UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported ) September 11, 2015

 

 

 

Net Element, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

Delaware

 

001-34887

 

90-1025599

(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
  (Commission File
Number)
 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

3363 NE 163rd Street, Suite 705, North Miami Beach, FL   33160
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(305) 507-8808
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

x Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 

  

Item 1.01           Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

On September 11, 2015, Net Element, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a Letter Agreement (the “ Agreement ”) with certain accredited investors listed on the signature pages attached to the Agreement (the “ Investors ”) providing for the issuance by the Company to the Investors of 11,357,143 shares of the Company’s common stock in the aggregate (the “ Restricted Shares ”) and options to purchase 11,357,143 shares of the Company’s common stock in the aggregate on the terms set forth in each Investor’s Option to Purchase Shares of Restricted Common Stock (the “ Restricted Options ”).

 

The Company intends to use the proceeds from the sale of the Restricted Shares and the Restricted Options for general working capital purposes.

 

The Restricted Shares and the Restricted Options, including the shares of common stock issuable, subject to compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the " 1933 Act ")), upon exercise of the Restricted Options, were issued to the Investors in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the 1933 Act. All of the Restricted Shares and Restricted Options (including the shares of common stock issuable, subject to compliance with Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, upon exercise of the Restricted Options) will be restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144 under the 1933 Act and, accordingly, each of the stock certificates of the Company to be issued evidencing such securities will contain a standard Rule 144 restrictive securities legend.

 

The Restricted Shares purchase price was $0.14 per share, equal to the closing trading price of the Company Common Stock on July 29, 2015, the date when the Investors committed (subject to the approval of the Company’s board of directors of a committee thereof) to the transactions contemplated in the Agreement. Each Restricted Option will expire on the fifth (5 th ) annual anniversary of the date of the Agreement and shall be exercisable (prior to its expiration) into one (1) Restricted Share at the exercise price equal 110% of the closing trading price per one (1) share of Company common stock reported on The NASDAQ Capital Market on the date of the Agreement. Each Investor may elect to exercise it or his Option through a cashless exercise, in which case such Investor would receive upon such exercise the “net number” of shares of Company common stock determined according to the formula set forth in such Investor’s Restricted Option. The board of directors of the Company reserved 11,357,143 shares of the Company’s authorized but unissued common stock for the issuance in connection with the conversion of the Options.

 

The Agreement and the Restricted Options provide that under no circumstances may the aggregate number shares of Company common stock issued to the Investors under the Agreement and the Restricted Options (including the shares of common stock issuable, subject to compliance with Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, upon exercise of the Restricted Options) at any time exceed 19.99% of the total number of shares of Company common stock issued and outstanding or of the voting power unless the Company has obtained either (i) its stockholders' approval of the issuance of more than such number of shares of Common Stock pursuant to NASDAQ Marketplace Rule 5635(d) or (ii) a waiver from The NASDAQ Stock Market of the Company’s compliance with Rule 5635(d).

 

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Some of the Investors are Star Equities LLC, Kenges Rakishev, William Healy and Steven Wolberg. Oleg Firer is a managing member of Start Equities LLC and is also Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company, Mr. Rakishev and Mr. Healy are directors of the Company, and Mr. Wolberg is Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of the Company.

 

The foregoing is only a brief description of the terms of the Agreement, the Restricted Shares and the Restricted Options, does not purport to be a complete description of the rights and obligations of the parties thereunder, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Agreement and the Form of Option to Purchase Shares of Restricted Common Stock which are filed as Exhibits 10.1 and 4.1, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 3.02           Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

 

The disclosures in Item 1.01 of this Current Report are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 3.03           Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders

 

The information set forth in Item 1.01 of this Current Report is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01           Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d)   Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.   Description
     
4.1   Form of Option to Purchase Shares of Restricted Common Stock
     
10.1   Letter Agreement, dated as of September 11, 2015, among the Company and the investors listed on the signature pages attached thereto

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Dated: September 16, 2015

 

  NET ELEMENT, INC.
   
