SEC Comment Letter 0000000000-24-002046 to SBC Medical Group Holdings Inc (SBC, SBCWW) (CIK 0001930313) (SBC)
SBC Medical Group Holdings Inc (SBC, SBCWW) (CIK 0001930313)
Date: Feb. 22, 2024 · CIK: 0001930313 · Accession: 0000000000-24-002046
AI Filing Summary & Sentiment
File numbers found in text: 001-41462
Show Raw Text
United States securities and exchange commission logo
February 22, 2024
Darryl Nakamoto
Chief Executive Officer
Pono Capital Two, Inc.
643 Ilalo St. #102
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Re:Pono Capital Two, Inc.
Revised Preliminary Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A
Filed January 22, 2024
File No. 001-41462
Dear Darryl Nakamoto:
We have reviewed your filing and have the following comments.
Please respond to this letter within ten business days by providing the requested
information or advise us as soon as possible when you will respond. If you do not believe a
comment applies to your facts and circumstances, please tell us why in your response.
After reviewing your response to this letter, we may have additional comments.
Revised Preliminary Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed January 22, 2024
SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated, page 23
1.We note your response to previous comment 9. Please revise to describe the "service
contracts" with Medical Corporation Association Furinkai and Medical Corporation
Association Juunikai and explain how they are different from the franchise agreements.
The Combined Entity may be a "controlled company" within the meaning..., page 59
2.We note your response to previous comment 19 and reissue in part. Please revise your
summary section to provide prominent disclosure that the combined entity will be a
controlled company within the meaning of the applicable rules of Nasdaq and that Dr.
Yoshiyuki Aikawa will control approximately 66.6% of the number of voting power of
your outstanding common stock, assuming no additional redemptions.
FirstName LastNameDarryl Nakamoto
Comapany NamePono Capital Two, Inc.
February 22, 2024 Page 2
FirstName LastNameDarryl Nakamoto
Pono Capital Two, Inc.
February 22, 2024
Page 2
Risk Factors
Our reputation and the trading price of our common stock may be negatively affected by adverse
publicity..., page 73
3.We note your revised disclosure in response to previous comment 23 and re-issue the
comment in part. You state that "Our management team plans to conduct additional
procedures and actions to mitigate risks of the short seller allegations." Please clarify if
SBC has been the subject of short seller allegations or if this risk factor is discussing
allegations that may occur in the future. If SBC has been the subject of short seller
allegations, please clearly explain what the allegations are and how they relate to your
business. Additionally, please clarify if SBC is a publicly listed entity and how short
sellers are able to benefit from a decline in a price of your securities.
Risk Factors
Our reputation and the trading price of our common stock may be negatively affected by adverse
publicity..., page 81
4.We note your revised disclosure in response to previous comment 24 that "While the
Company has never faced substantial compensation payouts or multiple compensations
due to medical accidents in the past, with no material impact on business performance and
a clean financial record, we acknowledge the absence of significant liability beyond our
existing insurance coverage." Please clarify what you mean by the absence of significant
liability beyond your existing insurance coverage. Additionally, please clearly
state whether you believe you maintain adequate levels of insurance relative to your
business operations.
Background of the Business Combination, page 123
5.We note your revised disclosure in response to previous comment 28 and note that the
enterprise value for SBC included in the December 15, 2022 initial LOI of $2.5 billion
was based on financial projections that "represented revenue of approximately $1 billion
and net income of $200,000." Please clarify if these projections represented net income of
$200 million rather than $200,000.
6.We note your disclosure that the initial draft of the Business Combination that was
circulated on December 23, 2022 included a valuation of SBC at $1.2 billion rather than
the $2.5 billion valuation included in the December 15, 2022 initial LOI. Please explain
the change in valuation from $2.5 billion to $1.2 billion. In this regard, we note your
disclosure that $2.5 billion valuation was based on financial projections that represented
revenue of approximately $1 billion and net income of $200 million and your disclosure
on page 128 that "The projections that SBC provided were prior to the restructuring of the
SBC business entities and before any adjustments related to the change to US GAAP
reporting." However, $1 billion of revenue and $200 million of net income exceed the
figures presented in the five year projections on page 130 which conclude with projected
FirstName LastNameDarryl Nakamoto
Comapany NamePono Capital Two, Inc.
February 22, 2024 Page 3
FirstName LastNameDarryl Nakamoto
Pono Capital Two, Inc.
February 22, 2024
Page 3
revenue of $645 million and net income of $124 million in 2027. Please explain if the
projections underlying the $2.5 billion valuation were subsequently revised and, if so,
provide additional disclosure regarding the timing and reasons for the revisions.
