Net Elements Unified Payments Launches Fully Integrated Omni-Channel Gift and Loyalty Platform

MIAMI, FL--(Marketwired - Apr 21, 2016) - Net Element, Inc. (NASDAQ: NETE) ("Net Element" or the "Company"), a provider of global mobile payment technology solutions and value-added transactional services, today announced that Unified Payments launched an affordable gift and loyalty platform for small to medium size businesses. As an introductory offer, the Company is providing its sales partners, developers and merchants the ability to offer our solution to their clients independent of any payment processing platform.

Unified Payments omni-channel gift and loyalty platform enables small-to-medium size businesses to centralize their customer data spanning in-store, online, social and mobile channels. The data is then analyzed in real-time to create sophisticated customer segments and profiles for unprecedented customer understanding. The analysis is used to strategically develop powerful, personalized campaigns deployed across online, in-store, mobile, social, email and direct mail channels.

The platform is integrated with most mobile, EMV compliant Point of Sale ("POS") systems and card reader terminals including Aptito for restaurants and Aptito Retail. All merchants on Unified Payments platform will be able to create and customize their gift and loyalty programs and process loyalty and gift cards free of any processing and monthly charges.

The gift and loyalty card business is a major source of revenue for retailers. Research shows bricks-and-mortar stores are the dominant channel for the purchase of gift cards. Growth of loyalty programs saw a 33% increase in people who bought virtual/digital gift cards from 2012 to 2014 (Source: First Data). Retailers are engaging new customers through multiple channels and supplementing off-the-shelf plastic gift and loyalty cards with virtual online and mobile cards.

Omni-channel solution
Being an omni-channel retailer means that customers send, as well as receive communication, through all the available channels. Our solutions have the ability to feed Customer Relationship Management (CRM) with accurate and controlled data that can be used to create engaging and relevant marketing campaigns. By having promotional and marketing coordinated through one database, the message is consistent across all channels and the process is much easier to manage, while keeping gift and loyalty cards relevant to today's customers.

Our omni-channel platform lets customers buy, receive, and use gift and loyalty cards in a way that is most convenient for them, whether physical, digital, or mobile. Our services include POS activation of plastic cards, automated digitization of gift and loyalty cards directly onto the mobile devices, online purchase of virtual gift cards and delivery of the card to the recipient's mobile device, email inbox (print-at-home), SMS, or Facebook page. Fully integrating online and offline channels makes setting up and managing loyalty schemes easier, and more effective. 

Program flexibility
Unified Payments gift and loyalty card program offers flexible methods for the merchants to reward consumer spending and increase cash flow. Merchants can seamlessly integrate multiple program types into a single gift card. Merchant's legacy gift and loyalty card database can be converted to the Unified Payments gift and loyalty card platform.

Key Benefits:

About Net Element
Net Element, Inc. (NASDAQ: NETE) operates a payments-as-a-service transactional and value-added services platform for small to medium enterprise ("SME") in the US and selected emerging markets. In the US it aims to grow transactional revenue by innovating SME productivity services such as its cloud based, restaurant point-of-sale solution Aptito. Internationally, Net Element's strategy is to leverage its omni-channel platform to deliver flexible offerings to emerging markets with diverse banking, regulatory and demographic conditions such as UAE, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan where initiatives have been recently launched. Further information is available at www.netelement.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Any statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed forward-looking statements. Words such as "continue," "will," "may," "could," "should," "expect," "expected," "plans," "intend," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, whether the gift and loyalty program will be effective in producing desired results for the merchants who use, whether the program will positively impact the Company's business, whether Net Element can secure any additional financing and if such additional financing will be adequate to meet the Company's objectives. All forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, many of which are generally outside the control of Net Element and are difficult to predict. Examples of such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (i) Net Element's ability (or inability) to obtain additional financing in sufficient amounts or on acceptable terms when needed; (ii) Net Element's ability to maintain existing, and secure additional, contracts with users of its payment processing services; (iii) Net Element's ability to successfully expand in existing markets and enter new markets; (iv) Net Element's ability to successfully manage and integrate any acquisitions of businesses, solutions or technologies; (v) unanticipated operating costs, transaction costs and actual or contingent liabilities; (vi) the ability to attract and retain qualified employees and key personnel; (vii) adverse effects of increased competition on Net Element's business; (viii) changes in government licensing and regulation that may adversely affect Net Element's business; (ix) the risk that changes in consumer behavior could adversely affect Net Element's business; (x) Net Element's ability to protect its intellectual property; (xi) local, industry and general business and economic conditions; (xii) adverse effects of potentially deteriorating U.S.-Russia relations, including, without limitation, over a conflict related to Ukraine, including a risk of further U.S. government sanctions or other legal restrictions on U.S. businesses doing business in Russia. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements can be found in the most recent annual report on Form 10-K and the subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K filed by Net Element with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Net Element anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause its plans, intentions and expectations to change. Net Element assumes no obligation, and it specifically disclaims any intention or obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by law.