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 ) December 28, 2017

 

 

 

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)

 

¨ 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))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company    ¨

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.      ¨

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

On December 29, 2017, Net Element, Inc. (the “Company”), entered into, and consummated the transactions contemplated by, a Unit Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with certain accredited investor (the “Investor”) named in the Purchase Agreement. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, on December 29, 2017 (the “Closing Date”), the Company sold to the Investor (the “Private Placement”) (i) an aggregate of 350,553 shares of Company common stock, par value $0.0001, at a purchase price of $11.12 per share (i.e., a price equal to the Company’s consolidated closing bid price per share as reported by the Nasdaq); (ii) an aggregate of 404,676 five-year warrants to purchase shares of Company common stock (the “Purchase Warrants”) at a purchase price of $0.125 per share and exercise price of $11.12 per share; and (iii) an aggregate of 323,907 five-year pre-paid warrants to purchase shares of Company common stock (the “Pre-Funded Warrants”) with exercise price of $0.01 per share (collectively, the “Securities”). The aggregate purchase price for the Securities was $7,550,585.

 

The Company will not issue any shares of our common stock under the Purchase Agreement, nor shall the Purchase Warrant and/or the Pre-Funded Warrant be exercisable, if such shares proposed to be issued and sold (including the shares issuable upon exercise of the Purchase Warrants and/or the Pre-Funded Warrants), when aggregated with all other shares of the Company common stock then owned beneficially (as calculated pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 13d-3 promulgated thereunder) by the Investor and its affiliates would result in the beneficial ownership by the Investor and its affiliates of more than 9.99% of the then issued and outstanding shares of the Company common stock. Subject to certain exclusions, the Purchase Agreement contains certain restrictions on future equity fundings, including issuances without the Investor’s consent of any securities convertible into the Company’s common until 30 days after the resale registration statement for the Securities purchased by the Investor (the “Registration Statement”) has been declared effective by the SEC and any floating conversion rate or variable priced securities convertible into the Company’s common stock until six months after the Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC. The Investor represented to the Company in the Purchase Agreement that neither it nor any of its agents, representatives and affiliates engaged prior to the Closing Date in any direct or indirect short-selling or hedging of the Company’s common stock.

 

There are no limitations on use of proceeds in the Purchase Agreement. Any proceeds from the Company receives under the Purchase Agreement are expected to be used for working capital and general corporate purposes, including, but not limited to, the continued development of the Company's blockchain-focused unit, the Company’s growth initiatives and potential acquisitions.

 

Noting contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K constitutes an offer to sell the Company’s securities, and is not a solicitation for an offer to purchase the Company’s securities. Any securities offered or sold pursuant to the Private Placement or any agreement related thereto have not been registered under the Act, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements.

 

The issuance of the Securities to the Investor under the Purchase Agreement is exempt from registration under the Securities Act, pursuant to the exemption for transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and/or Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated under the 1933 Act.

 

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As contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, on the Closing Date, the Company entered into registration rights agreement with the Investor (the “Registration Rights Agreement”). The Registration Rights Agreement (i) requires the Company to file within 21 days of the Closing Date (the “Filing Deadline”) the Registration Statement for the Securities purchased by the Investor in the Private Placement and (ii) grants certain piggyback rights thereunder. The Registration Rights Agreement requires the Company to use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become effective as promptly thereafter as practicable but in any event not later than 90 days after the Closing Date (the “Effectiveness Deadline”). If the Company fails to meet the Filing Deadline or the Effectiveness Deadline, subject to certain terms provided for in the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company will be required to pay liquidated damages to the Investor. The Registration Rights Agreement provides for customary indemnification and contribution provisions. In the event the Investor no longer holds “Registrable Securities,” as defined in the Registration Rights Agreements or when the Registrable Securities may be resold by the Investor pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the 1933 Act, the Company may not be obligated to cause the declaration of effectiveness of the Registration Statement by the SEC.

 

The foregoing is a summary description of certain terms of the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and, by its nature, is incomplete. Copies of the Purchase Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement are filed herewith as Exhibits 10.1 and 4.1, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference. All readers are encouraged to read the entire text of the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.

 

This Current Report on Form 8-K contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements related to the potential future sale of shares of the Company’s common stock and price for such sales under the Purchase Agreement. The words “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “ongoing” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. While the Company believes its plans, intentions and expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, these plans, intentions or expectations may not be achieved. The Company’s actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. For information about the factors that could cause such differences, please refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, including the information discussed under the captions “Item 1 Business,” “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and “Item 7 Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” as well as the Company’s various other filings with the SEC. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

 

Item 3.02        Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

 

The information contained above in Item 1.01 is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 3.02 in its entirety.

 

Item 5.02        Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

On December 28, 2017, the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of the Company, as part of the 2017 incentive compensation, approved and authorized grants of the following equity awards pursuant to the Company’s 2013 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended:

 

(i) 67,500 shares of the Company common stock, vesting immediately on the grant date, to Oleg Firer, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

 

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(ii) 11,500 shares of the Company common stock, vesting immediately on the grant date, to Steven Wolberg, the Chief Legal Officer of the Company.

 

(ii) 8,150 shares of the Company common stock, vesting immediately on the grant date, to Jonathan New, the Chief Financial Officer of the Company.

 

Item 9.01        Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit

Number

  Description
   
4.1   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 29, 2017, between Net Element, Inc. and ESOUSA Holdings LLC *
     
10.1   Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 29, 2017, between Net Element, Inc. and ESOUSA Holdings LLC *
   
    _________________
    *Filed herewith.

 

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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: January 2, 2018

 

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

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

Number

  Description
   
4.1   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 29, 2017, between Net Element, Inc. and ESOUSA Holdings LLC *
     
10.1   Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 29, 2017, between Net Element, Inc. and ESOUSA Holdings LLC *
   
    _________________
    *Filed herewith.

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of December 29, 2017, is by and among Net Element, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and the undersigned buyer (the “ Buyer ”).

 

RECITALS

 

A. In connection with the Unit Purchase Agreement by and between the parties hereto, dated as of December 29, 2017 (the “ Unit Purchase Agreement ”), the Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Unit Purchase Agreement, to issue and sell to the Buyer the Units (as defined in the Unit Purchase Agreement), consisting of (i) the Purchase Shares (as defined in the Unit Purchase Agreement) and (ii) the Warrants (as defined in the Unit Purchase Agreement), which will be exercisable or exchangeable to purchase Warrant Shares (as defined in the Unit Purchase Agreement) in accordance with the terms of the Warrants.

 

B. To induce the Buyer to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Unit Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the “ 1933 Act ”), and applicable state securities laws.

 

AGREEMENT

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Buyer hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Definitions .

 

Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Unit Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(a)          “ Business Day ” means any day other than (i) Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed or, (ii) with respect to dates on which filings are required to be made with the SEC, any day on which the SEC is not open and available to accept filings.

 

(b)          “ Closing Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Unit Purchase Agreement with respect to the Closing (as defined in the Unit Purchase Agreement).

 

(c)          “ Effective Date ” means the date that the applicable Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC.

 

(d)          “ Effectiveness Deadline ” means (i) with respect to the Initial Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a), the earlier of the (A) 90th calendar day after the Closing Date and (B) 5th Business Day after the date the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the SEC that such Registration Statement will not be reviewed or will not be subject to further review and (ii) with respect to any additional Registration Statements that may be required to be filed by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, the earlier of the (A) 90th calendar day following the date on which the Company was required to file such additional Registration Statement and (B) 5th Business Day after the date the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the SEC that such Registration Statement will not be reviewed or will not be subject to further review.

 

(e)          “ Filing Deadline ” means (i) with respect to the Initial Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a), the 21st calendar day after the Closing Date and (ii) with respect to any additional Registration Statements that may be required to be filed by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, the date on which the Company was required to file such additional Registration Statement pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, if the Filing Deadline falls on a weekend or Federal holiday, the Filing Deadline shall be on the next succeeding Business Day.

 

 

 

 

(f)          “ Investor ” means the Buyer or any transferee or assignee of any Registrable Securities or Warrants, as applicable, to whom the Buyer assigns its rights under this Agreement and who agrees to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with Section 9 and any transferee or assignee thereof to whom a transferee or assignee of any Registrable Securities or Warrants, as applicable, assigns its rights under this Agreement and who agrees to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with Section 9.

 

(g)          “ Initial Required Registration Amount ” means of the sum of (i) 100% of the number of Purchase Shares, and (ii) 100% of the initial number of Warrant Shares issued and issuable pursuant to the Warrants (as adjusted from time to time pursuant to the terms therein).

 

(h)          “ Person ” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, or any other entity of any kind or nature whatsoever, a trust, an unincorporated organization or a government or any department or agency or portion thereof.

 

(i)          “ register ,” “ registered ,” and “ registration ” refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing one or more Registration Statements in compliance with the 1933 Act and pursuant to Rule 415 and the declaration of effectiveness of such Registration Statement(s) by the SEC.

 

(j)          “ Registrable Securities ” means (i) the Purchase Shares, (ii) the Warrant Shares and (iii) any capital stock of the Company issued or issuable with respect to the Purchase Shares, the Warrants or the Warrant Shares, including, without limitation, (1) as a result of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, exchange or similar event or otherwise and (2) shares of capital stock of the Company into which the shares of Common Stock are converted or exchanged and shares of capital stock of a successor to the Company into which the shares of Common Stock are converted or exchanged, in each case, without regard to any limitations on exercise or exchange of the Warrants.

 

(k)          “ Registration Statement ” means a registration statement or registration statements of the Company filed under the 1933 Act covering Registrable Securities (and the term “Initial Registration Statement” shall mean the first Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement).

 

(l)          “ Required Holders ” means the Buyer.

 

(m)          “ Required Registration Amount ” means the sum of the number of Purchase Shares issued and issuable pursuant to the Unit Purchase Agreement and the maximum number of Warrant Shares issued and issuable pursuant to the Warrants, in each case, as of the Trading Day (as defined in the Warrants) immediately preceding the applicable date of determination.

 

(n)          “ Rule 144 ” means Rule 144 promulgated by the SEC under the 1933 Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any other similar or successor rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit the Investors to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration.

 

(o)          “ Rule 415 ” means Rule 415 promulgated by the SEC under the 1933 Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any other similar or successor rule or regulation of the SEC providing for offering securities on a continuous or delayed basis.

 

(p)          “ SEC ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.

 

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2. Registration .

 

(a)           Mandatory Registration . The Company shall prepare and, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than the Filing Deadline, file with the SEC an initial Registration Statement on Form S-1 or S-3 (in the Company’s sole discretion) covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities, provided that such Initial Registration Statement shall register for resale at least the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Initial Required Registration Amount as of the date such Registration Statement is initially filed with the SEC (together with such other number of shares of Common Stock constituting Registrable Securities as may be registered thereunder pursuant to Rule 416 or otherwise), provided further that if Form S-3 is unavailable for such a registration, the Company shall use such other form as is required by Section 2(c). Such Initial Registration Statement, and each other Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, shall contain (except if otherwise directed by the Required Holders) the “ Selling Stockholder ” and “ Plan of Distribution ” sections in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B . The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have such Initial Registration Statement, and each other Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable, but in no event later than the applicable Effectiveness Deadline for such Registration Statement.

 

(b)           Legal Counsel . Subject to Section 5 hereof, Esousa Holdings LLC (“ Esousa ”) shall have the right to select one (1) legal counsel to review and oversee, solely on its behalf and at its cost and expense, any registration pursuant to this Section 2 (“ Legal Counsel ”), which shall be McDermott Will & Emery LLP or such other counsel as thereafter designated by Esousa.

 

(c)           Ineligibility to Use Form S-3 . In the event that Form S-3 is not available for the registration of the resale of Registrable Securities hereunder, the Company shall (i) register the resale of the Registrable Securities on another appropriate form reasonably acceptable to the Required Holders and (ii) undertake to register the resale of the Registrable Securities on Form S-3 as soon as such form is available, provided that the Company shall maintain the effectiveness of all Registration Statements then in effect and the availability for use of each prospectus contained therein until such time as a Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the resale of all the Registrable Securities has been declared effective by the SEC and the prospectus contained therein is available for use or, if sooner, the expiration of the Registration Period.

 

(d)           Sufficient Number of Shares Registered . In the event the number of shares available under any Registration Statement is insufficient to cover from time to time the Required Registration Amount, the Company shall amend such Registration Statement (if permissible), or file with the SEC a new Registration Statement (on the short form available therefor, if applicable), or both, so as to cover at least the Required Registration Amount as of the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the filing of such amendment or new Registration Statement, in each case, as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than fifteen (15) days after the necessity therefor arises (but taking account of the position of the staff of the SEC (the “ Staff ”) with respect to the date on which the Staff will permit such amendment to the Registration Statement and/or such new Registration Statement (as the case may be) to be filed with the SEC). The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such amendment to such Registration Statement and/or such new Registration Statement (as the case may be) to become effective as soon as practicable following the filing thereof with the SEC, but in no event later than the applicable Effectiveness Deadline for such Registration Statement. For purposes of the foregoing provision, the number of shares available under a Registration Statement shall be deemed “insufficient to cover all of the Registrable Securities” if at any time the number of shares of Common Stock available for resale under the applicable Registration Statement is less than the Required Registration Amount as of such time.

 

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(e)           Effect of Failure to File and Obtain and Maintain Effectiveness of any Registration Statement . If (i) a Registration Statement covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities required to be covered thereby and required to be filed by the Company pursuant to this Agreement is (A) not filed with the SEC on or before the Filing Deadline for such Registration Statement (a “ Filing Failure ”) (it being understood that if the Company files a Registration Statement without affording each Investor the opportunity to review and comment on the same as required by Section 3(c) hereof, the Company shall be deemed to not have satisfied this clause (i)(A) and such event shall be deemed to be a Filing Failure) or (B) not declared effective by the SEC on or before the Effectiveness Deadline for such Registration Statement (an “ Effectiveness Failure ”), (ii) on any day after the Effective Date of a Registration Statement sales of all of the Registrable Securities required to be included on such Registration Statement cannot be made pursuant to such Registration Statement (including, without limitation, because of a failure to keep such Registration Statement effective, a failure to disclose such information as is necessary for sales to be made pursuant to such Registration Statement, a suspension or delisting of (or a failure to timely list) the shares of Common Stock on the Principal Market (as defined in the Unit Purchase Agreement) for three (3) consecutive trading days, or a failure to register a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock or by reason of a stop order) or the prospectus contained therein is not properly available for use for any reason (a “ Maintenance Failure ”), or (iii) a Registration Statement is not effective for any reason or the prospectus contained therein is not properly available for use for any reason, the Company fails to file with the SEC any required reports under Section 13 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act such that it is not in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable) (a “ Current Public Information Failure ”) as a result of which any of the Investors are unable to sell Registrable Securities without restriction under Rule 144 (including, without limitation, volume restrictions), then, as liquidated relief for the damages to any holder by reason of any such delay in, or reduction of, its ability to sell the underlying shares of Common Stock (which remedy, other than the right to require specific performance, shall be exclusive of any other remedies available at law or in equity), the Company shall pay to each holder of Registrable Securities relating to such Registration Statement an amount in cash or Common Stock (calculated using the consolidated closing bid price of the applicable payment date) equal to one percent (1.0%) of such Investor’s total paid purchase price for the Units pursuant to the Unit Purchase Agreement (i.e., 1.0% of $7,550,585, or $75,505.85) (1) within three (3) Business Days after the date of such Filing Failure, Effectiveness Failure, Maintenance Failure or Current Public Information Failure, as applicable, and (2) on every thirty (30) day anniversary of (I) a Filing Failure until such Filing Failure is cured; (II) an Effectiveness Failure until such Effectiveness Failure is cured; (III) a Maintenance Failure until such Maintenance Failure is cured; and (IV) a Current Public Information Failure until the earlier of (i) the date such Current Public Information Failure is cured and (ii) such time that such public information is no longer required pursuant to Rule 144 (in each case, pro-rated for periods totaling less than thirty (30) days); provided that the maximum number of monthly payments pursuant to a Filing Failure, an Effectiveness Failure or a Maintenance Failure made by the Company pursuant to this sentence shall be six (6) payments (each in an amount equal to one percent (1.0%) of such Investor’s total actually paid purchase price for the Units pursuant to the Unit Purchase Agreement). The payments to which a holder of Registrable Securities shall be entitled pursuant to this Section 2(e) are referred to herein as “ Registration Delay Payments .” Following the initial Registration Delay Payment for any particular event or failure (which shall be paid on the date of such event or failure, as set forth above), without limiting the foregoing, if an event or failure giving rise to the Registration Delay Payments is cured prior to any thirty (30) day anniversary of such event or failure, then no further Registration Delay Payment(s) shall be due after such cure. In the event the Company fails to make Registration Delay Payments in a timely manner in accordance with the foregoing, such Registration Delay Payments shall bear interest at the rate of one percent (1%) per month (prorated for partial months) until paid in full. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Registration Delay Payments shall be owed to an Investor: (i) with respect to a Filing Failure, an Effectiveness Failure, a Maintenance Failure or a Current Public Information Failure, for any period after the earlier of (x) the date on which Buyer may conduct a resale of all of its Registrable Securities in reliance on a valid exemption from registration in accordance with Rule 144 or (y) the date on which Buyer sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of all of its Registrable Securities and (ii) with respect to any Registrable Securities excluded from a Registration Statement by election of an Investor.

 

(f)           Offering . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company agrees with Buyer that each Registration Statement required to become effective hereunder shall become effective and be used for resales by the Investors such that it does not constitute and is not deemed to constitute an offering of securities by, or on behalf of, the Company, and that permits the continuous resale at the market by the Investors participating therein (or as otherwise may be acceptable to each Investor) without being named therein as an “underwriter” (except to the extent provided in a “ Plan of Distribution ” section of a Registration Statement in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B ).