7.We note your revised disclosure in response to previous comment 30 and re-issue the
comment in part. Where you disclose general topics that were discussed at each meeting
or call, please provide additional detail regarding the substance of those discussions. For
example, where you disclose that the call on December 11, 2022 related to "diligence
including questions to better understand the market for cosmetic treatment centers and the
related management services, the sustainability of SBC’s profitability, and the viability of
SBC’s expansion plans" please briefly discuss the substance of those discussions.
Likewise, where you disclose that the calls on January 24, 2023 and January 26, 2023
included discussions of "structure, open due diligence items and merger process" please
briefly explain if there were any material open issues or concerns discussed at such
meetings in advance of the January 30, 2023 approval of the Merger Agreement.
8.We note your revised disclosure in response to previous comment 37 and re-issue the
comment in part. Please revise your disclosure to discuss the following topics or explain:
•any discussions about the need to obtain additional financing for the combined
company, such as a PIPE transaction, and the negotiation/marketing processes; and
•the negotiation of any contingent payments to be received by SBC’s shareholders,
including the portion of the Escrow Shares.
Reasons for Approval of the Business Combination, page 128
9.We note your statements that "In recommending the transaction, the Board reviewed three
different approaches in determining the valuation of SBC: discounted cash flow, revenue
multiple and earnings multiple" and "Based on the SBC’s ability to recognize revenue and
consistent profitability, the Board deemed that the earning multiple approach to be the
appropriate measure for the valuation." Please clarify if discounted cash flow and revenue
multiple valuations were prepared and provided to the Board or if the Board only
reviewed a valuation based on earnings multiples. If such valuations were prepared and
reviewed by the Board, please disclose those valuations and their underlying
methodology.
10.We note your statement that "Pono used the fiscal year 2022 financials provided by SBC
in January 2023’ as the starting point of SBC’s valuation combined with a revenue growth
rate of 15%." Please disclose the relevant financial metrics included in the January 2022
financials that were used as a starting point for the valuation. Additionally, please explain
how Pono arrived at a 15% revenue growth rate, including any underlying assumptions.
Your disclosure should include both the total valuation of SBC and the specific
methodology used to arrive at that valuation.
11.We note your statement that the report provided by EF Hutton "provided the average
earnings multiples of approximately 32x and 26x for fiscal years 2023 and 2024,
FirstName LastNameDarryl Nakamoto
Comapany NamePono Capital Two, Inc.
February 22, 2024 Page 4
FirstName LastNameDarryl Nakamoto
Pono Capital Two, Inc.
February 22, 2024
Page 4
respectively, for back office service from the following companies: WNS (Holdings)
Limited (NYSE: WNS), ExlService Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXLS), Startek, Inc (NYSE:
SRT), TTEC Holdings, Inc (Nasdaq: TTEC), Atento (Private Company), Conduent
(Nasdaq: CNDT), and Taskus (Nasdaq: TASK)." Please explain how EF Hutton selected
the companies included in the list of comparable companies and why the multiples were
based on "back office services." Please disclose if any companies meeting the applicable
criteria for comparable companies were nevertheless excluded from the list of comparable
companies. Finally, please explain why the four comparable healthcare service companies
used in the December 15, 2022 initial LOI valuation (Surgery Partners (Nasdaq: SGRY),
National HealthCare (NYSE: NHC), Community Health (NYSE: CYH), Encompass
Health (NYSE: EHC)) were not included in the list of comparable companies.
12.We note your disclosure that the report prepared by EF Hutton "provided the average
earnings multiples of approximately 32x and 26x for fiscal years 2023 and 2024,
respectively." We also note your statement that "Pono used the fiscal year 2022 financials
provided by SBC in January 2023’ as the starting point of SBC’s valuation combined with
a revenue growth rate of 15%." Please clarify how the earnings multiples in the report
were used to arrive at a valuation for SBC. In this regard, we note that the financial
statements of SBC for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 show SBC had 2022 net
income of $6.7 million.
13.We note your disclosure that the reduction in SBC's earnings in the revised fiscal year
2022 financials "were primarily due to adjustment made to reflect US GAAP" and that
"No other assumptions were changed, and the result is the SBC valuation was reduced
from $1.2 billion to $1.0 billion." When discussing the removal of the Medical
Corporations from the A&R Merger Agreement on June 21, 2023 due to Japanese
regulatory reasons you note that "The removal of the Medical Corporations from the A&R
Merger Agreement required a reduction of the valuation." Please clarify if the adjustments
to reflect US GAAP are separate than the reduction of valuation as a result of the removal
of the Medical Corporations.