  By: /s/ Jonathan New
  Name:  Jonathan New
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.   Description
     
4.1   Form of Option to Purchase Shares of Restricted Common Stock
     
10.1   Letter Agreement, dated as of September 11, 2015, among the Company and the investors listed on the signature pages attached thereto

 

 

  

Exhibit 4.1

 

THIS OPTION AND THE UNDERLYING SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”). THEY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AS TO SUCH SECURITIES UNDER THE ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED OR UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 UNDER THE ACT.

 

NET ELEMENT, INC.

 

OPTION TO PURCHASE SHARES OF RESTRICTED COMMON STOCK

 

September ___, 2015

V oid After September ___, 2020

 

This Certifies That, for value received, _________________ (the “ Investor ”), with its principal office located across from such party’s name on the first page of the Purchase Agreement (as defined below) or its assigns (the “ Holder ”), is entitled to subscribe for and purchase from Net Element, Inc. , a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), with its principal office at 3363 NE 163 Street, Suite 705, North Miami Beach, FL 33160, those Exercise Shares (as defined below) at the Exercise Price (as defined below).

 

This option to purchase shares of restricted common stock of the Company is issued as part of a series of similar options (collectively, the “ Options ”) issued pursuant to the terms of that certain Letter Agreement, dated as of September ___, 2015, by and among the Company, the Investor and certain other parties thereto (the “ Purchase Agreement ”). Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Company is concurrently selling and issuing to Investor certain shares of the Company’s common stock and this option to purchase shares of restricted common stock of the Company (this “ Option ”).

 

1.             Definitions. As used herein, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:

 

(a)           Exercise Period ” shall mean the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on September 11, 2020 .

 

(b)           Exercise Price ” shall mean 110% of the closing trading price per one (1) share of the Company’s common stock (“ Common Stock ”) reported on The NASDAQ Capital Market on the date hereof, s ubject to adjustment pursuant to Section 5 below.

 

(c)           Exercise Shares ” shall mean _____________ shares of the Common Stock (which shall be equal to the number of shares set forth opposite Investor’s name on Exhibit A to the Purchase Agreement under the column “Number of Restricted Options”).

 

2.              Exercise of Option. The rights represented by this Option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time during the Exercise Period, by delivery of the following to the Company at its address set forth above (or at such other address as it may designate by notice in writing to the Holder):

 

(a)           An executed Notice of Exercise in the form attached hereto;

 

(b)           Payment of the Exercise Price either (i) in cash or by check, or (ii) by cancellation of indebtedness; and

 

(c)           This Option.

 

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Upon the exercise of the rights represented by this Option, a certificate or certificates for the Exercise Shares so purchased, registered in the name of the Holder or persons affiliated with the Holder, if the Holder so designates, shall be issued and delivered to the Holder within a reasonable time after the rights represented by this Option shall have been so exercised. In the event that this Option is being exercised for less than all of the then-current number of Exercise Shares purchasable hereunder, the Company shall, concurrently with the issuance by the Company of the number of Exercise Shares for which this Option is then being exercised, issue a new Option of like tenor exercisable for the remaining number of Exercise Shares purchasable hereunder.

 

The person in whose name any certificate or certificates for Exercise Shares are to be issued upon exercise of this Option shall be deemed to have become the holder of record of such shares on the date on which this Option was surrendered and payment of the Exercise Price was made, irrespective of the date of delivery of such certificate or certificates, except that, if the date of such surrender and payment is a date when the stock transfer books of the Company are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the holder of such shares at the close of business on the next succeeding date on which the stock transfer books are open.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Option or any other documents, this Option cannot be exercised, and at no time shall the Company issue shares of Common Stock in connection with any such exercise, if such exercise (counted together with all of the shares of Common Stock previously issued (i) pursuant to the Purchase Agreement to the Investor and certain other parties to the Purchase Agreement and (ii) as a result of all other Options’ exercises) would result in the issuance of more than 19.9% of the amount of issued and outstanding common stock of the Company unless (i) the Company’s stockholders shall have approved the issuance of shares of common stock in excess of 20%, or (ii) The NASDAQ has provided a waiver of Listing Rule 5635(d).

