trading day period commencing at least one hundred and fifty (150) days after the Closing; provided that ⅓ of such restricted shares shall be released from such restrictions if the closing stock price of the Company’s common stock reaches each of $13.00, $15.00, and $17.00.

 

The Sponsor is subject to a lock-up pursuant to a letter agreement (the “Sponsor Lock-up Agreement”), entered into at the time of the IPO (as defined below), among Pono, the Sponsor and the other parties thereto, pursuant to which the Sponsor is subject to a lock-up beginning on the Closing and end the earliest of: (a) six months from the Closing, (b) the date the Company consummates a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction with an unaffiliated third party that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of the Company’s common stock for cash, securities or other property and (c) the date on which the closing sale price of the Company’s common stock equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations and recapitalizations and the like) for any twenty (20) trading days within any thirty (30) trading day period commencing at least one hundred and fifty (150) days after the Closing; provided that ⅓ of such restricted shares shall be released from such restrictions if the closing stock price of Pono common stock reaches each of $13.00, $15.00, and $17.00. “IPO” means Pono’s public offering of 11,500,000 units (the “Units”) at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $115,000,000, which was consummated on August 9, 2022.

 

3


 

The foregoing description of the Lock-up Agreement and Sponsor Lock-up Agreement is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Lock-up Agreement and Sponsor Lock-up Agreement, copies of which is included as Exhibits 10.4 and 10.5 hereto, and the terms of which are incorporated by reference.

 

Indemnification Agreements 

 

On September 17, 2024, SBC entered into indemnification agreements, with each of SBC’s directors containing provisions which are in some respects broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained in the Delaware General Corporation Law. The indemnification agreements will require SBC, among other things, to indemnify its directors against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors and to advance their expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.

 

The foregoing description of the indemnification agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the indemnification agreement, a form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreements 

 

Following execution of the Merger Agreement, certain significant stockholders of SBC entered into non-competition and non-solicitation agreements (the “Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreements”), pursuant to which they agreed not to compete with Pono, SBC and their respective subsidiaries during the two-year period following the Closing and, during such two-year restricted period, not to solicit employees or customers or clients of such entities. The Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreements also contain customary non-disparagement and confidentiality provisions.

 

The foregoing description of the Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreements is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of the Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreements, a copy of which is included as Exhibit 10.12 hereto, and the terms of which are incorporated by reference.

 

Registration Rights Agreements 

 

At the Closing of the Business Combination, certain significant stockholders of SBC entered into a registration rights agreement with Pono providing for the right to three demand registrations, piggy-back registrations and shelf registrations with respect to the Merger Consideration shares.

 

The foregoing description of the Registration Rights Agreement is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of the Registration Rights Agreement, a copy of which is included as Exhibit 10.3 hereto, and the terms of which are incorporated by reference.

 

Purchaser Support Agreement 

 

Simultaneously with the execution of the Merger Agreement, the Purchaser Representative entered into a support agreement (the “Purchaser Support Agreement”) in favor of Pono and SBC and their present and future successors and subsidiaries. In the Purchaser Support Agreement, the Purchaser Representative agreed to vote all equity interests in Pono in favor of the Merger Agreement and related transactions and to take certain other actions in support of the Merger Agreement and related transactions. The Purchaser Support Agreement also prevents the Purchaser Representative from transferring its voting rights with respect to equity interests in Pono or otherwise transferring equity interests in Pono prior to the meeting of Pono’s stockholders to approve the Merger Agreement and related transactions, except for certain permitted transfers.

 

The foregoing description of the Purchaser Support Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the Purchaser Support Agreement, the form of which is filed as Exhibit 10.6 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

 

4


 

Voting Agreement 

 

Simultaneously with the execution of the Merger Agreement, certain stockholders of SBC entered into a voting agreement (the “Voting Agreement”) in favor of Pono and SBC and their present and future successors and subsidiaries. In the Voting Agreement for certain stockholders of SBC, they each agreed to vote all of their SBC stock interests in favor of the Merger Agreement and related transactions and to take certain other actions in support of the Merger Agreement and related transactions. The Voting Agreement also prevents them from transferring their voting rights with respect to their SBC stock or otherwise transferring their SBC stock prior to the SBC approval of the Merger Agreement and related transactions, except for certain permitted transfers.

 

The foregoing description of the Voting Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the Voting Agreement, a copy of which, or the form of which, is filed as Exhibit 10.7 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

 

Executive Employment Agreements 

 

On September 17, 2024, the Company entered into employment agreements (the “Employment Agreements”) with executive officers: Dr. Yoshiyuki Aikawa (Chief Executive Officer), Yuya Yoshida (Chief Operating Officer), Ryoji Murata (Chief Financial Officer) and Akira Komatsu (Chief Strategy Officer and Secretary).

 

The Employment Agreements all provide for at-will employment that may be terminated by the Company for death or disability and with or without cause, by the executive with or without good reason, or mutually terminated by the parties. The Employment Agreements for Dr. Aikawa and Messrs. Yoshida, Murata and Komatsu provide for a severance payment equal to the remaining base salary for the remaining period of the respective term of employment (each term is one (1) year) upon termination by the Company without cause or termination by such executive for good reason. The executive agreements provide for an annual base salary of $12,000,000, $304,404, $136,990 and $75,041 for Dr. Aikawa and Messrs. Yoshida, Murata and Komatsu, respectively, as well as possible annual performance bonuses and equity grants under the equity incentive plan if and when determined by the Company’s Compensation Committee.

 

This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the employment agreements, which are included as Exhibits 10.8, 10.9, 10.10 and 10.11 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 2.01. Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

 

The disclosure set forth in the “Introductory Note” and “Merger Agreement and Amendments Thereto” above is incorporated into this Item 2.01 by reference.

 

Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, the total consideration for the Business Combination and related transactions (the “Merger Consideration”) was approximately $1.076 million. In connection with the Special Meeting, holders of 135,471 shares of Pono common stock sold in its initial public offering exercised their right to redeem those shares for cash prior to the redemption deadline of August 21, 2024, at a price of $11.05 per share, for an aggregate payment from Pono’s trust account of approximately $1.5 million. Effective September 17, 2024, Pono’s units ceased trading, and effective September 18, 2024, SBC’s common stock began trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “SBC” and the warrants began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SBCWW.”

 

After taking into account the aggregate payment in respect of the redemption, Pono’s trust account had a balance immediately prior to the Closing of approximately $16.731 million. Such balance in the trust account was used to pay transaction expenses and other liabilities of Pono, pay certain transaction expenses of SBC, with the remaining being deposited in SBC cash account.

 

5


 

The Merger Consideration will be subject to a post-Closing true up 90 days after the Closing.

 

As a result of the Merger and the Business Combination, holders of Pono common stock automatically received common stock of SBC, and holders of Pono warrants automatically received warrants of SBC with substantively identical terms. At the Closing of the Business Combination, all shares of Pono owned by the Sponsor (consisting of shares of Class A common stock and shares of Class B common stock), which we refer to as the founder shares, automatically converted into an equal number of shares of SBC’s common stock, and Private Placement Warrants held by the Sponsor, automatically converted into warrants to purchase one share of SBC common stock with substantively identical terms.

 

As of the Closing there were 100,743,253 shares of common stock: public stockholders own approximately 1.5% (1,513,945 shares) of the outstanding shares of SBC common stock; the Sponsor and its affiliates own approximately 4.8% (4,709,375 shares) of the outstanding shares of SBC common stock and SBC’s former security holders collectively own approximately 93.7% (94,462,433 shares) of the outstanding shares of SBC common stock.

 

FORM 10 INFORMATION

 

Item 2.01(f) of Form 8-K states that if the predecessor registrant was a shell company, as Pono was immediately before the Business Combination, then the registrant must disclose the information that would be required if the registrant were filing a general form for registration of securities on Form 10. Accordingly, SBC is providing the information below that would be included in a Form 10 if SBC were to file a Form 10. Please note that the information provided below relates to SBC as the combined company after the consummation of the Business Combination, unless otherwise specifically indicated or the context otherwise requires.

 

Forward-Looking Statements 

 

This Current Report on Form 8-K contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about future financial and operating results, our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions with respect to future operations, products and services; and other statements identified by words such as “will likely result,” “are expected to,” “will continue,” “is anticipated,” “estimated,” “believe,” “intend,” “plan,” “projection,” “outlook” or words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding SBC’s industry and market sizes, future opportunities for SBC and SBC’s estimated future results. Such forward-looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond our control. Actual results and the timing of events may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements.

 

In addition to factors previously disclosed in prior reports filed with the SEC, including the Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on August 12, 2024, the following factors, among others, could cause actual results and the timing of events to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements: a delay or failure to realize the expected benefits from the Business Combination; risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to SBC; risks related to SBC’s limited operating history, the roll-out of SBC’s business and the timing of expected business milestones; SBC’s ability to implement its business plan and scale its business, which includes the extent of market reception to cosmetic treatment centers, navigating a new and evolving regulatory environment for cosmetic treatment centers, timely fulfillment of product orders, the ability to own, operate and manage safe, high-quality and cost-effective cosmetic treatment centers on an ongoing basis, the performance of our cosmetic treatment centers relative to customer expectations and customers’ interest in and demand for cosmetic treatment solutions, and building a well-recognized and respected brand; SBC’s potential profit margin from sales associated with cosmetic treatment centers; SBC’s ability to formulate, implement and modify as necessary effective sales, marketing, and strategic initiatives to drive revenue growth; SBC’s ability to expand internationally; the viability of SBC’s intellectual property and intellectual property created in the future; acceptance by the marketplace of the products that SBC markets; government regulations and SBC’s ability to obtain applicable regulatory approvals and comply with government regulations, including under the rules and regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration, and the risk that SBC may not be able to develop and maintain effective internal controls.

 

6


 

Actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially, and potentially adversely, from any projections and forward-looking statements and the assumptions on which those forward-looking statements are based. There can be no assurance that the data contained herein is reflective of future performance to any degree. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a predictor of future performance as projected financial information and other information are based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to various significant risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. All information set forth herein speaks only as of the date hereof in the case of information about SBC or the date of such information in the case of information from persons other than SBC, and SBC disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K. Forecasts and estimates regarding SBC’s industry and end markets are based on sources SBC believes to be reliable, however there can be no assurance these forecasts and estimates will prove accurate in whole or in part. Annualized, pro forma, projected and estimated numbers are used for illustrative purposes only, are not forecasts and may not reflect actual results.

 

Business 

 

The business of SBC is described in the Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on August 12, 2024 in the section titled “Information About SBC” and that information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Risk Factors 

 

The risks associated with SBC are described in the Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on August 12, 2024 in the section titled “Risk Factors,” which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Financial Information 

 

The disclosure contained in the Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on August 12, 2024 in the sections titled “Selected Historical Financial Information of SBC” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of SBC” are incorporated by reference herein.

 

The audited financial statements of SBC for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, together with the notes thereto, are included in the Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on August 12, 2024 beginning on page F-52 and are incorporated herein by reference. The unaudited financial statements of SBC for the six months ended June 30, 2024, together with the notes thereto, are included as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference. The disclosure contained in Exhibit 99.2 hereto entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of SBC related to the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, is incorporated herein by reference. In addition, the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements as of June 30, 2024 and for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the six months ended June 30, 2024, are included as Exhibit 99.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Properties 

 

The facilities of SBC are described in the Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on August 12, 2024 in the section titled “Information About SBC - Facilities,” which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 

 

The disclosure contained under the heading “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of SBC” in the Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on August 12, 2024 is incorporated herein by reference. The disclosure contained in Exhibit 99.2 hereto entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of SBC related to the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

7


 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management 

 

The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of shares of SBC’s common stock upon the completion of the Business Combination by:

 

  each person known by SBC to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of SBC’s common stock;

 

  each of SBC’s officers and directors;

 

  all executive officers and directors of SBC.

 

Beneficial ownership is determined according to the rules of the SEC, which generally provide that a person has beneficial ownership of a security if he, she or it possesses sole or shared voting or investment power over that security, including options and warrants that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days.

 

In the table below, percentage ownership is based on 100,743,253 shares of common stock outstanding as of September 17, 2024, including 94,462,433 shares issued as Merger Consideration, and reflects the valid redemption of 135,471 shares of Class A common stock by public stockholders of Pono. The table below includes the common stock underlying the Private Placement Warrants held or to be held by Sponsor because these securities exercisable within sixty (60) days. This table also assumes that there are no other issuances of equity securities in connection with the Closing, including equity awards that may be issued under the Equity Incentive Plan following the Business Combination.

 

Unless otherwise indicated, SBC believes that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by them. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each of the following entities or individuals is c/o of the Company at 6-5-1, Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163-1303, Japan.

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owners†   Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned
    % of
Class(1)
 
Directors and Executive Officers            
Yoshiyuki Aikawa     94,462,433       93.7 %
Yuya Yoshida            
Ryoji Murata            
Akira Komatsu            
Ken Edahiro            
Mike Sayama            
Fumitoshi Fujiwara            
All named executive officers and directors as a group 7 persons     94,462,433       93.7 %
Greater than 5% Holders:                
Mehana Capital LLC (the Sponsor)(2)     5,343,750       5.3 %
Dustin Shindo(2)     5,343,750       5.3 %

 

* Less than 1.0%
(1) Percentages are based on 100,743,253 shares of SBC’s common stock outstanding following the consummation of the Business Combination.
(2) Mehana Capital LLC, the Sponsor, is the record holder of the securities reported herein. Dustin Shindo, our Chairman, is the managing member of the Sponsor. By virtue of this relationship, Mr. Shindo may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of the securities held of record by the Sponsor. Mr. Shindo disclaims any such beneficial ownership except to the extent of his pecuniary interest. These shares include (i) 634,375 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants held by Mehana Capital LLC, and (ii) 4,709,375 shares held by Mehana Capital LLC.

 

8


 

Directors and Executive Officers 

 

SBC’s directors and executive officers after the Closing are described in the Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on August 12, 2024 in the section titled “Management After the Business Combination,” which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Yoshiyuki Aikawa, the Director, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated, stepped down from his position as Chief Executive Officer and Representative of SBC Medical Group Co., Ltd. on September 1, 2024, and remains as a director of SBC Medical Group Co., Ltd., which is a wholly owned subsidiary of SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated’s wholly owned subsidiary, SBC Medical Group, Inc.

 

Executive Compensation 

 

The compensation of the named executive officers of Pono before the Business Combination is set forth in the Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on August 12, 2024 in the section titled “Pono’s Management,” which is incorporated herein by reference. The compensation of the named executive officers of SBC before the Business Combination is set forth in the Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on August 12, 2024 in the section titled “Executive and Director Compensation of SBC”, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The information set forth in this Current Report on Form 8-K under Item 5.02 is incorporated in this Item 2.01 by reference.

 

At the Special Meeting, Pono’s shareholders approved the SBC Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). A description of the material terms of the Plan is set forth in the section of the Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on August 12, 2024 titled “The Incentive Plan Proposal (Proposal 6),” which is incorporated herein by reference. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Plan, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence 

 

The certain relationships and related party transactions of Pono and SBC are described in the Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on August 12, 2024 in the section titled “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions” and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Reference is made to the disclosure regarding director independence in the section of the Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on August 12, 2024 titled “Management After the Business Combination - Director Independence,” which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The information set forth under Item 5.02 “Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers” of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated into this Item 2.01 by reference.

 

The information set forth in the section titled “Registration Rights Agreements” in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Legal Proceedings 

 

Reference is made to the disclosure regarding legal proceedings in the sections of the Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on August 12, 2024 titled “Information About Pono - Legal Proceedings,” which are incorporated herein by reference. To the knowledge of SBC’s management, there are no legal proceedings pending against SBC.

 

Market Price of and Dividends on the Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters 

 

SBC’s common stock began trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “SBC” and its warrants began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SBCWW” on September 18, 2024. Pono has not paid any cash dividends on its common stock to date. The payment of cash dividends by SBC in the future will be dependent upon SBC’s revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent to completion of the Business Combination. The payment of any dividends subsequent to the Business Combination will be within the discretion of the board of directors of SBC.

 

9


 

Information regarding Pono’s common stock, rights and units and related stockholder matters are described in the Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on August 12, 2024 in the section titled “Description of Securities of New Pono” and such information is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities 

 

None.

 

Description of Registrant’s Securities to be Registered 

 

The description of SBC’s securities is contained in the Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on August 12, 2024 in the sections titled “Description of Securities of New Pono.”

 

Indemnification of Directors and Officers 

 

The description of the indemnification arrangements with SBC’s directors and officers is contained in the Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on August 12, 2024 in the section titled “Pono’s Management - Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors” and the disclosure under Item 1.01 “Entry into Material Definitive Agreement-Indemnification Agreements” of this Current Report on Form 8-K, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 

 

The information set forth under Item 9.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Financial Statements and Exhibits 

 

The information set forth under Item 9.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 3.03. Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

 

The shareholders of Pono approved the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation at the Special Meeting. In connection with the Closing, SBC adopted the Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Amended and Restated Bylaws effective as of the Closing Date. Reference is made to the disclosure described in the Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on August 12, 2024 in the section titled “The Charter Amendment Proposals (Proposals 2 Through 4),” which is incorporated herein by reference. Additionally, the disclosure described in the Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on August 12, 2024 in the section titled “COMPARISON OF STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS” is incorporated by reference herein.

 

The full text of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Amended and Restated Bylaws, which are included as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 hereto, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K, are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 4.01. Changes in the Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.

 

On March 20, 2023, the Board approved the engagement of MaloneBailey, LLP (“MaloneBailey”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm to audit the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the years ending December 31, 2022 and 2021. MaloneBailey served as the independent registered public accounting firm of SBC prior to the Business Combination. Accordingly, Marcum LLP (“Marcum”), Pono’s independent registered public accounting firm prior to the Business Combination, was informed that it would be dismissed on September 19, 2024 and replaced by MaloneBailey as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

The audit report of Marcum on Pono, the Company’s legal predecessor, financial statements as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and for the year ended December 31, 2023 and for the period from March 11, 2022 (inception) to December 31, 2022, did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and was not qualified or modified as to uncertainties, audit scope, or accounting principles except for an explanatory paragraph in such report regarding substantial doubt about Pono’s ability to continue as a going concern.

 

During the period from March 11, 2022 (date of inception) through December 31, 2023, and the subsequent interim periods through June 30, 2024, there were no disagreements with Marcum on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Marcum, would have caused it to make a reference in connection with their opinion to the subject matter of the disagreement or reportable events as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K (“Regulation S-K”) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), other than a previously disclosed material weakness in Pono’s internal control over financial reporting identified by Pono, which resulted in the restatement of Pono’s financial statements for certain interim periods.

 

10


 

The Company has provided Marcum with a copy of the foregoing disclosures in this Item 4.01 in response to Item 304(a) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act, and has requested that Marcum furnish the Company with a letter addressed to the Commission stating whether it agrees with the statements made by the registrant in this Item 4.01 in response to Item 304(a) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act and, if not, stating the respects in which it does not agree. A letter from Marcum is attached hereto as Exhibit 16.1.

 

Item 5.01. Changes in Control of Registrant.

 

Reference is made to the disclosure in the Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on August 12, 2024 in the section titled “The Business Combination Proposal (Proposal 1)”, which is incorporated herein by reference. Further reference is made to the information contained in Item 2.01 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

As of the Closing there were 100,743,253 shares of common stock: public stockholders own approximately 1.5% (1,513,945 shares) of the outstanding shares of SBC common stock; the Sponsor and its affiliates own approximately 4.8% (4,709,375 shares) of the outstanding shares of SBC common stock and SBC’s former security holders collectively own approximately 93.7% (94,462,433 shares) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock in each case assuming no Private Placement Warrants or Public Warrants are exercised.

 

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

Election of Directors and Appointment of Officers 

 

The following persons are serving as executive officers and directors following the Closing. For information concerning the executive officers and directors, see the disclosure in the Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on August 12, 2024 in the sections titled “Pono’s Management,” and “Management After the Business Combination,” and “Executive and Director Compensation of SBC,” which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Name   Age   Position(s)
Yoshiyuki Aikawa   54   Director, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Yuya Yoshida   46   Director and Chief Operating Officer
Ryoji Murata   53   Chief Financial Officer
Akira Komatsu   49   Chief Strategy Officer and Secretary
Ken Edahiro   42   Independent Director
Mike Sayama   70   Independent Director
Fumitoshi Fujiwara   58   Independent Director

 

11


 

Each director will hold office until his or her term expires at the next annual meeting of stockholders for such director’s class or until his or her death, resignation, removal or the earlier termination of his or her term of office.

 

Effective upon Closing, each of Darryl Nakamoto and Allison Van Orman resigned as officers of Pono. Effective upon Closing, each of Dustin Shindo, Kotaro Chiba, and Trisha Nomura resigned as directors of Pono.

 

Yoshiyuki Aikawa, the Director, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated, stepped down from his position as Chief Executive Officer and Representative of SBC Medical Group Co., Ltd. on September 1, 2024, and remains as a director of SBC Medical Group Co., Ltd., which is a wholly owned subsidiary of SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated’s wholly owned subsidiary, SBC Medical Group, Inc.

 

Equity Incentive Plan 

 

At the Special Meeting, Pono shareholders considered and approved the SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and reserved 15,000,000 shares of common stock for issuance thereunder. The Plan was approved by the Pono board of directors on August 9, 2024. The Plan became effective immediately upon the Closing of the Business Combination.

 

A more complete summary of the terms of the Plan is set forth in the Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on August 12, 2024 in the section titled “The Incentive Plan Proposal (Proposal 6).” That summary and the foregoing description are qualified in their entirety by reference to the text of the Plan, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Executive Employment Agreements 

 

On September 17, 2024, the Company entered into employment agreements (the “Employment Agreements”) with executive officers: Dr. Yoshiyuki Aikawa (Chief Executive Officer), Yuya Yoshida (Chief Operating Officer), Ryoji Murata (Chief Financial Officer) and Akira Komatsu (Chief Strategy Officer and Secretary).

 

The Employment Agreements all provide for at-will employment that may be terminated by the Company for death or disability and with or without cause, by the executive with or without good reason, or mutually terminated by the parties. The Employment Agreements for Dr. Aikawa and Messrs. Yoshida, Murata and Komatsu provide for a severance payment equal to the remaining base salary for the remaining period of the respective term of employment (each term is one (1) year) upon termination by the Company without cause or termination by such executive for good reason. The executive agreements provide for an annual base salary of $12,000,000, $304,404, $136,990 and $75,041 for Dr. Aikawa and Messrs. Yoshida, Murata and Komatsu, respectively, as well as possible annual performance bonuses and equity grants under the equity incentive plan if and when determined by the Company’s Compensation Committee.

 

This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the employment agreements, which are included as Exhibits 10.8, 10.9, 10.10 and 10.11 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

 

The information set forth in Item 3.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03.

 

12


 

Item 5.05. Amendments to the Registrant’s Code of Ethics, or Waiver of a Provision of the Code of Ethics.

 

On September 17, 2024, the Company adopted a new Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all of its employees, officers and directors, including its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and other executive and senior financial officers. The full text of SBC’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available in Exhibit 14.1 filed hereto. In addition, a copy of the Code of Ethics will be provided without charge upon request to us in writing at 6-5-1, Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163-1303, Japan.

 

The adoption of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics did not relate to or result in any waiver, explicit or implicit, of any provision of the previous Code of Conduct. Any waivers under the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics will be disclosed on a Current Report on Form 8-K or as otherwise permitted by the rules of the SEC and Nasdaq (or other stock exchange on which SBC’s securities are then listed).

 

Item 5.06. Change in Shell Company Status.

 

As a result of the Business Combination, Pono ceased being a shell company. Reference is made to the disclosure in the Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on August 12, 2024 in the sections titled “The Business Combination Proposal (Proposal 1)”, which is incorporated herein by reference. The information contained in Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.06.

 

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

 

On September 17, 2024, the Company issued a press release announcing the consummation of the Business Combination. A copy of the press release is filed as Exhibit 99.4 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

On September 17, 2024, the Company made available on its corporate website an investor presentation in respect of the Business Combination. A copy of such investor presentation is filed as Exhibit 99.5 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

The information in this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.4 and Exhibit 99.5 attached hereto, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act”, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any of the Company’s filings under the Securities Act, or the Exchange Act, whether made before or after the date hereof, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference to this report in such filing.

 

Item 8.01 Other Events.

 

The Company’s common stock is listed for trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “SBC” and the public warrants are listed for trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SBCWW.”

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statement and Exhibits.

 

(a) Financial statements of businesses or funds acquired.

 

The audited financial statements of SBC for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, together with the notes thereto, are included in the Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on August 12, 2023 beginning on page F-52, are incorporated herein by reference. The unaudited financial statements of SBC for the six months ended June 30, 2024, together with the notes thereto, are included as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

(b) Pro forma financial information.

 

Information responsive to Item 9.01(b) of Form 8-K is set forth in the unaudited pro forma financial statements as of June 30, 2024 and for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the six months ended June 30, 2024, are filed as Exhibit 99.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

 

13


 

(d) Exhibits.

   

Exhibit No.   Description
2.1   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated January 31, 2023, by and among Pono Capital Two, Inc., Pono Two Merger Sub, Inc., SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated, Mehana Capital LLC in its capacity as the representative of the stockholders of Pono Capital Two, Inc., and Yoshiyuki Aikawa in his personal capacity and his capacity as the representative of the stockholders of SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Pono Capital Two, Inc. with the SEC on February 2, 2023).
2.2   First Amendment to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated April 26, 2023, by and among Pono Capital Two, Inc., Pono Two Merger Sub, Inc., SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated, Mehana Capital LLC in its capacity as the representative of the stockholders of Pono Capital Two, Inc., and Yoshiyuki Aikawa in his personal capacity and his capacity as the representative of the stockholders of SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Pono Capital Two, Inc. with the SEC on May 1, 2023).
2.3   Second Amendment to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated May 30, 2023, by and among Pono Capital Two, Inc., Pono Two Merger Sub, Inc., SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated, Mehana Capital LLC in its capacity as the representative of the stockholders of Pono Capital, Two Inc., and Yoshiyuki Aikawa in his personal capacity and his capacity as the representative of the stockholders of SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Pono Capital Two, Inc. with the SEC on June 2, 2023).
2.4   Third Amendment to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated June 15, 2023, by and among Pono Capital Two, Inc., Pono Two Merger Sub, Inc., SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated, Mehana Capital LLC in its capacity as the representative of the stockholders of Pono Capital Two Inc., and Yoshiyuki Aikawa in his personal capacity and his capacity as the representative of the stockholders of SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Pono Capital Two, Inc. with the SEC on June 16, 2023).
2.5   Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated June 21, 2023, by and among Pono Capital Two, Inc., Pono Two Merger Sub, Inc., SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated, Mehana Capital LLC in its capacity as the representative of the stockholders of Pono Capital Two, Inc., and Yoshiyuki Aikawa in his personal capacity and his capacity as the representative of the stockholders of SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Pono Capital Two, Inc. with the SEC on June 22, 2023).
2.6   First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated September 8, 2023, by and among Pono Capital Two, Inc., Pono Two Merger Sub, Inc., SBC Medical Group Medical Holdings Incorporated, Mehana Capital LLC in its capacity as the representative of the stockholders of Pono Capital Two, Inc., and Yoshiyuki Aikawa in his personal capacity and his capacity as the representative of the stockholders of SBC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Pono Capital Two, Inc. with the SEC on September 11, 2023).
2.7   Second Amendment to the Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated October 26, 2023, by and among Pono Capital Two Inc., Pono Two Merger Sub, Inc., SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated, Mehana Capital LLC in its capacity as the representative of the stockholders of Pono Capital Two Inc., and Yoshiyuki Aikawa in his personal capacity and his capacity as the representative of the stockholders of SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to Form 8-K filed by Pono Capital Corp. with the SEC on October 26, 2023).
2.8   Third Amendment to the Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated December 28, 2023, by and among Pono Capital Two, Inc., Pono Two Merger Sub, Inc., SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated, Mehana Capital LLC in its capacity as the representative of the stockholders of Pono Capital Two, Inc., and Yoshiyuki Aikawa in his personal capacity and his capacity as the representative of the stockholders of SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Pono Capital Two, Inc. with the SEC on December 29, 2023).
2.9   Fourth Amendment to the Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated April 22, 2024, by and among Pono Capital, Two Inc., Pono Two Merger Sub, Inc., SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated Mehana Capital LLC in its capacity as the representative of the stockholders of Pono Capital, Two Inc., and Yoshiyuki Aikawa in his personal capacity and his capacity as the representative of the stockholders of SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Pono Capital Two, Inc. with the SEC on April 23, 2024).
3.1*   Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated.
3.2*   Amended and Restated Bylaws of SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated.
4.1   Warrant Agreement, dated August 4, 2022, by and between Pono Capital Two, Inc. and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Pono Capital Two, Inc. with the SEC on August 9, 2022).
4.2   Specimen Unit Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed by Pono Capital Two, Inc. on July 22, 2022).
4.3   Specimen Class A Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed by Pono Capital Two, Inc. on July 22, 2022).
4.4   Specimen Warrant Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed by Pono Capital Two, Inc. on July 22, 2022).
10.1+   Form of SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Annex C to the Definitive Proxy Statement filed by Pono Capital Two Corp. with the SEC on August 12, 2024).
10.2*   Form of Indemnification Agreement.

 

14


 

10.3   Form of Registration Rights Agreement by certain SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated equity holders (incorporated by reference to  Exhibit E to Annex A to the Definitive Proxy Statement filed by Pono Capital Two Corp. with the SEC on August 12, 2024).
10.4   Form of Lock-Up Agreement by certain SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated equity holders (incorporated by reference to  Exhibit C to Annex A to the Definitive Proxy Statement filed by Pono Capital Two Corp. with the SEC on August 12, 2024).
10.5   Letter Agreement, dated August 4, 2022, by and among Pono Capital Two Inc., its officers, directors, and Mehana Capital LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Pono Capital Two, Inc. with the SEC on August 9, 2022).
10.6   Purchaser Support Agreement, dated January 31, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Pono Capital Two, Inc. with the SEC on February 2, 2023).
10.7   Voting Agreement, dated January 31, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Pono Capital Two, Inc. with the SEC on February 2, 2023).
10.8*+   Executive Employment Agreement between SBC Medical Group Holdings and Yoshiyuki Aikawa, dated September 17, 2024.
10.9*+   Executive Employment Agreement between SBC Medical Group Holdings and Yuya Yoshida, dated September 17, 2024.
10.10*+   Executive Employment Agreement between SBC Medical Group Holdings and Ryoji Murata, dated September 17, 2024.
10.11*+   Executive Employment Agreement between SBC Medical Group Holdings and Akira Komatsu, dated September 17, 2024.
10.12   Form of Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit D to Annex A to the Definitive Proxy Statement filed by Pono Capital Two, Inc. with the SEC on August 12, 2024).
14.1*   Code of Ethics.
16.1*   Letter from Marcum LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission, dated September 19, 2024
21.1*   Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
99.1*   Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements of SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated as of June 30, 2024 and for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 and 2023.
99.2*   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated as of June 30, 2024 and for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 and 2023.
99.3*   Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements as of June 30, 2024 and for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the six months ended June 30, 2024.
99.4**   Press Release
99.5**   Investor Presentation.
104  

Cover Page Interactive Data File (Embedded within the Inline XBRL Document).

 

* Filed herewith

** Furnished herewith

+ Indicates a management or compensatory plan

Schedules to this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Registrant hereby agrees to furnish a copy of any omitted schedules to the SEC upon request.

 

15


 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

 

  SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated
   
Dated: September 20, 2024 By: /s/ Yoshiyuki Aikawa
    Yoshiyuki Aikawa
    Director, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

16

 

 

EX-3.1 2 ea021502401ex3-1_sbcmed.htm FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED

Exhibit 3.1

 

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

PONO CAPITAL TWO, INC.

 

Pono Capital Two, Inc. (the “Corporation”) a corporation organized and existing under the Delaware General Corporation Law, hereby certifies as follows:

 

1. The name of the corporation is Pono Capital Two, Inc..

 

2. The date of filing of the original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware is March 11, 2022 (the “Original Certificate”).

 

3. The Original Certificate was amended and restated in its entirety by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 17, 2022 “Amended and Restated Certificate”).

 

4. The Amended and Restated Certificate was amended and restated in its entirety by the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 2, 2022 (the “Second Amended and Restated Certificate”).

 

5. The Second Amended and Restated Certificate was amended and restated in its entirety by the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 5, 2022 (the “Third Amended and Restated Certificate”).

 

6. The Third Amended and Restated Certificate was amended by the Amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 8, 2023 (the “Current Certificate”). This Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation amends and restates the Current Certificate in its entirety.

 

7. This Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly approved and adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation on August 9, 2024 and by the stockholders of the Corporation on August 23, 2024, in accordance with the provisions of Sections 141, 228, 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

8. The Current Certificate is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to provide as follows:

 

Article I. Name. The name of the corporation is SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated (the “Corporation”).

 

 


 

Article II. Registered Office and Agent. The name and address of the registered agent of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is Corporate Creations Network Inc., Corporate Creations Network Inc., 1521 Concord Pike Suite 201 Wilmington, DE 19803, New Castle County, or such other agent and address as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) shall from time to time select.

 

Article III. Purpose and Business. The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may now or hereafter be organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), including, but not limited to the following:

 

Section 3.01 The Corporation may at any time exercise such rights, privileges, and powers, when not inconsistent with the purposes and object for which this Corporation is organized.

 

Section 3.02 The Corporation shall have the power to have succession by its corporate name in perpetuity, or until dissolved and its affairs wound up according to law.

 

Section 3.03 The Corporation shall have the power to sue and be sued in any court of law or equity.

 

Section 3.04 The Corporation shall have the power to make contracts.

 

Section 3.05 The Corporation shall have the power to hold, purchase and convey real and personal estate and to mortgage or lease any such real and personal estate with its franchises. The power to hold real and personal estate shall include the power to take the same by devise or bequest in the State of Delaware, or in any other state, territory or country.

 

Section 3.06 The Corporation shall have the power to appoint such officers and agents as the affairs of the Corporation shall require and allow them suitable compensation.

 

Section 3.07 The Corporation shall have the power to make bylaws not inconsistent with the constitution or laws of the United States, or of the State of Delaware, for the management, regulation and government of its affairs and property, the transfer of its stock, the transaction of its business and the calling and holding of meetings of stockholders.

 

Section 3.08 The Corporation shall have the power to wind up and dissolve itself, or be wound up or dissolved.

 

Section 3.09 The Corporation shall have the power to adopt and use a common seal or stamp, or to not use such seal or stamp and if one is used, to alter the same. The use of a seal or stamp by the Corporation on any corporate documents is not necessary. The Corporation may use a seal or stamp, if it desires, but such use or non-use shall not in any way affect the legality of the document.

 

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Section 3.10 The Corporation shall have the power to borrow money and contract debts when necessary for the transaction of its business, or for the exercise of its corporate rights, privileges or franchises, or for any other lawful purpose of its incorporation; to issue bonds, promissory notes, bills of exchange, debentures and other obligations and evidence of indebtedness, payable at a specified time or times, or payable upon the happening of a specified event or events, whether secured by mortgage, pledge or otherwise, or unsecured, for money borrowed, or in payment for property purchased, or acquired, or for another lawful object.

 

Section 3.11 The Corporation shall have the power to guarantee, purchase, hold, sell, assign, transfer, mortgage, pledge or otherwise dispose of the shares of the capital stock of, or any bonds, securities or evidence in indebtedness created by any other corporation or corporations in the State of Delaware, or any other state or government and, while the owner of such stock, bonds, securities or evidence of indebtedness, to exercise all the rights, powers and privileges of ownership, including the right to vote, if any.

 

Section 3.12 The Corporation shall have the power to purchase, hold, sell and transfer shares of its own capital stock and use therefore its capital, capital surplus, surplus or other property or fund.

 

Section 3.13 The Corporation shall have the power to conduct business, have one or more offices and hold, purchase, mortgage and convey real and personal property in the State of Delaware and in any of the several states, territories, possessions and dependencies of the United States, the District of Columbia and in any foreign country.

 

Section 3.14 The Corporation shall have the power to do all and everything necessary and proper for the accomplishment of the objects enumerated in its this Fourth Amended Certificate of Incorporation (this “Fourth Amended Certificate”), or any amendments thereof, or necessary or incidental to the protection and benefit of the Corporation and, in general, to carry on any lawful business necessary or incidental to the attainment of the purposes of the Corporation, whether or not such business is similar in nature to the purposes set forth in this Fourth Amended Certificate, or any amendment thereof.

 

Section 3.15 The Corporation shall have the power to make donations for the public welfare or for charitable, scientific or educational purposes.

 

Section 3.16 The Corporation shall have the power to enter partnerships, general or limited, or joint ventures, in connection with any lawful activities.

 

Article IV. Capital Stock.

 

Section 4.01 Classes and Number of Shares. The total number of shares of all classes of stock, which the Corporation shall have authority to issue shall be Four Hundred Million (400,000,000) shares of common stock, par value of $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”) and Twenty Million (20,000,000) shares of preferred stock, par value of $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”). The shares of Common Stock that were classified as Class A Common Stock in the Third Certificate are hereby classified as Common Stock hereunder.

 

Section 4.02 Powers and Rights of Common Stock.

 

(a) Preemptive Right. No shareholders of the Corporation holding Common Stock shall have any preemptive or other right to subscribe for any additional unissued or treasury shares of stock or for other securities of any class, or for rights, warrants or options to purchase stock, or for scrip, or for securities of any kind convertible into stock or carrying stock purchase warrants or privileges unless so authorized by the Corporation.

 

(b) Voting Rights and Powers. With respect to all matters upon which stockholders are entitled to vote or to which stockholders are entitled to give consent, the holders of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock shall be entitled to cast thereon one (1) vote in person or by proxy for each share of the Common Stock standing in his/her name.

 

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(c) Dividends and Distributions.

 

(i) Cash Dividends. Subject to the rights of holders of Preferred Stock, holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such cash dividends as may be declared thereon by the Board from time to time out of assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefore; and

 

(ii) Other Dividends and Distributions. The Board may issue shares of the Common Stock in the form of a distribution or distributions pursuant to a stock dividend or split-up of the shares of the Common Stock.

 

(d) Other Rights. Except as otherwise required by the DGCL and as may otherwise be provided in this Fourth Amended Certificate, each share of the Common Stock shall have identical powers, preferences and rights, including rights in liquidation.

 

Section 4.03 Classes of Preferred Stock. The powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions pertaining to the Preferred Stock, or any series thereof, shall be such as may be fixed, from time to time, by the Board in its sole discretion, authority to do so being hereby expressly vested in the Board. The authority of the Board with respect to each such series of Preferred Stock will include, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the determination of any or all of the following:

 

(a) The number of shares of any series and the designation to distinguish the shares of such series from the shares of all other series;

 

(b) the voting powers, if any, of the shares of such series and whether such voting powers are full or limited;

 

(c) the redemption provisions, if any, applicable to such series, including the redemption price or prices to be paid;

 

(d) whether dividends, if any, will be cumulative or noncumulative, the dividend rate or rates of such series and the dates and preferences of dividends on such series;

 

(e) the rights of such series upon the voluntary or involuntary dissolution of, or upon any distribution of the assets of, the Corporation;

 

(f) the provisions, if any, pursuant to which the shares of such series are convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or classes or of any other series of the same or any other class or classes of stock, or any other security, of the Corporation or any other corporation or other entity, and the rates or other determinants of conversion or exchange applicable thereto;

 

(g) the right, if any, to subscribe for or to purchase any securities of the Corporation or any other corporation or other entity;

 

(h) the provisions, if any, of a sinking fund applicable to such series; and

 

(i) any other relative, participating, optional or other powers, preferences or rights, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of such series.

 

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Section 4.04 Issuance of the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock. The Board may from time to time authorize by resolution the issuance of any or all shares of the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock herein authorized in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Fourth Amended Certificate for such purposes, in such amounts, to such persons, corporations, or entities, for such consideration and in the case of the Preferred Stock, in one or more series, all as the Board in its discretion may determine and without any vote or other action by the stockholders, except as otherwise required by law. The Board, from time to time, also may authorize, by resolution, options, warrants and other rights convertible into Common or Preferred stock (collectively “securities”). The securities must be issued for such consideration, including cash, property, or services, as the Board may deem appropriate, subject to the requirement that the value of such consideration be no less than the par value of the shares issued. Any shares issued for which the consideration so fixed has been paid or delivered shall be fully paid stock and the holder of such shares shall not be liable for any further call or assessment or any other payment thereon, provided that the actual value of such consideration is not less that the par value of the shares so issued. The Board may issue shares of the Common Stock in the form of a distribution or distributions pursuant to a stock dividend or split-up of the shares of the Common Stock only to the then holders of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock.

 

Section 4.05 Cumulative Voting. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, there shall be no cumulative voting on any matter brought to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.

 

Section 4.06 One Class. Except as otherwise required by the DGCL, this Fourth Amended Certificate, or any designation for a class of Preferred Stock (which may provide that an alternate vote is required), (i) all shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders of the Corporation; and (ii) the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of voting stock entitled to vote in connection with the applicable matter shall be required for approval of such matter.

 

Section 4.07 Section 242(b)(2) Election. For the avoidance of doubt, the intent of Section 4.06 is, and the operation of Section 4.06 shall be, that, without limitation, (i) the number of authorized shares of Common Stock, may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote irrespective of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL, with no vote of any holders of a particular class of stock, voting as a separate class, being required; and (ii) unless otherwise set forth in a certificate of designations for the applicable class of Preferred Stock, the number of authorized shares of any class of Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote irrespective of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL, with no vote of any holders of a particular class of stock, voting as a separate class, being required.

 

Article V. Adoption of Bylaws. In the furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute and subject to Article VI, the Board is expressly authorized to adopt, repeal, rescind, alter or amend in any respect the bylaws of the Corporation (the “Bylaws”).

 

Article VI. Shareholder Amendment of Bylaws. Notwithstanding Article V, the Bylaws may also be adopted, repealed, rescinded, altered or amended in any respect by the stockholders of the Corporation, but only by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of voting stock, regardless of class and voting together as a single voting class.

 

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Article VII. Board of Directors.

 

Section 7.01 The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by and under the direction of the Board.

 

Section 7.02 The number of directors of the Corporation, other than those who may be elected by the holders of one or more series of the Preferred Stock voting separately by class or series, shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board.

 

Section 7.03 Subject to Section 7.08, the Board shall be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible and designated Class I, Class II and Class III. The Board is authorized to assign members of the Board already in office to Class I, Class II or Class III. The term of the initial Class I Directors shall expire at the first annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Fourth Amended Certificate, the term of the initial Class II Directors shall expire at the second annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Fourth Amended Certificate and the term of the initial Class III Directors shall expire at the third annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Fourth Amended Certificate. At each succeeding annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, beginning with the first annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Fourth Amended Certificate, each of the successors elected to replace the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall be elected for a three-year term or until the election and qualification of their respective successors in office, subject to their earlier death, resignation or removal. Subject to Section 7.08, if the number of directors that constitutes the Board is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned by the Board among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, but in no case shall a decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board shorten the term of any incumbent director. Subject to the rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock, voting separately by class or series, to elect directors pursuant to the terms of one or more series of Preferred Stock, the election of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon. The Board is hereby expressly authorized, by resolution or resolutions thereof, to assign members of the Board already in office to the aforesaid classes at the time this Fourth Amended Certificate (and therefore such classification) becomes effective in accordance with the DGCL.

 

Section 7.04 Subject to Section 7.08, a director shall hold office until the annual meeting for the year in which his or her term expires and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.

 

Section 7.05 Unless and except to the extent that the Bylaws shall so require, the election of directors need not be by written ballot. The holders of shares of Common Stock shall not have cumulative voting rights with regard to election of directors.

 

Section 7.06 Subject to Section 7.08, newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause may be filled solely and exclusively by a majority vote of the remaining directors then in office, even if less than a quorum or by a sole remaining director (and not by stockholders), and any director so chosen shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors to which the new directorship was added or in which the vacancy occurred and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.

 

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Section 7.07 Subject to Section 7.08 and except as otherwise provided for by this Fourth Amended Certificate, any or all of the directors may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the voting power of all then issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class (on an as converted to Class A Common Stock basis).

 

Section 7.08 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article VII, and except as otherwise required by law, whenever the holders of one or more series of the Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately by class or series, to elect one or more directors, the term of office, the filling of vacancies, the removal from office and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of such series of the Preferred Stock as set forth in this Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) and such directors shall not be included in any of the classes created pursuant to this Article VII unless expressly provided by such terms.

 

Section 7.09 A quorum for the transaction of business by the directors shall be set forth in the Bylaws.

 

Article VIII. Powers of Board.

 

Section 8.01 In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by the laws of the DGCL, the Board is expressly authorized and empowered:

 

(a) To make, alter, amend, and repeal the Bylaws;

 

(b) Subject to the applicable provisions of the Bylaws then in effect, to determine, from time to time, whether and to what extent, and at what times and places, and under what conditions and regulations, the accounts and books of the Corporation, or any of them, shall be open to stockholder inspection, provided that no stockholder shall have any right to inspect any of the accounts, books or documents of the Corporation, except as permitted by law, unless and until authorized to do so by resolution of the Board or of the stockholders of the Corporation;

 

(c) To authorize and issue, without stockholder consent, obligations of the Corporation, secured and unsecured, under such terms and conditions as the Board, in its sole discretion, may determine, and to pledge or mortgage, as security therefore, any real or personal property of the Corporation, including after-acquired property;

 

(d) To determine whether any and, if so, what part of the earned surplus of the Corporation shall be paid in dividends to the stockholders, and to direct and determine other use and disposition of any such earned surplus;

 

(e) To fix, from time to time, the amount of the profits of the Corporation to be reserved as working capital or for any other lawful purpose;

 

(f) To establish bonus, profit-sharing, stock option, or other types of incentive compensation plans for the employees, including officers and directors, of the Corporation, and to fix the amount of profits to be shared or distributed, and to determine the persons to participate in any such plans and the amount of their respective participations;

 

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(g) to designate, by resolution or resolutions passed by a majority of the whole Board, one or more committees, each consisting of two or more directors, which, to the extent permitted by law and authorized by the resolution or the Bylaws, shall have and may exercise the powers of the Board; and

 

(h) To provide for the reasonable compensation of its own members by Bylaw, and to fix the terms and conditions upon which such compensation will be paid.

 

Section 8.02 In addition to the powers and authority hereinbefore, or by statute, expressly conferred upon it, the Board may exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the laws of the State of Delaware, of this Fourth Amended Certificate, and of the Bylaws of the Corporation.

 

Article IX. Interested Directors. No contract or transaction between this Corporation and any of its directors, or between this Corporation and any other corporation, firm, association, or other legal entity shall be invalidated by reason of the fact that the director of the Corporation has a direct or indirect interest, pecuniary or otherwise, in such corporation, firm, association, or legal entity, or because the interested director was present at the meeting of the Board which acted upon or in reference to such contract or transaction, or because he participated in such action, provided that: (1) the interest of each such director shall have been disclosed to or known by the Board and a disinterested majority of the Board shall have, nonetheless, ratified and approved such contract or transaction (such interested director or directors may be counted in determining whether a quorum is present for the meeting at which such ratification or approval is given); or (2) the conditions of DGCL Title 8, Section 144 are met.

 

Article X. Stockholder Action. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effective at a duly called annual meeting or at a special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, unless such action requiring or permitting stockholder approval is approved by a majority of the directors, in which case such action may be authorized or taken by the written consent of the holders of outstanding shares of voting stock having not less than the minimum voting power that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting of stockholders at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted, provided all other requirements of applicable law and this Fourth Amended Certificate have been satisfied.

 

Article XI. Special Stockholder Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by a majority of the Board. Special meetings may not be called by any other person or persons. Each special meeting shall be held at such date and time as is requested by Board, within the limits fixed by law.

 

Article XII. Location of Stockholder Meetings. Meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be held within or without the State of Delaware, as the Bylaws may provide. The books of the Corporation may be kept (subject to any provision of the DGCL) outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board or in the Bylaws.

 

Article XIII. Private Property of Stockholders. The private property of the stockholders shall not be subject to the payment of corporate debts to any extent whatever and the stockholders shall not be personally liable for the payment of the Corporation’s debts.

 

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Article XIV. Amendments. The Corporation reserves the right to adopt, repeal, rescind, alter or amend in any respect any provision contained in this Fourth Amended Certificate in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by applicable law and all rights conferred on stockholders herein granted subject to this reservation.

 

Article XV. Term of Existence. The Corporation is to have perpetual existence.

 

Article XVI. Liability of Directors. No director of this Corporation shall have personal liability to the Corporation or any of its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officers involving any act or omission of any such director or officer. The foregoing provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or, which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under applicable sections of the DGCL, (iv) the payment of dividends in violation of the DGCL or, (v) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Any repeal or modification of this Article XVI by the stockholders of the Corporation shall be prospective only and shall not adversely affect any limitation on the personal liability of a director or officer of the Corporation for acts or omissions prior to such repeal or modification.

 

Article XVII. Indemnification.

 

Section 17.01 Indemnification in Actions, Suits or Proceedings other than Those by or in the Right of the Corporation. Subject to Section 17.03 and Section 17.10, the Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL and applicable Delaware law as in effect at any time, indemnify, hold harmless and defend any person who: (i) was or is a director or officer of the Corporation or was or is a director or officer of a direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation, and (ii) was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to, or was or is otherwise directly involved in (including as a witness), any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that such person was or is a director or officer of the Corporation or any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation, or was or is serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, partner, member or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity or in any other capacity, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea or nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful.

 

Section 17.02 Indemnification in Actions, Suits or Proceedings by or in the Right of the Corporation. Subject to Section 17.03 and Section 17.10, the Corporation shall indemnify, hold harmless and defend any person who: (i) was or is a director or officer of the Corporation or was or is a director or officer of a direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation, and (ii) was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to, or was or is otherwise directly involved in (including as a witness), any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person was or is a director or officer of the Corporation or any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation, or was or is serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, partner, member or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, and whether the basis of such action, suit or proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity or in any other capacity, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation; except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the Courts in the State of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court in the State of Delaware or such other court shall deem proper.

 

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Section 17.03 Authorization of Indemnification. Any indemnification or defense under this Article XVII (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director or officer is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 17.01 or Section 17.02, as the case may be. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination: (i) by directors constituting a majority of the Board and who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum (the “Board Voting Majority”), or (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by the Board Voting Majority, even though less than a quorum, or (iii) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (iv) by the stockholders. Such determination shall be made, with respect to former directors and officers, by any person or persons having the authority to act on the matter on behalf of the Corporation. To the extent, however, that a present or former director or officer of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding set forth in Section 17.01 or Section 17.02 or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith, without the necessity of authorization in the specific case.

 

Section 17.04 Good Faith Defined. For purposes of any determination under Section 17.03, a person shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, or, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, to have had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful, if such person’s action is based on good faith reliance on the records or books of account of the Corporation or another enterprise, or on information supplied to such person by the officers of the Corporation or another enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Corporation or another enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Corporation or another enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Corporation or another enterprise. The term “another enterprise” as used in this Section 17.04 shall mean any other corporation or any partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which such person was or is serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, partner, member or agent. The provisions of this Section 17.04 shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the circumstances in which a person may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 17.01 or Section 17.02, as the case may be.

 

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Section 17.05 Expenses Payable in Advance. Expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by a current or former director or officer in defending any action, suit or proceeding described in Section 17.01 or Section 17.02 shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Article XVII.

 

Section 17.06 Non-exclusivity of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. The indemnification, defense and advancement of expenses provided by or granted pursuant to this Article XVII shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under the Certificate, any agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, it being the policy of the Corporation that indemnification of the persons specified in Section 17.01 or Section 17.02 shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. The provisions of this Article XVII shall not be deemed to preclude the indemnification of, or advancement of expenses to, any person who is not specified in Section 17.01 or Section 17.02 but whom the Corporation has the power or obligation to indemnify under the provisions of the DGCL or otherwise.

 

Section 17.07 Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who was or is a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or a direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation, or was or is serving at the request of the Corporation, as a director, officer, employee, partner, member or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power or the obligation to indemnify, hold harmless or defend such person against such liability under the provisions of this Article XVII.

 

Section 17.08 Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Article XVII references to the “Corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, employees or agents so that any person who was or is a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or was or is serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee, partner, member or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Article XVII with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued. For purposes of this Article XVII, references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect of any employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation” as referred to in this Article XVII.

 

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Section 17.09 Survival of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses. The indemnification, defense and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article XVII shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

 

Section 17.10 Limitation on Indemnification. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article XVII to the contrary, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification and defense under this Article XVII (which shall be governed by Section 17.11(b)), the Corporation shall not be obligated under this Article XVII to indemnify, hold harmless or defend any director, officer, employee or agent in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article XVII to the contrary, the prevailing party shall not be entitled to recover from the other party reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the prosecution or defense of such action to the extent that such fees, costs and expenses relate to “internal corporate claims” as defined in Section 109(b) of the DGCL

 

Section 17.11 Contract Rights.

 

(a) The obligations of the Corporation under this Article XVII to indemnify, hold harmless and defend a person who was or is a director or officer of the Corporation or was or is a director or officer of a direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation, including the duty to advance expenses, shall be considered a contract between the Corporation and such person, and no modification or repeal of any provision of this Article XVII shall affect, to the detriment of such person, such obligations of the Corporation in connection with a claim based on any act or failure to act occurring before such modification or repeal.

 

(b) If a claim under Section 17.01, Section 17.02 or Section 17.05 is not paid in full by the Corporation within 90 days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be 45 days, the person making such claim may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, if successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, such person shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by such person to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by such person to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense, and (ii) in any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that such person has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel or its Stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of such person is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel or its Stockholders) that such person has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that such person has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by such person, be a defense to such suit.

 

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Section 17.12 Indemnification Agreements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Corporation shall have the express authority to enter into such agreements as the Board deems appropriate for the indemnification of present or future directors and officers of the Corporation in connection with their service to, or status with, the Corporation or any other corporation, entity or enterprise with whom such person is serving at the express written request of the Corporation.

 

Article XVIII. Forum; Consent to Jurisdiction; Severability.

