UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
| x | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2017
OR
| ¨ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from __________ to __________
Commission file number: 001-34887
Net Element, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 90-1025599 |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation | (I.R.S. Employer |
| or organization) | Identification No.) |
| 3363 NE 163rd Street, Suite 705 | |
| North Miami Beach, Florida | 33160 |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(305) 507-8808
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer ¨ | Accelerated filer ¨ |
| Non-accelerated filer ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company x |
| 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. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No x
The number of outstanding shares of common stock, $.0001 par value, of the registrant as of November 11, 2017 was 2,454,457 after giving effect to the registrant's one-for-ten reverse stock split effected October 5, 2017.
Defined Terms
Net Element, Inc. is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. As used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Report”), unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Net Element, Inc. and, as applicable, its majority-owned and consolidated subsidiaries. References in this Report to “PayOnline” refer, collectively, to PayOnline System LLC, Innovative Payment Technologies LLC, Polimore Capital Limited and Brosword Holding.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Any statements contained in this Report that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “aims,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “continue,” “seeks,” “should,” “believe,” “potential” or the negative of such terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections, and therefore you should not place too much reliance on them. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement in light of new information or future events, except as expressly required by law. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the Company’s control. The Company cautions you that a number of important factors could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements. These factors include, among other factors:
| · | the impact of any new or changed laws, regulations, card network rules or other industry standards affecting our business including the U.S. government decision to impose sanctions or other legal restrictions that may restrict our ability to do business in Russia; | |
| · | the impact of any significant chargeback liability and liability for merchant or customer fraud, which we may not be able to accurately anticipate and/or collect; | |
| · | our ability to secure or successfully migrate merchant portfolios to new bank sponsors if current sponsorships are terminated; | |
| · | our and our bank sponsors’ ability to adhere to the standards of the Visa®, Discover®, American Express® and MasterCard® payment card associations; | |
| · | our reliance on third-party processors and service providers; | |
| · | our dependence on independent sales groups (“ISGs”) that do not serve us exclusively to introduce us to new merchant accounts; | |
| · | our ability to pass along increases in interchange costs and other costs to our merchants; | |
| · | our ability to protect against unauthorized disclosure of merchant and cardholder data, whether through breach of our computer systems or otherwise; | |
| · | the effect of the loss of key personnel on our relationships with ISGs, card associations, bank sponsors and our other service providers; | |
| · | the effects of increased competition, which could adversely impact our financial performance; | |
| · | the impact of any increase in attrition due to an increase in closed merchant accounts and/or a decrease in merchant charge volume that we cannot anticipate or offset with new accounts; | |
| · | the effect of adverse business conditions on our merchants; | |
| · | our ability to adopt technology to meet changing industry and customer needs or trends; | |
| · | the impact of any decline in the use of credit cards as a payment mechanism for consumers or adverse developments with respect to the credit card industry in general; | |
| · | the impact of any adverse conditions in industries in which we obtain a substantial amount of our bankcard processing volume; | |
| · | the impact of seasonality on our operating results; | |
| · | the impact of any failure in our systems due to factors beyond our control; | |
| · | the impact of any material breaches in the security of third-party processing systems we use; | |
| · | the impact of any new and potential governmental regulations designed to protect or limit access to consumer information; | |
| · | the impact on our profitability if we are required to pay federal, state or local taxes on transaction processing or VAT on content; | |
| · | the impact on our growth and profitability if the markets for the services that we offer fail to expand or if such markets contract; | |
| · | our ability (or inability) to continue as a going concern; |
| · | foreign laws and regulations, which are subject to change and uncertain interpretation; | |
| · | the Company’s ability (or inability) to obtain additional financing in sufficient amounts or on acceptable terms when needed; | |
| · | the impact on our operating results as a result of impairment of our goodwill and intangible assets; | |
| · | our material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting and our ability to maintain effective controls over financial reporting in the future; and | |
| · | the other factors described in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 and in Part II, Item 1A of this Report and our subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”). |
If these or other risks and uncertainties (including those described in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 and in Part II, Item 1A of this Report and the Company’s subsequent filings with the Commission) materialize, or if the assumptions underlying any of these statements prove incorrect, the Company’s actual results may be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking statement to reflect circumstances or events after the date of this Report to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should, however, review the factors and risks described in the reports we file from time-to-time with the Commission after the date of this Report.
World Wide Web addresses contained in this Report are for explanatory purposes only and they (and the content contained therein) do not form a part of and are not incorporated by reference into this Report.
Net Element, Inc.
Form 10-Q
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
Table of Contents
PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
September 30, 2017 | December 31, 2016 | |||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash | $ | 922,102 | $ | 621,635 | ||||
| Accounts receivable, net | 4,446,358 | 7,126,429 | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | 1,658,200 | 1,467,897 | ||||||
| Total current assets, net | 7,026,660 | 9,215,961 | ||||||
| Fixed assets, net | 64,381 | 117,295 | ||||||
| Intangible assets, net | 3,242,889 | 3,589,850 | ||||||
| Goodwill | 9,643,752 | 9,643,752 | ||||||
| Other long term assets | 456,948 | 603,209 | ||||||
| Total assets | 20,434,630 | 23,170,067 | ||||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | 6,067,319 | 7,510,113 | ||||||
| Accrued expenses | 3,419,879 | 5,518,823 | ||||||
| Deferred revenue | 1,196,743 | 1,355,972 | ||||||
| Notes payable (current portion) | 503,041 | 808,976 | ||||||
| Due to related parties | 376,593 | 299,004 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 11,563,575 | 15,492,888 | ||||||
| Notes payable (net of current portion) | 6,887,382 | 3,615,782 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 18,450,957 | 19,108,670 | ||||||
| STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||||
| Series A Convertible Preferred stock ($.0001 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016) | - | - | ||||||
| Common stock ($.0001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized and 2,141,208 and 1,535,349 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 | 2,142 | 1,535 | ||||||
| Paid in capital | 167,805,711 | 163,918,685 | ||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (2,528,424 | ) | (2,486,616 | ) | ||||
| Accumulated deficit | (163,272,959 | ) | (157,442,585 | ) | ||||
| Noncontrolling interest | (22,797 | ) | 70,378 | |||||
| Total stockholders' equity | 1,983,673 | 4,061,397 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 20,434,630 | $ | 23,170,067 | ||||
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
| 4 |
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
| Three Months Ended September 30 | Nine Months Ended September 30 | |||||||||||||||
| 2017 | 2016 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||||||||
| Net revenues | ||||||||||||||||
| Service fees | $ | 14,901,131 | $ | 12,874,386 | $ | 43,263,217 | $ | 34,355,912 | ||||||||
| Branded content | - | 1,135,266 | 1,340,896 | 4,607,647 | ||||||||||||
| Total Revenues | 14,901,131 | 14,009,652 | 44,604,113 | 38,963,559 | ||||||||||||
| Costs and expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
| Cost of service fees | 12,756,627 | 10,683,897 | 36,232,170 | 28,285,984 | ||||||||||||
| Cost of branded content | - | 1,011,271 | 1,302,841 | 4,279,218 | ||||||||||||
| General and administrative | 2,357,729 | 2,284,737 | 7,788,068 | 6,372,361 | ||||||||||||
| Non-cash compensation | 111,277 | 732,701 | 836,218 | 3,108,274 | ||||||||||||
| Bad debt expense | 319,690 | 301,170 | 1,465,311 | 678,150 | ||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 630,020 | 764,886 | 1,860,401 | 2,497,538 | ||||||||||||
| Total costs and operating expenses | 16,175,343 | 15,778,662 | 49,485,009 | 45,221,525 | ||||||||||||
| Loss from operations | (1,274,212 | ) | (1,769,010 | ) | (4,880,896 | ) | (6,257,966 | ) | ||||||||
| Interest expense, net | (302,813 | ) | (608,716 | ) | (894,553 | ) | (1,186,207 | ) | ||||||||
| Loss from stock value guarantee | - | (1,559,281 | ) | - | (3,722,142 | ) | ||||||||||
| Other income (expense) | (92,904 | ) | 433,784 | (148,099 | ) | 392,257 | ||||||||||
| Net loss before income taxes | (1,669,929 | ) | (3,503,223 | ) | (5,923,548 | ) | (10,774,058 | ) | ||||||||
| Income taxes | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
| Net loss | (1,669,929 | ) | (3,503,223 | ) | (5,923,548 | ) | (10,774,058 | ) | ||||||||
| Net (income) loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest | (32,607 | ) | 33,683 | 93,175 | 110,350 | |||||||||||
| Net loss attributable to Net Element, Inc. stockholders | (1,702,536 | ) | (3,469,540 | ) | (5,830,373 | ) | (10,663,708 | ) | ||||||||
| Foreign currency translation gain (loss) | 92,191 | (96,786 | ) | (41,809 | ) | (622,568 | ) | |||||||||
| Comprehensive loss attributable to common stockholders | $ | (1,610,345 | ) | $ | (3,566,326 | ) | $ | (5,872,182 | ) | $ | (11,286,276 | ) | ||||
| Loss per share - basic and diluted | $ | (0.90 | ) | $ | (2.47 | ) | $ | (3.29 | ) | $ | (8.65 | ) | ||||
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic and diluted | 1,891,023 | 1,403,020 | 1,770,947 | 1,232,593 | ||||||||||||
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
| 5 |
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
| Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||
| 2017 | 2016 | |||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities | ||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (5,830,373 | ) | $ | (10,663,708 | ) | ||
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities | ||||||||
| Non controlling interest | (93,175 | ) | (110,350 | ) | ||||
| Share based compensation | 836,218 | 3,108,274 | ||||||
| Deferred revenue | (159,228 | ) | 135,003 | |||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 1,860,401 | 2,497,538 | ||||||
| Non cash interest | 98,774 | 741,857 | ||||||
| Changes in assets and liabilities | ||||||||
| Accounts receivable | 3,421,265 | (610,384 | ) | |||||
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | (352,551 | ) | (331,498 | ) | ||||
| Accounts payable and accrued expenses | (2,390,495 | ) | 4,165,778 | |||||
| Net cash used in operating activities | (2,609,164 | ) | (1,067,490 | ) | ||||
| Cash flows from investing activities | ||||||||
| Client acquisition costs | (1,380,661 | ) | (1,346,718 | ) | ||||
| Receipt of excess reserves and ( purchase) of fixed and other assets | 77,430 | - | ||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (1,303,231 | ) | (1,346,718 | ) | ||||
| Proceeds from common stock | 1,150,098 | - | ||||||
| Proceeds from indebtedness | 3,239,033 | 2,668,500 | ||||||
| Repayment of indebtedness | (273,360 | ) | (110,434 | ) | ||||
| Related party advances | 77,587 | 117,779 | ||||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | 4,193,358 | 2,675,845 | ||||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash | 19,504 | 97,902 | ||||||
| Net (decrease) increase in cash | 300,467 | 359,539 | ||||||
| Cash at beginning of period | 621,635 | 1,025,747 | ||||||
| Cash at end of period | $ | 922,102 | $ | 1,385,286 | ||||
| Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information | ||||||||
| Cash paid during the period for: | ||||||||
| Interest | $ | 795,779 | $ | 461,673 | ||||
| Taxes | $ | 86,942 | $ | 94,718 | ||||
| Share issuance for settlement of unpaid compensation | $ | - | $ | 1,042,509 | ||||
| Shares issued for redemption of indebtedness | $ | 363,986 | $ | 2,328,351 | ||||
| Shares issued in settlement of advances from from board member | $ | - | $ | 909,285 | ||||
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
| 6 |
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Organization
Net Element, Inc. (“we”, “us”, “our” or the “Company”) is a global financial technology and value-added solutions group specializing in mobile payments and other transactional services in emerging countries and in the United States. We have three reportable segments: (i) North American Transaction Solutions for electronic commerce, (ii) Mobile Solutions which primarily serves the Russian Federation and Eurasia and (iii) Online Solutions, comprehensive online payment acceptance solution, with access to 100+ payment methods in 50 countries and 120+ currencies. We are differentiated by our proprietary technology which enables us to provide a broad suite of payment products, end-to-end transaction processing services and superior client support. We are able to deliver these services across multiple points of access, or “multi-channel,” including brick and mortar locations, software integration, e-commerce, mobile operator billing, mobile and tablet-based solutions. In the United States, via our U.S. based subsidiaries, we generate revenues from transactional services and other payment technologies for small and medium-sized businesses (“SMBs”). Through Digital Provider, LLC (“Digital Provider”) and PayOnline, we have mobile operator relationships and contracts allowing us to facilitate transactional services, mobile payment transactions, online payment transactions and other payment technologies in emerging countries in the Russian Federation, Europe and Asia.
Business
Our transactional services business enables merchants to accept credit cards as well as other forms of payment, including debit cards, checks, gift cards, loyalty programs and alternative payment methods in traditional card-present or swipe transactions, as well as card-not-present transactions, such as those conducted over the phone or through the Internet or a mobile device. We market and sell our services through both independent sales groups (“ISGs”), which are non-employee, external sales organizations and other third-party resellers of our products and services, and directly to merchants through electronic media, telemarketing and other programs, including utilizing partnerships with other companies that market products and services to local and international merchants. We have agreements with several banks that sponsor us for membership in the Visa®, MasterCard®, American Express® and Discover® card associations and settle card transactions for our merchants. These sponsoring banks include Merrick Bank, N.A., Esquire Bank, N.A. and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. From time to time, we may enter into agreements with additional banks. We perform core functions for merchants such as application processing, underwriting, account set-up, risk management, fraud detection, merchant assistance and support, equipment deployment and chargeback services.
