Net Element Releases Letter to Shareholders

CEO updates shareholders on risk management initiatives and contactless payments capabilities

MIAMI, FL, March 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- Net Element, Inc. (NASDAQ: )(“” or the “Company”), a global technology and value-added solutions group that supports electronic payments acceptance in a multi-channel environment including point-of-sale (“POS”), today issues the following letter to shareholders from the Company’s chief executive officer, Oleg Firer:



Dear Fellow Shareholders,



The COVID-19 epidemic is affecting every business across the globe. Over the last three weeks we have taken initiatives to minimize the risks to our business and protect our shareholders.  Our management team’s experience during the 2008 financial crisis is proving to be very valuable in dealing with the current crisis.  Our entire staff is fully committed and working diligently to support our merchants through these difficult times. Most of our merchants have contactless payment acceptance capabilities through their point of sale solutions as well as ecommerce and mobile contactless payment acceptance capabilities to eliminate the need for physical payments to help reduce the spread of the virus. The following initiatives including an extensive business continuity plan have been implemented: 



Risk Management:

•  Enhanced risk controls and safeguards have been put in place for merchants that sell products with an extended delivery time frame, products paid in advance, catering, ticketing, limo and travel related merchants
•  Onboarding of new merchants in the above categories has been put on hold until further notice
•  For those employees that will be working from home, we have implemented a “remote work” policy and provided employees with the technology necessary to do so
•  For those employees that require office attendance, we are taking significant steps to ensure seamless service delivery while safeguarding employees health

Contactless Payments: 

•  Most of our merchants have contactless payment acceptance capabilities through their point of sale devices from equipment manufacturers such as PAX, Poynt and Verifone which are fully integrated into  and  platforms.
•  We launched an initiative to deploy contactless payment acceptance equipment to merchants that don’t currently have it.
•  Mobile contactless payment acceptance is available through our  which can be downloaded from Apple’s App Store and Google’s Google Play Apps.
•  Online ecommerce payments through shopping carts allow our merchants to sell their products and services to customers that prefer to shop from the convenience of their homes. 

Moving forward, we will continue proactively managing the situation and providing support for our merchants.  We continue our mission to build value for our shareholders as we work our way out of this crisis.  We believe that given our team experience, dedicated and talented staff and our dedication to the business we will emerge stronger than ever.  We wish our shareholders, partners, merchants and their loved ones good health during these difficult times. 

Sincerely,

Oleg Firer

Executive Chairman 

Chief Executive Officer

Net Element, Inc.

About Net Element

Net Element, Inc. (NASDAQ: ) operates a payments-as-a-service transactional and value-added services platform for small to medium enterprise ("SME") in the U.S. and selected emerging markets. In the U.S., the Company aims to grow transactional revenue by innovating SME productivity services using various technology solutions and , our cloud-based, restaurant and retail point-of-sale solution. Internationally, Net Element's strategy is to leverage its omni-channel platform to deliver flexible offerings to emerging markets with diverse banking, regulatory and demographic conditions. Net Element was ranked as one of the fastest growing companies in North America on Deloitte's 2017 and . In 2017 we were recognized by South Florida Business Journal as one of 2016's fastest-growing technology companies. Further information is available at .

Forward-Looking Statements

Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Any statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed forward-looking statements. Words such as "continue," "will," "may," "could," "should," "expect," "expected," "plans," "intend," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, many of which are generally outside the control of Net Element and are difficult to predict. An example of such risk and uncertainty is whether the initiatives taken by the Company to minimize business risks and protect shareholders will be successful  and whether the Company and its  business will indeed emerge stronger after the COVID-19 epidemic..  Additional examples of such risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to (i) Net Element's ability (or inability) to obtain additional financing in sufficient amounts or on acceptable terms when needed; (ii) Net Element's ability to maintain existing, and secure additional, contracts with users of its payment processing services; (iii) Net Element's ability to successfully expand in existing markets and enter new markets; (iv) Net Element's ability to successfully manage and integrate any acquisitions of businesses, solutions or technologies; (v) unanticipated operating costs, transaction costs and actual or contingent liabilities; (vi) the ability to attract and retain qualified employees and key personnel; (vii) adverse effects of increased competition on Net Element's business; (viii) changes in government licensing and regulation that may adversely affect Net Element's business; (ix) the risk that changes in consumer behavior could adversely affect Net Element's business; (x) Net Element's ability to protect its intellectual property; (xi) local, industry and general business and economic conditions; and (xii) adverse effects of potentially deteriorating U.S.-Russia relations, including, without limitation, over a conflict related to Ukraine, including a risk of further U.S. government sanctions or other legal restrictions on U.S. businesses doing business in Russia. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements can be found in the most recent annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K filed by Net Element with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Net Element anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause its plans, intentions and expectations to change. Net Element assumes no obligation, and it specifically disclaims any intention or obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by law.

Contact:

Net Element, Inc.

+1 (786) 923-0502