 

Section 18.01 Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Court of Chancery”) shall, to the fullest extent provided by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or this Amended and Restated Certificate or the Bylaws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine and, if brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing the suit will be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder’s counsel, except for, as to each of (i) through (iv) above, any claim (A) as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), (B) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or (C) for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction, as to which the Court of Chancery and the U.S. federal district court for the District of Delaware shall have concurrent jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 18.01 will not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the rules and regulations thereunder or any other claim for which the U.S. federal district courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the U.S. federal district courts shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, against the Corporation or any director, officer, other employee or agent of the Corporation. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any security of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 18.01.

 

Section 18.02 Consent to Jurisdiction. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of Section 18.01 immediately above is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and U.S. federal district courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce Section 18.01 (an “FSC Enforcement Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such FSC Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.

 

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Section 18.03 Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Article XVIII shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article XVIII (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article XVIII containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article XVIII.

 

Section 18.04 Corporate Opportunity. To the extent allowed by law, the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any other analogous doctrine, shall not apply with respect to the Corporation or any of its officers or directors, or any of their respective affiliates, in circumstances where the application of any such doctrine would conflict with any fiduciary duties or contractual obligations they may have as of the date of this Fourth Amended Certificate or in the future, and the Corporation renounces any expectancy that any of the directors or officers of the Corporation will offer any such corporate opportunity of which he or she may become aware to the Corporation, except, the doctrine of corporate opportunity shall apply with respect to any of the directors or officers of the Corporation with respect to a corporate opportunity that was offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation and (i) such opportunity is one the Corporation is legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for the Corporation to pursue and (ii) the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to the Corporation without violating any legal obligation.

 

Article XIX. Headings. The headings contained herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Fourth Amended Certificate and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Fourth Amended Certificate as of September 17, 2024.

 

  Pono Capital Two, Inc.
     
  By: /s/ Yoshiyuki Aikawa
  Name:  Yoshiyuki Aikawa
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

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EX-3.2 3 ea021502401ex3-2_sbcmed.htm AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS OF SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED

Exhibit 3.2

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

BYLAWS

Of

SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated

(formerly known as Pono Capital Two, Inc.)

a Delaware corporation

 

Adopted September 18, 2024

 

1. Offices. SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated (the “Corporation”) may have an office or offices, and keep the books and records of the Corporation, except as may otherwise be required by applicable law, at such other place or places, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

 

2. Meetings of Stockholders.

 

2.1. Annual Meetings. The annual meetings of stockholders for the election of directors and for such other business as may be stated in the notice of the meeting shall be held at such time and date and place as the Board, by resolution, shall determine and as set forth in the notice of the meeting and shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware. If the date of the annual meeting shall fall upon a legal holiday, the meeting shall be held on the next succeeding business day.

 

2.2. Deferred Meeting for Election of Directors, etc. If the annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and the transaction of other business is not held within the time specified in Section 2.1, the Board shall call a special meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and the transaction of other business as soon thereafter as convenient.

 

2.3. Other Special Meetings. A special meeting of stockholders (other than a special meeting for the election of directors), unless otherwise prescribed by statute, may only be called by the Board and may be called at any time by the Board. At any special meeting of stockholders, only such business may be transacted as is related to the purpose(s) of such meeting set forth in the notice thereof given pursuant to Section 2.5 or in any waiver of notice thereof given pursuant to Section 2.6.

 

2.4. Fixing Record Date. For the purpose of determining the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, or for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix, in advance, a date as of the record date for any such determination of stockholders. Such date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other action. If no such record date is fixed:

 

(a) The record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given or, if no notice is given or if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held;

 

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(b) The record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board is necessary, shall be the day on which the first written consent is expressed;

 

(c) The record date for determining stockholders for any purpose other than those specified in Sections 2.4(a) and Section 2.4(b) shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

When a determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of stockholders has been made as provided in this Section 2.4, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof, unless the Board fixes a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

 

2.5. Notice of Meetings of Stockholders; Location. Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.4 and Section 2.6, whenever under any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law (as the same may be amended and supplemented from time to time, and including any successor provision thereto, the “DGCL”), the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (as the same may be amended, supplemented and/or restated from time to time, the “Certificate”) or these Bylaws, stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, written notice shall be given stating the place, date and hour of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose(s) for which the meeting is called. Except as otherwise provided by any provision of the DGCL, a copy of the notice of any meeting shall be given, personally or by mail, not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting, to each stockholder entitled to notice of, or to vote at, such meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States Mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at his address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. An affidavit of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or of the transfer agent of the Corporation that the notice required by this Section 2.5 has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken and, at the adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting originally called. If, however, the adjournment is for more than 60 days or if, after the adjournment, a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. The Board may designate the place of meeting for any meeting of Stockholders. If no designation is made by the Board, the place of meeting shall be the principal executive offices of the Corporation. The Board may, in its sole discretion, determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized by the DGCL

 

2.6. Waivers of Notice. Whenever notice is required to be given to the stockholders under any provision of the DGCL, or the Certificate or these Bylaws, a written waiver thereof, signed by a stockholder entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a stockholder at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the stockholder attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any written waiver of notice.

 

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2.7. Quorum of Stockholders; Adjournment; Postponement. The holders of a majority of the voting power, present, in person or represented by proxy, shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business at such meeting, except where otherwise provided by any provision of the DGCL. When a quorum is once present to organize a meeting of stockholders, it is not broken by the subsequent withdrawal of any stockholders. The Chairman, or the holders of a majority of the shares of stock present in person or represented by proxy at any meeting of stockholders, including an adjournment meeting, whether or not a quorum is present, may adjourn such meeting to another time and place. Any previously scheduled meeting of stockholders may be postponed, and any previously scheduled special meeting of Stockholders may be canceled, by the Board upon public notice given prior to the time previously scheduled for such meeting of stockholders.

 

2.8. Voting; Proxies.

 

(a) Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate, every stockholder of record shall be entitled at every meeting of stockholders to one vote for each share of capital stock standing in his name on the record of stockholders determined in accordance with Section 2.4. If the Certificate provides for more or less than one vote for any share on any matter, every reference in these Bylaws or any provision of the DGCL, to a majority or other proportion of stock shall refer to such majority or other proportion of the votes of such stock. The provisions of the DGCL shall apply in determining whether any shares of capital stock may be voted and the persons, if any entitled to vote such shares, but the Corporation shall be protected in treating the persons in whose names shares of capital stock stand on the record of stockholders as owners thereof for all purposes.

 

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(b) In any uncontested election of directors, each person receiving a majority of the votes cast shall be deemed elected. For purposes of this paragraph, a ‘majority of the votes cast’ shall mean that the number of votes cast ‘for’ a director must exceed the number of votes cast ‘against’ that director (with ‘abstentions’ and ‘broker non-votes’ not counted as a vote cast with respect to that director). In any contested election of directors, the persons receiving a plurality of the votes cast, up to the number of directors to be elected in such election, shall be deemed elected. The Board may, but need not, establish policies and procedures regarding the nomination, election and resignation of directors, which policies and procedures may: (i) include a condition to nomination by the Board for election or re-election as a director that an individual agree to tender, if elected or re-elected, an irrevocable offer of resignation conditioned on: (A) failing to receive the required vote for re-election at the next meeting at which such person would face re-election and (B) acceptance of the resignation by the Board, (ii) require: (A) if one exists, the Corporation’s nominating and governance committee or other committee designated by the Board (the “Nominating and Governance Committee”) to make a recommendation to the Board on whether to accept or reject the resignation, or whether other action should be taken and (B) the Board to act on the Nominating and Governance Committee’s recommendation and publicly disclose its decision and the rationale behind it within 90 days, to the extent practicable, from the date of the certification of the election results. A “contested election” is one in which: (i) the Secretary receives a notice that a Stockholder has nominated a person for election to the Board in compliance with the advance notice requirements for stockholder nominees for director set forth in Section and (ii) such nomination has not been withdrawn by such stockholder on or before the 10th day before the Corporation first mails its notice of meeting for such meeting to the stockholders. An “uncontested election” is any election other than a contested election. All elections of directors shall be by written ballot unless otherwise provided in the Certificate.

 

(c) As to each matter submitted to a vote of the stockholders (other than the election of directors), except as otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate or by these Bylaws, such matter shall be decided by a majority of the votes cast on such matter.

 

(d) In voting on any other question on which a vote by ballot is required by law, the voting shall be by ballot. Each ballot shall be signed by the stockholder voting or by his proxy and shall state the number of shares voted. Every stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person(s) to act for him by proxy. Any proxy to be used at a meeting of stockholders must be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation or his or her representative at the principal executive offices of the Corporation at or before the time of the meeting. The validity and enforceability of any proxy shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the DGCL. The Chairman shall fix and announce at the meeting the date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the meeting.

 

2.9. Nomination of Directors. Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws shall be eligible for election as directors. Nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at a meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected only (a) by or at the direction of the Board or (b) by any stockholder of the Corporation entitled to vote for the election of directors at a meeting who complies with the notice procedures set forth in Section 2.10

 

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2.10. Notices of Business or Nominations for Director.

 

(a) For director nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting of stockholders by a stockholder, a stockholder’s notice must include the following information and/or documents, as applicable: (A) the name and address of the stockholder giving the notice, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of the beneficial owner of stock of the Corporation, if any, on whose behalf such nomination or proposal of other business is made (such beneficial owner, the “Beneficial Owner”); (B) representations that, as of the date of delivery of such notice, such stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation and is entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at such meeting to propose and vote for such nomination and any such other business; (C) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director (a “Stockholder Nominee”): (1) all information relating to such Stockholder Nominee that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as amended from time to time, the “Exchange Act”) or any successor provision thereto, including such Stockholder Nominee’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected and to being named in the Corporation’s proxy statement and form of proxy if the Corporation so determines, (2) a statement whether such Stockholder Nominee, if elected, intends to tender, promptly following such Stockholder Nominee’s election or re-election, an irrevocable offer of resignation effective upon such Stockholder Nominee’s failure to receive the required vote for re-election at the next meeting at which such Stockholder Nominee would face re-election and upon acceptance of such resignation by the Board; and (3) such other information as may be reasonably requested by the Corporation; (D) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting: (1) a brief description of such business, (2) the text of the proposal (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, if such business includes a proposal to amend these Bylaws, the text of the proposed amendment) and (3) the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting; and (E) in all cases: (1) the name of each individual, firm, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust or other entity (including any successor thereto, a “Person”) with whom the stockholder, any Beneficial Owner, any Stockholder Nominee and the respective affiliates and associates (as defined under Regulation 12B under the Exchange Act or any successor provision thereto) of such stockholder, Beneficial Owner and/or Stockholder Nominee (each of the foregoing, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Stockholder, Beneficial Owner and/or Stockholder Nominee, a “Stockholder Group Member”) either is acting in concert with respect to the Corporation or has any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether written or oral) for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy given to such Person in response to a public proxy solicitation made generally by such Person to all holders of common stock of the Corporation) or disposing of any capital stock of the Corporation or to cooperate in obtaining, changing or influencing the control of the Corporation (except independent financial, legal and other advisors acting in the ordinary course of their respective businesses) (each Person described in this clause (1), including each Stockholder Group Member, a “Covered Person”), and a description, and, if in writing, a copy, of each such agreement, arrangement or understanding, (2) a list of the class, series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are beneficially owned or owned of record by each Covered Person, together with documentary evidence of such record or beneficial ownership, (3) a list of all derivative securities (as defined in Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act or any successor provision thereto) and other derivatives or similar arrangements to which any Covered Person is a counterparty and relating to any shares of capital stock of the Corporation, a description of all economic terms of all such derivative securities and other derivatives or similar arrangements and copies of all agreements and other documents relating to each of such derivative securities and other derivatives or similar arrangements, (4) a list of all transactions by any Covered Person involving any shares of capital stock of the Corporation or any derivative securities (as defined under Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act or any successor provision thereto) or other derivatives or similar arrangements related to any shares of capital stock of the Corporation entered into or consummated within 60 days prior to the date of such notice, (5) details of all other material interests of each Covered Person in such nomination or proposal or shares of capital stock of the Corporation (including any rights to dividends or performance-related fees based on any increase or decrease in the value of such shares of capital stock) and (6) a representation as to whether any Covered Person intends or is part of a group which intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to, in the case of a nomination or nominations, at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock reasonably believed by the Covered Person to be sufficient to elect the nominee or nominees proposed to be nominated by the stockholder and, in the case of a proposal, holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to elect any Stockholder Nominee or approve such proposal (such representation, the “Solicitation Representation”).

 

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(b) A notice delivered by or on behalf of any Stockholder under this Section 2.10 shall be deemed to be not in compliance with this Section 2.10 and not be effective if: (x) such notice does not include all of the information, documents and representations required under this Section 2.10, (y) after delivery of such notice, any information or document required to be included in such notice changes or is amended, modified or supplemented, as applicable, prior to the date of the relevant meeting and such information and/or document is not delivered to the Corporation by way of a further written notice as promptly as practicable following the event causing such change in information or amendment, modification or supplement, as applicable, and in any case where such event occurs within 45 days of the date of the relevant meeting, within five business days after such event or (z) any Covered Person does not act in accordance with the representation set forth in the Solicitation Representation; provided, however, that the Board shall have the authority to waive any such non-compliance if the Board determines that such action is appropriate in the exercise of its fiduciary duties.

 

(c) Notwithstanding Section 2.10(b), in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board is increased effective at the next annual meeting and there is no Public Announcement (as defined below) specifying the size of the increased Board made by the Corporation at least 100 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 2.10 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it is delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such Public Announcement is first made by the Corporation and such notice otherwise complies with the requirements of this Section 2.10. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than 30 days, or delayed by more than 90 days, from such anniversary date, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, notice by a stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting and the 10th day following the day on which the Public Announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall the Public Announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a Stockholder’s notice as described in this Section 2.10.

 

(d) “Public Announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, Section 14 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act or any document delivered to all Stockholders (including any quarterly income statement).

 

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2.11. Selection and Duties of Inspectors at Meeting of Stockholders. The Board, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, may appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof. If inspectors are not so appointed, the person presiding at such meeting may and, on the request of any stockholder entitled to vote thereat shall, appoint one or more inspectors. In case any person appointed fails to appear or act, the vacancy may be filled by appointment made by the Board in advance of the meeting or at the meeting by the person presiding thereat. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector at such meeting with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability. The inspector(s) shall determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, the shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum, the validity and effect of proxies, and shall receive votes, ballots or consents, hear and determine all challenges and questions arising in connection with the right to vote, count and tabulate all votes, ballots or consents, determine the result, and shall do such acts as are proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all stockholders. On the request of the person presiding at the meeting or any stockholder entitled to vote thereat, the inspector(s) shall make a report in writing of any challenge, question or matter determined by him or them and execute a certificate of any fact found by him or them. Any report or certificate made by the inspector(s) shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated and of the vote as certified by him or them.

 

2.12. Organization. At every meeting of stockholders, the Chief Executive Officer or, in the absence of the Chief Executive Officer, a President or a Vice President, and in case more than one Vice President shall be present, that Vice President designated by the Board (or in the absence of any such designation, the most senior Vice President, based on age, present) shall act as chairman of the meeting. In case none of the officers above designated to act as chairman or secretary of the meeting, respectively, shall be present, a chairman or a secretary of the meeting, as the case may be, may be chosen by a majority of the voting power present at such meeting, which includes the voting power which is present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the meeting.

 

2.13. Order of Business. The order of business at all meetings of stockholders shall be as determined by the chairman of the meeting, but the order of business to be followed at any meeting at which a quorum is present may be changed by a majority of the votes cast at such meeting by the holders of shares of capital stock present, in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the meeting.

 

2.14. Action Without Meeting. Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate or these Bylaws, any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote if a consent in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by the stockholders holding at least a majority of the voting power, except that if a different proportion of voting power is required for such action at a meeting, then that proportion of written consents is required. Every written consent shall bear the date of signature of each stockholder who signs the consent and no written consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless, within 60 days of the date the earliest dated consent is delivered to the Corporation, a written consent or consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take action are delivered to the Corporation in the manner prescribed herein. An electronic transmission consenting to an action to be taken and transmitted by a stockholder or proxyholder, or by a person or persons authorized to act for a stockholder or proxyholder, shall be deemed to be written, signed and dated for the purposes of this Section 2.14 to the extent permitted by law. Any such consent shall be delivered in accordance with the DGCL. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing or electronic transmission and who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date of such meeting had been the date that written consents signed by a sufficient number of stockholders or members to take the action were delivered to the Corporation as provided by law.

 

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2.15. Copies, Etc. Any copy, facsimile or other reliable reproduction of a consent in writing may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing for any and all purposes for which the original writing could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing

 

3. Directors.

 

3.1. Number and Term. Except as provided by any provision of the DGCL, the number of directors shall initially be one (1) or such other number of persons as the majority of the full Board, by resolution, may from time to time determine. The directors shall, except for filling vacancies (whether resulting from an increase in the number of directors, resignations, removals or otherwise), be elected at the annual meeting of the stockholders and each director shall be elected to serve until his successor is elected and qualifies. Directors need not be stockholders. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. The members of the Board may elect a chairman of the Board (the “Chairman”) by a vote of a majority vote of all directors (which may include the vote of the person so elected).

 

3.2. Resignations. Any director, member of a committee or other officer may resign at any time. Such resignation shall be made in writing and shall take effect at the time specified therein and, if no time be specified, at the time of its receipt by the Chief Executive Officer or Secretary. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

 

3.3. Vacancies. Except as may otherwise be provided in connection with rights to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, which may be granted to the holders of any class or series of preferred stock, if the position of any director becomes vacant (whether resulting from an increase in the number of directors, resignations, removals or otherwise), the remaining directors in office, though less than a quorum, by a majority vote, may appoint any qualified person to fill such vacancy, who shall hold office for the unexpired term and until his successor shall be duly chosen.

 

3.4. Removal. Other than with respect to any director(s) who are named by a class of preferred stock of the Corporation, which may be removed and replaced either for or without cause at any time solely by the holders of such class of preferred stock, any director(s) may be removed by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding stock entitled to vote, at a special meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose and the vacancies thus created may be filled, at the meeting held for the purpose of removal, by the majority affirmative vote of the holders of all of the voting power of the issued and outstanding stock entitled to vote.

 

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3.5. Increase or Decrease of Number. The number of directors may be increased or decreased only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors, though less than a quorum. Any newly created directorships may be filled in the same manner as a vacancy.

 

3.6. Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, except as otherwise provided by applicable law or by the Certificate. If any such provision is made in the Certificate, the powers and duties imposed upon the Board by applicable law shall be exercised or performed to such extent and by such person or persons as shall be provided in the Certificate. The Board shall exercise all of the powers of the Corporation except such as are by law, or by the Certificate of the Corporation or by these Bylaws, conferred upon or reserved to the stockholders.

 

3.7. Conference Call. Members of the Board or any committee designated by such Board may participate in a meeting of the Board or such committee by means of telephone conference or similar communication equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and participation pursuant to this Section 3.7 shall constitute presence at such meeting.

 

3.8. Committees. The Board may, by resolution(s) passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one (1) or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of any member or such committee or committees, the member or members thereof present at any such meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board or in these Bylaws, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to amending the Certificate, adopting an agreement of merger or consolidation, recommending to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s property and assets, recommending to the stockholders a dissolution of the Corporation or a revocation of a dissolution, or amending these Bylaws of the Corporation and, unless the resolution, these Bylaws or the Certificate expressly so provide, no such committee shall have the power or authority to declare a dividend or to authorize the issuance of stock.

 

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3.9. Meetings. Meetings of the Board, regular or special, may be held at any place within or without the State of Delaware.

 

(a) On the day when, and at the place where, the annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors is held, and as soon as practicable thereafter, the Board may hold its annual meeting, without notice of such meeting, for the purposes or organization, election of officers and transaction of other business. The annual meeting of the Board may be held at any other time and place specified in a notice given as provided in this Section 3.9 for special meetings of the Board or in a waiver of notice thereof.

 

(b) Regular meetings of the directors may be held without notice at such place and time as shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the directors.

 

(c) Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chief Executive Officer or by the Secretary on the written request of any two or more directors on at least ten (10) days’ notice to each director and shall be held at such place(s) as may be determined by the directors, or as shall be stated in the call of the meeting.

 

(d) Anything in these Bylaws or in any resolution adopted by the Board to the contrary notwithstanding, notice of any meeting of the Board need not be given to any director who submits a signed waiver of such notice, whether before or after such meeting, or who attends such meeting without protesting, prior thereto or at its commencement, the lack of notice to him.

 

3.10. Quorum. A majority of the directors in office from time to time shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If at any meeting of the Board there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum is obtained and no further notice thereof need be given, other than by announcement at the meeting which shall be so adjourned.

 

3.11. Compensation. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate, the Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation of the directors. The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board or paid a stated salary or paid other compensation as director. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed compensation for attending committee meetings.

 

3.12. Action Without Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if a written consent thereto is signed by all members of the Board, or of such committee, as the case may be, and such written consent is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee.

 

3.13. Telephone Meeting. Any one or more members of the Board or any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board or such committee by means of a telephone conference or similar communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

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3.14. Annual Report. As soon as practicable after the close of each fiscal year, a report of the business and affairs of the Corporation to the shareholders shall be made under the direction of the Board, unless the Board determines, in its reasonable discretion, that such a report is not reasonably required.

 

4. Officers.

 

4.1. Officers. The Board may elect or appoint a Chief Executive Officer and such other officers as it may determine. The Board may designate one or more Vice Presidents as Executive Vice Presidents and may use descriptive words or phrases to designate the standing, seniority or area of special competence of the Vice Presidents elected or appointed by it. Each officer shall hold his office until his successor is elected and qualified or until his earlier death, resignation or removal in the manner provided in Section 4.2. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person. The Board may require any officer to give a bond or other security for the faithful performance of his duties, in such amount and with such sureties as the Board may determine. All officers as between themselves and the Corporation shall have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the Corporation as may be provided in these Bylaws or as the Board may from time to time determine.

 

4.2. Removal of Officers. Any officer elected or appointed by the Board may be removed by the Board with or without cause. The removal of an officer without cause shall be without prejudice to his contract rights, if any. The election or appointment of an officer shall not of itself create contract rights.

 

4.3. Resignations. Any officer may resign at any time by notifying the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary in writing. Such resignation shall take effect at the date of receipt of such notice or at such later time as is therein specified and, unless otherwise specified, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. The resignation of an officer shall be without prejudice to the contract rights of the Corporation, if any.

 

4.4. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or any other cause shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term in the manner prescribed in these Bylaws for the regular election or appointment to such office.

 

4.5. Compensation. Salaries or other compensation of the officers may be fixed from time to time by the Board. No officer shall be prevented from receiving a salary or other compensation by reason of the fact that he is also a director.

 

4.6. Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general supervision and direction of the business and affairs of the Corporation, subject to control of the Board, and shall report directly to the Board, and shall have supervisory responsibility over officers operating and discharging their responsibilities. The Chief Executive Officer shall perform all such other duties which are commonly incident to the capacity of Chief Executive Officer or which are delegated to him or her by the Board.

 

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4.7. President. The President shall have general supervision and direction of the business and affairs of the Corporation as directed by the Chief Executive Officer. The President may, if present, preside at all meetings of the stockholders. He may, with the Secretary or the Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary or an Assistant Treasurer, sign certificates for shares of the Corporation. He may sign and execute, in the name of the Corporation, deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts and other instruments, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation, or shall be required by law otherwise to be signed or executed, and, in general, he shall perform all duties incident to the office of President and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board. If there is no President, the Chief Executive Officer shall perform the President’s functions.

 

4.8. Principal Financial Officer. The Principal Financial Officer shall perform all the powers and duties of the office of the principal financial officer and in general have overall supervision of the financial operations of the Corporation. The Principal Financial Officer shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as he may agree with the Chief Executive Officer or as the Board may from time to time determine. If there is no Principal Financial Officer, the Chief Executive Officer shall perform the Principal Financial Officer’s functions.

 

4.9. Executive Vice Presidents. At the request of the President or, in his absence, at the request of the Board, the Executive Vice Presidents shall (in such order as may be designated by the Board or, in the absence of any such designation, in order of seniority based on age) perform all of the duties of the President and, so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all restrictions upon the President. Any Executive Vice President may also, with the Secretary or the Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary or an Assistant Treasurer, sign certificates for shares of the Corporation, may sign and execute in the name of the Corporation deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts or other instruments authorized by the Board, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation, or shall be required by law otherwise to be signed or executed, and shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board or the President.

 

4.10. Secretary. The Secretary, if present, shall act as Secretary of all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board and shall keep the minutes thereof in the proper book(s) to be provided for that purpose; he shall see that all notices required to be given by the Corporation are duly given and served; he may, with the Chief Executive Officer or a Vice President, sign certificates for shares of the Corporation; he shall be custodian of the seal of the Corporation, if any, and may seal with the seal of the Corporation or a facsimile thereof, if any, all certificates for shares of capital stock of the Corporation and all documents; he shall have charge of the stock ledger and also of the other books, records and papers of the Corporation relating to its organization and management as a Corporation and shall see that the reports, statements and other documents required by law are properly kept and filed; and shall, in general, perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer. If there is no Secretary, the Chief Executive Officer shall perform the Secretary’s functions.

 

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4.11. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have charge and custody of, and be responsible for, all funds, securities and notes of the Corporation; receive and give receipts for monies due and payable to the Corporation from any sources whatsoever; deposit all such monies in the name of the Corporation in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as shall be selected in accordance with these Bylaws; against proper vouchers, cause such funds to be disbursed by checks or drafts on the authorized depositories of the Corporation signed in such manner as shall be determined in accordance with any provisions of these Bylaws, and be responsible for the accuracy of the amounts of all monies to disbursed; regularly enter or cause to be entered in books to be kept by him or under his direction full and adequate account of all monies received or paid by him for the account of the Corporation; have the right to require, from time to time, reports or statements giving such information as he may desire with respect to any and all financial transactions of the Corporation from the officers or agents transacting the same; render to the Chief Executive Officer or the Board, whenever the Chief Executive Officer or the Board, respectively, shall require him so to do, an account of the financial conditions of the Corporation and of all his transactions as Treasurer; exhibit at all reasonable times his books of account and other records to any of the directors upon application at the office of the Corporation where such books and records are kept; and, in general, perform all duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board; and he may sign with the Chief Executive Officer or a Vice President certificates for shares of the capital stock of the Corporation. If there is no Treasurer, the Chief Executive Officer shall perform the Treasurer’s functions.

 

4.12. Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers. Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the Secretary or by the Treasurer, respectively, or by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer. Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers may, with the Chief Executive Officer or a Vice President, sign certificates for shares of the Corporation.

 

4.13. Additional Matters. The Chief Executive Officer, the President and the Principal Financial Officer of the Corporation shall have the authority to designate employees of the Corporation to have the title of Vice President, Assistant Vice President, Assistant Treasurer, Assistant Controller or Assistant Secretary. Any employee so designated shall have the powers and duties determined by the officer making such designation. The persons upon whom such titles are conferred shall not be deemed officers of the Corporation unless elected by the Board.

 

5. Contracts, Checks, Drafts, Bank Accounts, etc.

 

5.1. Execution of Contracts. The Board may authorize any officer, employee or agent, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, to enter into any contract or execute and satisfy any instrument, and any such authority may be general or confined to specific instances, or otherwise limited.

 

5.2. Loans. The Chief Executive Officer or any other officer, employee or agent authorized by these Bylaws or by the Board may effect loans and advances at any time for the Corporation from any bank, trust company or other institutions or from any firm, corporation or individual and for such loans and advances may make, execute and deliver promissory notes, bonds or other certificates or evidence of indebtedness of the Corporation and, when authorized by the Board to do so, may pledge and hypothecate or transfer any securities or the property of the Corporation as security for any such loans or advances. Such authority conferred by the Board may be general or confined to specific instances or otherwise limited.

 

5.3. Checks, Drafts, etc. All checks, drafts and other orders for the payment of money out of the funds of the Corporation and all notes or other evidence of indebtedness of the Corporation shall be signed on behalf of the Corporation in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board.

 

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5.4. Deposits. The funds of the Corporation not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the order of the Corporation in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as the Board may select or as may be selected by an officer, employee or agent of the Corporation to whom such power may from time to time be delegated by the Board.

 

6. Stocks and Dividends.

 

6.1. Certificates Representing Shares. The shares of the Corporation shall not be certificated unless required by law.

 

6.2. Transfer of Shares. Transfers of shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be made only on the books of the Corporation by the holder thereof or by his duly authorized attorney appointed by a power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary or a transfer agent of the Corporation and on surrender of any certificate(s) representing such shares of capital stock, if they exist, properly endorsed for transfer and upon payment of all necessary transfer taxes and such other instruments of transfer as requested by the Corporation. A person in whose name shares of capital stock shall stand on the books of the Corporation shall be deemed the owner thereof to receive dividends, to vote as such owner and for all other purposes as respects the Corporation, its stockholders and creditors for any purpose, except to render the transferee liable for the debts of the Corporation to the extent provided by law, until such transfer shall have been entered on the books of the Corporation by an entry showing from and to whom transferred.

 

6.3. Registered Stockholders and Addresses of Stockholders. The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its records as the owner of shares of capital stock to receive dividends and to vote as such owner, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares of capital stock on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by applicable law. Each stockholder shall designate to the Secretary or transfer agent of the Corporation an address at which notices of meetings and all other corporate notices may be given to such person, and, if any stockholder fails to designate such address, corporate notices may be given to such person by mail directed to such person at such person’s post office address, if any, as the same appears on the stock record books of the Corporation or at such person’s last known post office address or as otherwise provided by applicable law.

 

6.4. Transfer and Registry Agents. The Corporation may from time to time maintain one or more transfer offices or agents and registry offices or agents at such place(s) as may be determined from time to time by the Board.

 

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6.5. Lost, Destroyed, Stolen and Mutilated Certificates. The holder of any shares shall immediately notify the Corporation of any loss, destruction, theft or mutilation of the certificate representing such shares and the Corporation may issue a new certificate to replace the certificate alleged to have been lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated. The Board may, in its discretion, as a condition to the issue of any such new certificate, require the owner of the lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated certificate, or his legal representatives, to make proof satisfactory to the Board of such loss, destruction, theft or mutilation and to advertise such fact in such manner as the Board may require, and to give the Corporation and its transfer agents and registrars, or such of them as the Board may require, a bond in such form, in such sums and with such surety or sureties as the Board may direct, to indemnify the Corporation and its transfer agents and registrars against any claim that may be made against any of them on account of the continued existence of any such certificate so alleged to have been lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated and against any expense in connection with such claim.

 

6.6. Regulations. The Board may make rules and regulations as it may deem expedient, not inconsistent with these Bylaws or with the Certificate, concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates representing shares of its capital stock.

 

6.7. Restriction on Transfer of Stock. A written restriction on the transfer or registration of transfer of capital stock of the Corporation, if permitted by the provisions of the DGCL, and noted conspicuously on the certificate representing such capital stock, if such certificate exists, may be enforced against the holder of the restricted capital stock of any successor or transferee of the holder including an executor, administrator, trustee, guardian or other fiduciary entrusted with like responsibility for the person or estate of the holder. Unless noted conspicuously on the certificate representing such capital stock, a restriction, even though permitted by the provisions of the DGCL, as the same may be amended and supplements, shall be ineffective except against a person with actual knowledge of the restriction. A restriction on the transfer or registration of transfer of capital stock of the Corporation may be imposed either by the Certificate or by an agreement among any number of stockholders or among such stockholders and the Corporation. No restriction so imposed shall be binding with respect to capital stock issued prior to the adoption of the restriction unless the holders of such capital stock are parties to an agreement or voted in favor of the restriction. Except to the extent that the Corporation has obtained an opinion of counsel acceptable to the Corporation that transfer restrictions are not required under applicable securities laws, or has otherwise satisfied itself that such transfer restrictions are not required, any certificates representing shares of the Corporation shall bear a legend on the face of the certificate, or on the reverse of the certificate if a reference to the legend is contained on the face, which reads substantially as follows:

 

THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND NO INTEREST MAY BE SOLD, DISTRIBUTED, ASSIGNED, OFFERED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED UNLESS (A) THERE IS AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS COVERING ANY SUCH TRANSACTION INVOLVING SAID SECURITIES, (B) THIS CORPORATION RECEIVES AN OPINION OF LEGAL COUNSEL FOR THE HOLDER OF THESE SECURITIES SATISFACTORY TO THIS CORPORATION STATING THAT SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION, OR (C) THIS CORPORATION OTHERWISE SATISFIES ITSELF THAT SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION.

 

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6.8. Dividends, Surplus, etc. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate and of law, the Board:

 

(a) may declare and pay dividends or make other distributions on the outstanding shares of capital stock in such amounts and at such time to times as, in its discretion, the conditions of the affairs of the Corporation shall render advisable;

 

(b) may use and apply, in its discretion, any of the surplus of the Corporation in purchasing or acquiring any shares of capital stock of the Corporation, or purchase warrants therefor, in accordance with law, or any of its bonds, debentures, notes, scrip or other securities or evidence of indebtedness; and

 

(c) may set aside from time to time out of such surplus or net profits such sum(s) as, in its discretion, it may think proper, as a reserve fund to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends or for the purpose of maintaining or increasing the property or business of the Corporation, or for any other purpose it may think conducive to the best interests of the Corporation.

 

7. Miscellaneous.

 

7.1. Seal. The Board shall have the power by resolution to adopt, make and use a corporate seal and to alter the form of such seal from time to time.

 

7.2. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be determined, and may be changed, by resolution of the Board.

 

7.3. Books and Records. The Corporation shall: (1) Keep as permanent records minutes of all meetings of its stockholders and the Board, a record of all actions taken by the stockholders or the Board without a meeting, and a record of all actions taken by a committee of the Board exercising the authority of the Board on behalf of the Corporation; (2) Maintain appropriate accounting records; (3) Maintain a record of its stockholders, in a form that permits preparation of a list of the names and addresses of all stockholders, in alphabetical order by class of shares showing the number and class of shares held by each; provided, however, such record may be maintained by an agent of the Corporation; (4) Maintain its records in written form or in another form capable of conversion into written form within a reasonable time; and (5) Keep a copy of the following records (subject to any provision of the DGCL) outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board: (a) the Certificate as currently in effect; (b) these Bylaws and all amendments thereto as currently in effect; (c) the minutes of all meetings of stockholders and records of all action taken by stockholders; (d) the Corporation’s financial statements for the past three years; (e) all written communications to stockholders generally within the past three years; (f) a list of the names and business addresses of the current Directors and officers; and (g) the most recent annual report delivered to the Delaware Secretary of State.

 

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7.4. Forum Selection; Attorneys’ Fees. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) an action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall be a state or federal court located within the state of Delaware, in all cases subject to the court’s having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants. If any action is brought by any party against another party, relating to or arising out of these Bylaws, or the enforcement hereof, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from the other party reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the prosecution or defense of such action, provided that the provisions of this sentence shall not apply with respect to “internal corporate claims” as defined in Section 109(b) of the DGCL. For purposes of these Bylaws, the term “attorneys’ fees” or “attorneys’ fees and costs” shall mean the fees and expenses of counsel to the Corporation and any other parties asserting a claim as set forth in the initial paragraph of this Section 7.4, which may include printing, photocopying, duplicating and other expenses, air freight charges, and fees billed for law clerks, paralegals and other persons not admitted to the bar but performing services under the supervision of an attorney, and the costs and fees incurred in connection with the enforcement or collection of any judgment obtained in any such proceeding. The provisions of this Section 7.4 shall survive the entry of any judgment, and shall not merge, or be deemed to have merged, into any judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the exclusive forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any claim for which the federal courts have exclusive or concurrent jurisdiction.

 

7.5. Subject to Law and Certificate of Incorporation. All powers, duties and responsibilities provided for in these Bylaws, whether or not explicitly so qualified, are qualified by the provisions of the Certificate and applicable law.

 

7.6. Facsimile Signatures. In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these Bylaws, facsimile signatures of any officer or officers of the Corporation may be used at any time unless otherwise restricted by the Board or a committee thereof.

 

7.7. Time Periods. In applying any provision of these Bylaws which requires that an act be done or not be done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded, and the day of the event shall be included.

 

7.8. Electronic Transmission. For purposes of these Bylaws, “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved, and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.

 

8. Indemnification. The Corporation shall have the rights and obligations related to indemnification as set forth in the Certificate.

 

9. Amendments. These Bylaws may be altered or repealed and Bylaws may be made at any annual meeting of the stockholders or at any special meeting thereof, if notice of the proposed alteration or repeal of Bylaw or Bylaws to be made be contained in the notice of such special meeting, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, or by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board at any regular meeting of the Board, or at any special meeting of the Board, if notice of the proposed alteration or repeal, or Bylaw or Bylaws to be made, be contained in the notice of such meeting, or by a written consent in lieu of a meeting as set forth herein.

 

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EX-10.2 4 ea021502401ex10-2_sbcmed.htm FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

Exhibit 10.2

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of [____________], 2024 (the “Effective Date”), between SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated, a Delaware corporation previously named Pono Capital Two, Inc. (the “Company”), and [__________] (“Indemnitee”). Then Company and the Indemnitee may be referred to herein individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”.

 

WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve corporations as directors or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation;

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities and, although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions;

 

WHEREAS, at the same time, directors, officers, and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself;

 

WHEREAS, the bylaws of the Company (the “Bylaws”) and Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), contemplate indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company, and Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“DGCL”);

 

WHEREAS, the Bylaws, Certificate of Incorporation and the DGCL expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and members of the board of directors, officers and other persons with respect to indemnification;

 

WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to indemnification have increased the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;

 

WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company’s stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;

 

WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified; WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Bylaws and Certificate of Incorporation of the Company and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and

 

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WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Company’s Bylaws and Certificate of Incorporation and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve as an officer or director without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve in such capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that he be so indemnified;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of Indemnitee’s agreement to serve as a director from and after the Effective Date, the Parties agree as follows:

 

1. Indemnity of Indemnitee. The Company hereby agrees to hold harmless and indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law, as such may be amended from time to time. In furtherance of the foregoing indemnification, and without limiting the generality thereof:

 

(a) Proceedings Other Than Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section 1(a) if, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status (as hereinafter defined), the Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding (as hereinafter defined) other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company. Pursuant to this Section 1(a), Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses (as hereinafter defined), judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee, or on Indemnitee’s behalf, in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

 

(b) Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section 1(b) if, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, the Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the Company. Pursuant to this Section 1(b), Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the Indemnitee, or on the Indemnitee’s behalf, in connection with such Proceeding if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner the Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company; provided, however, if applicable law so provides, no indemnification against such Expenses shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter in such Proceeding as to which Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company unless and to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall determine that such indemnification may be made.

 

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(c) Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a party to and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding, he shall be indemnified to the maximum extent permitted by law, as such may be amended from time to time, against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnity or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnity or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. For purposes of this Section 1 and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

 

2. Additional Indemnity. In addition to, and without regard to any limitations on, the indemnification provided for in Section 1, the Company shall and hereby does indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee against all Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnity or on Indemnitee’s behalf if, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, he is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company), including, without limitation, all liability arising out of the negligence or active or passive wrongdoing of Indemnitee. The only limitation that shall exist upon the Company’s obligations pursuant to this Agreement shall be that the Company shall not be obligated to make any payment to Indemnitee that is finally determined (under the procedures, and subject to the presumptions, set forth in Sections 6 and 7 hereof) to be unlawful.

 

3. Contribution.

 

(a) Whether or not the indemnification provided in Sections 1 and 2 hereof is available, in respect of any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), the Company shall pay, in the first instance, the entire amount of any judgment or settlement of such action, suit or proceeding without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such payment and the Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have against Indemnitee. The Company shall not enter into any settlement of any action, suit or proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding) unless such settlement provides for a full and final release of all claims asserted against Indemnitee.

 

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(b) Without diminishing or impairing the obligations of the Company set forth in the preceding subparagraph, if, for any reason, Indemnitee shall elect or be required to pay all or any portion of any judgment or settlement in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), the Company shall contribute to the amount of Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred and paid or payable by Indemnitee in proportion to the relative benefits received by the Company and all officers, directors or employees of the Company, other than Indemnitee, who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, from the transaction from which such action, suit or proceeding arose; provided, however, that the proportion determined on the basis of relative benefit may, to the extent necessary to conform to law, be further adjusted by reference to the relative fault of the Company and all officers, directors or employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, in connection with the events that resulted in such expenses, judgments, fines or settlement amounts, as well as any other equitable considerations which the Law may require to be considered. The relative fault of the Company and all officers, directors or employees of the Company, other than Indemnitee, who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, the degree to which their actions were motivated by intent to gain personal profit or advantage, the degree to which their liability is primary or secondary and the degree to which their conduct is active or passive.

 

(c) The Company hereby agrees to fully indemnify and hold Indemnitee harmless from any claims of contribution which may be brought by officers, directors or employees of the Company, other than Indemnitee, who may be jointly liable with Indemnitee.

 

(d) To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).

 

4. Indemnification for Expenses of a Witness. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, a witness, or is made (or asked to) respond to discovery requests, in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, he shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnity or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.

 

5. Advancement of Expenses. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall advance all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements from Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall include or be preceded or accompanied by a written undertaking by or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay any Expenses advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses. Any advances and undertakings to repay pursuant to this Section 5 shall be unsecured and interest free.

 

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6. Procedures and Presumptions for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification. It is the intent of this Agreement to secure for Indemnitee rights of indemnity that are as favorable as may be permitted under the DGCL and public policy of the State of Delaware. Accordingly, the Parties agree that the following procedures and presumptions shall apply in the event of any question as to whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement:

 

(a) To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board of Directors in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any failure of Indemnitee to provide such a request to the Company, or to provide such a request in a timely fashion, shall not relieve the Company of any liability that it may have to Indemnitee unless, and to the extent that, such failure actually and materially prejudices the interests of the Company.

 

(b) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to the first sentence of Section 6(a) hereof, a determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case by one of the following four methods, which shall be at the election of the board: (1) by a majority vote of the disinterested directors, even though less than a quorum, (2) by a committee of disinterested directors designated by a majority vote of the disinterested directors, even though less than a quorum, (3) if there are no disinterested directors or if the disinterested directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to the Indemnitee, or (4) if so directed by the Board of Directors, by the stockholders of the Company. For purposes hereof, disinterested directors are those members of the board of directors of the Company who are not parties to the action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

 

(c) If the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 6(c). The Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board of Directors. Indemnitee may, within 10 days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 13, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If a written objection is made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within 20 days after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 6(a) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or other court of competent jurisdiction for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Indemnitee to the Company’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the court or by such other person as the court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 6(b) hereof. The Company shall pay any and all reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel incurred by such Independent Counsel in connection with acting pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof, and the Company shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses incident to the procedures of this Section 6(c), regardless of the manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or appointed.

 

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(d) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing evidence. Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or independent legal counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or independent legal counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

(e) Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers of the Enterprise (as hereinafter defined) in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Enterprise. In addition, the knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, agent or employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement. Whether or not the foregoing provisions of this Section 6(e) are satisfied, it shall in any event be presumed that Indemnitee has at all times acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing evidence.

 

(f) If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 6 to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time to obtain or evaluate documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 6(g) shall not apply if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section 6(b) and if (A) within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of the request for such determination, the Board of Directors or the Disinterested Directors, if appropriate, resolve to submit such determination to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within seventy-five (75) days after such receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is called within fifteen (15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60) days after having been so called and such determination is made thereat.

 

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(g) Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any Independent Counsel, member of the Board of Directors or stockholder of the Company shall act reasonably and in good faith in making a determination regarding the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement. Any costs or expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

 

(h) The Company acknowledges that a settlement or other disposition short of final judgment may be successful if it permits a party to avoid expense, delay, distraction, disruption and uncertainty. In the event that any action, claim or proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party is resolved in any manner other than by adverse judgment against Indemnitee (including, without limitation, settlement of such action, claim or proceeding with or without payment of money or other consideration) it shall be presumed that Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in such action, suit or proceeding. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion by clear and convincing evidence.

 

(i) The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

 

7. Remedies of Indemnitee.

 

(a) In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 6 that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 5, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification is made pursuant to Section 6(b) within 90 days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor or (v) payment of indemnification is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or such determination is deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 6, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in an appropriate court of the State of Delaware, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction, of Indemnitee’s entitlement to such indemnification. Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 7(a). The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication.

 

(b) In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 6(b) that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 7 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial on the merits, and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of the adverse determination under Section 6(b).

 

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(c) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 6(b) that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 7, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s misstatement not materially misleading in connection with the application for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

 

(d) In the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 7, seeks a judicial adjudication of Indemnitee’s rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, or to recover under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, the Company shall pay on Indemnitee’s behalf, in advance, any and all expenses (of the types described in the definition of Expenses in Section 13 ) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemniteein such judicial adjudication, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement of expenses or insurance recovery.

 

(e) The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 7 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefore) advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, such expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advance of Expenses from the Company under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement of Expenses or insurance recovery, as the case may be.

 

(f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding.

 

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8. Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Primacy of Indemnification; Subrogation.

 

(a) The rights of indemnification as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders, a resolution of directors or otherwise, of the Company. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in the DGCL, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification than would be afforded currently under the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws and this Agreement, it is the intent of the Parties that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

 

(b) To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or agents or fiduciaries of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that such person serves at the request of the Company, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary under such policy or policies. If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

 

(c) In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee (other than against the Fund Indemnitors), who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

(d) The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

 

(e) The Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise.

 

9. Exception to Right of Indemnification. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnity in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:

 

(a) for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision; or

 

(b) for an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law; or

 

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(c) in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law.

 

10. Duration of Agreement. All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall continue during the period Indemnitee is an officer or director of the Company (or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise) and shall continue for five (5) years thereafter or, if longer, so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any Proceeding (or any proceeding commenced under Section 7 hereof) by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, whether or not he is acting or serving in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Parties and their respective successors (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), assigns, spouses, heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives.

 

11. Security. To the extent requested by Indemnitee and approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, the Company may at any time and from time to time provide security to Indemnitee for the Company’s obligations hereunder through an irrevocable bank line of credit, funded trust or other collateral. Any such security, once provided to Indemnitee, may not be revoked or released without the prior written consent of the Indemnitee.

 

12. Enforcement.

 

(a) The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumes the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as an officer or director of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as an officer or director of the Company.

 

(b) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

13. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:

 

(a) “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that such person is or was serving at the express written request of the Company.

 

(b) “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

 

(c) “Enterprise” shall mean the Company and any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that Indemnitee is or was serving at the express written request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary.

 

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(d) “Expenses” shall include all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, participating, or being or preparing to be a witness in a Proceeding, or responding to, or objecting to, a request to provide discovery in any Proceeding, and shall include expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding and any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on the Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersede as bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

 

(e) “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such Party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.

 

(f) “Proceeding” includes any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party or otherwise, by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was an officer or director of the Company, by reason of any action taken by Indemnity or of any inaction on Indemnitee’s part while acting as an officer or director of the Company, or by reason of the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other Enterprise; in each case whether or not he is acting or serving in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement; including one pending on or before Effective Date, but excluding one initiated by an Indemnitee pursuant to Section 7 to enforce Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

  

14. Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this Agreement is intended to confer upon Indemnitee indemnification rights to the fullest extent permitted by applicable laws. In the event any provision hereof conflicts with any applicable law, such provision shall be deemed modified, consistent with the aforementioned intent, to the extent necessary to resolve such conflict.

 

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15. Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification, termination or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the Parties. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

16. Notice by Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with or otherwise receiving any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification covered hereunder. The failure to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise unless and only to the extent that such failure or delay materially prejudices the Company.

 

17. Notices. All notices and other communications given or made pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given: (a) upon personal delivery to the Party to be notified, (b) when sent by confirmed electronic mail or facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and if not so confirmed, then on the next business day, (c) five (5) days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (d) one (1) day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications shall be sent to the addresses as below or to such other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company or to the Company by Indemnitee, as the case may be:

 

If to the Company, to:

 

SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated

Attn: Yoshiyuki Aikawa, CEO

6-5-1, NishiShinjyuku, Shinjyuku Tokyo 163-1312, Japan

E-mail: doctor@sbc.or.jp

 

If to the Indemnitee, to the address set forth in the books and records of the Company.

 

18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. This Agreement may also be executed and delivered by facsimile signature and in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

19. Headings; Etc. The headings of the sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof. References herein to sections herein shall be deemed a reference to sections of this Agreement.

  

20. Governing Law and Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement and the legal relations among the Parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. The Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Court”), and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (iv) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

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21. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF ANY ACTION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THAT FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 21.

 

22. Specific Performance. Each Party acknowledges that the rights of each Party to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby are unique, recognizes and affirms that in the event of a breach of this Agreement by any Party, money damages may be inadequate and the non-breaching Parties may have not adequate remedy at law, and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed by an applicable Party in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. Accordingly, each Party shall be entitled to seek an injunction or restraining order to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to seek to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, without the requirement to post any bond or other security or to prove that money damages would be inadequate, this being in addition to any other right or remedy to which such Party may be entitled under this Agreement, at law or in equity.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO FOLLOW]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement on and as of the Effective Date.

 

  SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated
   
  By:  
   
  Name:          
   
  Title:  

 

  Indemnitee:
   
  By:        
   
  Name:  
   
  Address for notices:
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
  Email:  

 

 

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EX-10.8 5 ea021502401ex10-8_sbcmed.htm EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS AND YOSHIYUKI AIKAWA, DATED SEPTEMBER 17, 2024

Exhibit 10.8

 

Executive Employment Agreement

 

Dated as of 17th September, 2024

 

[Yoshiyuki Aikawa]

 

This Executive Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated as of the date first set forth above (the “Effective Date”) is entered into by and between SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and Yoshiyuki Aikawa (the “Executive”). The Company and Executive may collectively be referred to as the “Parties” and each individually as a “Party”.

 

WHEREAS, the Company now desires to employ the Executive as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Executive desires to serve in such capacities on behalf of the Company, in each case subject to the terms and conditions herein;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Employment.

 

(a) Term. The term of this Agreement (the “Initial Term”) shall begin as of the Effective Date and shall end on the earlier of (i) the first (1st) annual anniversary of the Effective Date and (ii) the time of the termination of the Executive’s employment in accordance with Section 2(e). The Initial Term and any Renewal Term (as defined below) shall automatically be extended for one or more additional terms of one (1) year each (each a “Renewal Term” and together with the Initial Term, the “Term”), unless either the Company or Executive provides notice to the other Party of their desire to not so renew the Initial Term or Renewal Term (as applicable) at least thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the then-current Initial Term or Renewal Term, as applicable. Executive’s employment with the Company shall be “at will,” meaning that either Executive or the Company may terminate Executive’s employment at any time and for any reason, subject to Section 3. Any contrary representations that may have been made to Executive are superseded by this Agreement.

 

(b) Duties. The Company hereby appoints Executive, and Executive shall serve, as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and as the Chief Executive Officer of SBC Medical Group Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and shall report to the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”). The Executive shall have such duties and responsibilities as are consistent with Executive’s position with the Company. In addition, the Executive shall perform all other duties and accept all other responsibilities incident to such position as may reasonably assigned to Executive by the Board.

 

2. Compensation and Other Benefits. As compensation for the services to be rendered hereunder, during the Term the Company shall pay to the Executive the salary and bonuses, and shall provide the benefits, as set forth in this Section 2.

 


 

(a) Base Salary. The Company shall pay to the Executive an annual base salary of $12,000,000, payable on a monthly basis commencing on the Effective Date (as the same may be adjusted herein, the “Base Salary”). The Base Salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s payroll policies.

 

(b) Equity Issuances. The Executive shall be eligible to receive awards of options, restricted stock or other equity awards for shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”) of the Company (each, if so issued, an “Equity Award”), pursuant to award agreements in form and substance as determined by the Board and which will be entered into by and between the Company and Executive (if and when executed, each an “Award Agreement”). If an Equity Award, if made, is subject to vesting, then such Equity Award shall be subject to vesting and forfeiture as set forth herein and in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(c) Bonus. The Executive shall be eligible to receive any discretionary bonuses as determined by the Board.

 

(d) Fringe Benefits. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits consistent with the practices of the Company, and to the extent the Company provides similar benefits to the Company’s executive officers.

 

(e) Business Expenses. The Executive shall be entitled to reimbursement for all reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket business, entertainment and travel expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder and in accordance with the Company’s expense reimbursement policies and procedures.

 

3. Termination.

 

(a) Definition of Cause. For purposes hereof, “Cause” shall mean:

 

(i) a violation of any material written rule or policy of the Company for which violation any employee may be terminated pursuant to the written policies of the Company reasonably applicable to an executive employee;

 

(ii) misconduct by the Executive to the material detriment of the Company;

 

(iii) the Executive’s conviction (by a court of competent jurisdiction, not subject to further appeal) of, or pleading guilty to, a felony;

 

(iv) the Executive’s gross negligence in the performance of Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company as described in this Agreement; or

 

(v) the Executive’s material failure to perform Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company as described in this Agreement (other than any such failure resulting from the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness or any such failure subsequent to the Executive being delivered a notice of termination without Cause by the Company or delivering a notice of termination for Good Reason to the Company), in either case after written notice from the Board to the Executive of the specific nature of such material failure and the Executive’s failure to cure such material failure within 10 days following receipt of such notice.

 

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(b) Definition of Good Reason. For purposes hereof, “Good Reason” shall mean:

 

(i) at any time following a Change of Control (as defined below), a material diminution by the Company of compensation and benefits (taken as a whole) provided to the Executive immediately prior to a Change of Control;

 

(ii) a reduction in Base Salary or target or maximum bonus, other than as part of an across-the-board reduction in salaries of management personnel;

 

(iii) the relocation of the Executive’s principal executive office to a location more than 50 miles further from the Executive’s principal executive office immediately prior to such relocation; or

 

(iv) a material breach by the Company of any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement which the Company fails to correct within 10 days after the Company receives written notice from Executive of such violation.

 

(c) Definition of Change of Control. A “Change of Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if, after the Effective Date, (i) the beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) of securities representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company is acquired by any “person” as defined in sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (other than the Company, any subsidiary of the Company, or any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company), (ii) the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation where the shareholders of the Company, immediately prior to the consolidation or merger, would not, immediately after the consolidation or merger, beneficially own (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, shares representing in the aggregate 50% or more of the combined voting power of the securities of the corporation issuing cash or securities in the consolidation or merger (or of its ultimate parent corporation, if any) in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such merger or consolidation, or (iii) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an entity, other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an entity, at least 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned directly or indirectly by shareholders of the Company, immediately prior to the sale or disposition, in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale or disposition.