 

(g)           Piggyback Registrations . Without limiting any obligation of the Company hereunder (including its obligations under Section 2(h)) or under the Unit Purchase Agreement, if there is not an effective Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable Securities or the prospectus contained therein is not available for use and the Company shall determine to prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement relating to an offering for its own account or the account of others under the 1933 Act of any of its equity securities (other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the 1933 Act) or their then equivalents relating to equity securities to be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any entity or business or equity securities issuable in connection with the Company’s stock option or other employee benefit plans), then the Company shall deliver to each Investor a written notice of such determination and, if within fifteen (15) days after the date of the delivery of such notice, any such Investor shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such registration statement all or any part of such Registrable Securities such Investor requests to be registered; provided, however, the Company shall not be required to register any Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 2(g) that are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144 without restriction (including, without limitation, volume restrictions) and without the need for current public information required by Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable) or that are the subject of a then-effective Registration Statement.

 

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(h)           No Inclusion of Other Securities . In no event shall the Company include any securities other than Registrable Securities on any Registration Statement without the prior written consent of the Required Holders. Other than registration of the Company’s securities in connection with its existing equity line of credit with Cobblestone Capital Partners LLC, until thirty (30) days after the declaration of effectiveness of the Initial Registration Statement by the SEC, the Company shall not enter into any agreement providing any registration right to any of its security holders and the Company shall not file any other registration statement until such time, in either case without the prior written consent of the Required Holders.

 

3. Related Obligations .

 

The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof, and, pursuant thereto, the Company shall have the following obligations:

 

(a)          The Company shall promptly prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement with respect to all the Registrable Securities (but in no event later than the applicable Filing Deadline) and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing (but in no event later than the Effectiveness Deadline). The Company shall keep each Registration Statement effective at all times until the earlier of (i) the date as of which all of the Investors may sell all of the Registrable Securities required to be covered by such Registration Statement without restriction pursuant to Rule 144 (including, without limitation, volume restrictions) and without the need for current public information required by Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable) or (ii) the date on which the Investors shall have sold all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement (the “ Registration Period ”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall ensure that, when filed and at all times while effective, each Registration Statement (including, without limitation, all amendments and supplements thereto) and the prospectus (including, without limitation, all amendments and supplements thereto) used in connection with such Registration Statement (1) shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of prospectuses, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made) not misleading and (2) will disclose (whether directly or through incorporation by reference to other SEC filings to the extent permitted) all material information regarding the Company and its securities. The Company shall submit to the SEC, within one (1) Business Day after the later of the date that (i) the Company learns that no review of a particular Registration Statement will be made by the Staff or that the Staff has no further comments on a particular Registration Statement (as the case may be) and (ii) the consent of Legal Counsel is obtained pursuant to Section 3(c) (which consent shall be promptly sought), a request for acceleration of effectiveness of such Registration Statement to a time and date not later than forty-eight (48) hours after the submission of such request.

 

(b)          The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments (including, without limitation, post-effective amendments) and supplements to each Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection with each such Registration Statement, as may be necessary to keep each such Registration Statement effective at all times during the Registration Period for such Registration Statement, and, during such period, comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities of the Company required to be covered by such Registration Statement until such time as all of such Registrable Securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers thereof as set forth in such Registration Statement. In the case of amendments and supplements to any Registration Statement which are required to be filed pursuant to this Agreement (including, without limitation, pursuant to this Section 3(b)) by reason of the Company filing a report on Form 10-K or any similar or successor report under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ 1934 Act ”), the Company shall have incorporated such report by reference into such Registration Statement, if applicable, or shall file such amendments or supplements with the SEC on the same day on which the 1934 Act report is filed which created the requirement for the Company to amend or supplement such Registration Statement.

 

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(c)          The Company shall (A) permit Legal Counsel to review and comment upon (i) each Registration Statement within a reasonable number of days prior to its filing with the SEC and (ii) all amendments and supplements to each Registration Statement (including, without limitation, the prospectus contained therein) (except for Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Report on Form 8-K, and any similar or successor reports) within a reasonable number of days prior to their filing with the SEC, and (B) not file any Registration Statement or amendment or supplement thereto in a form to which Legal Counsel reasonably objects. The Company shall not submit a request for acceleration of the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto or to any prospectus contained therein without the prior consent of Legal Counsel, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company shall promptly furnish to Legal Counsel without charge, (i) copies of any correspondence from the SEC or the Staff to the Company or its representatives relating to each Registration Statement, provided that such correspondence shall not contain any material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (as defined in the Unit Purchase Agreement), (ii) after the same is prepared and filed with the SEC, one (1) copy of each Registration Statement and any amendment(s) and supplement(s) thereto, including, without limitation, financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference, if requested by an Investor, and all exhibits and (iii) upon the effectiveness of each Registration Statement, one (1) copy of the prospectus included in such Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto. The Company shall reasonably cooperate with Legal Counsel in performing the Company’s obligations pursuant to this Section 3.

 

(d)          The Company shall promptly furnish to each Investor whose Registrable Securities are included in any Registration Statement, without charge and if requested by an Investor, (i) after the same is prepared and filed with the SEC, one (1) copy of each Registration Statement and any amendment(s) and supplement(s) thereto, including, without limitation, financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference, all exhibits and each preliminary prospectus, (ii) upon the effectiveness of each Registration Statement, one (1) copy of the prospectus included in such Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto (or such other number of copies as such Investor may reasonably request from time to time) and (iii) such other documents, including, without limitation, copies of any preliminary or final prospectus, as such Investor may reasonably request from time to time in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Investor; provided, that the Company shall have no obligation to provide any document pursuant to this clause that is available on the SEC’s EDGAR system.

 

(e)          The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) register and qualify, unless an exemption from registration and qualification applies, the resale by Investors of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement under such other securities or “blue sky” laws of all applicable jurisdictions in the United States, (ii) prepare and file in those jurisdictions, such amendments (including, without limitation, post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registrations and qualifications as may be necessary to maintain the effectiveness thereof during the Registration Period, (iii) take such other actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations and qualifications in effect at all times during the Registration Period, and (iv) take all other actions reasonably necessary or advisable to qualify the Registrable Securities for sale in such jurisdictions; provided, however, the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (y) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(e) or (z) subject itself to general taxation in any such jurisdiction. The Company shall promptly notify Legal Counsel and each Investor who holds Registrable Securities of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the registration or qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction in the United States or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose.

 

(f)          The Company shall notify Legal Counsel and each Investor in writing of the happening of any event, as promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event, as a result of which the prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (provided that in no event shall such notice contain any material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), and promptly prepare a supplement or amendment to such Registration Statement and such prospectus contained therein to correct such untrue statement or omission and deliver such number of copies of such supplement or amendment to Legal Counsel and each Investor as Legal Counsel, legal counsel for each other Investor or such Investor may reasonably request. The Company shall also promptly notify Legal Counsel and each Investor in writing (i) when a prospectus or any post-effective amendment has been filed, when a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment has become effective (notification of such effectiveness shall be delivered to Legal Counsel and each Investor by facsimile or e-mail on the same day of such effectiveness and by overnight mail), and when the Company receives written notice from the SEC that a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment will be reviewed by the SEC, (ii) of any request by the SEC for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related prospectus or related information, (iii) of the Company’s reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate; and (iv) of the receipt of any request by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental authority for any additional information relating to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto or any related prospectus. The Company shall respond as promptly as practicable to any comments received from the SEC with respect to each Registration Statement or any amendment thereto (it being understood and agreed that the Company’s response to any such comments shall be delivered to the SEC no later than seven (7) Business Days after the receipt thereof).

 

  - 6 -  

 

 

(g)          The Company shall (i) use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of each Registration Statement or the use of any prospectus contained therein, or the suspension of the qualification, or the loss of an exemption from qualification, of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction and, if such an order or suspension is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of such order or suspension at the earliest possible moment and (ii) notify Legal Counsel and each Investor who holds Registrable Securities of the issuance of such order and the resolution thereof or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose.

 

(h)          The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any disclosure of information concerning an Investor provided to the Company unless (i) disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state securities laws or delivered to the Company for the purpose of inclusion in a Registration Statement, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement or is otherwise required to be disclosed in such Registration Statement pursuant to the 1933 Act, (iii) the release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other final, non-appealable order from a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction, or (iv) such information has been made generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document. The Company agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such information concerning an Investor is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt written notice to such Investor and allow such Investor, at such Investor’s expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, such information.

 

(i)          Without limiting any obligation of the Company under the Unit Purchase Agreement, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts either to cause all of the Registrable Securities covered by each Registration Statement to be listed on each securities exchange on which securities of the same class or series issued by the Company are then listed, if any, if the listing of such Registrable Securities is then permitted under the rules of such exchange, or (ii) if, despite the Company’s commercially reasonable efforts to satisfy the preceding clause (i) the Company is unsuccessful in satisfying the preceding clause (i), without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to use its commercially reasonable efforts to arrange for at least two market makers to register with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) as such with respect to such Registrable Securities.

 

(j)          The Company shall cooperate with the Investors who hold Registrable Securities being offered and, to the extent applicable, facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legend) representing the Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant to a Registration Statement and enable such certificates to be in such denominations or amounts (as the case may be) as the Investors may reasonably request from time to time and registered in such names as the Investors may request.

 

(k)          If requested by an Investor, the Company shall as soon as practicable after receipt of notice from such Investor and, (i) incorporate in a post-effective amendment such information as an Investor reasonably requests to be included therein relating to the sale and distribution of Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, information with respect to the number of Registrable Securities being offered or sold, the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering; (ii) make all required filings of such post-effective amendment after being notified of the matters to be incorporated in such post-effective amendment; and (iii) supplement or make amendments to any Registration Statement or prospectus contained therein if reasonably requested by an Investor holding any Registrable Securities.

 

(l)          The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities.

 

  - 7 -  

 

 

(m)          Unless available vis EDGAR, the Company shall make generally available to its security holders as soon as practical, but not later than ninety (90) days after the close of the period covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form complying with, and in the manner provided by, the provisions of Rule 158 under the 1933 Act) covering a twelve-month period beginning not later than the first day of the Company’s fiscal quarter next following the applicable Effective Date of each Registration Statement.

 

(n)          The Company shall otherwise use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC in connection with any registration hereunder.

 

(o)          Within one (1) Business Day after a Registration Statement which covers Registrable Securities is declared effective by the SEC, the Company shall deliver, and shall cause legal counsel for the Company to deliver, to the transfer agent for such Registrable Securities (with copies to the Investors whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement) confirmation that such Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A .

 

(p)          The Company shall take all other reasonable actions necessary to expedite and facilitate disposition by each Investor of its Registrable Securities pursuant to each Registration Statement.

 

4. Obligations of the Investors .

 

(a)          At least five (5) Business Days prior to the first anticipated filing date of each Registration Statement, the Company shall notify each Investor in writing of the information the Company seeks from each such Investor with respect to such Registration Statement. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to complete the registration pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the Registrable Securities of a particular Investor (including any determination of the occurrence of a Filing Failure, Effectiveness Failure or Maintenance Failure) that such Investor shall furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it, as shall be reasonably required, in the good faith judgment of such Investor, to effect and maintain the effectiveness of the registration of such Registrable Securities

 

(b)          Each Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(g) or the first sentence of 3(f), such Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement(s) covering such Registrable Securities until such Investor’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3(g) or the first sentence of Section 3(f) or receipt of notice that no supplement or amendment is required. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4(b), the Company shall cause its transfer agent to deliver unlegended shares of Common Stock to a transferee of an Investor in accordance with the terms of the Unit Purchase Agreement in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities with respect to which such Investor has entered into a contract for sale prior to the Investor’s receipt of a notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(g) or the first sentence of Section 3(f) and for which such Investor has not yet settled.

 

(c)          Each Investor covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the 1933 Act as applicable to it in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement.

 

5. Expenses of Registration .

 

All reasonable expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, incurred in connection with registrations, filings or qualifications pursuant to Sections 2 and 3, including, without limitation, all registration, listing and qualifications fees, printers and accounting fees, FINRA filing fees (if any) and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company shall be paid by the Company.

 

  - 8 -  

 

 

6. Indemnification .

 

(a)          To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company will, and hereby does, indemnify, hold harmless and defend each Investor and each of its directors, officers, managers, shareholders, members, partners, employees, agents, advisors, representatives (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles notwithstanding the lack of such title or any other title) and each Person, if any, who controls such Investor within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act and each of the directors, officers, managers, shareholders, members, partners, employees, agents, advisors, representatives (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles notwithstanding the lack of such title or any other title) of such controlling Persons (each, an “ Indemnified Person ”), against any losses, obligations, claims, damages, liabilities, contingencies, judgments, fines, penalties, charges, costs (including, without limitation, court costs, reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of defense and investigation), amounts paid in settlement or expenses, joint or several, (collectively, “ Claims ”) incurred in investigating, preparing or defending any action, claim, suit, inquiry, proceeding, investigation or appeal taken from the foregoing by or before any court or governmental, administrative or other regulatory agency, body or the SEC, whether pending or threatened, whether or not an indemnified party is or may be a party thereto (“ Indemnified Damages ”), to which any of them may become subject insofar as such Claims (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact in a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or in any filing made in connection with the qualification of the offering under the securities or other “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction in which Registrable Securities are offered (“ Blue Sky Filing ”), or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus if used prior to the effective date of such Registration Statement, or contained in the final prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if the Company files any amendment thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC) or the omission or alleged omission to state therein any material fact necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which the statements therein were made, not misleading or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, any other law, including, without limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or regulation thereunder relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii) being, collectively, “ Violations ”) unless such Violations are based primarily upon a breach of Investor’s representations, warranties, or covenants under the Transaction Documents or any violations by Investor of state or federal securities laws or any conduct by Investor which constitutes fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct. To the extent that the foregoing undertaking by the Company may be unenforceable for any reason, the Company shall make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the Indemnified Liabilities which is permissible under applicable law. Subject to Section 6(c), the Company shall reimburse the Indemnified Persons, promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any legal fees or other reasonable expenses incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(a): (i) shall not apply to a Claim by an Indemnified Person arising out of or based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by such Indemnified Person for such Indemnified Person expressly for use in connection with the preparation of such Registration Statement or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto and (ii) shall not be available to a particular Investor to the extent such Claim is based on a failure of such Investor to deliver or to cause to be delivered the prospectus made available by the Company (to the extent applicable), including, without limitation, a corrected prospectus, if such prospectus or corrected prospectus was timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(d) and then only if, and to the extent that, following the receipt of the corrected prospectus no grounds for such Claim would have existed; and (iii) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person and shall survive the transfer of any of the Registrable Securities by any of the Investors pursuant to Section 9.

 

  - 9 -  

 

 

(b)          In connection with any Registration Statement in which an Investor is participating, such Investor agrees to severally and not jointly indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the same manner as is set forth in Section 6(a), the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act (each, an “ Indemnified Party ”), against any Claim or Indemnified Damages to which any of them may become subject, under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim or Indemnified Damages arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in each case, to the extent, and only to the extent, that such Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Investor expressly for use in connection with such Registration Statement; and, subject to Section 6(c) and the below provisos in this Section 6(b), such Investor will reimburse an Indemnified Party any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim; provided, however, the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 6(b) and the agreement with respect to contribution contained in Section 7 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of such Investor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, provided further that such Investor shall be liable under this Section 6(b) for only that amount of a Claim or Indemnified Damages as does not exceed the net proceeds to such Investor as a result of the applicable sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party and shall survive the transfer of any of the Registrable Securities by any of the Investors pursuant to Section 9.

 

(c)          Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party (as the case may be) under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including, without limitation, any governmental action or proceeding) involving a Claim, such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party (as the case may be) shall, if a Claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 6, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof, and the indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume control of the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the indemnifying party and the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party (as the case may be); provided, however, an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party (as the case may be) shall have the right to retain its own counsel with the fees and expenses of such counsel to be paid by the indemnifying party if: (i) the indemnifying party has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses; (ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed promptly to assume the defense of such Claim and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party (as the case may be) in any such Claim; or (iii) the named parties to any such Claim (including, without limitation, any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party (as the case may be) and the indemnifying party, and such Indemnified Person or such Indemnified Party (as the case may be) shall have been advised by counsel that a conflict of interest is likely to exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Person or such Indemnified Party and the indemnifying party (in which case, if such Indemnified Person or such Indemnified Party (as the case may be) notifies the indemnifying party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, then the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof and such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party, provided further that in the case of clause (iii) above the indemnifying party shall not be responsible for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one (1) separate legal counsel for such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party (as the case may be). The Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person (as the case may be) shall reasonably cooperate with the indemnifying party in connection with any negotiation or defense of any such action or Claim by the indemnifying party and shall furnish to the indemnifying party all information reasonably available to the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person (as the case may be) which relates to such action or Claim. The indemnifying party shall keep the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person (as the case may be) reasonably apprised at all times as to the status of the defense or any settlement negotiations with respect thereto. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement of any action, claim or proceeding effected without its prior written consent; provided, however, the indemnifying party shall not unreasonably withhold, delay or condition its consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person (as the case may be), consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement or other compromise which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person (as the case may be) of a release from all liability in respect to such Claim or litigation, and such settlement shall not include any admission as to fault on the part of the Indemnified Party. Following indemnification as provided for hereunder, the indemnifying party shall be subrogated to all rights of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person (as the case may be) with respect to all third parties, firms or corporations relating to the matter for which indemnification has been made. The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall not relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party (as the case may be) under this Section 6, except to the extent that the indemnifying party is materially and adversely prejudiced in its ability to defend such action.

 

  - 10 -  

 

 

(d)          No Person involved in the sale of Registrable Securities who is guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) in connection with such sale shall be entitled to indemnification from any Person involved in such sale of Registrable Securities who is not guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

(e)          The indemnification required by this Section 6 shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or Indemnified Damages are incurred.

 

(f)          The indemnity and contribution agreements contained herein shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person against the indemnifying party or others.