Certain Projected Financial Information for SBC, page 130
14.We note that the Projections provided to Pono appearing on page 130 were significantly
revised in your latest amendment. Please explain why these numbers changed and if Pono
received multiple sets of projections. In this regard, we note your statement that "The
above financial projections were provided prior to the restructuring of the SBC business
entities and before any adjustments related to the change to US GAAP reporting." If there
were multiple sets of projections, please disclose both sets of projections, the respective
dates they were received and the reason for the significant changes between the two.
15.We note the disclosure that SBC estimated future net income margins range from 17% to
19% and that Pono reviewed SBC’s historical financials and believes SBC's history of
profitability and experience in scaling its business will allow SBC to meet its projections.
Please revise to explain how SBC’s historical financial results led to an estimated future
FirstName LastNameDarryl Nakamoto
Comapany NamePono Capital Two, Inc.
February 22, 2024 Page 5
FirstName LastNameDarryl Nakamoto
Pono Capital Two, Inc.
February 22, 2024
Page 5
net income margins range from 17% to 19%.
16.We note the disclosure that Pono believes that SBC reflected in its projections an increase
in expenses related to becoming a publicly traded company and for its expansion plans.
Please revise to disclose and quantify these assumptions.
SBC Management Discussion & Analysis, page 223
17.Please clarify your disclosure to clearly quantify the impact that foreign exchange rate
changes had on the reported change in total revenue for each period presented.
Warrants, page 241
18.We note your revised disclosure here that "The Placement Warrants will be subject to the
same terms and conditions as the Public Warrants, and among other matters, be
redeemable by us and exercisable by the holders on the same basis as the Public
Warrants" and your statement on page 94 that "None of the Placement Warrants or the
Private Warrants (or if issued, any warrants underlying the Working Capital Units) will be
redeemable by New Pono for cash so long as they are held by the Sponsor or its permitted
transferees." Please reconcile these disclosures and clarify if the Placement Warrants or
the Private Warrants will be redeemable by New Pono for cash to the extent they are held
by the Sponsor or its permitted transferees. If there is a difference between the public and
private warrants in this regard, please add risk factor disclosure regarding the difference.
Management after the Business Combination, page 259
19.We reissue comment 57 with respect to Dr. Aikawa and Mr. Yoshida. Because they are
being nominated to serve on the board of directors of New Pono, please state the specific
experience, skills, qualifications and attributes of each director nominee that led you to the
conclusion that each such director should serve as one of the directors of the combined
company.
Statements of Cash Flows, page F-50
20.Based on your response to prior comment 61, it is unclear why the "Long-term payments -
- related parties" transactions are classified as operating activities instead of as investing
activities. In this regard, it appears that these cash transactions were to acquire equity
interests. Please revise here and on page F-86, if necessary.
Note 17, page F-112
21.It appears that SBC acquired a 100% equity interest in 4 related party Medical
Corporations in August 2023. Please clarify for us whether these entities are consolidated
in the SBC financial statements for all periods presented. Please provide an analysis that
supports your accounting for these entities. If the transactions with these entities that are
outlined in your footnote disclosure have been eliminated in consolidation then please
clarify the disclosure. Your disclosure on page 223 states that you lack voting control over
FirstName LastNameDarryl Nakamoto
Comapany NamePono Capital Two, Inc.
February 22, 2024 Page 6
FirstName LastName
Darryl Nakamoto
Pono Capital Two, Inc.
February 22, 2024
Page 6
these entities but that determination is unclear given your 100% equity interest.
General
22.We note your disclosure on page F-7 that the proceeds of the Trust Account "will be
invested only in U.S. government treasury obligations with maturities of 185 days or less
or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the
Investment Company Act, which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury
obligations." If the assets in your Trust Account are securities, including U.S. Government
securities or shares of money market funds registered under the Investment Company Act
and regulated pursuant to rule 2a-7 of that Act, please disclose the risk that you could be
considered to be operating as an unregistered investment company. Disclose that if you
are found to be operating as an unregistered investment company, you may be required to
change your operations, wind down your operations, or register as an investment company
under the Investment Company Act. Also please include disclosure with respect to the
consequences to investors if you are required to wind down your operations as a result of
this status, such as the losses of the investment opportunity in a target company, any price
appreciation in the combined company, and any warrants, which would expire worthless.
We remind you that the company and its management