 

(d) Termination by the Company. The Company may terminate the Term and Executive’s employment hereunder at any time, with or without Cause, subject to the terms and conditions herein.

 

(i) For Cause. In the event that the Company terminates the Term or Executive’s employment hereunder with Cause, then in such event, subject to Section 3(i), (i) the Company shall pay to Executive any unpaid Base Salary and benefits then owed or accrued, and any unreimbursed expenses, pursuant to the terms of Section 2(e), incurred by the Executive in each case through the termination date, and each of which shall be paid within 10 days following the termination date; (ii) any unvested portion of any equity granted to Executive hereunder or under any Award Agreement or any other agreements with the Company (collectively, the “Equity Grants”) shall immediately be forfeited as of the termination date without any further action of the Parties; and (iii) all of the Parties’ rights and obligations hereunder shall thereafter cease, other than such rights or obligations which arose prior to the termination date or in connection with such termination, and subject to Section 14.

 

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(ii) Without Cause. In the event that the Company terminates the Term or Executive’s employment hereunder without Cause, then in such event, subject to Section 3(i), (i) the Company shall pay to Executive any Base Salary, bonuses, and benefits then owed or accrued, and any unreimbursed expenses incurred by the Executive in each case through the termination date, and each of which shall be paid within 10 days following the termination date; (ii) the Company shall pay to Executive, in one lump sum, an amount equal to the Base Salary that would have been paid to Executive for the remainder of the Initial Term (if such termination occurs during the Initial Term) or Renewal Term (if such termination occurs during a Renewal Term), as applicable, which shall be paid within 10 days following the termination date; (iii) any Equity Grant already made to Executive shall, to the extent not already vested, be deemed automatically vested; and (iv) all of the Parties’ rights and obligations hereunder shall thereafter cease, other than such rights or obligations which arose prior to the termination date or in connection with such termination, and subject to Section 14.

 

(e) Termination by the Executive. The Executive may terminate the Term and resign from Executive’s employment hereunder at any time, with or without Good Reason.

 

(i) With Good Reason. In the event that Executive terminates the Term or resigns from Executive’s employment hereunder with Good Reason, the Company shall pay to Executive the amounts, and Executive shall, subject to Section 3(i), be entitled to such benefits (including without limitation any vesting of unvested shares under any Equity Grant), that would have been payable to Executive or which Executive would have received had the Term and Executive’s employment been terminated by the Company without Cause pursuant to Section 3(d)(ii).

 

(ii) Without Good Reason. In the event that Executive terminates the Term or resigns from Executive’s employment hereunder without Good Reason, the Company shall pay to Executive the amounts, and Executive shall be entitled, subject to Section 3(i), to such benefits (including without limitation any vesting of unvested shares under any Equity Grant), that would have been payable to Executive or which Executive would have received had the Term and Executive’s employment been terminated by the Company with Cause pursuant to Section 3(d)(i).

 

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(f) Termination by Death or Disability. In the event of the Executive’s death or total disability (as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) during the Term, the Term and Executive’s employment shall terminate on the date of death or total disability. In the event of such termination, the Company’s sole obligations hereunder to the Executive (or the Executive’s estate) shall be for unpaid Base Salary, accrued but unpaid bonus and benefits (then owed or accrued and owed in the future), a pro-rata bonus for the year of termination based on the Executive’s target bonus for such year and the portion of such year in which the Executive was employed, and reimbursement of expenses pursuant to the terms hereon through the effective date of termination, each of which shall be paid within 10 days following the date of the Executive’s termination, and any unvested portion of any Equity Grants shall immediately be forfeited as of the termination date without any further action of the Parties.

 

(g) Non-Renewal. In the event that the Term is not renewed by either Party pursuant to the provisions of Section 1(a), any unvested portion of any Equity Grants shall immediately be forfeited as of the expiration of the Term without any further action of the Parties.

 

(h) Change of Control. In the event that a Change of Control occurs during the Term, any unvested portion of any Equity Grants shall, to the extent not already vested, be deemed automatically vested immediately without any further action of the Parties.

 

(i) Conflict. In the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions herein and those in any other agreement or contract between the Company and the Executive with respect to any Equity Grants granted to Executive, the terms and conditions of such other agreement or contract shall control.

 

4. Payments.

 

(a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if it is determined that any payment or benefit provided to the Executive under this Agreement or otherwise, whether or not in connection with a Change of Control (a “Payment”), would constitute an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), such that the Payment would be subject to an excise tax under section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), the Company shall pay to the Executive an additional amount (the “Gross-Up Payment”) such that the net amount of the Gross-Up Payment retained by the Executive after the payment of any Excise Tax and any federal, state and local income and employment tax on the Gross-Up Payment, shall be equal to the Excise Tax due on the Payment and any interest and penalties in respect of such Excise Tax. For purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-Up Payment, Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income tax and employment taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income and employment taxation in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation in the state and locality of Executive’s residence (or, if greater, the state and locality in which Executive is required to file a nonresident income tax return with respect to the Payment) in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes that may be obtained from the deduction of such state and local taxes.

 

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(b) All determinations made pursuant to Section 4(a) shall be made by the Company which shall provide its determination and any supporting calculations (the “Determination”) to the Executive within thirty days of the date of the Executive’s termination or any other date selected by the Executive or the Company. Within ten calendar days of the delivery of the Determination to the Executive, the Executive shall have the right to dispute the Determination (the “Dispute”). The existence of any Dispute shall not in any way affect the Executive’s right to receive the Gross-Up Payments in accordance with the Determination. If there is no dispute, the Determination by the Company shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Executive, subject to the application of Section 4(c). Within ten days after the Company’s determination, the Company shall pay to the Executive the Gross-Up Payment, if any. If the Company determines that no Excise Tax is payable by the Executive, it will, at the same time as it makes such Determination, furnish Executive with an opinion that the Executive has substantial authority not to report any Excise Tax on Executive’s federal, state, local income or other tax return. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Executive of and from any and all claims, damages and expenses resulting from or relating to its determinations pursuant to this Section 4(b), except for claims, damages or expenses resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Company.

 

(c) As a result of the uncertainty in the application of sections 4999 and 280G of the Code, it is possible that the Gross-Up Payments either will have been made which should not have been made, or will not have been made which should have been made, by the Company (an “Excess Gross-Up Payment” or a “Gross-Up Underpayment,” respectively). If it is established pursuant to (A) a final determination of a court for which all appeals have been taken and finally resolved or the time for all appeals has expired, or (B) an Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) proceeding which has been finally and conclusively resolved, that an Excess Gross-Up Payment has been made, such Excess Gross-Up Payment shall be deemed for all purposes to be a loan to the Executive made on the date the Executive received the Excess Gross-Up Payment and the Executive shall repay the Excess Gross-Up Payment to the Company either (i) on demand, if the Executive is in possession of the Excess Gross-Up Payment or (ii) upon the refund of such Excess Gross-Up Payment to the Executive from the IRS, if the IRS is in possession of such Excess Gross-Up Payment, together with interest on the Excess Gross-Up Payment at (X) 120% of the applicable federal rate (as defined in Section 1274(d) of the Code) compounded semi-annually for any period during which the Executive held such Excess Gross-Up Payment and (Y) the interest rate paid to the Executive by the IRS in respect of any period during which the IRS held such Excess Gross-Up Payment. If a Gross-Up Underpayment occurs as determined under one or more of the following circumstances: (I) such determination is made by the Company (which shall include the position taken by the Company, together with its consolidated group, on its federal income tax return) or is made by the IRS, (II) such determination is made by a court, or (III) such determination is made upon the resolution to the Executive’s satisfaction of the Dispute, then the Company shall pay an amount equal to the Gross-Up Underpayment to the Executive within ten calendar days of such determination or resolution, together with interest on such amount at 120% of the applicable federal rate compounded semi-annually from the date such amount should have been paid to the Executive pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, but for the operation of this Section 4(c), until the date of payment.

 

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5. Post-Termination Assistance. Upon the Executive’s termination of employment with the Company, the Executive agrees to fully cooperate in all matters relating to the winding up or pending work on behalf of the Company and the orderly transfer of work to other employees of the Company following any termination of the Executives’ employment. The Executive further agrees that Executive will provide, upon reasonable notice, such information and assistance to the Company as may reasonably be requested by the Company in connection with any audit, governmental investigation, litigation, or other dispute in which the Company is or may become a party and as to which the Executive has knowledge; provided, however, that (i) the Company agrees to reimburse the Executive for any related out-of-pocket expenses, including travel expenses, and (ii) any such assistance may not unreasonably interfere with Executive’s then current employment.

 

6. No Mitigation or Set Off. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement and such amounts shall not be reduced, regardless of whether the Executive obtains other employment. The Company’s obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any circumstances, including, without limitation, any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which the Company may have against the Executive or others; provided, however, the Company shall have the right to offset the amount of any funds loaned or advanced to the Executive and not repaid against any severance obligations the Company may have to the Executive hereunder.

 

7. Confidentiality

 

(a) Definition. For purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential Information” shall mean all Company Work Product (as hereinafter defined) and all non-public written, electronic, and oral information or materials of Company communicated to or otherwise obtained by Executive in connection with this Agreement, which is related to the products, business and activities of Company, its Affiliates (as defined below), and subsidiaries, and their respective customers, clients, suppliers, and other entities with which such party does business, including: (i) all costing, pricing, technology, software, documentation, research, techniques, procedures, processes, discoveries, inventions, methodologies, data, tools, templates, know how, intellectual property and all other proprietary information of Company; (ii) the terms of this Agreement; and (iii) any other information identified as confidential in writing by Company. Confidential Information shall not include information that: (a) was lawfully known by Executive without an obligation of confidentiality before its receipt from Company; (b) is independently developed by Executive without reliance on or use of Confidential Information; (c) is or becomes publicly available without a breach by Executive of this Agreement; or (d) is disclosed to Executive by a third party which is not required to maintain its confidentiality. An “Affiliate” of a Party shall mean any entity directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, such Party at any time during the Term for so long as such control exists.

 

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(b) Company Ownership. Company shall retain all right, title, and interest to the Confidential Information, including all copies thereof and all rights to patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets and other intellectual property rights inherent therein and appurtenant thereto. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Company hereby grants Executive a non-exclusive, non-transferable, license during the Term to use any Confidential Information solely to the extent that such Confidential Information is necessary for the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder. Executive shall not, by virtue of this Agreement or otherwise, acquire any proprietary rights whatsoever in Confidential Information, which shall be the sole and exclusive property and confidential information of Company. No identifying marks, copyright or proprietary right notices may be deleted from any copy of Confidential Information. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to limit the rights of Company from performing similar services for, or delivering the same or similar deliverable to, third parties using the Confidential Information and/or using the same personnel to provide any such services or deliverables.

 

(c) Confidentiality Obligations. Executive agrees to hold the Confidential Information in confidence and not to copy, reproduce, sell, assign, license, market, transfer, give or otherwise disclose such Confidential Information to any person or entity or to use the Confidential Information for any purposes whatsoever, without the express written permission of Company, other than disclosure to Executive’s, partners, principals, directors, officers, employees, subcontractors and agents on a “need-to-know” basis as reasonably required for the performance of Executive’s obligations hereunder or as otherwise agreed to herein. Executive shall be responsible to Company for any violation of this Section 7 by Executive’s employees, subcontractors, and agents. Executive shall maintain the Confidential Information with the same degree of care, but no less than a reasonable degree of care, as Executive employs concerning its own information of like kind and character.

 

(d) Required Disclosure. If Executive is requested to disclose any of the Confidential Information as part of an administrative or judicial proceeding, Executive shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, promptly notify Company of that request and cooperate with Company, at Company’s expense, in seeking a protective order or similar confidential treatment for the Confidential Information. If no protective order or other confidential treatment is obtained, Executive shall disclose only that portion of Confidential Information which is legally required and will exercise all reasonable efforts to obtain reliable assurances that confidential treatment will be accorded the Confidential Information which is required to be disclosed.

 

(e) Enforcement. Executive acknowledges that the Confidential Information is unique and valuable, and that remedies at law will be inadequate to protect Company from any actual or threatened breach of this Section 7 by Executive and that any such breach would cause irreparable and continuing injury to Company. Therefore, Executive agrees that Company shall be entitled to seek equitable relief with respect to the enforcement of this Section 7 without any requirement to post a bond, including, without limitation, injunction and specific performance, without proof of actual damages or exhausting other remedies, in addition to all other remedies available to Company at law or in equity. For greater clarity, in the event of a breach or threatened breach by Executive of any of the provisions of this Section 7, in addition to and not in limitation of any other rights, remedies or damages available at law or in equity, Company shall be entitled to a permanent injunction or other like remedy in order to prevent or restrain any such breach or threatened breach by Executive, and Executive agrees that an interim injunction may be granted against Executive immediately on the commencement of any action, claim, suit or proceeding by Company to enforce the provisions of this Section 7, and Executive further irrevocably consents to the granting of any such interim or permanent injunction or any like remedy. If any action at law or in equity is necessary to enforce the terms of this Section 7, Executive, if it is determined to be at fault, shall pay Company’s reasonable legal fees and expenses on a substantial indemnity basis.

 

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(f) Related Duties. Executive shall: (i) promptly deliver to Company upon Company’s request all materials in Executive’s possession which contain Confidential Information; (ii) use its best efforts to prevent any unauthorized use or disclosure of the Confidential Information; (iii) notify Company in writing immediately upon discovery of any such unauthorized use or disclosure; and (iv) cooperate in every reasonable way to regain possession of any Confidential Information and to prevent further unauthorized use and disclosure thereof.

 

(g) Legal Exceptions. Further notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7, Executive may disclose confidential information as may be expressly required by law, governmental rule, regulation, executive order, court order, or in connection with a dispute between the Parties; provided that prior to making any such disclosure, subject to applicable law, Executive shall use its best efforts to: (i) provide Company with at least fifteen (15) days’ prior written notice setting forth with specificity the reason(s) for such disclosure, supporting documentation therefor, and the circumstances giving rise thereto; and (ii) limit the scope and duration of such disclosure to the strictest possible extent.

 

(h) Limitation. Except as specifically set forth herein, no licenses or rights under any patent, copyright, trademark, or trade secret are granted by Company to Executive hereunder, or are to be implied by this Agreement. Except for the restrictions on use and disclosure of Confidential Information imposed in this Agreement, no obligation of any kind is assumed or implied against either Party or their Affiliates by virtue of meetings or conversations between the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter stated above or with respect to the exchange of Confidential Information. Each Party further acknowledges that this Agreement and any meetings and communications of the Parties and their affiliates relating to the same subject matter shall not: (i) constitute an offer, request, invitation or contract with the other Party to engage in any research, development or other work; (ii) constitute an offer, request, invitation or contract involving a buyer-seller relationship, joint venture, teaming or partnership relationship between the Parties and their affiliates; or (iii) constitute a representation, warranty, assurance, guarantee or inducement with respect to the accuracy or completeness of any Confidential Information or the non-infringement of the rights of third persons.

 

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8. Intellectual Property Rights.

 

(a) Disclosure of Work Product. As used in this Agreement, the term “Work Product” means any invention, whether or not patentable, know-how, designs, mask works, trademarks, formulae, processes, manufacturing techniques, trade secrets, ideas, artwork, software or any copyrightable or patentable works. Executive agrees to disclose promptly in writing to Company, or any person designated by Company, all Work Product that is solely or jointly conceived, made, reduced to practice, or learned by Executive in the course of any work performed for Company (“Company Work Product”). Executive agrees (a) to use Executive’s best efforts to maintain such Company Work Product in trust and strict confidence; (b) not to use Company Work Product in any manner or for any purpose not expressly set forth in this Agreement; and (c) not to disclose any such Company Work Product to any third party without first obtaining Company’s express written consent on a case-by-case basis.

 

(b) Ownership of Company Work Product. Executive agrees that any and all Company Work Product conceived, written, created or first reduced to practice in the performance of work under this Agreement shall be deemed “work for hire” under applicable law and shall be the sole and exclusive property of Company.

 

(c) Assignment of Company Work Product. Executive irrevocably assigns to Company all right, title and interest worldwide in and to the Company Work Product and all applicable intellectual property rights related to the Company Work Product, including without limitation, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, patents, moral rights, contract and licensing rights (the “Proprietary Rights”). Except as set forth below, Executive retains no rights to use the Company Work Product and agrees not to challenge the validity of Company’s ownership in the Company Work Product. Executive hereby grants to Company a perpetual, non-exclusive, fully paid-up, royalty-free, irrevocable and world-wide right, with rights to sublicense through multiple tiers of sublicensees, to reproduce, make derivative works of, publicly perform, and display in any form or medium whether now known or later developed, distribute, make, use and sell any and all Executive owned or controlled Work Product or technology that Executive uses to complete the services and which is necessary for Company to use or exploit the Company Work Product.

 

(d) Assistance. Executive agrees to cooperate with Company or its designee(s), both during and after the Term, in the procurement and maintenance of Company’s rights in Company Work Product and to execute, when requested, any other documents deemed necessary by Company to carry out the purpose of this Agreement. Executive will assist Company in every proper way to obtain, and from time to time enforce, United States and foreign Proprietary Rights relating to Company Work Product in any and all countries. Executive’s obligation to assist Company with respect to Proprietary Rights relating to such Company Work Product in any and all countries shall continue beyond the termination of this Agreement, but Company shall compensate Executive at a reasonable rate to be mutually agreed upon after such termination for the time actually spent by Executive at Company’s request on such assistance.

 

(e) Execution of Documents. In the event Company is unable for any reason, after reasonable effort, to secure Executive’s signature on any document requested by Company pursuant to this Section 8 within seven (7) days of the Company’s initial request to Executive, Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as its agent and attorney in fact, which appointment is coupled with an interest, to act for and on its behalf solely to execute, verify and file any such documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the purposes of this Section 8 with the same legal force and effect as if executed by Executive. Executive hereby waives and quitclaims to Company any and all claims, of any nature whatsoever, which Executive now or may hereafter have for infringement of any Proprietary Rights assignable hereunder to Company.

 

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(f) Executive Representations and Warranties. Executive hereby represents and warrants that: (i) Company Work Product will be an original work of Executive or all applicable third parties will have executed assignments of rights reasonably acceptable to Company; (ii) neither the Company Work Product nor any element thereof will infringe the intellectual property rights of any third party; (iii) neither the Company Work Product nor any element thereof will be subject to any restrictions or to any mortgages, liens, pledges, security interests, encumbrances or encroachments; (iv) Executive will not grant, directly or indirectly, any rights or interest whatsoever in the Company Work Product to any third party; (v) Executive has full right and power to enter into and perform Executive’s obligations under this Agreement without the consent of any third party; (vi) Executive will use best efforts to prevent injury to any person (including employees of Company) or damage to property (including Company’s property) during the Term; and (vii) should Company permit Executive to use any of Company’s equipment, tools, or facilities during the Term, such permission shall be gratuitous and Executive shall be responsible for any injury to any person (including death) or damage to property (including Company’s property) arising out of use of such equipment, tools or facilities.

 

9. Representations and Warranties Relating to Securities. The Equity Award, any shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company that may be issued or granted to the Executive hereunder or pursuant to any other agreement between the Company and the Executive in connection with the transactions contemplated herein may be referred to as the “Securities”, and Executive represents and warrants to the Company as set forth in this Section 9 with respect to the Securities and Executive’s receipt thereof, as of the Effective Date and as of the date of any issuance or granting of any Securities.

 

(a) Executive is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act (an “Accredited Investor”).

 

(b) Executive hereby represent that the Securities awarded pursuant to this Agreement are being acquired for Executive’s own account and not for sale or with a view to distribution thereof. Executive acknowledges and agrees that any sale or distribution of Securities which have vested may be made only pursuant to either (a) a registration statement on an appropriate form under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), which registration statement has become effective and is current with regard to the shares being sold, or (b) a specific exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act that is confirmed in a favorable written opinion of counsel, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Company, prior to any such sale or distribution. Executive hereby consents to such action as the Board or the Company deems necessary or appropriate from time to time to prevent a violation of, or to perfect an exemption from, the registration requirements of the Securities Act or to implement the provisions of this Agreement, including but not limited to placing restrictive legends on certificates evidencing shares of Securities (whether or not the Restrictions applicable thereto have lapsed) and delivering stop transfer instructions to the Company’s stock transfer agent.

 

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(c) Executive understands that the Securities is being offered and sold to Executive in reliance upon specific exemptions from the registration requirements of United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and Executive’s compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of the Executive set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the Executive to acquire the Securities.

 

(d) Executive has been furnished with all documents and materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and information that Executive requested and deemed material to making an informed investment decision regarding its acquisition of the Securities. Executive has been afforded the opportunity to review such documents and materials and the information contained therein. Executive has been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the Company and its management. Executive understands that such discussions, as well as any written information provided by the Company, were intended to describe the aspects of the Company’s business and prospects which the Company believes to be material, but were not necessarily a thorough or exhaustive description and the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to the completeness of such information and makes no representation or warranty of any kind with respect to any information provided by any entity other than the Company. Some of such information may include projections as to the future performance of the Company, which projections may not be realized, may be based on assumptions which may not be correct and may be subject to numerous factors beyond the Company’s control. Additionally, Executive understands and represents that Executive is acquiring the Securities notwithstanding the fact that the Company may disclose in the future certain material information that the Executive has not received. Executive has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as Executive has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to Executive’s investment in the Securities. Executive has full power and authority to make the representations referred to herein, to acquire the Securities and to execute and deliver this Agreement. Executive, either personally, or together with Executive’s advisors has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Securities, is able to bear the risks of an investment in the Securities and understands the risks of, and other considerations relating to, a purchase of the Securities. The Executive and Executive’s advisors have had a reasonable opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from the Company concerning the Securities. Executive’s financial condition is such that Executive is able to bear the risk of holding the Securities that Executive may acquire pursuant to this Agreement for an indefinite period of time, and the risk of loss of Executive’s entire investment in the Company. Executive has investigated the acquisition of the Securities to the extent Executive deemed necessary or desirable and the Company has provided Executive with any reasonable assistance Executive has requested in connection therewith. No representations or warranties have been made to Executive by the Company, or any representative of the Company, or any securities broker/dealer, other than as set forth in this Agreement.

 

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(e) Executive also acknowledges and agrees that an investment in the Securities is highly speculative and involves a high degree of risk of loss of the entire investment in the Company and there is no assurance that a public market for the Securities will ever develop and that, as a result, Executive may not be able to liquidate Executive’s investment in the Securities should a need arise to do so. Executive is not dependent for liquidity on any of the amounts Executive is investing in the Securities. Executive has full power and authority to make the representations referred to herein, to acquire the Securities and to execute and deliver this Agreement. Executive understands that the representations and warranties herein are to be relied upon by the Company as a basis for the exemptions from registration and qualification of the issuance and sale of the Securities under the federal and state securities laws and for other purposes.

 

(f) Executive understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed upon or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities.

 

(g) Executive understands that until such time as the Securities have been registered under the Securities Act or may be sold pursuant to Rule 144, Rule 144A under the Securities Act or Regulation S without any restriction as to the number of securities as of a particular date that can then be immediately sold, the Securities may bear a restrictive legend in substantially the following form (and a stop-transfer order may be placed against transfer of the certificates for such Securities):

 

“NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL (WHICH COUNSEL SHALL BE SELECTED BY THE HOLDER), IN A GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE FORM, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144, RULE 144A OR REGULATION S UNDER SAID ACT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES.”

 

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(h) This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized by Executive. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of Executive, and this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of Executive enforceable in accordance with its terms.

 

(i) Executive is an individual resident of the state set forth in the notices provision for Executive herein.

 

10. Effect of Waiver. The waiver by either Party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach hereof. No waiver shall be valid unless in writing.

 

11. Assignment. No Party shall have any power or any right to assign or transfer, in whole or in part, this Agreement, or any of its rights or any of its obligations hereunder, including, without limitation, any right to pursue any claim for damages pursuant to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein, or to pursue any claim for any breach or default of this Agreement, or any right arising from the purported assignor’s due performance of its obligations hereunder, without the prior written consent of the other Party and any such purported assignment in contravention of the provisions herein shall be null and void and of no force or effect, provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may transfer, assign or delegate to any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company any of Company’s rights, obligations or duties hereunder.

 

12. No Third-Party Rights. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, this Agreement is intended solely for the benefit of the Parties hereto and is not intended to confer any benefits upon, or create any rights in favor of, any person or entity other than the Parties hereto.

 

13. Entire Agreement; Effectiveness of Agreement. This Agreement, any Award Agreement and any other agreement entered into between the Company and Executive with respect to the issuance of any equity securities of the Company or other equity awards relating to the Company set forth the entire agreement of the Parties hereto and shall supersede any and all prior agreements and understandings concerning the Executive’s employment by the Company. This Agreement may be changed only by a written document signed by the Executive and the Company.

 

14. Survival. The provisions of Section 3, Section 4, Section 5, Section 6, Section 7, Section 8, Section 9 and Section 12 through Section 26, inclusive, shall survive any termination or expiration of this Agreement, and provided that any expiration or termination of this Agreement shall not excuse a Party from compliance with, or fulfillment of, any obligations or conditions which arose prior to such expiration or termination.

 

15. Severability. If any one or more of the provisions, or portions of any provision, of the Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions or parts hereof shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

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16. Governing Law and Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

(a) All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be determined, and this Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of such state, without giving effect to the choice of law provisions of such state.

 

(B) SUBJECT TO SECTION 18, EACH PARTY AGREES THAT ALL LEGAL PROCEEDINGS CONCERNING THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE COMMENCED IN THE TOKYO DISTRICT COURTS, OR, SOLELY IN THE EVENT THAT THE TOKYO DISTRICT COURTS ARE UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO ASSERT JURISDICTION WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGEMENT HEREUNDER FOR ANY REASON, THEN IN THE STATE OR FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES WITH JURISDICTION IN PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA (AS APPLICABLE, THE “SELECTED COURTS”). EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE SELECTED COURTS FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR WITH ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR DISCUSSED HEREIN (INCLUDING WITH RESPECT TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE RIGHTS OF A PARTY UNDER THIS AGREEMENT), AND HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, AND AGREES NOT TO ASSERT IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING, ANY CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT PERSONALLY SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH SELECTED COURTS, OR SUCH SELECTED COURTS ARE IMPROPER OR INCONVENIENT VENUE FOR SUCH PROCEEDING. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF PROCESS AND CONSENTS TO PROCESS BEING SERVED IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY MAILING A COPY THEREOF VIA REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL OR OVERNIGHT DELIVERY (WITH EVIDENCE OF DELIVERY) TO SUCH PARTY AT THE ADDRESS IN EFFECT FOR NOTICES TO IT UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND AGREES THAT SUCH SERVICE SHALL CONSTITUTE GOOD AND SUFFICIENT SERVICE OF PROCESS AND NOTICE THEREOF. NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN SHALL BE DEEMED TO LIMIT IN ANY WAY ANY RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

 

(c) TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 16(c).

 

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17. Attorneys’ Fees, etc. If any Party shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Agreement, then the prevailing Party in such action or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other Party for its attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred in the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.

 

18. Arbitration. Any controversy, claim or dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Executive’s employment by the Company, including, but not limited to, common law and statutory claims for discrimination, wrongful discharge, and unpaid wages, shall be resolved by arbitration in Tokyo, Japan pursuant to then-prevailing National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration Association, provided that in the event that such rules may not be applied in Tokyo, Japan for any reason, then pursuant to arbitration rules as reasonably determined by the Company. The arbitration shall be conducted by three arbitrators, with one arbitrator selected by each Party and the third arbitrator selected by the two arbitrators so selected by the Parties. The arbitrators shall be bound to follow the applicable Agreement provisions in adjudicating the dispute. It is agreed by both Parties that the arbitrators’ decision is final, and that no Party may take any action, judicial or administrative, to overturn such decision. The judgment rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in the Selected Courts. Subject to the provisions of Section 17, each Party will pay its own expenses of arbitration and the expenses of the arbitrators will be equally shared provided that, if in the opinion of the arbitrators any claim, defense, or argument raised in the arbitration was unreasonable, the arbitrators may assess all or part of the expenses of the other Party (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) and of the arbitrators as the arbitrators deem appropriate. The arbitrators may not award either Party punitive or consequential damages.

 

19. General Remedies. Each Party acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the other Party, and thus each Party acknowledges that the remedy at law for a breach of its obligations under this Agreement will be inadequate and agrees, in the event of a breach or threatened breach by such Party of the provisions of this Agreement, that the other Party shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies at law or in equity, and in addition to the penalties assessable herein, to an injunction or injunctions restraining, preventing or curing any breach of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required.

 

20. Indemnification. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to indemnification and insurance coverage for officers’ liability, fiduciary liability and other liabilities arising out of the Executive’s position with the Company in any capacity, in an amount not less than the highest amount available to any other executive, and such coverage and protections, with respect to the various liabilities as to which the Executive has been customarily indemnified prior to termination of employment, shall continue for at least six years following the end of the Term. Any indemnification agreement entered into between the Company and the Executive shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms following the termination of this Agreement.

 

21. Expenses. Other than as specifically set forth herein, each of the Parties will bear their own respective expenses, including legal, accounting and professional fees, incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein.

 

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22. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other Party, or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or by email with return receipt requested and received or nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed as set forth below or to such other address as either Party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith. All notices, requests, demands and other communications shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) when delivered by hand, if personally delivered, (ii) when delivered by courier or overnight mail, if delivered by commercial courier service or overnight mail, and (iii) on receipt of confirmed delivery, if sent by email.

 

If to the Company:

 

SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated

Attn: Yoshiyuki Aikawa, CEO

200 Spectrum Center Dr. STE 300

Irvine, CA 92618

E-mail: doctor@sbc.or.jp

 

If to Executive, to:

 

Yoshiyuki Aikawa

c/o SBC Medical Group, Inc.

6-5-1, NishiShinjyuku, Shinjyuku Tokyo 163-1312, Japan

E-mail: doctor@sbc.or.jp

 

23. Headings. The section headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

24. Counsel. The Parties acknowledge and agree that legal counsel to the Company (“Counsel”) has prepared this Agreement at the request of the Company, and that Counsel is not legal counsel to Executive individually. Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that they are aware of, and have consented to, the Counsel acting as legal counsel to the Company and preparing this Agreement, and that Counsel has advised each of the Parties to retain separate counsel to review the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other documents to be delivered in connection herewith, and each Party has either waived such right freely or has otherwise sought such additional counsel as it has deemed necessary. Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that Counsel does not owe any duties to Executive in Executive’s individual capacity in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein. Each of the Parties hereby waives any conflict of interest which may apply with respect to Counsel’s actions as set forth herein, and the Parties confirm that the Parties have previously negotiated the material terms of the agreements as set forth herein.

 

25. Rule of Construction. The general rule of construction for interpreting a contract, which provides that the provisions of a contract should be construed against the Party preparing the contract, is waived by the Parties hereto. Each Party acknowledges that such Party was represented by separate legal counsel in this matter who participated in the preparation of this Agreement or such Party had the opportunity to retain counsel to participate in the preparation of this Agreement but elected not to do so.

 

26. Execution in Counterparts, Electronic Transmission. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original. The signature of any Party which is transmitted by any reliable electronic means such as, but not limited to, a photocopy, electronically scanned or facsimile machine, for purposes hereof, is to be considered as an original signature, and the document transmitted is to be considered to have the same binding effect as an original signature or an original document.

 

[Signatures appear on following page]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

 

  SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated
     
  By: /s/ Yoshiyuki Aikawa
  Name:  Yoshiyuki Aikawa
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

  Executive:  Yoshiyuki Aikawa

 

                          
  By: /s/ Yoshiyuki Aikawa
  Name: Yoshiyuki Aikawa

 

 

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EX-10.9 6 ea021502401ex10-9_sbcmed.htm EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS AND YUYA YOSHIDA, DATED SEPTEMBER 17, 2024

Exhibit 10.9

 

Executive Employment Agreement

 

Dated as of 17th September, 2024

 

[Yuya Yoshida]

 

This Executive Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated as of the date first set forth above (the “Effective Date”) is entered into by and between SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and Yuya Yoshida (the “Executive”). The Company and Executive may collectively be referred to as the “Parties” and each individually as a “Party”.

 

WHEREAS, the Company now desires to employ the Executive as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Executive desires to serve in such capacities on behalf of the Company, in each case subject to the terms and conditions herein;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Employment.

 

(a) Term. The term of this Agreement (the “Initial Term”) shall begin as of the Effective Date and shall end on the earlier of (i) the first (1st) annual anniversary of the Effective Date and (ii) the time of the termination of the Executive’s employment in accordance with Section 2(e). The Initial Term and any Renewal Term (as defined below) shall automatically be extended for one or more additional terms of one (1) year each (each a “Renewal Term” and together with the Initial Term, the “Term”), unless either the Company or Executive provides notice to the other Party of their desire to not so renew the Initial Term or Renewal Term (as applicable) at least thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the then-current Initial Term or Renewal Term, as applicable. Executive’s employment with the Company shall be “at will,” meaning that either Executive or the Company may terminate Executive’s employment at any time and for any reason, subject to Section 3. Any contrary representations that may have been made to Executive are superseded by this Agreement.

 

(b) Duties. The Company hereby appoints Executive, and Executive shall serve, as the Chief Operating Officer of the Company and as the Chief Operating Officer of SBC Medical Group Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and shall report to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”). The Executive shall have such duties and responsibilities as are consistent with Executive’s position with the Company. In addition, the Executive shall perform all other duties and accept all other responsibilities incident to such position as may reasonably assigned to Executive by the Board.

 

 


 

2. Compensation and Other Benefits. As compensation for the services to be rendered hereunder, during the Term the Company shall pay to the Executive the salary and bonuses, and shall provide the benefits, as set forth in this Section 2.

 

(a) Base Salary. The Company shall pay to the Executive an annual base salary of $304,404, payable on a monthly basis commencing on the Effective Date (as the same may be adjusted herein, the “Base Salary”). The Base Salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s payroll policies.

 

(b) Equity Issuances. The Executive shall be eligible to receive awards of options, restricted stock or other equity awards for shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”) of the Company (each, if so issued, an “Equity Award”), pursuant to award agreements in form and substance as determined by the Board and which will be entered into by and between the Company and Executive (if and when executed, each an “Award Agreement”). If an Equity Award, if made, is subject to vesting, then such Equity Award shall be subject to vesting and forfeiture as set forth herein and in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(c) Bonus. The Executive shall be eligible to receive any discretionary bonuses as determined by the Board.

 

(d) Fringe Benefits. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits consistent with the practices of the Company, and to the extent the Company provides similar benefits to the Company’s executive officers.

 

(e) Business Expenses. The Executive shall be entitled to reimbursement for all reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket business, entertainment and travel expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder and in accordance with the Company’s expense reimbursement policies and procedures.

 

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3. Termination.

 

(a) Definition of Cause. For purposes hereof, “Cause” shall mean:

 

(i) a violation of any material written rule or policy of the Company for which violation any employee may be terminated pursuant to the written policies of the Company reasonably applicable to an executive employee;

 

(ii) misconduct by the Executive to the material detriment of the Company;

 

(iii) the Executive’s conviction (by a court of competent jurisdiction, not subject to further appeal) of, or pleading guilty to, a felony;

 

(iv) the Executive’s gross negligence in the performance of Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company as described in this Agreement; or

 

(v) the Executive’s material failure to perform Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company as described in this Agreement (other than any such failure resulting from the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness or any such failure subsequent to the Executive being delivered a notice of termination without Cause by the Company or delivering a notice of termination for Good Reason to the Company), in either case after written notice from the Board to the Executive of the specific nature of such material failure and the Executive’s failure to cure such material failure within 10 days following receipt of such notice.

 

(b) Definition of Good Reason. For purposes hereof, “Good Reason” shall mean:

 

(i) at any time following a Change of Control (as defined below), a material diminution by the Company of compensation and benefits (taken as a whole) provided to the Executive immediately prior to a Change of Control;

 

(ii) a reduction in Base Salary or target or maximum bonus, other than as part of an across-the-board reduction in salaries of management personnel;

 

(iii) the relocation of the Executive’s principal executive office to a location more than 50 miles further from the Executive’s principal executive office immediately prior to such relocation; or

 

(iv) a material breach by the Company of any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement which the Company fails to correct within 10 days after the Company receives written notice from Executive of such violation.

 

(c) Definition of Change of Control. A “Change of Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if, after the Effective Date, (i) the beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) of securities representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company is acquired by any “person” as defined in sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (other than the Company, any subsidiary of the Company, or any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company), (ii) the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation where the shareholders of the Company, immediately prior to the consolidation or merger, would not, immediately after the consolidation or merger, beneficially own (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, shares representing in the aggregate 50% or more of the combined voting power of the securities of the corporation issuing cash or securities in the consolidation or merger (or of its ultimate parent corporation, if any) in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such merger or consolidation, or (iii) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an entity, other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an entity, at least 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned directly or indirectly by shareholders of the Company, immediately prior to the sale or disposition, in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale or disposition.

 

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(d) Termination by the Company. The Company may terminate the Term and Executive’s employment hereunder at any time, with or without Cause, subject to the terms and conditions herein.

 

(i) For Cause. In the event that the Company terminates the Term or Executive’s employment hereunder with Cause, then in such event, subject to Section 3(i), (i) the Company shall pay to Executive any unpaid Base Salary and benefits then owed or accrued, and any unreimbursed expenses, pursuant to the terms of Section 2(e), incurred by the Executive in each case through the termination date, and each of which shall be paid within 10 days following the termination date; (ii) any unvested portion of any equity granted to Executive hereunder or under any Award Agreement or any other agreements with the Company (collectively, the “Equity Grants”) shall immediately be forfeited as of the termination date without any further action of the Parties; and (iii) all of the Parties’ rights and obligations hereunder shall thereafter cease, other than such rights or obligations which arose prior to the termination date or in connection with such termination, and subject to Section 14.

 

(ii) Without Cause. In the event that the Company terminates the Term or Executive’s employment hereunder without Cause, then in such event, subject to Section 3(i), (i) the Company shall pay to Executive any Base Salary, bonuses, and benefits then owed or accrued, and any unreimbursed expenses incurred by the Executive in each case through the termination date, and each of which shall be paid within 10 days following the termination date; (ii) the Company shall pay to Executive, in one lump sum, an amount equal to the Base Salary that would have been paid to Executive for the remainder of the Initial Term (if such termination occurs during the Initial Term) or Renewal Term (if such termination occurs during a Renewal Term), as applicable, which shall be paid within 10 days following the termination date; (iii) any Equity Grant already made to Executive shall, to the extent not already vested, be deemed automatically vested; and (iv) all of the Parties’ rights and obligations hereunder shall thereafter cease, other than such rights or obligations which arose prior to the termination date or in connection with such termination, and subject to Section 14.

 

(e) Termination by the Executive. The Executive may terminate the Term and resign from Executive’s employment hereunder at any time, with or without Good Reason.

 

(i) With Good Reason. In the event that Executive terminates the Term or resigns from Executive’s employment hereunder with Good Reason, the Company shall pay to Executive the amounts, and Executive shall, subject to Section 3(i), be entitled to such benefits (including without limitation any vesting of unvested shares under any Equity Grant), that would have been payable to Executive or which Executive would have received had the Term and Executive’s employment been terminated by the Company without Cause pursuant to Section 3(d)(ii).

 

(ii) Without Good Reason. In the event that Executive terminates the Term or resigns from Executive’s employment hereunder without Good Reason, the Company shall pay to Executive the amounts, and Executive shall be entitled, subject to Section 3(i), to such benefits (including without limitation any vesting of unvested shares under any Equity Grant), that would have been payable to Executive or which Executive would have received had the Term and Executive’s employment been terminated by the Company with Cause pursuant to Section 3(d)(i).

 

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(f) Termination by Death or Disability. In the event of the Executive’s death or total disability (as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) during the Term, the Term and Executive’s employment shall terminate on the date of death or total disability. In the event of such termination, the Company’s sole obligations hereunder to the Executive (or the Executive’s estate) shall be for unpaid Base Salary, accrued but unpaid bonus and benefits (then owed or accrued and owed in the future), a pro-rata bonus for the year of termination based on the Executive’s target bonus for such year and the portion of such year in which the Executive was employed, and reimbursement of expenses pursuant to the terms hereon through the effective date of termination, each of which shall be paid within 10 days following the date of the Executive’s termination, and any unvested portion of any Equity Grants shall immediately be forfeited as of the termination date without any further action of the Parties.

 

(g) Non-Renewal. In the event that the Term is not renewed by either Party pursuant to the provisions of Section 1(a), any unvested portion of any Equity Grants shall immediately be forfeited as of the expiration of the Term without any further action of the Parties.

 

(h) Change of Control. In the event that a Change of Control occurs during the Term, any unvested portion of any Equity Grants shall, to the extent not already vested, be deemed automatically vested immediately without any further action of the Parties.

 

(i) Conflict. In the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions herein and those in any other agreement or contract between the Company and the Executive with respect to any Equity Grants granted to Executive, the terms and conditions of such other agreement or contract shall control.

 

4. Payments.

 

(a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if it is determined that any payment or benefit provided to the Executive under this Agreement or otherwise, whether or not in connection with a Change of Control (a “Payment”), would constitute an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), such that the Payment would be subject to an excise tax under section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), the Company shall pay to the Executive an additional amount (the “Gross-Up Payment”) such that the net amount of the Gross-Up Payment retained by the Executive after the payment of any Excise Tax and any federal, state and local income and employment tax on the Gross-Up Payment, shall be equal to the Excise Tax due on the Payment and any interest and penalties in respect of such Excise Tax. For purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-Up Payment, Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income tax and employment taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income and employment taxation in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation in the state and locality of Executive’s residence (or, if greater, the state and locality in which Executive is required to file a nonresident income tax return with respect to the Payment) in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes that may be obtained from the deduction of such state and local taxes.

 

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(b) All determinations made pursuant to Section 4(a) shall be made by the Company which shall provide its determination and any supporting calculations (the “Determination”) to the Executive within thirty days of the date of the Executive’s termination or any other date selected by the Executive or the Company. Within ten calendar days of the delivery of the Determination to the Executive, the Executive shall have the right to dispute the Determination (the “Dispute”). The existence of any Dispute shall not in any way affect the Executive’s right to receive the Gross-Up Payments in accordance with the Determination. If there is no dispute, the Determination by the Company shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Executive, subject to the application of Section 4(c). Within ten days after the Company’s determination, the Company shall pay to the Executive the Gross-Up Payment, if any. If the Company determines that no Excise Tax is payable by the Executive, it will, at the same time as it makes such Determination, furnish Executive with an opinion that the Executive has substantial authority not to report any Excise Tax on Executive’s federal, state, local income or other tax return. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Executive of and from any and all claims, damages and expenses resulting from or relating to its determinations pursuant to this Section 4(b), except for claims, damages or expenses resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Company.

 

(c) As a result of the uncertainty in the application of sections 4999 and 280G of the Code, it is possible that the Gross-Up Payments either will have been made which should not have been made, or will not have been made which should have been made, by the Company (an “Excess Gross-Up Payment” or a “Gross-Up Underpayment,” respectively). If it is established pursuant to (A) a final determination of a court for which all appeals have been taken and finally resolved or the time for all appeals has expired, or (B) an Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) proceeding which has been finally and conclusively resolved, that an Excess Gross-Up Payment has been made, such Excess Gross-Up Payment shall be deemed for all purposes to be a loan to the Executive made on the date the Executive received the Excess Gross-Up Payment and the Executive shall repay the Excess Gross-Up Payment to the Company either (i) on demand, if the Executive is in possession of the Excess Gross-Up Payment or (ii) upon the refund of such Excess Gross-Up Payment to the Executive from the IRS, if the IRS is in possession of such Excess Gross-Up Payment, together with interest on the Excess Gross-Up Payment at (X) 120% of the applicable federal rate (as defined in Section 1274(d) of the Code) compounded semi-annually for any period during which the Executive held such Excess Gross-Up Payment and (Y) the interest rate paid to the Executive by the IRS in respect of any period during which the IRS held such Excess Gross-Up Payment. If a Gross-Up Underpayment occurs as determined under one or more of the following circumstances: (I) such determination is made by the Company (which shall include the position taken by the Company, together with its consolidated group, on its federal income tax return) or is made by the IRS, (II) such determination is made by a court, or (III) such determination is made upon the resolution to the Executive’s satisfaction of the Dispute, then the Company shall pay an amount equal to the Gross-Up Underpayment to the Executive within ten calendar days of such determination or resolution, together with interest on such amount at 120% of the applicable federal rate compounded semi-annually from the date such amount should have been paid to the Executive pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, but for the operation of this Section 4(c), until the date of payment.

 

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5. Post-Termination Assistance. Upon the Executive’s termination of employment with the Company, the Executive agrees to fully cooperate in all matters relating to the winding up or pending work on behalf of the Company and the orderly transfer of work to other employees of the Company following any termination of the Executives’ employment. The Executive further agrees that Executive will provide, upon reasonable notice, such information and assistance to the Company as may reasonably be requested by the Company in connection with any audit, governmental investigation, litigation, or other dispute in which the Company is or may become a party and as to which the Executive has knowledge; provided, however, that (i) the Company agrees to reimburse the Executive for any related out-of-pocket expenses, including travel expenses, and (ii) any such assistance may not unreasonably interfere with Executive’s then current employment.

 

6. No Mitigation or Set Off. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement and such amounts shall not be reduced, regardless of whether the Executive obtains other employment. The Company’s obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any circumstances, including, without limitation, any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which the Company may have against the Executive or others; provided, however, the Company shall have the right to offset the amount of any funds loaned or advanced to the Executive and not repaid against any severance obligations the Company may have to the Executive hereunder.

 

7. Confidentiality

 

(a) Definition. For purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential Information” shall mean all Company Work Product (as hereinafter defined) and all non-public written, electronic, and oral information or materials of Company communicated to or otherwise obtained by Executive in connection with this Agreement, which is related to the products, business and activities of Company, its Affiliates (as defined below), and subsidiaries, and their respective customers, clients, suppliers, and other entities with which such party does business, including: (i) all costing, pricing, technology, software, documentation, research, techniques, procedures, processes, discoveries, inventions, methodologies, data, tools, templates, know how, intellectual property and all other proprietary information of Company; (ii) the terms of this Agreement; and (iii) any other information identified as confidential in writing by Company. Confidential Information shall not include information that: (a) was lawfully known by Executive without an obligation of confidentiality before its receipt from Company; (b) is independently developed by Executive without reliance on or use of Confidential Information; (c) is or becomes publicly available without a breach by Executive of this Agreement; or (d) is disclosed to Executive by a third party which is not required to maintain its confidentiality. An “Affiliate” of a Party shall mean any entity directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, such Party at any time during the Term for so long as such control exists.

 

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(b) Company Ownership. Company shall retain all right, title, and interest to the Confidential Information, including all copies thereof and all rights to patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets and other intellectual property rights inherent therein and appurtenant thereto. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Company hereby grants Executive a non-exclusive, non-transferable, license during the Term to use any Confidential Information solely to the extent that such Confidential Information is necessary for the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder. Executive shall not, by virtue of this Agreement or otherwise, acquire any proprietary rights whatsoever in Confidential Information, which shall be the sole and exclusive property and confidential information of Company. No identifying marks, copyright or proprietary right notices may be deleted from any copy of Confidential Information. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to limit the rights of Company from performing similar services for, or delivering the same or similar deliverable to, third parties using the Confidential Information and/or using the same personnel to provide any such services or deliverables.

 

(c) Confidentiality Obligations. Executive agrees to hold the Confidential Information in confidence and not to copy, reproduce, sell, assign, license, market, transfer, give or otherwise disclose such Confidential Information to any person or entity or to use the Confidential Information for any purposes whatsoever, without the express written permission of Company, other than disclosure to Executive’s, partners, principals, directors, officers, employees, subcontractors and agents on a “need-to-know” basis as reasonably required for the performance of Executive’s obligations hereunder or as otherwise agreed to herein. Executive shall be responsible to Company for any violation of this Section 7 by Executive’s employees, subcontractors, and agents. Executive shall maintain the Confidential Information with the same degree of care, but no less than a reasonable degree of care, as Executive employs concerning its own information of like kind and character.

 

(d) Required Disclosure. If Executive is requested to disclose any of the Confidential Information as part of an administrative or judicial proceeding, Executive shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, promptly notify Company of that request and cooperate with Company, at Company’s expense, in seeking a protective order or similar confidential treatment for the Confidential Information. If no protective order or other confidential treatment is obtained, Executive shall disclose only that portion of Confidential Information which is legally required and will exercise all reasonable efforts to obtain reliable assurances that confidential treatment will be accorded the Confidential Information which is required to be disclosed.

 

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(e) Enforcement. Executive acknowledges that the Confidential Information is unique and valuable, and that remedies at law will be inadequate to protect Company from any actual or threatened breach of this Section 7 by Executive and that any such breach would cause irreparable and continuing injury to Company. Therefore, Executive agrees that Company shall be entitled to seek equitable relief with respect to the enforcement of this Section 7 without any requirement to post a bond, including, without limitation, injunction and specific performance, without proof of actual damages or exhausting other remedies, in addition to all other remedies available to Company at law or in equity. For greater clarity, in the event of a breach or threatened breach by Executive of any of the provisions of this Section 7, in addition to and not in limitation of any other rights, remedies or damages available at law or in equity, Company shall be entitled to a permanent injunction or other like remedy in order to prevent or restrain any such breach or threatened breach by Executive, and Executive agrees that an interim injunction may be granted against Executive immediately on the commencement of any action, claim, suit or proceeding by Company to enforce the provisions of this Section 7, and Executive further irrevocably consents to the granting of any such interim or permanent injunction or any like remedy. If any action at law or in equity is necessary to enforce the terms of this Section 7, Executive, if it is determined to be at fault, shall pay Company’s reasonable legal fees and expenses on a substantial indemnity basis.

 

(f) Related Duties. Executive shall: (i) promptly deliver to Company upon Company’s request all materials in Executive’s possession which contain Confidential Information; (ii) use its best efforts to prevent any unauthorized use or disclosure of the Confidential Information; (iii) notify Company in writing immediately upon discovery of any such unauthorized use or disclosure; and (iv) cooperate in every reasonable way to regain possession of any Confidential Information and to prevent further unauthorized use and disclosure thereof.

 

(g) Legal Exceptions. Further notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7, Executive may disclose confidential information as may be expressly required by law, governmental rule, regulation, executive order, court order, or in connection with a dispute between the Parties; provided that prior to making any such disclosure, subject to applicable law, Executive shall use its best efforts to: (i) provide Company with at least fifteen (15) days’ prior written notice setting forth with specificity the reason(s) for such disclosure, supporting documentation therefor, and the circumstances giving rise thereto; and (ii) limit the scope and duration of such disclosure to the strictest possible extent.

 

(h) Limitation. Except as specifically set forth herein, no licenses or rights under any patent, copyright, trademark, or trade secret are granted by Company to Executive hereunder, or are to be implied by this Agreement. Except for the restrictions on use and disclosure of Confidential Information imposed in this Agreement, no obligation of any kind is assumed or implied against either Party or their Affiliates by virtue of meetings or conversations between the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter stated above or with respect to the exchange of Confidential Information. Each Party further acknowledges that this Agreement and any meetings and communications of the Parties and their affiliates relating to the same subject matter shall not: (i) constitute an offer, request, invitation or contract with the other Party to engage in any research, development or other work; (ii) constitute an offer, request, invitation or contract involving a buyer-seller relationship, joint venture, teaming or partnership relationship between the Parties and their affiliates; or (iii) constitute a representation, warranty, assurance, guarantee or inducement with respect to the accuracy or completeness of any Confidential Information or the non-infringement of the rights of third persons.

 

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8. Intellectual Property Rights.

 

(a) Disclosure of Work Product. As used in this Agreement, the term “Work Product” means any invention, whether or not patentable, know-how, designs, mask works, trademarks, formulae, processes, manufacturing techniques, trade secrets, ideas, artwork, software or any copyrightable or patentable works. Executive agrees to disclose promptly in writing to Company, or any person designated by Company, all Work Product that is solely or jointly conceived, made, reduced to practice, or learned by Executive in the course of any work performed for Company (“Company Work Product”). Executive agrees (a) to use Executive’s best efforts to maintain such Company Work Product in trust and strict confidence; (b) not to use Company Work Product in any manner or for any purpose not expressly set forth in this Agreement; and (c) not to disclose any such Company Work Product to any third party without first obtaining Company’s express written consent on a case-by-case basis.

 

(b) Ownership of Company Work Product. Executive agrees that any and all Company Work Product conceived, written, created or first reduced to practice in the performance of work under this Agreement shall be deemed “work for hire” under applicable law and shall be the sole and exclusive property of Company.

 

(c) Assignment of Company Work Product. Executive irrevocably assigns to Company all right, title and interest worldwide in and to the Company Work Product and all applicable intellectual property rights related to the Company Work Product, including without limitation, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, patents, moral rights, contract and licensing rights (the “Proprietary Rights”). Except as set forth below, Executive retains no rights to use the Company Work Product and agrees not to challenge the validity of Company’s ownership in the Company Work Product. Executive hereby grants to Company a perpetual, non-exclusive, fully paid-up, royalty-free, irrevocable and world-wide right, with rights to sublicense through multiple tiers of sublicensees, to reproduce, make derivative works of, publicly perform, and display in any form or medium whether now known or later developed, distribute, make, use and sell any and all Executive owned or controlled Work Product or technology that Executive uses to complete the services and which is necessary for Company to use or exploit the Company Work Product.

 

(d) Assistance. Executive agrees to cooperate with Company or its designee(s), both during and after the Term, in the procurement and maintenance of Company’s rights in Company Work Product and to execute, when requested, any other documents deemed necessary by Company to carry out the purpose of this Agreement. Executive will assist Company in every proper way to obtain, and from time to time enforce, United States and foreign Proprietary Rights relating to Company Work Product in any and all countries. Executive’s obligation to assist Company with respect to Proprietary Rights relating to such Company Work Product in any and all countries shall continue beyond the termination of this Agreement, but Company shall compensate Executive at a reasonable rate to be mutually agreed upon after such termination for the time actually spent by Executive at Company’s request on such assistance.