 

7. Contribution .

 

To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is prohibited or limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however: (i) no contribution shall be made under circumstances where the maker would not have been liable for indemnification under the fault standards set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement, (ii) no Person involved in the sale of Registrable Securities which Person is guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) in connection with such sale shall be entitled to contribution from any Person involved in such sale of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation; and (iii) contribution by any seller of Registrable Securities shall be limited in amount to the amount of net proceeds received by such seller from the applicable sale of such Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, (a) no Investor shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds actually received by such Investor from the applicable sale of the Registrable Securities subject to the Claim exceeds the amount of any damages that such Investor has otherwise been required to pay, or would otherwise be required to pay under Section 6(b), by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission; and (b) the Company shall not be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the total paid purchase price (pursuant to the Unit Purchase Agreement) for the Units subject to the Claim exceeds the amount of any damages that the Company has otherwise been required to pay, or would otherwise be required to pay under Section 6(a).

 

8. Reports Under the 1934 Act .

 

With a view to making available to the Investors the benefits of Rule 144, the Company agrees to:

 

(a)          make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144;

 

(b)          file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act so long as the Company remains subject to such requirements (it being understood and agreed that nothing herein shall limit any obligations of the Company under the Unit Purchase Agreement) and the filing of such reports and other documents is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and

 

(c)          furnish to each Investor so long as such Investor owns Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, (i) a written statement by the Company, if true, that it has complied with the reporting, submission and posting requirements of Rule 144 and the 1934 Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company with the SEC if such reports are not publicly available via EDGAR, and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably requested to permit the Investors to sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without registration.

 

  - 11 -  

 

 

9. Assignment of Registration Rights .

 

All or any portion of the rights under this Agreement shall be automatically assignable by each Investor to any transferee or assignee (as the case may be) of all or any portion of such Investor’s Registrable Securities or Warrants if: (i) such Investor agrees in writing with such transferee or assignee (as the case may be) to assign all or any portion of such rights, and a copy of such agreement is furnished to the Company within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment (as the case may be); (ii) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment (as the case may be), furnished with written notice of (a) the name and address of such transferee or assignee (as the case may be), and (b) the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned (as the case may be); (iii) immediately following such transfer or assignment (as the case may be) the further disposition of such securities by such transferee or assignee (as the case may be) is restricted under the 1933 Act or applicable state securities laws if so required; (iv) at or before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this sentence such transferee or assignee (as the case may be) agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein; (v) such transfer or assignment (as the case may be) shall have been made in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Unit Purchase Agreement and the Warrants (as the case may be); and (vi) such transfer or assignment (as the case may be) shall have been conducted in accordance with all applicable federal and state securities laws.

 

10. Amendment of Registration Rights .

 

Provisions of this Agreement may be amended only with the written consent of the Company and the Required Holders. No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the waiving party. No consideration shall be offered or paid to any Person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of this Agreement unless the same consideration also is offered to all of the parties to this Agreement.

 

11. Miscellaneous .

 

(a)          Solely for purposes of this Agreement, a Person is deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities whenever such Person owns, or is deemed to own, of record such Registrable Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or elections from two or more Persons with respect to the same Registrable Securities, the Company shall act upon the basis of instructions, notice or election received from such record owner of such Registrable Securities.

 

(b)          Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by e-mail (provided confirmation of transmission is electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party); or (iii) one (1) Business Day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight delivery service with next day delivery specified, in each case, properly addressed to the party to receive the same. The addresses, facsimile numbers and e-mail addresses for such communications shall be:

 

If to the Company:

 

  Net Element, Inc.
  3363 NE 163rd Street, Suite 705
  North Miami Beach, FL 33160
  Telephone: (786) 923-0515
  Facsimile: (786) 272-0696
  E-mail: swolberg@netelement.com
  Attention: Chief Legal Officer

 

If to the Transfer Agent:

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

17 Battery Place, 8th Floor

New York, NY 10004

Telephone: (212) 845-3217

E-mail: mmullings@continentalstock.com

Attention: Michael G. Mullings

 

  - 12 -  

 

 

If to Buyer, to its address, facsimile number or e-mail address set forth below:

 

Esousa Holdings LLC

211 East 43 rd Street

Suite 402

New York, NY 10017

Telephone: (646) 278-6785

Email: rachel@esousallc.com

Attention: Rachel Glicksman

 

If to Legal Counsel:

McDermott Will & Emery LLP
340 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Telephone: (212) 547-5885

Facsimile: (212) 547-5444

Attention: Robert Cohen, Esq.

 

If to a Buyer, to its address, facsimile number or e-mail address (as the case may be) set forth on the Buyer Schedule attached to the Unit Purchase Agreement, with copies to such Buyer’s representatives as set forth on the Buyer Schedule, or to such other address and/or facsimile number and/or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by written notice given to each other party five (5) days prior to the effectiveness of such change, provided that Legal Counsel shall only be provided notices sent to Buyer. Written confirmation of receipt (A) given by the recipient of such notice, consent, waiver or other communication, (B) mechanically or electronically generated by the sender’s facsimile machine or e-mail transmission containing the time, date and recipient facsimile number or e-mail address or (C) provided by a courier or overnight courier service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service, receipt by facsimile or receipt from a nationally recognized overnight delivery service in accordance with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, respectively.

 

(c)          Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement or otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right or remedy, shall not operate as a waiver thereof. The Company and each Investor acknowledge and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that each party hereto shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent or cure breaches of the provisions of this Agreement by any other party hereto and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof (without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required), this being in addition to any other remedy to which any party may be entitled by law or equity.

 

(d)          All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in that jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of any provision of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

  - 13 -  

 

 

(e)          This Agreement, the other Transaction Documents, the schedules and exhibits attached hereto and thereto and the instruments referenced herein and therein constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto and thereto solely with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein and therein. This Agreement, the other Transaction Documents, the schedules and exhibits attached hereto and thereto and the instruments referenced herein and therein supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the parties hereto solely with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof; provided, however, nothing contained in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document shall (or shall be deemed to) (i) have any effect on any agreements any Investor has entered into with, or any instrument that any Investor received from, the Company prior to the date hereof with respect to any prior investment made by such Investor in the Company, (ii) waive, alter, modify or amend in any respect any obligations of the Company or any rights of or benefits to any Investor or any other Person in any agreement entered into prior to the date hereof between or among the Company and any Investor or any instrument that any Investor received prior to the date hereof from the Company and all such agreements and instruments shall continue in full force and effect or (iii) limit any obligations of the Company under any of the other Transaction Documents.

 

(f)          Subject to compliance with Section 9 (if applicable), this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the permitted successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto. This Agreement is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any Person, other than the parties hereto, their respective permitted successors and assigns and the Persons referred to in Sections 6 and 7 hereof.

 

(g)          The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, each pronoun herein shall be deemed to include the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular and plural forms thereof. The terms “including,” “includes,” “include” and words of like import shall be construed broadly as if followed by the words “without limitation.” The terms “herein,” “hereunder,” “hereof” and words of like import refer to this entire Agreement instead of just the provision in which they are found.

 

(h)          This Agreement may be executed in two or more identical counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by an e-mail which contains a portable document format (.pdf) file of an executed signature page, such signature page shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such signature page were an original thereof.

 

(i)          Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents as any other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(j)          The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in Section 10, terms used in this Agreement but defined in the other Transaction Documents shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms on the Closing Date in such other Transaction Documents unless otherwise consented to in writing by each Investor.

 

(k)          All consents and other determinations required to be made by the Investors pursuant to this Agreement shall be made, unless otherwise specified in this Agreement, by the Required Holders.

 

  - 14 -  

 

 

(l)          The obligations of each Investor under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Investor, and no Investor shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Investor under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document. Nothing contained herein or in any other Transaction Document, and no action taken by any Investor pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Investors as, and the Company acknowledges that the Investors do not so constitute, a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of group or entity, or create a presumption that the Investors are in any way acting in concert or as a group or entity with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents or any matters, and the Company acknowledges that the Investors are not acting in concert or as a group, and the Company shall not assert any such claim, with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the other the Transaction Documents. Each Investor shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including, without limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement or out of any other Transaction Documents, and it shall not be necessary for any other Investor to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose. The use of a single agreement with respect to the obligations of the Company contained herein was solely in the control of the Company, not the action or decision of any Investor, and was done solely for the convenience of the Company and not because it was required or requested to do so by any Investor. It is expressly understood and agreed that each provision contained in this Agreement and in each other Transaction Document is between the Company and an Investor, solely, and not between the Company and the Investors collectively and not between and among Investors.

 

[ signature pages follow ]

 

  - 15 -  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

  COMPANY
   
  NET ELEMENT, INC.

 

  By: /s/ Oleg Firer
    Name: Oleg Firer
    Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

  BUYER:
   
  ESOUSA HOLDINGS LLC

 

  By: /s/ Rachel Glicksman
    Name: Rachel Glicksman
    Title: Managing Member

 

[Signature page to Registration Rights Agreement]

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF NOTICE OF EFFECTIVENESS
OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

_______________________

 

_______________________

 

_______________________

 

Attention: _____________

 

Re: Net Element, Inc.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

[We are][I am] counsel to Net Element, Inc., a company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “ Company ”), and have represented the Company in connection with that certain Unit Purchase Agreement (the “ Unit Purchase Agreement ”) entered into by and among the Company and Esousa Holdings LLC (the “ Holder ”) pursuant to which the Company issued to the Holder (i) shares of common stock of the Company (the “ Common Stock ”) and (ii) warrants exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock (the “ Warrants ”). Pursuant to the Unit Purchase Agreement, the Company also has entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the Holder (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”) pursuant to which the Company agreed, among other things, to register the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), including the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise or exchange of the Warrants, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ 1933 Act ”). In connection with the Company’s obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, on ____________ ___, 20__, the Company filed a Registration Statement on Form [S-1]/[S-3] (File No. 333-_____________) (the “ Registration Statement ”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) relating to the Registrable Securities which names each of the Holders as a selling stockholder thereunder.

 

In connection with the foregoing, [we][I] advise you that a member of the SEC’s staff has advised [us][me] by telephone that the SEC has entered an order declaring the Registration Statement effective under the 1933 Act at [ENTER TIME OF EFFECTIVENESS] on [ENTER DATE OF EFFECTIVENESS] and [we][I] have no knowledge, after telephonic inquiry of a member of the SEC’s staff, that any stop order suspending its effectiveness has been issued or that any proceedings for that purpose are pending before, or threatened by, the SEC and the Registrable Securities are available for resale under the 1933 Act pursuant to the Registration Statement.

 

This letter shall serve as our standing opinion to you that the shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants are freely transferable by the Holders pursuant to the Registration Statement. You need not require further letters from us to effect any future legend-free issuance or reissuance of such shares of Common Stock to the Holders as contemplated by the Company’s Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions dated _________ __, 20__.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  [ISSUER’S COUNSEL]
   
  By:  

 

CC: [ LIST NAMES OF HOLDERS ]

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

SELLING STOCKHOLDER

 

The shares of common stock being offered by the selling stockholder are the Purchase Shares (as defined in the Unit Purchase Agreement) and those issuable to the selling stockholder upon exercise or exchange of the warrants. For additional information regarding the issuance of the common stock and the warrants, see “Private Placement of Common Stock and Warrants” above. We are registering the shares of common stock in order to permit the selling stockholder to offer the shares for resale from time to time. Except for the ownership of the Purchase Shares and the warrants issued pursuant to the Unit Purchase Agreement, the selling stockholder has not had any material relationship with us within the past three years.

 

The table below lists the selling stockholder and other information regarding the beneficial ownership (as determined under Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder) of the shares of common stock held by each of the selling stockholder. The second column lists the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by the selling stockholder, based on its respective ownership of the shares of common stock and warrants, as of ________, 201[7], assuming exercise or exchange of the warrants held by such selling stockholder on that date but taking account of any limitations on conversion and exercise or exchange set forth therein.

 

The third column lists the shares of common stock being offered by this prospectus by the selling stockholder and does not take into account any limitations on exercise or exchange of the warrants set forth therein.

 

In accordance with the terms of a registration rights agreement with the holders of the warrants issued pursuant to the Unit Purchase Agreement, this prospectus generally covers the resale of the 100% of the Purchase Shares and the initial number of shares issued and issuable pursuant to the warrants (or the number of shares so issued and issuable as of the filing of the registration statement to which this prospectus relates, if more). This prospectus also or otherwise covers such other shares of common stock issued or issuable pursuant to the warrants as more fully set forth in this prospectus. Because the exercise price of the warrants may be adjusted for recapitalizations, stock splits, reverse stock splits and the like as set forth in the warrants, the number of shares that will actually be issued may be more or less than the number of shares being offered by this prospectus. The fourth column assumes the sale of all of the shares offered by the selling stockholder pursuant to this prospectus.

 

Under the terms of the warrants, the selling stockholder may not exercise or exchange the warrants to the extent (but only to the extent) such selling stockholder or any of its affiliates would beneficially own a number of shares of our common stock which would exceed 9.99%. The number of shares in the second column reflects these limitations. The selling stockholder may sell all, some or none of its shares in this offering. See “Plan of Distribution.”

 

Name of Selling Stockholder   Number of Shares of
Common Stock Owned
Prior to Offering
  Maximum Number of
Shares of Common Stock to
be Sold Pursuant to this
Prospectus
  Number of Shares of
Common Stock Owned
After Offering
             
             
             
             
             
Esousa Holdings LLC (1)            

 

(1) _____________ has voting and investment control over the shares held by the selling stockholder.

 

 

 

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We are registering the Purchase Shares and the shares of common stock issuable to the selling stockholder upon exercise or exchange of the warrants to permit the resale of these shares of common stock by the holders of the common stock and warrants from time to time after the date of this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale by the selling stockholder of the shares of common stock. We will bear all fees and expenses incident to our obligation to register the shares of common stock.

 

The selling stockholder may sell all or a portion of the shares of common stock held by them and offered hereby from time to time directly or through one or more underwriters, broker-dealers or agents. If the shares of common stock are sold through underwriters or broker-dealers, the selling stockholder will be responsible for underwriting discounts or commissions or agent’s commissions. The shares of common stock may be sold in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of the sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. These sales may be effected in transactions, which may involve crosses or block transactions, pursuant to one or more of the following methods:

 

· on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale;

 

· in the over-the-counter market;

 

· in transactions otherwise than on these exchanges or systems or in the over-the-counter market;

 

· through the writing or settlement of options, whether such options are listed on an options exchange or otherwise;

 

· ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

 

· block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

· purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;

 

· an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;

 

· privately negotiated transactions;

 

· short sales made after the date the Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC;

 

· broker-dealers may agree with a selling securityholder to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;

 

· a combination of any such methods of sale; and

 

· any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

 

The selling stockholder may also sell shares of common stock under Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, if available, rather than under this prospectus. In addition, the selling stockholder may transfer the shares of common stock by other means not described in this prospectus. If the selling stockholder effects such transactions by selling shares of common stock to or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, such underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may receive commissions in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling stockholder or commissions from purchasers of the shares of common stock for whom they may act as agent or to whom they may sell as principal (which discounts, concessions or commissions as to particular underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may be in excess of those customary in the types of transactions involved). The selling stockholder may also loan or pledge shares of common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell such shares.

 

 

 

 

The selling stockholder may pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of warrants or shares of common stock owned by it and, if the selling stockholder defaults in the performance of its secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the shares of common stock from time to time pursuant to this prospectus or any amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities Act amending, if necessary, the list of selling stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling stockholders under this prospectus. The selling stockholder also may transfer and donate the shares of common stock in other circumstances in which case the transferees, donees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.

 

To the extent required by the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, the selling stockholder and any broker-dealer participating in the distribution of the shares of common stock may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any commission paid, or any discounts or concessions allowed to, any such broker-dealer may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. At the time a particular offering of the shares of common stock is made, which will set forth the aggregate amount of shares of common stock being offered and the terms of the offering, including the name or names of any broker-dealers or agents, any discounts, commissions and other terms constituting compensation from the selling stockholder and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to broker-dealers.

 

Under the securities laws of some states, the shares of common stock may be sold in such states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the shares of common stock may not be sold unless such shares have been registered or qualified for sale in such state or an exemption from registration or qualification is available and is complied with.

 

There can be no assurance that the selling stockholder will sell any or all of the shares of common stock registered pursuant to the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part.

 

The selling stockholder and any other person participating in such distribution will be subject to applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including, without limitation, to the extent applicable, Regulation M of the Exchange Act, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the shares of common stock by the selling stockholder and any other participating person. To the extent applicable, Regulation M may also restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the shares of common stock to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares of common stock. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the shares of common stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares of common stock.

 

We will pay all expenses of the registration of the shares of common stock pursuant to the registration rights agreement, estimated to be $[___] in total, including, without limitation, Securities and Exchange Commission filing fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or “blue sky” laws; provided, however, a selling stockholder will pay all underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if any. We will indemnify the selling stockholder against liabilities, including some liabilities under the Securities Act in accordance with the registration rights agreements or the selling stockholder will be entitled to contribution. We may be indemnified by the selling stockholder against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act that may arise from any written information furnished to us by the selling stockholder specifically for use in this prospectus, in accordance with the related registration rights agreements or we may be entitled to contribution.

 

Once sold under the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, the shares of common stock will be freely tradable in the hands of persons other than our affiliates.

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”), dated as of December 29, 2017, by and between NET ELEMENT, INC. , a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and ESOUSA HOLDINGS LLC , a New York limited liability company (the “ Buyer ”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein are defined in Section 10 hereof.

 

WHEREAS:

 

A.           The Issuer and Buyer are executing and delivering this Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ 1933 Act ”), and/or Rule 506 of Regulation D (“ Regulation D ”) as promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the 1933 Act.