 

2.1           Net Exercise . Notwithstanding any provisions herein to the contrary, if the fair market value of one Exercise Share is greater than the Exercise Price (at the date of calculation as set forth below), in lieu of exercising this Option by payment of cash, the Holder may elect to receive shares equal to the value (as determined below) of this Option (or the portion thereof being canceled) by surrender of this Option at the principal office of the Company together with the properly endorsed Notice of Exercise in which event the Company shall issue to the Holder a number of Exercise Shares computed using the following formula:

 

X = Y * (A-B)

A

 

Where X = the number of Exercise Shares to be issued to the Holder
     
  Y = the number of Exercise Shares purchasable under this Option or, if only a portion of this Option is being exercised, the portion of this Option being canceled (at the date of such calculation)
     
  A = the fair market value of one Exercise Share (at the date of such calculation)
     
  B = Exercise Price (as adjusted to the date of such calculation)

 

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3.            Covenants of the Company.

 

3.1            Covenants as to Exercise Shares. The Company covenants and agrees that all Exercise Shares that may be issued upon the exercise of the rights represented by this Option will, upon issuance, be validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable, and free from all taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issuance thereof. The Company further covenants and agrees that the Company will at all times during the Exercise Period, have authorized and reserved, free from preemptive rights, a sufficient number of Exercise Shares to provide for the exercise of the rights represented by this Option. If at any time during the Exercise Period the number of authorized but unissued Exercise Shares shall not be sufficient to permit exercise of this Option, the Company will take such corporate action as may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary to increase its authorized but unissued Exercise Shares to such number of shares as shall be sufficient for such purposes.

 

4.            Representations of Holder.

 

4.1            Acquisition of Option for Personal Account. The Holder represents and warrants that Holder is acquiring this Option and the Exercise Shares solely for Holder’s account for investment and not with a view to or for sale or distribution of said Option or Exercise Shares or any part thereof. The Holder also represents that the entire legal and beneficial interests of this Option and Exercise Shares the Holder is acquiring is being acquired for, and will be held for, Holder’s account only.

 

4.2            Securities Are Not Registered.

 

(a)           The Holder understands that this Option and the Exercise Shares have not been registered under the Act on the basis of an applicable exemption from such registration. The Holder realizes that the basis for the exemption may not be present if, notwithstanding Holder’s representations, the Holder has a present intention of acquiring the securities for a fixed or determinable period in the future, selling (in connection with a distribution or otherwise), granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the securities. The Holder has no such present intention.

 

(b)           The Holder recognizes that this Option and the Exercise Shares must be held indefinitely unless they are subsequently registered under the Act or an exemption from such registration is available. The Holder recognizes that the Company has no obligation to register this Option or the Exercise Shares of the Company, or to comply with any exemption from such registration.

 

(c)           The Holder is aware that neither this Option nor the Exercise Shares may be sold pursuant to Rule 144 adopted under the Act unless certain conditions are met, including, among other things, the existence of a public market for the shares, the availability of certain current public information about the Company, the resale following the requirements of Rule 144.

 

4.3            Economic Risk and Protection of Interest.

 

(a)           The Holder has substantial experience in evaluating and investing in private placement transactions of securities in companies similar to the Company so that Holder is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of Holder’s investment in the Company and has the capacity to protect Holder’s own interests.

 

(b)           The Holder represents that by reason of Holder’s, or of Holder’s management’s, business or financial experience, the Holder has the capacity to protect Holder’s own interests in connection with the transactions contemplated herein. Further, the Holder is aware of no publication of any advertisement in connection with the transactions contemplated herein.

 

4.4            Accredited Investor. The Holder represents that Holder is an “ accredited investor ” within the meaning of Regulation D under the Act.

 

4.5            Corporate Information. The Holder has had the full and complete opportunity to discuss the Company’s business, management and financial affairs with directors, officers and management of the Company and has had the full and complete opportunity to review the Company’s operations and facilities. The Holder has also had the opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from, the Company and its management regarding the terms and conditions herein.