  

(e) Execution of Documents. In the event Company is unable for any reason, after reasonable effort, to secure Executive’s signature on any document requested by Company pursuant to this Section 8 within seven (7) days of the Company’s initial request to Executive, Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as its agent and attorney in fact, which appointment is coupled with an interest, to act for and on its behalf solely to execute, verify and file any such documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the purposes of this Section 8 with the same legal force and effect as if executed by Executive. Executive hereby waives and quitclaims to Company any and all claims, of any nature whatsoever, which Executive now or may hereafter have for infringement of any Proprietary Rights assignable hereunder to Company.

 

(f) Executive Representations and Warranties. Executive hereby represents and warrants that: (i) Company Work Product will be an original work of Executive or all applicable third parties will have executed assignments of rights reasonably acceptable to Company; (ii) neither the Company Work Product nor any element thereof will infringe the intellectual property rights of any third party; (iii) neither the Company Work Product nor any element thereof will be subject to any restrictions or to any mortgages, liens, pledges, security interests, encumbrances or encroachments; (iv) Executive will not grant, directly or indirectly, any rights or interest whatsoever in the Company Work Product to any third party; (v) Executive has full right and power to enter into and perform Executive’s obligations under this Agreement without the consent of any third party; (vi) Executive will use best efforts to prevent injury to any person (including employees of Company) or damage to property (including Company’s property) during the Term; and (vii) should Company permit Executive to use any of Company’s equipment, tools, or facilities during the Term, such permission shall be gratuitous and Executive shall be responsible for any injury to any person (including death) or damage to property (including Company’s property) arising out of use of such equipment, tools or facilities.

 

9. Representations and Warranties Relating to Securities. The Equity Award, any shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company that may be issued or granted to the Executive hereunder or pursuant to any other agreement between the Company and the Executive in connection with the transactions contemplated herein may be referred to as the “Securities”, and Executive represents and warrants to the Company as set forth in this Section 9 with respect to the Securities and Executive’s receipt thereof, as of the Effective Date and as of the date of any issuance or granting of any Securities.

 

(a) Executive is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act (an “Accredited Investor”).

 

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(b) Executive hereby represent that the Securities awarded pursuant to this Agreement are being acquired for Executive’s own account and not for sale or with a view to distribution thereof. Executive acknowledges and agrees that any sale or distribution of Securities which have vested may be made only pursuant to either (a) a registration statement on an appropriate form under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), which registration statement has become effective and is current with regard to the shares being sold, or (b) a specific exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act that is confirmed in a favorable written opinion of counsel, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Company, prior to any such sale or distribution. Executive hereby consents to such action as the Board or the Company deems necessary or appropriate from time to time to prevent a violation of, or to perfect an exemption from, the registration requirements of the Securities Act or to implement the provisions of this Agreement, including but not limited to placing restrictive legends on certificates evidencing shares of Securities (whether or not the Restrictions applicable thereto have lapsed) and delivering stop transfer instructions to the Company’s stock transfer agent.

 

(c) Executive understands that the Securities is being offered and sold to Executive in reliance upon specific exemptions from the registration requirements of United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and Executive’s compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of the Executive set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the Executive to acquire the Securities.

 

(d) Executive has been furnished with all documents and materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and information that Executive requested and deemed material to making an informed investment decision regarding its acquisition of the Securities. Executive has been afforded the opportunity to review such documents and materials and the information contained therein. Executive has been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the Company and its management. Executive understands that such discussions, as well as any written information provided by the Company, were intended to describe the aspects of the Company’s business and prospects which the Company believes to be material, but were not necessarily a thorough or exhaustive description and the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to the completeness of such information and makes no representation or warranty of any kind with respect to any information provided by any entity other than the Company. Some of such information may include projections as to the future performance of the Company, which projections may not be realized, may be based on assumptions which may not be correct and may be subject to numerous factors beyond the Company’s control. Additionally, Executive understands and represents that Executive is acquiring the Securities notwithstanding the fact that the Company may disclose in the future certain material information that the Executive has not received. Executive has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as Executive has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to Executive’s investment in the Securities. Executive has full power and authority to make the representations referred to herein, to acquire the Securities and to execute and deliver this Agreement. Executive, either personally, or together with Executive’s advisors has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Securities, is able to bear the risks of an investment in the Securities and understands the risks of, and other considerations relating to, a purchase of the Securities. The Executive and Executive’s advisors have had a reasonable opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from the Company concerning the Securities. Executive’s financial condition is such that Executive is able to bear the risk of holding the Securities that Executive may acquire pursuant to this Agreement for an indefinite period of time, and the risk of loss of Executive’s entire investment in the Company. Executive has investigated the acquisition of the Securities to the extent Executive deemed necessary or desirable and the Company has provided Executive with any reasonable assistance Executive has requested in connection therewith. No representations or warranties have been made to Executive by the Company, or any representative of the Company, or any securities broker/dealer, other than as set forth in this Agreement.

 

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(e) Executive also acknowledges and agrees that an investment in the Securities is highly speculative and involves a high degree of risk of loss of the entire investment in the Company and there is no assurance that a public market for the Securities will ever develop and that, as a result, Executive may not be able to liquidate Executive’s investment in the Securities should a need arise to do so. Executive is not dependent for liquidity on any of the amounts Executive is investing in the Securities. Executive has full power and authority to make the representations referred to herein, to acquire the Securities and to execute and deliver this Agreement. Executive understands that the representations and warranties herein are to be relied upon by the Company as a basis for the exemptions from registration and qualification of the issuance and sale of the Securities under the federal and state securities laws and for other purposes.

 

(f) Executive understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed upon or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities.

 

(g) Executive understands that until such time as the Securities have been registered under the Securities Act or may be sold pursuant to Rule 144, Rule 144A under the Securities Act or Regulation S without any restriction as to the number of securities as of a particular date that can then be immediately sold, the Securities may bear a restrictive legend in substantially the following form (and a stop-transfer order may be placed against transfer of the certificates for such Securities):

 

“NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL (WHICH COUNSEL SHALL BE SELECTED BY THE HOLDER), IN A GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE FORM, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144, RULE 144A OR REGULATION S UNDER SAID ACT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES.”

 

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(h) This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized by Executive. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of Executive, and this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of Executive enforceable in accordance with its terms.

 

(i) Executive is an individual resident of the state set forth in the notices provision for Executive herein.

 

10. Effect of Waiver. The waiver by either Party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach hereof. No waiver shall be valid unless in writing.

 

11. Assignment. No Party shall have any power or any right to assign or transfer, in whole or in part, this Agreement, or any of its rights or any of its obligations hereunder, including, without limitation, any right to pursue any claim for damages pursuant to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein, or to pursue any claim for any breach or default of this Agreement, or any right arising from the purported assignor’s due performance of its obligations hereunder, without the prior written consent of the other Party and any such purported assignment in contravention of the provisions herein shall be null and void and of no force or effect, provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may transfer, assign or delegate to any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company any of Company’s rights, obligations or duties hereunder.

 

12. No Third-Party Rights. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, this Agreement is intended solely for the benefit of the Parties hereto and is not intended to confer any benefits upon, or create any rights in favor of, any person or entity other than the Parties hereto.

 

13. Entire Agreement; Effectiveness of Agreement. This Agreement, any Award Agreement and any other agreement entered into between the Company and Executive with respect to the issuance of any equity securities of the Company or other equity awards relating to the Company set forth the entire agreement of the Parties hereto and shall supersede any and all prior agreements and understandings concerning the Executive’s employment by the Company. This Agreement may be changed only by a written document signed by the Executive and the Company.

 

14. Survival. The provisions of Section 3, Section 4, Section 5, Section 6, Section 7, Section 8, Section 9 and Section 12 through Section 26, inclusive, shall survive any termination or expiration of this Agreement, and provided that any expiration or termination of this Agreement shall not excuse a Party from compliance with, or fulfillment of, any obligations or conditions which arose prior to such expiration or termination.

 

15. Severability. If any one or more of the provisions, or portions of any provision, of the Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions or parts hereof shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

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16. Governing Law and Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

(a) All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be determined, and this Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of such state, without giving effect to the choice of law provisions of such state.

 

(B) SUBJECT TO SECTION 18, EACH PARTY AGREES THAT ALL LEGAL PROCEEDINGS CONCERNING THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE COMMENCED IN THE TOKYO DISTRICT COURTS, OR, SOLELY IN THE EVENT THAT THE TOKYO DISTRICT COURTS ARE UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO ASSERT JURISDICTION WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGEMENT HEREUNDER FOR ANY REASON, THEN IN THE STATE OR FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES WITH JURISDICTION IN PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA (AS APPLICABLE, THE “SELECTED COURTS”). EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE SELECTED COURTS FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR WITH ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR DISCUSSED HEREIN (INCLUDING WITH RESPECT TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE RIGHTS OF A PARTY UNDER THIS AGREEMENT), AND HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, AND AGREES NOT TO ASSERT IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING, ANY CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT PERSONALLY SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH SELECTED COURTS, OR SUCH SELECTED COURTS ARE IMPROPER OR INCONVENIENT VENUE FOR SUCH PROCEEDING. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF PROCESS AND CONSENTS TO PROCESS BEING SERVED IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY MAILING A COPY THEREOF VIA REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL OR OVERNIGHT DELIVERY (WITH EVIDENCE OF DELIVERY) TO SUCH PARTY AT THE ADDRESS IN EFFECT FOR NOTICES TO IT UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND AGREES THAT SUCH SERVICE SHALL CONSTITUTE GOOD AND SUFFICIENT SERVICE OF PROCESS AND NOTICE THEREOF. NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN SHALL BE DEEMED TO LIMIT IN ANY WAY ANY RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

 

(c) TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 16(c).

 

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17. Attorneys’ Fees, etc. If any Party shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Agreement, then the prevailing Party in such action or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other Party for its attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred in the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.

 

18. Arbitration. Any controversy, claim or dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Executive’s employment by the Company, including, but not limited to, common law and statutory claims for discrimination, wrongful discharge, and unpaid wages, shall be resolved by arbitration in Tokyo, Japan pursuant to then-prevailing National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration Association, provided that in the event that such rules may not be applied in Tokyo, Japan for any reason, then pursuant to arbitration rules as reasonably determined by the Company. The arbitration shall be conducted by three arbitrators, with one arbitrator selected by each Party and the third arbitrator selected by the two arbitrators so selected by the Parties. The arbitrators shall be bound to follow the applicable Agreement provisions in adjudicating the dispute. It is agreed by both Parties that the arbitrators’ decision is final, and that no Party may take any action, judicial or administrative, to overturn such decision. The judgment rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in the Selected Courts. Subject to the provisions of Section 17, each Party will pay its own expenses of arbitration and the expenses of the arbitrators will be equally shared provided that, if in the opinion of the arbitrators any claim, defense, or argument raised in the arbitration was unreasonable, the arbitrators may assess all or part of the expenses of the other Party (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) and of the arbitrators as the arbitrators deem appropriate. The arbitrators may not award either Party punitive or consequential damages.

 

19. General Remedies. Each Party acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the other Party, and thus each Party acknowledges that the remedy at law for a breach of its obligations under this Agreement will be inadequate and agrees, in the event of a breach or threatened breach by such Party of the provisions of this Agreement, that the other Party shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies at law or in equity, and in addition to the penalties assessable herein, to an injunction or injunctions restraining, preventing or curing any breach of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required.

 

20. Indemnification. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to indemnification and insurance coverage for officers’ liability, fiduciary liability and other liabilities arising out of the Executive’s position with the Company in any capacity, in an amount not less than the highest amount available to any other executive, and such coverage and protections, with respect to the various liabilities as to which the Executive has been customarily indemnified prior to termination of employment, shall continue for at least six years following the end of the Term. Any indemnification agreement entered into between the Company and the Executive shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms following the termination of this Agreement.

 

21. Expenses. Other than as specifically set forth herein, each of the Parties will bear their own respective expenses, including legal, accounting and professional fees, incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein.

 

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22. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other Party, or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or by email with return receipt requested and received or nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed as set forth below or to such other address as either Party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith. All notices, requests, demands and other communications shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) when delivered by hand, if personally delivered, (ii) when delivered by courier or overnight mail, if delivered by commercial courier service or overnight mail, and (iii) on receipt of confirmed delivery, if sent by email.

 

If to the Company:

 

SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated

Attn: Yoshiyuki Aikawa, CEO

200 Spectrum Center Dr. STE 300

Irvine, CA 92618

E-mail: doctor@sbc.or.jp

 

If to Executive, to the address and email address for Executive as set forth in the books and records of the Company.

 

23. Headings. The section headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

24. Counsel. The Parties acknowledge and agree that legal counsel to the Company (“Counsel”) has prepared this Agreement at the request of the Company, and that Counsel is not legal counsel to Executive individually. Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that they are aware of, and have consented to, the Counsel acting as legal counsel to the Company and preparing this Agreement, and that Counsel has advised each of the Parties to retain separate counsel to review the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other documents to be delivered in connection herewith, and each Party has either waived such right freely or has otherwise sought such additional counsel as it has deemed necessary. Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that Counsel does not owe any duties to Executive in Executive’s individual capacity in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein. Each of the Parties hereby waives any conflict of interest which may apply with respect to Counsel’s actions as set forth herein, and the Parties confirm that the Parties have previously negotiated the material terms of the agreements as set forth herein.

 

25. Rule of Construction. The general rule of construction for interpreting a contract, which provides that the provisions of a contract should be construed against the Party preparing the contract, is waived by the Parties hereto. Each Party acknowledges that such Party was represented by separate legal counsel in this matter who participated in the preparation of this Agreement or such Party had the opportunity to retain counsel to participate in the preparation of this Agreement but elected not to do so.

 

26. Execution in Counterparts, Electronic Transmission. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original. The signature of any Party which is transmitted by any reliable electronic means such as, but not limited to, a photocopy, electronically scanned or facsimile machine, for purposes hereof, is to be considered as an original signature, and the document transmitted is to be considered to have the same binding effect as an original signature or an original document.

 

[Signatures appear on following page]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

 

  SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated
     
  By: /s/ Yoshiyuki Aikawa
  Name:  Yoshiyuki Aikawa
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
     
  Executive:  Yuya Yoshida
     
  By: /s/ Yuya Yoshida
  Name: Yuya Yoshida

 

 

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EX-10.10 7 ea021502401ex10-10_sbcmed.htm EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS AND RYOJI MURATA, DATED SEPTEMBER 17, 2024

Exhibit 10.10

 

Executive Employment Agreement

 

Dated as of 17th September, 2024

 

[Ryoji Murata]

 

This Executive Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated as of the date first set forth above (the “Effective Date”) is entered into by and between SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and Ryoji Murata (the “Executive”). The Company and Executive may collectively be referred to as the “Parties” and each individually as a “Party”.

 

WHEREAS, the Company now desires to employ the Executive as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Executive desires to serve in such capacities on behalf of the Company, in each case subject to the terms and conditions herein;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Employment.

 

(a) Term. The term of this Agreement (the “Initial Term”) shall begin as of the Effective Date and shall end on the earlier of (i) the first (1st) annual anniversary of the Effective Date and (ii) the time of the termination of the Executive’s employment in accordance with Section 2(e). The Initial Term and any Renewal Term (as defined below) shall automatically be extended for one or more additional terms of one (1) year each (each a “Renewal Term” and together with the Initial Term, the “Term”), unless either the Company or Executive provides notice to the other Party of their desire to not so renew the Initial Term or Renewal Term (as applicable) at least thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the then-current Initial Term or Renewal Term, as applicable. Executive’s employment with the Company shall be “at will,” meaning that either Executive or the Company may terminate Executive’s employment at any time and for any reason, subject to Section 3. Any contrary representations that may have been made to Executive are superseded by this Agreement.

 

(b) Duties. The Company hereby appoints Executive, and Executive shall serve, as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company and as the Chief Financial Officer of SBC Medical Group Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and shall report to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”). The Executive shall have such duties and responsibilities as are consistent with Executive’s position with the Company. In addition, the Executive shall perform all other duties and accept all other responsibilities incident to such position as may reasonably assigned to Executive by the Board.

 

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2. Compensation and Other Benefits. As compensation for the services to be rendered hereunder, during the Term the Company shall pay to the Executive the salary and bonuses, and shall provide the benefits, as set forth in this Section 2.

 

(a) Base Salary. The Company shall pay to the Executive an annual base salary of $136,990, payable on a monthly basis commencing on the Effective Date (as the same may be adjusted herein, the “Base Salary”). The Base Salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s payroll policies.

 

(b) Equity Issuances. The Executive shall be eligible to receive awards of options, restricted stock or other equity awards for shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”) of the Company (each, if so issued, an “Equity Award”), pursuant to award agreements in form and substance as determined by the Board and which will be entered into by and between the Company and Executive (if and when executed, each an “Award Agreement”). If an Equity Award, if made, is subject to vesting, then such Equity Award shall be subject to vesting and forfeiture as set forth herein and in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(c) Bonus. The Executive shall be eligible to receive any discretionary bonuses as determined by the Board.

 

(d) Fringe Benefits. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits consistent with the practices of the Company, and to the extent the Company provides similar benefits to the Company’s executive officers.

 

(e) Business Expenses. The Executive shall be entitled to reimbursement for all reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket business, entertainment and travel expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder and in accordance with the Company’s expense reimbursement policies and procedures.

 

3. Termination.

 

(a) Definition of Cause. For purposes hereof, “Cause” shall mean:

 

(i) a violation of any material written rule or policy of the Company for which violation any employee may be terminated pursuant to the written policies of the Company reasonably applicable to an executive employee;

 

(ii) misconduct by the Executive to the material detriment of the Company;

 

(iii) the Executive’s conviction (by a court of competent jurisdiction, not subject to further appeal) of, or pleading guilty to, a felony;

 

(iv) the Executive’s gross negligence in the performance of Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company as described in this Agreement; or

 

(v) the Executive’s material failure to perform Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company as described in this Agreement (other than any such failure resulting from the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness or any such failure subsequent to the Executive being delivered a notice of termination without Cause by the Company or delivering a notice of termination for Good Reason to the Company), in either case after written notice from the Board to the Executive of the specific nature of such material failure and the Executive’s failure to cure such material failure within 10 days following receipt of such notice.

 

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(b) Definition of Good Reason. For purposes hereof, “Good Reason” shall mean:

 

(i) at any time following a Change of Control (as defined below), a material diminution by the Company of compensation and benefits (taken as a whole) provided to the Executive immediately prior to a Change of Control;

 

(ii) a reduction in Base Salary or target or maximum bonus, other than as part of an across-the-board reduction in salaries of management personnel;

 

(iii) the relocation of the Executive’s principal executive office to a location more than 50 miles further from the Executive’s principal executive office immediately prior to such relocation; or

 

(iv) a material breach by the Company of any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement which the Company fails to correct within 10 days after the Company receives written notice from Executive of such violation.

 

(c) Definition of Change of Control. A “Change of Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if, after the Effective Date, (i) the beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) of securities representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company is acquired by any “person” as defined in sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (other than the Company, any subsidiary of the Company, or any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company), (ii) the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation where the shareholders of the Company, immediately prior to the consolidation or merger, would not, immediately after the consolidation or merger, beneficially own (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, shares representing in the aggregate 50% or more of the combined voting power of the securities of the corporation issuing cash or securities in the consolidation or merger (or of its ultimate parent corporation, if any) in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such merger or consolidation, or (iii) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an entity, other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an entity, at least 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned directly or indirectly by shareholders of the Company, immediately prior to the sale or disposition, in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale or disposition.

 

(d) Termination by the Company. The Company may terminate the Term and Executive’s employment hereunder at any time, with or without Cause, subject to the terms and conditions herein.

 

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(i) For Cause. In the event that the Company terminates the Term or Executive’s employment hereunder with Cause, then in such event, subject to Section 3(i), (i) the Company shall pay to Executive any unpaid Base Salary and benefits then owed or accrued, and any unreimbursed expenses, pursuant to the terms of Section 2(e), incurred by the Executive in each case through the termination date, and each of which shall be paid within 10 days following the termination date; (ii) any unvested portion of any equity granted to Executive hereunder or under any Award Agreement or any other agreements with the Company (collectively, the “Equity Grants”) shall immediately be forfeited as of the termination date without any further action of the Parties; and (iii) all of the Parties’ rights and obligations hereunder shall thereafter cease, other than such rights or obligations which arose prior to the termination date or in connection with such termination, and subject to Section 14.

 

(ii) Without Cause. In the event that the Company terminates the Term or Executive’s employment hereunder without Cause, then in such event, subject to Section 3(i), (i) the Company shall pay to Executive any Base Salary, bonuses, and benefits then owed or accrued, and any unreimbursed expenses incurred by the Executive in each case through the termination date, and each of which shall be paid within 10 days following the termination date; (ii) the Company shall pay to Executive, in one lump sum, an amount equal to the Base Salary that would have been paid to Executive for the remainder of the Initial Term (if such termination occurs during the Initial Term) or Renewal Term (if such termination occurs during a Renewal Term), as applicable, which shall be paid within 10 days following the termination date; (iii) any Equity Grant already made to Executive shall, to the extent not already vested, be deemed automatically vested; and (iv) all of the Parties’ rights and obligations hereunder shall thereafter cease, other than such rights or obligations which arose prior to the termination date or in connection with such termination, and subject to Section 14.

 

(e) Termination by the Executive. The Executive may terminate the Term and resign from Executive’s employment hereunder at any time, with or without Good Reason.

 

(i) With Good Reason. In the event that Executive terminates the Term or resigns from Executive’s employment hereunder with Good Reason, the Company shall pay to Executive the amounts, and Executive shall, subject to Section 3(i), be entitled to such benefits (including without limitation any vesting of unvested shares under any Equity Grant), that would have been payable to Executive or which Executive would have received had the Term and Executive’s employment been terminated by the Company without Cause pursuant to Section 3(d)(ii).

 

(ii) Without Good Reason. In the event that Executive terminates the Term or resigns from Executive’s employment hereunder without Good Reason, the Company shall pay to Executive the amounts, and Executive shall be entitled, subject to Section 3(i), to such benefits (including without limitation any vesting of unvested shares under any Equity Grant), that would have been payable to Executive or which Executive would have received had the Term and Executive’s employment been terminated by the Company with Cause pursuant to Section 3(d)(i).

 

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(f) Termination by Death or Disability. In the event of the Executive’s death or total disability (as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) during the Term, the Term and Executive’s employment shall terminate on the date of death or total disability. In the event of such termination, the Company’s sole obligations hereunder to the Executive (or the Executive’s estate) shall be for unpaid Base Salary, accrued but unpaid bonus and benefits (then owed or accrued and owed in the future), a pro-rata bonus for the year of termination based on the Executive’s target bonus for such year and the portion of such year in which the Executive was employed, and reimbursement of expenses pursuant to the terms hereon through the effective date of termination, each of which shall be paid within 10 days following the date of the Executive’s termination, and any unvested portion of any Equity Grants shall immediately be forfeited as of the termination date without any further action of the Parties.

 

(g) Non-Renewal. In the event that the Term is not renewed by either Party pursuant to the provisions of Section 1(a), any unvested portion of any Equity Grants shall immediately be forfeited as of the expiration of the Term without any further action of the Parties.

 

(h) Change of Control. In the event that a Change of Control occurs during the Term, any unvested portion of any Equity Grants shall, to the extent not already vested, be deemed automatically vested immediately without any further action of the Parties.

 

(i) Conflict. In the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions herein and those in any other agreement or contract between the Company and the Executive with respect to any Equity Grants granted to Executive, the terms and conditions of such other agreement or contract shall control.

 

4. Payments.

 

(a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if it is determined that any payment or benefit provided to the Executive under this Agreement or otherwise, whether or not in connection with a Change of Control (a “Payment”), would constitute an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), such that the Payment would be subject to an excise tax under section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), the Company shall pay to the Executive an additional amount (the “Gross-Up Payment”) such that the net amount of the Gross-Up Payment retained by the Executive after the payment of any Excise Tax and any federal, state and local income and employment tax on the Gross-Up Payment, shall be equal to the Excise Tax due on the Payment and any interest and penalties in respect of such Excise Tax. For purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-Up Payment, Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income tax and employment taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income and employment taxation in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation in the state and locality of Executive’s residence (or, if greater, the state and locality in which Executive is required to file a nonresident income tax return with respect to the Payment) in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes that may be obtained from the deduction of such state and local taxes.

 

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(b) All determinations made pursuant to Section 4(a) shall be made by the Company which shall provide its determination and any supporting calculations (the “Determination”) to the Executive within thirty days of the date of the Executive’s termination or any other date selected by the Executive or the Company. Within ten calendar days of the delivery of the Determination to the Executive, the Executive shall have the right to dispute the Determination (the “Dispute”). The existence of any Dispute shall not in any way affect the Executive’s right to receive the Gross-Up Payments in accordance with the Determination. If there is no dispute, the Determination by the Company shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Executive, subject to the application of Section 4(c). Within ten days after the Company’s determination, the Company shall pay to the Executive the Gross-Up Payment, if any. If the Company determines that no Excise Tax is payable by the Executive, it will, at the same time as it makes such Determination, furnish Executive with an opinion that the Executive has substantial authority not to report any Excise Tax on Executive’s federal, state, local income or other tax return. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Executive of and from any and all claims, damages and expenses resulting from or relating to its determinations pursuant to this Section 4(b), except for claims, damages or expenses resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Company.

 

(c) As a result of the uncertainty in the application of sections 4999 and 280G of the Code, it is possible that the Gross-Up Payments either will have been made which should not have been made, or will not have been made which should have been made, by the Company (an “Excess Gross-Up Payment” or a “Gross-Up Underpayment,” respectively). If it is established pursuant to (A) a final determination of a court for which all appeals have been taken and finally resolved or the time for all appeals has expired, or (B) an Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) proceeding which has been finally and conclusively resolved, that an Excess Gross-Up Payment has been made, such Excess Gross-Up Payment shall be deemed for all purposes to be a loan to the Executive made on the date the Executive received the Excess Gross-Up Payment and the Executive shall repay the Excess Gross-Up Payment to the Company either (i) on demand, if the Executive is in possession of the Excess Gross-Up Payment or (ii) upon the refund of such Excess Gross-Up Payment to the Executive from the IRS, if the IRS is in possession of such Excess Gross-Up Payment, together with interest on the Excess Gross-Up Payment at (X) 120% of the applicable federal rate (as defined in Section 1274(d) of the Code) compounded semi-annually for any period during which the Executive held such Excess Gross-Up Payment and (Y) the interest rate paid to the Executive by the IRS in respect of any period during which the IRS held such Excess Gross-Up Payment. If a Gross-Up Underpayment occurs as determined under one or more of the following circumstances: (I) such determination is made by the Company (which shall include the position taken by the Company, together with its consolidated group, on its federal income tax return) or is made by the IRS, (II) such determination is made by a court, or (III) such determination is made upon the resolution to the Executive’s satisfaction of the Dispute, then the Company shall pay an amount equal to the Gross-Up Underpayment to the Executive within ten calendar days of such determination or resolution, together with interest on such amount at 120% of the applicable federal rate compounded semi-annually from the date such amount should have been paid to the Executive pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, but for the operation of this Section 4(c), until the date of payment.

 

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5. Post-Termination Assistance. Upon the Executive’s termination of employment with the Company, the Executive agrees to fully cooperate in all matters relating to the winding up or pending work on behalf of the Company and the orderly transfer of work to other employees of the Company following any termination of the Executives’ employment. The Executive further agrees that Executive will provide, upon reasonable notice, such information and assistance to the Company as may reasonably be requested by the Company in connection with any audit, governmental investigation, litigation, or other dispute in which the Company is or may become a party and as to which the Executive has knowledge; provided, however, that (i) the Company agrees to reimburse the Executive for any related out-of-pocket expenses, including travel expenses, and (ii) any such assistance may not unreasonably interfere with Executive’s then current employment.

 

6. No Mitigation or Set Off. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement and such amounts shall not be reduced, regardless of whether the Executive obtains other employment. The Company’s obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any circumstances, including, without limitation, any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which the Company may have against the Executive or others; provided, however, the Company shall have the right to offset the amount of any funds loaned or advanced to the Executive and not repaid against any severance obligations the Company may have to the Executive hereunder.

 

7. Confidentiality

 

(a) Definition. For purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential Information” shall mean all Company Work Product (as hereinafter defined) and all non-public written, electronic, and oral information or materials of Company communicated to or otherwise obtained by Executive in connection with this Agreement, which is related to the products, business and activities of Company, its Affiliates (as defined below), and subsidiaries, and their respective customers, clients, suppliers, and other entities with which such party does business, including: (i) all costing, pricing, technology, software, documentation, research, techniques, procedures, processes, discoveries, inventions, methodologies, data, tools, templates, know how, intellectual property and all other proprietary information of Company; (ii) the terms of this Agreement; and (iii) any other information identified as confidential in writing by Company. Confidential Information shall not include information that: (a) was lawfully known by Executive without an obligation of confidentiality before its receipt from Company; (b) is independently developed by Executive without reliance on or use of Confidential Information; (c) is or becomes publicly available without a breach by Executive of this Agreement; or (d) is disclosed to Executive by a third party which is not required to maintain its confidentiality. An “Affiliate” of a Party shall mean any entity directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, such Party at any time during the Term for so long as such control exists.

 

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(b) Company Ownership. Company shall retain all right, title, and interest to the Confidential Information, including all copies thereof and all rights to patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets and other intellectual property rights inherent therein and appurtenant thereto. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Company hereby grants Executive a non-exclusive, non-transferable, license during the Term to use any Confidential Information solely to the extent that such Confidential Information is necessary for the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder. Executive shall not, by virtue of this Agreement or otherwise, acquire any proprietary rights whatsoever in Confidential Information, which shall be the sole and exclusive property and confidential information of Company. No identifying marks, copyright or proprietary right notices may be deleted from any copy of Confidential Information. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to limit the rights of Company from performing similar services for, or delivering the same or similar deliverable to, third parties using the Confidential Information and/or using the same personnel to provide any such services or deliverables.

 

(c) Confidentiality Obligations. Executive agrees to hold the Confidential Information in confidence and not to copy, reproduce, sell, assign, license, market, transfer, give or otherwise disclose such Confidential Information to any person or entity or to use the Confidential Information for any purposes whatsoever, without the express written permission of Company, other than disclosure to Executive’s, partners, principals, directors, officers, employees, subcontractors and agents on a “need-to-know” basis as reasonably required for the performance of Executive’s obligations hereunder or as otherwise agreed to herein. Executive shall be responsible to Company for any violation of this Section 7 by Executive’s employees, subcontractors, and agents. Executive shall maintain the Confidential Information with the same degree of care, but no less than a reasonable degree of care, as Executive employs concerning its own information of like kind and character.

 

(d) Required Disclosure. If Executive is requested to disclose any of the Confidential Information as part of an administrative or judicial proceeding, Executive shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, promptly notify Company of that request and cooperate with Company, at Company’s expense, in seeking a protective order or similar confidential treatment for the Confidential Information. If no protective order or other confidential treatment is obtained, Executive shall disclose only that portion of Confidential Information which is legally required and will exercise all reasonable efforts to obtain reliable assurances that confidential treatment will be accorded the Confidential Information which is required to be disclosed.

 

(e) Enforcement. Executive acknowledges that the Confidential Information is unique and valuable, and that remedies at law will be inadequate to protect Company from any actual or threatened breach of this Section 7 by Executive and that any such breach would cause irreparable and continuing injury to Company. Therefore, Executive agrees that Company shall be entitled to seek equitable relief with respect to the enforcement of this Section 7 without any requirement to post a bond, including, without limitation, injunction and specific performance, without proof of actual damages or exhausting other remedies, in addition to all other remedies available to Company at law or in equity. For greater clarity, in the event of a breach or threatened breach by Executive of any of the provisions of this Section 7, in addition to and not in limitation of any other rights, remedies or damages available at law or in equity, Company shall be entitled to a permanent injunction or other like remedy in order to prevent or restrain any such breach or threatened breach by Executive, and Executive agrees that an interim injunction may be granted against Executive immediately on the commencement of any action, claim, suit or proceeding by Company to enforce the provisions of this Section 7, and Executive further irrevocably consents to the granting of any such interim or permanent injunction or any like remedy. If any action at law or in equity is necessary to enforce the terms of this Section 7, Executive, if it is determined to be at fault, shall pay Company’s reasonable legal fees and expenses on a substantial indemnity basis.

 

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(f) Related Duties. Executive shall: (i) promptly deliver to Company upon Company’s request all materials in Executive’s possession which contain Confidential Information; (ii) use its best efforts to prevent any unauthorized use or disclosure of the Confidential Information; (iii) notify Company in writing immediately upon discovery of any such unauthorized use or disclosure; and (iv) cooperate in every reasonable way to regain possession of any Confidential Information and to prevent further unauthorized use and disclosure thereof.

 

(g) Legal Exceptions. Further notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7, Executive may disclose confidential information as may be expressly required by law, governmental rule, regulation, executive order, court order, or in connection with a dispute between the Parties; provided that prior to making any such disclosure, subject to applicable law, Executive shall use its best efforts to: (i) provide Company with at least fifteen (15) days’ prior written notice setting forth with specificity the reason(s) for such disclosure, supporting documentation therefor, and the circumstances giving rise thereto; and (ii) limit the scope and duration of such disclosure to the strictest possible extent.

 

(h) Limitation. Except as specifically set forth herein, no licenses or rights under any patent, copyright, trademark, or trade secret are granted by Company to Executive hereunder, or are to be implied by this Agreement. Except for the restrictions on use and disclosure of Confidential Information imposed in this Agreement, no obligation of any kind is assumed or implied against either Party or their Affiliates by virtue of meetings or conversations between the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter stated above or with respect to the exchange of Confidential Information. Each Party further acknowledges that this Agreement and any meetings and communications of the Parties and their affiliates relating to the same subject matter shall not: (i) constitute an offer, request, invitation or contract with the other Party to engage in any research, development or other work; (ii) constitute an offer, request, invitation or contract involving a buyer-seller relationship, joint venture, teaming or partnership relationship between the Parties and their affiliates; or (iii) constitute a representation, warranty, assurance, guarantee or inducement with respect to the accuracy or completeness of any Confidential Information or the non-infringement of the rights of third persons.

 

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8. Intellectual Property Rights.

 

(a) Disclosure of Work Product. As used in this Agreement, the term “Work Product” means any invention, whether or not patentable, know-how, designs, mask works, trademarks, formulae, processes, manufacturing techniques, trade secrets, ideas, artwork, software or any copyrightable or patentable works. Executive agrees to disclose promptly in writing to Company, or any person designated by Company, all Work Product that is solely or jointly conceived, made, reduced to practice, or learned by Executive in the course of any work performed for Company (“Company Work Product”). Executive agrees (a) to use Executive’s best efforts to maintain such Company Work Product in trust and strict confidence; (b) not to use Company Work Product in any manner or for any purpose not expressly set forth in this Agreement; and (c) not to disclose any such Company Work Product to any third party without first obtaining Company’s express written consent on a case-by-case basis.

 

(b) Ownership of Company Work Product. Executive agrees that any and all Company Work Product conceived, written, created or first reduced to practice in the performance of work under this Agreement shall be deemed “work for hire” under applicable law and shall be the sole and exclusive property of Company.

 

(c) Assignment of Company Work Product. Executive irrevocably assigns to Company all right, title and interest worldwide in and to the Company Work Product and all applicable intellectual property rights related to the Company Work Product, including without limitation, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, patents, moral rights, contract and licensing rights (the “Proprietary Rights”). Except as set forth below, Executive retains no rights to use the Company Work Product and agrees not to challenge the validity of Company’s ownership in the Company Work Product. Executive hereby grants to Company a perpetual, non-exclusive, fully paid-up, royalty-free, irrevocable and world-wide right, with rights to sublicense through multiple tiers of sublicensees, to reproduce, make derivative works of, publicly perform, and display in any form or medium whether now known or later developed, distribute, make, use and sell any and all Executive owned or controlled Work Product or technology that Executive uses to complete the services and which is necessary for Company to use or exploit the Company Work Product.

 

(d) Assistance. Executive agrees to cooperate with Company or its designee(s), both during and after the Term, in the procurement and maintenance of Company’s rights in Company Work Product and to execute, when requested, any other documents deemed necessary by Company to carry out the purpose of this Agreement. Executive will assist Company in every proper way to obtain, and from time to time enforce, United States and foreign Proprietary Rights relating to Company Work Product in any and all countries. Executive’s obligation to assist Company with respect to Proprietary Rights relating to such Company Work Product in any and all countries shall continue beyond the termination of this Agreement, but Company shall compensate Executive at a reasonable rate to be mutually agreed upon after such termination for the time actually spent by Executive at Company’s request on such assistance.

 

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(e) Execution of Documents. In the event Company is unable for any reason, after reasonable effort, to secure Executive’s signature on any document requested by Company pursuant to this Section 8 within seven (7) days of the Company’s initial request to Executive, Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as its agent and attorney in fact, which appointment is coupled with an interest, to act for and on its behalf solely to execute, verify and file any such documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the purposes of this Section 8 with the same legal force and effect as if executed by Executive. Executive hereby waives and quitclaims to Company any and all claims, of any nature whatsoever, which Executive now or may hereafter have for infringement of any Proprietary Rights assignable hereunder to Company.

 

(f) Executive Representations and Warranties. Executive hereby represents and warrants that: (i) Company Work Product will be an original work of Executive or all applicable third parties will have executed assignments of rights reasonably acceptable to Company; (ii) neither the Company Work Product nor any element thereof will infringe the intellectual property rights of any third party; (iii) neither the Company Work Product nor any element thereof will be subject to any restrictions or to any mortgages, liens, pledges, security interests, encumbrances or encroachments; (iv) Executive will not grant, directly or indirectly, any rights or interest whatsoever in the Company Work Product to any third party; (v) Executive has full right and power to enter into and perform Executive’s obligations under this Agreement without the consent of any third party; (vi) Executive will use best efforts to prevent injury to any person (including employees of Company) or damage to property (including Company’s property) during the Term; and (vii) should Company permit Executive to use any of Company’s equipment, tools, or facilities during the Term, such permission shall be gratuitous and Executive shall be responsible for any injury to any person (including death) or damage to property (including Company’s property) arising out of use of such equipment, tools or facilities.

 

9. Representations and Warranties Relating to Securities. The Equity Award, any shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company that may be issued or granted to the Executive hereunder or pursuant to any other agreement between the Company and the Executive in connection with the transactions contemplated herein may be referred to as the “Securities”, and Executive represents and warrants to the Company as set forth in this Section 9 with respect to the Securities and Executive’s receipt thereof, as of the Effective Date and as of the date of any issuance or granting of any Securities.

 

(a) Executive is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act (an “Accredited Investor”).

 

(b) Executive hereby represent that the Securities awarded pursuant to this Agreement are being acquired for Executive’s own account and not for sale or with a view to distribution thereof. Executive acknowledges and agrees that any sale or distribution of Securities which have vested may be made only pursuant to either (a) a registration statement on an appropriate form under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), which registration statement has become effective and is current with regard to the shares being sold, or (b) a specific exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act that is confirmed in a favorable written opinion of counsel, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Company, prior to any such sale or distribution. Executive hereby consents to such action as the Board or the Company deems necessary or appropriate from time to time to prevent a violation of, or to perfect an exemption from, the registration requirements of the Securities Act or to implement the provisions of this Agreement, including but not limited to placing restrictive legends on certificates evidencing shares of Securities (whether or not the Restrictions applicable thereto have lapsed) and delivering stop transfer instructions to the Company’s stock transfer agent.

 

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(c) Executive understands that the Securities is being offered and sold to Executive in reliance upon specific exemptions from the registration requirements of United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and Executive’s compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of the Executive set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the Executive to acquire the Securities.

 

(d) Executive has been furnished with all documents and materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and information that Executive requested and deemed material to making an informed investment decision regarding its acquisition of the Securities. Executive has been afforded the opportunity to review such documents and materials and the information contained therein. Executive has been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the Company and its management. Executive understands that such discussions, as well as any written information provided by the Company, were intended to describe the aspects of the Company’s business and prospects which the Company believes to be material, but were not necessarily a thorough or exhaustive description and the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to the completeness of such information and makes no representation or warranty of any kind with respect to any information provided by any entity other than the Company. Some of such information may include projections as to the future performance of the Company, which projections may not be realized, may be based on assumptions which may not be correct and may be subject to numerous factors beyond the Company’s control. Additionally, Executive understands and represents that Executive is acquiring the Securities notwithstanding the fact that the Company may disclose in the future certain material information that the Executive has not received. Executive has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as Executive has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to Executive’s investment in the Securities. Executive has full power and authority to make the representations referred to herein, to acquire the Securities and to execute and deliver this Agreement. Executive, either personally, or together with Executive’s advisors has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Securities, is able to bear the risks of an investment in the Securities and understands the risks of, and other considerations relating to, a purchase of the Securities. The Executive and Executive’s advisors have had a reasonable opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from the Company concerning the Securities. Executive’s financial condition is such that Executive is able to bear the risk of holding the Securities that Executive may acquire pursuant to this Agreement for an indefinite period of time, and the risk of loss of Executive’s entire investment in the Company. Executive has investigated the acquisition of the Securities to the extent Executive deemed necessary or desirable and the Company has provided Executive with any reasonable assistance Executive has requested in connection therewith. No representations or warranties have been made to Executive by the Company, or any representative of the Company, or any securities broker/dealer, other than as set forth in this Agreement.

 

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(e) Executive also acknowledges and agrees that an investment in the Securities is highly speculative and involves a high degree of risk of loss of the entire investment in the Company and there is no assurance that a public market for the Securities will ever develop and that, as a result, Executive may not be able to liquidate Executive’s investment in the Securities should a need arise to do so. Executive is not dependent for liquidity on any of the amounts Executive is investing in the Securities. Executive has full power and authority to make the representations referred to herein, to acquire the Securities and to execute and deliver this Agreement. Executive understands that the representations and warranties herein are to be relied upon by the Company as a basis for the exemptions from registration and qualification of the issuance and sale of the Securities under the federal and state securities laws and for other purposes.

 

(f) Executive understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed upon or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities.

 

(g) Executive understands that until such time as the Securities have been registered under the Securities Act or may be sold pursuant to Rule 144, Rule 144A under the Securities Act or Regulation S without any restriction as to the number of securities as of a particular date that can then be immediately sold, the Securities may bear a restrictive legend in substantially the following form (and a stop-transfer order may be placed against transfer of the certificates for such Securities):

 

“NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL (WHICH COUNSEL SHALL BE SELECTED BY THE HOLDER), IN A GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE FORM, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144, RULE 144A OR REGULATION S UNDER SAID ACT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES.”

 

(h) This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized by Executive. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of Executive, and this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of Executive enforceable in accordance with its terms.

 

(i) Executive is an individual resident of the state set forth in the notices provision for Executive herein.

 

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10. Effect of Waiver. The waiver by either Party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach hereof. No waiver shall be valid unless in writing.

 

11. Assignment. No Party shall have any power or any right to assign or transfer, in whole or in part, this Agreement, or any of its rights or any of its obligations hereunder, including, without limitation, any right to pursue any claim for damages pursuant to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein, or to pursue any claim for any breach or default of this Agreement, or any right arising from the purported assignor’s due performance of its obligations hereunder, without the prior written consent of the other Party and any such purported assignment in contravention of the provisions herein shall be null and void and of no force or effect, provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may transfer, assign or delegate to any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company any of Company’s rights, obligations or duties hereunder.

 

12. No Third-Party Rights. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, this Agreement is intended solely for the benefit of the Parties hereto and is not intended to confer any benefits upon, or create any rights in favor of, any person or entity other than the Parties hereto.

 

13. Entire Agreement; Effectiveness of Agreement. This Agreement, any Award Agreement and any other agreement entered into between the Company and Executive with respect to the issuance of any equity securities of the Company or other equity awards relating to the Company set forth the entire agreement of the Parties hereto and shall supersede any and all prior agreements and understandings concerning the Executive’s employment by the Company. This Agreement may be changed only by a written document signed by the Executive and the Company.

 

14. Survival. The provisions of Section 3, Section 4, Section 5, Section 6, Section 7, Section 8, Section 9 and Section 12 through Section 26, inclusive, shall survive any termination or expiration of this Agreement, and provided that any expiration or termination of this Agreement shall not excuse a Party from compliance with, or fulfillment of, any obligations or conditions which arose prior to such expiration or termination.

 

15. Severability. If any one or more of the provisions, or portions of any provision, of the Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions or parts hereof shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

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16. Governing Law and Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

(a) All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be determined, and this Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of such state, without giving effect to the choice of law provisions of such state.

 

(B) SUBJECT TO SECTION 18, EACH PARTY AGREES THAT ALL LEGAL PROCEEDINGS CONCERNING THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE COMMENCED IN THE TOKYO DISTRICT COURTS, OR, SOLELY IN THE EVENT THAT THE TOKYO DISTRICT COURTS ARE UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO ASSERT JURISDICTION WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGEMENT HEREUNDER FOR ANY REASON, THEN IN THE STATE OR FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES WITH JURISDICTION IN PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA (AS APPLICABLE, THE “SELECTED COURTS”). EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE SELECTED COURTS FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR WITH ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR DISCUSSED HEREIN (INCLUDING WITH RESPECT TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE RIGHTS OF A PARTY UNDER THIS AGREEMENT), AND HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, AND AGREES NOT TO ASSERT IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING, ANY CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT PERSONALLY SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH SELECTED COURTS, OR SUCH SELECTED COURTS ARE IMPROPER OR INCONVENIENT VENUE FOR SUCH PROCEEDING. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF PROCESS AND CONSENTS TO PROCESS BEING SERVED IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY MAILING A COPY THEREOF VIA REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL OR OVERNIGHT DELIVERY (WITH EVIDENCE OF DELIVERY) TO SUCH PARTY AT THE ADDRESS IN EFFECT FOR NOTICES TO IT UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND AGREES THAT SUCH SERVICE SHALL CONSTITUTE GOOD AND SUFFICIENT SERVICE OF PROCESS AND NOTICE THEREOF. NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN SHALL BE DEEMED TO LIMIT IN ANY WAY ANY RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

 

(c) TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 16(c).

 

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17. Attorneys’ Fees, etc. If any Party shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Agreement, then the prevailing Party in such action or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other Party for its attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred in the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.

 

18. Arbitration. Any controversy, claim or dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Executive’s employment by the Company, including, but not limited to, common law and statutory claims for discrimination, wrongful discharge, and unpaid wages, shall be resolved by arbitration in Tokyo, Japan pursuant to then-prevailing National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration Association, provided that in the event that such rules may not be applied in Tokyo, Japan for any reason, then pursuant to arbitration rules as reasonably determined by the Company. The arbitration shall be conducted by three arbitrators, with one arbitrator selected by each Party and the third arbitrator selected by the two arbitrators so selected by the Parties. The arbitrators shall be bound to follow the applicable Agreement provisions in adjudicating the dispute. It is agreed by both Parties that the arbitrators’ decision is final, and that no Party may take any action, judicial or administrative, to overturn such decision. The judgment rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in the Selected Courts. Subject to the provisions of Section 17, each Party will pay its own expenses of arbitration and the expenses of the arbitrators will be equally shared provided that, if in the opinion of the arbitrators any claim, defense, or argument raised in the arbitration was unreasonable, the arbitrators may assess all or part of the expenses of the other Party (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) and of the arbitrators as the arbitrators deem appropriate. The arbitrators may not award either Party punitive or consequential damages.

 

19. General Remedies. Each Party acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the other Party, and thus each Party acknowledges that the remedy at law for a breach of its obligations under this Agreement will be inadequate and agrees, in the event of a breach or threatened breach by such Party of the provisions of this Agreement, that the other Party shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies at law or in equity, and in addition to the penalties assessable herein, to an injunction or injunctions restraining, preventing or curing any breach of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required.

 

20. Indemnification. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to indemnification and insurance coverage for officers’ liability, fiduciary liability and other liabilities arising out of the Executive’s position with the Company in any capacity, in an amount not less than the highest amount available to any other executive, and such coverage and protections, with respect to the various liabilities as to which the Executive has been customarily indemnified prior to termination of employment, shall continue for at least six years following the end of the Term. Any indemnification agreement entered into between the Company and the Executive shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms following the termination of this Agreement.

 

21. Expenses. Other than as specifically set forth herein, each of the Parties will bear their own respective expenses, including legal, accounting and professional fees, incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein.

 

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22. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other Party, or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or by email with return receipt requested and received or nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed as set forth below or to such other address as either Party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith. All notices, requests, demands and other communications shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) when delivered by hand, if personally delivered, (ii) when delivered by courier or overnight mail, if delivered by commercial courier service or overnight mail, and (iii) on receipt of confirmed delivery, if sent by email.

 

If to the Company:

 

SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated

Attn: Yoshiyuki Aikawa, CEO

200 Spectrum Center Dr. STE 300

Irvine, CA 92618

E-mail: doctor@sbc.or.jp

 

If to Executive, to the address and email address for Executive as set forth in the books and records of the Company.

 

23. Headings. The section headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

24. Counsel. The Parties acknowledge and agree that legal counsel to the Company (“Counsel”) has prepared this Agreement at the request of the Company, and that Counsel is not legal counsel to Executive individually. Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that they are aware of, and have consented to, the Counsel acting as legal counsel to the Company and preparing this Agreement, and that Counsel has advised each of the Parties to retain separate counsel to review the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other documents to be delivered in connection herewith, and each Party has either waived such right freely or has otherwise sought such additional counsel as it has deemed necessary. Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that Counsel does not owe any duties to Executive in Executive’s individual capacity in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein. Each of the Parties hereby waives any conflict of interest which may apply with respect to Counsel’s actions as set forth herein, and the Parties confirm that the Parties have previously negotiated the material terms of the agreements as set forth herein.

 

25. Rule of Construction. The general rule of construction for interpreting a contract, which provides that the provisions of a contract should be construed against the Party preparing the contract, is waived by the Parties hereto. Each Party acknowledges that such Party was represented by separate legal counsel in this matter who participated in the preparation of this Agreement or such Party had the opportunity to retain counsel to participate in the preparation of this Agreement but elected not to do so.

 

26. Execution in Counterparts, Electronic Transmission. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original. The signature of any Party which is transmitted by any reliable electronic means such as, but not limited to, a photocopy, electronically scanned or facsimile machine, for purposes hereof, is to be considered as an original signature, and the document transmitted is to be considered to have the same binding effect as an original signature or an original document.

 

[Signatures appear on following page]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

 

  SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated
     
  By: /s/ Yoshiyuki Aikawa
  Name:  Yoshiyuki Aikawa
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

  Executive: Ryoji Murata

 

  By: /s/ Ryoji Murata
  Name:  Ryoji Murata

 

 

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EX-10.11 8 ea021502401ex10-11_sbcmed.htm EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS AND AKIRA KOMATSU, DATED SEPTEMBER 17, 2024

Exhibit 10.11

 

Executive Employment Agreement

 

Dated as of 17th September, 2024

 

[Akira Komatsu]

 

This Executive Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) dated as of the date first set forth above (the “Effective Date”) is entered into by and between SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and Akira Komatsu (the “Executive”). The Company and Executive may collectively be referred to as the “Parties” and each individually as a “Party”.

 

WHEREAS, the Company now desires to employ the Executive as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Executive desires to serve in such capacities on behalf of the Company, in each case subject to the terms and conditions herein;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Employment.

 

(a) Term. The term of this Agreement (the “Initial Term”) shall begin as of the Effective Date and shall end on the earlier of (i) the first (1st) annual anniversary of the Effective Date and (ii) the time of the termination of the Executive’s employment in accordance with Section 2(e). The Initial Term and any Renewal Term (as defined below) shall automatically be extended for one or more additional terms of one (1) year each (each a “Renewal Term” and together with the Initial Term, the “Term”), unless either the Company or Executive provides notice to the other Party of their desire to not so renew the Initial Term or Renewal Term (as applicable) at least thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the then-current Initial Term or Renewal Term, as applicable. Executive’s employment with the Company shall be “at will,” meaning that either Executive or the Company may terminate Executive’s employment at any time and for any reason, subject to Section 3. Any contrary representations that may have been made to Executive are superseded by this Agreement.

 

(b) Duties. The Company hereby appoints Executive, and Executive shall serve, as the Secretary of the Company and as the Secretary of SBC Medical Group Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and shall report to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”). The Executive shall have such duties and responsibilities as are consistent with Executive’s position with the Company. In addition, the Executive shall perform all other duties and accept all other responsibilities incident to such position as may reasonably assigned to Executive by the Board.

 

2. Compensation and Other Benefits. As compensation for the services to be rendered hereunder, during the Term the Company shall pay to the Executive the salary and bonuses, and shall provide the benefits, as set forth in this Section 2.

 

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(a) Base Salary. The Company shall pay to the Executive an annual base salary of $75,041, payable on a monthly basis commencing on the Effective Date (as the same may be adjusted herein, the “Base Salary”). The Base Salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s payroll policies.

 

(b) Equity Issuances. The Executive shall be eligible to receive awards of options, restricted stock or other equity awards for shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”) of the Company (each, if so issued, an “Equity Award”), pursuant to award agreements in form and substance as determined by the Board and which will be entered into by and between the Company and Executive (if and when executed, each an “Award Agreement”). If an Equity Award, if made, is subject to vesting, then such Equity Award shall be subject to vesting and forfeiture as set forth herein and in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(c) Bonus. The Executive shall be eligible to receive any discretionary bonuses as determined by the Board.

 

(d) Fringe Benefits. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits consistent with the practices of the Company, and to the extent the Company provides similar benefits to the Company’s executive officers.

 

(e) Business Expenses. The Executive shall be entitled to reimbursement for all reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket business, entertainment and travel expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder and in accordance with the Company’s expense reimbursement policies and procedures.