Our Mobile Solutions business, Digital Provider, provides relationships and contracts with mobile operators that give us the ability to offer our clients in-app, premium SMS (short message services, which is a text messaging service), Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)-click, one click and other carrier billing services. We also market our own branded content as a separate line of business for our mobile commerce business from offices in Russia and Kazakhstan. In August 2017, we substantially reorganized this business, and consolidated its operations into PayOnline and TOT Group Russia. We currently are not generating revenues from new mobile content and we continue to explore partnership opportunities that can monetize our relationships and contracts with mobile operators.
PayOnline provides flexible high-tech payment solutions to companies doing business on the Internet or in the mobile environment. PayOnline specializes in integration and customization of payment solutions for websites and mobile apps. In particular, PayOnline arranges payment on the website of any commercial organization, which increases the convenience of using the website and helps maximize the number of successful transactions. In addition, PayOnline is focused on providing online and mobile payment acceptance services to the travel industry through direct integration with leading Global Distribution Systems (“GDS”), which include Amadeus® and Sabre®. Key geographic regions that PayOnline serves include Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Western Europe, North American and Asia major sub regions. PayOnline offices are located in Russia, Kazakhstan and in the Republic of Cyprus.
Also part of our transactional services business, Aptito is a proprietary, cloud-based payments platform for the hospitality industry, which creates an online consumer experience in offline commerce environments via tablet, mobile and all other cloud-connected devices. Aptito’s easy to use point-of-sale (“POS”) system makes things easier by providing a comprehensive solution to the hospitality industry to help streamline management and operations. Orders placed tableside by customers directly speed up the ordering process and improve overall efficiency. Aptito's mobile POS system provides portability to the staff while performing all the same functions as a traditional POS system, and more.
| 7 |
Company Overview
Net Element is a global financial technology and value-added solutions group that supports companies in accepting electronic payments in an omni-channel environment that spans across point-of-sale (“POS”), e-commerce and mobile devices. The Company operates in three segments as a provider of North America Transaction Solutions, Mobile Solutions and Online Solutions.
We enable merchants of all sizes to accept and process over 100 different payment options in more than 120 currencies, including credit, debit and prepaid payments. We also provide merchants with value-added services and technologies including integrated payment technologies, POS solutions, security solutions, fraud management, information solutions and analytical tools.
We provide a range of solutions to our clients across the value chain of commerce-enabling services and technologies. We create our value-added solutions from a suite of proprietary technology products which includes cloud-based applications, processing services, security offerings, and customer support programs that we configure to meet our clients’ individual needs.
We provide additional services including:
| · | Payment processing POS solutions and value-added services throughout the United States provided by TOT Payments doing business as Unified Payments; |
| · | Proprietary cloud-based POS platform for the hospitality industry and SMB merchants through Aptito and Restoactive; |
| · | Proprietary integrated, global e-commerce and mobile payments processing platform and fraud management system through PayOnline; |
| · | Integrated payment processing solutions to the travel industry, which includes integrations with various GDS, such as Amadeus®, Galileo® and Sabre®, and additional geo filters and passenger name record (PNR) through Pay-Travel service offered by PayOnline; |
| · | PayNet Solutions – universal payment platform provided by PayOnline (software-as-a-service (“SaaS”) and White Label models) provides an opportunity for top clients of PayOnline to develop their own independent business solutions; and |
We have operations and offices located within the United States (“U.S.”) (domestic) and outside of the U.S. (international) where sales, customer service and/or administrative personnel are based. Through U.S. based subsidiaries, we generate revenues from transactional services, valued-added payment services and technologies for SMBs. Through wholly owned subsidiaries, we operate internationally with a focus on transactional services, mobile payment transactions, online payment transactions, value-added payment services and technologies in selected international markets.
Our business is characterized by transaction related fees, multi-year contracts, and a diverse client base which allows us to grow alongside our clients. Our multi-year contracts allow us to achieve a high level of recurring revenues. While the contracts typically do not specify fixed revenues to be realized thereunder, they do provide a framework for revenues to be generated based on volume of services provided during the contract’s term.
Basis of Presentation
Use of Estimates
The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the balance sheet date and the reported amounts of expenses for the period presented. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Significant estimates include (i) the valuation of acquired merchant portfolios, (ii) collectability of accounts receivable, (iii) the recoverability of long lived and indeterminate-lived assets, (iv) the remaining useful lives of tangible long-lived assets, and (v) the sufficiency of merchant, aggregator, legal, and other reserves. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate the sufficiency and accuracy of our estimates. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications have been made to the comparative period amounts to conform to our current period presentation. These reclassifications had no impact on previously presented financial condition or results of operations.
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Cash and Cash Equivalents
We maintain our U.S. dollar-denominated cash in several non-interest bearing bank deposit accounts. All U.S. non-interest bearing transaction accounts are insured up to a maximum of $250,000, at all FDIC insured institutions. The bank balances did not exceed FDIC limits at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.
We had $222,815 and $498,308 in uninsured bank accounts in Russia and the Cayman Islands at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Accounts receivable are stated net of allowance for doubtful accounts. We estimate an allowance based on experience with our service providers and judgment as to the likelihood of their ultimate payment. We also consider collection experience and make estimates regarding collectability based on payout trends of the customers. Total allowance for doubtful accounts was $636,022 and $603,031 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016.
Other Current Assets
We maintain an inventory of POS terminals which we use to service both merchants and independent sales agents. If the terminals are sold for a fee, we expense the cost of these terminals, plus any setup fees at the time of the sale. Often, we will provide the terminals as an incentive for merchants and independent sales agents to enter into merchant contracts with us. The term of these contracts have an average length of three years and the cost of the terminal plus any setup fees are capitalized and amortized over the contract period. If the merchants early terminate their contract with us, they are obligated to either return the terminal or pay for the terminal. The Company had $451,672 and $311,206 in terminals, iPads ® and related equipment as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, of which $442,783 and $308,582 has been placed with merchants as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively (Also see Note 6).
Fixed Assets
We depreciate our furniture and equipment over a term of three to ten years. Computers and software are depreciated over terms between two and five years. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the economic life or term of each lease. All of our assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis for financial statement purposes.
Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charged to operating expense as incurred. Expenditures that increase the value or productive capacity of assets are capitalized. At the time of retirements, sales, or other dispositions of property and equipment, the original cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the respective accounts, and the gains or losses are presented as other expenses.
Intangible Assets
Included in our intangible assets are merchant portfolios which represent the net carrying value of merchant customer bases acquired. Merchant portfolios are amortized on a straight-line basis over their respective contract terms, generally three to five years. Merchant portfolios are assessed for impairment if events or circumstances indicate that their respective carrying values are not recoverable from the future anticipated undiscounted net cash flows attributable to such assets. In such cases, the amount of any potential impairment would be measured as the excess, if any, of carrying value over the fair value of such assets.
We capitalize direct expenses associated with filing of patents and patent applications and amortize the capitalized intellectual property costs over five years beginning when the patent is approved.
Additionally, we capitalize the fair value of intangible assets acquired in business combinations. We perform valuations of assets acquired and liabilities assumed on each acquisition accounted for as a business combination and allocates the purchase price of each acquired business to its respective net tangible and intangible assets. Acquired intangible assets include: merchant portfolios, trade names, non-compete agreements, customer relationships and technology.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
We review our long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or group of assets may not be recoverable. During the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, we did not recognize any charges for impairment of goodwill or intangible assets.
| 9 |
Capitalized Customer Acquisition Costs, Net
Capitalized customer acquisition costs consist of up-front cash payments made to Independent Sales Groups (“ISGs”) for the establishment of new merchant relationships. Capitalized customer acquisition costs represent incremental, direct customer acquisition costs that are recoverable through gross margins associated with merchant contracts. The up-front cash payment to the ISG is based on the estimated gross margin for the first year of the merchant contract. The deferred customer acquisition cost asset is recorded at the time of payment and the capitalized acquisition costs are primarily amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of three years.
Management evaluates the capitalized customer acquisition cost for recoverability at each balance sheet date by comparing, on a pooled basis by vintage month of origination, the expected future net undiscounted cash flows from underlying merchant relationships to the carrying amount of capitalized customer acquisition costs. If the estimated future net cash flows are lower than the recorded carrying amount, indicating an impairment of the carrying value of the capitalized customer acquisition costs, the impairment loss is charged to operations.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and the twelve months ended December 31, 2016, we recorded additional capitalized customer acquisition costs of $1,311,262 and $1,319,820, respectively. The balance of customer acquisition costs was $2,258,877 and $1,697,337 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, and is reflected in intangible assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets (see Note 6).
Accrued Residual Commissions
We report commission payments as a cost of revenues in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss. We pay agent commissions to ISGs and independent sales agents based on the processing volume of the merchants enrolled. The commission payments are based on varying percentages of the volume processed by us on behalf of the merchants. Percentages vary based on the program type and transaction volume of each merchant.
At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the residual commissions payable to ISGs and independent sales agents were $807,535 and $1,347,352, respectively.
We pay agent commission on annual fees between January and April of each year. We amortize the annual fees paid in equal monthly amounts from date of payment to end of year. We pay our agent commissions for annual fees in advance of recognizing the associated revenue. We deferred $784,711 and $863,604 of agent commissions paid for annual fees at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Prepaid agent commissions for annual fees are included in prepaid expenses and other assets, and commissions payable are included in accounts payable in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Fair Value Measurements
Our financial instruments consist primarily of cash, accounts receivable, merchant portfolios, trade payables and debt instruments. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and trade payables are considered to be representative of their respective fair values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The carrying amount of the long-term debt of $7.5 million at September 30, 2017 and $4.6 million at December 31, 2016 approximates fair value because current borrowing rate does not materially differ from market rates for similar bank borrowings. The long-term debt is classified as a Level 2 item within the fair value hierarchy described below.
We measure certain nonfinancial assets and liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. We use a three-level fair value hierarchy to prioritize the inputs used to measure fair value and maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs. The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are as follows:
Level 1 — Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date
Level 2 — Observable market based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data
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These non-financial assets and liabilities include intangible assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination as well as impairment calculations, when necessary. The fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with the PayOnline acquisition were measured at Level 3 fair value by us at the acquisition date. The fair values of our merchant portfolios are primarily based on Level 3 inputs and are generally estimated based upon independent appraisals that include discounted cash flow analyses based on our most recent cash flow projections, and, for years beyond the projection period, estimates based on assumed growth rates. Assumptions are also made regarding appropriate discount rates, perpetual growth rates, and capital expenditures, among others. In certain circumstances, the discounted cash flow analyses are corroborated by a market-based approach that utilizes comparable company public trading values, and, where available, values observed in private market transactions. The inputs used by management for the fair value measurements include significant unobservable inputs, and therefore, the fair value measurements employed are classified as Level 3. The goodwill recoverability calculation was primarily based on observable inputs using company specific information and is classified as Level 3.
Foreign Currency Transactions
We are subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk in our foreign operations in Russia, the functional currency of which is the Russian Ruble, where we generate service fee revenues and interest income and incurs product development, engineering, website development, and general and administrative costs and expenses. The Russian engineering operations pay a majority of their operating expenses in their local currencies, exposing us to exchange rate risk.
We do not engage in any currency hedging activities.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenue when the following four basic criteria have been met: (1) persuasive evidence of a sales arrangement exists, (2) performance of services or delivery of goods has occurred, (3) the sales price is fixed or determinable, and (4) collectability is reasonably assured. We consider persuasive evidence of a sales arrangement to be the receipt of a billable transaction from aggregators, merchants or a signed contract. Collectability is assessed based on a number of factors, including transaction history with the customer and the credit worthiness of the customer. If it is determined that the collection is not reasonably assured, revenue is not recognized until collection becomes reasonably assured, which is generally upon receipt of cash. We record cash received in advance of revenue recognition as deferred revenue.
Our revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 were principally derived from the following sources:
Transactional Processing Fees: Transactional processing fees are generated primarily from TOT Payments LLC (doing business as Unified Payments), which is our U.S. transaction processing company, PayOnline, which is our global online transaction processing company, and Aptito, our POS solution for restaurants.
Our transactional processing businesses derive revenues primarily from the electronic processing of services including: credit, debit, electronic benefits transfer and alternative payment methods card processing authorized and captured through proprietary and third-party networks, electronic gift certificate processing, and equipment sales. These revenues are recorded as bankcard and other processing transactions when processed. In addition to generating service fees, Aptito earns monthly license fees for use of its platform.
Typically, fees charged to merchants for these processing services are based on a variable percentage of the dollar amount of each transaction and in some instances, additional fees are charged for each transaction. Merchant customers also may be charged miscellaneous fees, including statement fees, annual fees, monthly minimum fees, fees for handling chargebacks, gateway fees, and fees for other miscellaneous services.
Generally, we (i) are the primary obligor in our arrangements with our merchant customers, (ii) have latitude in establishing the price of our services, (iii) have the ability to change the product and perform parts of the services, (iv) have discretion in supplier selection, (v) have latitude in determining the product and service specifications to meet the needs of our merchant customers, and (vi) assume credit risk. In such cases, we report revenues as gross of fees deducted by our sponsoring member banks, as well as fees deducted from card-issuing member banks and card associations on behalf of our sponsoring member banks for interchange and assessments. These fees charged by the card associations to process the credit card transactions are recorded separately as a cost of revenue in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss.
