A severe or prolonged downturn in the U.S. or global economy could
materially and adversely affect our business and financial
condition.
COVID-19 has had a severe and negative impact on the global economy
since early 2020. Since the pandemic global central banks and
governments have accelerated expansionary monetary and fiscal
policies which have led to inflation rates in the U.S. that rival
those seen in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Unrest, terrorist
threats, and the potential for war may increase market volatility
across the globe. In particular, the military conflicts of Russia
with Ukraine and the escalation of tension between Russia and other
countries, including the U.S. and European countries, as well as
between China and other countries, including surrounding Asian
countries, may have unpredictable economic consequences. There is
still significant uncertainty about the future relationship among
these countries with respect to territorial disputes, trade
policies, treaties, government regulations, and tariffs. Any severe
or prolonged slowdown in the global or US economy or any country in
which we have operations may materially and adversely affect our
business, results of operations, and financial condition.
We have granted, and may continue to grant, share options,
restricted share units, and other share-based awards under our
equity incentive plans, which may result in increased share-based
compensation expenses.
We have adopted seven equity incentive plans for Renren Inc. in
2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2016, 2018 and 2021, respectively. As of
March 31, 2022, options and restricted share units to acquire
169,984,085 Class A ordinary shares of Renren Inc. were
outstanding. For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2020 and 2021,
we recorded US$8.6 million, US$15.3 million and US$8.5 million,
respectively, in share-based compensation expenses. As of December
31, 2021, we had US$0.5 million of unrecognized share-based
compensation expenses relating to share options, which are expected
to be recognized over a weighted average vesting period of 0.25
years, and US$5.6 million of unrecognized share-based compensation
expenses relating to non-vested restricted share units, which are
expected to be recognized over a weighted average vesting period of
1.4 years.
On March 24, 2020, our compensation committee approved a reduction
in the exercise price for all outstanding options previously
granted by our company with an exercise price higher than US$0.0113
per ordinary share to US$0.0113 per share, representing the closing
price of our ADSs on the NYSE on March 18, 2020.
On November 4, 2021, our board of directors approved a 2021 Equity
Incentive Plan for each of Renren, Inc., Chime Technologies, Inc.,
and Trucker Path, Inc. As of December 31, 2021, no shares have been
issued under these plans. Share awards granted under these plans
are expected to result in increased share-based compensation
expenses in 2022 as shares are issued pursuant to these awards.
We believe the granting of share options, restricted share units
and other share-based awards is of significant importance to our
ability to attract and retain key personnel and employees, and we
will continue to grant share options and restricted share units to
key personnel and employees in the future. As a result, our
expenses associated with share-based compensation may increase,
which may have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
Our ownership interest in our SaaS operating businesses Chime and
Trucker Path may be diluted if the respective companies issue new
shares to third parties to raise capital or pursuant to their
equity incentive plans.
We have adopted two equity incentive plans in 2020 and 2021 for
each of our subsidiaries Chime Technologies, Inc. and Trucker Path,
Inc. As of March 31, 2022, options and restricted stock units to
acquire 10,642,100 shares of common stock of Chime Technologies,
Inc. were outstanding. As of March 31, 2022, options and restricted
stock units to acquire 10,341,600 shares of common stock of Trucker
Path, Inc. were outstanding. If Chime Technologies, Inc. and
Trucker Path, Inc. issue new shares upon vesting and/or exercise of
these share-based awards, such new issuances would dilute our
ownership and economic interests in such companies, and
correspondingly those of our shareholders, including holders of our
ADSs. In addition, each of Chime Technologies, Inc. and Trucker
Path, Inc. may in the future issue additional shares to raise
capital to fund their respective business growth. There can be no
assurance that we will be able to maintain our proportion of
ownership interest in either company after the completion of such
capital-raising activities.