 

3. Termination.

 

(a) Definition of Cause. For purposes hereof, “Cause” shall mean:

 

(i) a violation of any material written rule or policy of the Company for which violation any employee may be terminated pursuant to the written policies of the Company reasonably applicable to an executive employee;

 

(ii) misconduct by the Executive to the material detriment of the Company;

 

(iii) the Executive’s conviction (by a court of competent jurisdiction, not subject to further appeal) of, or pleading guilty to, a felony;

 

(iv) the Executive’s gross negligence in the performance of Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company as described in this Agreement; or

 

(v) the Executive’s material failure to perform Executive’s duties and responsibilities to the Company as described in this Agreement (other than any such failure resulting from the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness or any such failure subsequent to the Executive being delivered a notice of termination without Cause by the Company or delivering a notice of termination for Good Reason to the Company), in either case after written notice from the Board to the Executive of the specific nature of such material failure and the Executive’s failure to cure such material failure within 10 days following receipt of such notice.

 

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(b) Definition of Good Reason. For purposes hereof, “Good Reason” shall mean:

 

(i) at any time following a Change of Control (as defined below), a material diminution by the Company of compensation and benefits (taken as a whole) provided to the Executive immediately prior to a Change of Control;

 

(ii) a reduction in Base Salary or target or maximum bonus, other than as part of an across-the-board reduction in salaries of management personnel;

 

(iii) the relocation of the Executive’s principal executive office to a location more than 50 miles further from the Executive’s principal executive office immediately prior to such relocation; or

 

(iv) a material breach by the Company of any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement which the Company fails to correct within 10 days after the Company receives written notice from Executive of such violation.

 

(c) Definition of Change of Control. A “Change of Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if, after the Effective Date, (i) the beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) of securities representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company is acquired by any “person” as defined in sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (other than the Company, any subsidiary of the Company, or any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company), (ii) the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation where the shareholders of the Company, immediately prior to the consolidation or merger, would not, immediately after the consolidation or merger, beneficially own (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, shares representing in the aggregate 50% or more of the combined voting power of the securities of the corporation issuing cash or securities in the consolidation or merger (or of its ultimate parent corporation, if any) in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such merger or consolidation, or (iii) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an entity, other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an entity, at least 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned directly or indirectly by shareholders of the Company, immediately prior to the sale or disposition, in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale or disposition.

 

(d) Termination by the Company. The Company may terminate the Term and Executive’s employment hereunder at any time, with or without Cause, subject to the terms and conditions herein.

 

(i) For Cause. In the event that the Company terminates the Term or Executive’s employment hereunder with Cause, then in such event, subject to Section 3(i), (i) the Company shall pay to Executive any unpaid Base Salary and benefits then owed or accrued, and any unreimbursed expenses, pursuant to the terms of Section 2(e), incurred by the Executive in each case through the termination date, and each of which shall be paid within 10 days following the termination date; (ii) any unvested portion of any equity granted to Executive hereunder or under any Award Agreement or any other agreements with the Company (collectively, the “Equity Grants”) shall immediately be forfeited as of the termination date without any further action of the Parties; and (iii) all of the Parties’ rights and obligations hereunder shall thereafter cease, other than such rights or obligations which arose prior to the termination date or in connection with such termination, and subject to Section 14.

 

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(ii) Without Cause. In the event that the Company terminates the Term or Executive’s employment hereunder without Cause, then in such event, subject to Section 3(i), (i) the Company shall pay to Executive any Base Salary, bonuses, and benefits then owed or accrued, and any unreimbursed expenses incurred by the Executive in each case through the termination date, and each of which shall be paid within 10 days following the termination date; (ii) the Company shall pay to Executive, in one lump sum, an amount equal to the Base Salary that would have been paid to Executive for the remainder of the Initial Term (if such termination occurs during the Initial Term) or Renewal Term (if such termination occurs during a Renewal Term), as applicable, which shall be paid within 10 days following the termination date; (iii) any Equity Grant already made to Executive shall, to the extent not already vested, be deemed automatically vested; and (iv) all of the Parties’ rights and obligations hereunder shall thereafter cease, other than such rights or obligations which arose prior to the termination date or in connection with such termination, and subject to Section 14.

 

(e) Termination by the Executive. The Executive may terminate the Term and resign from Executive’s employment hereunder at any time, with or without Good Reason.

 

(i) With Good Reason. In the event that Executive terminates the Term or resigns from Executive’s employment hereunder with Good Reason, the Company shall pay to Executive the amounts, and Executive shall, subject to Section 3(i), be entitled to such benefits (including without limitation any vesting of unvested shares under any Equity Grant), that would have been payable to Executive or which Executive would have received had the Term and Executive’s employment been terminated by the Company without Cause pursuant to Section 3(d)(ii).

 

(ii) Without Good Reason. In the event that Executive terminates the Term or resigns from Executive’s employment hereunder without Good Reason, the Company shall pay to Executive the amounts, and Executive shall be entitled, subject to Section 3(i), to such benefits (including without limitation any vesting of unvested shares under any Equity Grant), that would have been payable to Executive or which Executive would have received had the Term and Executive’s employment been terminated by the Company with Cause pursuant to Section 3(d)(i).

 

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(f) Termination by Death or Disability. In the event of the Executive’s death or total disability (as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) during the Term, the Term and Executive’s employment shall terminate on the date of death or total disability. In the event of such termination, the Company’s sole obligations hereunder to the Executive (or the Executive’s estate) shall be for unpaid Base Salary, accrued but unpaid bonus and benefits (then owed or accrued and owed in the future), a pro-rata bonus for the year of termination based on the Executive’s target bonus for such year and the portion of such year in which the Executive was employed, and reimbursement of expenses pursuant to the terms hereon through the effective date of termination, each of which shall be paid within 10 days following the date of the Executive’s termination, and any unvested portion of any Equity Grants shall immediately be forfeited as of the termination date without any further action of the Parties.

 

(g) Non-Renewal. In the event that the Term is not renewed by either Party pursuant to the provisions of Section 1(a), any unvested portion of any Equity Grants shall immediately be forfeited as of the expiration of the Term without any further action of the Parties.

 

(h) Change of Control. In the event that a Change of Control occurs during the Term, any unvested portion of any Equity Grants shall, to the extent not already vested, be deemed automatically vested immediately without any further action of the Parties.

 

(i) Conflict. In the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions herein and those in any other agreement or contract between the Company and the Executive with respect to any Equity Grants granted to Executive, the terms and conditions of such other agreement or contract shall control.

 

4. Payments.

 

(a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if it is determined that any payment or benefit provided to the Executive under this Agreement or otherwise, whether or not in connection with a Change of Control (a “Payment”), would constitute an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), such that the Payment would be subject to an excise tax under section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), the Company shall pay to the Executive an additional amount (the “Gross-Up Payment”) such that the net amount of the Gross-Up Payment retained by the Executive after the payment of any Excise Tax and any federal, state and local income and employment tax on the Gross-Up Payment, shall be equal to the Excise Tax due on the Payment and any interest and penalties in respect of such Excise Tax. For purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-Up Payment, Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income tax and employment taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income and employment taxation in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation in the state and locality of Executive’s residence (or, if greater, the state and locality in which Executive is required to file a nonresident income tax return with respect to the Payment) in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes that may be obtained from the deduction of such state and local taxes.

 

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(b) All determinations made pursuant to Section 4(a) shall be made by the Company which shall provide its determination and any supporting calculations (the “Determination”) to the Executive within thirty days of the date of the Executive’s termination or any other date selected by the Executive or the Company. Within ten calendar days of the delivery of the Determination to the Executive, the Executive shall have the right to dispute the Determination (the “Dispute”). The existence of any Dispute shall not in any way affect the Executive’s right to receive the Gross-Up Payments in accordance with the Determination. If there is no dispute, the Determination by the Company shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Executive, subject to the application of Section 4(c). Within ten days after the Company’s determination, the Company shall pay to the Executive the Gross-Up Payment, if any. If the Company determines that no Excise Tax is payable by the Executive, it will, at the same time as it makes such Determination, furnish Executive with an opinion that the Executive has substantial authority not to report any Excise Tax on Executive’s federal, state, local income or other tax return. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Executive of and from any and all claims, damages and expenses resulting from or relating to its determinations pursuant to this Section 4(b), except for claims, damages or expenses resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Company.

 

(c) As a result of the uncertainty in the application of sections 4999 and 280G of the Code, it is possible that the Gross-Up Payments either will have been made which should not have been made, or will not have been made which should have been made, by the Company (an “Excess Gross-Up Payment” or a “Gross-Up Underpayment,” respectively). If it is established pursuant to (A) a final determination of a court for which all appeals have been taken and finally resolved or the time for all appeals has expired, or (B) an Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) proceeding which has been finally and conclusively resolved, that an Excess Gross-Up Payment has been made, such Excess Gross-Up Payment shall be deemed for all purposes to be a loan to the Executive made on the date the Executive received the Excess Gross-Up Payment and the Executive shall repay the Excess Gross-Up Payment to the Company either (i) on demand, if the Executive is in possession of the Excess Gross-Up Payment or (ii) upon the refund of such Excess Gross-Up Payment to the Executive from the IRS, if the IRS is in possession of such Excess Gross-Up Payment, together with interest on the Excess Gross-Up Payment at (X) 120% of the applicable federal rate (as defined in Section 1274(d) of the Code) compounded semi-annually for any period during which the Executive held such Excess Gross-Up Payment and (Y) the interest rate paid to the Executive by the IRS in respect of any period during which the IRS held such Excess Gross-Up Payment. If a Gross-Up Underpayment occurs as determined under one or more of the following circumstances: (I) such determination is made by the Company (which shall include the position taken by the Company, together with its consolidated group, on its federal income tax return) or is made by the IRS, (II) such determination is made by a court, or (III) such determination is made upon the resolution to the Executive’s satisfaction of the Dispute, then the Company shall pay an amount equal to the Gross-Up Underpayment to the Executive within ten calendar days of such determination or resolution, together with interest on such amount at 120% of the applicable federal rate compounded semi-annually from the date such amount should have been paid to the Executive pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise, but for the operation of this Section 4(c), until the date of payment.

 

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5. Post-Termination Assistance. Upon the Executive’s termination of employment with the Company, the Executive agrees to fully cooperate in all matters relating to the winding up or pending work on behalf of the Company and the orderly transfer of work to other employees of the Company following any termination of the Executives’ employment. The Executive further agrees that Executive will provide, upon reasonable notice, such information and assistance to the Company as may reasonably be requested by the Company in connection with any audit, governmental investigation, litigation, or other dispute in which the Company is or may become a party and as to which the Executive has knowledge; provided, however, that (i) the Company agrees to reimburse the Executive for any related out-of-pocket expenses, including travel expenses, and (ii) any such assistance may not unreasonably interfere with Executive’s then current employment.

 

6. No Mitigation or Set Off. In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement and such amounts shall not be reduced, regardless of whether the Executive obtains other employment. The Company’s obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any circumstances, including, without limitation, any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which the Company may have against the Executive or others; provided, however, the Company shall have the right to offset the amount of any funds loaned or advanced to the Executive and not repaid against any severance obligations the Company may have to the Executive hereunder.

 

7. Confidentiality

 

(a) Definition. For purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential Information” shall mean all Company Work Product (as hereinafter defined) and all non-public written, electronic, and oral information or materials of Company communicated to or otherwise obtained by Executive in connection with this Agreement, which is related to the products, business and activities of Company, its Affiliates (as defined below), and subsidiaries, and their respective customers, clients, suppliers, and other entities with which such party does business, including: (i) all costing, pricing, technology, software, documentation, research, techniques, procedures, processes, discoveries, inventions, methodologies, data, tools, templates, know how, intellectual property and all other proprietary information of Company; (ii) the terms of this Agreement; and (iii) any other information identified as confidential in writing by Company. Confidential Information shall not include information that: (a) was lawfully known by Executive without an obligation of confidentiality before its receipt from Company; (b) is independently developed by Executive without reliance on or use of Confidential Information; (c) is or becomes publicly available without a breach by Executive of this Agreement; or (d) is disclosed to Executive by a third party which is not required to maintain its confidentiality. An “Affiliate” of a Party shall mean any entity directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, such Party at any time during the Term for so long as such control exists.

 

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(b) Company Ownership. Company shall retain all right, title, and interest to the Confidential Information, including all copies thereof and all rights to patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets and other intellectual property rights inherent therein and appurtenant thereto. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Company hereby grants Executive a non-exclusive, non-transferable, license during the Term to use any Confidential Information solely to the extent that such Confidential Information is necessary for the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder. Executive shall not, by virtue of this Agreement or otherwise, acquire any proprietary rights whatsoever in Confidential Information, which shall be the sole and exclusive property and confidential information of Company. No identifying marks, copyright or proprietary right notices may be deleted from any copy of Confidential Information. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to limit the rights of Company from performing similar services for, or delivering the same or similar deliverable to, third parties using the Confidential Information and/or using the same personnel to provide any such services or deliverables.

 

(c) Confidentiality Obligations. Executive agrees to hold the Confidential Information in confidence and not to copy, reproduce, sell, assign, license, market, transfer, give or otherwise disclose such Confidential Information to any person or entity or to use the Confidential Information for any purposes whatsoever, without the express written permission of Company, other than disclosure to Executive’s, partners, principals, directors, officers, employees, subcontractors and agents on a “need-to-know” basis as reasonably required for the performance of Executive’s obligations hereunder or as otherwise agreed to herein. Executive shall be responsible to Company for any violation of this Section 7 by Executive’s employees, subcontractors, and agents. Executive shall maintain the Confidential Information with the same degree of care, but no less than a reasonable degree of care, as Executive employs concerning its own information of like kind and character.

 

(d) Required Disclosure. If Executive is requested to disclose any of the Confidential Information as part of an administrative or judicial proceeding, Executive shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, promptly notify Company of that request and cooperate with Company, at Company’s expense, in seeking a protective order or similar confidential treatment for the Confidential Information. If no protective order or other confidential treatment is obtained, Executive shall disclose only that portion of Confidential Information which is legally required and will exercise all reasonable efforts to obtain reliable assurances that confidential treatment will be accorded the Confidential Information which is required to be disclosed.

 

(e) Enforcement. Executive acknowledges that the Confidential Information is unique and valuable, and that remedies at law will be inadequate to protect Company from any actual or threatened breach of this Section 7 by Executive and that any such breach would cause irreparable and continuing injury to Company. Therefore, Executive agrees that Company shall be entitled to seek equitable relief with respect to the enforcement of this Section 7 without any requirement to post a bond, including, without limitation, injunction and specific performance, without proof of actual damages or exhausting other remedies, in addition to all other remedies available to Company at law or in equity. For greater clarity, in the event of a breach or threatened breach by Executive of any of the provisions of this Section 7, in addition to and not in limitation of any other rights, remedies or damages available at law or in equity, Company shall be entitled to a permanent injunction or other like remedy in order to prevent or restrain any such breach or threatened breach by Executive, and Executive agrees that an interim injunction may be granted against Executive immediately on the commencement of any action, claim, suit or proceeding by Company to enforce the provisions of this Section 7, and Executive further irrevocably consents to the granting of any such interim or permanent injunction or any like remedy. If any action at law or in equity is necessary to enforce the terms of this Section 7, Executive, if it is determined to be at fault, shall pay Company’s reasonable legal fees and expenses on a substantial indemnity basis.

 

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(f) Related Duties. Executive shall: (i) promptly deliver to Company upon Company’s request all materials in Executive’s possession which contain Confidential Information; (ii) use its best efforts to prevent any unauthorized use or disclosure of the Confidential Information; (iii) notify Company in writing immediately upon discovery of any such unauthorized use or disclosure; and (iv) cooperate in every reasonable way to regain possession of any Confidential Information and to prevent further unauthorized use and disclosure thereof.

 

(g) Legal Exceptions. Further notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7, Executive may disclose confidential information as may be expressly required by law, governmental rule, regulation, executive order, court order, or in connection with a dispute between the Parties; provided that prior to making any such disclosure, subject to applicable law, Executive shall use its best efforts to: (i) provide Company with at least fifteen (15) days’ prior written notice setting forth with specificity the reason(s) for such disclosure, supporting documentation therefor, and the circumstances giving rise thereto; and (ii) limit the scope and duration of such disclosure to the strictest possible extent.

 

(h) Limitation. Except as specifically set forth herein, no licenses or rights under any patent, copyright, trademark, or trade secret are granted by Company to Executive hereunder, or are to be implied by this Agreement. Except for the restrictions on use and disclosure of Confidential Information imposed in this Agreement, no obligation of any kind is assumed or implied against either Party or their Affiliates by virtue of meetings or conversations between the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter stated above or with respect to the exchange of Confidential Information. Each Party further acknowledges that this Agreement and any meetings and communications of the Parties and their affiliates relating to the same subject matter shall not: (i) constitute an offer, request, invitation or contract with the other Party to engage in any research, development or other work; (ii) constitute an offer, request, invitation or contract involving a buyer-seller relationship, joint venture, teaming or partnership relationship between the Parties and their affiliates; or (iii) constitute a representation, warranty, assurance, guarantee or inducement with respect to the accuracy or completeness of any Confidential Information or the non-infringement of the rights of third persons.

 

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8. Intellectual Property Rights.

 

(a) Disclosure of Work Product. As used in this Agreement, the term “Work Product” means any invention, whether or not patentable, know-how, designs, mask works, trademarks, formulae, processes, manufacturing techniques, trade secrets, ideas, artwork, software or any copyrightable or patentable works. Executive agrees to disclose promptly in writing to Company, or any person designated by Company, all Work Product that is solely or jointly conceived, made, reduced to practice, or learned by Executive in the course of any work performed for Company (“Company Work Product”). Executive agrees (a) to use Executive’s best efforts to maintain such Company Work Product in trust and strict confidence; (b) not to use Company Work Product in any manner or for any purpose not expressly set forth in this Agreement; and (c) not to disclose any such Company Work Product to any third party without first obtaining Company’s express written consent on a case-by-case basis.

 

(b) Ownership of Company Work Product. Executive agrees that any and all Company Work Product conceived, written, created or first reduced to practice in the performance of work under this Agreement shall be deemed “work for hire” under applicable law and shall be the sole and exclusive property of Company.

 

(c) Assignment of Company Work Product. Executive irrevocably assigns to Company all right, title and interest worldwide in and to the Company Work Product and all applicable intellectual property rights related to the Company Work Product, including without limitation, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, patents, moral rights, contract and licensing rights (the “Proprietary Rights”). Except as set forth below, Executive retains no rights to use the Company Work Product and agrees not to challenge the validity of Company’s ownership in the Company Work Product. Executive hereby grants to Company a perpetual, non-exclusive, fully paid-up, royalty-free, irrevocable and world-wide right, with rights to sublicense through multiple tiers of sublicensees, to reproduce, make derivative works of, publicly perform, and display in any form or medium whether now known or later developed, distribute, make, use and sell any and all Executive owned or controlled Work Product or technology that Executive uses to complete the services and which is necessary for Company to use or exploit the Company Work Product.

 

(d) Assistance. Executive agrees to cooperate with Company or its designee(s), both during and after the Term, in the procurement and maintenance of Company’s rights in Company Work Product and to execute, when requested, any other documents deemed necessary by Company to carry out the purpose of this Agreement. Executive will assist Company in every proper way to obtain, and from time to time enforce, United States and foreign Proprietary Rights relating to Company Work Product in any and all countries. Executive’s obligation to assist Company with respect to Proprietary Rights relating to such Company Work Product in any and all countries shall continue beyond the termination of this Agreement, but Company shall compensate Executive at a reasonable rate to be mutually agreed upon after such termination for the time actually spent by Executive at Company’s request on such assistance.

 

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(e) Execution of Documents. In the event Company is unable for any reason, after reasonable effort, to secure Executive’s signature on any document requested by Company pursuant to this Section 8 within seven (7) days of the Company’s initial request to Executive, Executive hereby irrevocably designates and appoints Company and its duly authorized officers and agents as its agent and attorney in fact, which appointment is coupled with an interest, to act for and on its behalf solely to execute, verify and file any such documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the purposes of this Section 8 with the same legal force and effect as if executed by Executive. Executive hereby waives and quitclaims to Company any and all claims, of any nature whatsoever, which Executive now or may hereafter have for infringement of any Proprietary Rights assignable hereunder to Company.

 

(f) Executive Representations and Warranties. Executive hereby represents and warrants that: (i) Company Work Product will be an original work of Executive or all applicable third parties will have executed assignments of rights reasonably acceptable to Company; (ii) neither the Company Work Product nor any element thereof will infringe the intellectual property rights of any third party; (iii) neither the Company Work Product nor any element thereof will be subject to any restrictions or to any mortgages, liens, pledges, security interests, encumbrances or encroachments; (iv) Executive will not grant, directly or indirectly, any rights or interest whatsoever in the Company Work Product to any third party; (v) Executive has full right and power to enter into and perform Executive’s obligations under this Agreement without the consent of any third party; (vi) Executive will use best efforts to prevent injury to any person (including employees of Company) or damage to property (including Company’s property) during the Term; and (vii) should Company permit Executive to use any of Company’s equipment, tools, or facilities during the Term, such permission shall be gratuitous and Executive shall be responsible for any injury to any person (including death) or damage to property (including Company’s property) arising out of use of such equipment, tools or facilities.

 

9. Representations and Warranties Relating to Securities. The Equity Award, any shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company that may be issued or granted to the Executive hereunder or pursuant to any other agreement between the Company and the Executive in connection with the transactions contemplated herein may be referred to as the “Securities”, and Executive represents and warrants to the Company as set forth in this Section 9 with respect to the Securities and Executive’s receipt thereof, as of the Effective Date and as of the date of any issuance or granting of any Securities.

 

(a) Executive is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act (an “Accredited Investor”).

 

(b) Executive hereby represent that the Securities awarded pursuant to this Agreement are being acquired for Executive’s own account and not for sale or with a view to distribution thereof. Executive acknowledges and agrees that any sale or distribution of Securities which have vested may be made only pursuant to either (a) a registration statement on an appropriate form under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), which registration statement has become effective and is current with regard to the shares being sold, or (b) a specific exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act that is confirmed in a favorable written opinion of counsel, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Company, prior to any such sale or distribution. Executive hereby consents to such action as the Board or the Company deems necessary or appropriate from time to time to prevent a violation of, or to perfect an exemption from, the registration requirements of the Securities Act or to implement the provisions of this Agreement, including but not limited to placing restrictive legends on certificates evidencing shares of Securities (whether or not the Restrictions applicable thereto have lapsed) and delivering stop transfer instructions to the Company’s stock transfer agent.

 

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(c) Executive understands that the Securities is being offered and sold to Executive in reliance upon specific exemptions from the registration requirements of United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and Executive’s compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of the Executive set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the Executive to acquire the Securities.

 

(d) Executive has been furnished with all documents and materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and information that Executive requested and deemed material to making an informed investment decision regarding its acquisition of the Securities. Executive has been afforded the opportunity to review such documents and materials and the information contained therein. Executive has been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the Company and its management. Executive understands that such discussions, as well as any written information provided by the Company, were intended to describe the aspects of the Company’s business and prospects which the Company believes to be material, but were not necessarily a thorough or exhaustive description and the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to the completeness of such information and makes no representation or warranty of any kind with respect to any information provided by any entity other than the Company. Some of such information may include projections as to the future performance of the Company, which projections may not be realized, may be based on assumptions which may not be correct and may be subject to numerous factors beyond the Company’s control. Additionally, Executive understands and represents that Executive is acquiring the Securities notwithstanding the fact that the Company may disclose in the future certain material information that the Executive has not received. Executive has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as Executive has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to Executive’s investment in the Securities. Executive has full power and authority to make the representations referred to herein, to acquire the Securities and to execute and deliver this Agreement. Executive, either personally, or together with Executive’s advisors has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Securities, is able to bear the risks of an investment in the Securities and understands the risks of, and other considerations relating to, a purchase of the Securities. The Executive and Executive’s advisors have had a reasonable opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from the Company concerning the Securities. Executive’s financial condition is such that Executive is able to bear the risk of holding the Securities that Executive may acquire pursuant to this Agreement for an indefinite period of time, and the risk of loss of Executive’s entire investment in the Company. Executive has investigated the acquisition of the Securities to the extent Executive deemed necessary or desirable and the Company has provided Executive with any reasonable assistance Executive has requested in connection therewith. No representations or warranties have been made to Executive by the Company, or any representative of the Company, or any securities broker/dealer, other than as set forth in this Agreement.

 

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(e) Executive also acknowledges and agrees that an investment in the Securities is highly speculative and involves a high degree of risk of loss of the entire investment in the Company and there is no assurance that a public market for the Securities will ever develop and that, as a result, Executive may not be able to liquidate Executive’s investment in the Securities should a need arise to do so. Executive is not dependent for liquidity on any of the amounts Executive is investing in the Securities. Executive has full power and authority to make the representations referred to herein, to acquire the Securities and to execute and deliver this Agreement. Executive understands that the representations and warranties herein are to be relied upon by the Company as a basis for the exemptions from registration and qualification of the issuance and sale of the Securities under the federal and state securities laws and for other purposes.

 

(f) Executive understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed upon or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities.

 

(g) Executive understands that until such time as the Securities have been registered under the Securities Act or may be sold pursuant to Rule 144, Rule 144A under the Securities Act or Regulation S without any restriction as to the number of securities as of a particular date that can then be immediately sold, the Securities may bear a restrictive legend in substantially the following form (and a stop-transfer order may be placed against transfer of the certificates for such Securities):

 

“NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL (WHICH COUNSEL SHALL BE SELECTED BY THE HOLDER), IN A GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE FORM, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144, RULE 144A OR REGULATION S UNDER SAID ACT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES.”

 

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(h) This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized by Executive. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of Executive, and this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of Executive enforceable in accordance with its terms.

 

(i) Executive is an individual resident of the state set forth in the notices provision for Executive herein.

 

10. Effect of Waiver. The waiver by either Party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach hereof. No waiver shall be valid unless in writing.

 

11. Assignment. No Party shall have any power or any right to assign or transfer, in whole or in part, this Agreement, or any of its rights or any of its obligations hereunder, including, without limitation, any right to pursue any claim for damages pursuant to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein, or to pursue any claim for any breach or default of this Agreement, or any right arising from the purported assignor’s due performance of its obligations hereunder, without the prior written consent of the other Party and any such purported assignment in contravention of the provisions herein shall be null and void and of no force or effect, provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may transfer, assign or delegate to any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company any of Company’s rights, obligations or duties hereunder.

 

12. No Third-Party Rights. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, this Agreement is intended solely for the benefit of the Parties hereto and is not intended to confer any benefits upon, or create any rights in favor of, any person or entity other than the Parties hereto.

 

13. Entire Agreement; Effectiveness of Agreement. This Agreement, any Award Agreement and any other agreement entered into between the Company and Executive with respect to the issuance of any equity securities of the Company or other equity awards relating to the Company set forth the entire agreement of the Parties hereto and shall supersede any and all prior agreements and understandings concerning the Executive’s employment by the Company. This Agreement may be changed only by a written document signed by the Executive and the Company.

 

14. Survival. The provisions of Section 3, Section 4, Section 5, Section 6, Section 7, Section 8, Section 9 and Section 12 through Section 26, inclusive, shall survive any termination or expiration of this Agreement, and provided that any expiration or termination of this Agreement shall not excuse a Party from compliance with, or fulfillment of, any obligations or conditions which arose prior to such expiration or termination.

 

15. Severability. If any one or more of the provisions, or portions of any provision, of the Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions or parts hereof shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

14


 

16. Governing Law and Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

(a) All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be determined, and this Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of such state, without giving effect to the choice of law provisions of such state.

 

(B) SUBJECT TO SECTION 18, EACH PARTY AGREES THAT ALL LEGAL PROCEEDINGS CONCERNING THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE COMMENCED IN THE TOKYO DISTRICT COURTS, OR, SOLELY IN THE EVENT THAT THE TOKYO DISTRICT COURTS ARE UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO ASSERT JURISDICTION WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGEMENT HEREUNDER FOR ANY REASON, THEN IN THE STATE OR FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES WITH JURISDICTION IN PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA (AS APPLICABLE, THE “SELECTED COURTS”). EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE SELECTED COURTS FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR WITH ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR DISCUSSED HEREIN (INCLUDING WITH RESPECT TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE RIGHTS OF A PARTY UNDER THIS AGREEMENT), AND HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, AND AGREES NOT TO ASSERT IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING, ANY CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT PERSONALLY SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH SELECTED COURTS, OR SUCH SELECTED COURTS ARE IMPROPER OR INCONVENIENT VENUE FOR SUCH PROCEEDING. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF PROCESS AND CONSENTS TO PROCESS BEING SERVED IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY MAILING A COPY THEREOF VIA REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL OR OVERNIGHT DELIVERY (WITH EVIDENCE OF DELIVERY) TO SUCH PARTY AT THE ADDRESS IN EFFECT FOR NOTICES TO IT UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND AGREES THAT SUCH SERVICE SHALL CONSTITUTE GOOD AND SUFFICIENT SERVICE OF PROCESS AND NOTICE THEREOF. NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN SHALL BE DEEMED TO LIMIT IN ANY WAY ANY RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

 

(c) TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 16(c).

 

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17. Attorneys’ Fees, etc. If any Party shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Agreement, then the prevailing Party in such action or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other Party for its attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred in the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.

 

18. Arbitration. Any controversy, claim or dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Executive’s employment by the Company, including, but not limited to, common law and statutory claims for discrimination, wrongful discharge, and unpaid wages, shall be resolved by arbitration in Tokyo, Japan pursuant to then-prevailing National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration Association, provided that in the event that such rules may not be applied in Tokyo, Japan for any reason, then pursuant to arbitration rules as reasonably determined by the Company. The arbitration shall be conducted by three arbitrators, with one arbitrator selected by each Party and the third arbitrator selected by the two arbitrators so selected by the Parties. The arbitrators shall be bound to follow the applicable Agreement provisions in adjudicating the dispute. It is agreed by both Parties that the arbitrators’ decision is final, and that no Party may take any action, judicial or administrative, to overturn such decision. The judgment rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in the Selected Courts. Subject to the provisions of Section 17, each Party will pay its own expenses of arbitration and the expenses of the arbitrators will be equally shared provided that, if in the opinion of the arbitrators any claim, defense, or argument raised in the arbitration was unreasonable, the arbitrators may assess all or part of the expenses of the other Party (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) and of the arbitrators as the arbitrators deem appropriate. The arbitrators may not award either Party punitive or consequential damages.

 

19. General Remedies. Each Party acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the other Party, and thus each Party acknowledges that the remedy at law for a breach of its obligations under this Agreement will be inadequate and agrees, in the event of a breach or threatened breach by such Party of the provisions of this Agreement, that the other Party shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies at law or in equity, and in addition to the penalties assessable herein, to an injunction or injunctions restraining, preventing or curing any breach of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required.

 

20. Indemnification. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to indemnification and insurance coverage for officers’ liability, fiduciary liability and other liabilities arising out of the Executive’s position with the Company in any capacity, in an amount not less than the highest amount available to any other executive, and such coverage and protections, with respect to the various liabilities as to which the Executive has been customarily indemnified prior to termination of employment, shall continue for at least six years following the end of the Term. Any indemnification agreement entered into between the Company and the Executive shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms following the termination of this Agreement.

 

21. Expenses. Other than as specifically set forth herein, each of the Parties will bear their own respective expenses, including legal, accounting and professional fees, incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein.

 

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22. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other Party, or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or by email with return receipt requested and received or nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed as set forth below or to such other address as either Party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith. All notices, requests, demands and other communications shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) when delivered by hand, if personally delivered, (ii) when delivered by courier or overnight mail, if delivered by commercial courier service or overnight mail, and (iii) on receipt of confirmed delivery, if sent by email.

 

If to the Company:

 

SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated

Attn: Yoshiyuki Aikawa, CEO

200 Spectrum Center Dr. STE 300

Irvine, CA 92618

E-mail: doctor@sbc.or.jp

 

If to Executive, to the address and email address for Executive as set forth in the books and records of the Company.

 

23. Headings. The section headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

24. Counsel. The Parties acknowledge and agree that legal counsel to the Company (“Counsel”) has prepared this Agreement at the request of the Company, and that Counsel is not legal counsel to Executive individually. Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that they are aware of, and have consented to, the Counsel acting as legal counsel to the Company and preparing this Agreement, and that Counsel has advised each of the Parties to retain separate counsel to review the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other documents to be delivered in connection herewith, and each Party has either waived such right freely or has otherwise sought such additional counsel as it has deemed necessary. Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that Counsel does not owe any duties to Executive in Executive’s individual capacity in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein. Each of the Parties hereby waives any conflict of interest which may apply with respect to Counsel’s actions as set forth herein, and the Parties confirm that the Parties have previously negotiated the material terms of the agreements as set forth herein.

 

25. Rule of Construction. The general rule of construction for interpreting a contract, which provides that the provisions of a contract should be construed against the Party preparing the contract, is waived by the Parties hereto. Each Party acknowledges that such Party was represented by separate legal counsel in this matter who participated in the preparation of this Agreement or such Party had the opportunity to retain counsel to participate in the preparation of this Agreement but elected not to do so.

 

26. Execution in Counterparts, Electronic Transmission. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original. The signature of any Party which is transmitted by any reliable electronic means such as, but not limited to, a photocopy, electronically scanned or facsimile machine, for purposes hereof, is to be considered as an original signature, and the document transmitted is to be considered to have the same binding effect as an original signature or an original document.

 

[Signatures appear on following page]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

 

  SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated
   
  By: /s/ Yoshiyuki Aikawa
  Name:  Yoshiyuki Aikawa
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

  Executive: Akira Komatsu
     
  By: /s/ Akira Komatsu
  Name:  Akira Komatsu

 

 

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EX-14.1 9 ea021502401ex14-1_sbcmed.htm CODE OF ETHICS

Exhibit 14.1

 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED

 

CODE OF ETHICS AND BUSINESS CONDUCT

 

1. Introduction

 

The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED (the “Company”) has adopted this code of ethics and business conduct (this “Code”), as amended from time to time by the Board, and which is applicable to all of the Company’s directors, officers and employees (to the extent that employees are hired in the future) to:

 

  promote honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;

 

  promote the full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that the Company files with, or submits to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as well as in other public communications made by or on behalf of the Company;

 

  promote compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations;

 

  deter wrongdoing; and

 

  require prompt internal reporting of breaches of, and accountability for adherence to, this Code.

 

In addition to following this Code in all aspects of business activities, the Company’s directors, officers and employees are expected to seek guidance in any situation where there is a question regarding compliance issues, whether with the letter or the spirit of the Company’s policies and applicable laws. Cooperation with this Code is essential to the continued success of the Company’s business and the cultivation and maintenance of its reputation as a good corporate citizen. Misconduct is never justified, even where sanctioned or ordered by an officer or other individual in a position of higher management. No individual, regardless of stature or position, can authorize actions that are illegal, or that jeopardize or violate Company standards. This Code sets forth general principles of conduct and ethics and is intended to work in conjunction with the policies and procedures that are covered in the Company’s specific policy statements.

 

Nothing in this Code prohibits the Company’s directors, officers or employees from reporting possible violations of federal law or regulation to any governmental agency or entity, including but not limited to the Department of Justice, the SEC, the Congress, and any agency Inspector General, or making other disclosures that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of U.S. federal law or regulation. No prior authorization from the Company is needed to make any such reports or disclosures and there is no duty to notify the Company that any such reports or disclosures have been made. The Company has a no-tolerance policy for retaliation against persons who raise good faith compliance, ethics or related issues.

 

This Code may be amended and modified by the Board. In this Code, references to the “Company” mean SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED and, in appropriate context, the Company’s subsidiaries, if any.

 

2. Honest, Ethical and Fair Conduct

 

Each person owes a duty to the Company to act with integrity. Integrity requires, among other things, being honest, fair and candid. Deceit, dishonesty and subordination of principle are inconsistent with integrity. Service to the Company should never be subordinated to violations of laws or regulations, unscrupulous dealings or to personal gain an advantage.

 

 


 

Each person must:

 

  a. act with integrity, including being honest and candid while still maintaining the confidentiality of the Company’s information where required or when in the Company’s interests;

 

  b. observe all applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations;

 

  c. comply with the requirements of applicable accounting and auditing standards, as well as Company policies, in order to maintain a high standard of accuracy and completeness in the Company’s financial records and other business-related information and data;

 

  d. adhere to a high standard of business ethics and not seek competitive advantage through unlawful or unethical business practices;

 

  e. deal fairly with the Company’s customers, suppliers, competitors, employees and independent contractors;

 

  f. refrain from taking advantage of anyone through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts or any other unfair-dealing practice;

 

  g. protect the assets of the Company and ensure their proper use;

 

  h. until the earliest of (i) the Company’s initial business combination (as such is defined in the Company’s initial registration statement filed with the SEC), (ii) the Company’s liquidation, or (iii) such time that such person ceases to be an officer or director of the Company, in each case, to first present to the Company for the Company’s consideration, prior to presentation to any other entity, any business opportunity, but only if such opportunity is suitable for the Company, subject to the Company’s certificate of incorporation and Bylaws in effect at such time and subject to any other fiduciary or contractual obligations such officer or director may have; and

 

  i. avoid actual or apparent conflicts between personal, private interests and the interests of the Company, wherever possible, including receiving improper personal benefits as a result of his or her position, except as may be allowed under guidelines or resolutions approved by the Board (or the appropriate committee of the Board) or as disclosed in the Company’s public filings with the SEC. Anything that would be a conflict for a person subject to this Code also will be a conflict for a member of his or her immediate family or any other close relative.

 

Examples of conflict of interest situations include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

  any significant ownership interest in any supplier or customer;

 

  any consulting or employment relationship with any supplier or customer;

 

  the receipt of any money, non-nominal gifts or excessive entertainment from any entity with which the Company has current or prospective business dealings;

 

  selling anything to the Company or buying anything from the Company, except on the same terms and conditions as a third party would buy or sell a comparable item in an arm’s-length transaction;

 

  any other financial transaction, arrangement or relationship (including any indebtedness or guarantee of indebtedness) involving the Company; and

 

  any other circumstance, event, relationship or situation in which the personal interest of a person subject to this Code interferes, or even appears to interfere, with the interests of the Company as a whole.

 

Any material transaction or relationship that reasonably could be expected to give rise to a conflict of interest shall be disclosed to the Board.

 

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3. Confidentiality

 

The Company’s directors, officers and employees must maintain and protect the confidentiality of information entrusted to them by the Company, or that otherwise comes into their possession, while carrying out their duties and responsibilities, except when disclosure is authorized by the Company or legally mandated.

 

Confidential information encompasses all non-public information (including, for example, “inside information” or information that third-parties have entrusted to the Company) that may be of use to competitors, or may otherwise be harmful to the Company or its key stakeholders, if disclosed. Financial information is of special sensitivity and should under all circumstances be considered confidential, except where its disclosure is approved by the Company or when the information has been publicly disseminated.

 

4. Disclosure

 

The Company strives to ensure that the contents of and the disclosures in the reports and documents that the Company files with the SEC and other public communications shall be full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable in accordance with applicable disclosure standards, including standards of materiality, where appropriate. Each person must:

 

  not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent, facts about the Company to others, whether within or outside the Company, including to the Company’s independent registered public accountants, governmental regulators, self-regulating organizations and other governmental officials, as appropriate; and

 

  in relation to his or her area of responsibility, properly review and critically analyze proposed disclosure for accuracy and completeness.

 

In addition to the foregoing, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of each subsidiary of the Company (or persons performing similar functions), if any, and each other person that typically is involved in the financial reporting of the Company must familiarize himself or herself with the disclosure requirements applicable to the Company as well as the business and financial operations of the Company.

 

Each person must promptly bring to the attention of the Board of Directors any information he or she may have concerning (a) significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal and/or disclosure controls that could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data or (b) any fraud that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s financial reporting, disclosures or internal controls.

 

5. Compliance

 

It is the Company’s obligation and policy to comply with all applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations. All directors, officers and employees of the Company are expected to understand, respect and comply with all of the laws, regulations, policies and procedures that apply to them in their positions with the Company. Employees are responsible for talking to their supervisors to determine which laws, regulations and Company policies apply to their position and what training is necessary to understand and comply with them.

 

Directors, officers and employees are directed to specific policies and procedures available to persons they supervise.

 

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6. Reporting and Accountability

 

The Board is responsible for applying this Code to specific situations in which questions are presented to it and has the authority to interpret this Code in any particular situation. Any person who becomes aware of any existing or potential breach of this Code is required to notify the Board promptly. Failure to do so is, in and of itself, a breach of this Code.

 

Specifically, each person must:

 

  Notify the Board promptly of any existing or potential violation of this Code.

 

  Not retaliate against any other person for reports of potential violations that are made in good faith.

 

The Company will follow the following procedures in investigating and enforcing this Code and in reporting on this Code:

 

  The Board will take all appropriate action to investigate any breaches reported to it.

 

  Upon determination by the Board that a breach has occurred, the Board (by majority decision) will take or authorize such disciplinary or preventive action as it deems appropriate, after consultation with the Company’s internal or external legal counsel, up to and including dismissal or, in the event of criminal or other serious violations of law, notification of the SEC or other appropriate law enforcement authorities.

 

No person following the above procedure shall, as a result of following such procedure, be subject by the Company or any officer or employee thereof to discharge, demotion suspension, threat, harassment or, in any manner, discrimination against such person in terms and conditions of employment.

 

7. Waivers and Amendments

 

Any waiver (defined below) or an implicit waiver (defined below) from a provision of this Code for the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, and persons performing similar functions or any amendment (as defined below) to this Code is required to be disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC. In lieu of filing a Current Report on Form 8-K to report any such waivers or amendments, the Company may provide such information on its website, in the event that it establishes one in the future, and if it keeps such information on the website for at least 12 months and discloses the website address as well as any intention to provide such disclosures in this manner in its most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

A “waiver” means the approval by the Board of a material departure from a provision of this Code. An “implicit waiver” means the Company’s failure to take action within a reasonable period of time regarding a material departure from a provision of this Code that has been made known to an executive officer of the Company. An “amendment” means any amendment to this Code other than minor technical, administrative or other non-substantive amendments hereto.

 

Any request for a waiver of any provision of this Code must be in writing and addressed to the Board. All persons should note that it is not the Company’s intention to grant or to permit waivers from the requirements of this Code. The Company expects full compliance with this Code.

 

8. Insider Information and Securities Trading

 

The Company’s directors, officers or employees who have access to material, non-public information are not permitted to use that information for security trading purposes or for any purpose unrelated to the Company’s business. It is also against the law to trade or to “tip” others who might make an investment decision based on inside company information. For example, using non-public information to buy or sell the Company securities, options in the Company securities or the securities of any Company supplier, customer, competitor or potential target is prohibited. The consequences of insider trading violations can be severe. These rules also apply to the use of material, non-public information about other companies (including, for example, the Company’s customers, competitors, potential business partners and potential targets). In addition to directors, officers or employees, these rules apply to such person’s spouse, children, parents and siblings, as well as any other family members living in such person’s home.

 

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9. Financial Statements and Other Records

 

All of the Company’s books, records, accounts and financial statements must be maintained in reasonable detail, must appropriately reflect the Company’s transactions and must both conform to applicable legal requirements and to the Company’s system of internal controls. Unrecorded or “off the books” funds or assets should not be maintained unless permitted by applicable law or regulation.

 

Records should always be retained or destroyed according to the Company’s record retention policies. In accordance with those policies, in the event of litigation or governmental investigation, please consult the Board or the Company’s internal or external legal counsel.

 

Any and all reports received by the Company of questionable accounting, violations of internal accounting controls, or any other auditing or financial matters, or the reporting of fraudulent financial information or other questionable conduct that are submitted to an officer of the Company will be handled as follows:

 

  All reports received will be logged and include, among other things: (1) the date the report was received, (2) a description of the report, (3) the reporting party (if provided), and (4) the status and disposition of an investigation of the report.

 

  The Vice President and Secretary of the Company will promptly submit to the Audit Committee of the Board (the “Audit Committee”) all reports received. The Audit Committee shall direct and oversee an investigation of all reports as it determines to be appropriate. The Audit Committee may also delegate the oversight and investigation of reports to the appropriate members of the Company’s management. The Audit Committee may request special treatment for any report and may re-assume the direction and oversight of an investigation of any report delegated to members of our management.

 

10. Improper Influence on Conduct of Audits

 

No director or officer, or any other person acting under the direction thereof, shall directly or indirectly take any action to coerce, manipulate, mislead or fraudulently influence any public or certified public accountant engaged in the performance of an audit or review of the financial statements of the Company or take any action that such person knows or should know that if successful could result in rendering the Company’s financial statements materially misleading. Any person who believes such improper influence is being exerted should report such action to such person’s supervisor, or if that is impractical under the circumstances, to any of the Company’s directors.

 

Types of conduct that could constitute improper influence include, but are not limited to, directly or indirectly:

 

  Offering or paying bribes or other financial incentives, including future employment or contracts for non-audit services;

 

  Providing an auditor with an inaccurate or misleading legal analysis;

 

  Threatening to cancel or canceling existing non-audit or audit engagements if the auditor objects to the Company’s accounting;

 

  Seeking to have a partner removed from the audit engagement because the partner objects to the Company’s accounting;

 

  Blackmailing; and

 

  Making physical threats.

 

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11. Anti-Corruption Laws

 

The Company complies with the anti-corruption laws of the countries in which it does business, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (“FCPA”). Directors, officers, employees and agents, such as third party sales representatives, shall not take or cause to be taken any action that would reasonably result in the Company not complying with such anti-corruption laws, including the FCPA. If you are authorized to engage agents on the Company’s behalf, you are responsible for ensuring they are reputable and for obtaining a written agreement for them to uphold the Company’s standards in this area. The Company will comply with the Policy Statement Regarding Compliance and Ethics attached hereto as Schedule A.

 

12. Violations

 

The Board will investigate any reported violations and will oversee an appropriate response, including corrective action and preventative measures. Any director, officer or employee who violates this Code will face appropriate, case specific disciplinary action, which may include demotion or discharge. Such action is in addition to any civil or criminal liability which might be imposed by any court or regulatory agency.

 

13. Other Policies and Procedures

 

Any other policy or procedure set out by the Company in writing or made generally known to employees, officers or directors of the Company prior to the date hereof or hereafter are separate requirements and remain in full force and effect.

 

14. Inquiries

 

All inquiries and questions in relation to this Code or its applicability to particular people or situations should be addressed to the Board, or such other compliance officer as shall be designated from time to time by the Company.

 

ADOPTED: This 17th day of September 2024

 

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Schedule A

 

Policy Statement Regarding Compliance & Ethics

 

I. Introduction

 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED (the “Company”) is committed to the highest ethical standards, and expects the same of its directors, officers and employees (to the extent that employees are hired in the future), Third Party (as defined below) representatives, and joint venture partners. Consistent with this commitment, all Company employees are expected to understand and comply with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations applicable to their job responsibilities at the Company.

 

This Policy Statement sets forth the Company’s general requirements and expectations relating to several key areas of business conduct and ethics. At the same time, this Policy Statement is not intended to be a comprehensive rulebook and cannot address every situation that a Company director, officer and employee (to the extent that employees are hired in the future) may face. If any Company director, officer or employee (to the extent that employees are hired in the future) feels uncomfortable about a situation or has any doubts about whether a situation or course of conduct is consistent with the Company’s ethical standards, such individuals are advised to seek help from the Company’s Chief Financial Officer.

 

II. Compliance with All Laws Including Bribery and Other Corrupt Payments Laws

 

The Company shall comply with all applicable laws, including applicable laws governing bribery, extortion, kickbacks, and the giving or receiving of gifts or hospitality to “Government Officials.”1 Consistent with this commitment, Company directors, officers or employees (to the extent that employees are hired in the future) are prohibited from offering, promising, giving, soliciting, accepting or authorizing another to offer, promise, give, solicit or accept anything of value, either directly or indirectly, for the purpose of corruptly influencing the decision of any person, or to otherwise obtain or retain business or a business advantage in connection with the Company. This includes all local, state and federal corruption laws, as well as international laws such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, to the extent the Company is conducting business outside of the United States.

 

III. Facilitation Payments

 

It is the Company’s policy not to make or authorize anyone to make any small, unofficial payment to secure or expedite the performance of a routine or necessary action by a Government Official (a “Facilitation Payment”)2 in connection with the Company.

 

IV. Gifts & Hospitality

 

The Company requires that all gifts and hospitality promised, offered or provided on behalf of the Company be reasonable, related to a legitimate business purpose, and lawful under applicable laws and regulations, including those relating to the nature and amount of gifts and hospitality that can be provided to Government Officials.

 

1 “Government Official” means: (i) any person who is an officer, officeholder, full or part-time employee or representative of: (1) a national, state, regional, provincial, city, county or other local government; (2) independent agencies of any government; or (3) state-owned businesses or state-controlled businesses (e.g., a representative of a sovereign wealth fund or public pension fund, an affiliate of a state-owned company owning distressed assets); (ii) political party officials and candidates for political office; and (iii) any employees of quasi-public or non-governmental international organizations (sometimes called “NGOs”).

2 A “Facilitation Payment” may take the form of any kind of advantage, and is not limited to cash or cash equivalents.

 

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No Company employee or Third Party may offer, promise, give, solicit, accept or authorize another to offer, promise, give, solicit or accept any gift or hospitality for the purpose of corruptly influencing the decision of any person, or to otherwise obtain or retain business or a business advantage on behalf of the Company.

 

All gifts and hospitality are required to be approved by appropriate Company personnel before being provided to any external party, and shall be documented fairly and accurately in the Company’s books and records.

 

V. Political and Charitable Contributions

 

It is the policy of the Company that its funds or assets not be used to make a political or charitable contribution,3 unless prior approval has been given by the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. The Company shall not reimburse any Company employee or Third Party for their own personal political or charitable contributions. When Company employees participate in private political affairs, those employees should be careful to make it clear that their views and actions are their own, and not made on behalf of the Company.

 

Company employees are prohibited from making or authorizing any person to make a political or charitable contribution on behalf of the Company for the purpose of corruptly influencing the decision of any person, or to otherwise obtain or retain business or a business advantage.

 

VI. Relationships with Third Parties

 

The Company shall conduct reasonable commercial and risk-based due diligence on all third party vendors, suppliers, agents, representatives, and intermediaries (each a “Third Party” and collectively “Third Parties”) working on behalf of the Company.

 

All agreements with Third Parties relating to the Company shall be reduced to writing, accurately reflect the actual goods or services to be provided by the Third Party, and include appropriate anti-corruption compliance representations and warranties.

 

All payments to Third Parties made by or on behalf of the Company shall be made transparently, consistent with applicable written agreements, and reflected accurately in the Company’s books and records.

 

VII. Discrimination & Harassment

 

Company employees shall not discriminate, harass, or authorize any discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

 

The Company will not tolerate or authorize any unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or any other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature by any Company employee or Third Party in connection with the Company if and when: (i) submission to such conduct was made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment; (ii) submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such individual; or (iii) such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment.

  

3 For purposes of this provision, the term “political contribution” refers to any contribution of something of value to an incumbent elected official, a candidate for elected office, a political party, a political committee, a political organization, a ballot measure committee, an inaugural committee, or a member of the transition team of a successful candidate. The term “charitable contribution” refers to any contribution of something of value to a charitable or philanthropic cause, including, but not limited to donations of cash or cash equivalents to registered charities.

 

8


 

VIII. Money Laundering

 

It is the policy of the Company to prohibit and actively prevent money laundering and any activity that could conceivably facilitate money laundering, the funding of terrorism, or other criminal activity. Consistent with this policy, the local Company partner shall develop appropriate procedures to help ensure that the Company does not facilitate or engage in any money laundering activities.

 

IX. Health, Safety, And Environment

 

The Company is committed to conducting all business activities in a responsible manner, which helps ensure the health, safety, and security of people, preservation of the environment, quality of our business offerings, security, legal, quality, and regulatory requirements in all our business activities.

 

X. Recordkeeping

 

The Company shall make and maintain records that fairly and accurately reflect the business transactions of the Company.

 

XI. Cooperation with Audits And Inspections

 

The Company, including each Company employee and Third Party, shall cooperate fully with any and all requests made by its shareholders relating to the review and/or inspection of books and records relating to the Company.

 

XII. Reported Concerns

 

The Company encourages reporting of suspected violations of this policy statement, violations of law, and perceived incidents of discrimination or harassment. The Company will not tolerate actions by Company directors, officers or employees (to the extent that employees are hired in the future) or Third Parties to discourage or authorize discouragement of any kind against any individual who reports a perceived incident of discrimination or harassment in relation to the Company.

 

Retaliation of any kind against any individual who reports any perceived incident of discrimination or harassment, or who cooperates with any investigation relating to such reports in good faith is prohibited. Engaging in any form of retaliation may subject Company personnel to discipline, up to and including termination.

 

XIII. Accountability

 

Failure to comply with the guidelines and requirements set forth in this Policy Statement is a serious matter. Violating applicable laws, regulations, or the policies set forth in this document, or otherwise engaging in illegal, improper, or unethical conduct may result in appropriate remedial action.

 

 

9

 

 

EX-16.1 10 ea021502401ex16-1_sbcmed.htm LETTER FROM MARCUM LLP TO THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, DATED SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

Exhibit 16.1

  

September 20, 2024

 

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, N.E.

Washington, DC 20549

 

Commissioners:

 

We have read the statements made by SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated (f/k/a Pono Capital Two, Inc.) under Item 4.01 of its Form 8-K dated September 20, 2024. We agree with the statements concerning our Firm in such Form 8-K; we are not in a position to agree or disagree with other statements of SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated (f/k/a Pono Capital Two, Inc.) contained therein.