We have multiple element arrangements that include bundled transactions with merchants encompassing annual PCI (Payment Card Industry) fees, annual membership fees, and monthly processing fees.
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We adopted Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2009-13, “Multiple–Deliverable Revenue Arrangements.” ASU 2009-13 requires the use of the relative selling price method of allocating total consideration to units of accounting in a multiple element arrangement and eliminates the residual method. This accounting principle requires an entity to allocate revenue in an arrangement using estimated selling price deliverables if it does not have vendor specific objective evidence (VSOE) or third-party evidence (TPE) of selling price.
VSOE is the price charged when the same or similar product or service is sold separately. We define VSOE as a median price of recent stand-alone transactions that are priced within a narrow range. TPE is determined based on the prices charged by our competitors for a similar deliverable when sold separately. We evaluate each deliverable in its arrangements to determine whether it represents a separate unit of accounting. A deliverable constitutes a separate unit of accounting when it has stand-alone value to our customers. Our products (i.e., POS terminals) and services qualify as separate units of accounting under ASU 2009-13.
As noted above, merchant customers may be charged miscellaneous fees, including statement fees, annual fees, monthly minimum fees, fees for handling chargebacks, gateway fees, and fees for other miscellaneous services.
The fair value for annual fees is based on the annual contract renewal price and is deemed to represent stand-alone selling price based upon VSOE. The fair value for processing is based on prices charged by our competitors for similar deliverables when sold separately and is deemed to represent stand-alone selling price based upon TPE.
Deferred revenue represents primarily amounts received in advance for annual fee billings and are recognized on a pro rata basis over the service period.
Service Fees: Service fees are generated primarily from mobile payment processing services provided to third party content aggregators by Digital Provider. Digital Provider’s revenues for the access of branded content are recorded at the amounts charged to the mobile subscriber. A corresponding charge to cost of sales for mobile operator and content fees is recorded for branded content. Revenues for access to branded content are recorded on the income statement as branded content revenues.
Mobile payment processing revenues for third-party content providers are accounted for as service fees and presented net of aggregator and mobile operator payments on the condensed consolidated financial statements as these revenues are considered to be agency fees.
Subscription revenues for our branded content are recognized when a content subscriber initiates the purchase of access to content using WAP-click, Internet-click, or a SMS-to-short number registered to us.
Digital Provider’s subscription revenues are recorded at the amounts charged to the third party customer. Cost of revenues for Digital Provider branded content includes fees due to mobile operators and marketing partners, as well as short number fees.
Cost of revenues for Digital Provider is comprised primarily of mobile operator fees, content provider fees and fees for short numbers paid to mobile operators. Additionally, penalties and penalty recoveries are recorded as cost of sales. Service revenues for mobile payment processing services are presented net as these revenues are considered to be agency fees.
Cost of revenues for TOT Payments, Aptito and PayOnline is comprised primarily of processing fees paid to third parties attributable to providing transaction processing and service fees for POS system usage by our merchant customers. Interchange fees and cost of services are recognized as incurred and generally occur in the same period in which the corresponding revenue is recognized. Interchange fees are set by the card networks and are paid to the card-issuing bank. Interchange fees are calculated as a percentage of the dollar volume processed plus a per transaction fee. We also pay Visa® and MasterCard® network dues.
Net Loss per Share
Basic net loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss applicable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period as adjusted for the effect of reverse stock splits (see Note 13). Diluted net loss per common share is determined using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period, adjusted for the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents, consisting of shares issuable upon exercise of common stock options or warrants. In periods when losses are reported, the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding excludes common stock equivalents because their inclusion would have an anti-dilutive effect. At both September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had warrants outstanding to purchase 89,389 shares of common stock. At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had 228,256 and 193,601 stock options issued and outstanding, respectively, that are anti-dilutive in effect.
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Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
We review our long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or group of assets may not be recoverable. During the quarter ended September 30, 2017 and the year ended December 31, 2016, there was no impairment of goodwill and intangible assets.
Income Taxes
We account for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the condensed consolidated financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined on the basis of the differences between the financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
We recognize net deferred tax assets to the extent that our management believes these assets are more likely than not to be realized. In making such a determination, management considers all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax-planning strategies, and results of recent operations. If management determines that we would be able to realize our deferred tax assets in the future in excess of their net recorded amount, an adjustment would be made to the deferred tax asset valuation allowance, which would reduce the provision for income taxes. In addition, see "Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements" below regarding our adoption of guidance related to deferred taxes in the first quarter of 2017.
We account for uncertainty in income taxes using a two-step approach to recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon settlement. We recognize a liability for unrecognized tax benefits as current to the extent that we anticipate payment (or receipt) of cash within one year. Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are recognized and recorded as necessary in the provision for income taxes. Our evaluation of uncertain tax positions was performed for the tax years ended December 31, 2012 and forward, the tax years which remain subject to examination at September 30, 2017. Please see Note 15 for discussion of our uncertain tax positions.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, “Revenue Recognition” and requires entities to recognize revenue in a way that depicts the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, which defers by one year the effective date of ASU 2014-09. Accordingly, this guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017 with early adoption permitted for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. We are evaluating the effects that the adoption of ASU 2014-9 will have on our consolidated financial statements, and currently do not expect a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, “Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes,” which requires entities to present deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities as noncurrent in a classified balance sheet. As a result, each tax jurisdiction will now only have one net noncurrent deferred tax asset or liability. We adopted this ASU in the first quarter of 2017, which had no impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases” which, for operating leases, requires a lessee to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability, initially measured at the present value of the lease payments, in its balance sheet. The standard also requires a lessee to recognize a single lease cost, calculated so that the cost of the lease is allocated over the lease term, on a generally straight-line basis. The ASU is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. While we are currently evaluating the effects that the adoption of ASU 2016-02 will have on our consolidated financial statements, we expect an increase in assets and liabilities on our balance sheet associated with the recognition of right-of-use office leases.
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In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-08 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) to clarify implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations (for reporting revenue on a gross or net basis). The ASU is an amendment to Topic 606, clarifies the implementation guidance, and requires an entity to account for revenue as an agent when another entity controls the specified good or service before that good or service is transferred to the customer. This ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We currently are preparing analyses, across all business lines and customers, to determine the effect of the new revenue recognition standard. While we are currently evaluating the effects that the adoption of ASU 2016-08 will have on our consolidated financial statements, we believe that a portion of our revenue recognized for branded content in our Mobile Solutions business segment may no longer meet the conditions for gross reporting upon adoption of this ASU in 2018.
NOTE 2. BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and reflect all adjustments, which are of a normal and recurring nature, that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of our condensed consolidated financial position and results of operations for the related periods. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The consolidated results of operations for any interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year. On May 25, 2016 and October 5, 2017, we effected one-for-ten reverse stock splits of our common stock. Our condensed consolidated financial statements and disclosures reflect these changes in capital structure for all periods presented. Following the consolidation principles promulgated by U.S. GAAP, these condensed consolidated financial statements include the assets, liabilities, results of operations, and cash flows of the following subsidiaries:
(1) TOT Group, Inc., a 100% owned subsidiary formed in Delaware; (2) Netlab Systems, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary formed in Florida; (3) NetLab Systems IP, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary formed in Florida; (4) OOO Net Element Russia (“Net Element Russia”), a wholly owned subsidiary formed in Russia; and (5) Net Element Services, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary formed in Florida.
The subsidiaries listed above are the parent companies of several other subsidiaries, which hold the Company’s underlying investments or operating entities.
TOT Group is the parent company of TOT Payments, LLC (“TOT Payments”) doing business as Unified Payments a wholly owned subsidiary formed in Florida, Aptito, LLC, a 80% owned subsidiary formed in Florida (acquired June 18, 2013), TOT Group Europe LTD, a wholly owned subsidiary formed in the United Kingdom, Unified Portfolios, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary formed in Florida and OOO TOT Group Russia, a wholly owned subsidiary formed in Russia.
| · | TOT Payments, LLC is the parent company of: |
| - | Process Pink, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary formed in Florida; | |
| - | TOT HPS, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary formed in Florida; | |
| - | TOT FBS, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary formed in Florida; | |
| - | TOT New Edge, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary formed in Florida; | |
| - | TOT BPS, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary formed in Florida |
| · | OOO TOT Group Russia is the parent company of its wholly owned subsidiary OOO Digital Provider (a company formed in Russia), PayOnline Systems, LLC (a wholly-owned company formed in Russia), Innovative Payment Technologies, LLC (a wholly-owned company formed in Russia) and TOT Group Kazakhstan, a wholly owned subsidiary formed in Kazakhstan. | |
| · | Netlab Systems, LLC is the parent company of Tech Solutions LTD (Cayman Islands). | |
| · | Net Element Russia is the parent company of a 100% owned OOO TOT Group. Net Element Russia and OOO TOT Group are inactive and in the process of being liquidated. | |
| · | TOT Group Europe LTD is a 100% owner of Polimore Capital Limited (Cyprus) and Brosword Holding Limited (Cyprus) |
All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
NOTE 3. LIQUIDITY AND GOING CONCERN CONSIDERATIONS
Our condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the settlement of liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, we sustained a net loss of $1.7 million and $5.9 million, respectively, and had an accumulated deficit of $163.3 million at September 30, 2017. Furthermore, we had $4.5 million of negative working capital at September 30, 2017. We sustained a net loss of $13.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 and had an accumulated deficit of $157.4 million and a negative working capital of $6.3 million at December 31, 2016. The conditions above plus the risk of our ability to secure sufficient financing in order to pay such obligations raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The independent auditors’ report on our consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 contain an emphasis paragraph expressing substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern.
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Failure to successfully continue developing our payment processing operations and maintain contracts with merchants, mobile phone carriers and content providers who use TOT Group’s services could harm our revenues and materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. We face all of the risks inherent in a new business, including the need for significant additional capital, management’s potential underestimation of initial and ongoing costs, and potential delays and other problems in connection with developing our technologies and operations.
We are continuing with our plan to further grow and expand our payment processing operations in the United States and emerging markets and seek sources of capital to expand and pay our contractual obligations as they come due. Management believes that its current operating strategy will provide the opportunity for us to continue as a going concern as long as we are able to obtain additional financing; however, there is no assurance this will occur. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern.
We are required to continually meet the listing requirements of The Nasdaq Capital Market (including a minimum bid price for our common stock of $1.00 per share and a $2.5 million minimum of stockholders’ equity) to maintain the listing of our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market. On October 20, 2017, the Company regained its compliance with Nasdaq as it evidenced compliance with the $1.00 bid price and stockholders’ equity requirements. See Note 17 for additional information.
NOTE 4. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
Accounts receivable (net) consist of amounts due from processors and Russian mobile operator intermediaries. Total net accounts receivable amounted to $4,446,358 and $7,126,429 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Net accounts receivable consisted primarily of $108,038 and $2,391,646 of amounts due from Russian mobile operators, $157,883 and $185,650 due to PayOnline online processing business and $4,180,437 and $4,549,133 of credit card processing receivables at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
Our allowance for doubtful accounts was $636,022 and $603,031 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2016, we recorded a provision of $500,000 for potentially uncollectible accounts receivable in our mobile payments business. We recognized an increase in our provision for $32,991 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 relating to our mobile payments business.
NOTE 5. FIXED ASSETS
Fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization as follows:
| Useful life (in years) | September 30, 2017 | December 31, 2016 | ||||||||
| Furniture and equipment | 3 - 10 | $ | 118,952 | $ | 185,301 | |||||
| Computers | 2 - 5 | 156,958 | 168,942 | |||||||
| Total | 275,910 | 354,243 | ||||||||
| Less: Accumulated depreciation | (211,529 | ) | (236,948 | ) | ||||||
| Total fixed assets, net | $ | 64,381 | $ | 117,295 | ||||||
Depreciation expense for fixed assets for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $7,901 and $25,419, respectively, and $20,215 and $39,737, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016.
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NOTE 6. INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Shown below are the details of intangible assets at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:
| IP Software | Portfolios and | Client
Acquisition Costs | PCI
Certification | Trademarks | Domain Names | Covenant Not
to | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2015 | $ | 1,548,601 | $ | 1,489,175 | $ | 1,048,060 | $ | 355,458 | $ | 561,772 | $ | 339,147 | $ | 81,667 | $ | 5,423,880 | ||||||||||||||||
| Additions | 102,689 | - | 1,319,820 | - | - | 83 | - | 1,422,592 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization | (1,271,226 | ) | $ | (704,184 | ) | (670,543 | ) | (149,668 | ) | (234,064 | ) | (145,270 | ) | (81,667 | ) | (3,256,622 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2016 | 380,064 | 784,991 | 1,697,337 | 205,790 | 327,708 | 193,960 | - | 3,589,850 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Additions | 45,591 | - | 403,585 | - | - | - | 449,176 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization | (60,739 | ) | (158,434 | ) | (221,195 | ) | (37,417 | ) | (58,516 | ) | (36,317 | ) | - | (572,618 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| Balance at March 31, 2017 | $ | 364,916 | $ | 626,557 | $ | 1,879,727 | $ | 168,373 | $ | 269,192 | $ | 157,643 | $ | - | $ | 3,466,408 | ||||||||||||||||
| Additions | - | - | 403,300 | - | - | - | 403,300 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Disposals | (11,099 | ) | - | - | - | - | - | - | (11,099 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization | (49,042 | ) | (117,501 | ) | (251,485 | ) | (37,417 | ) | (59,004 | ) | (35,931 | ) | - | (550,380 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| Balance at June 30, 2017 | $ | 304,775 | $ | 509,056 | $ | 2,031,542 | $ | 130,956 | $ | 210,188 | $ | 121,712 | $ | - | $ | 3,308,229 | ||||||||||||||||
| Additions | 10,168 | - | 504,377 | - | - | - | - | 514,545 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amortization | (53,092 | ) | (117,501 | ) | (277,042 | ) | (37,417 | ) | (59,004 | ) | (35,829 | ) | - | (579,885 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| Balance at September 30, 2017 | $ | 261,851 | $ | 391,555 | $ | 2,258,877 | $ | 93,539 | $ | 151,184 | $ | 85,883 | $ | - | $ | 3,242,889 | ||||||||||||||||
Total depreciation and amortization expense for the three month and nine months period ended September 30, 2017 was $630,020 and $1,860,401, respectively, of which $579,886 and $1,702,884 relates to the above table. We incurred additional amortization of $42,233 and $132,098 for terminal inventory placed with merchant customers during the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017 (this is not included in the above table). The remaining $7,901 and $25,419, for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, not included in table above, was for fixed assets (See Note 5. Fixed Assets).