 

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4.6            Residence. If the Holder is an individual, then the Holder resides in the state or province identified in the address of the Holder set forth below; if the Holder is a partnership, corporation, limited liability Company or other entity, then the office or offices of the Holder in which Holder’s investment decision was made is located at the address or addresses of the Holder set forth herein.

 

4.7            Disposition of Option and Exercise Shares.

 

(a)           The Holder further agrees not to make any disposition of all or any part of this Option or Exercise Shares in any event unless and until:

 

(i)           The Company shall have received a letter secured by the Holder from the Securities and Exchange Commission stating that no action will be recommended to the Commission with respect to the proposed disposition;

 

(ii)          There is then in effect a registration statement under the Act covering such proposed disposition and such disposition is made in accordance with said registration statement; or

 

(iii)         The Holder shall have notified the Company of the proposed disposition and shall have furnished the Company with a detailed statement of the circumstances surrounding the proposed disposition, and if requested by the Company or its transfer agent, the Holder shall have furnished the Company and/or its transfer agent with an opinion of counsel for the Holder to the effect that such disposition will not require registration of such Option or Exercise Shares under the Act or any applicable state securities laws.

 

(b)           The Holder understands and agrees that all certificates evidencing the shares to be issued to the Holder may bear the following legend:

 

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, IN A REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE FORM, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR (II) UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 UNDER SAID ACT.

 

5.           Adjustment of Exercise Price and Number of Exercise Shares. In the event of changes in the series of equity securities of the Company comprising the Exercise Shares by reason of stock dividends, splits, recapitalizations, reclassifications, combinations, conversions or exchanges of shares, separations, reorganizations, liquidations, or the like, the number and class of Exercise Shares available under this Option in the aggregate and the Exercise Price shall be correspondingly adjusted to give the Holder of this Option, on exercise for the same aggregate Exercise Price, the total number, class, and kind of shares as the Holder would have owned had this Option been exercised prior to the event and had the Holder continued to hold such shares until after the event requiring adjustment. The form of this Option need not be changed because of any adjustment in the number of Exercise Shares subject to this Option.

 

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6.           Fractional Shares. No fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this Option as a consequence of any adjustment pursuant hereto. All Exercise Shares (including fractions) issuable upon exercise of this Option may be aggregated for purposes of determining whether the exercise would result in the issuance of any fractional share. If, after aggregation, the exercise would result in the issuance of a fractional share, the Company shall, in lieu of issuance of any fractional share, pay the Holder otherwise entitled to such fraction a sum in cash equal to the product resulting from multiplying the then current fair market value of an Exercise Share by such fraction.

 

7.           Transfer of Option and Exercise Shares. Subject to applicable laws and the restriction on transfer set forth on the first page of this Option, this Option and all rights hereunder are transferable, by the Holder in person or by its duly authorized attorney, upon delivery of this Option and the form of assignment attached hereto to any transferee designated by Holder. The transferee shall sign an investment letter in form and substance satisfactory to the Company.

 

8.           No Stockholder Rights. This Option in and of itself shall not entitle the Holder to any voting rights or other rights as a stockholder of the Company.

 

9.           Lost, Stolen, Mutilated or Destroyed Option. If this Option is lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed, the Company may, on such terms as to indemnity or otherwise as it may reasonably impose (which shall, in the case of a mutilated Option, include the surrender thereof), issue a new Option of like denomination and tenor as the Option so lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed. Any such new Option shall constitute an original contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed Option shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.

 

10.          Notices, etc. All notices required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given: (a) upon personal delivery to the party to be notified, (b) when sent by confirmed facsimile or electronic mail if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, if not, then on the next business day, (c) five (5) days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (d) one (1) day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, specifying next day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications shall be sent to the Company at the address listed on the signature page and to Holder at Holder’s address listed in the first paragraph hereto, or at such other address as the Company or Holder may designate by ten (10) days advance written notice to the other parties hereto.

