2021 Equity Incentive Plan
On October 6, 2021, the Board adopted our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (“Incentive Plan”), the purpose of which was to promote the interests of the Company by encouraging directors, officers, employees, and consultants of Tingo to develop a long-term interest in the Company, align their interests with that of our stockholders, and provide a means whereby they may develop a proprietary interest in the development and financial success of the Company and its stockholders. The Incentive Plan is also intended to enhance the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to attract and retain the services of individuals who are essential for the growth and profitability of the Company. The Incentive Plan permits the award of restricted stock, common stock purchase options, restricted stock units, and stock appreciation awards. The maximum number of shares of our Class A common stock that are subject to awards granted under the Incentive Plan is 131,537,545 shares. The term of the Incentive Plan will expire on October 6, 2031. On October 12, 2021, our stockholders approved our Incentive Plan and, during the fourth quarter of 2021 and the first nine months of 2022, the Tingo Compensation Committee granted awards under the Plan to certain directors, executive officers, employees, and consultants in the aggregate amount of 131,370,000 shares. The majority of the awards so issued are each subject to a vesting requirement over a 2-year period unless the recipient thereof is terminated or removed from their position without “cause”, or as a result of constructive termination, as such terms are defined in the respective award agreements entered into by each of the recipients and the Company. We account for share-based compensation using the fair value method, as prescribed by ASC 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation. Accordingly, for restricted stock awards, we measure the grant date fair value based upon the market price of our common stock on the date of the grant and amortize the fair value of the awards as share-based compensation expense over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting term. For all stock awards under the Incentive Plan that are not subject to vesting, we recognize expense associated with the award during the period in which the award is granted, in an amount equal to the number of shares granted, multiplied by the closing trading price of the shares on the relevant grant date. In connection with these awards, we recorded stock-based compensation expense and professional fees of $10.4 million and $111.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively. As of September 30, 2022, total compensation expense to be recognized in future periods is $43.3 million. The weighted average period over which this expense is expected to be recognized is 1.1 years.
The following table summarizes the activity related to granted, vested, and unvested restricted stock awards under the Incentive Plan for the nine months ended September 30, 2022:
| | | | | |
| | | | Weighted |
| | Number of | | Average Grant |
| | Shares | | Date Fair Value |
Unvested shares outstanding, January 1, 2022 | | 36,950,833 | | $ | 1.80 |
Shares Granted | | 22,500,000 | | $ | 3.93 |
Shares Vested | | 37,447,214 | | $ | 3.71 |
Shares Forfeited | | — | | | — |
Unvested shares outstanding, September 30, 2022 | | 22,003,619 | | $ | 1.97 |
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Sources and Uses of Cash: Our principal sources of liquidity are our cash and cash equivalents, and cash generated from operations. In addition, on October 6, 2022, in connection with the Restated Merger Agreement described herein, we issued a Senior Promissory Note (“Note”) to MICT in the original principal amount of $23,700,000, bearing interest at 5% per annum, and maturing on the first to occur of (i) May 10, 2024, or (ii) thirty days from the date of termination of the Restated Merger Agreement.. We expect that, as a result of issuance of the Note, we will also be able to secure sufficient operating and working capital for our parent company activities for the next twelve months.
Cash on Hand. As of September 30, 2022, our cash and cash equivalents totaled $246.6 million on a consolidated basis, as compared to cash and cash equivalents of $128.4 million on a consolidated basis at December 31, 2021.
Indebtedness: The Company had $3.5 million and $0 in investment debt as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.
We expect our cash on hand and proceeds received from our assets and operations will be sufficient to meet our anticipated liquidity needs for business operations for the next twelve months. There can be no assurance that we will continue to generate cash flows at or above current levels or that we will be able to raise additional financing to support our parent company’s operating and compliance expenditures.