Total depreciation and amortization expense for the three month and nine months period ended September 30, 2016 was $744,670 and $2,457,800, respectively, of which $701,065 and $2,345,078 relates to the above table. Additionally, we incurred $43,605 and $112,722 for the amortization of terminal inventory placed with merchant customers during the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and is not included in above the above table. The remaining $20,215 and $39,737, for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, not included in table above, was for fixed assets (See Note 5. Fixed Assets).
The following table presents the estimated aggregate future amortization expense of other intangible assets:
| Year | Amortization Expense | |||
| 2017 (3 months) | $ | 269,716 | ||
| 2018 | 1,078,862 | |||
| 2019 | 1,078,862 | |||
| 2020 | 815,449 | |||
| 2021 | - | |||
| Total | $ | 3,242,889 | ||
Software
At times, capitalized software development costs that add value to or extend the useful of the related software it develops for internal use and licensing. Costs for routine software updates are expensed as incurred. Capitalized costs are amortized over 36 months on a straight-line basis. Impairment is reviewed quarterly to ensure only viable active costs are capitalized.
During the nine months and twelve months ended September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, we capitalized $55,759 and $81,428 of software development costs as follows:
| · | point of sale software ($53,344 and $1,469) |
| · | payment processing software ($0 and $89,101) |
| · | mobile payments billing software ($2,415 and $12,119) |
For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017, amortization was $53,092 and $162,873, respectively. For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2016, amortization was $246,727 and $950,206, respectively.
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Merchant Portfolios
Merchant Portfolios consist of portfolios purchased by us that earn future streams of income. The remaining contract terms of these portfolios range from 15 to 36 months at the time of acquisition. The useful lives of merchant portfolios represent management’s best estimate over which we expect to recognize the economic benefits of these intangible assets. At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the net value of these portfolios was $391,555 and $784,991, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, amortization of merchant portfolios was $117,501 and $393,436, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, amortization of merchant portfolios was $176,046 and $528,138, respectively.
Trademarks and Domain Names
At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the net book value of trademarks was $151,184 and $327,708, respectively, and the net book value of the domain names were $85,883 and $193,960, respectively. For the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2017, amortization for trademarks was $59,004 and $176,524, respectively and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, amortization was $41,667 and $125,001, respectively. For the nine and three months ended September 30, 2017, amortization for domain names was $35,829 and $108,077, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, amortization for domain names was $24,999 and $74,997 respectively.
PCI Certification
At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the net book value of our PCI certification was $93,539 and $205,790, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, amortization for this certification was $37,417 and $112,251, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, amortization for this certification was $37,417 and $112,251, respectively.
NOTE 7. ACCRUED EXPENSES
At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, accrued expenses amounted to $3,419,879 and $5,518,823, respectively. Accrued expenses represent expenses that are owed at the end of the period and have not been billed by the provider or are estimates of services provided. The following table details the items comprising the balances outstanding at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:
| September 30, 2017 | December 31, 2016 | |||||||
| Accrued professional fees | $ | 220,140 | $ | 220,140 | ||||
| PayOnline accrual | 1,633,271 | 3,784,451 | ||||||
| Accrued interest | 180,844 | 183,778 | ||||||
| Accrued bonus | 1,253,577 | 774,485 | ||||||
| Accrued franchise taxes | - | 180,000 | ||||||
| Accrued foreign taxes | 108,456 | 131,810 | ||||||
| Short term loan advances | - | 174,376 | ||||||
| Other accrued expenses | 23,591 | 69,783 | ||||||
| $ | 3,419,879 | $ | 5,518,823 | |||||
The accrual for PayOnline at September 30, 2017 consists of a $480,936 stock price guarantee obligation pursuant to a settlement agreement entered into in connection with the PayOnline acquisition. Additionally, the accrual includes a $1,152,335 obligation for refundable merchant reserves assumed pursuant to an amendment to the PayOnline acquisition agreement. See Note 11 and Note 17 for additional information.
The accrual for PayOnline at December 31, 2016 consists of a $199,000 earn-out accrual and a $2,075,687 stock price guarantee obligation pursuant to a settlement agreement entered into in connection with the PayOnline acquisition. Additionally, the accrual includes a $1,433,475 million obligation for refundable merchant reserves assumed pursuant to an amendment to the PayOnline acquisition agreement.
Accrued bonuses are attributed to our TOT Group subsidiaries resulting from a discretionary bonus accrual for $1,253,577 and $774,485 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
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NOTE 8. SHORT TERM DEBT
At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, short term debt consists of $503,041 and $808,976, respectively in principal repayments due to RBL Capital Group, LLC and Priority Payment Systems, LLC.
NOTE 9. LONG TERM DEBT
Long term debt consists of the following:
| September 30, 2017 | December 31, 2016 | |||||||
| RBL Capital Group, LLC | $ | 4,544,087 | $ | 4,044,056 | ||||
| Priority Payments Systems LLC | 2,477,678 | - | ||||||
| MBF Merchant Capital, LLC | 504,794 | 520,303 | ||||||
| Subtotal | 7,526,559 | 4,564,359 | ||||||
| Less Deferred loan costs | (136,136 | ) | (139,601 | ) | ||||
| Subtotal | 7,390,423 | 4,424,758 | ||||||
| Less Current portion | (503,041 | ) | (808,976 | ) | ||||
| Long term debt | $ | 6,887,382 | $ | 3,615,782 | ||||
RBL Capital Group, LLC
Effective June 30, 2014, TOT Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries as co-borrowers, TOT Payments, LLC, TOT BPS, LLC, TOT FBS, LLC, Process Pink, LLC, TOT HPS, LLC and TOT New Edge, LLC, entered into a Loan and Security Agreement with RBL Capital Group, LLC (“RBL”), as lender (the “RBL Loan Agreement”). Pursuant to the original terms of the RBL Loan Agreement, we could borrow up to $10,000,000 from RBL during the 18 month period from the closing of this credit facility. Prior to maturity of the loan, the principal amount of the borrowings under the credit facility will carry a fixed interest rate of the higher of 13.90% per annum or the prime rate plus 10.65%. After maturity of the loan, until all borrowings are paid in full, with respect to the advances under the credit facility, an additional three percent per annum would be added to such interest rate, and for any other amounts, obligations or payments due to RBL, an annual default rate not to exceed the lesser of (i) the prime rate plus 13% per annum and (ii) 18.635% per annum. As further described below, borrowings from the line of credit in the amounts of $3,315,000, $400,000 and $250,000 were converted into term loans. On May 2, 2016, we renewed our credit facility with RBL, increasing the facility from $10 million to $15 million and extended the term through February 2018. At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had $10,455,913 and $10,955,414 available under our RBL credit line.
The co-borrowers’ obligations to RBL pursuant to the RBL Loan Agreement are secured by a first priority security interest in all of the co-borrowers’ tangible and intangible assets, including but not limited to their merchants, merchant contracts and proceeds thereof, and all right title and interest in co-borrowers’ processing contracts, contract rights, and portfolio cash flows with all processors of the co-borrowers.
On July 17, 2014, we entered into a $3,315,000 term note with RBL. Net proceeds from the term note were used to repay a $3.0 million note previously due to MBF Merchant Capital, LLC (“MBF”) in addition to approximately $239,000 for working capital. The term note required interest only payments at 13.90% interest through January 2015 commencing on August 20, 2014 followed by monthly interest and principal payments of $90,421 through January 2019. The note balance reduced the amount available under our RBL credit line. The note also provided for a 2% front end fee due at execution of the note and a 4% backend fee due at the final payment of the note. During 2016, Crede CG III, Ltd. (“Crede”) purchased $1,849,481 of the principal balance of this note in various tranches. We exchanged and extinguished these note tranches for 16,426 shares of common stock during the second quarter of 2016, 99,203 shares of our common stock during the third quarter of 2016, and 19,608 shares during the fourth quarter of 2016. See “—Crede CG III, Ltd.” At December 20, 2016, the remaining balance of the note was refinanced into another note and its balance was $0 at December 31, 2016.
Effective February 10, 2015, we entered into a $400,000 term note with RBL based on a draw down from the line of credit. The term note provided for interest-only payments at 13.90% interest through July 20, 2015. From August 20, 2015 through July 20, 2019 (maturity date), we were obligated to make interest and principal payments of $10,911 per month. We paid $8,000 in costs related to this loan. This term note was purchased by Crede, which was exchanged and extinguished for an aggregate of 21,928 shares of our common stock on June 9, 2016, June 23, 2016, and June 30, 2016. The balance of this note was $0 at December 31, 2016.
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Effective March 27, 2015, we entered into a $250,000 term note with RBL based on the draw down from the line of credit. The term note provided for interest-only payments at 13.90% interest through July 20, 2015. From August 20, 2015 through July 20, 2019 (the note maturity date), we were obligated to make interest and principal payments of $6,819 per month. We paid $5,000 in costs related to this term note. This term note was purchased by Crede, which was exchanged and extinguished for an aggregate of 9,174 shares of our common stock on May 9, 2016. The balance of this note was $0 at December 31, 2016.
On May 4, 2016, we entered into a $250,000 term note with RBL. The term note provided for interest-only payments at 14.15% interest through October 20, 2016. From November 20, 2016 through October 20, 2020 (the note maturity date), we were obligated to make interest and principal payments of $6,850 per month. The term note also provided for a 2% front end fee, due upon the execution of the term note and a 4% back end fee due at the final payment of the term note. On December 20, 2016, this note was refinanced into another term note and its balance was $0 at December 31, 2016.
On May 20, 2016, we entered into a $400,000 term note with RBL. The term note provided for interest-only payments at 14.15% interest through November 20, 2015. From December 20, 2016 through November 20, 2020 (the note maturity date), we were obligated to make interest and principal payments of $10,961 per month. The term note also provided for a 2% front end fee, due upon the execution of the term note and a 4% back end fee due at the final payment of the term note. On December 20, 2016, this note was refinanced into another term note and its balance was $0 at December 31, 2016.
On June 23, 2016, we entered into a $190,000 term note with RBL. The term note provided for interest-only payments at 14.15% interest through December 20, 2016. From January 20, 2017 through December 20, 2020 (the note maturity date), we were obligated to make interest and principal payments of $5,206 per month. The term note also provided for a 2% front end fee, due upon the execution of the term note and a 4% backend fee due at the final payment of the term note. On December 20, 2016, this note was refinanced into another term note and its balance was $0 at December 31, 2016.
On July 15, 2016, we entered into a $350,000 term note with RBL. The term note provided for interest-only payments at 14.15% through January 20, 2017. From February 20, 2017 through January 20, 2021, we were obligated to make interest and principal payments of $9,591. The term note also provided for a 2% front end fee, due upon the execution of the loan and a 4% back end fee due at the final payment of the term note. On December 20, 2016, this note was refinanced into another term note and its balance was $0 at December 31, 2016.
On August, 15, 2016, we entered into a $400,000 term note with RBL. The term note provided for interest only payments at 14.15% through February 20, 2017. From March 20, 2017 through February 20, 2021, we were obligated to make interest and principal payments of $10,961. The term note also provided for a 2% front end fee, due upon the execution of the loan and a 4% back end fee due at the final payment of the term note. On December 20, 2016, this note was refinanced into another term note and its balance was $0 at December 31, 2016.
On September 15, 2016, we entered into a $350,000 term note with RBL. The term note provided for interest only payments at 14.15% through March 20, 2017. From April 20, 2017 through March 20, 2021, we were obligated to make interest and principal payments of $9,591. The term note also provided for a 2% front end fee, due upon the execution of the loan and a 4% back end fee due at the final payment of the term note. On December 20, 2016, this note was refinanced into another term note and its balance was $0 at December 31, 2016.
On November 7, 2016, we entered into a $350,000 term note with RBL. The term note provided for interest only payments at 14.15% through May 20, 2017. From June 20, 2017 through May 20, 2021, we were obligated to make interest and principal payments of $9,591. The term note also provided for a 2% front end fee due upon the execution of the loan and a 4% back end fee due at the final payment of the term note. On December 20, 2016, this note was refinanced into another term note and its balance was $0 at December 31, 2016.