 

B.           In reliance upon and subject to the respective representations, warranties, covenants, terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, the Company wishes to sell to the Buyer, and the Buyer wishes to buy from the Company, units (the “ Units ”) in an amount equal to Seven Million Five Hundred Fifty Thousand Eight Hundred Eighty-Five Dollars ($7,550,585), with each Unit consisting of one share of the Company’s common stock (the “ Common Stock ”), par value $0.0001, and three-fifth (3/5) of a warrant, where each whole warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Common Stock at the Exercise Price (as defined below) (each a “ Purchase Warrant ”), in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A-1. “ Purchase Shares ” means all or a portion of the number of shares of Common Stock to be sold and purchased hereunder. “ Warrant Shares ” means all or a portion of the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon full exercise of all Warrants (as defined below).

 

C.           The parties hereto shall execute and deliver a Registration Rights Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”), in accordance with which the Issuer has agreed to provide certain registration rights with respect to the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), under the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and applicable state securities laws.

 

D.           The Units, Purchase Shares, the Warrants (as defined below) and the Warrant Shares are collectively referred to herein as the “ Securities ”.

 

NOW THEREFORE , the Company and the Buyer hereby agree as follows:

 

1.           PURCHASE AND SALE OF PURCHASE SHARES AND WARRANTS.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company has the right to sell to the Buyer, and the Buyer has the obligation to purchase from the Company, Purchase Shares as follows:

 

(a)           Purchase Shares and Warrant . Subject to the satisfaction (or waiver) of the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company shall issue and sell to Buyer, and Buyer shall purchase from the Company on the Closing Date (as defined below), the number of Units as is set forth on the Buyer Schedule.

 

(b)           Closing . The date and time of the closing of the transactions contemplated hereunder shall be 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the same Business Day on which the conditions to the Closing set forth in Sections 6 and 7 below are satisfied or waived (or such later date as is mutually agreed to by the Company and the Buyer) (the “ Closing Date ”). As used herein “ Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed.

 

 

 

 

(c)           Purchase Price . The aggregate purchase price for the Units to be purchased by Buyer (the “ Purchase Price ”) shall be paid at the Closing and in the applicable amount as set forth on the Buyer Schedule. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (i) the Purchase Price for the Purchase Shares purchased at the Closing shall be equal to the Consolidated Closing Bid Price on the date hereof, and (ii) the Purchase Price per each Purchase Warrant purchased at the Closing shall be equal to $0.125, and (iii) the exercise price for each Purchase Warrant shall be equal to the Consolidated Closing Bid Price on the date hereof.

 

(d)           Payment of Purchase Price; Delivery of Securities . On the Closing Date, (i) Buyer shall pay the Purchase Price to the Company for the respective Securities to be issued and sold to Buyer at the Closing, by wire transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with the Company’s written wire instructions and (ii) the Company shall issue to Buyer (A) the Purchase Shares to be issued at such Closing as set forth on the Buyer Schedule and (B) the Warrants to be issued at such closing as set forth on the Buyer Schedule (pursuant to which Buyer shall have the right to acquire up to the aggregate number of Warrant Shares as is set forth on the Buyer Schedule in respect of such Warrants), in all cases, duly executed on behalf of the Company and registered in the name of Buyer or its designee, all as set forth on the Buyer Schedule. The Securities issued hereunder shall bear a restrictive legend until such time as Buyer resells such Securities pursuant to the effective Registration Statement or pursuant to Rule 144 under the 1933 Act. To the extent that issuance of any number of shares of Common Stock will cause Buyer’s beneficial ownership of the Common Stock to exceed the Maximum Percentage (as defined below), the Company shall, in lieu of issuing such shares of Common Stock that will cause Buyer’s beneficial ownership of the Common Stock to exceed the Maximum Percentage, issue to Buyer warrants, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A-2, to purchase, at a purchase price of $0.01 per share, the number of shares of Common Stock that would cause Buyer’s beneficial ownership to exceed the Maximum Percentage (the “ Pre-Funded Warrants ” and together with the Purchase Warrants, the “ Warrants ”).

 

(e)           Taxes . The Company shall pay any and all transfer, stamp or similar taxes that may be payable with respect to the issuance and delivery of any shares of Common Stock to the Buyer made under this Agreement.

 

(f)           Beneficial Ownership Limitation . The Company shall not issue and any shares of Common Stock under this Agreement if such shares proposed to be issued and sold, when aggregated with all other shares of Common Stock then owned beneficially (as calculated pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and Rule 13d-3 promulgated thereunder) by the Buyer and its affiliates would result in the beneficial ownership by the Buyer and its affiliates of more than 9.99% of the then issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (the “ Maximum Percentage ”).

 

2.           BUYER’S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

 

The Buyer represents and warrants to the Company that as of the date hereof and as of the Commencement Date:

 

(a)           Investment Purpose . The Buyer is entering into this Agreement and acquiring the Securities for its own account for investment only and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, the public sale or distribution thereof; provided however, by making the representations herein, the Buyer does not agree to hold any of the Securities for any minimum or other specific term.

 

  - 2 -  

 

 

(b)           Accredited Investor Status . The Buyer is an institutional “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D of the 1933 Act.

 

(c)           Reliance on Exemptions . The Buyer understands that the Securities are being offered and sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying in part upon the truth and accuracy of, and the Buyer's compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of the Buyer set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of the Buyer to acquire the Securities.

 

(d)           Information . The Buyer has been furnished with all materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and materials relating to the offer and sale of the Securities that have been reasonably requested by the Buyer, including, without limitation, the SEC Documents (as defined in Section 3(f) hereof). The Buyer understands that its investment in the Securities involves a high degree of risk. The Buyer (i) is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Securities including a total loss, (ii) has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the proposed investment in the Securities and (iii) has had an opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from the officers of the Company concerning the financial condition and business of the Company and other matters related to an investment in the Securities. The Buyer has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to its acquisition of the Securities.

 

(e)           No Governmental Review . The Buyer understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Securities nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Securities.

 

(f)           Transfer or Sale . The Buyer understands that except as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined in Section 4(a) hereof): (i) the Securities have not been and are not being registered under the 1933 Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless (A) subsequently registered thereunder or (B) an exemption exists permitting such Securities to be sold, assigned or transferred without such registration; (ii) any sale of the Securities made in reliance on Rule 144 may be made only in accordance with the terms of Rule 144 and further, if Rule 144 is not applicable, any resale of the Securities under circumstances in which the seller (or the person through whom the sale is made) may be deemed to be an underwriter (as that term is defined in the 1933 Act) may require compliance with some other exemption under the 1933 Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder; and (iii) neither the Company nor any other person is under any obligation to register the Securities under the 1933 Act or any state securities laws or to comply with the terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder.

 

(g)           Organization . The Buyer is a limited liability company duly organized and validly existing in good standing under the laws of the State of New York, and has the requisite organizational power and authority to own its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted.

 

(h)           Validity; Enforcement . This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered on behalf of the Buyer and is a valid and binding agreement of the Buyer enforceable against the Buyer in accordance with its terms, subject as to enforceability to (i) general principles of equity and to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation and other similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of applicable creditors’ rights and remedies and (ii) public policy underlying any law, rule or regulation (including any federal or state securities law, rule or regulation) with regards to indemnification, contribution or exculpation. The execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents by the Buyer and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not conflict with the Buyer’s certificate of organization or operating agreement or similar documents, and do not require further consent or authorization by the Buyer, its managers or its members.

 

  - 3 -  

 

 

(i)           Residency . The Buyer is a resident of the State of New York.

 

(j)           No Prior Short Selling . The Buyer represents and warrants to the Company that at no time prior to the date of this Agreement has any of the Buyer, its agents, representatives or affiliates engaged in or effected, in any manner whatsoever, directly or indirectly, any (i) “short sale” (as such term is defined in Section 242.200 of Regulation SHO of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ 1934 Act ”)) of the Common Stock or (ii) hedging transaction, which establishes a net short position with respect to the Common Stock or any other Company’s securities.

 

3.           REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.

 

The Company represents and warrants to the Buyer that as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date:

 

(a)           Organization and Qualification . The Company and its “Subsidiaries” (which for purposes of this Agreement means any entity in which the Company, directly or indirectly, owns more than 50% of the voting stock or capital stock or other similar equity interests) are corporations or limited liability companies duly organized and validly existing in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which they are incorporated or organized, and have the requisite corporate or organizational power and authority to own their properties and to carry on their business as now being conducted. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or limited liability company to do business and is in good standing in every jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification necessary, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. As used in this Agreement, “ Material Adverse Effect ” means any material adverse effect on any of: (i) the business, properties, assets, operations, results of operations or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, if any, taken as a whole, or (ii) the authority or ability of the Company to perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents (as defined in Section 3(b) hereof).

 

(b)           Authorization; Enforcement; Validity . (i) The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and each of any other agreements entered into by the parties on the Commencement Date and attached hereto as exhibits to this Agreement (collectively, the “ Transaction Documents ”), and to issue the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, (ii) the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including without limitation, the issuance of the Purchase Shares, have been duly authorized by the Company’s Board of Directors or duly authorized committee thereof, do not conflict with the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (as amended through the date hereof) or Bylaws (as mended through the date hereof), and do not require further consent or authorization by the Company, its Board of Directors or its stockholders (other than as contemplated by Section 1(h) hereof), (iii) this Agreement has been, and each other Transaction Document shall be on the Closing Date, duly executed and delivered by the Company and (iv) this Agreement constitutes, and each other Transaction Document upon its execution on behalf of the Company, shall constitute, the valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (y) general principles of equity or applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of creditors' rights and remedies and (z) public policy underlying any law, rule or regulation (including any federal or states securities law, rule or regulation) with regards to indemnification, contribution or exculpation. The Board of Directors of the Company or duly authorized committee thereof has approved the resolutions (the “ Signing Resolutions ”) substantially in the form as set forth as Exhibit C attached hereto to authorize this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. The Signing Resolutions are valid, in full force and effect and have not been modified or supplemented in any material respect.

 

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(c)           Capitalization . As of the date hereof, the authorized capital stock of the Company consists of (i) 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0001, of which as of the date hereof, 3,509,048 shares are issued and outstanding, and (ii) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, of which as of the date hereof no shares are issued and outstanding. All of such outstanding shares have been, or upon issuance will be, validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. Except as disclosed in SEC Documents (as defined below), no shares of the Company’s capital stock are subject to preemptive rights or any other similar rights or any liens or encumbrances suffered or permitted by the Company, (ii) there are no outstanding debt securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) there are no outstanding options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound to issue additional shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iv) there are no material agreements or arrangements under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is obligated to register the sale of any of their securities under the 1933 Act (except the Registration Rights Agreement), (v) there are no outstanding securities or instruments of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which contain any redemption or similar provisions, and there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound to redeem a security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (vi) there are no securities or instruments containing anti-dilution or similar provisions that will be triggered by the issuance of the Securities as described in this Agreement and (vii) the Company does not have any stock appreciation rights or “phantom stock” plans or agreements or any similar plan or agreement. The Company will furnish to the Buyer upon Buyer’s written request copies of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended and as in effect on the date hereof (the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”), and the Company’s Bylaws, as amended and as in effect on the date hereof (the “ Bylaws ”).

 

(d)           Issuance of Securities . Upon issuance and payment therefore in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Purchase Shares shall be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free from all taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issue thereof, with the holders being entitled to all rights accorded to a holder of Common Stock. As of the Closing, the Company shall have reserved from its duly authorized capital stock not less than the sum of 200% of the maximum number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants (without taking into account any limitations on the exercise of the Warrants set forth therein). The issuance of the Warrant Shares is duly authorized, and upon exercise in accordance with the Warrants, the Warrant Shares, when issued, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free from all preemptive or similar rights, taxes, liens, charges and other encumbrances with respect to the issue thereof, with the holders being entitled to all rights accorded to a holder of Common Stock. Subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Buyer in this Agreement, the offer and issuance by the Company of the Securities are exempt from registration under the 1933 Act. Buyer will have good and marketable title to the Securities.

 

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(e)           No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Purchase Shares and Warrants and the reservation for issuance and issuance of the Warrant Shares) will not (i) result in a violation of the Certificate of Incorporation, including any Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of any outstanding series of preferred stock of the Company, or the Bylaws or (ii) constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, or result, to the Company’s knowledge, in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including federal and state securities laws and regulations and the rules and regulations of the Principal Market applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) or by which any property or asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or affected, except in the case of defaults, terminations, amendments, accelerations, cancellations and violations under clause (ii), which could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3(e), neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries is in violation of any term of or in default under its Certificate of Incorporation, including any Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of any outstanding series of preferred stock of the Company, or Bylaws or their organizational charter or bylaws, respectively. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3(e), neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any term of or is in default under any material contract, agreement, mortgage, indebtedness, indenture, instrument, judgment, decree or order or any statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or its Subsidiaries, except for possible violations, defaults, terminations or amendments that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The business of the Company and its Subsidiaries is not being conducted, and shall not be conducted, in violation of any law, ordinance, or regulation of any governmental entity, except for possible violations, the sanctions for which either individually or in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as specifically contemplated by this Agreement, reporting obligations under the 1934 Act or as required under the 1933 Act or applicable state securities laws or the filing of a Listing of Additional Shares Notification Form with the Principal Market, the Company is not required to obtain any consent, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with, any court or governmental agency or any regulatory or self-regulatory agency in order for it to execute, deliver or perform any of its obligations under or contemplated by the Transaction Documents in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof. Except for reporting obligations under the 1934 Act, all consents, authorizations, orders, filings and registrations which the Company is required to obtain pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be obtained or effected on or prior to the Commencement Date. The Company is not subject to any notices or actions from or to the Principal Market, except as disclosed in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC on December 30, 2016, July 3, 2017, August 21, 2017 and October 20, 2017 and other than routine matters incident to listing on the Principal Market and not involving a violation of the rules of the Principal Market. To the Company’s knowledge, except as disclosed in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the SEC on December 30, 2016, July 3, 2017, August 21, 2017 and October 20, 2017, the Principal Market has not commenced any delisting proceedings against the Company.

 

(f)           SEC Documents; Financial Statements . The Company filed current Form 10 information with the SEC over 12 months ago. The Company has filed all reports and other materials required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act, as applicable, during the preceding 12 months (other than certain Form 8-K reports) (all of the foregoing filed prior to the date hereof and all exhibits included therein and financial statements, notes and schedules thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein being hereinafter referred to as the “ SEC Documents ”).

 

(g)           Absence of Certain Changes . Since December 31, 2016, there has been no material adverse change in the business, properties, operations, financial condition or results of operations of the Company or its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

 

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(h)           Acknowledgment Regarding Buyer’s Status . The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Buyer is acting solely in the capacity of arm’s length purchaser with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and that Buyer is not (i) an officer or director of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) an “ Affiliate ” (as defined in Rule 405 of the 1933 Act and calculated based on the assumption that only officers, directors and holders of at least 10% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Common Stock are Affiliates without conceding that any such Persons are “affiliates” for purposes of federal securities laws) or (iii) to its actual knowledge, a “beneficial owner” of more than 10% of the shares of Common Stock (as defined for purposes of Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act). The Company further acknowledges that the Buyer is not acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of the Company (or in any similar capacity) with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and any advice given by the Buyer or any of its representatives or agents in connection with the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby is merely incidental to the Buyer’s purchase of the Securities. The Company further represents to the Buyer that the Company’s decision to enter into the Transaction Documents has been based solely on the independent evaluation by the Company and its representatives and advisors.

 

(i)           Intellectual Property Rights. To the Company’s knowledge, the Company and its Subsidiaries own or possess adequate rights or licenses to use all material trademarks, trade names, service marks, service mark registrations, service names, patents, patent rights, copyrights, inventions, licenses, approvals, governmental authorizations, trade secrets and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “ Intellectual Property ”) necessary to conduct their respective businesses as now conducted, or to the extent that the failure to own, possess, license or otherwise hold adequate rights to use Intellectual Property would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. To the Company’s knowledge, none of the Company’s active and registered Intellectual Property will expire or terminate by the terms and conditions thereof within two years from the date of this Agreement which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its Subsidiaries do not have any knowledge of any infringement by the Company or its Subsidiaries of any Intellectual Property of others and there is no claim, action or proceeding being made or brought against, or to the Company’s knowledge, being threatened against, the Company or its Subsidiaries regarding Intellectual Property, which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(j)           Environmental Laws . To the Company’s knowledge, the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) are in material compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment or human health and safety and with respect to hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“ Environmental Laws ”), (ii) have received all material permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (iii) are in material compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except where, in each of the three foregoing clauses, the failure to so comply or receive such approvals could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(k)           Title . The Company has good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them that is material to the business of the Company free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company or could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. Any real property and facilities held under lease by the Company, to the Company’s knowledge, are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company.

 

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(l)           Application of Takeover Protections . The Company and its board of directors have taken or will take prior to the Commencement Date all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable any control share acquisition, business combination, poison pill (including any distribution under a rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Certificate of Incorporation or the laws of the state of its incorporation which is or could become applicable to the Buyer as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Company’s issuance of the Securities and the Buyer’s ownership of the Securities.

 

(m)          No Disqualification Event . None of the Company, any of its predecessors, any affiliated issuer, any director, executive officer, other officer of the Company participating in the offering contemplated hereby, any beneficial owner of 20% or more of the Company’s outstanding voting equity securities, calculated on the basis of voting power, nor any promoter (as that term is defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) connected with the Company in any capacity at the time of sale (each, an “ Issuer Covered Person ”) is subject to any of the “Bad Actor” disqualifications described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i) to (viii) under the 1933 Act (a “ Disqualification Event ”), except for a Disqualification Event covered by Rule 506(d)(2) or (d)(3). The Company has exercised reasonable care to determine whether any Issuer Covered Person is subject to a Disqualification Event.