 

11.          Acceptance. Receipt of this Option by the Holder shall constitute acceptance of and agreement to all of the terms and conditions contained herein.

 

12.          Governing Law. This Option and all rights, obligations and liabilities hereunder shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of Delaware in all respects as such laws are applied to agreements among Delaware residents entered into and performed entirely within Delaware. THE COMPANY AND THE HOLDER HEREBY WAIVE THEIR RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO DISPUTES ARISING UNDER THIS OPTION AND CONSENT TO A BENCH TRIAL WITH THE APPROPRIATE JUDGE ACTING AS THE FINDER OF FACT.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

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In Witness Whereof , the Company has caused this Option to Purchase Common Stock to be executed by its duly authorized officer as of the date first set forth above.

 

  Net Element, Inc.
   
  By:  
  Name:    
  Title:    

 

 

 

 

NOTICE OF EXERCISE

 

TO: Net Element, Inc.

 

(1)          ¨           The undersigned hereby elects to purchase ________ shares of the Common Stock of Net Element, Inc. (the “ Company ”) pursuant to the terms of the attached Option, and tenders herewith payment of the exercise price in full, together with all applicable transfer taxes, if any.

 

¨           The undersigned hereby elects to purchase ________ shares of the Common Stock of Net Element, Inc. (the “ Company ”) pursuant to the terms of the net exercise provisions set forth in Section 2.1 of the attached Option, and shall tender payment of all applicable transfer taxes, if any.

 

(2)          Please issue a certificate or certificates representing said shares of Common Stock in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is specified below:

 

     
  (Name)  
     
     
     
  (Address)  

 

(3)          The undersigned represents that (i) the aforesaid shares of Common Stock are being acquired for the account of the undersigned for investment and not with a view to, or for resale in connection with, the distribution thereof and that the undersigned has no present intention of distributing or reselling such shares; (ii) the undersigned is aware of the Company’s business affairs and financial condition and has acquired sufficient information about the Company to reach an informed and knowledgeable decision regarding its investment in the Company; (iii) the undersigned is experienced in making investments of this type and has such knowledge and background in financial and business matters that the undersigned is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of this investment and protecting the undersigned’s own interests; (iv) the undersigned understands that the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Option have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), by reason of a specific exemption from the registration provisions of the Securities Act, which exemption depends upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of the investment intent as expressed herein, and, because such securities have not been registered under the Securities Act, they must be held indefinitely unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is available; (v) the undersigned is aware that the aforesaid shares of Common Stock may not be sold pursuant to Rule 144 adopted under the Securities Act unless certain conditions set forth in Rule 144 are met; (vi) the undersigned is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act; and (vii) the undersigned agrees not to make any disposition of all or any part of the aforesaid shares of Common Stock unless and until there is then in effect a registration statement under the Securities Act covering such proposed disposition and such disposition is made in accordance with said registration statement, or the undersigned has provided the Company and its transfer agent with an opinion of counsel stating that such registration is not required.

 

     
(Date)   (Signature)
     
     
     (Print name)

 

 

 

 

ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

(To assign the foregoing Option, execute this form and supply required information. Do not use this form to purchase shares.)

 

For Value Received , the foregoing Option and all rights evidenced thereby are hereby assigned to

 

Name:  

(Please Print)

 

Address:  

(Please Print)

 

Dated: __________, 20__

 

Holder’s    
Signature:    
     
Holder’s    
Address:    

 

NOTE : The signature to this Assignment Form must correspond with the name as it appears on the face of the Option, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever. Officers of corporations and those acting in a fiduciary or other representative capacity should file proper evidence of authority to assign the foregoing Option.