On December 15, 2016, we entered into a $325,000 term note with RBL. The term note provided for interest only payments at 14.15% through June 20, 2017. From July 20, 2017 through June 20, 2021, we were obligated to make interest and principal payments of $8,906. The term note also provided for a 2% front end fee, due upon the execution of the loan and a 4% back end fee due at the final payment of the term note. On December 20, 2016, this note was refinanced into another term note and its balance was $0 at December 31, 2016.
On December 20, 2016, we entered into a $4,044,055 term note with RBL. This note effectively refinanced all RBL notes described above. The term note provides for interest only payments at 14.15% through May 20, 2017 of $47,686. From June 20, 2017 through May 20, 2021, we are obligated to make interest and principal payments of $110,814. The term note also required a $20,000 front end refinancing fee upon execution of the loan and a $104,600 back end fee due at the final payment on May 20, 2021. This note balance was $0 at September 30, 2017 as it was refinanced into the new refinancing note on June 1, 2017 as described below.
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On March 30, 2017, we entered into a $100,000 term note with RBL based on a draw down from the line of credit. The term note provides for interest-only payments at 14.4% interest rate through May 20, 2017. From June 20, 2017 through May 20, 2021 (maturity date), we are obligated to make interest and principal payments of $2,753 per month. We paid $2,000 in costs related to this term note at its inception and another $4,000 of costs is due at the maturity of the note. This note balance was $0 at September 30, 2017 as it was refinanced into the new refinancing note on June 1, 2017 as described below.
On April 17, 2017, we entered into a $400,000 term note with RBL based on a draw down from the line of credit. The term note provides for interest-only payments at 14.4% through May 20, 2017 of $5,208. From June 20, 2017 through May 20, 2021 (maturity date), we are obligated to make interest and principal payments of $11,011 per month. We paid $8,000 in costs related to this loan at its inception and another $16,000 of costs is due at the maturity of the note. This note balance was $0 at September 30, 2017 as it was refinanced into the new refinancing note on June 1, 2017 as described below.
On April 26, 2017, we exchanged 10,235 shares of our common stock for $75,000 of the original $3,315,000 RBL promissory note partially purchased by Crede, based on an average per share exchange price of $0.73. The exchange also settled current interest and loan fees of $4,500 and a non-cash exchange premium of $9,951.
On April 26, 2017, the $4,044,055 term note with RBL entered into on December 20, 2016 was revised to reflect the $75,000 exchange transaction mentioned above. As a result, the note was updated to reflect a principal payment and interest payment of $108,759 on June 20, 2017.
On May 19, 2017, we entered into a $75,000 term note with RBL based on a draw down from the line of credit. The term note provides for one interest only payment of $947 on May 20, 2017 at a 14.4% interest rate, then 48 equal monthly payments of principal and interest of $2,065. This note balance was zero at September 30, 2017 as it was refinanced into the new refinancing note on June 1, 2017 as described below.
On May 24, 2017, we exchanged 23,058 shares of our common stock for $150,000 of the original $3,315,000 RBL promissory note partially purchased by Crede, based on an average per share exchange price of $0.65. The exchange also settled current interest and loan fees of and a non-cash exchange premium of $23,156.
On May 26, 2017, we entered into a $150,000 term note with RBL based on a draw down from the line of credit. The term note provides for one interest only payment of $1,479 at a 14.4% interest rate, on June 20, 2017 then 48 equal monthly payments of principal and interest of $4,129. This note balance was zero at September 30, 2017 as it was refinanced into the new refinancing note on June 1, 2017 as described below.
On June 1, 2017 the $4,044,055 refinance note dated December 20, 2016 was updated to roll the above $150,000, $75,000, $400,000 and $100,000 term notes. The note principal amount was $4,544,055 at September 30, 2017. The note provided for the interest rate of $14.19% per annum and interest only payments from June 20, 2017 through September 20, 2017. For the next 48 months thereafter until the maturity date on September 20, 2021, the note provides for $124,607 monthly payments of interest and principal.
On July 27, 2017, the $4,544,055 term note with RBL entered into on June 1, 2017 was revised to reflect the $105,969 exchange transaction described below, in the Crede CG III Ltd. Section. As a result, the note was updated to reflect a principal payment and interest payment of $105,969 on July 28, 2017. The monthly principal and interest payment was adjusted to $121,810. At September 30, 2017 the balance of the note was $4,438,087.
On August 1, 2017, we entered into a $106,000 term note with RBL based on our draw down from our line of credit. The term note provided for an interest only payments of $822 on August, 20, 2017 and $1,316 at 14.9% interest rate per annum afterwards through September 20, 2017. From October 20, 2017 through September 20, 2021 (maturity date), we are obligated to make interest and principal payments of $2,945. We paid $2,120 in costs related to this loan at its inception and another $4,240 of costs is due at the maturity of the note.
Also see Note 17 for activity subsequent to September 30, 2017.
MBF Merchant Capital, LLC
We issued the following notes payable to MBF, an entity owned by William Healy, a former member of our Board of Directors.
On March 28, 2016, we entered into a $75,000 promissory note with MBF. The promissory note provided for interest only payments at 14% through May 28, 2016. From June 28, 2016 through March 28, 2017, we were obligated to make interest and principal payments of $7,990. The promissory note also provided for a 6% backend fee due at the final payment of the promissory note. As of September 30, 2017, and December 31, 2016, the balance of the note was $0 and $23,420, respectively.
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On April 19, 2016, we entered into a $300,000 promissory note with MBF. The promissory note provides for interest only payments at 15.5% through May 28, 2016. From June 28, 2016 through May 28, 2018, we are obligated to make interest and principal payments of $14,617. The promissory note also provides for a 6% back end fee due at the final payment of the promissory note. At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the balance of the note was $110,424 and $221,826, respectively.
On July 1, 2016, our subsidiary, TOT Group, Inc., entered into a $353,500 promissory note with MBF. The promissory note provides for interest only payments at 15.5% through June 28, 2016. From July 28, 2016 through June 28, 2018, we are obligated to make interest and principal payments of $17,224. The promissory note also provides for a 1% front end fee and for a 6.6% back end fee due at the final payment of the promissory note. At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the remaining balance of the note was $145,462 and $275,056, respectively.
On August 29, 2017, our subsidiary, TOT Group, Inc., entered into a $275,000 promissory note with MBF. The principal amount of the loan carries an interest rate 13.95% per annum. We are obligated to pay a $16,500 finance fee to MBF, of which $5,500 is due at funding and the remainder due at the final payment of the promissory note. The principal and interest under the note is repayable in 10 monthly installments of $29,288 each. At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the remaining balance of the note was $248,908 and $0, respectively.
Crede CG III, Ltd.
On May 2, 2016, we entered into a Master Exchange Agreement with Crede (the “Master Exchange Agreement”), an entity that purchased a portion our previously issued notes held by RBL described above. Pursuit to the Master Exchange Agreement, we have the right to request that Crede exchange up to $3,965,000 of the RBL promissory notes for shares of our common stock. On March 3, 2017, we entered into an Amendment to Master Exchange Agreement with Crede, which extended the expiration date of the Master Exchange Agreement from December 31, 2016 to August 31, 2017. Accordingly, this extends the time to which we have the right to request Crede to exchange RBL promissory notes for shares of the Company’s common stock on the terms and conditions set forth in the Master Exchange Agreement.
On July 27, 2017, we exchanged 26,772 shares of our common stock for $105,969 of the original $3,315,000 RBL promissory note partially purchased by Crede, based on an average per share exchange price of $4.00. The exchange included a non-cash exchange premium of $19,865. For the three months ended September 30, 2016, we did not exchange any shares of our common stock for RBL term notes.
For the year ended December 31, 2016, we exchanged 166,340 shares of our common stock with Crede for an aggregate of $2,499,481 of RBL promissory notes, including the full exchange of the $400,000 promissory note (originally entered into February 10, 2015) and $250,000 promissory note (originally entered into March 27, 2015), and the partial exchange for $1,849,481 of the $3,315,000 promissory note (originally entered July 17, 2014). These notes were purchased by Crede for an average per share exchange price of $16.80. The exchanges also settled current interest and loan fees of $302,294 and a non-cash exchange premium of $487,064.
Priority Payment Systems LLC
Effective as of May 18, 2017, we entered into a loan agreement and security agreement with Priority Payment Systems LLC and issued a promissory note dated May 18, 2017. Pursuant to the loan agreement and the note, we borrowed $2,000,000. Prior to maturity of the loan, the principal amount of the loan will carry a floating interest rate of prime rate plus 6% per annum which was 10.25% at September 30, 2017. We may prepay the loan in whole or in part at any time. The loan is repayable in monthly installments consisting of principal plus interest. The loan matures and becomes due and payable in full on May 20, 2019 to the extent not previously prepaid.
Pursuant to the security agreement, the loan is secured by collateral consisting of accounts, cash or cash equivalents, residuals related to the merchants originated by us and processed by Priority Payments Systems LLC. The loan agreement, the note and the security agreement contain customary representations, warranties, events of default, remedies and affirmative and negative covenants, as well as the right of first refusal and the right related to the merchants.
Effective as of May 17, 2017, we entered into a corporate guaranty in favor of Priority Payments Systems LLC, pursuant to which we unconditionally guaranteed the full and prompt payment of each present and future liability, debt and obligation under the loan agreement, the note, the security agreement and other related documents.
On June 27, 2017, we entered into an amendment to the loan agreement with Priority Payment Systems LLC pursuant to which:
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| (i) | The original term loan was modified into a multi - draw loan with an increase of the borrowing limit to $2,500,000 and; |
| (ii) | The loan maturity was extended to May 20, 2021. |
During the quarter ended September 30, 2017, we borrowed a total of $284,000 from our $2,500,000 Priority Payments multi – draw loan and repaid $306,323. At September 30, 2017, the balance of this loan is $2,477,677.
Also see Note 17 for activity subsequent to September 30, 2017.
Scheduled Debt Principal Repayment
Scheduled principal maturities on indebtedness at September 30, 2017 is as follows:
| 2017 (3 months) | 503,041 | |||
| 2018 | 2,440,661 | |||
| 2019 | 1,716,673 | |||
| 2020 | 1,162,309 | |||
| 2021 | 1,338,621 | |||
| thereafter | 365,254 | |||
| Balance September 30, 2017 | $ | 7,526,559 |
Also see Note 17 for activity subsequent to September 30, 2017.
NOTE 10. CONCENTRATIONS
The Company’s total revenue was $44,604,113 and $38,963,559 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Of the $44,604,113 in revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, $43,263,217 was derived from processing of Visa®, MasterCard®, Discover® and American Express® card transactions and $1,340,896 was derived from providing mobile payment services branded content during the nine months ended September 30, 2017.
Total revenue was $38,963,559 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, of which $29,442,868 was derived from processing of Visa®, MasterCard®, Discover® and American Express® card transactions, and $5,000,137 that was derived from providing mobile payment services branded content during the nine months ended September 30, 2016.
The credit card processing revenues were from merchant customer transactions, which were processed primarily by two third-party processors (greater than 5%) during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company processed 77% and 61%, respectively, of its total revenue with Priority Payment Systems, LLC and 5% and 7%, respectively, of its total revenue with Vantiv, Inc. (f/k/a National Processing Company (NPC)).
Mobile electronic payment revenues were derived from merchant customer transactions processed by mobile operators. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, no mobile operator processed transactions that generated more than 5% our revenues. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, Beeline (OJSC Vimpelcom) processed transactions that generated 11% of our revenues.
NOTE 11. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
PayOnline Acquisition Commitments
On May 20, 2015, our subsidiaries TOT Group Europe, Ltd. and TOT Group Russia LLC, entered into an agreement with Maglenta Enterprises Inc. and Champfremont Holding Ltd. (together, the “PayOnline Sellers”) to acquire all of the assets and liabilities that comprise PayOnline. PayOnline’s business includes the operation of a protected payment processing system to accept bank card payments for goods and services.
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Purchase consideration consisted of a combination of $3.6 million in cash, and restricted common shares with a value of $3.6 million payable in five quarterly installments, and, if applicable, additional earn-out payments in cash and restricted common shares based on a multiple of EBITDA and subject to certain EBITDA target achievements in the applicable quarter. The PayOnline acquisition agreement set forth the determination of the value of such shares based on the closing stock price on the date before each applicable payment date. The agreement called for a guarantee, payable in cash, for decreases in the market value of the restricted common shares issued at 12 months from the date of the respective issuances. On May 19, 2016, we recognized a charge in the amount of $2,162,861 for decreases in the market value of the restricted common shares issued pursuant to the stock price guarantee.
On October 25, 2016, we entered into a settlement agreement with the PayOnline Sellers relating to the stock price guarantee provision in the PayOnline acquisition agreement pursuant to which we agreed to pay the PayOnline Sellers an aggregate of $2,288,667 plus 10% per annum interest accrued from May 20, 2016 in installments pursuant to the payment schedule set forth in the settlement agreement.
On October 25, 2016, we entered into an amendment to the PayOnline acquisition agreement with the PayOnline Sellers, in which we agreed to assume $1,433,475 of certain refundable merchant deposit reserves. These reserves are expected to be paid in a mix of cash and stock beginning in 2017. On July 19, 2017, we issued 30,759 shares of our common stock in settlement of $252,223 of the reserve liability.