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ Marcum llp

 

Marcum llp

EX-21.1 11 ea021502401ex21-1_sbcmed.htm SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT

Exhibit 21.1

 

List of Subsidiaries of

SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated

 

Entity Name   Place of Organization
SBC Medical Group, Inc.*   Delaware
     
SBC Medical Group Co., Ltd.**   Japan
   
L’Ange Cosmetique Co., Ltd.**   Japan
     
Shobikai Co., Ltd.**   Japan
     
Liesta Co., Ltd.**   Japan
     
SBC Sealane Co., Ltd.**   Japan
     
SBC Marketing Co., Ltd.**   Japan
     
SBC Medical Consulting Co., Ltd.**   Japan
     
Shoubikai Medical Vietnam Co. Ltd.**   Vietnam
     
SBC Healthcare, Inc.**   Delaware
     
SBC Irvine, LLC**   Delaware
     
Kijimadairakanko Inc.**   Japan
     
Cell Pro Japan Co., Ltd.***   Japan
     
Medical Payment Co., Ltd.***   Japan
     
Skynet Academy Co., Ltd.***   Japan

 

* 100% owned subsidiary of SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated

** 100% owned subsidiary of SBC Medical Group, Inc.*

*** Majority owned subsidiary of SBC Medical Group, Inc.*

 

EX-99.1 12 ea021502401ex99-1_sbcmed.htm UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED AS OF JUNE 30, 2024 AND FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2024 AND 2023

Exhibit 99.1

 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

    Page
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 (Unaudited)   F-2
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 (Unaudited)   F-4
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholder’s Equity for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 (Unaudited)   F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 (Unaudited)   F-6
Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements   F-8

 

F-1


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

    June 30,
2024
    December 31,
2023
 
ASSETS            
Current assets:            
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 103,702,770     $ 103,022,932  
Accounts receivable     2,315,948       1,437,077  
Accounts receivable – related parties     23,857,674       33,676,672  
Inventories     1,947,005       3,090,923  
Finance lease receivables, current – related parties     6,598,828       6,143,564  
Customer loans receivable, current     14,525,297       8,484,753  
Other receivables - related party     5,245,990        
Prepaid expenses and other current assets     11,526,931       10,050,005  
Total current assets     169,720,443       165,905,926  
                 
Non-current assets:                
Property and equipment, net     11,879,132       13,582,017  
Intangible assets, net     14,828,253       19,739,276  
Long-term investments     4,635,304       849,434  
Goodwill, net     3,148,091       3,590,791  
Finance lease receivables, non-current – related parties     3,450,699       3,420,489  
Operating lease right-of-use assets     4,614,597       5,919,937  
Deferred tax assets     868,604        
Customer loans receivable, non-current     6,664,910       6,444,025  
Long-term prepayments     3,633,491       4,099,763  
Long-term investments in MCs – related parties     17,369,040       19,811,555  
Other assets     14,433,783       15,442,058  
Total non-current assets     85,525,904       92,899,345  
Total assets   $ 255,246,347     $ 258,805,271  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY                
                 
Current liabilities:                
Accounts payable   $ 14,602,870     $ 26,531,944  
Current portion of long-term loans     112,042       156,217  
Notes payable, current – related parties     9,672,886       3,369,203  
Advances from customers     1,103,522       2,074,457  
Advances from customers – related parties     15,803,809       23,058,175  
Income tax payable     12,773,567       8,782,930  
Operating lease liabilities, current     3,449,126       3,885,812  
Accrued liabilities and other current liabilities     14,022,067       21,009,009  
Due to related party     3,469,183       3,583,523  
Total current liabilities     75,009,072       92,451,270  

 

F-2


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS — (Continued)

 

    June 30,
2024
    December 31,
2023
 
Non-current liabilities:            
Long-term loans     646,878       1,062,722  
Notes payable, non-current – related parties     14,147,360       11,948,219  
Deferred tax liabilities     2,316,808       6,013,565  
Operating lease liabilities, non-current     1,454,794       2,444,316  
Other liabilities     1,015,841       1,074,930  
Total non-current liabilities     19,581,681       22,543,752  
Total liabilities     94,590,753       114,995,022  
                 
Stockholder’s equity:                
Preferred stock ($0.0001 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023)            
Common stock ($0.0001 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized, 7,949,000 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023)     795       795  
Additional paid-in capital     36,887,905       36,887,905  
Retained earnings     180,090,892       142,848,732  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (56,683,275 )     (37,578,255 )
Total SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated’s stockholder’s equity     160,296,317       142,159,177  
Non-controlling interests     359,277       1,651,072  
Total stockholder’s equity     160,655,594       143,810,249  
Total liabilities and stockholder’s equity   $ 255,246,347     $ 258,805,271  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

F-3


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

 

    For the Three Months Ended
June 30,
    For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
    2024     2023     2024     2023  
Revenues, net – related parties   $ 51,039,038     $ 39,238,104     $ 101,509,245     $ 80,216,944  
Revenues, net     2,063,042       1,763,322       6,400,877       3,697,100  
Total revenues, net     53,102,080       41,001,426       107,910,122       83,914,044  
Cost of revenues     13,682,405       9,078,576       28,971,072       23,475,757  
Gross profit     39,419,675       31,922,850       78,939,050       60,438,287  
                                 
Operating expenses:                                
Selling, general and administrative expenses     12,129,115       16,192,346       27,187,605       33,438,520  
Misappropriation loss           160,198             352,250  
Total operating expenses     12,129,115       16,352,544       27,187,605       33,790,770  
                                 
Income from operations     27,290,560       15,570,306       51,751,445       26,647,517  
                                 
Other income (expenses):                                
Interest income     11,644       10,610       29,333       76,111  
Interest expense     (7,424 )     (25,508 )     (10,432 )     (33,402 )
Other income     306,291       1,272,763       655,972       2,736,854  
Other expenses     (514,636 )     (158,600 )     (1,951,292 )     (482,925 )
Gain on disposal of subsidiary                 3,813,609        
Total other income (expenses)     (204,125 )     1,099,265       2,537,190       2,296,638  
                                 
Income before income taxes     27,086,435       16,669,571       54,288,635       28,944,155  
                                 
Income tax expense     8,529,110       6,814,289       16,981,094       12,670,982  
                                 
Net income     18,557,325       9,855,282       37,307,541       16,273,173  
Less: net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests     72,917       (813,640 )     65,381       (398,189 )
Net income attributable to SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated   $ 18,484,408     $ 10,668,922     $ 37,242,160     $ 16,671,362  
                                 
Other comprehensive income (loss):                                
Foreign currency translation adjustment   $ (9,046,549 )   $ (7,878,633 )   $ (19,240,401 )   $ (18,850,973 )
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale debt security, net of tax effect of nil and $86,150 for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively; nil and $101,725 for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively           166,561             196,623  
Total comprehensive income (loss)     9,510,776       2,143,210       18,067,140       (2,381,177 )
Less: comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests     22,000       (1,130,375 )     (70,000 )     (741,527 )
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated   $ 9,488,776     $ 3,273,585     $ 18,137,140     $ (1,639,650 )
                                 
Net income per share attributable to SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated*                                
Basic and diluted   $ 2.33     $ 1.34     $ 4.69     $ 2.10  
                                 
Weighted average shares outstanding*                                
Basic and diluted     7,949,000       7,949,000       7,949,000       7,949,000  

 

 

* Retrospectively restated for effect of share issuances on September 8, 2023.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

F-4


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY
FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2024 AND 2023

 

    Common Stock             Accumulated     Total
SBC Medical
Group
Holdings
         
    Number     Amount     Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Retained
Earnings
    Other
Comprehensive
Loss
    Incorporated’s
Stockholder’s
Equity
    Non-
controlling

Interests

    Total
Stockholder’s
Equity
 
Balance as of December 31, 2023     7,949,000     $ 795     $ 36,887,905     $ 142,848,732     $ (37,578,255 )   $ 142,159,177     $ 1,651,072     $ 143,810,249  
Disposal of subsidiary                                         (1,221,795 )     (1,221,795 )
Net income (loss)                       18,757,752             18,757,752       (7,536 )     18,750,216  
Foreign currency translation adjustment                             (10,109,388 )     (10,109,388 )     (84,464 )     (10,193,852 )
Balance as of March 31, 2024     7,949,000       795       36,887,905       161,606,484       (47,687,643 )     150,807,541       337,277       151,144,818  
Net income                       18,484,408             18,484,408       72,917       18,557,325  
Foreign currency translation adjustment                             (8,995,632 )     (8,995,632 )     (50,917 )     (9,046,549 )
Balance as of June 30, 2024     7,949,000     $ 795     $ 36,887,905     $ 180,090,892     $ (56,683,275 )   $ 160,296,317     $ 359,277     $ 160,655,594  

 

    Common Stock*                 Accumulated     Total
SBC Medical
Group
Holdings
             
    Number     Amount     Additional
Paid-in
Capital*
    Retained
Earnings
    Other
Comprehensive
Loss
    Incorporated’s
Stockholder’s
Equity
    Non-
controlling
Interests
    Total
Stockholder’s
Equity
 
Balance as of December 31, 2022     1     $     $ 26,624,694     $ 103,478,696     $ (24,853,275 )   $ 105,250,115     $ 2,599,968     $ 107,850,083  
Issuance of common stock     1,000             10                   10             10  
Net income                       6,002,440             6,002,440       415,451       6,417,891  
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale debt security, net of tax effect of $15,575                             30,062       30,062             30,062  
Foreign currency translation adjustment                             (10,945,737 )     (10,945,737 )     (26,603 )     (10,972,340 )
Balance as of March 31, 2023     1,001             26,624,704       109,481,136       (35,768,950 )     100,336,890       2,988,816       103,325,706  
Net income (loss)                       10,668,922             10,668,922       (813,640 )     9,855,282  
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale debt security, net of tax effect of $86,150                             166,561       166,561             166,561  
Foreign currency translation adjustment                             (7,561,898 )     (7,561,898 )     (316,735 )     (7,878,633 )
Balance as of June 30, 2023     1,001     $     $ 26,624,704     $ 120,150,058     $ (43,164,287 )   $ 103,610,475     $ 1,858,441     $ 105,468,916  

 

 

* Retrospectively restated for effect of share issuances on September 8, 2023.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

F-5


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

    For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
    2024     2023  
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES            
Net income   $ 37,307,541     $ 16,273,173  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:                
Depreciation and amortization expense     1,849,422       6,400,831  
Non-cash lease expense     1,923,890       2,132,980  
Allowance for credit losses     62,804       146,452  
Impairment loss on property and equipment           194,336  
Fair value change of long-term investments     1,045,557        
Gain on disposal of subsidiary     (3,813,609 )      
Gain on disposal of property and equipment     (902 )     (249,532 )
Deferred income taxes     (3,322,728 )     (1,514,836 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:                
Accounts receivable     (1,423,412 )     (1,392,104 )
Accounts receivable – related parties     5,843,499       (18,400,405 )
Inventories     561,921       (4,347,104 )
Finance lease receivables – related parties     (1,759,556 )     16,427,854  
Customer loans receivable     7,521,267        
Prepaid expenses and other current assets     (1,488,347 )     9,999,175  
Long-term prepayments     (41,412 )      
Other assets     (1,007,431 )     (1,099,364 )
Accounts payable     (8,960,556 )     7,497,459  
Notes payable – related parties     (5,101,368 )      
Advances from customers     (755,977 )     (716,491 )
Advances from customers – related parties     (4,663,233 )     (8,130,208 )
Income tax payable     5,462,133       1,342,119  
Operating lease liabilities     (1,998,196 )     (2,004,281 )
Accrued liabilities and other current liabilities     (4,444,172 )     (985,999 )
Accrued retirement compensation expense – related party           (22,082,643 )
Other liabilities     77,625       79,987  
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES     22,874,760       (428,601 )
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES                
Purchase of property and equipment     (1,565,333 )     (1,085,391 )
Purchase of intangible assets           (1,683,030 )
Purchase of convertible note     (1,700,000 )     (1,000,000 )
Prepayments for property and equipment           (287,174 )
Advances to related parties     (617,804 )     (682,260 )
Payments made on behalf of a related party     (5,245,990 )      
Purchase of short-term investments           (49,724 )
Cash received for acquisition of subsidiary, net of cash received           722,551  
Long-term loans to others     (62,489 )     (381,588 )
Repayments from related parties     555,000       535,808  
Repayments from others     44,748        
Disposal of subsidiary, net of cash disposed of     (815,819 )      
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment     1,971       147,924  
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES     (9,405,716 )     (3,762,884 )

F-6


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS — (Continued)

 

    For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
    2024     2023  
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES            
Borrowings from related parties           11,777,729  
Proceeds from issuance of common stock           10  
Repayments of long-term loans     (59,217 )     (4,509,916 )
Repayments to related parties     (50,124 )     (7,608,925 )
NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES     (109,341 )     (341,102 )
                 
Effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rate     (12,679,865 )     (11,436,739 )
                 
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS     679,838       (15,969,326 )
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AS OF THE BEGINNING OF THE PERIOD     103,022,932       51,737,994  
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AS OF THE END OF THE PERIOD   $ 103,702,770     $ 35,768,668  
                 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION                
Cash paid for interest expense   $ 10,432     $ 33,402  
Cash paid for income taxes   $ 16,191,178     $ 12,608,072  
                 
NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES                
Property and equipment transferred from long-term prepayments   $     $ 7,329,186  
An intangible asset transferred from long-term prepayments   $     $ 17,666,115  
Operating lease right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities   $     $ 1,029,518  
Remeasurement of operating lease liabilities and right-of-use assets due to lease modifications   $ 1,376,034     $ 2,062,879  
Issuance of promissory notes to related parties in connection with loan services provided   $ 16,085,387     $ 31,496  
Non-cash purchase consideration for an asset acquisition   $     $ 705,528  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

F-7


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 1 — ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

 

Business Overview

 

SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated (“SBC USA”), a holding company, was incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware on January 20, 2023. SBC USA, through its consolidated subsidiaries and variable interest entity (“VIE”), is principally engaged in medical industry to provide comprehensive management services to the medical corporations and their clinics, including but not limited to licensure of the use of trademark and brand name of “Shonan Beauty Clinic”, sales of medical equipment, medical consumables procurement services, and management of customer’s loyalty program, etc.

 

SBC USA and its consolidated subsidiaries and VIE are collectively referred to herein as the “Company”, “we” and “us”, unless specific reference is made to an entity.

 

Reorganization

 

In June 2020 and April 2022, SBC Inc., a company incorporated in Japan in June 2007, and Advice Innovation Co., Ltd., a company incorporated in Japan in December 2018, were merged with and into SBC Medical Group Co., Ltd. (“SBC Japan”), a company incorporated in Japan in September 2017 and previously known as Aikawa Medical Management Co., Ltd., respectively, with SBC Japan being the surviving entity in such mergers.

 

In April 2023, SBC Japan acquired 100% equity interest of L’Ange Cosmetique Co., Ltd. (“L’Ange Sub”), a company incorporated in Japan in June 2003, and Shobikai Co., Ltd. (“Shobikai Sub”), a company incorporated in Japan in June 2014, through share exchange. As a result, L’Ange Sub and Shobikai Sub become wholly owned subsidiaries of SBC Japan.

 

In August 2023, SBC Japan and L’Ange Sub disposed of their entire equity interest in Ai Inc. and Lange Inc., both incorporated in the Federated States of Micronesia in January 2022, respectively, for cash. As a result, Ai Inc. and Lange Inc. cease to be subsidiaries of the Company, with the related investment in capital being treated as a deemed distribution and the disposal proceeds treated as a deemed contribution.

 

In September 2023, SBC USA acquired 100% equity interest of SBC Japan through share exchange with one share of its common stock. As a result, SBC Japan becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of SBC USA.

 

The above reorganization has been accounted for as a recapitalization among entities under common control since the same controlling shareholder controlled these entities before and after the reorganization. The consolidation of the Company has been accounted for at historical cost and prepared on the basis as if the transactions had become effective as of the beginning of the earliest period presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

 

Corporate Structure

 

As of June 30, 2024, the Company’s major subsidiaries and VIE are as follows:

 

Name   Place of
Incorporation
  Date of
Incorporation or
Acquisition
  Percentage of
Ownership
    Principal Activities
SBC Medical Group Co., Ltd.   Japan   September 29, 2017   100%     Franchising, procurement and management services for the medical corporations
L’Ange Cosmetique Co., Ltd.   Japan   June 18, 2003   100%     Management and rental services for the medical corporations
Shobikai Co., Ltd.   Japan   June 4, 2014   100%     Procurement, management and rental services for the medical corporations

 

F-8


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 1 — ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS (cont.)

 

Name   Place of
Incorporation
  Date of
Incorporation or
Acquisition
  Percentage of
Ownership
    Principal Activities
Liesta Co., Ltd.   Japan   December 15, 2020   100%     Real estate brokerage services
Skynet Academy Co., Ltd.   Japan   April 1, 2022   78%     Pilot training services
SBC Sealane Co., Ltd.   Japan   June 7, 2022   100%     Construction services
SBC Marketing Co., Ltd.   Japan   June 30, 2022   100%     Internet marketing services
Medical Payment Co., Ltd.   Japan   June 30, 2022   75%     Loan services
SBC Medical Consulting Co., Ltd.   Japan   August 2, 2022   100%     Human resource services
Shoubikai Medical Vietnam Co., Ltd.   Vietnam   August 29, 2013   100%     Cosmetic clinic
SBC Healthcare Inc.   United States   December 16, 2019   100%     Management services for cosmetic clinic in the United States
SBC Irvine, LLC*   United States   December 27, 2018   100%     Management services for cosmetic clinic in the United States
Kijimadairakanko Inc.   Japan   April 3, 2023   100%     Ski resorts and tourism services
Aikawa Medical Management, Inc.   United States   May 10, 2017   VIE     Management services for cosmetic clinic in the United States

 

 

* A subsidiary of SBC Healthcare Inc.

 

NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

(a) Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The unaudited consolidated financial statements do not include all of the information and disclosure required by the U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. In the opinion of management, all adjustments consisting of a normal recurring nature considered necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and the results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods have been included. The unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes for the year ended December 31, 2023.

 

The unaudited consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company, its subsidiaries, and consolidated VIE for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. The results of the subsidiaries are consolidated from the date on which the Company obtained control and continues to be consolidated until the date that such control ceases. All significant transactions and balances among the Company’s subsidiaries, including the VIE, have been eliminated upon consolidation.

 

Variable Interest Entities

 

In accordance with the guidance for the consolidation of VIE, the Company identifies its variable interests and analyzes to determine if the entity in which the Company has a variable interest is a VIE. Determination if a variable interest is a VIE includes both quantitative and qualitative consideration. For those entities determined to be VIEs within the scope of the VIE model, a further quantitative and qualitative analysis is performed to determine if the Company is deemed the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary is the party who has the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and who has an obligation to absorb losses of the entity or a right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant.

 

F-9


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)

 

The Company would consolidate those entities in which it is determined to be the primary beneficiary. The Company based its qualitative analysis on its review of the design of the entity, its organizational structure including decision-making ability and the relevant development, operating management and financial agreements.

 

The Company evaluates its relationship with its VIE on an ongoing basis to determine whether it continues to be the primary beneficiary of its consolidated VIE, or whether it has become the primary beneficiary of the VIE it does not consolidate.

 

Voting Model

 

If a legal entity fails to meet any of the three characteristics of a VIE, we then evaluate such entity under the voting model. Under the voting model, we consolidate the entity if we determine that we, directly or indirectly, have greater than 50% of the voting rights and that other equity holders do not have substantive participating rights.

 

Assessment of Medical Corporations in Japan

 

SBC Japan, L’Ange Sub and Shobikai Sub are each designated as a medical service corporation (the “MSC”) to provide services to the MCs (the “MCs”) in Japan. To maintain and strengthen the business relationship and to secure the source of revenues from the MCs, the Company acquired equity interests in the following MCs throughout the years.

 

Name of the MC   Percentage of
Equity Interest
Acquired
    Percentage of
Voting Interest
Held
 
Medical Corporation Shobikai     100 %     0 %
Medical Corporation Kowakai     100 %     0 %
Medical Corporation Nasukai     100 %     0 %
Medical Corporation Aikeikai     100 %     0 %
Medical Corporation Jukeikai     100 %     0 %
Medical Corporation Ritz Cosmetic Surgery     100 %     0 %

 

As non-profit organizations, MCs are required to comply with the medical-related laws and regulations of the Japanese Medical Care Act (the “Act”, “Medical Care Act”). In accordance with the Act, the highest authority of MCs is its general meeting of members (the “Members”), with each Member having one voting right. The Company, through the MSCs, has no right to elect the Members, no decision-making ability and no right to dividend or any profit distribution, but has the right to receive distribution of the residual assets of the MCs.

 

Since the not-for-profit entities scope exception to the variable interest model is applicable to the MCs, the Company evaluates its business relationship, franchisor-franchisee agreements and/or services agreements with the MCs in Japan under the voting model. The Company has concluded that consolidation of the MCs is not appropriate for the periods presented as it does not have a majority voting interest in the Members of the MCs nor does it have a controlling financial interest in the MCs. The equity interests in the MCs held by the Company are recorded as long-term investments in MCs — related parties on the unaudited consolidated balance sheets. The transactions between the Company and the MCs are disclosed in Note 17 Related Party Transactions.

 

(b) Foreign Currency

 

The Company maintains its books and record in its local currency, Japanese YEN (“JPY” or “¥”), which is a functional currency as being the primary currency of the economic environment in which its operation is conducted. Transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are translated into the functional currency at the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are translated into the functional currency using the applicable exchange rates at the balance sheet dates. The resulting exchange differences are recorded in other income (expenses) in the unaudited statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

 

F-10


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)

 

The reporting currency of the Company is the United States Dollars (“US$” or “$”), and the accompanying financial statements have been expressed in US$. In accordance with ASC Topic 830-30, “Translations of Financial Statements”, assets and liabilities of the Company whose functional currency is not US$ are translated into US$, using the exchange rate on the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at average rates prevailing during the period. The gains and losses resulting from the translation of financial statements are recorded as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive loss within the unaudited statements of changes in stockholder’s equity.

 

Translation of amounts from local currency of the Company into US$1 has been made at the following exchange rates:

 

    June 30,
2024
    June 30,
2023
 
Current JPY:US$1 exchange rate     160.8680       145.9900  
Average JPY:US$1 exchange rate     152.1868       135.8533  

 

(c) Use of Estimates

 

In preparing the unaudited consolidated financial statements in conformity U.S. GAAP, the management is required to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. These estimates are based on information available as of the date of the unaudited consolidated financial statements. Significant estimates required to be made by management include, but are not limited to, useful lives and impairment of long-lived assets, impairment of goodwill, impairment of long-term investments in MCs — related parties, valuation allowance of deferred tax assets, uncertain income tax positions, the recognition and measurement of impairment of investments in securities, allowance for credit losses and implicit interest rate of operating leases. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and other assumptions it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances and evaluates these estimates on an on-going basis. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

(d) Customer Loans Receivable and Note Payables — Related Parties

 

In February 2023, the Company started to provide loan services to certain customers of the related-party MCs (“End Customers”). When a loan is granted to finance an End Customer’s purchase, the Company issues a promissory note to the MC to pay off the purchase transaction on behalf of the End Customer, and the End Customer is required to repay the Company in monthly installments. The loans provided to the End Customers are unsecured, interest-bearing, and due in three months to five years, depending on the End Customers’ choice of the loan service term.

 

The Company records the customer loans receivables at gross loan receivables less unamortized costs of issuance fees or discounts, which are amortized over the life of the loan to interest income. During the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company generated interest income of $490,210 and $443, respectively, from the loan services, which were included in revenues.

 

Management periodically evaluates individual End Customer’s financial condition, credit history and the current economic conditions to make adjustments in the allowance when necessary. Customer loans receivable are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company determined no allowance for doubtful accounts was necessary for customer loans receivable.

 

The Company repays each promissory note issued to the MCs at the end of the term with a lump sum payment. The promissory notes are unsecured, bear no interest, and are due in three months to five years, depending on the term of the loans provided to the corresponding End Customers.

 

F-11


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)

 

(e) Intangible Assets, Net

 

Intangible assets with an indefinite life are not amortized and are tested for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that they might be impaired.

 

Intangible assets with finite lives are initially recorded at cost and amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated economic useful lives of the respective assets. Acquired intangible assets from business combinations are recognized and measured at fair value at the time of acquisition. Those assets represent assets with finite lives are further amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated economic useful lives of the respective assets.

 

The estimated useful lives of intangible assets are as follows:

 

    Useful Life
Patent use right   16 years

 

(f) Goodwill, Net

 

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities acquired in the business combination. In accordance with FASB ASC Topic 350, “Intangibles-Goodwill and Others”, goodwill is subject to at least an annual assessment for impairment or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that an impairment may exist, applying a fair-value based test.

 

The Company would recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value up to the amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.

 

When performing the annual impairment test, the Company has the option of performing a qualitative or quantitative assessment to determine if an impairment has occurred. If a qualitative assessment indicates that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the Company would be required to perform a quantitative impairment analysis for goodwill. The quantitative analysis requires a comparison of the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The fair value is generally determined using the income approach with the discounted cash flow valuation method, which requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions related to forecasted revenues and cash flows and the discount rates.

 

(g) Impairment of Long-lived Assets Other Than Goodwill

 

Long-lived assets with finite lives, primarily property and equipment, intangible assets, and operating lease right-of-use assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If the estimated cash flows from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition are below the asset’s carrying value, then the asset is deemed to be impaired and written down to its fair value.

 

(h) Long-term Investments

 

Investments in equity securities with readily determinable fair values

 

The Company holds investments in equity securities of publicly listed companies, for which the Company does not have significant influence. Investments in equity securities with readily determinable fair values are measured at fair value and any changes in fair value are recognized in other income (expenses).

 

F-12


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)

 

Investments in privately held companies and organizations that do not report NAV per share

 

The Company’s long-term investments in privately held entities that do not report NAV per share are accounted for using a measurement alternative, under which these investments are measured at cost, adjusted for observable price changes and impairments, with changes recognized in other income (expenses).

 

The Company recognizes both realized and unrealized gain and losses in its unaudited consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), classified with other income (expenses). Unrealized gains and losses represent observable price changes for investments in privately held entities that do not report NAV per share. Realized gains and losses represent the difference between proceeds received upon disposition of investments and their historical or adjusted cost. Impairments are realized losses, which result in an adjusted cost, and represent charges to reduce the carrying values of investments in privately held entities that do not report NAV per share, if impairments are deemed other than temporary, to their estimated fair values.

 

(i) Long-term Investments in MCs — Related Parties

 

Long-term investments in MCs — related parties represent the payments to obtain equity interests of the MCs in Japan, made by the Company through SBC Japan, a company designated as a MSC in Japan. In accordance with the Act and articles of incorporation of the MCs, which are non-profit organizations, the equity interest holders of MCs are prohibited from receiving any profit distribution from MCs but have the right to receive distribution of the residual assets of the MCs in proportion to the amount of their contribution. As of the balance sheet dates, the investments represent probable future economic benefit to be realized at the time of dissolution of MCs or the equity interests being sold.

 

The investments in MCs — related parties are accounted for using a measurement alternative, under which these investments are measured at cost, less impairment, and adjusted for observable price changes. The Company reviews the investments in MCs for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The payments made for such investments are classified as investing activities in the unaudited consolidated statements of cash flows. The MCs are considered related parties as the relatives of the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Company being the Members of the MCs. Also see Note 2(a) for further details.

 

(j) Lease

 

The Company determines if an arrangement is or contains a lease at inception or modification of the arrangement. An arrangement is or contains a lease if there are identified assets and the right to control the use of an identified asset is conveyed for a period in exchange for consideration. Control over the use of the identified assets means the lessee has both the right to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from the use of the asset and the right to direct the use of the asset.

 

The Company classifies its leases as either finance leases or operating leases if it is the lessee, or sales-type, direct financing, or operating leases if it is the lessor. The following criteria is used to determine if a lease is a finance lease (as a lessee) or sales-type or direct financing lease (as a lessor):

 

(i) ownership is transferred from lessor to lessee by the end of the lease term;

 

(ii) an option to purchase is reasonably certain to be exercised;

 

(iii) the lease term is for the major part of the underlying asset’s remaining economic life;

 

(iv) the present value of lease payments equals or exceeds substantially all of the fair value of the underlying assets; or

 

(v) the underlying asset is specialized and is expected to have no alternative use at the end of the lease term.

 

F-13


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)

 

If any of the above criteria is met, the Company accounts for the lease as a finance, a sales-type, or a direct financing lease. If none of the criteria is met, the Company accounts for the lease as an operating lease.

 

Lessee accounting

 

The Company recognizes right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for all leases other than those with a term of twelve months or less as the Company has elected to apply the short-term lease recognition exemption. Right-of-use assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term. Lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are classified and recognized at the commencement date of a lease. Lease liabilities are measured based on the present value of fixed lease payments over the lease term. Right-of-use assets consist of (i) initial measurement of the lease liability; (ii) lease payments made to the lessor at or before the commencement date less any lease incentives received; and (iii) initial direct costs incurred by the Company.

 

As the rates implicit on the Company’s leases for which it is the lessee are not readily determinable, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate based on information available at the commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. When determining the incremental borrowing rate, the Company assesses multiple variables such as lease term, collateral, economic conditions, and its creditworthiness.

 

From time to time, we may enter into sublease agreements with third parties. Our subleases generally do not relieve us of our primary obligations under the corresponding head lease. As a result, we account for the head lease based on the original assessment at lease inception. We determine if the sublease arrangement is either a sales-type, direct financing, or operating lease at inception of the sublease. If the total remaining lease cost on the head lease for the term of the sublease is greater than the anticipated sublease income, the right-of-use asset is assessed for impairment. Our subleases are generally operating leases and we recognize sublease income on a straight-line basis over the sublease term.

 

Lessor accounting — operating leases

 

The Company accounts for the revenue from its lease contracts by utilizing the single component accounting policy. This policy requires the Company to account for, by class of underlying asset, the lease component and nonlease component(s) associated with each lease as a single component if two criteria are met.

 

(i) the timing and pattern of transfer of the lease component and the nonlease component(s) are the same; and

 

(ii) the lease component would be classified as an operating lease if it were accounted for separately.

 

Lease components consist primarily of fixed rental payments, which represent scheduled rental amounts due under our leases. Nonlease components consist primarily of tenant recoveries representing reimbursements of rental operating expenses, including recoveries for utilities, repairs and maintenance and common area expenses.

 

If the lease component is the predominant component, we account for all revenues under such lease as a single component in accordance with the lease accounting standard. Conversely, if the nonlease component is the predominant component, all revenues under such lease are accounted for in accordance with the revenue recognition accounting standard. Our operating leases qualify for the single component accounting, and the lease component in each of our leases is predominant. Therefore, we account for all revenues from our operating leases under the lease accounting standard and classify these revenues as rental income.

 

The Company commences recognition of rental income related to the operating leases at the date the property is ready for its intended use by the tenant and the tenant takes possession or controls the physical use of the leased asset. Income from rentals related to fixed rental payments under operating leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the respective operating lease terms. Any amounts received but will be recognized as revenue in future periods are classified in advances from customers in the Company’s unaudited consolidated balance sheets.

 

F-14


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)

 

Lessor accounting — sales-type leases

 

The Company purchases medical equipment from vendors and leases it to its customers, who are required to pay installments throughout the term of the leases. The lease agreements include lease payments that are fixed, do not contain residual value guarantees or variable lease payments. The lease terms are based on the non-cancellable term of the lease and the buyer may have options to terminate the lease in advance when meets certain conditions. The customers obtain control of the medical equipment when they physically possess the equipment.

 

The Company recognizes sales from sales-type leases equal to the present value of the minimum lease payments discounted using the implicit interest rate in the lease and cost of sales equal to carrying amount of the asset being leased and any initial direct costs incurred, less the present value of the unguaranteed residual. Interest income from the leases is recognized over the lease terms and included in revenues, net.

 

The Company excludes from the measurement of its lease revenues any tax assessed by a governmental authority that is both imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction and collected from a customer.

 

(k) Revenue Recognition

 

The Company recognizes revenue from franchising services, procurement services, management services and other services or product sales under ASC Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”.

 

To determine revenue recognition for contracts with customers, the Company performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with the customer, (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (iii) determine the transaction price, including variable consideration to the extent that it is probable that a significant future reversal will not occur, (iv) allocate the transaction price to the respective performance obligations in the contract, and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies the performance obligation. Revenue amount represents the invoiced value, net of consumption tax and applicable local government levies, if any. The consumption tax on sales is calculated at 10% of gross sales. The Company does not have significant remaining unfulfilled performance obligations or contract balances.

 

The Company reports revenue on a gross or net basis based on management’s assessment of whether the Company acts as a principal or agent in the transaction. The determination of whether the Company acts as a principal or an agent in a transaction is based on the evaluation of whether (i) the Company is primarily responsible for fulfilling the promise to provide the specified goods or service, (ii) the Company has inventory risk before the specified good or service has been transferred to a customer or after transfer of control to the customer and (iii) the Company has discretion in establishing the price for the specified good or service. If the terms of a transaction do not indicate the Company is acting as a principal in the transaction, then the Company is acting as an agent in the transaction and the associated revenues are recognized on a net basis.

 

The Company recognizes revenue from rental services under ASC Topic 842, “Leases”.

 

The Company currently generates its revenue from the following main sources:

 

Franchising Revenue

 

The Company generates franchising revenue (royalty income) by licensing its intellectual properties, including but not limited to the Company’s brand name (“Shonan Beauty Clinic”), trade name, patents, and trademarks, as a franchisor pursuant to franchise agreements with the medical corporations (the “MCs”) in Japan. Prior to April 2023, royalty income was based on a percentage of sales and recognized at the time when the related sales occurred; since April 2023, it is based on a fixed amount to each clinic of the MCs; since September 2023, it is based on a fixed amount to each MC and a fixed amount to each clinic of the MCs and recognized over time as services are rendered.

 

F-15


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)

 

Procurement Revenue

 

The Company generates procurement services revenue by purchasing primarily advertising services and medical materials from qualified vendors on behalf of MCs to maintain brand quality consistency. Procurement services revenue is recognized at the point in time upon the delivery of products or over time as services are performed. Occasionally, the Company receives vendor discounts on certain large purchases. It recognizes revenue based on actual payments and will return the over-collection resulting from such discounts to MCs.

 

Management Services Revenue

 

The Company provides loyalty program management services, labor supporting services, function supporting services, and management consulting services to MCs.

 

Loyalty program management services

 

The Company awards loyalty points on behalf of MCs to MCs’ customers, who earn loyalty points from each qualified purchase made at the loyalty program participating clinics of MCs, in exchange for a handling fee. The revenue is based on a percentage of the related payment amount made by MCs’ customers and is recognized when the loyalty points are awarded.

 

At the time loyalty points are awarded, a MC pays the Company cash in an amount equivalent to the awarded loyalty points, which is recorded as advances from customers. When a MC’s customers redeem the loyalty points, the Company returns the cash back to the MC in an amount equivalent to the redeemed loyalty points. The awarded loyalty points expire if a MC’s customer does not make any additional qualified purchase at a participating clinic within a year. The Company accumulates and tracks the points on behalf of MCs until the loyalty points expire at which time the Company recognizes an amount equivalent to the expired loyalty points as revenue, which is normally not significant.

 

The Company also awards certain points to MCs’ customers on behalf of MCs for free in order to increase the volume of MC’s sales, from which the Company earns other types of revenues, such as royalty income. When a MC’s customers redeem such points, the Company reimburses MC in an amount equivalent to the used free points and records it as a reduction of the revenue recognized.

 

The Company is an agent in the management of loyalty programs, and as a result, revenues are recognized net of the cost of redemptions.

 

Labor supporting services

 

The Company generates revenue by dispatching staff to MCs to provide a range of services, primarily including clinic operation, IT, and administrative services. The Company recognizes the revenue over the time when services are rendered.

 

Function supporting services

 

The revenue is derived from providing functional supporting services to MCs, such as accounting and human resources services. The Company recognizes the revenue over the time when services are rendered.

 

Management consulting services

 

The Company generates revenue by providing consulting services to MCs in relation to business operations of cosmetic dermatology. The Company recognizes the revenue over the time when services are rendered.

 

F-16


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)

 

Rental Services Revenue

 

The Company generates rental income from operating leases and sales-type leases, which is accounted for under ASC Topic 842. Operating lease revenue is generally recognized on straight-line basis over the terms of the lease agreements and sales-type leases revenue is generally recognized on the lease commitment date. Also see Note 2(j).

 

Other Revenues

 

The Company generates other miscellaneous revenues such as accommodation services income, medicine dispensed sales revenue, brokerage services revenue, construction services revenue, pilot training services revenue, interest income, etc. These revenues are recognized when the Company satisfies performance obligations.

 

(l) Concentration of Credit Risk

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, customer loans receivable and other receivables. The Company places its cash and cash equivalents with financial institutions. The Company does not require collateral or other security to support financial instruments subject to credit risk. The Company conducts periodic reviews of the financial condition and payment practices of its customers to minimize collection risk on accounts receivable.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2024, customer A, B, C and D represent 24%, 22%, 24% and 10% of the Company’s total revenues, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2023, customer A, B and C represent 39%, 23% and 21% of the Company’s total revenues, respectively.

 

As of June 30, 2024, customer A, B, C and D account for 16%, 26%, 25% and 11% of the Company’s total outstanding accounts receivable, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, customer A, B, C and D account for 26%, 24%, 22% and 13% of the Company’s total outstanding accounts receivable, respectively.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2024, vendor A represents 15% of the Company’s total purchases. For the six months ended June 30, 2023, vendor A and D represent 16% and 12% of the Company’s total purchases, respectively.

 

As of June 30, 2024, vendor A and B represent 23% and 16% of the Company’s total outstanding accounts payable, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, vendor A, B and D represent 19%, 14% and 14% of the Company’s total outstanding accounts payable, respectively.

 

(m)    Related Parties and Transactions

 

The Company identifies related parties, and accounts for, discloses related party transactions in accordance with ASC Topic 850, “Related Party Disclosures,” and other relevant ASC standards.

 

Parties, which can be an entity or individual, are considered to be related if they have the ability, directly or indirectly, to control the Company or exercise significant influence over the Company in making financial and operational decisions. Entities are also considered to be related if they are subject to common control or common significant influence.

 

F-17


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)

 

Transactions involving related parties cannot be presumed to be carried out on an arm’s-length basis, as the requisite conditions of competitive, free market dealings may not exist. Representations about transactions with related parties, if made, shall not imply that the related party transactions were consummated on terms equivalent to those that prevail in arm’s-length transactions unless such representations can be substantiated.

 

(n) Fair Value Measurements

 

The Company performs fair value measurements in accordance with ASC Topic 820. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. ASC Topic 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. An asset’s or a liability’s categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. ASC Topic 820 establishes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

 

Level 1: quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

 

Level 2: inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly; or

 

Level 3: unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair values of the assets or liabilities.

 

As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the carrying values of current assets and current liabilities approximated their fair values reported in the unaudited consolidated balance sheets due to the short-term maturities of these instruments. Debt that bears variable interest rates index to prime also approximates fair value as it reprices when market interest rates change.

 

Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 are summarized below.

 

Fair Value Measurements as of June 30, 2024
    Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
    Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
    Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
    Fair
Value at
June 30,
2024
 
Long-term investments:                        
Equity investments at fair value with readily determinable fair value   $ 3,890,594                 $ 3,890,594  

 

Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2023
    Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
    Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
    Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
    Fair
Value at
December 31,
2023
 
Long-term investments:                        
Equity investments at fair value with readily determinable fair value             —                —               —                —  

 

F-18


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (cont.)

 

(o) Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In November 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which expands annual and interim disclosure requirements for reportable segments, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. ASU No. 2023-09 is effective for public entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2023, on a retrospective basis. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this accounting standard update on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvement to Income Tax Disclosures” to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures, primarily related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information. ASU 2023-09 is effective for public business entities for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, and for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2025 for all other entities, on a prospective basis. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this accounting standard update on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

NOTE 3 — VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITY

 

A VIE is defined as a legal entity whose equity owners do not have sufficient equity at risk, or, as a group, the holders of the equity investment at risk lack any of the following three characteristics: decision-making rights, the obligation to absorb losses, or the right to receive the expected residual returns of the entity. The primary beneficiary is identified as the variable interest holder that has both the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly affect the entity’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb expected losses or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE.

 

The Company followed ASC Topic 810, “Consolidation”, utilizing a qualitative approach, and determined that it is the primary beneficiary of its VIE, Aikawa Medical Management, Inc. (“AMM”) and consolidated the result of operations, financial conditions, and cash flows of AMM in the consolidated financial statements.

 

The following amounts and balances of AMM were included in the Company’s unaudited consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023:

 

    June 30,
2024
    December 31,
2023
 
ASSETS            
Current assets            
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 34,012     $ 28,934  
Accounts receivable     26,916       26,916  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets     12,295       11,074  
Total Current Assets     73,223       66,924  
                 
Property and equipment, net     1,799,372       1,799,372  
Loans receivables from subsidiaries of the Company     3,081,370       3,060,581  
Other assets     2,275       2,275  
Total Non-current Assets     4,883,017       4,862,228  
                 
Total Assets   $ 4,956,240     $ 4,929,152  
                 
LIABILITIES                
Current Liabilities                
Accounts payable   $ 17,400     $ 17,942  
Accrued liabilities and other current liabilities     17,824       17,824  
Due to related party     2,825,984       2,875,408  
Total Current Liabilities     2,861,208       2,911,174  
                 
Loan payable to a subsidiary of the Company     8,064,637       9,157,660  
Total Non-current Liabilities     8,064,637       9,157,660  
                 
Total Liabilities   $ 10,925,845     $ 12,068,834  

 

F-19


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 3 — VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITY (cont.)

 

    For the Three Months Ended
June 30,
    For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
    2024     2023     2024     2023  
Revenues   $ 40,470     $ 40,470     $ 188,860     $ 80,940  
Cost of revenues   $     $ 15,411     $ 56,510     $ 30,823  
Total operating expenses   $ 112,919     $ 5,093     $ 255,720     $ 17,053  
Net income (loss)   $ (72,449 )   $ 72,626     $ (123,370 )   $ 33,064  
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities   $ (122,328 )   $ 103,937     $ (101,725 )   $ 132,905  
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities   $ 55,000     $ (55,270 )   $ 50,000     $ (80,000 )
Net cash used in financing activities   $ (39,551 )   $ (71,257 )   $ (49,424 )   $ (83,226 )

 

NOTE 4 — DISPOSAL OF SUBSIDIARY

 

Cellpro Japan Co., Ltd.

 

On January 1, 2024, the Company disposed of its subsidiary, Cellpro Japan Co., Ltd. (“Cellpro”), to Waqoo Inc. (“Waqoo”), a Japanese company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, of which the CEO of the Company is a non-controlling shareholder with more than 10% ownership interest, in exchange for 353,600 shares of Waqoo’s common stock through a share exchange agreement. The disposal of Cellpro did not constitute a strategic shift that would have a major effect on the Company’s operations and financial results.

 

After the stock exchange, SBC Japan became a shareholder with less than 10% ownership interest of Waqoo. The common stock of Waqoo was recorded as an investment in a public entity with readily determinable fair value, which was included in long-term investments. Also see Note 9 for further details.

 

The following table summarizes of the assets and liabilities disposed of at the disposal date.

 

Cash and cash equivalents   $ 815,819  
Accounts receivable     307,127  
Accounts receivable – related parties     146,857  
Inventories     244,440  
Prepaid expense and other current assets     8,115  
Property and equipment, net     300,779  
Intangible assets, net     2,249,706  
Other assets     84,763  
Accounts payable     (191,343 )
Current portion of long-term loans     (28,418 )
Income tax payable     (99,266 )
Accrued liabilities and other current liabilities     (175,012 )
Long-term loans     (260,978 )
Deferred tax liabilities     (776,249 )
Net assets of the subsidiary     2,626,340  
Non-controlling interest of the subsidiary     (1,221,795 )
Net assets of the subsidiary attributable to the Company     1,404,545  
Reclassification of accumulated translation adjustment into gain on disposal     347,784  
Fair value of consideration received – Waqoo’s common stock     5,565,938  
Gain on disposal of subsidiary   $ 3,813,609  

 

F-20


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 5 — PREPAID EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS

 

As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, prepaid expenses and other current assets consist of the following:

 

    June 30,
2024
    December 31,
2023
 
Advances to suppliers   $ 7,487,096     $ 6,497,608  
Convertible note receivable*     2,700,000       1,000,000  
Other receivables**     915,218       2,390,276  
Others     424,617       162,121  
Total   $ 11,526,931     $ 10,050,005  

 

 

* In May 2023, the Company purchased from Pono Capital Two, Inc. (“Pono”), a special purpose acquisition company incorporated in Delaware, a convertible promissory note in aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000, which will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock of Pono at a conversion price of $10.00 per unit immediately prior to the expected merger between the Company and Pono Two Merger Sub, Inc. (“Merger Sub”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Pono, with the Company continuing as the surviving entity (“Pono Merger”). In February 2024, the Company and Pono entered into an Amendment to the Note Purchase Agreement, which increased the principal amount of the convertible promissory note from $1,000,000 to $2,700,000.

 

** Represent a refundable deposit to be returned by a supplier, reimbursement receivables from a business partner, and other miscellaneous receivables.

 

NOTE 6 — FINANCE LEASE RECEIVABLES

 

As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, finance lease receivables consist of the following:

 

    June 30,
2024
    December 31,
2023
 
Future minimum lease payments receivable   $ 10,074,258     $ 9,586,741  
Estimated residual value            
Gross finance lease receivables     10,074,258       9,586,741  
Less: unearned interest income     (24,731 )     (22,688 )
Finance lease receivables   $ 10,049,527     $ 9,564,053  
Finance lease receivables, current   $ 6,598,828     $ 6,143,564  
Finance lease receivables, non-current   $ 3,450,699     $ 3,420,489  

 

As of June 30, 2024, maturities of the Company’s gross finance lease receivables are as follows:

 

Years ending December 31,      
Remaining of 2024   $ 2,730,592  
2025     4,212,948  
2026     2,650,836  
2027     479,882  
Total   $ 10,074,258  

 

F-21


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 7 — PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

 

As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, property and equipment, net consist of the following:

 

    June 30,
2024
    December 31,
2023
 
Land   $ 1,799,434     $ 1,799,443  
Buildings and facilities attached to buildings     7,818,714       8,412,348  
Machinery, equipment and automobiles     4,972,441       5,539,542  
Aircraft     3,587,308       4,091,772  
Software     3,761,639       3,778,911  
Construction in progress     766,833       591,306  
Subtotal     22,706,369       24,213,322  
Less: accumulated depreciation     (8,353,870 )     (8,231,990 )
Less: accumulated impairment     (2,473,367 )     (2,399,315 )
Property and equipment, net   $ 11,879,132     $ 13,582,017  

 

Depreciation expense was $570,730 and $2,179,096 for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $1,315,539 and $3,473,022 for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

 

The Company recognized an impairment loss of nil and $194,336 for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and nil and $194,336 for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

 

The Company recognized a gain on disposal of property and equipment of $902 and $197,384 for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $902 and $249,532 for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

 

NOTE 8 — INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET

 

As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, intangible assets, net consist of the following:

 

    June 30,
2024
    December 31,
2023
 
Assembled workforce   $     $ 8,976,567  
Patent use right     16,162,319       18,435,140  
Others     181,151       212,190  
Subtotal     16,343,470       27,623,897  
Less: accumulated amortization     (1,515,217 )     (7,884,621 )
Intangible assets, net   $ 14,828,253     $ 19,739,276  

 

Amortization expense was $260,215 and $1,424,419 for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $533,883 and $2,927,809 for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

 

Other intangible assets consist of miscellaneous intangible assets with indefinite useful life.

 

Estimated future amortization expense related to intangible assets as of June 30, 2024 is as follows:

 

Years ending December 31,   Amortization
expense
 
Remaining of 2024   $ 505,072  
2025     1,010,145  
2026     1,010,145  
2027     1,010,145  
2028     1,010,145  
Thereafter     10,101,450  
Total   $ 14,647,102  

 

F-22


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 9 — INVESTMENTS

 

As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, investments consist of the following:

 

    June 30,
2024
    December 31,
2023
 
Investments in private entities or organizations that do not report NAV per
share:
               
Entities or organizations without observable price changes   $ 1,365,362     $ 1,557,366  
Investment in a public entity with readily determinable fair value – related
party
    3,890,594        
Less: accumulated impairment     (620,652 )     (707,932 )
Long-term investments   $ 4,635,304     $ 849,434  

 

The Company recognized an unrealized gain on available-for-sale debt security of nil and $166,561 for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and nil and $196,623 for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

 

In January 2024, the Company acquired 353,600 shares of common stock of Waqoo, representing less than 10% ownership interest, a related-party company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, with a fair value of $5,565,938 through a share exchange agreement. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company recognized an unrealized loss of $107,046 and $1,045,557 on the investment in Waqoo, respectively.

 

NOTE 10 — OTHER ASSETS

 

As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, other assets consist of the following:

 

    June 30,
2024
    December 31,
2023
 
Security deposits   $ 2,606,524     $ 3,049,112  
Corporate-owned life insurance policies     11,056,058       11,529,700  
Long-term loans receivable, primarily student loans     584,579       647,641  
Others     186,622       215,605  
Total   $ 14,433,783     $ 15,442,058  

 

NOTE 11 — ACCRUED LIABILITIES AND OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, accrued liabilities and other current liabilities consist of the following:

 

    June 30,
2024
    December 31,
2023
 
Individual income tax withheld on behalf of employees   $ 729,832     $ 943,195  
Wages and bonus payables     6,832,616       6,264,711  
Consumption tax payable     4,425,498       12,968,580  
Liabilities assumed in connection with purchase of property and equipment     1,130,177       656,508  
Others     903,944       176,015  
Total   $ 14,022,067     $ 21,009,009  

 

F-23


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 12 — LONG-TERM LOANS

 

As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company’s long-term loans from banks and other financial institution consist of the following:

 

Indebtedness   Weighted
Average
Interest
Rate*
    Weighted
Average 
Years to
Maturity*
    June 30,
2024
    December 31,
2023
 
Guaranteed loans                                
Fixed rate loans     1.11 %     3.86     $ 463,809     $ 575,191  
Variable rate loans     0.19 %     0.49       108,623       289,226  
Subtotal     1.30 %     4.35       572,432       864,417  
                                 
Unsecured loans                                
Fixed rate loans     0.13 %     2.64       186,488       354,522  
Subtotal     0.13 %     2.64       186,488       354,522  
                                 
Total long-term loans     1.43 %     6.99       758,920       1,218,939  
                                 
Less: current portion                     (112,042 )     (156,217 )
Non-current portion                   $ 646,878     $ 1,062,722  

 

 

* Pertained to information for loans outstanding as of June 30, 2024.

 

The Company borrowed loans from various banks and a financial institution for working capital purposes.

 

Interest expense was $7,424 and $25,508 for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $10,432 and $33,402 for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

 

The guarantee information of the Company’s outstanding loans as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 consists of the following:

 

    June 30,
2024
    December 31,
2023
 
Co-guaranteed by CEO of subsidiaries within the Company’s organizational structure and Tokyo Credit Guarantee Association   $ 572,432     $ 747,474  
Co-guaranteed by CEO of a subsidiary within the Company’s organizational structure and Kanagawa Credit Guarantee Association   $     $ 116,943  

 

As of June 30, 2024, future minimum payments for long-term loans are as follows:

 

Years ending December 31,   Principal
Repayment
 
Remaining of 2024   $ 56,021  
2025     126,029  
2026     130,691  
2027     125,109  
2028     68,479  
Thereafter     252,591  
Total   $ 758,920  

 

F-24


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 13 — OPERATING LEASES — AS A LESSEE

 

The Company has entered into operating leases for offices and sublease purposes, with terms ranging from two to nine years. The estimated effect of lease renewal and termination options, as applicable, that are reasonably certain to be exercised in the determination of the lease term and initial measurement of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities was included in the unaudited consolidated financials.

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, certain operating leases were guaranteed by related parties of the Company.

 

Operating lease expenses for lease payments are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Leases with an initial term of twelve months or less are not recorded on the unaudited consolidated balance sheets.

 

The components of lease costs are as follows:

 

    For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
    2024     2023  
Operating lease costs   $ 1,927,643     $ 2,137,433  
Short-term lease costs     180,053       215,712  
Total lease costs   $ 2,107,696     $ 2,353,145  

 

The following table presents supplemental information related to the Company’s operating leases:

 

    For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
    2024     2023  
Operating cash flows from operating leases   $ 1,992,121     $ 2,180,627  
Operating lease right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities   $     $ 1,029,518  
Remeasurement of operating lease liabilities and right-of-use assets due to lease modifications   $ 1,376,034     $ 2,062,879  
Weighted average remaining lease term (years)     2.03       2.05  
Weighted average discount rate (per annum)     0.19 %     0.19 %

 

F-25


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 13 — OPERATING LEASES — AS A LESSEE (cont.)

 

As of June 30, 2024, the future maturity of lease liabilities is as follows:

 

Years ending December 31,   Lease
Payment
 
Remaining of 2024   $ 2,554,482  
2025     1,618,370  
2026     189,009  
2027     151,876  
2028     151,876  
Thereafter     246,463  
Total undiscounted lease payments     4,912,076  
Less: imputed interest     (8,156 )
Total operating lease liabilities   $ 4,903,920  

 

NOTE 14 — INCOME TAXES

 

United States

 

SBC USA, SBC Healthcare Inc., SBC Irvine, LLC, and Aikawa Medical Management, Inc. are incorporated in the United States and subject to federal income tax rate at 21% statutory tax rate with respect to the assessable income generated from the United States.

 

Japan

 

The Company conducts its major businesses in Japan and is subject to tax in this jurisdiction. During the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, substantially all the taxable income of the Company is generated in Japan. As a result of its business activities, the Company files tax returns that are subject to examination by the local tax authority. Income taxes in Japan applicable to the Company are imposed by the national, prefectural, and municipal governments, and in the aggregate resulted in an effective statutory rate of 34.69% and 34.58% for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

 

F-26


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 14 — INCOME TAXES (cont.)

 

Vietnam

 

Shoubikai Medical Vietnam Co., Ltd. is incorporated in Vietnam and subject to income tax rate at 20% statutory tax rate with respect to the assessable income generated from Vietnam.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company’s income tax expenses are as follows:

 

    For the Six Months Ended June 30,  
Income Tax Expense   2024     2023  
Current   $ 20,303,822     $ 14,185,818  
Deferred     (3,322,728 )     (1,514,836 )
Total   $ 16,981,094     $ 12,670,982  

 

In 2023, the Company changed the tax year end of SBC Japan, L’Ange Sub and Shobikai Sub from March 31 to December 31. During the six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company made income tax payments of $16,191,178, including enterprise tax payments of $4,800,458, which were deductible for tax purpose. The effective tax rate was 31.28% and 43.78% for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

 

Since October 2023, the Company has been undergoing a tax examination conducted by the Japanese tax authority for the income tax returns filed by SBC Japan for the years ended March 31, 2016 through March 31, 2023, the income tax returns filed by L’Ange Sub for the years ended February 28, 2021 through February 28, 2023, and the income tax returns filed by Shobikai Sub for the years ended March 31, 2021 through March 31, 2023. The tax examination was completed, the subsidiaries of the Company filed the amended tax returns or received the correction notices from the Japanese tax authority in May 2024. There was no material difference between the final result and the income tax liabilities recorded by the Company for the year ended December 31, 2023.