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

LetTER Agreement

 

VIA EMAIL

 

Star Equities, LLC

3363 NE 163rd St., Suite 705

North Miami Beach, FL 33160

 

Steven Wolberg

3363 NE 163rd St., Suite 705

North Miami Beach FL 33160

 

William Healy

16W281 83rd Street, Suite B 
Burr Ridge, IL 60527

 

Kenges Rakishev

c/o SAT & Company 
241 Mukanova Street 
Almaty Kazakhstan 050008

 

Vladimir Sadovskiy

3363 NE 163 Street, Suite 705

North Miami Beach, FL 33160

 

David Rozinov

210 Central Park South

23A

New York, NY 10019

 

Re: Equity Investment for Funding of Net Element

 

This letter agreement is dated as of September 11, 2015 (the " Effective Date "). The parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. In order to meet Net Element, Inc.’s, a Delaware corporation (" NETE "), current working capital requirements of up to $2,500,000, Star Equities, LLC, Steven Wolberg, William Healy, Kenges Rakishev, Vladimir Sadovskiy, David Rozinov and such other additional investors that become party hereto and execute this letter agreement (each, an “ Investor ” and, collectively, the “ Investors ”) have agreed to purchase, and NETE has agreed to issue to the Investors, on or as soon as practically possible after the Effective Date:

 

(i) such number of restricted (i.e., issued in reliance on an applicable exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and any disposition of such shares to be subject to Rule 144 of the Securities Act) shares of common stock of NETE (“ Common Stock ”), as set forth on Exhibit A hereto next to the name of each Investor, at the per share purchase price equal to the closing trading price of Common Stock on July 29, 2015, the date when the Investors committed to the transactions contemplated in this Letter Agreement subject to the approval of the Board of Directors of NETE or a committee thereof; and

 

 

 

(ii) such number of options to purchase restricted shares of Common Stock as set forth on Exhibit A hereto next to the name of each Investor (collectively, the “ Restricted Options ”). Each Restricted Option shall expire on the fifth (5 th ) annual anniversary of the Effective Date and shall be exercisable (prior to its expiration) into one (1) Restricted Share at the exercise price equal 110% of the closing trading price per one (1) share of Common Stock reported on The NASDAQ Capital Market on the Effective Date.

 

2. The consideration for such restricted shares of Common Stock (the restricted shares of Common Stock to be issued to the Investors are collectively referred to herein as the “ Restricted Shares ”) and the Restricted Options issued to the Investors hereunder shall be Investor’s funding to NETE the purchase price set forth on Exhibit A hereto next to the name of each Investor. Subject to the limitation set forth in the last sentence of this Section 2, the aggregate amount of the investments hereunder by all Investors shall be up to $2,500,000 (with a minimum aggregate investment by all Investors to be at least $1,000,000). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this letter agreement or any other documents, at no time shall NETE issue shares of Common Stock if such transaction would result in the issuance of more than 19.9% of the amount of issued and outstanding common stock of NETE unless (i) Net Element, Inc.’s stockholders shall have approved the issuance of shares of common stock in excess of 20%, or (ii) NASDAQ has provided a waiver of Listing Rule 5635(d).

 

3. The Investors understand and acknowledge that the issuance of the Restricted Shares hereunder shall be unregistered in reliance on the applicable exemption under the federal securities laws, and any dispositions of the Restricted Shares shall be subject to Rule 144 under the Securities Act. In connection with the issuance of the Restricted Shares and as a condition to the issuance of the Restricted Shares, each Investor hereby provides to NETE the representations and warranties set forth in Exhibit B hereto.

 

4. All notices, requests, demands, and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) when delivered by verifiable facsimile or electronic mail transmission, unless such delivery is made on a day that is not a business day, in which case such delivery will be deemed to be made on the next succeeding business day or (ii) on the next business day after timely delivery to a reputable overnight courier, to the parties at the addresses set forth on the first page hereto.

 

5. This letter agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings pertaining thereto. This letter agreement may not be amended or modified in any respect, except by the written agreement of the parties hereto. No party hereto may, without the prior written consent of the other party hereto, assign or otherwise transfer, in whole or in part, any of its rights and obligations under this letter agreement. Except as expressly provided for herein, nothing in this letter agreement shall confer any rights upon any person that is not a party hereto or the successor or permitted assignee of a party to this letter agreement.

 

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6. This letter agreement shall be governed by, and shall be construed, interpreted and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida without regard to its choice of law provisions that would require the application of the law of another jurisdiction.