On May 20, 2017, we entered into an amendment to the PayOnline settlement agreement, which reflected the new terms under which the Company agreed to pay to the PayOnline Sellers an aggregate of $1,792,071 plus $29,604 in interest in installments pursuant to a payment schedule set forth in the amendment. For the three months ended September 30, 2017, we paid $623,762 under this payment schedule and the remaining balance of $197,912 was paid on October 20, 2017. See Note 17 for events subsequent to September 30, 2017.
Leases
In May 2013, we entered into a lease agreement for approximately 4,000 square feet of office space located at 3363 N.E. 163rd Street, Suites 705 through 707, North Miami Beach, Florida 33160. The term of the lease agreement was from May 1, 2013 through December 31, 2016, with monthly rent increasing from $16,800 per month at inception to $19,448 per month (or $233,377 per year) for the period from January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016.
In September 2016, this lease was extended for a period of five years commencing January 1, 2017 and expiring December 31, 2021 with monthly base rent increasing each year from $20,421 per month beginning January 1, 2017 ($245,046 per year) to $24,821 per month beginning January 1, 2021 ($297,855 per year). This lease was terminated effective as of August 9, 2017 and superseded by a new lease we entered into on. On August 9, 2017, we executed a new five year lease for our office space in North Miami Beach, Florida through July 2022, which supersedes our previous lease for the premises. The lease provides for a monthly rent of $14,354 ($172,248 annually).
Effective June 1, 2017, Netlab Systems, LLC, through its Russian representative office, executed a lease for 1,654 square feet of office space in Yekaterinburg, Russia, where we conduct software development activities, at annual rent of approximately $24,000 (utilities included). The current lease term expires in June 1, 2018.
PayOnline leases approximately 5,435 square feet of office space in Moscow, Russia at an annual rent of $153,623. The current lease term for 5,268 square feet of this office space expires on July 15, 2018 and this lease has an auto-renewal feature. The remaining 167 square feet in Moscow has an annual rent of $3,104 and the lease expires April 30, 2018. PayOnline also operates two regional offices. For the first regional office, PayOnline leases approximately 275 square feet of office space in Ekaterinburg, Russia at annual rent of $3,444. For the second regional office, PayOnline leases approximately 155 square feet of office space in Almaty, Russia at annual rent of $1,536.
On May 12, 2017, Digital Provider leased approximately 1,566 square feet of office space in Moscow, Russia at annual rent of $27,500. The lease term for the office space was set to expire on April 11, 2018. This lease was terminated in August 2017 as part of the consolidation of Digital Provider operations into the PayOnline Moscow office.
We believe that our current facilities are suitable and adequate for our present purposes, and we anticipate that we will be able to extend our existing leases on terms satisfactory to us or acquire new facilities on acceptable terms.
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Litigation
Aptito.com, Inc.
On August 6, 2014, our subsidiary (Aptito, LLC) filed a lawsuit against Aptito.com, Inc. and the shareholders of Aptito.com, Inc., in state court in the 11th Judicial Circuit in and for Miami-Dade County. This is an interpleader action in regards to 12,500 shares of stock. Aptito, LLC acquired Aptito.com, Inc. in exchange for, among other things, 12,500 shares of Net Element, Inc. stock. There has been disagreement among the Aptito.com, Inc. shareholders as to proper distribution of the 12,500 shares. To avoid any liability in regards to improper distribution, Aptito, LLC filed the interpleader action so as to allow the defendants to litigate amongst themselves as to how the shares should be distributed. Aptito.com, Inc. opposed the motion to interplead and has filed counterclaims relative to Aptito, LLC non-delivery of the 12,500 shares. On February 10, 2017, the Court held a hearing on Aptito.com, Inc.’s motion to dismiss the complaint and Aptito, LLC and Net Element’s motion to dismiss Aptito.com, Inc.’s counterclaims. The Court denied Aptito.com, Inc.’s motion to dismiss and granted Aptito, LLC and Net Element’s motion to dismiss the counterclaims without prejudice.
On March 20, 2017, Aptito.com filed amended counterclaims against Aptito, LLC as well as claims against us alleging amongst other matters, breach of contract and violations of federal and state securities laws. Management believes that these counterclaims are without merit, and we and Aptito, LLC and the Company have filed a motion to dismiss the claims and a motion for sanctions. Counsel is waiting for a hearing date for determination on these matters.
A hearing on the motion to interplead was heard in July 2017 and the Court granted Aptito, LLC’s motion to interplead. Aptito.com, Inc. shareholders will now have to settle their internal dispute regarding this matter. Aptito, LLC still has potential liability arising from an alleged delay in issuing the shares to Aptito.com, Inc. The company is disputing these allegations through the ongoing litigation process.
Gene Zell
In June 2014, we, as plaintiff, commenced an action in the Miami-Dade Circuit Court, Florida against Gene Zell for defamation of our Company and CEO and tortious interference with our business relationships. In October 2014, the court granted a temporary injunction against Zell enjoining him from posting any information about our Company and CEO on any website and enjoining him from contacting our business partners or investors. Zell violated the Court Order and the Court granted a Motion imposing sanctions against Zell. We continue to seek enforcement of the Court Order. On April 13, 2015, Zell filed a Motion to set aside the Court Order alleging he was unaware of the Court Proceedings. The Court, on August 26, 2015, dismissed Zell’s Motion to dissolve the injunction. In March 2017, the Court dismissed another Motion brought by Zell to dissolve the injunction. Accordingly, the injunction order prohibiting Zell from making further defamatory posts remains in place. The Company continues to protect its rights by ongoing enforcement of the injunction.
Other Legal Proceedings
We are involved in certain legal proceedings and claims which arise in the ordinary course of business. In our opinion, based on consultations with outside counsel, the results of any of these ordinary course matters, individually and in the aggregate, are not expected to have a material effect on our results of operations, financial condition, or cash flows. As more information becomes available, if management should determine that an unfavorable outcome is probable on such a claim and that the amount of such probable loss that it will incur on that claim is reasonably estimable, we will record a reserve for the claim in question. If and when we record such a reserve is recorded, it could be material and could adversely impact our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.
NOTE 12. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
We and our subsidiary, TOT Group, Inc., have entered into certain term loan notes with MBF. For additional information about such term loan notes, see “MBF Merchant Capital, LLC” in Note 9. William Healy, a former member of our Board of Directors, is the sole member of MBF.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, agent commissions resulting from merchant processing of $67,483 and $0, respectively, were paid to Prime Portfolios, LLC, an entity owned by Oleg Firer, our CEO, and Steven Wolberg, our Chief Legal Officer.
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On March 1, 2017, we entered into a promissory note with Star Equities, LLC, an entity which our CEO is the managing member, in the principal amount of $348,083 (the “Note”). Pursuant to the Note, previously advanced funds of $290,954 plus interest accrued through the date of the Note totaled $348,083. The Note provides for 18 monthly interest payments of $3,481 through September 30, 2018 followed by one interest and principle payment on October 1, 2018. The principal balance of the Note outstanding bears interest at the rate of 12% per annum. In the event of any capital raise by us that is not in the ordinary course of business and that results in funding in excess of $5 million (a “Liquidity Event”), the maturity date will be accelerated to coincide with the closing date of such Liquidity Event. The balance of this loan at September 30, 2017 was $348,083 and is included in Due to related parties on our condensed consolidated balance sheet.
NOTE 13. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
On May 25, 2016 and October 5, 2017, we effected one-for-ten reverse stock splits of our common stock. Our condensed consolidated financial statements and disclosures reflect these changes in capital structure for all periods presented.
On June 12, 2015 and June 13, 2016, our shareholders approved 100,000,000 increases in our authorized common stock to 300,000,000 and 400,000,000, respectively. On October 2, 2017, our shareholders approved a 300,000,000 decrease in our authorized common stock to 100,000,000.
On July 5, 2017, the Company entered into a common stock purchase agreement (the “Cobblestone Purchase Agreement”) with Cobblestone Capital Partners LLC (“Cobblestone Capital”) which provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions and limitations set forth therein, Cobblestone Capital is committed to purchase up to an aggregate of $10 million of shares of our common stock over the 30-month term of the Cobblestone Purchase Agreement. In consideration for entering into the Cobblestone Purchase Agreement, the Company was obligated to issue to Cobblestone Capital such number of shares of common stock that would have a value equivalent to $200,000 calculated using the average of volume weighted average price for the common stock during the 3 trading days period immediately preceding the date of issuance of such shares. Accordingly, on August 3, 2017, the Company issued to Cobblestone Capital 45,676 shares of common stock based on a price of $4.38 per share. During the quarter ended September 30th, 2017, we sold 234,135 shares of common stock for $1,057,500 at an average price of $4.52 per share. See Note 17 for activity that occurred subsequent to September 30, 2017.
Also see Note 17 regarding our regaining compliance with Nasdaq requirements (including a minimum bid price for our common stock of $1.00 per share and a $2.5 million minimum of stockholders’ equity).
Equity Incentive Plan Activity
On December 5, 2013, our shareholders approved the Net Element International, Inc. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2013 Plan”). Awards under the 2013 Plan may be granted in any one or all of the following forms: (i) incentive stock options meeting the requirements of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; (ii) non-qualified stock options (unless otherwise indicated, references to “Options” include both Incentive Stock Options and Non-Qualified Stock Options); (iii) stock appreciation rights, which may be awarded either in tandem with Options or on a stand-alone basis; (iv) shares of common stock that are restricted; (v) units representing shares of common stock; (vi) units that do not represent shares of common stock but which may be paid in the form of common stock; and (vii) shares of common stock that are not subject to any conditions to vesting. The maximum aggregate number of shares of common stock available for award under the 2013 Plan at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were 23,488 and 128,026, respectively. The 2013 Plan is administered by the compensation committee.
On February 28, 2017, the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of our Board of Directors approved and authorized grants of the following equity awards to our employees and consultants pursuant to the 2013 Plan, as amended:
| (i) | 45,105 qualified options to acquire shares of our common stock (50% of such options vesting immediately and the balance 50% of such options vesting in 4 equal proportions quarterly after the grant date). |
| (ii) | 62,668 restricted shares of our common stock (50% of such shares vesting immediately and the balance 50% of such shares vesting in 4 equal proportions quarterly after the grant date). |
For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, we recorded $677,467 in non-cash compensation expense for vesting of stock and options for the above mentioned grants.
Other Stock Issuance
We accrued 1,667 shares to our independent directors for payment of services during the third quarter of 2017.
On July 27, 2017, we exchanged 26,772 shares of our common stock for $105,969 of the original $3,315,000 RBL promissory note partially purchased by Crede, based on an average per share exchange price of $4.00.
On July 19, 2017, we issued 30,759 shares for a $252,223 partial settlement of our $1.4 million reserve liability assumed with the PayOnline acquisition. See Note 11 for additional information.
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Agreement with ESOUSA Holdings
On July 6, 2016, we entered into a common stock purchase agreement (“Purchase Agreement”), with ESOUSA Holdings, LLC, a New York limited liability company (“ESOUSA”), which provides that ESOUSA is committed to purchase up to an aggregate of $10 million of our shares of common stock over the 30-month term of the Purchase Agreement. We did not issue any shares of our common stock to ESOUSA during the three months ended September 30, 2017.
NOTE 14. WARRANTS AND NON-INCENTIVE PLAN OPTIONS
Warrants
In 2013, our predecessor entity (then known as Cazador Acquisition Corporation Ltd.) issued warrants to purchase 89,400 shares (reverse split adjusted) of common stock in connection with its private placement and initial public offering. At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had warrants outstanding to purchase 89,389 shares of common stock. At September 30, 2017, the warrants had a weighted average exercise price of $750.00 per share purchased and a weighted average remaining contractual term of 0.0 years (0.75 years at December 31, 2016). These warrants were “out-of-the-money” and had no intrinsic value at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016. These warrants expired on October 1, 2017.
Non-Incentive Plan Options
At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we had 160,214 non-incentive options outstanding with a weighted average exercise price of $21.80 and a remaining contract term of 3.17 and 3.92 years, respectively. These options were out of the money at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 and had no intrinsic value.
NOTE 15. INCOME TAXES
Our net deferred tax assets primarily are comprised of net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”), and basis difference in goodwill and intangibles. These NOLs total approximately $53.8 million and $48.6 million for federal, and approximately $13.8 million and $13.2 million for foreign NOLs as of September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, respectively.
The timing and manner in which we will be able to utilize our NOLs is limited by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (IRC). IRC Section 382 imposes limitations on a corporation’s ability to use its NOLs when it undergoes an “ownership change.” Generally, an ownership change occurs if one or more shareholders, each of whom owns 5% or more in value of a corporation’s stock, increase their percentage ownership, in the aggregate, by more than 50% over the lowest percentage of stock owned by such shareholders at any time during the preceding three-year period. Because on June 10, 2014, we underwent an ownership change as defined by IRC Section 382, the limitation applies to us. The losses generated prior to the ownership change date (pre-change losses) are subject to the Section 382 limitation. The pre-change losses may only become available to be utilized by us at the rate of $2.4 million per year. Any unused losses can be carried forward, subject to their original carry forward limitation periods. In the year 2017, approximately $2.4 million in the pre-change losses was released from the Section 382 loss limitation. We can still fully utilize the NOLs generated after the change of the ownership, which was approximately $14.0 million. Thus, we expect the total of approximately $18.1 million as of September 30, 2017 is available to offset future taxable income.