 

4.           COVENANTS.

 

(a)           Filing of Form 8-K and Registration Statement . The Company agrees that it shall, within the time required under the 1934 Act, file a Current Report on Form 8-K disclosing this Agreement and the transaction contemplated hereby. The Company shall use reasonable commercial efforts to file with the SEC within twenty-one (21) calendar days from the date hereof a new registration statement covering the sale of the Securities by the Buyer, as set forth further on the Buyer Schedule, in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and the Buyer, dated as of the date hereof.

 

(b)           Blue Sky . The Company shall take such action, if any, as is reasonably necessary in order to obtain an exemption for or to qualify (i) the initial issuance of the Securities to the Buyer under this Agreement and (ii) any subsequent sale of the Securities by the Buyer, in each case, under applicable securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the states of the United States in such states as is reasonably requested by the Buyer from time to time, and shall provide evidence of any such action so taken to the Buyer at its written request.

 

(c)           Listing . The Company shall promptly secure the listing of all of the Securities upon each national securities exchange and automated quotation system that requires an application by the Company for listing, if any, upon which shares of Common Stock are then listed (subject to official notice of issuance) or traded (including, if at any time applicable, the OTC Bulletin Board, or the OTCQB or OTCQX market places of the OTC Markets) and shall maintain such listing, so long as any other shares of Common Stock shall be so listed. The Company shall use its reasonable commercial efforts to maintain the Common Stock’s listing on the Principal Market in accordance with the requirements of the Registration Rights Agreement. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall take any action that would be reasonably expected to result in the delisting or suspension of the Common Stock on the Principal Market, unless the Common Stock is immediately thereafter traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE MKT, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the OTC Bulletin Board, or the OTCQB or OTCQX market places of the OTC Markets. The Company shall pay all fees and expenses in connection with satisfying its obligations under this Section.

 

(d)           Limitation on Short Sales and Hedging Transactions . The Buyer agrees that beginning on the date of this Agreement and ending on the date of termination of this Agreement as provided in Section 10(k), the Buyer and its agents, representatives and affiliates shall not in any manner whatsoever enter into or effect, directly or indirectly, any (i) “short sale” (as such term is defined in Section 242.200 of Regulation SHO of the 1934 Act) of the Common Stock or (ii) hedging transaction, which establishes a net short position with respect to the Common Stock or any other Company’s securities.

 

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(e)           Due Diligence . The Buyer shall have the right, from time to time as the Buyer may reasonably deem appropriate, to perform reasonable due diligence on the Company during normal business hours and subject to reasonable prior notice to the Company. The Company and its officers and employees shall provide information and reasonably cooperate with the Buyer in connection with any reasonable request by the Buyer related to the Buyer’s due diligence of the Company, including, but not limited to, any such request made by the Buyer in connection with the filing of the registration statement described in Section 4(a) hereof; provided, however, that at no time is the Company required or permitted to disclose material nonpublic information to the Buyer or breach any obligation of confidentiality or non-disclosure to a third party or make any disclosure that could cause a waiver of attorney-client privilege. Except as may be required by law, court order or governmental authority, each party hereto agrees not to disclose any Confidential Information of the other party to any third party and shall not use the Confidential Information of such other party for any purpose other than in connection with, or in furtherance of, the transactions contemplated hereby. Each party hereto acknowledges that the Confidential Information shall remain the property of the disclosing party and agrees that it shall take all reasonable measures to protect the secrecy of any Confidential Information disclosed by the other party.

 

(f)           Disposition of Securities . The Buyer shall not sell any Securities except as provided in this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the “Plan of Distribution” section of the prospectus included in the Registration Statement. The Buyer shall not transfer any Securities except pursuant to sales described in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the prospectus included in the Registration Statement or pursuant to Rule 144 under the 1933 Act. In the event of any sales of Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement, the Buyer will (i) effect such sales pursuant to the “Plan of Distribution” section of the prospectus included in the Registration Statement, and (ii) will comply with all applicable prospectus delivery requirements.

 

(g)           Issuance of Additional Securities . The Company agrees that for the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the date immediately following the 30th day after the satisfaction of the Registration Statement condition set forth on the Buyer Schedule (the “ Restricted Period ”), the Company shall not directly or indirectly issue, offer, sell, grant any option or right to purchase, or otherwise dispose of (or announce any issuance, offer, sale, grant of any option or right to purchase or other disposition of) any equity security or any equity-linked or related security (including, without limitation, any “equity security” (as that term is defined under Rule 405 promulgated under the 1933 Act), any securities that are convertible into Common Stock (the “ Convertible Securities ”), any preferred stock or any purchase rights for equity securities of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may issue during the Restricted Period the following: (i) issuances pursuant to acquisitions, joint ventures, license arrangements, leasing arrangements and similar transaction arrangements; (ii) equity awards or other compensatory issuances of the Company’s equity securities to the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ employees, independent contractors, consultants, officers and/or directors; or (iii) the exercise of preexisting rights under financing agreements, including issuances pursuant to prior equity lines and warrants or preferred shares currently outstanding, provided, however, that the Company shall not have modified the terms of any financing agreements or warrants to increase the number of securities that are existing or reduce the conversion or exercise price, as applicable, except as provided in such financing agreements or warrants. The Company further agrees that, without prior consent of the Buyer, until the earlier of (A) six (6) months after the date on which the Registration Statement is declare effective or (B) the date on which Buyer has sold or disposed of all Securities, the Company will not issue any floating conversion rate or variable priced securities convertible into Common Stock.

 

5.           TRANSFER AGENT INSTRUCTIONS.

 

So long as the Buyer complies with its obligations in Section 4(f) and subject to the provisions set forth in Section 1(d), all of the Securities to be issued under this Agreement shall be issued without any restrictive legend unless the Buyer expressly consents otherwise. The Company shall issue irrevocable instructions to the Transfer Agent, and any subsequent transfer agent, to issue Common Stock in the name of the Buyer for the Purchase Shares (the “ Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions” ).

 

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6.           CONDITIONS TO THE COMPANY’S OBLIGATION TO SELL.

 

The obligation of the Company hereunder to issue and sell the Units at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for the Company’s sole benefit and may be waived by the Company at any time in its sole discretion by providing Buyer with prior written notice thereof:

 

(a)          Buyer shall have executed each of the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party and delivered the same to the Company.

 

(b)          Buyer and each other Buyer shall have delivered to the Company the Purchase Price for the Purchase Shares and Warrants being purchased by Buyer at the Closing by wire transfer of immediately available funds pursuant to the wire instructions provided by the Company.

 

(c)          The representations and warranties of Buyer set forth in Section 2 shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date when made and as of the Closing Date as though originally made at that time (except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date, which shall be true and correct as of such date), and Buyer shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by Buyer at or prior to the Closing Date.

 

(d)          Buyer shall have executed and delivered, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company, such questionnaires and documents in support thereof that the Company and its agents deem reasonably necessary (or prudent) to comply with the requirements of Regulation D with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

7.           CONDITIONS TO THE BUYER’S OBLIGATION TO PURCHASE.

 

The obligation of Buyer hereunder to purchase the Units at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before each applicable Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for Buyer’s sole benefit and may be waived by Buyer at any time in its sole discretion by providing the Company with prior written notice thereof:

 

(e)          The Company and each subsidiary (as the case may be) shall have duly executed and delivered to Buyer each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the Company shall have duly executed and delivered to Buyer the Purchase Shares and the Warrants as is set forth on the Buyer Schedule and the Company shall have complied in all respects with all obligations under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, including, without limitation, the Warrants and the Registration Rights Agreement. The Company shall have delivered to Buyer a certificate, in the form previously provided to the Company by Buyer, executed by the Secretary of the Company and dated as of the Closing Date, as to (i) the Signing Resolutions consistent with Section 3(b) as adopted by the Company’s board of directors in a form reasonably acceptable to Buyer, (ii) the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company and (iii) the Bylaws of the Company as in effect at the Closing.

 

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(f)          Each and every representation and warranty of the Company shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date when made and as of the Closing Date as though originally made at that time (except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date, which shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such date) and the Company shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the Company at or prior to the Closing Date, including, without limitation the issuance of all Securities prior to the Closing Date as required by the Transaction Documents and the Company has a sufficient number of duly authorized shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance as may be required to fulfill its obligations pursuant to the Transaction Documents. Buyer shall have received a certificate, executed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, to the foregoing effect and as to such other matters as may be reasonably requested by Buyer in the form reasonably acceptable to Buyer.

 

(g)         The Company shall have obtained all governmental, regulatory or third party consents and approvals, if any, necessary for the sale of the Securities.

 

(h)          No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction that prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, and no actions, suits or proceedings shall be in progress or pending by any Person that seeks to enjoin, prohibit or otherwise adversely affect any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.

 

(i)          No event of default exists or has occurred for which the Company has received a notice from a lender, under any outstanding loan or credit facility to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party, in connection with a breach of a financial covenant set forth in the governing agreement of such loan or credit facility;

 

(j)          The Company shall have delivered to Buyer such other documents, instruments or certificates relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement reasonably required to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(k)          Such other conditions which are set forth on the Buyer Schedule.

 

(l)           No Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or any event which, after notice and/or lapse of time, would become an Event of Default has occurred; and

 

(m)         On or prior to the Closing, the Company shall take all necessary action, if any, and such actions as reasonably requested by the Buyer, in order to render inapplicable any control share acquisition, business combination, stockholder rights plan or poison pill (including any distribution under a rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Certificate of Incorporation or the laws of the state of its incorporation, that is or could become applicable to the Buyer as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Company's issuance of the Securities and the Buyer's ownership of the Securities.

 

8.           EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

 

An “ Event of Default ” shall be deemed to have occurred at any time as the following events occurs:

 

(a)          while any registration statement is required to be maintained effective pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, the effectiveness of such registration statement lapses for any reason (including, without limitation, the issuance of a stop order) or is unavailable to the Buyer for the sale of all of the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), and such lapse or unavailability continues for a period of thirty ten (10) consecutive Business Days or for more than an aggregate of thirty (30) Business Days in any 365-day period, which is not in connection with a post-effective amendment to any such registration statement or the filing of a new registration statement; provided, however, that in connection with any post-effective amendment to such registration statement or filing of a new registration statement that is required to be declared effective by the SEC, such lapse or unavailability may continue for a period of no more than sixty (60) consecutive Business Days, which such period shall be extended for up to an additional thirty (30) Business Days if the Company receives a comment letter from the SEC in connection therewith;

 

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(b)          the suspension of the Common Stock from trading for a period of three (3) consecutive trading days;

 

(c)          the delisting of the Common Stock from the Principal Market, and the Common Stock is not promptly thereafter trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE MKT, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the OTC Bulletin Board or either of the OTCQB marketplace or the OTCQX marketplace of the OTC Markets Group;

 

(d)          the Company’s breach of any representation or warranty (as of the dates made), covenant or other term or condition under any Transaction Document if such breach could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and except only if such breach continues uncured for a period of at least twenty (20) Business Days;

 

(e)          if the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law; (A) commences a voluntary case, (B) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case, (C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its and its Subsidiaries’ property, or (D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;

 

(f)          unless dismissed within 90 days from each of the following events, a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that (A) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case, (B) appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of its and its Subsidiaries’ property, or (C) orders the liquidation of the Company; or

 

(g)          the Company ceases for more than three (3) consecutive Business Day to be eligible, through its Transfer Agent, to issue and transfer shares of Common Stock electronically to third parties via the DTC FAST Program of the DWAC system of the Depository Trust Company.

 

9.           CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS.

 

For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(a)          “ 1933 Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

(b)          “ Bankruptcy Law ” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

 

(c)          “ Business Day ” means any day on which the Principal Market is open for trading during normal trading hours (i.e., 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time), including any day on which the Principal Market is open for trading for a period of time less than the customary time.

 

(d)          “ Consolidated Closing Bid Price ” means the consolidated closing bid price for the Common Stock on the Principal Market as reported by the Principal Market.

 

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(e)          “ Confidential Information ” means any information disclosed by either party to the other party, either directly or indirectly, in writing, orally or by inspection of tangible objects (including, without limitation, documents, prototypes, samples, plant and equipment), which is designated as "Confidential," "Proprietary" or some similar designation. Confidential Information may also include information disclosed to a disclosing party by third parties. Confidential Information shall not, however, include any information which (i) was publicly known and made generally available in the public domain prior to the time of disclosure by the disclosing party; (ii) becomes publicly known and made generally available after disclosure by the disclosing party to the receiving party through no action or inaction of the receiving party; (iii) is already in the possession of the receiving party at the time of disclosure by the disclosing party as shown by the receiving party’s files and records immediately prior to the time of disclosure; (iv) is obtained by the receiving party from a third party without a breach of such third party’s obligations of confidentiality; (v) is independently developed by the receiving party without use of or reference to the disclosing party’s Confidential Information, as shown by documents and other competent evidence in the receiving party’s possession; or (vi) is required by law to be disclosed by the receiving party, provided that the receiving party gives the disclosing party prompt written notice of such requirement prior to such disclosure and assistance in obtaining an order protecting the information from public disclosure.

 

(f)          “ Custodian ” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

(g)          “ Person ” means an individual or entity including any limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization and a government or any department or agency thereof.

 

(h)          “ Principal Market ” means the Nasdaq Capital Market; provided however, that in the event the Company’s Common Stock is ever listed or traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE MKT, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the OTC Bulletin Board or either of the OTCQB marketplace or the OTCQX marketplace of the OTC Markets Group, then the “Principal Market” shall mean such other market or exchange on which the Company’s Common Stock is then listed or traded.

 

(i)          “ Transfer Agent ” means the transfer agent of the Company as set forth in Section 10(f) hereof or such other person who is then serving as the transfer agent for the Company in respect of the Common Stock.

 

10.         MISCELLANEOUS.

 

(a)           Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Jury Trial . The corporate laws of the State of Delaware shall govern all issues concerning the relative rights of the Company and its stockholders. All other questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the County of New York, New York, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or under the other Transaction Documents or in connection herewith or therewith, or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

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(b)           Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in two or more identical counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party; provided that a facsimile or pdf (or other electronic reproduction) signature shall be considered due execution and shall be binding upon the signatory thereto with the same force and effect as if the signature were an original, not a facsimile or PDF (or other electronic reproduction) signature.

 

(c)           Headings . The headings of this Agreement are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Agreement.

 

(d)           Severability . If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in that jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of any provision of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction.

 

(e)           Entire Agreement . This Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement supersede all other prior oral or written agreements between the Buyer, the Company, their affiliates and persons acting on their behalf with respect to the matters discussed herein, and this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and the instruments referenced herein contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the matters covered herein and therein and, except as specifically set forth herein or therein, neither the Company nor the Buyer makes any representation, warranty, covenant or undertaking with respect to such matters. The Company acknowledges and agrees that is has not relied on, in any manner whatsoever, any representations or statements, written or oral, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement.

 

(f)           Notices . Any notices, consents or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by facsimile (provided confirmation of transmission is mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party); (iii) upon receipt, when sent by electronic message (provided the recipient responds to the message and confirmation of both electronic messages are kept on file by the sending party); or (iv) one (1) Business Day after timely deposit with a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, in each case properly addressed to the party to receive the same. The addresses and facsimile numbers for such communications shall be:

 

If to the Company:

 

  Net Element, Inc.
  3363 NE 163rd Street, Suite 705
  North Miami Beach, FL 33160
  Telephone: (786) 923-0515
  Facsimile: (786) 272-0696
  E-mail: swolberg@netelement.com
  Attention: Chief Legal Officer

 

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If to the Buyer:

 

Esousa Holdings LLC

211 East 43 rd Street

Suite 402

New York, NY 10017

Telephone: (646) 278-6785

Facsimile: (212) 732-1131

Email: rachel@esousallc.com

Attention: Rachel Glicksman

 

If to the Transfer Agent:

 

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company

17 Battery Place, 8 th Floor

New York, NY 10004
Telephone: (212) 845-3217

E-mail: mmullings@continentalstock.com

Attention: Michael G. Mullings

 

or at such other address and/or facsimile number and/or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by written notice given to each other party one (1) Business Day prior to the effectiveness of such change. Written confirmation of receipt (A) given by the recipient of such notice, consent or other communication, (B) mechanically or electronically generated by the sender’s facsimile machine containing the time, date, and recipient facsimile number, (C) electronically generated by the sender’s electronic mail containing the time, date and recipient email address or (D) provided by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, shall be rebuttable evidence of receipt in accordance with clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above, respectively.

 

(g)           Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and assigns. The Company shall not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Buyer, including by merger or consolidation. The Buyer may not assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement.

 

(h)           No Third Party Beneficiaries . This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other person.

 

(i)           Public Disclosure . The Company shall be entitled, without the prior approval of the Buyer, to make any press release or other public disclosure (including any filings with the SEC) with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby as is required by applicable law and regulations.

 

(j)           Further Assurances . Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as the other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(k)           No Financial Advisor, Placement Agent, Broker or Finder . The Company represents and warrants to the Buyer that it has not engaged any financial advisor, placement agent, broker or finder in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby. The Buyer represents and warrants to the Company that it has not engaged any financial advisor, placement agent, broker or finder in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby. Each party shall be responsible for the payment of any fees or commissions, if any, of any financial advisor, placement agent, broker or finder engaged by such party relating to or arising out of the transactions contemplated hereby. Each party shall pay, and hold the other party harmless against, any liability, loss or expense (including, without limitation, attorneys' fees and out of pocket expenses) arising in connection with any such claim.

 

  - 15 -  

 

 

(l)           No Strict Construction . The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party.

 

(m)         Failure or Indulgence Not Waiver . No failure or delay in the exercise of any power, right or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other right, power or privilege.

 

[Signatures are on next page.]

 

  - 16 -  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Buyer and the Company have caused this Unit Purchase Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

  THE COMPANY :
   
  NET ELEMENT, INC.