 

7. This letter agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile or electronic mail transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Copies of executed counterparts transmitted by telecopy or other electronic transmission service shall be considered original executed counterparts.

 

[Signatures are on next page.]

 

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Please indicate your consent to the terms of this letter agreement by signing and dating this letter agreement and returning it to the undersigned.

 

  NET ELEMENT, INC.
     
  By: /s/ Oleg Firer
  Name: Oleg Firer
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

AGREED AND ACCEPTED BY:

 

INVESTORS:

 

STAR EQUITIES, LLC

 

By: /s/ Oleg Firer  
Name: Oleg Firer  
Title: Managing Member  

 

/s/ Steven Wolberg  
STEVEN WOLBERG  
   
/s/ William Healy  
WILLIAM HEALY  
   
/s/ Kenges Rakishev  
KENGES RAKISHEV  
   
/s/ Vladimir Sadovskiy  
VLADIMIR SADOVSKIY  
   
/s/ David Rozinov  
DAVID ROZINOV  

 

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ADDITIONAL INVESTORS SIGNATURE PAGE(S):

 

_______________________________

Name: _____________________

Amount of Investment in Dollars: ________________________

Amount of Restricted Shares corresponding to the above investment: _____________________

Amount of Restricted Options corresponding to the above investment: ____________________

 

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Exhibit A

 

Investor   Number of
restricted
shares
    Purchase
price per
each
restricted
share
    Number of
restricted
OPTIONS
    Aggregate
Purchase price to
be funded to nete
by investor
 
Star Equities, LLC     2,142,857     $ 0.14       2,142,857     $ 300,000  
Steven Wolberg     357,143     $ 0.14       357,143     $ 50,000  
William Healy     714,286     $ 0.14       714,286     $ 100,000  
Kenges Rakishev     7,142,857     $ 0.14       7,142,857     $ 1,000,000  
Vladimir Sadovskiy     285,714     $ 0.14       285,714     $ 40,000  
David Rozinov     714,286     $ 0.14       714,286     $ 100,000  
TOTAL:     11,357,143
R
estricted Shares
              11,357,143
R
estricted Options
    $ 1,590,000  

 

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EXHIBIT B

 

Investors’ Representations and Warranties

 

As a condition to the issuance of the Restricted Shares and the Restricted Options (collectively, the “ Restricted Securities ”) to each Investor, such Investor hereby represents and warrants to NETE as follows:

 

Investor acknowledges that the issuance and transfer to it of the Restricted Securities has not been reviewed by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any state securities regulatory authority because such transaction is intended to be exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Investor understands that each of NETE is relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and Investor’s compliance with, the representations, warranties, acknowledgments and understandings of Investor set forth in this letter agreement in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of Investor to acquire the Restricted Securities.

 

Investor represents that the Restricted Securities are being acquired by Investor for its own account, for investment purposes only and not with a view to or for distribution or resale to others in contravention of the registration requirements of the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws. Investor agrees that it will not sell or otherwise transfer any of the Restricted Securities unless such transfer or resale is registered under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or unless exemptions from such registration requirements are available.

 

Investor has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of Investor’s investment in NETE through Investor’s acquisition of the Restricted Securities. Investor is able to bear the economic risk of its investment in NETE through Investor’s acquisition of the Restricted Securities for an indefinite period of time. At the present time, Investor can afford a complete loss of such investment and has no need for liquidity in such investment.

 

Investor recognizes that its acquisition of the Restricted Securities involves a high degree of risk in that: (a) an investment in NETE is highly speculative and only Investor who can afford the loss of their entire investment should consider investing in NETE and securities of NETE; (b) transferability of the Restricted Securities is limited; (c) NETE has experienced recurring losses and it must raise substantial additional capital in order to continue operating its business; (d) subsequent equity financings will dilute the ownership and voting interests of Investor and equity securities issued by NETE to other persons or entities may have rights, preferences or privileges senior to the rights of Investor; (e) any debt financing that may be obtained by NETE must be repaid regardless of whether NETE generates revenues or cash flows from operations and may be secured by substantially all of NETE’s assets; (f) there is absolutely no assurance that any type of financing on terms acceptable to NETE will be available to NETE or otherwise obtained by NETE; and (g) if NETE is unable to obtain additional financing or is unable to obtain additional financing on terms acceptable to it, then NETE may be unable to implement its business plans or take advantage of business opportunities, which could have a material adverse effect on NETE’s business prospects, financial condition and results of operations and may ultimately require NETE to suspend or cease operations.