In order to fully utilize the net deferred tax assets, we will need to generate sufficient taxable income in future years to utilize its NOLs prior to their expiration. ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes”, requires us to analyze all positive and negative evidence to determine if, based on the weight of available evidence, we are more likely than not to realize the benefit of the net deferred tax assets. The recognition of the net deferred tax assets and related tax benefits is based upon our conclusions regarding, among other considerations, estimates of future earnings based on information currently available, current and anticipated customers, contracts and product introductions, as well as historical operating results and certain tax planning strategies.
We have evaluated the available evidence and the likelihood of realizing the benefit of our net deferred tax assets. From our evaluation, we have concluded that based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that we will not realize any of the benefit of its net deferred tax assets. Accordingly, at September 30, 2017, we maintain a full valuation allowance totaling approximately $24.9 million.
NOTE 16. SEGMENT INFORMATION
Our three reportable segments include: (i) North American Transaction Solutions for electronic commerce, (ii) Mobile Solutions (primarily servicing the Russian Federation and Eurasia) and (iii) Online Solutions. Management determines the reportable segments based on the internal reporting used by our Chief Operating Decision Maker to evaluate performance and to assess where to allocate resources. During the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, the principal revenue stream for all segments came from services fees.
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Factors management used to identify the entity’s reportable segments
The Company’s reportable segments are business units that offer different products and services in different geographies. The reportable segments are each managed separately because they offer distinct products with different delivery and service processes.
North American Transaction Solutions
Our U.S. payment processing business segment consists of the former Unified Payments business and Aptito. This segment operates primarily in North America. In March 2013, we acquired all of the business assets of Unified Payments, a provider of comprehensive turnkey, payment processing solutions to small and medium size business owners (merchants) and independent sales organizations across the United States.
In April 2013, we purchased 80% of Aptito, a cloud based Software-as-a-Service (“SaaS”) restaurant management solution, which provides integrated POS, mPOS, Kiosk, Digital Menus functionality to drive consumer engagement via Apple® iPad®-based POS, kiosk and all other cloud-connected devices.
Mobile Solutions
Our Russian mobile and online payment processing segment consists of Digital Provider, which operates primarily in the Russian Federation and Eurasia.
In June 2012, we formed our mobile payment subsidiary that launched initial operations in Russia as a payment facilitator using SMS (short message services, which is a text messaging service) and MMS (multimedia message services) for mobile phone subscribers. During 2015, we changed or business model, rebranded our name to Digital Provider and began to offer branded content to subscribers.
The business model required significant working capital investment as payments were advanced and then collected from mobile operators 45 days later. During 2016, we began working to raise additional capital for this business and develop an alternative business model that did not require large amounts of working capital to advance the business. This process is on-going and in August 2017, we substantially reorganized this business, and consolidated its operations into PayOnline and TOT Group Russia. We currently are not generating revenues from new content, and we continue to explore partnership opportunities that can monetize our relationships and contracts with mobile operators.
Online Solutions
On May 20, 2015, we acquired the net assets that comprise PayOnline, which includes a protected payment processing system to accept bank card payments for goods and services. PayOnline primarily operates in Russia and Eurasia.
The accounting policies of the individual transactions in the reportable segments are the same as those of the company, as described in Note 1. Transactions between reportable segments are primarily conducted at market rates, resulting in segment profits or expenses that are eliminated for reporting consolidated results.
Segment Summary Information
The following tables present financial information of the Company’s reportable segments at September 30, 2017 and 2016. The “Corporate Expenses & Eliminations” column includes all corporate expenses and intercompany eliminations for consolidated purposes.
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| Three Months Ended September 30, 2017 | North America Transaction Solutions | Mobile Solutions | Online Solutions | Corporate Expenses & Eliminations | Total | |||||||||||||||
| Net revenues | $ | 13,123,204 | $ | - | $ | 1,777,927 | $ | - | $ | 14,901,131 | ||||||||||
| Cost of revenues | 11,279,098 | - | 1,477,529 | - | 12,756,627 | |||||||||||||||
| Gross Margin | 1,844,106 | - | 300,398 | - | 2,144,504 | |||||||||||||||
| Gross margin % | 14 | % | 0 | % | 17 | % | - | 14 | % | |||||||||||
| General, administrative, and asset disposal | 661,505 | 41,880 | 548,676 | 1,105,668 | 2,357,729 | |||||||||||||||
| Non-cash compensation | - | - | - | 111,277 | 111,277 | |||||||||||||||
| Provision for bad debt | 248,279 | 68,305 | 3,106 | - | 319,690 | |||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 372,858 | 555 | 256,607 | - | 630,020 | |||||||||||||||
| Interest expense (income), net | 276,644 | (32,010 | ) | (5,616 | ) | 63,795 | 302,813 | |||||||||||||
| Other expenses (income) | 208 | 94,267 | (1,571 | ) | - | 92,904 | ||||||||||||||
| Net (loss) income for segment | $ | 284,612 | $ | (172,997 | ) | $ | (500,804 | ) | $ | (1,280,740 | ) | $ | (1,669,929 | ) | ||||||
| Segment assets | 20,863,462 | 226,136 | 4,219,400 | (4,874,368 | ) | 20,434,630 | ||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2016 | North America Transaction Solutions | Mobile Solutions | Online Solutions | Corporate Expenses & Eliminations | Total | |||||||||||||||
| Net revenues | $ | 11,186,287 | $ | 1,226,241 | $ | 1,597,124 | $ | - | 14,009,652 | |||||||||||
| Cost of revenues | 9,585,952 | 1,045,836 | 1,063,380 | - | 11,695,168 | |||||||||||||||
| Gross Margin | 1,600,335 | 180,405 | 533,744 | - | 2,314,484 | |||||||||||||||
| Gross margin % | 14 | % | 15 | % | 33 | % | - | 17 | % | |||||||||||
| General, administrative, and asset disposal | 633,918 | 150,884 | 447,902 | 1,052,033 | 2,284,737 | |||||||||||||||
| Non-cash compensation | - | - | - | 732,701 | 732,701 | |||||||||||||||
| Provision for bad debt | 291,965 | 7,679 | 1,526 | - | 301,170 | |||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 359,814 | 5,405 | 392,880 | 6,787 | 764,886 | |||||||||||||||
| Interest expense (income), net | 90,897 | (15,682 | ) | (12,549 | ) | 546,050 | 608,716 | |||||||||||||
| Loss from stock value guarantee | - | - | - | 1,559,281 | 1,559,281 | |||||||||||||||
| Other expenses (income) | 3,184 | (444,343 | ) | 5,256 | 2,119 | (433,784 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Net (loss) income for segment | $ | 220,557 | $ | 476,462 | $ | (301,271 | ) | $ | (3,898,971 | ) | $ | (3,503,223 | ) | |||||||
| Segment assets | 12,596,088 | 2,470,845 | 5,743,882 | 2,584,991 | 23,395,806 | |||||||||||||||
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| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 | North America Transaction Solutions | Mobile Solutions | Online Solutions | Corporate Expenses & Eliminations | Total | |||||||||||||||
| Net revenues | $ | 37,701,136 | $ | 1,375,160 | $ | 5,527,817 | $ | - | $ | 44,604,113 | ||||||||||
| Cost of revenues | 32,213,056 | 1,319,704 | 4,002,251 | - | 37,535,011 | |||||||||||||||
| Gross Margin | 5,488,080 | 55,456 | 1,525,566 | - | 7,069,102 | |||||||||||||||
| Gross margin % | 15 | % | 4 | % | 28 | % | - | 16 | % | |||||||||||
| General, administrative, and asset disposal | 2,098,121 | 363,270 | 1,690,640 | 3,636,037 | 7,788,068 | |||||||||||||||
| Non-cash compensation | - | - | - | 836,218 | 836,218 | |||||||||||||||
| Provision for bad debt | 1,193,657 | 265,149 | 5,020 | 1,485 | 1,465,311 | |||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 1,063,475 | 2,208 | 783,545 | 11,173 | 1,860,401 | |||||||||||||||
| Interest expense (income), net | 698,627 | (91,547 | ) | (23,051 | ) | 310,524 | 894,553 | |||||||||||||
| Other expenses (income) | 48,481 | 93,784 | (3,294 | ) | 9,128 | 148,099 | ||||||||||||||
| Net (loss) income for segment | $ | 385,719 | $ | (577,408 | ) | $ | (927,294 | ) | $ | (4,804,565 | ) | $ | (5,923,548 | ) | ||||||
| Segment assets | $ | 20,863,462 | $ | 226,136 | $ | 4,219,400 | $ | 4,874,368 | $ | 20,434,630 | ||||||||||
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 | North America Transaction Solutions | Mobile Solutions | Online Solutions | Corporate Expenses & Eliminations | Total | |||||||||||||||
| Net revenues | $ | 29,442,868 | $ | 4,999,452 | $ | 4,521,239 | $ | - | 38,963,559 | |||||||||||
| Cost of revenues | 25,206,769 | 4,427,043 | 2,931,390 | - | 32,565,202 | |||||||||||||||
| Gross Margin | 4,236,099 | 572,409 | 1,589,849 | - | 6,398,357 | |||||||||||||||
| Gross margin % | 14 | % | 11 | % | 35 | % | - | 16 | % | |||||||||||
| General, administrative, and asset disposal | 1,921,296 | 21,232 | 1,228,877 | 3,200,956 | 6,372,361 | |||||||||||||||
| Non-cash compensation | - | - | - | 3,108,274 | 3,108,274 | |||||||||||||||
| Provision for bad debt | 668,414 | 7,790 | 1,946 | - | 678,150 | |||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 1,010,103 | 15,332 | 1,370,960 | 101,143 | 2,497,538 | |||||||||||||||
| Interest expense (income), net | 377,473 | (19,725 | ) | (36,137 | ) | 864,596 | 1,186,207 | |||||||||||||
| Loss from stock value guarantee | - | - | - | 3,722,142 | 3,722,142 | |||||||||||||||
| Other expenses (income) | 4,118 | (433,750 | ) | 35,240 | 2,135 | (392,257 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Net (loss) income for segment | $ | 254,695 | $ | 981,530 | $ | (1,011,037 | ) | $ | (10,999,246 | ) | $ | (10,774,058 | ) | |||||||
| Segment assets | 12,596,088 | 2,470,845 | 5,743,882 | 2,584,991 | 23,395,806 | |||||||||||||||
NOTE 17. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On October 1, 2017, our previously outstanding warrants to purchase 89,389 shares of our common stock expired October 1, 2017.
The Company’s stockholders approved at the Annual Meeting on October 3, 2017 the issuance of 47,139 restricted shares of common stock to the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Oleg Firer, as a performance bonus.
In connection with our reverse stock split effected on October 5, 2017, we issued 2,968 shares of common stock due to the rounding-up of partial shares in the reverse split calculation.
On October 20, 2017, we made the final payment of $197,912 to the PayOnline Sellers pursuant to terms of the amended settlement agreement entered into with the PayOnline Sellers.
Pursuant to the terms of the Cobblestone Purchase Agreement, we sold 196,203 shares of common stock for $1,106,857 between October 1, 2017 and the date of this 10-Q filing.
On October 20, 2017, the Company announced that (i) it has evidenced compliance with the $1.00 bid price requirement for Nasdaq insofar as the bid price for the Company’s common stock has closed at or above $1.00 per share for more than 10 consecutive business days; and (ii) it has over $2.5 million in stockholders’ equity as a result of its conversion of the Company’s indebtedness and the sales of equity to Cobblestone Capital pursuant to the Cobblestone Purchase Agreement, thus regaining its compliance with Nasdaq listing requirements.
On October 20, 2017, we entered into a letter agreement with Star Equities, LLC, a Florida limited liability company controlled by our Chief Executive Officer. Pursuant to the agreement, the entire outstanding amount (including the principal amount of $348,083 and accrued and unpaid interest) of $374,253 under the promissory note issued on March 1, 2017 by the Company to Star Equities, LLC was exchanged into 67,312 restricted shares of common stock of the Company.
On October 20, 2017, we repaid Priority Payments, LLC. $111,118 on October 24, 2017, and we drew down an additional $105,000.
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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion should be read and evaluated in conjunction with the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in this Report and with the discussion under “Forward-Looking Statements” on page 2 at the beginning of this Report and the Risk Factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 and in Part II, Item 1A of this Report.
Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2017 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2016
We reported a net loss attributable to our stockholders of $1,702,536, or $0.90 per share, for the three months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to a net loss attributable to net loss attributable to our stockholders of $3,469,540, or $2.47 per share, for the three months ended September 30, 2016. This resulted in a decrease in net loss attributable to stockholders of $1,767,004 primarily due to an increase in revenues, decreases in non-cash compensation and interest expenses, partially offset by an increase in other expenses. Net loss attributable to stockholders for the three months ended September 30, 2016 was also negatively affected by an expense for loss from stock value guarantee related to the PayOnline acquisition.
Net revenues consist primarily of payment processing fees. Net revenues were $14,901,131 for the three months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to $14,009,652 for the three months ended September 30, 2016. The increase in net revenue is primarily due to an increase to North American Transaction Solutions segment revenue of $1,936,917 (or 17% increase) for the three months ended September 30, 2017 versus the three months ended September 30, 2016. Increases in our North American Transaction Solutions segment revenue were primarily due to continued organic growth of merchants with emphasis on value-added offerings partially offset by some loss of processing revenues resulting from storms primarily affecting merchants processing in Florida and Texas. Our Online Solutions segment revenue increased $180,803 (or 11%), from $1,597,124 for the three months ended September 30, 2016 to $1,777,927 for the three months ended September 30, 2017. Net revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was also negatively affected by a $1,226,241 (or 100%) decrease in revenue in our Mobile Solutions segment, as we experience increased competition, decreased margins and reorganizing assignments of the Mobile Solutions segment to employees at PayOnline and TOT Group Russia.
