Introductory Note
On February 3, 2023, following the approval at the special meeting of the shareholders of Pono Capital Corp., a Delaware corporation held on January 27, 2023 (the “Special Meeting”), Pono Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub”) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pono Capital Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Pono”), consummated a merger (the “Merger”) with and into AERWINS, Inc. (formerly named AERWINS Technologies Inc.), a Delaware corporation (“AERWINS”) pursuant to an agreement and plan of merger, dated as of September 7, 2022 (as amended on January 19, 2023, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Pono, Merger Sub, AERWINS, Mehana Equity LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Sponsor” or “Purchaser Representative”) in its capacity as the representative of the stockholders of Pono, and Shuhei Komatsu in his capacity as the representative of the stockholders of AERWINS (“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 February 3, 2023 of the Business Combination pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub merged with and into AERWINS with AERWINS surviving the Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pono, and Pono changed its name to “AERWINS Technologies Inc.”
Item 1.01. | Entry into Material Definitive Agreement. |
Merger Agreement and Amendment Thereto
As disclosed under the section titled “The Merger” of the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Pono on September 7, 2022, the parties entered into the Merger Agreement, dated as of September 7, 2022, by and among Pono, Merger Sub, Sponsor in its capacity as the representative of the stockholders of Pono, Shuhei Komatsu in his capacity as the representative of the stockholders of AERWINS, and AERWINS. As disclosed in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Pono on January 19, 2023, the parties to the Merger Agreement entered into that certain Amendment No. 1 to the Merger Agreement on January 19, 2023 (the “Amendment”), which provides that instead of seven (7) directors to be appointed to the Pono’s board of directors upon the closing of the Business Combination, the parties will appoint five (5) directors to Pono’s board of directors.
Accordingly, on February 3, 2023 (a) Merger Sub merged with and into AERWINS with AERWINS 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 AERWINS Technologies Inc. Except where context provides otherwise, the term “AERWINS Technologies” refers to AERWINS Technologies, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, including AERWINS 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 February 3, 2023 (the “Closing”), and is incorporated herein by reference.
The foregoing description of the Merger Agreement and Amendment is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Merger Agreement and Amendment, copies of which is included as Exhibits 2.1 and 2.2 hereto, and the terms of which are incorporated by reference.
Lock-up Agreements
In connection with the Business Combination, certain stockholders of AERWINS and certain of AERWINS’ 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 AERWINS common stock held