 

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Investor acknowledges that he has prior investment experience and that he recognizes and fully understands the highly speculative nature of Investor’s investment in NETE pursuant to its acquisition of the Restricted Securities. Investor acknowledges that he, either alone or together with its professional advisors, has the capacity to protect its own interests in connection with this transaction.

 

Investor acknowledges that it has carefully reviewed the this letter agreement and NETE’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available on the Internet at www.sec.gov, all of which documents and filings Investor acknowledges have been made available to it. Investor has been given the opportunity to ask questions of, and receive answers from, NETE concerning this letter agreement, the issuance to it of the Restricted Securities, and NETE’s business, operations, financial condition and prospects, and Investor has been given the opportunity to obtain such additional information, to the extent NETE possesses such information or can acquire it without unreasonable effort or expense, necessary to verify the accuracy of same as Investor reasonably desires in order to evaluate its investment in NETE pursuant its acquisition of the Restricted Securities. Investor fully understands all of such documents and filings and has had the opportunity to discuss any questions regarding any of such documents or filings with its legal counsel and tax, investment and other advisors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Investor acknowledges and agrees that the only information upon which it has relied upon in executing this letter agreement is the information set forth in this letter agreement and NETE’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Investor acknowledges that it has received no representations or warranties from NETE, its employees, agents or attorneys in making this investment decision. Investor acknowledges that it does not desire to receive any further information from NETE or any other person or entity in order to make a fully informed decision of whether or not to execute this letter agreement and accept the Restricted Securities.

 

Investor acknowledges that the issuance to it of the Restricted Securities may involve tax consequences to Investor. Investor acknowledges and understands that Investor must retain its own professional advisors to evaluate the tax and other consequences of Investor’s receipt of the Restricted Securities.

 

Investor understands and acknowledges that NETE is under no obligation to register the resale of the Restricted Securities under the Securities Act or any state securities laws. Investor agrees that NETE may, if it desires, permit the transfer of the Restricted Securities out of Investor’s name only when Investor’s request for transfer is accompanied by an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to NETE that the proposed transfer satisfies an applicable exemption from registration requirements under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

 

Investor understands that the certificate(s) representing the Restricted Securities shall bear a restrictive legend in substantially the following form (and a stop-transfer order may be placed against transfer of the Restricted Securities):

 

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THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, IN A REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE FORM, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR (II) UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 UNDER SAID ACT.

 

The legend set forth above will be removed, and NETE will issue a certificate without such legend to the holder of the Restricted Securities upon which it is stamped, only if (a) such Restricted Securities are being sold pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, (b) such holder delivers to NETE an opinion of counsel, in a reasonably acceptable form to NETE, that the disposition of the Restricted Securities is being made pursuant to an exemption from federal and state registration requirements, or (c) such holder provides NETE with reasonable assurance that a disposition of the Restricted Securities may be made pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act without any restriction as to the number of shares acquired as of a particular date that can then be immediately sold.

 

Investor acknowledges that he has a preexisting personal or business relationship with NETE or one or more of its officers, directors or controlling persons.

 

Investor represents and warrants that he was not induced to invest in NETE (pursuant to the issuance to it of the Restricted Securities) by any form of general solicitation or general advertising, including, but not limited to, the following: (a) any advertisement, article, notice or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media (including via the Internet) or broadcast over the news or radio; and (b) any seminar or meeting whose attendees were invited by any general solicitation or advertising.

 

Each Investor’s current address is set forth on page 1 of the letter agreement.

 

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