 

  By: /s/ Oleg Firer
  Name: Oleg Firer
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

  BUYER:
   
  ESOUSA HOLDINGS LLC

 

  By: /s/ Rachel Glicksman
  Name: Rachel Glicksman
  Title: Managing Member

 

 

 

 

BUYER SCHEDULE

 

Name of Buyer: Esousa Holdings LLC

 

Units to be issued and sold to Buyer at the Closing: 674,460 Units, at the Purchase Price of $7,500,000 plus $0.125 per each Purchase Warrant in the aggregate.

 

Common Stock included in each Unit : One (1) share of Common Stock of the Company, at a purchase price per share of $11.12.

 

Purchase Warrant included in each Unit : Three-fifths (3/5) of a five-year warrant to acquire one (1) share of Common Stock at a purchase price of $0.125. The exercise price of each Purchase Warrant shall be $11.12.

 

Effectiveness of Registration Statement Condition

 

Buyer’s release from the restrictive covenant set forth in Section 4(g) of this Agreement is subject to the fulfillment of the following condition:

 

1. The Registration Statement (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), which must be filed on Form S-1 or Form S-3, has been declared effective by the SEC and covers the sale by Buyer (in accordance with the plan of distribution called for by the Registration Rights Agreement) of the Common Stock contemplated by, and in the amount of, the Required Registration Amount (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement. If the Registration Statement is not declared effective within 90 days of the Closing Date, the Company shall incur penalties of 1% of the aggregate purchase price of the Securities per month for each month, or partial month, that the SEC fails to declare such Initial Registration Statement Effective. Such penalties shall be payable in cash or in Common Stock and shall lapse upon the six-month anniversary of the Closing Date so long as the Buyer’s Common Stock are eligible for sale, without restriction, under Rule 144.

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A-1

FORM OF PURCHASE WARRANT

 

NEITHER THIS WARRANT NOR THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THESE SECURITIES HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR BLUE SKY LAWS. IN ADDITION, HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS WARRANT MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

NET ELEMENT, INC.

 

WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK

 

Warrant No. 2017-[    ]   Original Issue Date: December 29, 2017

 

Net Element, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), hereby certifies that, for value received, Esousa Holdings LLC, a New York limited liability company, or its permitted registered assigns (the “ Holder ”), is entitled to purchase from the Company up to a total of [____] shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value (the “ Common Stock ”), of the Company (each such share, a “ Warrant Share ” and all such shares, the “ Warrant Shares ”) at an exercise price per share equal to $[______] (as adjusted from time to time as provided in Section 9 herein, the “ Exercise Price ”), at any time and from time to time from on or after the Original Issue Date set forth above (the “ Trigger Date ”) and through and including 5:30 P.M., prevailing New York time, on December 29, 2022 (the “ Expiration Date ”), and subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

This Warrant (this “ Warrant ”) is one warrant, or one of a series of similar warrants, issued pursuant to that certain Unit Purchase Agreement, dated December 29, 2017, by and among the Company and the Purchaser(s) identified therein (the “ Purchase Agreement ”). All such warrants are referred to herein, collectively, as the “ Warrants .”

 

1.           Definitions . In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Warrant, capitalized terms that are not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given to such terms in the Purchase Agreement.

 

2.           Registration of Warrants . The Company shall register this Warrant, upon records to be maintained by the Company for that purpose (the “ Warrant Register ”), in the name of the record Holder (which shall include the initial Holder or, as the case may be, any registered assignee to which this Warrant is permissibly assigned hereunder) from time to time. The Company may deem and treat the registered Holder of this Warrant as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of any exercise hereof or any distribution to the Holder, and for all other purposes, absent actual notice to the contrary.

 

 

 

 

3.           Registration of Transfers . Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in Sections 2(f) and 4(f) of the Purchase Agreement and compliance with all applicable securities laws, the Company shall register the transfer of all or any portion of this Warrant in the Warrant Register, upon (i) surrender of this Warrant, with the Form of Assignment attached as Schedule 2 hereto duly completed and signed, to the Company’s transfer agent or to the Company at its address specified herein and (ii) if the Registration Statement is not effective, (x) delivery, at the request of the Company, of documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Company to the effect that the transfer of such portion of this Warrant may be made pursuant to an available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and all applicable state securities or blue sky laws and (y) delivery by the transferee of a written statement to the Company certifying that the transferee is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act and making the representations and certifications set forth in Section 2(b), (c), (d) and (f) of the Purchase Agreement, to the Company at its address specified in the Purchase Agreement. Upon any such registration or transfer, a new warrant to purchase Common Stock in substantially the form of this Warrant (any such new warrant, a “ New Warrant ”) evidencing the portion of this Warrant so transferred shall be issued to the transferee, and a New Warrant evidencing the remaining portion of this Warrant not so transferred, if any, shall be issued to the transferring Holder. The acceptance of the New Warrant by the transferee thereof shall be deemed the acceptance by such transferee of all of the rights and obligations of a Holder of a Warrant.

 

4.           Exercise and Duration of Warrants .

 

(a)          Subject to Section 11 hereof, all or any part of this Warrant shall be exercisable by the registered Holder at any time and from time to time on or after the Trigger Date and through and including 5:30 P.M. prevailing Ney York time on the Expiration Date. At 5:30 P.M., prevailing New York time, on the Expiration Date, the portion of this Warrant not exercised prior thereto shall be and become void and of no value and this Warrant shall be terminated and no longer outstanding;

 

(b)          The Holder may exercise this Warrant by delivering to the Company (i) an exercise notice, in the form attached as Schedule 1 hereto (the “ Exercise Notice ”), appropriately completed and duly signed, (ii) payment of the Exercise Price in immediately available funds for the number of Warrant Shares as to which this Warrant is being exercised (which may take the form of a “cashless exercise” if so indicated in the Exercise Notice and if a “cashless exercise” may occur at such time pursuant to Section 10 below), and the date such items are delivered to the Company (as determined in accordance with the notice provisions hereof) is an “ Exercise Date .” The delivery by (or on behalf of) the Holder of the Exercise Notice and the applicable Exercise Price as provided above shall constitute the Holder’s certification to the Company that its representations contained in Section 2(b), (c), (d) and (f) of the Purchase Agreement are true and correct as of the Exercise Date as if remade in their entirety (or, in the case of any transferee Holder that is not a party to the Purchase Agreement, such transferee Holder’s certification to the Company that such representations are true and correct as to such assignee Holder as of the Exercise Date). The Holder shall not be required to deliver the original Warrant in order to effect an exercise hereunder. Execution and delivery of the Exercise Notice shall have the same effect as cancellation of the original Warrant and issuance of a New Warrant evidencing the right to purchase the remaining number (if any) of Warrant Shares.

 

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5.           Delivery of Warrant Shares . Upon exercise of this Warrant, the Company shall promptly (but in no event later than two Trading Days after the Exercise Date) issue or cause to be issued and cause to be delivered to or upon the written order of the Holder and in such name or names as the Holder may designate (provided that, if the Registration Statement is not effective and the Holder directs the Company to deliver a certificate for the Warrant Shares in a name other than that of the Holder or an Affiliate of the Holder, it shall deliver to the Company on the Exercise Date an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company to the effect that the issuance of such Warrant Shares in such other name may be made pursuant to an available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and all applicable state securities or blue sky laws), a certificate for the Warrant Shares issuable upon such exercise, free of restrictive legends, unless a registration statement covering the resale of the Warrant Shares and naming the Holder as a selling stockholder thereunder is not then effective or the Warrant Shares are not freely transferable pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act pursuant to transactions in which paragraph (c)(1) of such rule do not apply. The Holder, or any Person permissibly so designated by the Holder to receive Warrant Shares, shall be deemed to have become the holder of record of such Warrant Shares as of the Exercise Date. If the Warrant Shares are to be issued free of all restrictive legends, the Company shall, upon the written request of the Holder, use its best efforts to deliver, or cause to be delivered, Warrant Shares hereunder electronically through The Depository Trust Company or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions, if available; provided, that, the Company may, but will not be required to, change its transfer agent if its current transfer agent cannot deliver Warrant Shares electronically through such a clearing corporation.

 

6.           Charges, Taxes and Expenses . Issuance and delivery of certificates for shares of Common Stock upon exercise of this Warrant shall be made without charge to the Holder for any issue or transfer tax, transfer agent fee or other incidental tax or expense in respect of the issuance of such certificates, all of which taxes and expenses shall be paid by the Company; provided, however , that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the registration of any certificates for Warrant Shares or Warrants in a name other than that of the Holder or an Affiliate thereof. The Holder shall be responsible for all other tax liability that may arise as a result of holding or transferring this Warrant or receiving Warrant Shares upon exercise hereof.

 

7.           Replacement of Warrant . If this Warrant is mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued in exchange and substitution for and upon cancellation hereof, or in lieu of and substitution for this Warrant, a New Warrant, but only upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of such loss, theft or destruction (in such case) and, in each case, a customary and reasonable indemnity (which shall not include a surety bond), if requested. Applicants for a New Warrant under such circumstances shall also comply with such other reasonable regulations and procedures and pay such other reasonable third-party costs as the Company may prescribe. If a New Warrant is requested as a result of a mutilation of this Warrant, then the Holder shall deliver such mutilated Warrant to the Company as a condition precedent to the Company’s obligation to issue the New Warrant.

 

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8.           Reservation of Warrant Shares . The Company covenants that it will at all times reserve and keep available out of the aggregate of its authorized but unissued and otherwise unreserved Common Stock, solely for the purpose of enabling it to issue Warrant Shares upon exercise of this Warrant as herein provided, the number of Warrant Shares which are then issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of this entire Warrant, free from preemptive rights or any other contingent purchase rights of persons other than the Holder (taking into account the adjustments and restrictions of Section 9). The Company covenants that all Warrant Shares so issuable and deliverable shall, upon issuance and the payment of the applicable Exercise Price in accordance with the terms hereof, be duly and validly authorized, issued and fully paid and nonassessable. The Company will take all such action as may be necessary to assure that such shares of Common Stock may be issued as provided herein without violation of any applicable law or regulation, or of any requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Common Shares may be listed.

 

9.           Certain Adjustments . The Exercise Price and number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant are subject to adjustment from time to time as set forth in this Section 9 .

 

(a)           Stock Dividends and Splits . If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding, (i) pays a stock dividend on its Common Stock or otherwise makes a distribution on any class of capital stock that is payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivides its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares, (iii) combines its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (iv) otherwise conducts a corporate action or transaction to change the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, including any reorganization, recapitalization, or other transaction similar to (i) through (iii), then in each such case the Exercise Price shall be multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately before such event and the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event. Any adjustment made pursuant to this paragraph shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution or the effective date of such subdivision or combination, as applicable.

 

(b)           Fundamental Transactions . If, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding (i) the Company effects any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person, in which the shareholders of the Company as of immediately prior to the transaction own less than a majority of the outstanding stock of the surviving entity, (ii) the Company effects any sale of all or substantially all of its assets or a majority of its Common Stock is acquired by a third party, in each case, in one or a series of related transactions, (iii) any tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Company or another Person) is completed pursuant to which all or substantially all of the holders of Common Stock are permitted to tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property and would result in the shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such tender offer or exchange offer owning less than a majority of the outstanding stock after such tender offer or exchange offer, or (iv) the Company effects any reclassification of the Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property (other than as a result of a subdivision or combination of shares of Common Stock covered by Section 9(a) above) (in any such case, a “ Fundamental Transaction ”), then the Holder shall have the right thereafter to receive, upon exercise of this Warrant, the same amount and kind of securities, cash or property as it would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction if it had been, immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction, the holder of the number of Warrant Shares then issuable upon exercise in full of this Warrant without regard to any limitations on exercise contained herein (the “ Alternate Consideration ”). The Company shall not effect any such Fundamental Transaction unless prior to or simultaneously with the consummation thereof, any successor to the Company, surviving entity or the corporation purchasing or otherwise acquiring such assets or other appropriate corporation or entity shall assume the obligation to deliver to the Holder, such Alternate Consideration as, in accordance with the foregoing provisions, the Holder may be entitled to purchase and/or receive (as the case may be), and the other obligations under this Warrant. The provisions of this paragraph (b) shall similarly apply to subsequent transactions analogous to a Fundamental Transaction.

 

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(c)           Number of Warrant Shares . Simultaneously with any adjustment to the Exercise Price pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section, the number of Warrant Shares that may be purchased upon exercise of this Warrant shall be increased or decreased proportionately, so that after such adjustment the aggregate Exercise Price payable hereunder for the increased or decreased number of Warrant Shares shall be the same as the aggregate Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment.

 

(d)           Calculations . All calculations under this Section 9 shall be made to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100 th of a share, as applicable. The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any given time shall not include shares owned or held by or for the account of the Company, and the sale or issuance of any such shares shall be considered an issue or sale of Common Stock.

 

10.          Payment of Exercise Price . The Holder shall pay the Exercise Price in immediately available funds; provided, however , that if, on any Exercise Date a registration statement registering the issuance or resale of the Warrant Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”) is not effective, the Holder may, in its sole discretion, satisfy its obligation to pay the Exercise Price through a “cashless exercise”, in which event the Company shall issue to the Holder the number of Warrant Shares determined as follows:

 

X = Y [(A-B)/A]

 

where:

 

X = the number of Warrant Shares to be issued to the Holder.

 

Y = the total number of Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant is being exercised.

 

A = the average of the Closing Sale Prices of the shares of Common Stock (as reported by Bloomberg Financial Markets) for the five Trading Days ending on the date immediately preceding the Exercise Date.

 

B = the Exercise Price then in effect for the applicable Warrant Shares at the time of such exercise.

 

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For purposes of this Warrant, “ Closing Sale Price ” means, for any security as of any date, the last trade price for such security on the principal securities exchange or trading market for such security, as reported by Bloomberg Financial Markets, or, if such exchange or trading market begins to operate on an extended hours basis and does not designate the last trade price, then the last trade price of such security prior to 4:00 p.m., New York Time, as reported by Bloomberg Financial Markets, or if the foregoing do not apply, the last trade price of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such security as reported by Bloomberg Financial Markets, or, if no last trade price is reported for such security by Bloomberg Financial Markets, the average of the bid prices, or the ask prices, respectively, of any market makers for such security as reported in the "pink sheets" by Pink Sheets LLC. If the Closing Sale Price cannot be calculated for a security on a particular date on any of the foregoing bases, the Closing Sale Price of such security on such date shall be the fair market value as mutually determined by the Company and the Holder. If the Company and the Holder are unable to agree upon the fair market value of such security, then the Company shall, within two business days submit via facsimile (a) the disputed determination of the Warrant Exercise Price to an independent, reputable investment bank selected by the Company and approved by the Holder or (b) the disputed arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares to the Company's independent, outside accountant. The Company shall cause at its expense the investment bank or the accountant, as the case may be, to perform the determinations or calculations and notify the Company and the Holder of the results no later than ten business days from the time it receives the disputed determinations or calculations. Such investment bank's or accountant's determination or calculation, as the case may be, shall be binding upon all parties absent demonstrable error. All such determinations shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination or other similar transaction during the applicable calculation period.

 

For purposes of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, it is intended, understood and acknowledged that the Warrant Shares issued in a cashless exercise transaction shall be deemed to have been acquired by the Holder, and the holding period for the Warrant Shares shall be deemed to have commenced, on the date this Warrant was originally issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (provided that the Commission continues to take the position that such treatment is proper at the time of such exercise).

 

11.          Limitations on Exercise . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the number of Warrant Shares that may be acquired by the Holder upon any exercise of this Warrant (or otherwise in respect hereof) shall be limited to the extent necessary to ensure that, following such exercise (or other issuance), the total number of shares of Common Stock then beneficially owned by such Holder and its Affiliates and any other Persons whose beneficial ownership of Common Stock would be aggregated with the Holder’s for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, does not exceed 9.99% of the total number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (including for such purpose the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise). For such purposes, beneficial ownership shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Each delivery of an Exercise Notice hereunder will constitute a representation by the Holder that it has evaluated the limitation set forth in this Section and determined that issuance of the full number of Warrant Shares requested in such Exercise Notice is permitted under this Section. The Company’s obligation to issue shares of Common Stock in excess of the limitation referred to in this Section shall be suspended (and, except as provided below, shall not terminate or expire notwithstanding any contrary provisions hereof) until such time, if any, as such shares of Common Stock may be issued in compliance with such limitation; provided, that, if, as of 4:30 p.m., prevailing New York time, on the Expiration Date, the Company has not received written notice that the shares of Common Stock may be issued in compliance with such limitation, the Company’s obligation to issue such shares shall terminate. This provision shall not restrict the number of shares of Common Stock which a Holder may receive or beneficially own in order to determine the amount of securities or other consideration that such Holder may receive in the event of a Fundamental Transaction as contemplated in Section 9 of this Warrant.

 

12.          No Fractional Shares . No fractional Warrant Shares will be issued in connection with any exercise of this Warrant. In lieu of any fractional shares which would otherwise be issuable, subject to Section 11, the number of Warrant Shares to be issued shall be rounded up to the next whole number.

 

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13.          Notices . Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries hereunder (including, without limitation, any Exercise Notice) shall be in writing and shall be mailed (registered or certified mail, return receipt requested), or personally delivered and shall be deemed given when so delivered or if mailed, two (2) days after such mailing, in each case to the address specified in the Purchase Agreement.

 

14.          Warrant Agent . The Company shall serve as warrant agent under this Warrant. Upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Holder, the Company may appoint a new warrant agent. Any corporation into which the Company or any new warrant agent may be merged or any corporation resulting from any consolidation to which the Company or any new warrant agent shall be a party or any corporation to which the Company or any new warrant agent transfers substantially all of its corporate trust or shareholders services business shall be a successor warrant agent under this Warrant without any further act. Any such successor warrant agent shall promptly cause notice of its succession as warrant agent to be mailed (by first class mail, postage prepaid) to the Holder at the Holder’s last address as shown on the Warrant Register.

