The passage of regulations or controls by the U.S. or China that restrict trade or the hiring of personnel may affect our ability to operate in China could adversely affect our business operations.
We employ the majority of our Research and Development personnel in China. Should the U.S. or China impose restrictions on our ability to operate in China and hire qualified personnel, it could adversely affect our ability to continue to innovate and evolve our products.
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 24, 2023, options and restricted share units to acquire 125,549,378 Class A ordinary shares of Renren Inc. were outstanding. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, we recorded $15.3 million, $8.5 million and $4.0 million, respectively, in share-based compensation expenses. As of December 31, 2022, we had nil unrecognized share-based compensation expenses relating to share options and $4.9 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 1.1 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 $0.0113 per ordinary share to $0.0113 per share, representing the closing price of the 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, 2022, 37,564 options have been granted under these plans. Awards granted under these plans are expected to result in increased share-based compensation expenses in 2023 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, and correspondingly that of our shareholders, including holders of the ADSs, 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 24, 2023, options and restricted stock units to acquire 48,010 shares of common stock of Chime Technologies, Inc. were outstanding. As of March 24, 2023, options and restricted stock units to acquire 51,232 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 the 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 current proportion of ownership interest in either company after the completion of such capital-raising activities.
We may from time to time be subject to claims, controversies, lawsuits and legal proceedings, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and reputation.
We may from time to time become subject to or involved in various claims, controversies, lawsuits, and legal proceedings. Lawsuits and litigation may cause us to incur defense costs, utilize a significant portion of our resources and divert management’s attention from our day-to-day operations, any of which could harm our business. Any settlements or judgments against us could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, negative publicity regarding claims or judgments made against us may damage our reputation and may result in material adverse impact on us.