 

NOTE 15 — SHAREHOLDER’S EQUITY

 

The Company was authorized to issue 200,000,000 shares of common stock, par value of $0.0001 per share, and 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value of $0.0001 per share.

 

In January 2023, the Company issued 1,000 shares of common stock to the CEO of the Company with a purchase price of $0.01 per share. In September 2023, the Company issued 7,947,999 shares of common stock to the CEO of the Company with a purchase price of $0.0001 per share. Since the Company was solely owned by the CEO of the Company, there was no change in relative shareholder rights, rank, or value before and after these issuances, and therefore net income per share was retrospectively adjusted for all periods presented.

 

As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were 7,949,000 shares of common stock issued and outstanding and no preferred stock issued and outstanding.

 

Stock-based compensation

 

In January 2024, the Company terminated 449,190 common stock options granted to doctors of related-party MCs (the “Holders”) in September 2023. In connection with the termination, the Company entered into a common stock purchase warrant agreement (the “Warrant Agreement III”) pursuant to which the Company issued to the Holders warrants to acquire an equal number of shares of common stock as previously subject to the options issued to each of the Holders in September 2023. The warrants may be exercised on the three-month, fifteen-month, and twenty-seven-month anniversary of the date of the Company completes its merger or other transaction with a special purpose acquisition company (“SPAC”) wherein the Company becomes a subsidiary of the SPAC (the “Merger”) or the occurrence of other fundamental events defined in the Warrant Agreement III (the “Trigger Date”), to acquire an amount equal to one-third of the applicable shares of common stock, respectively, with an exercise price per share of $0.0001. The warrants were fully vested on the grant date and will expire on the tenth anniversary of the Trigger Date.

 

In June 2024, the Company terminated all common stock options and warrants ever granted, except for 270,000 warrants granted to HeartCore Enterprise, Inc. (“HeartCore”) in November 2022 and 50,000 warrants granted to a business partner in September 2023.

 

As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were nil and 1,131,810 common stock options and warrants granted to related parties of the Company, respectively.

 

F-27


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 15 — SHAREHOLDER’S EQUITY (cont.)

 

The following table summarizes the stock option/warrant activities and related information for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023:

 

    Number of
Options/
Warrants*
    Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price*
    Weighted
Average
Remaining
Term
(Years)**
    Intrinsic
Value
 
As of January 1, 2023     270,000     $ 0.01       10.00     $  
Granted                        
Exercised                        
Forfeited                        
As of June 30, 2023     270,000     $ 0.01       10.00     $  
                                 
As of January 1, 2024     2,051,000     $ 0.0014       10.00     $  
Granted     449,190       0.0001              
Exercised                        
Forfeited/Cancelled     (2,180,190 )     0.0001              
As of June 30, 2024     320,000     $ 0.0085       10.00     $  
Vested and exercisable as of June 30, 2024         $           $  

 

 

* On November 8, 2022, the Company entered into a Common Stock Purchase Warrant Agreement (the “Warrant Agreement”) with HeartCore pursuant to which, the Company granted HeartCore common stock purchase warrants to purchase 2.7% of the fully diluted shares of the Company’s common stock as of the date of the Merger, for an exercise price per share of $0.01, subject to adjustment as provided in the Warrant Agreement. As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the number of such warrants was calculated to be 270,000.

 

** All of the options and warrants granted are not exercisable before the Merger and will be expired on the tenth anniversary of the Trigger Date.

 

As of June 30, 2024, the Company did not recognize any stock-based compensation expense as the performance condition of exercisability upon consummation of the Merger is not considered probable until it occurs.

  

NOTE 16 — DISAGGREGATION OF REVENUES

 

Revenues generated from different revenue streams consist of the following:

 

    For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
    For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
    2024     2023     2024     2023  
Royalty income   $ 14,626,256     $ 9,955,479     $ 29,736,524     $ 16,839,041  
Procurement services     13,536,608       13,186,629       26,732,592       25,703,245  
Management services     16,705,597       13,471,805       32,360,267       30,724,761  
Rental services     3,453,173       1,226,444       7,071,114       3,343,410  
Others     4,780,446       3,161,069       12,009,625       7,303,587  
Total   $ 53,102,080     $ 41,001,426     $ 107,910,122     $ 83,914,044  

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company recognized revenue of $1,970,889 and $503,681 from the opening balance of advances from customers, respectively; and recognized revenue of nil and $1,382,803 from the opening balance of advances from customers — related parties, respectively.

 

As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, and for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, substantially all of our long-lived assets and revenues generated are attributed to the Company’s operation in Japan.

 

F-28


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 17 — RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

The related parties had material transactions for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 consist of the following:

 

Name of Related Parties   Nature of Relationship as of June 30, 2024
Yoshiyuki Aikawa   Sole shareholder, director and CEO of the Company
Yoshiko Aikawa   Representative director of a subsidiary of the Company
Mizuho Yamashita   Director of a subsidiary of the Company
Medical Corporation Shobikai   The relatives of CEO of the Company being the Members of the MC
Medical Corporation Kowakai   The relatives of CEO of the Company being the Members of the MC
Medical Corporation Nasukai   The relatives of CEO of the Company being the Members of the MC
Medical Corporation Aikeikai   The relatives of CEO of the Company being the Members of the MC
Medical Corporation Jukeikai   The relatives of CEO of the Company being the Members of the MC
Medical Corporation Ritz Cosmetic Surgery   The relatives of CEO of the Company being the Members of the MC
Medical Corporation Association Junikai   The relatives of CEO of the Company being the Members of the MC
Medical Corporation Association Furinkai   The relatives of CEO of the Company being the Members of the MC
Japan Medical & Beauty Inc.   Controlled by the CEO of the Company
SBC Inc., previously known as SBC China Inc.   Controlled by the CEO of the Company
Hariver Inc.   Controlled by the CEO of the Company
Public Interest Foundation SBC Medical Promotion Foundation   The relative of CEO of the Company being a Member of Public Interest Foundation SBC Medical Promotion Foundation
AI Med Inc.   Controlled by the CEO of the Company
General Incorporated Association SBC   The CEO of the Company being the Member of General Incorporated Association SBC
Amulet Inc.   Controlled by Mizuho Yamashita, a director of a subsidiary of the Company
SBC Irvine MC   Significantly influenced by the Company
SBC Tokyo Medical University, previously known as Ryotokuji University   The CEO of the Company is the chairman of SBC Tokyo Medical University
SBC Shonan Osteopathic Clinic Co., Ltd.   The CEO of the Company is a principal shareholder of SBC Shonan Osteopathic Clinic Co., Ltd.
Waqoo Inc.   The CEO of the Company is a principal shareholder of Waqoo Inc.
General Incorporated Association Taiseikai   The relatives of CEO of the Company being the Members of General Incorporated Association Taiseikai

 

F-29


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 17 — RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (cont.)

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, the transactions with related parties are as follows:

 

    For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
    2024     2023  
Medical Corporation Shobikai   $ 26,205,206     $ 33,109,091  
Medical Corporation Kowakai     25,998,681       17,444,445  
Medical Corporation Nasukai     24,113,981       18,942,043  
Medical Corporation Aikeikai     11,113,976       8,105,210  
Medical Corporation Jukeikai     3,698,101       1,275,997  
Medical Corporation Ritz Cosmetic Surgery     2,672,883       516,360  
Japan Medical & Beauty Inc.     19,713       24,895  
Hariver Inc.     9,856       11,041  
SBC Inc., previously known as SBC China Inc.     1,842       60  
Public Interest Foundation SBC Medical Promotion Foundation     59       625  
General Incorporated Association SBC     304        
SBC Tokyo Medical University, previously known as Ryotokuji University     40,817       32,830  
Yoshiyuki Aikawa     54,130       2,267  
Mizuho Yamashita           15,458  
Amulet Inc.           927  
AI Med Inc.     207       15,197  
SBC Irvine MC     682,057       720,498  
Medical Corporation Association Furinkai     4,880,109        
Medical Corporation Association Junikai     2,013,450        
General Incorporated Association Taiseikai     993        
SBC Shonan Osteopathic Clinic Co., Ltd.     2,880        
Total   $ 101,509,245     $ 80,216,944  

 

As of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the balances with related parties are as follows:

 

Accounts receivable   June 30,
2024
    December 31,
2023
 
Medical Corporation Shobikai   $ 4,270,647     $ 9,251,427  
Medical Corporation Nasukai     6,716,636       8,447,448  
Medical Corporation Kowakai     6,554,855       7,841,059  
Medical Corporation Aikeikai     2,816,432       4,661,649  
Medical Corporation Jukeikai     778,715       1,358,213  
Medical Corporation Association Furinkai     1,252,149       1,039,074  
Medical Corporation Ritz Cosmetic Surgery     482,829       520,891  
Medical Corporation Association Junikai     859,837       348,187  
Japan Medical & Beauty Inc.           139,767  
SBC Tokyo Medical University, previously known as Ryotokuji University     436       66,546  
AI Med Inc.           2,329  
SBC Inc., previously known as SBC China Inc.     1,348       45  
Public Interest Foundation SBC Medical Promotion Foundation           37  
SBC Shonan Osteopathic Clinic Co., Ltd.     1,284        
SBC Irvine MC     122,149        
General Incorporated Association Taiseikai     304        
General Incorporated Association SBC     53        
Total   $ 23,857,674     $ 33,676,672  

 

F-30


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 17 — RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (cont.)

 

Other receivables   June 30,
2024
    December 31,
2023
 
SBC Inc., previously known as SBC China Inc.   $ 5,245,990     $          —  
Total   $ 5,245,990     $  

 

Finance lease receivables   June 30,
2024
    December 31,
2023
 
Medical Corporation Shobikai   $ 1,994,216     $ 2,568,709  
Medical Corporation Kowakai     2,387,575       2,779,347  
Medical Corporation Nasukai     2,684,466       2,019,117  
Medical Corporation Aikeikai     1,492,424       1,782,124  
Medical Corporation Jukeikai     482,444       335,317  
Medical Corporation Ritz Cosmetic Surgery     1,008,402       79,439  
Total   $ 10,049,527     $ 9,564,053  
Less: current portion     6,598,828       6,143,564  
Non-current portion   $ 3,450,699     $ 3,420,489  

 

Due from related party, net   June 30,
2024
    December 31,
2023
 
SBC Irvine MC   $ 3,301,013     $ 3,238,209  
Less: allowance for credit loss     (3,301,013 )     (3,238,209 )
Total   $     $  

 

Long-term investments in MCs – related parties   June 30,
2024
    December 31,
2023
 
Medical Corporation Shobikai   $ 6,216     $ 7,090  
Medical Corporation Kowakai     6,216       7,090  
Medical Corporation Nasukai     6,216       7,090  
Medical Corporation Aikeikai     6,216       7,090  
Medical Corporation Jukeikai     6,685,971       7,626,184  
Medical Corporation Ritz Cosmetic Surgery     10,658,205       12,157,011  
Total   $ 17,369,040     $ 19,811,555  

 

Advances from customers   June 30,
2024
    December 31,
2023
 
Medical Corporation Shobikai   $ 7,877,988     $ 13,438,645  
Medical Corporation Kowakai     3,618,451       4,237,765  
Medical Corporation Nasukai     3,317,683       4,117,597  
Medical Corporation Aikeikai     928,692       1,168,947  
Medical Corporation Jukeikai     56,118       85,044  
Medical Corporation Ritz Cosmetic Surgery     4,877       10,177  
Total   $ 15,803,809     $ 23,058,175  

 

F-31


 

SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 17 — RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (cont.)

 

Notes payable – related parties   June 30,
2024
    December 31,
2023
 
Medical Corporation Shobikai   $ 9,410,372     $ 5,264,101  
Medical Corporation Kowakai     6,901,327       3,855,650  
Medical Corporation Nasukai     6,208,280       4,099,032  
Medical Corporation Aikeikai     428,944       1,561,642  
Medical Corporation Jukeikai     372,383       268,552  
Medical Corporation Ritz Cosmetic Surgery     498,940       268,445  
Total   $ 23,820,246     $ 15,317,422  
Less: current portion     9,672,886       3,369,203  
Non-current portion   $ 14,147,360     $ 11,948,219  

 

Due to related party   June 30,
2024
    December 31,
2023
 
Yoshiyuki Aikawa   $ 3,469,183     $ 3,583,523  
Total   $ 3,469,183     $ 3,583,523  

 

    For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
Allowance for credit loss movement   2024     2023  
Beginning balance   $ 3,238,209     $ 2,867,455  
Provision for credit loss     62,804       146,452  
Ending balance   $ 3,301,013     $ 3,013,907  

 

The balances of due to and due from related parties represent the outstanding loans to and from related parties, respectively, as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023. These loans are non-secured, interest-free and due on demand.

 

The Company made a prepayment of JPY2.4 billion (approximately $18.32 million when payment was made) in December 2022 to purchase a patent use right ready to be used on January 1, 2023 with the useful life of sixteen years from SBC Tokyo Medical University, previously known as Ryotokuji University. SBC Tokyo Medical University later became a related party of the Company in March 2023 when the CEO of the Company became the chairman of the university. As SBC Tokyo Medical University was not a related party at the time the patent use right was purchased, this was not identified as a related party transaction.

 

In February 2023, the Company paid off the retirement compensation expense accrued to Yoshiko Aikawa.

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company purchased medical equipment and cosmetics of $5,413,462 and $1,596,023, respectively, from Japan Medical & Beauty Inc., which was recognized and included in the cost of revenues.

 

Also see Note 4, 9, 12, 13 and 15 for more transactions with related parties.

 

NOTE 18 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

The Company evaluated subsequent events through the date that the unaudited consolidated financial statements are issued, and concluded that no subsequent events have occurred that would require recognition or disclosure in the financial statements other than as disclosed below.

 

In July 2024, the Company terminated 50,000 warrants granted to a business partner in September 2023.

 

On September 17, 2024, following the approval at the special meeting of the shareholders of Pono Capital Two, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Pono”), Pono Two Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub”) and a wholly owned subsidiary of Pono consummated a merger with and into the Company pursuant to an agreement and plan of merger, with the Company continuing as the surviving entity and has become a wholly owned subsidiary of Pono. On September 17, 2024, the Company changed its name to “SBC Medical Group, Inc.” and Pono changed its name to “SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated”.

 

 

F-32

 

EX-99.2 13 ea021502401ex99-2_sbcmed.htm MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS OF SBC MEDICAL GROUP HOLDINGS INCORPORATED AS OF JUNE 30, 2024 AND FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2024 AND 2023

Exhibit 99.2

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS OF SBC

 

The following discussion and analysis summarize the significant factors affecting our operating results, financial condition, liquidity, and cash flows for the periods presented below. The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Exhibit 99.1 to the Form 8-K of which this Exhibit 99.2 forms a part. The forward-looking statements contained herein are based on management’s judgment, assumptions made by management and information currently available to it. Actual results could differ materially from those discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those described below and in Exhibit 99.1 to the Form 8-K of which this Exhibit 99.2 forms a part, particularly in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

 

Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference in this Exhibit 99.2 to the Form 8-K of which this Exhibit 99.2 forms a part to “SBC,” “we,” “us” or “our” refers to SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated prior to the consummation of the Business Combination and to the Combined Entity and its consolidated subsidiaries following the Business Combination.

 

Overview

 

SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated is a management company headquartered in Tokyo, that provides management services to cosmetic treatment centers mainly in Japan. The Company and its subsidiaries are primarily focused on providing comprehensive management services to franchisee clinics, including but not limited to advertising and marketing needs across various platforms (such as social media networks), staff management (such as recruitment and training), booking reservations for franchisee clinic customers, assistance with franchisee employee housing rentals and facility rentals, construction and design of franchisee clinics, medical equipment and medical consumables procurement (resale), the provision of cosmetic products to franchisee clinics for resale to clinic customers, licensure of the use of patent-pending and non-patented medical technologies, trademark and brand use, IT software solutions (including but not limited to remote medical consultations), management of the franchisee clinic’s customer rewards program (customer loyalty point program), and payment tools for the franchisee clinics.

 

SBC Medical Sub, Lange Sub, and Shobikai Sub are each designated as a “medical service corporation” in Japan. In Japan, a medical service corporation is a legal entity that provides management service to “medical corporations”. The management services are conducted through franchisor-franchisee contracts and/or service contracts between certain subsidiaries of the Company (SBC Medical Sub, Lange Sub, and Shobikai Sub) and the medical corporations that own all 168 of the treatment centers in Japan, which operate under the brand name “Shonan Beauty Clinic”. These clinics provide include but are not limited to breast augmentation, liposuction, rejuvenation treatments (including treatment of wrinkles, acne, scars, cellulite, excess fat, discoloration, and signs of aging), laser skin toning and spot removal, eyes double fold surgery, rhinoplasty, treatment of osmidrosis and hyperhidrosis, hair transplants, gynecological formation treatments, laser hair removal, face line surgeries, cosmetical dental procedures, tattoo removal, lasik eye surgery, lateral canthoplasty, brow lift procedures, androgenetic alopecia treatment, and cheek sagging prevention methods.

 

There are currently six medical corporations that the Company’s subsidiaries have entered into franchisor-franchisee contracts and service contracts, consisting of Medical Corporation Shobikai, Medical Corporation Kowakai, Medical Corporation Nasukai, Medical Corporation Aikeikai, Medical Corporation Jukeikai and Medical Corporation Ritz Cosmetic Surgery. In addition, the Company has entered into service contracts since September 2023 with two additional medical corporations, Medical Corporation Association Furinkai and Medical Corporation Association Junikai (collectively with the six franchisee medical corporations, the “Medical Corporations”). All of the Medical Corporations are deemed to be related parties of the Company since relatives of the CEO of the Company are the members (or shain) of general meetings of members of the Medical Corporations. The CEO of the Company was previously a member of the six franchisee Medical Corporations until he ceased being a member in July 2023. The Company, through SBC Medical Sub, owns equity “deposit” interests (or mochibun) of the Medical Corporations (except Medical Corporation Association Furinkai and Medical Corporation Association Junikai). Although the Company, through SBC Medical Sub, has an equity “deposit” interest to the rights to receive a distribution of residual assets in proportion to the amount of contribution in certain circumstances as provided in the articles of incorporation of each of the Medical Corporations (except Medical Corporation Association Furinkai and Medical Corporation Association Junikai), the Company or SBC Medical Sub does not have voting control over the corporate actions at general meetings of members (or shain) of the Medical Corporations per the requirements of the Japanese Medical Care Act.

 


 

Financial Overview

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, we generated revenues of $53,102,080 and $41,001,426, respectively, we reported net income attributable to SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated of $18,484,408 and $10,668,922, respectively.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, we generated revenues of $107,910,122 and $83,914,044, respectively, we reported net income attributable to SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated of $37,242,160 and $16,671,362, respectively, and cash flow provided by (used in) operating activities of $22,874,760 and $(428,601), respectively. As of June 30, 2024, we had retained earnings of $180,090,892.

 

Our primary mission is to provide quality comprehensive management services to the Medical Corporations and expand our “Shonan Beauty Clinic” brand. We plan to achieve the mission by maintaining and strengthening our market position and brand in the cosmetic medical treatment management market in Japan, Vietnam, and the United States, and by growing our presence globally.

 

Results of Operations

 

Comparison of Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2024 and 2023

 

The following table summarizes our operating results as reflected in our unaudited statements of operations during the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and provides information regarding the dollar and percentage changes during those periods.

 

    For the Three Months Ended
June 30,
       
    2024     2023     Variance  
    Amount     % of
revenue
    Amount     % of
revenue
    Amount     %  
Revenues, net (including net revenues provided to related parties)   $ 53,102,080       100.00 %   $ 41,001,426       100.00 %   $ 12,100,654       29.51 %
Cost of revenues     13,682,405       25.77 %     9,078,576       22.14 %     4,603,829       50.71 %
Gross profit     39,419,675       74.23 %     31,922,850       77.86 %     7,496,825       23.48 %
Operating expenses     12,129,115       22.84 %     16,352,544       39.88 %     (4,223,429 )     (25.83 )%
Income from operations     27,290,560       51.39 %     15,570,306       37.98 %     11,720,254       75.27 %
Other income (expenses)     (204,125 )     (0.38 )%     1,099,265       2.68 %     (1,303,390 )     (118.57 )%
Income before income taxes     27,086,435       51.01 %     16,669,571       40.66 %     10,416,864       62.49 %
Income tax expense     8,529,110       16.06 %     6,814,289       16.62 %     1,714,821       25.17 %
Net income     18,557,325       34.95 %     9,855,282       24.04 %     8,702,043       88.30 %
Less: net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests     72,917       0.14 %     (813,640 )     (1.98 )%     886,557       (108.96 )%
Net income attributable to SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated   $ 18,484,408       34.81 %   $ 10,668,922       26.02 %   $ 7,815,486       73.25 %

 

2


 

Comparison of Results of Operations for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2024 and 2023

 

The following table summarizes our operating income as reflected in our unaudited consolidated statements of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, and presents information regarding amounts and percentage changes during those periods.

 

    For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
       
    2024     2023     Variance  
    Amount     % of
revenue
    Amount     % of
revenue
    Amount     %  
Revenues, net (including net revenues provided to related parties)   $ 107,910,122       100.00 %   $ 83,914,044       100.00 %   $ 23,996,078       28.60 %
Cost of revenues     28,971,072       26.85 %     23,475,757       27.98 %     5,495,315       23.41 %
Gross profit     78,939,050       73.15 %     60,438,287       72.02 %     18,500,763       30.61 %
Operating expenses     27,187,605       25.19 %     33,790,770       40.27 %     (6,603,165 )     (19.54 )%
Income from operations     51,751,445       47.96 %     26,647,517       31.75 %     25,103,928       94.21 %
Other income     2,537,190       2.35 %     2,296,638       2.74 %     240,552       10.47 %
Income before income taxes     54,288,635       50.31 %     28,944,155       34.49 %     25,344,480       87.56 %
Income tax expense     16,981,094       15.74 %     12,670,982       15.09 %     4,310,112       34.02 %
Net income     37,307,541       34.57 %     16,273,173       19.40 %     21,034,368       129.26 %
Less: net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests     65,381       0.06 %     (398,189 )     (0.47 )%     463,570       (116.42 )%
Net income attributable to SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated   $ 37,242,160       34.51 %   $ 16,671,362       19.87 %   $ 20,570,798       123.39 %

 

Revenues, Net

 

Revenues, net for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 generated from different revenue streams consist of the following:

 

    For the Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Variance  
    2024     2023     Amount     %  
Royalty income   $ 14,626,256     $ 9,955,479     $ 4,670,777       46.92 %
Procurement services     13,536,608       13,186,629       349,979       2.65 %
Management services     16,705,597       13,471,805       3,233,792       24.00 %
Rental services     3,453,173       1,226,444       2,226,729       181.56 %
Others     4,780,446       3,161,069       1,619,377       51.23 %
Total   $ 53,102,080     $ 41,001,426     $ 12,100,654       29.51 %

 

3


 

Revenues, net for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 generated from different revenue streams consist of the following:

 

    For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
    Variance  
    2024     2023     Amount     %  
Royalty income   $ 29,736,524     $ 16,839,041     $ 12,897,483       76.59 %
Procurement services     26,732,592       25,703,245       1,029,347       4.00 %
Management services     32,360,267       30,724,761       1,635,506       5.32 %
Rental services     7,071,114       3,343,410       3,727,704       111.49 %
Others     12,009,625       7,303,587       4,706,038       64.43 %
Total   $ 107,910,122     $ 83,914,044     $ 23,996,078       28.60 %

 

Revenues, net, increased by 29.51% from $41,001,426 for the three months ended June 30, 2023, to $53,102,080 for the three months ended June 30, 2024, and increased by 28.60% from $83,914,044 for the six months ended June 30, 2023, to $107,910,122 for the six months ended June 30, 2024.

 

Japanese Yen (“JPY”) against the U.S. dollar depreciated for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the six months June 30, 2023. The spot rate against the dollar was 160.8680 yen on June 30, 2024 compared to 145.9900 yen on June 30, 2023 and the average rate against the dollar was 152.1868 yen for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to 135.8533 yen for the same period in 2023.

 

For the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, we generated net revenues of $53,102,080 (JPY8,286 million) and $41,001,426 (JPY5,723 million), respectively, and reported net income of $18,557,325 (JPY2,894 million) and $9,855,282 (JPY1,362 million), respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2024, and 2023, we generated net revenues of $107,910,122 (JPY16,422 million) and $83,914,044 (JPY11,400 million), respectively, and reported net income of $37,307,541 (JPY5,678 million) and $16,273,173 (JPY2,211 million), respectively. Overall, the unfavorable impacts of foreign exchange rate changes on net revenues and net income were $6,261,670 and $2,389,136 respectively, for the three months ended June 30, 2024, and $12,973,921 and $4,485,447, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2024.

 

The main reasons for the variance of $12,100,654 in net revenues for the three months and $23,996,078 for the six months per revenue stream are as follows:

 

Royalty income

 

The royalty income for the three months ended June 30, 2024, increased by 46.92% from $9,955,479 in the same period in 2023 to $14,626,256, and for the six months ended June 30, 2024, it increased by 76.59% from $16,839,041 in the same period in 2023 to $29,736,524.

 

This increase in revenue of $4,670,777 for the three months and $12,897,483 for the six months, was mainly due to the billing base of royalty fees changing from a percentage of sales of Medical Corporations (the “MCs”) to a fixed amount to each clinic of the MCs since April 2023 combined with an increase in clinic numbers by MCs, authorizing the main recurring customers, six MCs, to use its patents and trademarks since September 2023, the business expansion of the MCs, and partially offset by the depreciation of JPY.

 

4


 

Procurement services

 

The procurement services revenue slightly increased by 2.65% from $13,186,629 for the three months ended June 30, 2023 to $13,536,608 for the same period in 2024, and by 4.00% from $25,703,245 for the six months ended June 30, 2023 to $26,732,592 for the same period in 2024. This increase in revenue by $349,979 and $1,029,347 for the three and six months, respectively, was mainly due to the increase in the demand on advertising services and medical materials due to the business expansion of MCs, and partially offset by the depreciation of JPY.

 

Management services

 

The management services revenue increased by 24.00% from $13,471,805 for the three months ended June 30, 2023 to $16,705,597 for the same period in 2024, and slightly increased by 5.32% from $30,724,761 for the six months ended June 30, 2023 to $32,360,267 for the same period in 2024. This increase in revenue by $3,233,792 and $1,635,506 for the three and six months, respectively, was mainly due to the increase in revenue generated from management consulting services and loyalty program management services provided to two MCs that the Company started to conduct business since September 2023 (Medical Corporation Association Furinkai and Medical Corporation Association Junikai), the business expansion of MCs and the increase in the number of the clinics of MCs, and partially offset by the depreciation of JPY.

 

Rental services

 

The rental services revenue increased by 181.56% from $1,226,444 for the three months ended June 30, 2023 to $3,453,173 for the same period in 2024, and by 111.49% from $3,343,410 for the six months ended June 30, 2023 to $7,071,114 for the same period in 2024. This increase in revenue by $2,226,729 and $3,727,704 for the three and six months, respectively, was mainly due to the increased demand for medical equipment from MCs due to the business expansion of MCs, and partially offset by the depreciation of JPY.

 

Others

 

The other revenues increased by 51.23% from $3,161,069 for the three months ended June 30, 2023 to $4,780,446 for the same period in 2024, and by 64.43% from $7,303,587 for the six months ended June 30, 2023 to $12,009,625 for the same period in 2024. This increase in revenues by $1,619,377 and $4,706,038 for the three and six months, respectively, was mainly due to the business expansion of the subsidiary acquired in 2023 and partially offset by the depreciation of JPY.

 

Cost of Revenues

 

The cost of revenues was $13,682,405 for the three months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $9,078,576 for the same period in 2023, and $28,971,072 for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $23,475,757 for the same period in 2023. Since revenues increased by $12,100,654 or 29.51% for the three months and increased by $23,996,078 or 28.60% for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the same periods in 2023, cost of revenues increased by $4,603,829 or 50.71% for the three months and $5,495,315 or 23.41% for the six months, respectively, which was relatively in line with the increasing trend of revenues.

 

5


 

Gross Profit

 

Gross profit was $39,419,675 for the three months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $31,922,850 for the same period in 2023, and $78,939,050 for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $60,438,287 for the same period in 2023. The increase in gross profit by $7,496,825 or 23.48% for the three months and by $18,500,763 or 30.61% for the six months was mainly due to the increase in royalty income and other revenues with a relatively high gross margin as a result of the factors described above, and offset by the depreciation of JPY.

 

Operating Expenses

 

Operating expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 were as follows:

 

    For the Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Variance  
    2024     2023     Amount     %  
Salaries and welfare   $ 7,872,447     $ 6,335,484     $ 1,536,963       24.26 %
Depreciation and amortization expense     258,654       3,189,656       (2,931,002 )     (91.89 )%
Consulting and professional service fees     2,578,115       2,216,470       361,645       16.32 %
Advertising expense     223,094       933,965       (710,871 )     (76.11 )%
Taxes and dues     149,278       843,611       (694,333 )     (82.30 )%
Recruiting expense     491,067       560,489       (69,422 )     (12.39 )%
Lease expense     549,160       548,019       1,141       0.21 %
Office, utility and other expenses     7,300       1,564,652       (1,557,352 )     (99.53 )%
Misappropriation loss     -       160,198       (160,198 )     (100.00 )%
Total   $ 12,129,115     $ 16,352,544     $ (4,223,429 )     (25.83 )%

 

Operating expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 were as follows:

 

    For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
    Variance  
    2024     2023     Amount     %  
Salaries and welfare   $ 14,386,288     $ 13,217,774     $ 1,168,514       8.84 %
Depreciation and amortization expense     1,227,358       5,774,458       (4,547,100 )     (78.75 )%
Consulting and professional service fees     5,208,876       4,987,376       221,500       4.44 %
Advertising expense     934,724       1,411,479       (476,755 )     (33.78 )%
Taxes and dues     249,334       1,354,051       (1,104,717 )     (81.59 )%
Recruiting expense     1,248,122       1,209,872       38,250       3.16 %
Lease expense     1,233,930       1,222,466       11,464       0.94 %
Office, utility and other expenses     2,698,973       4,261,044       (1,562,071 )     (36.66 )%
Misappropriation loss     -       352,250       (352,250 )     (100.00 )%
Total   $ 27,187,605     $ 33,790,770     $ (6,603,165 )     (19.54 )%

 

The operating expenses decreased by 25.83% to $12,129,115 for the three months ended June 30, 2024 from $16,352,544 for the same period in 2023, and decreased by 19.54% to $27,187,605 for the six months ended June 30, 2024 from $33,790,770 for the same period in 2023, was mainly due to the decrease in depreciation and amortization expense and the depreciation of JPY. Specifically, depreciation and amortization expense decreased by 78.75% to $1,227,358 for the six months ended June 30, 2024 from $5,774,458 for the same period in 2023, mainly because the decrease in amortization expense incurred from the intangible assets owned by Cell Pro Japan Co., Ltd.(“Cellpro”), a subsidiary of the Company, due to the disposal of Cellpro on January 1, 2024.

 

Other Income (Expenses)

 

Other income (expenses) for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, were as follows:

 

    For the Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Variance  
    2024     2023     Amount     %  
Interest income   $ 11,644     $ 10,610     $ 1,034       9.75 %
Interest expense     (7,424 )     (25,508 )     18,084       (70.90 )%
Other income     306,291       1,272,763       (966,472 )     (75.93 )%
Other expenses     (514,636 )     (158,600 )     (356,036 )     224.49 %
Total   $ (204,125 )   $ 1,099,265     $ (1,303,390 )     (118.57 )%

 

6


 

Other income (expenses) for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, were as follows:

 

    For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
    Variance  
    2024     2023     Amount     %  
Interest income   $ 29,333     $ 76,111     $ (46,778 )     (61.46 )%
Interest expense     (10,432 )     (33,402 )     22,970       (68.77 )%
Other income     655,972       2,736,854       (2,080,882 )     (76.03 )%
Other expenses     (1,951,292 )     (482,925 )     (1,468,367 )     304.06 %
Gain on disposal of subsidiary     3,813,609       -       3,813,609       100.00 %
Total   $ 2,537,190     $ 2,296,638     $ 240,552       10.47 %

 

The other income decreased by 118.57% from $1,099,265 for the three months ended June 30, 2023 to other expenses of $204,125 for the same period in 2024. The decrease was mainly due to larger other income realized through gain on sales of fixed assets and generated more miscellaneous other income for the three months ended June 30, 2023 than for the three months ended June 30, 2024. The other income increased by 10.47% from $2,296,638 for the six months ended June 30, 2023 to $2,537,190 for the same period in 2024, mainly due to (1) the gain on disposal of Cellpro, a subsidiary of the Company, recognized in the six months ended June 30, 2024, and no such disposal for the same period in 2023; offset by (2) the depreciation of Japanese Yen against the U.S. dollar for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023; and (3) the increase of approximately $1 million in other expenses due to the unrealized loss from the Company’s investment in a public entity with readily determinable fair value.

 

Income Tax Expense

 

Income tax expense, for the three months ended June 30, 2024, was $8,529,110 compared to $6,814,289 for the same period in 2023, and the increase in income tax expense by $1,714,821 or 25.17% was mainly due to the increase in income from operations. For the six months ended June 30, 2024, income tax expense was $16,981,094 compared to $12,670,982 for the same period in 2023, and the increase in income tax expense by $4,310,112 or 34.02% was mainly due to the increase in income from operations.

 

The effective tax rate was 31.49% and 40.88% for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The effective tax rate was 31.28% and 43.78% for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The decrease of 9.39% and 12.50% in effective tax rate for the three and six months, respectively, was mainly due to the $4.8 million enterprise tax paid by the Company in the six months ended June 30, 2024, which is tax deductible, while only $3 million enterprise tax was paid in the six months ended June 30, 2023.

 

Net Income

 

As a result of the foregoing, we reported a net income of $18,557,325 for the three months ended June 30, 2024, representing an increase of $8,702,043 or 88.30% from $9,855,282 for the three months ended June 30, 2023. We reported a net income of $37,307,541 for the six months ended June 30, 2024, representing an increase of $21,034,368 or 129.26% from $16,273,173 for the six months ended June 30, 2023.

 

7


 

Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Non-controlling Interests

 

Net income attributable to non-controlling interests was $72,917 for the three months ended June 30, 2024, representing an increase of $886,557 or 108.96% from net loss attributable to non-controlling interests of $813,640 for the three months ended June 30, 2023. Net income attributable to non-controlling interests was $65,381 for the six months ended June 30, 2024, representing an increase of $463,570 or 116.42% from net loss attributable to non-controlling interests of $398,189 for the six months ended June 30, 2023, which was mainly due to the disposal of Cellpro on January 1, 2024.

 

Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023

 

The following table provides a summary of our cash flows for the periods indicated.

 

    For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
    Variance  
    2024     2023     Amount     %  
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities   $ 22,874,760     $ (428,601 )   $ 23,303,361       (5437.08 )%
Net cash used in investing activities     (9,405,716 )     (3,762,884 )     (5,642,832 )     149.96 %
Net cash used in financing activities     (109,341 )     (341,102 )     231,761       (67.94 )%
Effect of changes in foreign currency exchange rate     (12,679,865 )     (11,436,739 )     (1,243,126 )     10.87 %
Net change in cash and cash equivalents     679,838       (15,969,326 )     16,649,164       (104.26 )%
Cash and cash equivalents as of the beginning of the period     103,022,932       51,737,994       51,284,938       99.12 %
Cash and cash equivalents as of the end of the period   $ 103,702,770     $ 35,768,668     $ 67,934,102       189.93 %

 

Operating Activities

 

Net cash provided by operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2024 was $22,874,760 as compared to the amount of $428,601 net cash used in operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2023, reflecting an increase of $23,303,361. The increase was mainly due to an increase in net income, an increase in changes in accrued retirement compensation expense — related party and accounts receivable — related parties and offset by a decrease in changes in finance lease receivables — related parties, prepaid expenses and other current assets, and accounts payable.

 

Investing Activities

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2024, net cash used in investing activities of $9,405,716 was mainly the result of purchase of property and equipment, purchase of convertible note, payments made on behalf of a related party and disposal of subsidiary, net of cash disposed of. During the six months ended June 30, 2023, net cash used in investing activities of $3,762,884 was mainly the result of purchase of property and equipment, intangible assets and convertible note.

 

8


 

Financing Activities

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2024, net cash used in financing activities of $109,341 and no significant financing activities were noted. During the six months ended June 30, 2023, net cash used in financing activities of $341,102 was the result of borrowings from related parties, offset by repayments of long-term loans and repayments to related parties

 

Recent Developments

 

Issuance of Common Stock, Options and Warrants

 

In January 2023, the Company issued 1,000 shares of common stock to the CEO of the Company with a purchase price of $0.01 per share.

 

In September 2023, the Company issued 7,947,999 shares of common stock to the CEO of the Company with a purchase price of $0.0001 per share.

 

In September 2023, the Company granted (i) 711,110 common stock options to its CEO, (ii) 20,700 common stock options to a representative director of a subsidiary of the Company with an exercise price per share of $0.0001 per share, and (iii) 449,190 common stock options to doctors of MCs with an exercise price per share of $0.0001 per share. The options vest on the three-month, fifteen-month, and twenty-seven-month anniversary of the date of the Merger, in an amount equal to one-third of the applicable shares of common stock, respectively, with the expiration period for ten years from the grant date. The 449,190 common stock options to doctors of MCs were terminated upon the issuance of the warrants in January 2024, see below.

 

In September 2023, the Company entered into common stock purchase warrant agreement (the “Warrant Agreement II”) pursuant to which the Company allotted 400,000 warrants to the immediate family members of the Company’s CEO and allotted 200,000 warrants to its business partners. The warrants may be exercised in ten years upon the Company’s consummation of the Merger or the occurrence of other fundamental events defined in the Warrant Agreement II to purchase the Company’s common stock, for an exercise price per share of $0.0001. The warrants were fully vested on the grant date.

 

In January 2024, the Company terminated 449,190 common stock options granted to doctors of medical corporations in September 2023. In connection with the termination, the Company entered into a common stock purchase warrant agreement (the “Warrant Agreement III”) under which the Company issued to the doctors of medical corporations warrants to acquire an equal amount of shares of common stock as previously subject to the options issued to each of the doctors of MCs in September 2023. The warrants may be exercised on the three-month, fifteen-month, and twenty-seven-month anniversary of the date of the Merger or the occurrence of other fundamental events defined in the Warrant Agreement III (the “Trigger Date”), to acquire an amount equal to one-third of the applicable shares of common stock, respectively, with an exercise price per share of $0.0001. The warrants were fully vested on the grant date and will expire on the tenth anniversary of the Trigger Date.

 

In June 2024, the Company terminated all common stock options and warrants ever granted, except for 270,000 warrants granted to HeartCore in November 2022 and 50,000 warrants granted to a business partner in September 2023. The 50,000 warrants granted to the business partner were terminated by the Company in July 2024.

 

Related Party Transactions

 

In February 2023, the Company paid off the retirement compensation expense of $22,082,643 accrued to Yoshiko Aikawa.

 

9


 

In July 2023, the CEO of the Company resigned as a member of the general meeting of members (or shain) of Medical Corporation Shobikai, Medical Corporation Kowakai, Medical Corporation Nasukai, Medical Corporation Aikeikai, Medical Corporation Jukeikai, and Medical Corporation Ritz Cosmetic Surgery. In August 2023, the Company contributed JPY1,000,000 (approximately $6,695 when payment made) to each of Medical Corporation Shobikai, Medical Corporation Kowakai, Medical Corporation Nasukai and Medical Corporation Aikeikai, and became the 100% equity interest holder of these non-profit medical corporations, which are still related parties of the Company as the relatives of the CEO of the Company remains as members of these medical corporations and these Medical Corporations’ controlling financial interests rest with the members.

 

In August 2023, the Company entered into property sales agreements with General Incorporation Association SBC, an entity under common control of the Company, to sell its certain properties and entire equity interest in Ai Inc. and Lange Inc., with a total amount of JPY3,113,603,355 (approximately $22,473,000 when received), excluding JPY232,177,630 consumption tax. The transaction, as part of the reorganization discussed in Note 1, was accounted for as a common control transaction.

 

Since September 2023, the Company started providing services to two additional medical corporations in Japan, namely, Medical Corporation Association Furinkai and Medical Corporation Association Junikai, which are considered as related parties of the Company as the relatives of the CEO of the Company being members of the two medical corporations.

 

In January 2024, the Company acquired 353,600 shares of common stock of Waqoo, accounts for less than 10% ownership, a related-party company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, of which the CEO of the Company is a principal shareholder, with a fair value of $5,565,938 through a share exchange agreement. During the six months ended June 30, 2024, the Company recognized an unrealized loss on the related-party investment of $1,045,557.

 

For more related party transactions, see Note 7, 12, 13, 15, 17 and 18 to the audited consolidated financial statements as set forth in the Definitive Proxy Statement  as filed by Pono Capital Two, Inc. with the SEC on August 12, 2023 and see Note 4, 9, 12, 13, 15 and 17 to the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements included in Exhibit 99.1  to the Form 8-K of which this Exhibit 99.2 forms a part.

 

Misappropriations of Funds and Restatements

 

In January 2024, in connection with a routine tax examination of the Company’s income tax returns, the Japanese tax authority discovered misappropriations of Company funds by a former director of general affairs and legal department of L’Ange Cosmetique Co., Ltd., which is a subsidiary of the Company (the “former director”), not a relative of the CEO of the Company or any identified related party, who received kickbacks from multiple vendors of SBC Japan (collectively with the former director, the “participants”) possibly beginning as early as 2012 until the misappropriations were discovered. The former director was suspended immediately upon the discovery and was terminated effective February 23, 2024. The Company has commenced a criminal complaint in Tokyo against the participants.

 

Shortly after this discovery, the Company engaged independent legal counsel and forensic consultants to investigate the misappropriations. The investigation, which was completed in March 2024, revealed that the participants had misappropriated approximately JPY632 million ($5.6 million), including consumption tax, from the Company of which the former director received approximately JPY335 million ($3.0 million), between April 2016 and the discovery of the misappropriations in January 2024. The amount misappropriated prior to April 2016 could not be accurately determined because certain data for the period prior to April 2016 was unavailable, the Company does not expect such amount to be material based on current estimates.

 

The Company found no evidence that any other employee of the Company was aware of, or colluded in, the misappropriations of Company funds or that there was any unlawful activity apart from that associated with the participants’ misappropriations of Company funds. The misappropriated amounts, excluding the consumption tax, representing advertising services purchased on behalf of a related-party MC, were originally included in the revenues reported on a net basis. After discovery of the misappropriations, the amounts were restated as a misappropriation loss.

 

10


 

The Company has restated its previously reported consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) and cash flows for the years then ended, based on the results of its investigation and substantive validation procedures. The Company has also restated its previously reported unaudited consolidated balance sheets for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 and for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, and the related unaudited consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) and cash flows for the periods then ended. The tables in Note 18 to the consolidated audited financial statements, which are included in the Definitive Proxy Statement  filed by Pono Capital Two, Inc. with the SEC on August 12, 2023 beginning on page F-52, summarize the effects of the restatements on each financial statement line item as of the dates and for the periods indicated.

 

Material charge related to Warrants originally issued to a consultant.

 

On November 18, 2022 (“Effective Date”), SBC entered into a Common Stock Purchase Warrant Agreement (the “Warrant Agreement”) with HeartCore Enterprise, Inc. (“HeartCore”) pursuant to which it agreed to compensate HeartCore with common stock purchase warrants (the “Warrants”), with an exercise price of $0.01 per share, in exchange for professional services to be provided by HeartCore in connection with its merger or other transaction with a special purpose acquisition company (“SPAC”) wherein SBC becomes a subsidiary of the SPAC (the “Merger”). Subsequently, in March 2024, HeartCore sold to Second ZUU Target Fund a portion of the Warrants which will represent an equivalent of 2% of the outstanding common stock on a fully diluted basis after the Merger in exchange for $9 million in cash. SBC has not received disclosures regarding the details of this transaction or the basis for the sale price determination. Therefore, SBC does not consider their transaction amount as a basis for warrant fair value calculation. ZUU Target Fund has no affiliations with SBC, its CEO, or the CEO’s relatives

 

Since the issuance of the Warrants on November 18, 2022, SBC has not recognized any stock-based compensation expense for the Warrants as the performance condition of exercisability upon a consummation of the Merger is not considered probable until it occurs. The fair value assessment of the Warrants is currently in process, involving external experts. However, it is estimated that the Warrants will represent 2.7% of the outstanding common stock on a fully diluted basis, indicating a significant material impact. The management believes there will be a material charge related to these Warrants in the period that the Merger is consummated. Management estimates the maximum impact to be equivalent to 2.7% of SBC’s assumed enterprise value of approximately $1.0 billion (see “Background of the Business Combination” as set forth in the Definitive Proxy Statement  filed by Pono Capital Two, Inc. with the SEC on August 12, 2024) at the time the warrants were issued, which is approximately $27 million, which will be expensed in our statement of operations in the period that the Merger is consummated.

 

11


 

Contractual Obligations

 

Lease Agreements

 

The Company has sixty-nine leases classified as operating leases for offices and sublease purposes.

 

As of June 30, 2024, the future maturity of lease liabilities is as follows:

Years ending December 31,   Lease
Payment
 
Remaining of 2024   $ 2,554,482  
2025     1,618,370  
2026     189,009  
2027     151,876  
2028     151,876  
Thereafter     246,463  
Total undiscounted lease payments     4,912,076  
Less: imputed interest     (8,156 )
Total operating lease liabilities   $ 4,903,920  

 

Bank and Other Borrowings

 

The Company borrowed loans from various banks and a financial institution for working capital purpose.

 

As of June 30, 2024, future minimum borrowing payments are as follows:

 

Years ending December 31,   Principal
Repayment
 
Remaining of 2024   $ 56,021  
2025     126,029  
2026     130,691  
2027     125,109  
2028     68,479  
Thereafter     252,591  
Total   $ 758,920  

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements (Off-Balance Sheet Transactions)

 

There are no off-balance sheet arrangements as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, which requires us to make judgments, estimates and assumptions. We continually evaluate these estimates and assumptions based on the most recently available information, our own historical experiences and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Since the use of estimates is an integral component of the financial reporting process, actual results could differ from our expectations as a result of changes in our estimates. Some of our accounting policies require a higher degree of judgment than others in their application and require us to make significant accounting estimates. We believe that critical accounting policies as disclosed in Exhibit 99.1  to the Form 8-K of which this Exhibit 99.2 forms a part, reflect the more significant judgements and estimates used in preparation of our consolidated financial statements.

 

12


 

The following descriptions of critical accounting policies and estimates should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and other disclosures included in Exhibit 99.1  to the Form 8-K of which this Exhibit 99.2 forms a part. When reviewing our consolidated financial statements, you should consider our selection of critical accounting policies, the judgments and other uncertainties affecting the application of such policies and the sensitivity of reported results to changes in conditions and assumptions.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

The Company recognizes revenue from franchising services, procurement services, management services and other services under ASC Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”.

 

To determine revenue recognition for contracts with customers, the Company performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with the customer, (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (iii) determine the transaction price, including variable consideration to the extent that it is probable that a significant future reversal will not occur, (iv) allocate the transaction price to the respective performance obligations in the contract, and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies the performance obligation. Revenue amount represents the invoiced value, net of consumption tax and applicable local government levies, if any. The consumption tax on sales is calculated at 10% of gross sales. The Company does not have significant remaining unfulfilled performance obligations or contract balances.

 

The Company reports revenue on a gross or net basis based on management’s assessment of whether the Company acts as a principal or agent in the transaction. The determination of whether the Company acts as a principal or an agent in a transaction is based on the evaluation of whether (i) the Company is primarily responsible for fulfilling the promise to provide the specified goods or service, (ii) the Company has inventory risk before the specified good or service has been transferred to a customer or after transfer of control to the customer and (iii) the Company has discretion in establishing the price for the specified good or service. If the terms of a transaction do not indicate the Company is acting as a principal in the transaction, then the Company is acting as an agent in the transaction and the associated revenues are recognized on a net basis.

 

The Company recognizes revenue from rental services under ASC Topic 842, “Leases”.

 

The Company currently generates its revenue from the following main sources:

 

Franchising Revenue

 

The Company generates franchising revenue (royalty income) by licensing its intellectual properties, including but not limited to the Company’s brand name (“Shonan Beauty Clinic”), trade name, patents, and trademarks, as a franchisor pursuant to franchise agreements with certain MCs (the “MCs”) in Japan. Prior to April 2023, royalty income is based on a percentage of sales and recognized at the time when the related sales occurred; since April 2023, it is based on a fixed amount to each clinic of the MCs; since September 2023, it is based on a fixed amount to each MC and a fixed amount to each clinic of the MCs and recognized over time as services are rendered.

 

13


 

Procurement Services Revenue

 

The Company generates procurement services revenue by purchasing primarily advertising services and medical materials from qualified vendors on behalf of MCs to maintain brand quality consistency. Procurement services revenue is recognized at the point in time upon the delivery of products or over time as services are performed. Occasionally, the Company receives vendor discounts on certain large purchases. It recognizes revenue based on actual payments and will return the over-collection resulting from such discounts to MCs.

 

Management Services Revenue

 

The Company provides loyalty program management services, labor supporting services, function supporting services and management consulting services to MCs.

 

Loyalty program management services

 

The Company awards loyalty points on behalf of MCs to MCs’ customers, who earn loyalty points from each qualified purchase made at the loyalty program participating clinics of MCs, in exchange for a handling fee. The revenue is based on a percentage of the related payment amount made by MCs’ customers and is recognized when the loyalty points are awarded.

 

At the time loyalty points are awarded, a MC pays the Company cash in an amount equivalent to the awarded loyalty points, which is recorded as advances from customers. When a MC’s customers redeem the loyalty points, the Company returns the cash back to the MC in an amount equivalent to the redeemed loyalty points. The awarded loyalty points expire if a MC’s customer does not make any additional qualified purchase at a participating clinic within a year. The Company accumulates and tracks the points on behalf of MCs until the loyalty points expire, at which time the Company recognizes an amount equivalent to the expired loyalty points as revenue, which is normally not significant.

 

The Company also awards certain points to MCs’ customers on behalf of MCs for free in order to increase the volume of MC’s sales, from which the Company earns other types of revenues, such as royalty income. When a MC’s customers redeem such points, the Company reimburses MC in an amount equivalent to the used free points and records it as a reduction of the revenue recognized.

 

The Company is an agent in the management of loyalty programs, and as a result, revenues are recognized net of the cost of redemptions.

 

Labor supporting services

 

The Company generates revenue by dispatching staff to MCs to provide a range of services, primarily including clinic operation, IT, and administrative services. The Company recognizes the revenue over the time when services are rendered.

 

Function supporting services

 

The revenue is derived from providing functional supporting services to MCs, such as accounting and human resources services. The Company recognizes the revenue over the time when services are rendered.

 

Management consulting services

 

The Company generates revenue by providing consulting services to MCs in relation to business operations of cosmetic dermatology. The Company recognizes the revenue over the time when services are rendered.

 

14


 

Rental Services Revenue

 

The Company generates rental income from operating leases and sales-type leases, which is accounted for under ASC Topic 842. Operating lease revenue is generally recognized on straight-line basis over the terms of the lease agreements and sales-type leases revenue is generally recognized on the lease commitment date.

 

Other Revenues

 

The Company generates other miscellaneous revenues such as accommodation services income, medicine dispensed sales revenue, brokerage services revenue, construction services revenue, pilot training services revenue, interest income, etc. These revenues are recognized when the Company satisfies performance obligations.

 

Long-term Investments in MCs — Related Parties

 

Long-term investments in MCs — related parties represent the payments to obtain equity interests of the MCs in Japan, made by the Company through SBC Japan, a company designated as a MSC in Japan. In accordance with the Act and articles of incorporation of the MCs, which are non-profit organizations, the equity interest holders of MCs are prohibited from receiving any profit distribution from MCs but have the right to receive distribution of the residual assets of the MCs in proportion to the amount of their contribution. As of the balance sheet dates, the investments represent probable future benefit to be realized at the time of dissolution of MCs or the equity interests being sold. The payments made for such investments are classified as investing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows. The MCs are considered related parties as the relatives of the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Company being the Members of the MCs.

 

The investments in MCs — related parties are accounted for using a measurement alternative, under which the investments are measured at cost, less impairment, and adjusted for observable price changes. The Company reviews the investments in MCs for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable, especially the investments in Medical Corporation Jukeikai (“MC Jukeikai”) and Medical Corporation Ritz Cosmetic Surgery (“MC Ritz”), which represent the vast majority of the Company’s investments in MCs balance.

 

Impairment Consideration of Investments in MC Jukeikai and MC Ritz

 

Although these two MCs are non-profit entities, their principal operations are providing health care services and they derive primary source of their revenue from the sale of goods and services, rather than the fund contributions.

 

No indicator of impairment was noticed based on the Company’s qualitative assessment of impairment. As the Company provides comprehensive management services to these two MCs, including accounting and bookkeeping services, the Company has access to MCs’ unaudited financial information. In addition to the external market conditions and trends within the MCs’ industry, the Company considered the MCs’ operating performance, such as sales, increase in sales, and net income (loss) when performing its qualitative assessment. As of December 31, 2023, the carrying value of the investments in the two MCs was higher than their net assets, respectively, because the Company acquired the equity interests with the considerations paid higher than the net asset values at the respective purchase dates due to the expected growth and expansion of the MCs. The two MCs have been generating net income since the acquisition dates through the year ended December 31, 2022. During the year ended December 31, 2023, as part of their plan of expansion, the MCs opened several new clinics and incurred one-time expenses to set up those clinics and more selling, general, and administrative expenses, such as payroll, rent, and advertising expenses. The net losses incurred by the two MCs for the year ended December 31, 2023 associated with the opening of new clinics are considered temporary. The Company expects that the MCs’ sales will grow gradually over the next few years and that the MCs will be able to generate net income in the next one to two years. As of December 31, 2023, the Company did not observe any other-than-temporary impairment indicators.