 

15.          Miscellaneous .

 

(a)           The Holder, solely in such Person's capacity as a holder of this Warrant, shall not be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of share capital of the Company for any purpose, nor shall anything contained in this Warrant be construed to confer upon the Holder, solely in such Person's capacity as the Holder of this Warrant, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote, give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether any reorganization, issue of stock, reclassification of stock, consolidation, merger, amalgamation, conveyance or otherwise), receive notice of meetings, receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, prior to the issuance to the Holder of the Warrant Shares which such Person is then entitled to receive upon the due exercise of this Warrant. In addition, nothing contained in this Warrant shall be construed as imposing any liabilities on the Holder to purchase any securities (upon exercise of this Warrant or otherwise) or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liabilities are asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company. Notwithstanding this Section 15(a), the Company shall provide the Holder with copies of the same notices and other information given to the shareholders of the Company, contemporaneously with the giving thereof to the shareholders.

 

(b)           Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth on the first page hereof, and compliance with applicable securities laws, this Warrant may be assigned by the Holder. This Warrant may not be assigned by the Company except to a successor in the event of a Fundamental Transaction. This Warrant shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Subject to the preceding sentence, nothing in this Warrant shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company and the Holder any legal or equitable right, remedy or cause of action under this Warrant. This Warrant may be amended only in writing signed by the Company and the Holder, or their successors and assigns.

 

  7  

 

 

(c)           GOVERNING LAW; VENUE; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. ALL QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE CONSTRUCTION, VALIDITY, ENFORCEMENT AND INTERPRETATION OF THIS WARRANT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW THEREOF. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS SITTING IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR WITH ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR DISCUSSED HEREIN (INCLUDING WITH RESPECT TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY OF THE TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS), AND HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, AND AGREES NOT TO ASSERT IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING, ANY CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT PERSONALLY SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY SUCH COURT, THAT SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS IMPROPER. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF PROCESS AND CONSENTS TO PROCESS BEING SERVED IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY MAILING A COPY THEREOF VIA REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL OR OVERNIGHT DELIVERY (WITH EVIDENCE OF DELIVERY) TO SUCH PARTY AT THE ADDRESS IN EFFECT FOR NOTICES TO IT UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND AGREES THAT SUCH SERVICE SHALL CONSTITUTE GOOD AND SUFFICIENT SERVICE OF PROCESS AND NOTICE THEREOF. NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN SHALL BE DEEMED TO LIMIT IN ANY WAY ANY RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW. THE COMPANY HEREBY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO A TRIAL BY JURY. 

 

(d)          The headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Warrant and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.

 

(e)          In case any one or more of the provisions of this Warrant shall be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, the validity and enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions of this Warrant shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and the parties will attempt in good faith to agree upon a valid and enforceable provision which shall be a commercially reasonable substitute therefor, and upon so agreeing, shall incorporate such substitute provision in this Warrant.

 

(f)          Except as otherwise set forth herein, prior to exercise of this Warrant, the Holder hereof shall not, by reason of by being a Holder, be entitled to any rights of a stockholder with respect to the Warrant Shares.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK,

SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be duly executed by its authorized officer as of the date first indicated above.

 

  NET ELEMENT, INC
     
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

  9  

 

 

SCHEDULE 1

 

FORM OF EXERCISE NOTICE

 

(To be executed by the Holder to exercise the right to purchase shares

of Common Stock under the foregoing Warrant)

 

To:         Net Element, Inc.

 

(1)         The undersigned is the Holder of Warrant No. __________ (the “Warrant”) issued by Net Element, Inc. a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in the Warrant.

 

(2)         The undersigned hereby exercises its right to purchase __________ Warrant Shares pursuant to the Warrant.

  

(3)         The Holder intends that payment of the Exercise Price shall be made as (check one):

 

¨        Cash Exercise

 

¨        “Cashless Exercise” under Section 10

 

(4)         If the Holder has elected a Cash Exercise, the Holder shall pay the sum of $_______ in immediately available funds to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Warrant.

 

(5)         Pursuant to this Exercise Notice, the Company shall deliver to the Holder _____________ Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms of the Warrant.

 

(6)         By its delivery of this Exercise Notice, the undersigned represents and warrants to the Company that in giving effect to the exercise evidenced hereby, the Holder will not beneficially own in excess of the number of shares of Common Stock (as determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) permitted to be owned under Section 11 of the Warrant to which this notice relates.

 

Dated:_______________, _____

 

Name of Holder:    

 

By:    
Name:    
Title:    
(Signature must conform in all respects to name of Holder as specified on the face of the Warrant)  

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 2

 

NET ELEMENT, INC.

 

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

 

[To be completed and signed only upon transfer of Warrant]

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto                              (the “Transferee” the right represented by the within Warrant to purchase                  shares of Common Stock of Net Element, Inc. (the “Company”) to which the within Warrant relates and appoints                              attorney to transfer said right on the books of the Company with full power of substitution in the premises. In connection therewith, the undersigned represents, warrants, covenants and agrees to and with the Company that:

 

(a) the offer and sale of the Warrant contemplated hereby is being made in compliance with Section 4(1) of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or another valid exemption from the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act and in compliance with all applicable securities laws of the states of the United States;

 

(b) the undersigned has not offered to sell the Warrant by any form of general solicitation or general advertising, including, but not limited to, any advertisement, article, notice or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast over television or radio, and any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by any general solicitation or general advertising;

 

(c) the undersigned has read the Transferee’s investment letter included herewith, and to its actual knowledge, the statements made therein are true and correct; and

 

(d) the undersigned understands that the Company may condition the transfer of the Warrant contemplated hereby upon the delivery to the Company by the undersigned or the Transferee, as the case may be, of a written opinion of counsel (which opinion shall be in form, substance and scope customary for opinions of counsel in comparable transactions) to the effect that such transfer may be made without registration under the Securities Act and under applicable securities laws of the states of the United States.

 

Dated:              ,         
     
    (Signature must conform in all respects to name of holder as specified on the face of the Warrant)
     
     
    Address of Transferee
     
     
     
     

 

In the presence of:  
   
   

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A-2

FORM OF PRE-FUNDED WARRANT

 

NEITHER THIS WARRANT NOR THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THESE SECURITIES HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR BLUE SKY LAWS. IN ADDITION, HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS WARRANT MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

NET ELEMENT, INC.

 

PRE-FUNDED WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK

 

Warrant No. 2017-[    ]   Original Issue Date: December 29, 2017

 

Net Element, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), hereby certifies that, for value received, Esousa Holdings LLC, a New York limited liability company, or its permitted registered assigns (the “ Holder ”), is entitled to purchase from the Company up to a total of [____] 1 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value (the “ Common Stock ”), of the Company (each such share, a “ Warrant Share ” and all such shares, the “ Warrant Shares ”) at an exercise price per share equal to $0.01 (as adjusted from time to time as provided in Section 9 herein, the “ Exercise Price ”), at any time and from time to time from on or after the Original Issue Date set forth above (the “ Trigger Date ”) and through and including 5:30 P.M., prevailing New York time, on December 29, 2022 (the “ Expiration Date ”), and subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

This Pre-Funded Warrant (this “ Warrant ”) is one warrant, or one of a series of similar warrants, issued to Holder in lieu of shares of Common Stock purchased and issuable to Holder that would cause Buyer’s beneficial ownership of the Common Stock of the Company to exceed the Maximum Percentage, as defined in that certain Unit Purchase Agreement, dated December 29, 2017, by and among the Company and the Purchaser(s) identified therein (the “ Purchase Agreement ”), as further set forth in Section 1(f) of the Purchase Agreement. All such warrants are referred to herein, collectively, as the “ Warrants .”

 

1.           Definitions . In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Warrant, capitalized terms that are not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given to such terms in the Purchase Agreement.

 

 

1 Note to Draft: Number of shares issuable upon exercise of Pre-Funded Warrant shall be equal to the number of shares of Common Stock that would cause Holder’s beneficial ownership of Common Stock in the Company to exceed 9.99%.

 

 

 

  

2.           Registration of Warrants . The Company shall register this Warrant, upon records to be maintained by the Company for that purpose (the “ Warrant Register ”), in the name of the record Holder (which shall include the initial Holder or, as the case may be, any registered assignee to which this Warrant is permissibly assigned hereunder) from time to time. The Company may deem and treat the registered Holder of this Warrant as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of any exercise hereof or any distribution to the Holder, and for all other purposes, absent actual notice to the contrary.

 

3.           Registration of Transfers . Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in Sections 2(f) and 4(f) of the Purchase Agreement and compliance with all applicable securities laws, the Company shall register the transfer of all or any portion of this Warrant in the Warrant Register, upon (i) surrender of this Warrant, with the Form of Assignment attached as Schedule 2 hereto duly completed and signed, to the Company’s transfer agent or to the Company at its address specified herein and (ii) if the Registration Statement is not effective, (x) delivery, at the request of the Company, of documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Company to the effect that the transfer of such portion of this Warrant may be made pursuant to an available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and all applicable state securities or blue sky laws and (y) delivery by the transferee of a written statement to the Company certifying that the transferee is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act and making the representations and certifications set forth in Section 2(b), (c), (d) and (f) of the Purchase Agreement, to the Company at its address specified in the Purchase Agreement. Upon any such registration or transfer, a new warrant to purchase Common Stock in substantially the form of this Warrant (any such new warrant, a “ New Warrant ”) evidencing the portion of this Warrant so transferred shall be issued to the transferee, and a New Warrant evidencing the remaining portion of this Warrant not so transferred, if any, shall be issued to the transferring Holder. The acceptance of the New Warrant by the transferee thereof shall be deemed the acceptance by such transferee of all of the rights and obligations of a Holder of a Warrant.

 

4.           Exercise and Duration of Warrants .

 

(a)          Subject to Section 11 hereof, all or any part of this Warrant shall be exercisable by the registered Holder at any time and from time to time on or after the Trigger Date and through and including 5:30 P.M. prevailing New York time on the Expiration Date. At 5:30 P.M., prevailing New York time, on the Expiration Date, the portion of this Warrant not exercised prior thereto shall be and become void and of no value and this Warrant shall be terminated and no longer outstanding;

 

(b)          The Holder may exercise this Warrant by delivering to the Company (i) an exercise notice, in the form attached as Schedule 1 hereto (the “ Exercise Notice ”), appropriately completed and duly signed, (ii) payment of the Exercise Price in immediately available funds for the number of Warrant Shares as to which this Warrant is being exercised (which may take the form of a “cashless exercise” if so indicated in the Exercise Notice and if a “cashless exercise” may occur at such time pursuant to Section 10 below), and the date such items are delivered to the Company (as determined in accordance with the notice provisions hereof) is an “ Exercise Date .” The delivery by (or on behalf of) the Holder of the Exercise Notice and the applicable Exercise Price as provided above shall constitute the Holder’s certification to the Company that its representations contained in Section 2(b), (c), (d) and (f) of the Purchase Agreement are true and correct as of the Exercise Date as if remade in their entirety (or, in the case of any transferee Holder that is not a party to the Purchase Agreement, such transferee Holder’s certification to the Company that such representations are true and correct as to such assignee Holder as of the Exercise Date). The Holder shall not be required to deliver the original Warrant in order to effect an exercise hereunder. Execution and delivery of the Exercise Notice shall have the same effect as cancellation of the original Warrant and issuance of a New Warrant evidencing the right to purchase the remaining number (if any) of Warrant Shares.

 

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5.           Delivery of Warrant Shares . Upon exercise of this Warrant, the Company shall promptly (but in no event later than two Trading Days after the Exercise Date) issue or cause to be issued and cause to be delivered to or upon the written order of the Holder and in such name or names as the Holder may designate (provided that, if the Registration Statement is not effective and the Holder directs the Company to deliver a certificate for the Warrant Shares in a name other than that of the Holder or an Affiliate of the Holder, it shall deliver to the Company on the Exercise Date an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company to the effect that the issuance of such Warrant Shares in such other name may be made pursuant to an available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and all applicable state securities or blue sky laws), a certificate for the Warrant Shares issuable upon such exercise, free of restrictive legends, unless a registration statement covering the resale of the Warrant Shares and naming the Holder as a selling stockholder thereunder is not then effective or the Warrant Shares are not freely transferable pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act pursuant to transactions in which paragraph (c)(1) of such rule do not apply. The Holder, or any Person permissibly so designated by the Holder to receive Warrant Shares, shall be deemed to have become the holder of record of such Warrant Shares as of the Exercise Date. If the Warrant Shares are to be issued free of all restrictive legends, the Company shall, upon the written request of the Holder, use its best efforts to deliver, or cause to be delivered, Warrant Shares hereunder electronically through The Depository Trust Company or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions, if available; provided, that, the Company may, but will not be required to, change its transfer agent if its current transfer agent cannot deliver Warrant Shares electronically through such a clearing corporation.

 

6.           Charges, Taxes and Expenses . Issuance and delivery of certificates for shares of Common Stock upon exercise of this Warrant shall be made without charge to the Holder for any issue or transfer tax, transfer agent fee or other incidental tax or expense in respect of the issuance of such certificates, all of which taxes and expenses shall be paid by the Company; provided, however , that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the registration of any certificates for Warrant Shares or Warrants in a name other than that of the Holder or an Affiliate thereof. The Holder shall be responsible for all other tax liability that may arise as a result of holding or transferring this Warrant or receiving Warrant Shares upon exercise hereof.

 

7.           Replacement of Warrant . If this Warrant is mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued in exchange and substitution for and upon cancellation hereof, or in lieu of and substitution for this Warrant, a New Warrant, but only upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of such loss, theft or destruction (in such case) and, in each case, a customary and reasonable indemnity (which shall not include a surety bond), if requested. Applicants for a New Warrant under such circumstances shall also comply with such other reasonable regulations and procedures and pay such other reasonable third-party costs as the Company may prescribe. If a New Warrant is requested as a result of a mutilation of this Warrant, then the Holder shall deliver such mutilated Warrant to the Company as a condition precedent to the Company’s obligation to issue the New Warrant.

 

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8.           Reservation of Warrant Shares . The Company covenants that it will at all times reserve and keep available out of the aggregate of its authorized but unissued and otherwise unreserved Common Stock, solely for the purpose of enabling it to issue Warrant Shares upon exercise of this Warrant as herein provided, the number of Warrant Shares which are then issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of this entire Warrant, free from preemptive rights or any other contingent purchase rights of persons other than the Holder (taking into account the adjustments and restrictions of Section 9). The Company covenants that all Warrant Shares so issuable and deliverable shall, upon issuance and the payment of the applicable Exercise Price in accordance with the terms hereof, be duly and validly authorized, issued and fully paid and nonassessable. The Company will take all such action as may be necessary to assure that such shares of Common Stock may be issued as provided herein without violation of any applicable law or regulation, or of any requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Common Shares may be listed.

 

9.           Certain Adjustments . The Exercise Price and number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant are subject to adjustment from time to time as set forth in this Section 9 .

 

(a)           Stock Dividends and Splits . If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding, (i) pays a stock dividend on its Common Stock or otherwise makes a distribution on any class of capital stock that is payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivides its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares, (iii) combines its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (iv) otherwise conducts a corporate action or transaction to change the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, including any reorganization, recapitalization, or other transaction similar to (i) through (iii), then in each such case the Exercise Price shall be multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately before such event and the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event. Any adjustment made pursuant to this paragraph shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution or the effective date of such subdivision or combination, as applicable.

 

(b)           Fundamental Transactions . If, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding (i) the Company effects any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person, in which the shareholders of the Company as of immediately prior to the transaction own less than a majority of the outstanding stock of the surviving entity, (ii) the Company effects any sale of all or substantially all of its assets or a majority of its Common Stock is acquired by a third party, in each case, in one or a series of related transactions, (iii) any tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Company or another Person) is completed pursuant to which all or substantially all of the holders of Common Stock are permitted to tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property and would result in the shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such tender offer or exchange offer owning less than a majority of the outstanding stock after such tender offer or exchange offer, or (iv) the Company effects any reclassification of the Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property (other than as a result of a subdivision or combination of shares of Common Stock covered by Section 9(a) above) (in any such case, a “ Fundamental Transaction ”), then the Holder shall have the right thereafter to receive, upon exercise of this Warrant, the same amount and kind of securities, cash or property as it would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction if it had been, immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction, the holder of the number of Warrant Shares then issuable upon exercise in full of this Warrant without regard to any limitations on exercise contained herein (the “ Alternate Consideration ”). The Company shall not effect any such Fundamental Transaction unless prior to or simultaneously with the consummation thereof, any successor to the Company, surviving entity or the corporation purchasing or otherwise acquiring such assets or other appropriate corporation or entity shall assume the obligation to deliver to the Holder, such Alternate Consideration as, in accordance with the foregoing provisions, the Holder may be entitled to purchase and/or receive (as the case may be), and the other obligations under this Warrant. The provisions of this paragraph (b) shall similarly apply to subsequent transactions analogous to a Fundamental Transaction.

 

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(c)           Number of Warrant Shares . Simultaneously with any adjustment to the Exercise Price pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section, the number of Warrant Shares that may be purchased upon exercise of this Warrant shall be increased or decreased proportionately, so that after such adjustment the aggregate Exercise Price payable hereunder for the increased or decreased number of Warrant Shares shall be the same as the aggregate Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment.

 

(d)           Calculations . All calculations under this Section 9 shall be made to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100 th of a share, as applicable. The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any given time shall not include shares owned or held by or for the account of the Company, and the sale or issuance of any such shares shall be considered an issue or sale of Common Stock.

 

10.          Payment of Exercise Price . The Holder shall pay the Exercise Price in immediately available funds; provided, however , that if, on any Exercise Date a registration statement registering the issuance or resale of the Warrant Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”) is not effective, the Holder may, in its sole discretion, satisfy its obligation to pay the Exercise Price through a “cashless exercise”, in which event the Company shall issue to the Holder the number of Warrant Shares determined as follows:

 

X = Y [(A-B)/A]

 

where:

 

X = the number of Warrant Shares to be issued to the Holder.

 

Y = the total number of Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant is being exercised.

 

A = the average of the Closing Sale Prices of the shares of Common Stock (as reported by Bloomberg Financial Markets) for the five Trading Days ending on the date immediately preceding the Exercise Date.

 

B = the Exercise Price then in effect for the applicable Warrant Shares at the time of such exercise.

 

  5  

 

 

For purposes of this Warrant, “ Closing Sale Price ” means, for any security as of any date, the last trade price for such security on the principal securities exchange or trading market for such security, as reported by Bloomberg Financial Markets, or, if such exchange or trading market begins to operate on an extended hours basis and does not designate the last trade price, then the last trade price of such security prior to 4:00 p.m., New York Time, as reported by Bloomberg Financial Markets, or if the foregoing do not apply, the last trade price of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such security as reported by Bloomberg Financial Markets, or, if no last trade price is reported for such security by Bloomberg Financial Markets, the average of the bid prices, or the ask prices, respectively, of any market makers for such security as reported in the "pink sheets" by Pink Sheets LLC. If the Closing Sale Price cannot be calculated for a security on a particular date on any of the foregoing bases, the Closing Sale Price of such security on such date shall be the fair market value as mutually determined by the Company and the Holder. If the Company and the Holder are unable to agree upon the fair market value of such security, then the Company shall, within two business days submit via facsimile (a) the disputed determination of the Warrant Exercise Price to an independent, reputable investment bank selected by the Company and approved by the Holder or (b) the disputed arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares to the Company's independent, outside accountant. The Company shall cause at its expense the investment bank or the accountant, as the case may be, to perform the determinations or calculations and notify the Company and the Holder of the results no later than ten business days from the time it receives the disputed determinations or calculations. Such investment bank's or accountant's determination or calculation, as the case may be, shall be binding upon all parties absent demonstrable error. All such determinations shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination or other similar transaction during the applicable calculation period.

 

For purposes of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, it is intended, understood and acknowledged that the Warrant Shares issued in a cashless exercise transaction shall be deemed to have been acquired by the Holder, and the holding period for the Warrant Shares shall be deemed to have commenced, on the date this Warrant was originally issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (provided that the Commission continues to take the position that such treatment is proper at the time of such exercise).

 

11.          Limitations on Exercise . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the number of Warrant Shares that may be acquired by the Holder upon any exercise of this Warrant (or otherwise in respect hereof) shall be limited to the extent necessary to ensure that, following such exercise (or other issuance), the total number of shares of Common Stock then beneficially owned by such Holder and its Affiliates and any other Persons whose beneficial ownership of Common Stock would be aggregated with the Holder’s for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, does not exceed 9.99% of the total number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (including for such purpose the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise). For such purposes, beneficial ownership shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Each delivery of an Exercise Notice hereunder will constitute a representation by the Holder that it has evaluated the limitation set forth in this Section and determined that issuance of the full number of Warrant Shares requested in such Exercise Notice is permitted under this Section. The Company’s obligation to issue shares of Common Stock in excess of the limitation referred to in this Section shall be suspended (and, except as provided below, shall not terminate or expire notwithstanding any contrary provisions hereof) until such time, if any, as such shares of Common Stock may be issued in compliance with such limitation; provided, that, if, as of 4:30 p.m., prevailing New York time, on the Expiration Date, the Company has not received written notice that the shares of Common Stock may be issued in compliance with such limitation, the Company’s obligation to issue such shares shall terminate. This provision shall not restrict the number of shares of Common Stock which a Holder may receive or beneficially own in order to determine the amount of securities or other consideration that such Holder may receive in the event of a Fundamental Transaction as contemplated in Section 9 of this Warrant.

 

12.          No Fractional Shares . No fractional Warrant Shares will be issued in connection with any exercise of this Warrant. In lieu of any fractional shares which would otherwise be issuable, subject to Section 11, the number of Warrant Shares to be issued shall be rounded up to the next whole number.

 

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13.          Notices . Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries hereunder (including, without limitation, any Exercise Notice) shall be in writing and shall be mailed (registered or certified mail, return receipt requested), or personally delivered and shall be deemed given when so delivered or if mailed, two (2) days after such mailing, in each case to the address specified in the Purchase Agreement.

 

14.          Warrant Agent . The Company shall serve as warrant agent under this Warrant. Upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Holder, the Company may appoint a new warrant agent. Any corporation into which the Company or any new warrant agent may be merged or any corporation resulting from any consolidation to which the Company or any new warrant agent shall be a party or any corporation to which the Company or any new warrant agent transfers substantially all of its corporate trust or shareholders services business shall be a successor warrant agent under this Warrant without any further act. Any such successor warrant agent shall promptly cause notice of its succession as warrant agent to be mailed (by first class mail, postage prepaid) to the Holder at the Holder’s last address as shown on the Warrant Register.

 

15.          Miscellaneous .

 

(a)           The Holder, solely in such Person's capacity as a holder of this Warrant, shall not be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of share capital of the Company for any purpose, nor shall anything contained in this Warrant be construed to confer upon the Holder, solely in such Person's capacity as the Holder of this Warrant, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote, give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether any reorganization, issue of stock, reclassification of stock, consolidation, merger, amalgamation, conveyance or otherwise), receive notice of meetings, receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, prior to the issuance to the Holder of the Warrant Shares which such Person is then entitled to receive upon the due exercise of this Warrant. In addition, nothing contained in this Warrant shall be construed as imposing any liabilities on the Holder to purchase any securities (upon exercise of this Warrant or otherwise) or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liabilities are asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company. Notwithstanding this Section 15(a), the Company shall provide the Holder with copies of the same notices and other information given to the shareholders of the Company, contemporaneously with the giving thereof to the shareholders.

 

(b)           Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth on the first page hereof, and compliance with applicable securities laws, this Warrant may be assigned by the Holder. This Warrant may not be assigned by the Company except to a successor in the event of a Fundamental Transaction. This Warrant shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Subject to the preceding sentence, nothing in this Warrant shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company and the Holder any legal or equitable right, remedy or cause of action under this Warrant. This Warrant may be amended only in writing signed by the Company and the Holder, or their successors and assigns.

 

  7  

 

 

(c)           GOVERNING LAW; VENUE; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. ALL QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE CONSTRUCTION, VALIDITY, ENFORCEMENT AND INTERPRETATION OF THIS WARRANT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW THEREOF. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS SITTING IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR WITH ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR DISCUSSED HEREIN (INCLUDING WITH RESPECT TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY OF THE TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS), AND HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, AND AGREES NOT TO ASSERT IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING, ANY CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT PERSONALLY SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY SUCH COURT, THAT SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS IMPROPER. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF PROCESS AND CONSENTS TO PROCESS BEING SERVED IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY MAILING A COPY THEREOF VIA REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL OR OVERNIGHT DELIVERY (WITH EVIDENCE OF DELIVERY) TO SUCH PARTY AT THE ADDRESS IN EFFECT FOR NOTICES TO IT UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND AGREES THAT SUCH SERVICE SHALL CONSTITUTE GOOD AND SUFFICIENT SERVICE OF PROCESS AND NOTICE THEREOF. NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN SHALL BE DEEMED TO LIMIT IN ANY WAY ANY RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW. THE COMPANY HEREBY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO A TRIAL BY JURY. 

 

(d)          The headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Warrant and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.

 

(e)          In case any one or more of the provisions of this Warrant shall be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, the validity and enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions of this Warrant shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and the parties will attempt in good faith to agree upon a valid and enforceable provision which shall be a commercially reasonable substitute therefor, and upon so agreeing, shall incorporate such substitute provision in this Warrant.

 

(f)          Except as otherwise set forth herein, prior to exercise of this Warrant, the Holder hereof shall not, by reason of by being a Holder, be entitled to any rights of a stockholder with respect to the Warrant Shares.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK,

SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

  8  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be duly executed by its authorized officer as of the date first indicated above.

 

  NET ELEMENT, INC
     
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

  9  

 

 

SCHEDULE 1

 

FORM OF EXERCISE NOTICE

 

(To be executed by the Holder to exercise the right to purchase shares

of Common Stock under the foregoing Warrant)

 

To:         Net Element, Inc.

 

(1)         The undersigned is the Holder of Warrant No. __________ (the “Warrant”) issued by Net Element, Inc. a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in the Warrant.

 

(2)         The undersigned hereby exercises its right to purchase __________ Warrant Shares pursuant to the Warrant.

  

(3)         The Holder intends that payment of the Exercise Price shall be made as (check one):

 

¨        Cash Exercise

 

¨        “Cashless Exercise” under Section 10

 

(4)         If the Holder has elected a Cash Exercise, the Holder shall pay the sum of $_______ in immediately available funds to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Warrant.

 

(5)         Pursuant to this Exercise Notice, the Company shall deliver to the Holder _____________ Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms of the Warrant.

 

(6)         By its delivery of this Exercise Notice, the undersigned represents and warrants to the Company that in giving effect to the exercise evidenced hereby, the Holder will not beneficially own in excess of the number of shares of Common Stock (as determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) permitted to be owned under Section 11 of the Warrant to which this notice relates.

 

Dated:_______________, _____

 

Name of Holder:    

 

By:    
Name:    
Title:    
(Signature must conform in all respects to name of Holder as specified on the face of the Warrant)  

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 2

 

NET ELEMENT, INC.

 

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

 

[To be completed and signed only upon transfer of Warrant]

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto                              (the “Transferee” the right represented by the within Warrant to purchase                  shares of Common Stock of Net Element, Inc. (the “Company”) to which the within Warrant relates and appoints                              attorney to transfer said right on the books of the Company with full power of substitution in the premises. In connection therewith, the undersigned represents, warrants, covenants and agrees to and with the Company that:

 

(a) the offer and sale of the Warrant contemplated hereby is being made in compliance with Section 4(1) of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or another valid exemption from the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act and in compliance with all applicable securities laws of the states of the United States;

 

(b) the undersigned has not offered to sell the Warrant by any form of general solicitation or general advertising, including, but not limited to, any advertisement, article, notice or other communication published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast over television or radio, and any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by any general solicitation or general advertising;

 

(c) the undersigned has read the Transferee’s investment letter included herewith, and to its actual knowledge, the statements made therein are true and correct; and

 

(d) the undersigned understands that the Company may condition the transfer of the Warrant contemplated hereby upon the delivery to the Company by the undersigned or the Transferee, as the case may be, of a written opinion of counsel (which opinion shall be in form, substance and scope customary for opinions of counsel in comparable transactions) to the effect that such transfer may be made without registration under the Securities Act and under applicable securities laws of the states of the United States.

 

Dated:              ,         
     
    (Signature must conform in all respects to name of holder as specified on the face of the Warrant)
     
     
    Address of Transferee
     
     
     
     

 

In the presence of:  
   
   

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

FORM OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

[attached hereto]

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF COMPANY RESOLUTIONS

FOR SIGNING PURCHASE AGREEMENT

AND APPROVING REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

WHEREAS, management has reviewed with the Board of Directors the background, terms and conditions of the transactions subject to the Securities Purchase Agreement (the “ Purchase Agreement ”) by and between the Company and Esousa Holdings LLC (“ Esousa ”), including all materials terms and conditions of the transactions subject thereto, providing for the purchase by Esousa of Seven Million Five Hundred Fifty Thousand Eight Hundred Eighty-Five Dollars ($7,550,585) of the Company’s units (the “ Units ”), with each unit consisting of a share of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “ Common Stock ” and shares of such Common stock to be purchased by Esousa, the “ Purchase Shares ”), and a warrant to purchase three-fifths (3/5) of a share of Common Stock (the “ Warrants ”); and

 

WHEREAS, after careful consideration of the Purchase Agreement, the documents incident thereto and other factors deemed relevant by the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors has determined that it is advisable and in the best interests of the Company to engage in the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the transactions contemplated pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to file a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) registering the Purchase Shares and to list the Purchase Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market; WHEREAS, the management of the Company is preparing an initial draft of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 or Form S-1 (the “ Registration Statement ”) in order to register the sale of the Purchase Shares and shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exchange of the Warrants (the “ Warrant Shares ” collectively with the Purchase Shares and the Warrants, the “ Securities ”) by Esousa; and

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has determined to approve the Registration Statement and to authorize the appropriate officers of the Company to take all such actions as they may deem appropriate to effect the offering.

 

Transaction Documents

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the transactions described in the Purchase Agreement are hereby approved and the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Legal Officer and Chief Financial Officer (the “ Authorized Officers ”) are severally authorized to execute and deliver the Purchase Agreement, and any other agreements or documents contemplated thereby including, without limitation, a registration rights agreement (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”) providing for the registration of the shares of the Company’s Common Stock issuable in respect of the Purchase Agreement on behalf of Esousa, with such amendments, changes, additions and deletions as the Authorized Officers may deem to be appropriate and approve on behalf of, the Company, such approval to be conclusively evidenced by the signature of an Authorized Officer thereon; and

 

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the terms and provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement by and among the Company and Esousa are hereby approved and the Authorized Officers are authorized to execute and deliver the Registration Rights Agreement (pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement), with such amendments, changes, additions and deletions as the Authorized Officer may deem appropriate and approve on behalf of, the Company, such approval to be conclusively evidenced by the signature of an Authorized Officer thereon; and

 

 

 

 

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Authorized Officers are authorized to execute and deliver the transfer agent instructions pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, with such amendments, changes, additions and deletions as the Authorized Officers may deem appropriate and approve on behalf of, the Company, such approval to be conclusively evidenced by the signature of an Authorized Officer thereon; and

 

Execution of Purchase Agreement

 

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Company be and it hereby is authorized to execute the Purchase Agreement providing for the purchase of the Units having an aggregate value of up to $7,500,000 plus $0.125 per each Warrant ; and

 

Issuance of Common Stock and Warrants

 

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Company is hereby authorized to issue shares of Common Stock upon the purchase of Purchase Shares and exchange of Warrants up to the available amount under the Purchase Agreement in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement and that, upon issuance of the Purchase Shares or Warrant Shares pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, such Purchase Shares or Warrant Shares, as applicable, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; and

 

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Corporation shall initially reserve 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock for issuance as Warrant Shares under the Purchase Agreement; and

 

Listing of Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market

 

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the officers of the Company be, and each of them hereby is, authorized and directed to take all necessary steps and do all other things necessary and appropriate to effect the listing of the Purchase Shares and the Warrant Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market; and

 

Approval of Registration Statement

 

RESOLVED, that the officers and directors of the Company be, and each of them hereby is, authorized and directed to prepare, execute and file with the Commission the Registration Statement, which Registration Statement shall be filed substantially in the form presented to the Board of Directors, with such changes therein as the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Legal Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company shall deem desirable and in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders (such officer’s execution thereof including such changes shall be deemed to evidence conclusively such determination); and

 

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the officers of the Company be, and each of them hereby is, authorized and directed to prepare, execute and file with the Commission all amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements to the Registration Statement, and all certificates, exhibits, schedules, documents and other instruments relating to the Registration Statement, as such officers shall deem necessary or appropriate (such officer’s execution and filing thereof shall be deemed to evidence conclusively such determination); and

 

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the execution of the Registration Statement and of any amendments and supplements thereto by the officers of the Company be, and the same hereby is, specifically authorized either personally or by the Authorized Officers as such officer’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents; and

 

 

 

 

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the officers of the Company be, and each of them hereby is, authorized and directed to cause the Company to pay all fees, costs and expenses that may be incurred by the Company in connection with the Registration Statement; and

 

FURTHER RESOLVED, that it is desirable and in the best interest of the Company that the Securities be qualified or registered for sale in various states; that the officers of the Company be, and each of them hereby is, authorized to determine the states in which appropriate action shall be taken to qualify or register for sale all or such part of the Securities as they may deem advisable; that said officers be, and each of them hereby is, authorized to perform on behalf of the Company any and all such acts as they may deem necessary or advisable in order to comply with the applicable laws of any such states, and in connection therewith to execute and file all requisite papers and documents, including, but not limited to, applications, reports, surety bonds, irrevocable consents, appointments of attorneys for service of process and resolutions; and the execution by such officers of any such paper or document or the doing by them of any act in connection with the foregoing matters shall conclusively establish their authority therefor from the Company and the approval and ratification by the Company of the papers and documents so executed and the actions so taken; and

 

FURTHER RESOLVED, that if, in any state where the securities to be registered or qualified for sale to the public, or where the Company is to be registered in connection with the public offering of the Securities, a prescribed form of resolution or resolutions is required to be adopted by the Board of Directors, each such resolution shall be deemed to have been and hereby is adopted, and the Secretary is hereby authorized to certify the adoption of all such resolutions as though such resolutions were now presented to and adopted by the Board of Directors; and

 

Approval of Actions

 

FURTHER RESOLVED, that, without limiting the foregoing, the Authorized Officers are, and each of them hereby is, authorized and directed to proceed on behalf of the Company and to take all such steps as deemed necessary or appropriate to cause the Company to consummate the agreements referred to herein and to perform its obligations under such agreements;

 

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Authorized Officers be, and each of them hereby is, authorized, empowered and directed on behalf of and in the name of the Company, to take or cause to be taken all such further actions and to execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered all such further agreements, amendments, documents, certificates, reports, schedules, applications, notices, letters and undertakings and to incur and pay all such fees and expenses as in their judgment shall be necessary, proper or desirable to carry into effect the purpose and intent of any and all of the foregoing resolutions, and that all actions heretofore taken by any officer or director of the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by the agreements described herein are hereby approved, ratified and confirmed in all respects; and

 

FURTHER RESOLVED, that any and all actions heretofore or hereinafter taken on behalf of the Company by any of said persons or entities within the terms of the foregoing resolutions are hereby approved, ratified and confirmed in all respects as the acts and deeds of the Company.