 

For management’s additional internal analysis purposes, the Company estimates the residual values of the two MCs at dissolution when needed, using the income approach with the discounted cash flow method, which estimates the fair values of the MCs by the present worth of the net economic benefit to be received by MCs. Management applies significant judgment and assumptions related to estimation, including but not limited to the forecasted revenues, the selection of an expected EBITDA margin assumption for the forecast period, forecasted future cash flow, and the discounted rate. The Company currently expects the residual values at the dissolution of the MCs will not be less than the carrying values of the investments in MCs. The management is not aware of any legal or regulatory limitations on the Company’s ability to realize the full amount of proceeds generated from a liquidation of the MCs.

 

 

15

 

 

 

EX-99.3 14 ea021502401ex99-3_sbcmed.htm UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF JUNE 30, 2024 AND FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023 AND THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2024

Exhibit 99.3

 

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED AND CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

SBC is providing the following unaudited pro forma condensed combined and consolidated financial information to aid you in your analysis of the financial aspects of the Merger and related transactions. The following summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined and consolidated financial information presents the combination of the financial information of Pono and SBC adjusted to give effect to the Merger and related transactions. The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined and consolidated financial information has been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X as amended by the final rule, Release No. 33-10786 “Amendments to Financial Disclosures about Acquired and Disposed Businesses.”

 

The historical financial information of Pono was derived from the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements of Pono as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and the audited consolidated financial statements of Pono as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023, as incorporated herein by reference. The historical financial information of SBC was derived from the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements of SBC as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and the audited consolidated financial statements of SBC as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023, each of which are incorporated in this Current Report on Form 8-K by reference. Such unaudited pro forma financial information has been prepared on a basis consistent with the audited financial statements of Pono and SBC, respectively, and should be read in conjunction with the historical financial statements and related notes, each of which is included elsewhere in this proxy statement. This information should also be read together with the sections titled “Pono’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “SBC’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”.

 

The Merger is accounted for as a reverse recapitalization, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded, in accordance with GAAP. Under this method of accounting, Pono was treated as the “acquired” company for financial reporting purposes. SBC has been determined to be the accounting acquirer because existing SBC shareholders, as a group, retained the largest portion of the voting rights in the combined entity, the executive officers of SBC are the initial executive officers of the combined company, and the operations of SBC are the continued operations of the combined company.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined and consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2024 assumes that the Merger and related transactions occurred on June 30, 2024. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined and consolidated statements of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and for the year ended December 31, 2023, gives pro forma effect to the Merger and related transactions as if they had occurred on January 1, 2023. Pono and SBC have not had any historical relationship prior to the Merger. Accordingly, no pro forma adjustments were required to eliminate activities between the companies.

 

These unaudited pro forma condensed combined and consolidated financial statements are for informational purposes only. They do not purport to indicate the results that would have been obtained had the Merger and related transactions actually been completed on the assumed date or for the periods presented, or which may be realized in the future. The pro forma adjustments are based on the information currently available and the assumptions and estimates underlying the pro forma adjustments are described in the accompanying notes. Actual results may differ materially from the assumptions within the accompanying unaudited pro forma condensed combined and consolidated financial information.

 

Description of the Merger

 

On January 31, 2023, the Company entered into Merger Agreement (as amended and restated on June 21, 2023) with SBC, a Delaware corporation. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, among other things and subject to the terms and conditions contained therein, Pono and SBC have effected the merger with the SBC continuing as the surviving entity, as a result of which all of SBC securities issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger, are no longer outstanding and have been automatically be cancelled and ceased to exist, in exchange for the right for each SBC stockholder to receive its pro rata share of the stockholder merger consideration.

 

 


 

In accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of the Merger Agreement, the aggregate consideration for the Merger, 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 (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 Merger. Pursuant to the First Amendment to the Merger Agreement entered into on September 8, 2023 (the “Amendment”), the $1,200,000,000 amount in the Merger Consideration calculation above was reduced to $1,000,000,000 (collectively, the “Merger Consideration”).

 

SBC and Pono agree that Pono shall issue to Mehana Capital LLC (the “Sponsor”) one million two hundred thousand (1,200,000) shares of Pono Class A Common Stock for no additional consideration (the “Sponsor Shares”). The Sponsor Shares shall be issued 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” provided, however, 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). The Sponsor Shares shall be fully registered on the date of such grant except that, in the event that any portion of the Sponsor Shares are issued at the Closing, Pono shall register such shares promptly thereafter in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

Non-redemption agreement

 

On January 11, 2024, 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 (“Business Combination”) with SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (the “Target”), prior to the stockholder meeting to vote on the Extension Amendment (the “Meeting Date”) 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 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 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 2024 Non-Redemption agreement entered into an amendment to the 2024 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. At close of the Merger, there were 1,503,473 shares of Class A common stock held by the Holder under the non-redemption agreements.

 

2


 

The pro forma adjustments giving effect to the Business Combination and related transactions are summarized below, and are discussed further in the footnotes to these unaudited pro forma condensed combined and consolidated financial statements:

 

the consummation of the Business Combination and reclassification of cash held in Pono’s Trust Account to cash and cash equivalents, net of redemptions (see below); and

 

the accounting for deferred offering costs and transaction costs incurred by both Pono and SBC.

Prior to the Closing, Pono’s public stockholders holding 135,471 shares of Class A common stock elected to redeem such shares.

 

The following summarizes the pro forma ownership of common stock of SBC following the Business Combination and related transactions:

 

    Number of Shares     %  
SBC Stockholders(1)     94,462,433       81.5 %
Shares underlying private warrants issued by SBC(2)     3,137,998       2.7 %
Shares underlying public warrants     11,500,000       9.9 %
Pono Public Stockholders(3)     1,513,945       1.3 %
Pono Sponsor and affiliates(4)     5,343,750       4.6 %
Representative Shares(5)     57,500       %
Pro forma fully diluted common stock at June 30, 2024     116,015,626       100.0 %

 

(1) Includes 270,000 shares issued to SBC stockholders upon the automatic conversion of the $2,700,000 convertible promissory note outstanding at one share for each $10 of additional capital contribution immediately prior to the merger being effected in connection the consummation of the Business Combination.

 

(2) Includes (i) 2,325,279 shares underlying private warrants issued by SBC to Second ZUU Target Fund for SBC Medical Group HD Investment Business Partnership, a consultant to SBC and (ii) 812,719 shares underlying private warrants issued by SBC to HeartCore Enterprises, Inc., a consultant to SBC.

 

(3) Includes 1,503,473 shares of Pono Class A common stock are not redeemed under the non-redemption agreement.

 

(4) Includes (i) 2,875,000 Founder Shares and 634,375 Class A shares of common stock held by the Sponsor, (ii) 1,200,000 shares issued to the Sponsor at Closing, and (iii) 634,375 shares of common stock underlying the Placement Warrants. 339,565 of these shares are to be issued to the Non-Redemption Agreement Investors pursuant to the Non-Redemption Agreements.

 

(5) Represents Pono Class A common stock held by the Underwriter.

 

3


 

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED AND CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

AS OF JUNE 30, 2024

 

    Pono Capital Two, Inc. (Historical)     SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated (Historical)     Transaction Accounting Adjustments     Pro Forma Combined  
ASSETS                        
Current assets                        
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 1,384,834     $ 103,702,770     $ 16,584,559   B $ 115,644,883  
                  (6,027,280 ) D    
Accounts receivable           2,315,948             2,315,948  
Accounts receivable - related parties           23,857,674             23,857,674  
Inventories           1,947,005             1,947,005  
Short-term investments                        
Income tax recoverable                        
Finance lease receivables, current - related parties           6,598,828             6,598,828  
Loan receivables, current           14,525,297             14,525,297  
Other receivables - related party           5,245,990             5,245,990  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets     59,253       11,526,931       (2,700,000 ) E   8,886,184  
Total current assets     1,444,087       169,720,443       7,857,279       179,021,809  
Marketable securities held in Trust Account     18,081,721             (1,497,162 ) A    
                      (16,584,559 ) B      
Property and equipment, net           11,879,132             11,879,132  
Intangible assets, net           14,828,253             14,828,253  
Long-term investments           4,635,304             4,635,304  
Goodwill, net           3,148,091             3,148,091  
Finance lease receivables, non-current - related parties           3,450,699             3,450,699  
Operating lease right-of-use assets           4,614,597             4,614,597  
Deferred tax assets           868,604             868,604  
Loan receivables, non-current           6,664,910             6,664,910  
Long-term prepayments           3,633,491             3,633,491  
Long-term payments - related parties           17,369,040             17,369,040  
Other assets           14,433,783             14,433,783  
Total assets   $ 19,525,808     $ 255,246,347     $ (10,224,442 )   $ 264,547,713  
                                 
LIABILITIES, TEMPORARY EQUITY AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)                                
Current liabilities                                
Accounts payable   $ 76,988     $ 14,602,870     $ (67,229 ) D $ 14,612,629  
Advance from customers           1,103,522             1,103,522  
Advance from customers - related parties           15,803,809             15,803,809  
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities     659,634       14,022,067       (686,732 )   13,994,969  
Convertible Promissory Note     2,700,000             (2,700,000 )    
                         
Income tax payable     2,039       12,773,567             12,775,606  
Franchise tax payable     15,545                   15,545  
Excise tax payable     1,030,436                   1,030,436  
Notes payable, current - related parties           9,672,886             9,672,886  
Income tax payable                        
Operating lease liabilities, current           3,449,126             3,449,126  
Current portion of long-term loans           112,042             112,042  
Due to related parties           3,469,183             3,469,183  
Total current liabilities     4,484,642       75,009,072       (3,453,961 )     76,039,753  
Long-term loans           646,878             646,878  
Notes payable, non-current - related parties           14,147,360             14,147,360  
Deferred tax liabilities           2,316,808             2,316,808  
Operating lease liabilities, non-current           1,454,794             1,454,794  
Deferred underwriting fee payable     4,025,000             (4,025,000 ) D    
Other liabilities           1,015,841             1,015,841  
Total liabilities     8,509,642       94,590,753       (7,478,961 )     95,621,434  
                                 
Class A common stock subject to possible redemption     2,185,602             (1,497,162 ) A    
                      (688,440 ) C      
                                 
Stockholders’ equity (deficit)                                
Common stock           795       1   C   10,074  
                      120   G      
                      9,158   H      
Class A common stock     503             (503 ) H    
Additional paid-in capital     15,426,142       36,887,905       688,439   C   73,212,120  
                      (185,510 ) D      
                      (6,596,081 ) F      
                      (120 ) G      
                      (8,655 ) H      
                      27,000,000   I      
Retained earnings / (accumulated deficit)     (6,596,081 )     180,090,892       (1,062,809 ) D   152,028,083  
                      6,596,081   F      
                      (27,000,000 ) I      
Accumulated other comprehensive loss           (56,683,275 )           (56,683,275 )
Total stockholders’ deficit     8,830,564       160,296,317       (559,879 )     168,567,002  
Noncontrolling interest           359,277             359,277  
Total liabilities, temporary equity, and stockholders’ equity (deficit)   $ 19,525,808     $ 255,246,347     $ (10,224,442 )   $ 264,547,713  

 

4


 

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2024

 

    Pono Capital Two, Inc. (Historical)     SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated (Historical)     Transaction Accounting Adjustments     Pro Forma Combined  
Revenues, net - related parties   $     $ 101,509,245     $     $ 101,509,245  
Revenues, net           6,400,877             6,400,877  
Total revenues, net           107,910,122             107,910,122  
Cost of revenues           28,971,072             28,971,072  
Gross profit           78,939,050             78,939,050  
                                 
Operating costs:                                
Formation and operations     923,287                   923,287  
Franchise tax expense     83,100                   83,100  
Misappropriation loss                        
Selling, general and administrative expenses           27,187,605             27,187,605  
Total operating costs     1,006,387       27,187,605             28,193,992  
                                 
Income (loss) from operations     (1,006,387 )     51,751,445             50,745,058  
                                 
Other income (expense)                                
Interest income           29,333             29,333  
Interest expense           (10,432 )           (10,432 )
Interest and dividend income on investments held in Trust Account     491,297             (491,297 ) AA    
Other income           655,972             655,972  
Other expenses           (1,951,292 )           (1,951,292 )
Gain on disposal of subsidiary           3,813,609             3,813,609  
Total other income, net     491,297       2,537,190       (491,297 )     2,537,190  
                                 
Income (loss) before income tax provision     (515,090 )     54,288,635       (491,297 )     53,282,248  
                                 
Income tax expense     (85,722 )     (16,981,094 )           (17,066,816 )
                                 
Net income (loss)     (600,812 )     37,307,541       (491,297 )     36,215,432  
                                 
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest           65,381             65,381  
Net income (loss) attributable to the Company     (600,812 )     37,242,160       (491,297 )     36,150,051  
                                 
Other comprehensive income (loss)                                
Foreign currency translation adjustment           (19,240,401 )           (19,240,401 )
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale investment                        
Total comprehensive income (loss)   $ (600,812 )   $ 18,067,140     $ (491,297 )   $ 16,975,031  
                                 
Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest           (70,000 )           (70,000 )
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company   $ (600,812 )   $ 18,137,140     $ (491,297 )   $ 17,045,031  
                                 
Basic net (loss) per share, Class A common stock   $ (0.11 )   $                  
Diluted net (loss) per share, Class A common stock   $ (0.11 )   $                  
Basic net (loss) per share, Class B common stock   $ (0.11 )   $                  
Diluted net (loss) per share, Class B common stock   $ (0.11 )   $                  
Basic and diluted net income per share, common stock   $     $ 4.69             $ 0.36  
Weighted average common shares outstanding           7,949,000               100,743,253  
Basic weighted average shares outstanding, Class A common stock     5,270,356                        
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding, Class A common stock     5,486,180                        
Basic weighted average shares outstanding, Class B common stock     1                        
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding, Class B common stock     1                        

 

5


 

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023

 

    Pono Capital Two, Inc. (Historical)     SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated (Historical)     Transaction Accounting Adjustments     Pro Forma Combined  
Revenues, net - related parties   $     $ 182,738,049     $     $ 182,738,049  
Revenues, net           10,804,374             10,804,374  
Total revenues, net           193,542,423             193,542,423  
Cost of revenues           56,238,385             56,238,385  
Gross profit           137,304,038             137,304,038  
                                 
Operating costs:                                
Formation and operations     1,635,452                   1,635,452  
Franchise tax expense     137,379                   137,379  
Misappropriation loss           409,030             409,030  
Selling, general and administrative expenses           66,234,942       1,062,809   BB   94,297,751  
                      27,000,000   CC      
Total operating costs     1,772,831       66,643,972       28,062,809       96,479,612  
                               
Income (loss) from operations     (1,772,831 )     70,660,066       (28,062,809 )     40,824,426  
                                 
Other income (expense)                                
Interest income           86,748             86,748  
Interest expense           (45,292 )           (45,292 )
Interest and dividend income on investments held in Trust Account     2,641,407             (2,641,407 ) AA    
Other income           3,623,332             3,623,332  
Other expenses           (745,519 )           (745,519 )
Total other income, net     2,641,407       2,919,269       (2,641,407 )     2,919,269  
                                 
Income before income tax provision     868,576       73,579,335       (30,704,216 )     43,743,695  
                                 
Income tax expense     (528,809 )     (35,018,729 )           (35,547,538 )
                                 
Net income     339,767       38,560,606       (30,704,216 )     8,196,157  
                                 
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest           (809,430 )           (809,430 )
Net income attributable to the Company     339,767       39,370,036       (30,704,216 )     9,005,587  
                                 
Other comprehensive income (loss)                                
Foreign currency translation adjustment           (12,855,686 )           (12,855,686 )
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale investment           (8,760 )           (8,760 )
Total comprehensive income (loss)   $ 339,767     $ 25,696,160     $ (30,704,216 )   $ (4,668,289 )
                                 
Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest           (948,896 )           (948,896 )
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company   $ 339,767     $ 26,645,056     $ (30,704,216 )   $ (3,719,393 )
                                 
Basic net income per share, Class A common stock   $ 0.04     $                  
Diluted net income per share, Class A common stock   $ 0.04     $                  
Basic net income per share, Class B common stock   $ 0.04     $                  
Diluted net income per share, Class B common stock   $ 0.04     $                  
Basic and diluted net income per share, common stock   $     $ 4.95             $ 0.08  
Weighted average common shares outstanding           7,949,000               100,743,253  
Basic weighted average shares outstanding, Class A common stock     7,840,002                        
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding, Class A common stock     7,900,002                        
Basic weighted average shares outstanding, Class B common stock     1,008,220                        
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding, Class B common stock     1,008,220                        

 

6


 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED AND CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Note 1. Basis of Presentation

 

The Merger was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization, with no goodwill or other intangible assets recorded, in accordance with GAAP. Under this method of accounting, Pono was treated as the “accounting acquiree” and SBC as the “accounting acquirer” for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the Merger was treated as the equivalent of SBC issuing shares for the net assets of Pono, followed by a recapitalization. The net assets of Pono will be stated at historical cost. Operations prior to the Merger will be those of SBC.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined and consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2024 assumes that the Merger and related transactions occurred on June 30, 2024. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined and consolidated statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and year ended December 31, 2023 gives pro forma effect to the Merger and related transactions as if they had occurred on January 1, 2023. These periods are presented on the basis that SBC is the acquirer for accounting purposes.

 

The pro forma adjustments reflecting the consummation of the Merger and related transactions are based on certain currently available information and certain assumptions and methodologies that Pono believes are reasonable under the circumstances. The unaudited condensed combined and consolidated pro forma adjustments, which are described in the accompanying notes, may be revised as additional information becomes available and is evaluated. Therefore, it is likely that the actual adjustments will differ from the pro forma adjustments and it is possible the difference may be material. Pono believes that its assumptions and methodologies provide a reasonable basis for presenting all of the significant effects of the Merger and related transactions based on information available to management at the time and that the pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions and are properly applied in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined and consolidated financial information.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined and consolidated financial information does not give effect to any anticipated synergies, operating efficiencies, tax savings, or cost savings that may be associated with the Merger. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined and consolidated financial information is not necessarily indicative of what the actual results of operations and financial position would have been had the Merger and related transactions taken place on the dates indicated, nor are they indicative of the future consolidated results of operations or financial position of the post-combination company. They should be read in conjunction with the historical financial statements and notes thereto of Pono and SBC.

 

Note 2. Accounting Policies and Reclassifications

 

Upon consummation of the Merger, management will perform a comprehensive review of the two entities’ accounting policies. As a result of the review, management may identify differences between the accounting policies of the two entities which, when conformed, could have a material impact on the financial statements of the post-combination company. Based on its initial analysis, management did not identify any differences that would have a material impact on the unaudited pro forma condensed combined and consolidated financial information. As a result, the unaudited pro forma condensed combined and consolidated financial information does not assume any differences in accounting policies.

 

As part of the preparation of these unaudited pro forma condensed combined and consolidated financial statements, certain reclassifications were made to align Pono’s financial statement presentation with that of SBC.

 

Note 3. Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined and Consolidated Financial Information

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined and consolidated financial information has been prepared to illustrate the effect of the Merger and related transactions and has been prepared for informational purposes only.

 

7


 

The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined and consolidated financial information has been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X as amended by the final rule, Release No. 33-10786 “Amendments to Financial Disclosures about Acquired and Disposed Businesses.” Release No. 33-10786 replaces the existing pro forma adjustment criteria with simplified requirements to depict the accounting for the transaction (“Transaction Accounting Adjustments”) and present the reasonably estimable synergies and other transaction effects that have occurred or are reasonably expected to occur (“Management’s Adjustments”). Pono has elected not to present Management’s Adjustments and will only be presenting Transaction Accounting Adjustments in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined and consolidated financial information. Pono and SBC have not had any historical relationship prior to the Merger. Accordingly, no pro forma adjustments were required to eliminate activities between the companies.

 

The pro forma basic and diluted earnings per share amounts presented in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined and consolidated statements of operations are based upon the pro forma number of shares of Pono common stock outstanding, assuming the Merger and related transactions occurred on January 1, 2023.

 

Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined and Consolidated Balance Sheet

 

The adjustments included in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined and consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2024 are as follows:

 

A. Reflects the redemption of 135,471 Pono Public Shares for aggregate redemption payments of $1.5 million in connection with the closing of the Merger.

 

B. Reflects the reclassification of approximately $16.6 million of investments held in the Trust Account to cash and cash equivalents that becomes available at closing of the Merger, assuming no additional redemptions.

 

C. Reflects the reclassification of Pono’s Class A common stock subject to possible redemption into permanent equity.

 

D. Represents the payment of SBC transaction costs of $0.6 million, and Pono transactions costs of $5.8 million inclusive of advisory, banking, printing, legal and accounting fees that are expensed as a part of the Merger, deferred underwriting fees and equity issuance costs that are capitalized into additional paid-in capital. Of the total transaction costs, an amount of $0.4 million has been incurred, paid, and reflected in the historical financial statements of SBC, an amount of $0.1 million has been incurred and recorded in accounts payable reflected in the historical financial statements of Pono, and $0.7 million has been incurred and recorded in accrued expenses reflected in the historical financial statements of Pono and SBC.

 

E. Represents the conversion of SBC convertible promissory note of $2.7 million into 270,000 shares of New Pono common stock. These 270,000 converted shares are included in adjustment G.

 

F. Reflects the reclassification of Pono’s historical accumulated deficit into additional paid-in capital as part of the reverse recapitalization.

 

G. Represents the issuance of 1,200,000 shares of common stock to the Sponsor at a par value of $0.0001 for no additional consideration as noted in section 5.22 of the Merger Agreement.

 

H. Represents the issuance of Pono’s common stock at a par value of $0.0001 to SBC shareholders as consideration for the Merger.

 

I. On November 18, 2022 (“Effective Date”), SBC entered into a Common Stock Purchase Warrant Agreement (the “Warrant Agreement”) with HeartCore Enterprise, Inc. (“HeartCore”) pursuant to which it agreed to compensate HeartCore with common stock purchase warrants (the “Warrants”), with an exercise price of $0.01 per share, in exchange for professional services to be provided by HeartCore in connection with its merger or other transaction with a special purpose acquisition company (“SPAC”) wherein SBC becomes a subsidiary of the SPAC (the “Merger”). Subsequently, in March 2024, HeartCore sold to Second ZUU Target Fund a portion of the Warrants which will represent an equivalent of 2% of the outstanding common stock on a fully diluted basis after the Merger in exchange for $9 million in cash. SBC has not received disclosures regarding the details of this transaction or the basis for the sale price determination. Therefore, SBC does not consider their transaction amount as a basis for warrant fair value calculation. Second ZUU Target Fund has no affiliations with SBC, its CEO, or the CEO’s relatives.

 

Since the issuance of the Warrants on November 18, 2022, SBC has not recognized any stock-based compensation expense for the Warrants as the performance condition of exercisability upon a consummation of the Merger is not considered probable until it occurs. The fair value assessment of the Warrants is currently in process, involving external experts. However, it is estimated that the Warrants will represent 2.7% of the outstanding common stock on a fully diluted basis, indicating a significant material impact. The management believes there will be a material charge related to these Warrants in the period that the Merger is consummated. Management estimates the maximum impact to be equivalent to 2.7% of SBC’s assumed enterprise value of approximately $1.0 billion (see “Background of the Business Combination” section) at the time the warrants were issued, which is approximately $27 million. This adjustment represents the unaudited pro forma condensed combined and consolidated balance sheet impact related to the recognition of an estimated $27 million in stock-based compensation, as further described in footnote CC below, as if the Merger was completed on June 30, 2024. The final fair value amount of the warrants recognized at the close of the Merger may differ materially from this amount.

 

8


 

Adjustments to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined and Consolidated Statement of Operations

 

The pro forma adjustments included in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined and consolidated statement of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and for the year ended December 31, 2023 are as follows:

 

AA. Reflects elimination of investment income on the Trust Account.

 

BB. Reflects estimated non-recurring transaction costs not already reflected in the historical financial statements of approximately $1.1 million as if incurred on January 1, 2023, the date the Merger occurred for the purposes of the unaudited pro forma condensed combined and consolidated statement of operations.

 

CC. On November 18, 2022 (“Effective Date”), SBC entered into a Common Stock Purchase Warrant Agreement (the “Warrant Agreement”) with HeartCore Enterprise, Inc. (“HeartCore”) pursuant to which it agreed to compensate HeartCore with common stock purchase warrants (the “Warrants”), with an exercise price of $0.01 per share, in exchange for professional services to be provided by HeartCore in connection with its merger or other transaction with a special purpose acquisition company (“SPAC”) wherein SBC becomes a subsidiary of the SPAC (the “Merger”). Subsequently, in March 2024, HeartCore sold to Second ZUU Target Fund a portion of the Warrants which will represent an equivalent of 2% of the outstanding common stock on a fully diluted basis after the Merger in exchange for $9 million in cash. SBC has not received disclosures regarding the details of this transaction or the basis for the sale price determination. Therefore, SBC does not consider their transaction amount as a basis for warrant fair value calculation. Second ZUU Target Fund has no affiliations with SBC, its CEO, or the CEO’s relatives.

 

Since the issuance of the Warrants on November 18, 2022, SBC has not recognized any stock-based compensation expense for the Warrants as the performance condition of exercisability upon a consummation of the Merger is not considered probable until it occurs. The fair value assessment of the Warrants is currently in process, involving external experts. However, it is estimated that the Warrants will represent 2.7% of the outstanding common stock on a fully diluted basis, indicating a significant material impact. The management believes there will be a material charge related to these Warrants in the period that the Merger is consummated. Management estimates the maximum impact to be equivalent to 2.7% of SBC’s assumed enterprise value of approximately $1.0 billion (see “Background of the Business Combination” section on page 126) at the time the warrants were issued, which is approximately $27 million. This adjustment assumes the satisfaction of the performance condition of the Warrants at the time of the Merger and recognition of an estimated $27 million in stock-based compensation within the unaudited pro forma condensed combined and consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023. The final fair value amount of the warrants recognized at the close of the Merger may differ materially from this amount.

 

9


 

Note 4. Net Income per Share

 

Net income per share was calculated using the historical weighted average shares outstanding, and the issuance of additional shares in connection with the Merger, assuming the shares were outstanding since January 1, 2023. As the Merger is being reflected as if it had occurred at the beginning of the period presented, the calculation of weighted average shares outstanding for basic and diluted net income per share assumes that the shares issuable relating to the Merger have been outstanding for the entirety of all periods presented.

 

    For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
2024(1)
   

For the Year Ended
December 31,
2023 (1)

 
             
Numerator:            
Pro forma net income   $ 36,215,432     $ 8,196,157  
Denominator:                
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic and diluted (2)     100,743,253       100,743,253  
Net income per share:                
Basic and diluted   $ 0.36     $ 0.08  

 

(1) Pro forma net income per share includes the related pro forma adjustments as referred to within the section “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined and Consolidated Financial Information.”

 

(2) The potentially dilutive outstanding securities were excluded from the computation of pro forma net income per share, basic and diluted, because their effect would have been anti-dilutive and/or issuance or vesting of such shares is contingent upon the satisfaction of certain conditions which were not satisfied by the end of the periods presented.

 

 

10

 

 

EX-99.4 15 ea021502401ex99-4_sbcmed.htm PRESS RELEASE

Exhibit 99.4

 

SBC Medical Group Holdings and Pono Capital Two Announce Completion of Business Combination and Schedule to Begin Trading on the Nasdaq

 

SBC Medical scheduled to begin trading on Nasdaq on September 18, 2024 under the ticker symbol “SBC”

 

SBC Medical is a global owner, operator and provider of management services and products to cosmetic treatment centers

 

 

SBC Medical Group Holdings, through its subsidiaries, provides services to support the operation of clinics that deliver highly specialized medical services in the areas of cosmetic medicine, esthetic dentistry, and Androgenetic Alopecia or AGA, primarily in Japan and centered on the SBC Shonan Beauty Clinic Brand. SBC Medical and its subsidiaries now provide management services to a total of 164 franchisee treatment centers located in Japan with the support of approximately 1,639 employees globally, a majority of which are located in Japan. SBC Medical also owns and operates one treatment center in Vietnam and provides management services to one treatment center in California. (Photo: Business Wire)

 

 


 

 

September 17, 2024 07:19 PM Eastern Daylight Time

 

TOKYO & HONOLULU--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated (“SBC Medical”, or the “Company”), a global owner, operator and provider of management services and products to cosmetic treatment centers, and Pono Capital Two, Inc. (“Pono Capital Two”) (Nasdaq: PTWO), a special purpose acquisition company, today announced the completion of their previously announced business combination (the “Business Combination”). The Business Combination was approved at a special meeting of Pono Capital Two’s stockholders on August 23, 2024, and it closed on September 17, 2024. Beginning on September 18, 2024, SBC Medical’s shares of common stock and warrants will begin to trade on the Nasdaq Global Market and Nasdaq Capital Market (collectively, “Nasdaq”), respectively, under the ticker symbols “SBC” and “SBCWW,” respectively.

 

The Business Combination is expected to provide SBC Medical with improved access to sources of new capital, accelerate business alliance opportunities, facilitate the expansion of its clinic operation support business in the United States and Southeast Asia, and expand its franchise clinic network in Japan and overseas.

 

Management and Governance

 

SBC Medical will continue to be led by Yoshiyuki Aikawa, Director, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and the rest of the current SBC Medical management team. SBC Medical’s Board of Directors is comprised of five directors, including Yoshiyuki Aikawa, Yuya Yoshida, Ken Edahiro, Mike Sayama, and Fumitoshi Fujiwara.

 

Yoshiyuki Aikawa, CEO of SBC Medical, said:

 

“We are focused on providing premium care and value to our customers and their patients through transformative treatments and technologies that empower people to positively change their lives and meet new challenges under our ‘Group Purpose.’ Through medical innovation, we aim to contribute to improving the well-being of people where we operate. I am confident that our listing on Nasdaq can contribute to our further growth and allow us to offer our advanced consulting services to clinic networks, not only in Japan but other locations internationally, while maintaining our high standards of ‘Japan Quality.’”

 

2


 

Darryl Nakamoto, CEO of Pono Capital Two, said:

 

“We appreciate the effort and commitment of all the parties involved in this business combination. The listing of SBC Medical on Nasdaq through a business combination with Pono Capital Two is both a milestone for SBC Medical and a step toward international growth for the Company. Our belief has been that a promising Japan-based company, together with a U.S.-listed company, will help to unlock value for all our shareholders.”

 

SBC Medical Highlights

 

Scalable Business Model with Significant Runway: SBC Medical has a demonstrated track record of expanding its revenue base with a history of profitability.

 

Profitability Enables Continued Future Investment for Growth: The Company believes that the Business Combination will enable it to accelerate its market expansion organically and inorganically, utilizing the capital raised from the Business Combination and future access to international capital markets. Furthermore, the Business Combination is expected to enhance the Company’s profile and brand, and boost its ability to attract and retain top talent to further strengthen its competitive position.

 

Focused on High Growth Markets: The Company believes that its international reach, coupled with a strong local presence and recognized execution capability, uniquely positions it for success in the United States and Southeast Asia markets.

 

Industry Leading Talent and Local Expertise: SBC Medical is a people-first and customer-centric organization led by a low-turnover, long-tenured management team with deep experience in the medical service market.

 

New Product Lines and Product Categories on the Horizon: SBC Medical anticipates significant organic growth opportunities in sales of high-quality beauty treatment products and from the expansion of research and development of new medical technologies and equipment.

 

Going Public. SBC Medical has gone public for the purpose of enhancing its international brand and to facilitate the expansion of its clinic operation support business in the United States and Southeast Asia to accelerate growth.

 

Growth Plans. SBC Medical plans to pursue various strategic options including business alliances with leading clinics and hospital groups, mainly in the United States and Southeast Asia, as well as expand its franchise clinic network in Japan and overseas, strengthen its ability to meet the inbound demand in Japan, expand its research and development of new medical technologies and equipment, and compete in areas of regenerative medicine and anti-aging.

 

SBC Medical Business Overview

 

SBC Medical, through its subsidiaries, provides services to support the operation of clinics that deliver highly specialized medical services in the areas of cosmetic medicine, esthetic dentistry, and Androgenetic Alopecia or AGA, primarily in Japan and centered on the SBC Shonan Beauty Clinic Brand. SBC Medical and its subsidiaries now provide management services to a total of 164 franchisee treatment centers located in Japan. SBC Medical also owns and operates one treatment center in Vietnam and provides management services to one treatment center in State of California in the United States.

 

3


 

SBC Medical aims to realize the “Ultimate Win-Win for All” by utilizing its expertise in clinic management support that it has cultivated in the Japanese market, to expand its management services globally, and provide value to all customers.

 

Beauty treatment is an advanced service that provides the value of “living beautifully and healthily.” This is an area where advances in service levels and affordable prices are expected, not only through innovation in beauty treatments, but also through cutting-edge knowledge such as regenerative medicine, significant advances in medical equipment, and the use of technologies such as artificial intelligence or AI. Accordingly, unlike conventional “cosmetic surgery” in a narrow sense, SBC Medical will support the provision of advanced medical services at prices that are affordable for customers. At the same time, the Company plans to capture our customers’ needs related to cosmetics, diet products, and luxury brand products.

 

In addition, as the world’s population ages, the need to “live beautifully and healthily” for a longer period of time is expected to further increase, particularly in the anti-aging field. SBC Medical expects the global market to significantly expand, especially in Southeast Asia due to the increased demand for services and products by the new and growing wealthy class.

 

Advisors

 

Loeb & Loeb LLP acted as US legal counsel to Pono Capital Two and Anthony, Linder & Cacomanolis, PLLC acted as US legal counsel to SBC Medical in the transaction. EF Hutton LLC served as Capital Markets Advisor to Pono Capital Two.

 

About SBC Medical

 

SBC Medical is a global owner, operator and provider of management services and products to cosmetic treatment centers. For more information, visit https://sbc-holdings.com/

 

About Pono Capital Two

 

Pono Capital Two is a special purpose acquisition company whose business purpose is to affect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities.

 

4


 

Forward Looking Statements

 

Certain statements herein are “forward-looking statements” with respect to the proposed business combination. 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 contained herein, including but not limited to: (i) risks that the proposed business combination disrupts the current plans of SBC Medical; (ii) the risk that the Company will need to raise additional capital to execute its business plans, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; (iii) the ability of the parties to recognize the benefits of the Business Combination; (iv) the lack of useful financial information for an accurate estimate of future capital expenditures and future revenue; (v) statements regarding SBC Medical’s industry and market size; (vi) financial condition and performance of SBC Medical and Pono Capital Two, including the anticipated benefits, the implied enterprise value, the expected financial impacts of the business combination, potential level of redemptions of Pono Capital Two’s public stockholders, the financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, the products, the expected future performance and market opportunities of SBC Medical; and (vii) those factors discussed in Pono Capital Two’s filings with the SEC, including without limitation the definitive proxy statement filed as of August 12, 2024. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties that are described in the “Risk Factors” section of such definitive proxy statement and other documents to be filed by Pono Capital Two 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 Medical and Pono Capital Two 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 Medical or Pono Capital Two gives any assurance that SBC Medical and Pono Capital Two will achieve their respective expectations.

 

Contacts

 

In Asia:
SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated
Hikaru Fukui / Head of Investor Relations
E-mail: ir@sbc-holdings.com

 

 

 

5

 

EX-99.5 16 ea021502401ex99-5_sbcmed.htm INVESTOR PRESENTATION

Exhibit 99.5

 

Investor Presentation September 2024

 


In the US: ICR LLC Bill Zima / Managing Partner Email: bill.zima@icrinc.com Disclaimer This document contains forward - looking statements . In addition, from time to time, we or our representatives may make forward - looking statements orally or in writing . We base these forward - looking statements on our expectations and projections about future events, which we derive from the information currently available to us . Such forward - looking statements relate to future events or our future performance, including : our financial performance and projections ; our growth in revenue and earnings ; and our business prospects and opportunities . You can identify forward - looking statements by those that are not historical in nature, particularly those that use terminology such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “contemplates,” “estimates,” “believes,” “plans,” “projected,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “hopes” or the negative of these or similar terms . Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, those listed under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in the proxy statement and other materials filed with the U . S . Securities and Exchange Commission . Forward - looking statements are only predictions . The forward - looking events discussed in this document and other statements made from time to time by us or our representatives, may not occur, and actual events and results may differ materially and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us . We are not obligated to publicly update or revise any forward - looking statement, whether as a result of uncertainties and assumptions, the forward - looking events discussed in this document and other statements made from time to time by us or our representatives might not occur . Past performance is not indicative of future results . There is no guarantee that any specific outcome will be achieved . Investments may be speculative, illiquid and there is a total risk of loss . 2 Table of Contents 4 I. At a Glance II. Investment Highlights Appendix P5 P9 P24

 


 


 


I. At a Glance

 


Company Overview • SBC Medical Group Holdings (SBC) provides comprehensive consulting and management services to the medical corporations and their clinics • We have the largest network of franchised clinics in Japan and a leading position in the aesthetic medical industry Company Overview and Key Figures (FY2023) Key Statistics of Franchisees* SBC Medical Group Holdings, Inc. Name Dr. Yoshiyuki Aikawa CEO 2023 (Roots tracing back to 2000) Founded Irvine, California, USA (SBC Medical Group located in Tokyo) Headquarters Comprehensive consulting and management services to the medical corporations and their clinics Our Services Japan : 164 clinics Global : 2 clinics Irvine, California Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Number of Related Clinics 166 Number of Clinics 3.9 mn Annual Customers 71% Repeat rate*** * As of December 31, 2023.

 


Excluding the impact of the franchising of Rise Clinic and Gorilla Clinic ** Calculated at 140JPY/1USD *** The percentage of customers who visited our franchisee’s clinics more than twice 474 Number of Doctors Revenue US$82 mn Net Income Attributable to the Company EBITDA $361 Revenue per Customer** 15% 5Y CAGR # of Clinics US$193 mn US$39 mn ROE 32% Group Structure and Business Model SBC Medical Group Co., Ltd. SBC Medical Group Holdings, Inc. Franchise Clinics in Japan (164* in total) Franchise fee 100% Total Revenue: US$1.1bn* in FY2023 Japan • SBC provides comprehensive consulting and management services to the medical corporations and their clinics through a franchise model US Management/ operational services Dermatology Dentistry Total Revenue: US$193mn in FY2023 Fertility Treatment Hair Loss Treatment (AGA) Hair Removal Aesthetic Surgery LASIK (Ophthalmology ), and Others Consulting and Marketing Solutions Administrative Services Procurement Services Medical Equipment Leasing Our Major Services Orthopedic 7 * As of December 31, 2023.

 


Excluding the impact of the franchising of Rise Clinic and Gorilla Clinic Hair - Removal (26 clinics) Men’s Hair - Removal (22 clinics) Other Medical Specialties (7 clinics) Diverse Range of Our Franchisee Clinics • Our franchise network is diverse and covers various medical specialties beyond aesthetics • The addition of Rize Clinic and Gorilla Clinic in 2023 significantly expanded our network from 166 to 220 clinics * in total , and we aim for further growth through our multi - brand strategy Newly Joined in 2023* * Numbers of Clinics as of August 2024. Clinic - related figures in this presentation, excluding this page, do not include the impact of the franchising of Rize Clinic and Gorilla Clinic Fertility Treatment & Women's Health (3 clinics) Dentistry (9 clinics) Aesthetic Surgery & Dermatology (130 clinics, Incl.

 


II. Investment Highlights

 


2 overseas) Aesthetic Dermatology (8 clinics) Aesthetic Surgery (5 clinics) Hair Loss Treatment (AGA) (9 clinics) Online Clinic 8 Leading Position in Japan's Growing Aesthetic Medical Market with the Largest Clinic Network Proven Profitability and High Margins Based on Recuring Fee Income Strong Balance Sheet with Ample Leverage Capacity for Growth Additional High Growth Potential in Japan through Franchising Clinics and Related Fields, and in the Growing Global Aesthetic Medical Market Visionary Leadership and Experienced Management Team with Long - Term Commitments Investment Highlights 1 2 3 4 5 10 Leading Position in Japan's Growing Aesthetic Medical Market • Our Franchisees have been steadily expanding their sales and customer base • They have been driving the expansion of the aesthetic medical market in Japan Revenue* and Customer Growth of Franchisees (mn US$) 459 1,091 1.8 3.9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 2018 2019 2020 Revenue (LHS) 2021 Customer Visits (RHS) 2022 2023 (# mn) *Calculated at 140JPY/1USD ̓ year CAGR 24% ˄ Revenue ˅ 1 11

 


 


 


Market Share in Japanese Aesthetic Medical Market 12 48% 21% 31% Aesthetic surgery and dermatology # of Clinics: 537 SBC Source: Yano Research Institute (2024) Specializing in hair removal # of Clinics: 221 * Clinic groups with more than 5 locations Others (each % share is less than 5%) 1 12% 10% 11% 16% 22% 29% Rize & Gorilla Others Estimated % market share among medium to large clinic groups*, based on number of clinic locations Current Core Market 10 - 30’s Females (Penetration Rate% 1 ) 21% 1 1 8 1 . . 0 2 m m n n # of Population Develops dermatology - focused clinics under the SBC brand Untapped Potential in Japan's Aesthetic Medical Market • Aesthetic medicine penetration among core customers (women 10 - 30’s) is rising, driven by growing demand for dermatological treatments. While overall market penetration is still low (10%), significant growth is expected by tapping into middle - aged female and male markets Total Addressable Market in Japan Middle - aged (40 - 60’s) Female Market Male Market 10 - 60’s Male Penetration Rate 1 7% 43.4mn # of Population Source: SBC created based on data from MIC and Recruit Co. (1) Based on number of people who experienced treatment in the last three years (2) As of 12/2023 13 To Middle - aged Female Market Targeted marketing to reach middle - aged women To Male Market Specialized clinics for hair loss treatment (AGA) Gorilla Clinics for male laser hair removal To Capture Dermatology Market Growth Expand laser hair removal to dermatology services via Rise Clinics 7% 24.9mn 40 - 60's Female Penetration Rate 1 # of Population Increasing penetration by leveraging the growing demand for dermatology ( 9 clinics 2 ) ( 26 clinics 2 ) ( 8 clinics 2 ) ( 22 clinics 2 ) Our Strategic Initiatives to Expand Market Reach 1 SBC's Key Differentiators • Our targeted solutions for mitigating doctors’ major pain points give us a distinct competitive advantage in the clinic franchise market Clinic Operation Service Quality Talent Acquisition - Our comprehensive clinic operating system empowers Franchisees with efficient tools for managing customer flow, procurement, HR, and financials, driving operational excellence.

 


- Doctors and nurses can take advantage of numerous professional development opportunities at our dedicated training center. - Our educational program based on our long - term experience for staff drives quality customer experience at our Franchisees. - Our strong brand reputation as a leading aesthetic clinic in Japan attracts top - tier talent in hiring. - Our extensive network of franchise clinics enable doctors to rapidly develop their skills in diverse medical treatments.

 


Doctors’ Pain Points Fully Digitized Integrated System Structured Educational System Hiring Advantages Our Solutions 1 14 Joining Open a clinic Procurement Customer Acquisition Treatment Administration • Payment services • Accounting & tax • Intellectual property Doctors’ Voice • Very strong training system is highly appreciated • Quality of clinic staff is very competitive • SBC provides a one - stop solution for all doctors’ clinic operation needs. Whether they're planning to open a clinic or looking for help in managing day - to - day administrative tasks, SBC provides comprehensive and reliable services to ensure their clinics runs smoothly • Latest facilities & medication with competitive price • Original products and exclusive usage of newly developed treatment • Brand license • Marketing (Treatment & Doctors) • Mobile app • Customer rewards program Business Flow and Our One - Stop Service • Property search • Interior design • System design • Doctor and staff hiring • Training 1 15 Reservation Contract Medical Record Payment Procurement Initial Counseling All - in - one System Digitalization of all relevant procedures at clinics Staff Management Customer Support Reception Data/Information Sharing Accounting • Enhance customer experience • Enable clinic staff to focus on customers Customers’ Satisfaction Productivity Improvement Advanced Digitized Integrated System 1 16

 


 


Revenue Growth Driven by Predictable and Recurring Fees Procurement Services Management Services Royalty Income Rental Services ● Purchasing advertising services ● Purchasing medical materials ● Marketing solution ● Administrative services (accounting, HR, IT, facility, clinic operation) ● Company’s brand name ● Trade name ● Trademark ● Medical equipment leasing Our Revenue Stream (FY2023) US$72mn US$53mn US$42mn US$7mn Franchise fee Management service Growing Number of Franchise Clinics in Japan 82 164 0 50 100 150 200 2018 … 2021 2022 2023 * The figures exclude the impact of Rize Clinic and Gorilla Clinic joining the franchise ̓ year CAGR 15% (Others: US$18mn) Total Revenue: US$193mn 2 17 Revenue (mn US$, % of Growth YoY) Gross Profit (mn US$, % of Growth YoY) EBITDA (mn US$, % of Margin) Net Income attributable to the company (mn US$, % of Margin) 2 Strong Revenue Growth and Hight profitability 6 0 30 60 FY2022 FY2023 FY2024 H1 * Retirement compensation expense, insurance fees 20% 39 35% 37 Adjusted Onetime Expense 16% 26 82 0 50 100 FY2022 FY2023 FY2024 H1 Adjusted Onetime Expense 33% 42% 50% 53 174 193 107 0 100 200 300 FY2022 FY2023 FY2024 H1 +11% 114 137 78 0 100 200 FY2022 FY2023 FY2024 H1 +19% 18

 


 


Source: Fortune Business Insight, Yano Research Institute Ltd., WHO Global Health Expenditure Database, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan 3 Bigger Markets Awaits SBC • SBC has the potential to global aesthetic medical markets.

 


Also has the potential to expand its franchise network and related fields including insurance - covered medical services in Japan Japan (Aesthetic) US$ 5bn Global (Aesthetic) US$ 56bn + Further expansion in Japan’s insurance - covered medical services + Accelerating our expansion beyond Japan into global aesthetic medical markets Japan (Insurance - Covered Medical Services) 19 US$ 314bn Expansion into Adjacent Fields and B2B Partnerships 3 Fertility Treatment Hair Loss Treatment Online Clinic Comprehensive Aesthetic Treatment Potential for B2B Partnership • Revenue YoY Growth: • Gross Profit Margin: 40%+ 71%+ • Operating Profit Margin: 26%+ (FY2023) • SBC aims to leverage its expertise, expanding into adjacent fields such as fertility treatment, hair loss treatment, and online clinic services • SBC integrated back - office platform is a market leader, with significant potential for B2B partnerships Strong Growth & High Profitability: Regenerative Medicine (Clinic Management Vertical SaaS) 20 Strong Balance Sheet with Ample Leverage Capacity for Growth Capital Management Policy 4 US$103mn Cash Key Balance Sheet Figures (as of June 2024) Reserve adequate liquidity and robust capital base • Maintain an adequate liquidity position to support stable execution of SBC’s business operation • Reserve robust capital base to maintain leverage capacity for potential growth investment opportunity Leverage management • Managing leverage levels in accordance with business risk • Debt financing is considered with business risks, interest rate risks, and capital market risks • Currently, debt financing capacity is reserved for potential growth investment Sustainable capital policy and shareholder returns • Considering timely and flexible shareholder returns based on our corporate strategy and potential growth investment opportunities • SBC currently maintains potential debt financing capacity for potential growth investment opportunity 226% Current ratio 63% Capital Ratio 0.04x D/E Ratio 21

 


 


Listing on NASDAQ Transform SBC into Global Company Expand SBC’s brand recognition as a global brand • Improve both SBC’s corporate brand value and perceptions in aesthetic medical industry • Expand SBC’s brand value from Japan local one to Global one Access to the global capital market • Gain access to global capital markets in both debt and equity • Enable access to global investors to raise fund to invest in clinic acquisition, launching vertical SaaS to aesthetic clinics globally Enhance SBC’s corporate governance • Adopt US capital market standard on corporate governance , which is the strictest standard from a global perspective • Ensure sustainable growth through strong corporate governance 4 22 Visionary Leadership and Experienced Management Team 5 SBC Medical Group Co., Ltd. SBC Medical Group Holdings, Inc. 100% Japan Yuya Yoshida SBCMG Co., Ltd Director Director, COO Director (Chairman), CEO Dr. Yoshiyuki Aikawa SBCMGH Inc. Director / CEO Fumitoshi Fujiwara MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies Inc. Director, CFO Ken Edahiro BizReach, Inc. Executive Officer CSMO Mike Sayama Ph.D. Experienced Management Team in Japan Board of Directors US External Directors 23

 


 


Appendix

 


Financial Summary 25 Income Statement Balance Sheet FY24 FY23 FY22 (mn US$) % YoY H1 % YoY 129% 107 111% 193 174 Total revenue 177% 29 171% 42 24 Royalty income 104% 26 98% 53 54 Procurement services 105% 32 108% 72 67 Management services 211% 7 35% 7 20 Rental services 123% 28 95% 56 59 Cost of Revenue 131% 78 120% 137 114 Gross Profit 80% 27 70% 66 94 Operating cost 194% 51 351% 70 20 Income from operations 223% 37 623% 39 6 Net income attributable to the Company FYE24 FYE23 FYE22 (mn US$) vs. FYE23 H1 vs. FYE22 ͇ 3 255 +33 258 225 Total assets Ǝ 3 169 +53 165 112 Total current asset Ǝ 0 103 +52 103 51 Cash and cash equiv. ˊ 1 11 ˊ 2 13 15 Property and equipment, net ˊ 4 14 +12 19 7 Intangible assets, net ˊ 2 17 ˊ 2 19 21 Long - term payments – related parties ͇ 20 94 ͇ 3 114 117 Total liabilities ˊ 17 75 ˊ 9 92 101 Current liabilities ͦ 18 160 ͦ 36 142 105 Shareholder’s equity Our Philosophy • Our purpose is to improve the well - being of people around the world with the latest medical innovations and achieve the ultimate win - win for all Dr. Yoshiyuki Aikawa Founder, Director (Chairman) & Chief Executive Officer Through 26

 


 


 


Our Vision 2025 Be the aesthetic medical group with the most customers in Japan • To achieve further growth in Japan and overseas, we will expand our clinic network • By continuing to focus on the research and development of new medical technologies, medical devices, and cosmetics, we aim to increase our global presence with the listing on NASDAQ and establish ourselves as a leader in the healthcare industry 2035 Be the medical group with the most customers in Japan 2050 Be the medical group with the most customers in the world 27 Directors Director (Chairman), CEO Yoshiyuki Aikawa SBCMGH Inc. - Director (Chairman) - CEO SBCMG Co., Ltd - Director Director, COO Yuya Yoshida SBCMGH Inc. - Director - COO SBCMG Co., Ltd - CFO From January 2016 to June 2023, worked in Corporate Development (Global Head and Director of Corporate Development in 2018) at Rakuten Group Co., Ltd. From January 2003 to 2016, worked in securities, principal M&A, and investment banking at Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group. Graduated with a Master of Law degree from Keio University in 2003 and graduated with a Master of Business Administration degree from UCLA Anderson Business School in 2014 The president and a director of the Japanese Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. From 2008, Harvard Medical School, PGA. A member of the Japanese Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Japan Laser Therapy Association, Japan Liposuction Society, Chemical Peeling Society, Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists, and Post Graduate Assembly of Anesthesiology at Harvard Medical School. Holds a medical license from Nihon University Medical School where he graduated in 1997. 28 Independent Directors Member of Corporate Governance and Nominating Com., Compensation Com.

 


and Audit Com. Ken Edahiro BizReach, Inc. - Executive Officer - CSMO After graduating from Hitotsubashi University, Faculty of Economics, he joined Dentsu Inc. in 2004. In 2012, joined gloops Inc. and served as General Manager of Marketing Division and CMO. In 2014, became Representative Director of King Japan Inc. and oversaw product development and marketing for puzzle game “Candy Crush” and others. In 2019, joined BizReach, Inc. and was appointed as CSO in February 2020. Appointed as an outside director of the Company in August 2024. Chairman of Corporate Governance and Nominating Com., Compensation Com., Audit Com. Fumitoshi Fujiwara MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies Inc. - Director - CFO 29 Has had a career in buyout investments, venture investments, real estate development, and IPOs in both Japan and the US. Starting at Shuwa Corporation (1989 - 1993) as a manager, he led M&A activities. At KOEI Co., Ltd. (1993 - 2000), was instrumental in their IPO and served as CFO Co - founded Spiral & Star Co., Ltd. (2000 - 2001). As CEO of AC Capital Co., Ltd. (2001 - 2009), he managed buyout funds. Currently, at Eaglestone Capital Management Inc. (2009 - ), leads significant real estate and distressed debt investments. Also played a key role in the NASDAQ listing of MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies Inc. and now supports Japanese companies in US listings through Linden Capital Partners LLC. Holds a law degree from Meiji Gakuin University.

 


Independent Directors Dr. Mike Sayama is an independent director of Pono. He currently serves as Abbot of Chozen - ji International Zen Temple in Hawaii. In his professional career, Dr. Sayama was the founding Executive Director of Community First from July 2016 to January 2021, responsible for operations, strategic planning, community relations, and fundraising. From 2013 to 2018, Dr. Sayama was Vice President at Pono Health, managing the East Hawaii Independent Physicians Association and developing a data integration platform. He was Vice President at Hawaii Medical Service Association from 1997 to 2013 in charge of managing health benefits and customer relations. He also held directorships at City Bank and Central Pacific Bank. Dr. Sayama holds a BA in Psychology from Yale and a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Michigan. He is an author of books on psychotherapy and Zen Buddhism. Member of Corporate Governance and Nominating Com., Compensation Com. and Audit Com. Mike Sayama,Ph.D.

 


Pono - Independent Director 30 Key Features of Japan's Medical Care Act Notable Points of Medical Care Act in Japan The law aims to protect patients' interests and ensure safe, high - quality medical care by guiding patient choice, managing healthcare facilities, and promoting inter - facility coordination for national health maintenance x Only medical corporations can manage clinics (and they can not be listed) (Article 39) x A medical corporation is not expected to be profit - oriented (Article 7) x To establish a new medical corporation or open a hospital or clinic, approval from the governor of the prefecture is needed (Article 7, 44) x - Profits cannot be diverted outside the corporation (Article 54)

 


Thank you SBC Medical Group Holdings / ir@sbc - holdings.com ICR, LLC / US Investor Contact / +1 (646) 277 1200 /William.Zima@icrinc.com