The following table sets forth our sources of revenues, cost of revenues and gross margins for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:
Gross Margin Analysis
| Three | Three | |||||||||||||||||||
| Months Ended | Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||
| September 30, | September 30, | Increase / | ||||||||||||||||||
| Source of Revenues | 2017 | Mix | 2016 | Mix | (Decrease) | |||||||||||||||
| North American Transaction Solutions | $ | 13,123,204 | 88 | % | $ | 11,186,287 | 80 | % | $ | 1,936,917 | ||||||||||
| Mobile Solutions | - | 0 | % | 1,226,241 | 9 | % | (1,226,241 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Online Solutions | 1,777,927 | 12 | % | 1,597,124 | 11 | % | 180,803 | |||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 14,901,131 | 100 | % | $ | 14,009,652 | 100 | % | $ | 891,479 | ||||||||||
| Three | Three | |||||||||||||||||||
| Months Ended | Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||
| September 30, | % of | September 30, | % of | Increase / | ||||||||||||||||
| Cost of Revenues | 2017 | revenues | 2016 | revenues | (Decrease) | |||||||||||||||
| North American Transaction Solutions | $ | 11,279,098 | 86 | % | $ | 9,585,952 | 86 | % | $ | 1,693,146 | ||||||||||
| Mobile Solutions | - | 0 | % | 1,045,836 | 85 | % | (1,045,836 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Online Solutions | 1,477,529 | 83 | % | 1,063,380 | 67 | % | 414,149 | |||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 12,756,627 | 86 | % | $ | 11,695,168 | 83 | % | $ | 1,061,459 | ||||||||||
| Three | Three | |||||||||||||||||||
| Months Ended | Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||
| September 30, | % of | September 30, | % of | Increase / | ||||||||||||||||
| Gross Margin | 2017 | revenues | 2016 | revenues | (Decrease) | |||||||||||||||
| North American Transaction Solutions | $ | 1,844,106 | 14 | % | $ | 1,600,335 | 14 | % | $ | 243,771 | ||||||||||
| Mobile Solutions | - | 0 | % | 180,405 | 15 | % | (180,405 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Online Solutions | 300,398 | 17 | % | 533,744 | 33 | % | (233,346 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 2,144,504 | 14 | % | $ | 2,314,484 | 17 | % | $ | (169,980 | ) | |||||||||
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Cost of revenues represents direct costs of generating revenues, including commissions, mobile operator fees, purchases of short numbers, interchange expense and processing fees. Cost of revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2017 were $12,756,627 as compared to $11,695,168 for the three months ended September 30, 2016. The $1,061,459 increase in cost of revenues was primarily due to a $1,693,145 increase in our North American Transaction Solutions segment due to the corresponding increase in sales volume. There also was a $414,149 increase in cost of revenues resulting from our Online Solutions segment operations primarily due the costs associated with onboarding additional merchants. This was partially offset by a $1,045,836 decrease in our Mobile Solutions segment cost of revenues, which resulted from the corresponding decrease in revenues for our Mobile Solutions segment for the three months ended September 30, 2017.
Gross margin or the three months ended September 30, 2017 was $2,144,504, or 14% of net revenue, as compared to $2,314,484, or 17% of net revenue, for the three months ended September 30, 2016. The $169,980 decrease in gross margin was primarily due to a decrease of $180,405 in Mobile Solutions margin caused by a decrease in business and a $233,346 decrease in Online Solutions offset by $243,771 increase in gross margin in North American Transaction Solutions caused by continued growth of merchants with emphasis on value-added offerings.
Total operating expenses were $3,418,716 for the three months ended September 30, 2017, which consisted of general and administrative expenses of $2,357,729, non-cash compensation expenses of $111,277, provision for bad debts of $319,690, and depreciation and amortization of $630,020. Total operating expenses were $4,083,494 for the three months ended September 30, 2016, which consisted of general and administrative expenses of $2,284,737, non-cash compensation expenses of $732,701, provision for bad debts of $301,170, and depreciation and amortization of $764,886.
The components of our general and administrative expenses are discussed below.
General and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 consisted of operating expenses not otherwise delineated in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss and include salaries and benefits, professional fees, rent, business development, travel expense, filing fees, transaction gains or losses, office expenses, communication expenses, insurance expenses, and other expenses required to run our business, as follows:
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| Three Months Ended September 30, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Category | North America Transaction Solutions | Mobile Solutions | Online Solutions | Corporate Expenses
& Eliminations | Total | |||||||||||||||
| Salaries, benefits, taxes and contractor payments | $ | 459,412 | $ | 44,733 | $ | 213,351 | $ | 539,002 | $ | 1,256,498 | ||||||||||
| Professional fees | 100,772 | (46 | ) | 233,836 | 326,876 | 661,438 | ||||||||||||||
| Rent | - | 5,803 | 39,037 | 58,410 | 103,250 | |||||||||||||||
| Business development | 6,572 | (6 | ) | 8,902 | 222 | 15,690 | ||||||||||||||
| Travel expense | 21,753 | 2,897 | 1,142 | 20,634 | 46,426 | |||||||||||||||
| Filing fees | - | - | - | 12,056 | 12,056 | |||||||||||||||
| Transaction (gains) losses | - | (13,327 | ) | 54 | (3 | ) | (13,276 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Office expenses | 67,140 | 566 | 21,319 | 13,005 | 102,030 | |||||||||||||||
| Communications expenses | 5,507 | 1,173 | 29,416 | 20,211 | 56,307 | |||||||||||||||
| Insurance expense | - | - | - | 34,853 | 34,853 | |||||||||||||||
| Other expenses | 349 | 87 | 1,619 | 80,402 | 82,457 | |||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 661,505 | $ | 41,880 | $ | 548,676 | $ | 1,105,668 | $ | 2,357,729 | ||||||||||
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Category | North America Transaction Solutions | Mobile Solutions | Online Solutions | Corporate Expenses
& Eliminations | Total | |||||||||||||||
| Salaries, benefits, taxes and contractor payments | $ | 414,659 | $ | 107,310 | $ | 167,802 | $ | 442,497 | $ | 1,132,268 | ||||||||||
| Professional fees | 89,985 | 36,874 | 161,394 | 384,227 | 672,480 | |||||||||||||||
| Rent | - | 942 | 35,682 | 116,703 | 153,327 | |||||||||||||||
| Business development | 10,827 | 4,869 | 27,752 | 1,395 | 44,843 | |||||||||||||||
| Travel expense | 61,700 | 2,563 | 5,978 | 50,466 | 120,707 | |||||||||||||||
| Filing fees | - | - | - | 17,789 | 17,789 | |||||||||||||||
| Transaction (gains) losses | - | (11,068 | ) | (655 | ) | (141,639 | ) | (153,362 | ) | |||||||||||
| Office expenses | 29,600 | 8,805 | 21,534 | 33,532 | 93,471 | |||||||||||||||
| Communications expenses | 17,392 | 583 | 27,065 | 20,447 | 65,486 | |||||||||||||||
| Insurance expense | - | - | - | 123,992 | 123,992 | |||||||||||||||
| Other expenses | 9,755 | 6 | 1,350 | 2,624 | 13,736 | |||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 633,918 | $ | 150,884 | $ | 447,902 | $ | 1,052,034 | $ | 2,284,737 | ||||||||||
| Variance | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Category | North America Transaction Solutions | Mobile Solutions | Online Solutions | Corporate Expenses
& Eliminations | Total | |||||||||||||||
| Salaries, benefits, taxes and contractor payments | $ | 44,753 | $ | (62,577 | ) | $ | 45,549 | $ | 96,505 | $ | 124,230 | |||||||||
| Professional fees | 10,787 | (36,920 | ) | 72,442 | (57,351 | ) | (11,042 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Rent | - | 4,861 | 3,355 | (58,293 | ) | (50,077 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Business development | (4,255 | ) | (4,875 | ) | (18,850 | ) | (1,173 | ) | (29,153 | ) | ||||||||||
| Travel expense | (39,947 | ) | 334 | (4,836 | ) | (29,832 | ) | (74,281 | ) | |||||||||||
| Filing fees | - | - | - | (5,733 | ) | (5,733 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Transaction (gains) losses | - | (2,259 | ) | 709 | 141,636 | 140,086 | ||||||||||||||
| Office expenses | 37,540 | (8,239 | ) | (215 | ) | (20,527 | ) | 8,559 | ||||||||||||
| Communications expenses | (11,885 | ) | 590 | 2,351 | (236 | ) | (9,179 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Insurance expense | - | - | - | (89,139 | ) | (89,139 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Other expenses | (9,406 | ) | 81 | 269 | 77,778 | 68,721 | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 27,587 | $ | (109,004 | ) | $ | 100,774 | $ | 53,634 | $ | 72,992 | |||||||||
| 32 |
Salaries, benefits, taxes and contractor payments were $1,256,498 for the three months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to $1,132,268 for the three months ended September 30, 2016.
| Segment | Salaries and benefits
for the three months ended September 30, 2017 | Salaries and benefits
for the three months ended September 30, 2016 | Increase / (Decrease) | |||||||||
| North America Transaction Solutions | $ | 459,412 | $ | 414,659 | $ | 44,753 | ||||||
| Mobile Solutions | 44,733 | 107,310 | (62,577 | ) | ||||||||
| Online Solutions | 213,351 | 167,802 | 45,549 | |||||||||
| Corporate Expenses & Eliminations | 539,002 | 442,497 | 96,505 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 1,256,498 | $ | 1,132,268 | $ | 124,230 | ||||||
The increase in salaries of $124,230 was due to the North American Transaction Solutions segment and corporate salaries increasing $44,743 and $96,505, respectively, due to an increase in headcount and sales incentives for key employees as the business grows. In addition, an increase in our Online Solutions segment of $45,549 was primarily due to the Ruble exchange rate. These increases were offset by a decrease of $62,577 in our Mobile Solutions segment due to the elimination of headcount as we assigned the current workloads to existing employees of PayOnline and TOT Group Russia.
Professional fees were $661,438 for the three months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to $672,480 for the three months ended September 30, 2016.
| 33 |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Professional Fees | North America Transaction Solutions | Mobile Solutions | Online Solutions | Corporate Expenses & Eliminations | Total | |||||||||||||||
| General Legal | $ | 819 | $ | - | $ | 185 | $ | 4,305 | $ | 5,309 | ||||||||||
| SEC Compliance Legal Fees | - | - | - | 88,564 | 88,564 | |||||||||||||||
| Accounting and Auditing | - | - | 1,000 | 97,500 | 98,500 | |||||||||||||||
| Tax Compliance and Planning | - | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
| Consulting | 99,953 | (46 | ) | 232,651 | 136,507 | 469,065 | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 100,772 | $ | (46 | ) | $ | 233,836 | $ | 326,876 | $ | 661,438 | |||||||||
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Professional Fees | North America Transaction Solutions | Mobile Solutions | Online Solutions | Corporate Expenses & Eliminations | Total | |||||||||||||||
| General Legal | $ | 5,818 | $ | 56 | $ | 847 | $ | 99,179 | $ | 105,900 | ||||||||||
| SEC Compliance Legal Fees | - | - | - | 43,750 | 43,750 | |||||||||||||||
| Accounting and Auditing | - | - | - | 101,732 | 101,732 | |||||||||||||||
| Tax Compliance and Planning | - | - | - | 33,200 | 33,200 | |||||||||||||||
| Consulting | 84,167 | 36,818 | 160,547 | 106,366 | 387,898 | |||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 89,985 | $ | 36,874 | $ | 161,394 | $ | 384,227 | $ | 672,480 | ||||||||||
| Variance | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Professional Fees | North America Transaction Solutions | Mobile Solutions | Online Solutions | Corporate Expenses
& Eliminations | Increase / (Decrease) | |||||||||||||||
| General Legal | $ | (4,999 | ) | $ | (56 | ) | $ | (662 | ) | $ | (94,874 | ) | $ | (100,591 | ) | |||||
| SEC Compliance Legal Fees | - | - | - | 44,814 | 44,814 | |||||||||||||||
| Accounting and Auditing | - | - | 1,000 | (4,232 | ) | (3,232 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Tax Compliance and Planning | - | - | - | (33,200 | ) | (33,200 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Consulting | 15,786 | (36,864 | ) | 72,104 | 30,141 | 81,167 | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 10,787 | $ | (36,920 | ) | $ | 72,442 | $ | (57,351 | ) | $ | (11,042 | ) | |||||||
Professional fees decreased by $11,042 mainly due to a decrease in general legal fees because of decreases in litigation and tax compliance fees partially offset by an increases in SEC compliance and consulting fees due to increased public market transactions.
Non-cash compensation expense from share-based compensation was $111,277 for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $732,701 for the three months ended September 30, 2016. The majority of these expenses were for employee and consultant equity incentives for both periods.
| 34 |
We recorded bad debt expense of $319,690 for the three months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to $301,170 for the three months ended September 30, 2016. For the three months ended September 30, 2017, we recorded a loss which was primarily comprised of $227,281 in ACH rejects and a $92,409 provision from our Russian operations. Of the $678,143 of gross ACH rejects, $111,174 were passed through to independent sales organizations via a reduction in commissions. For the three months ended September 30, 2016, we recorded a loss which was primarily comprised of $301,132 in net ach rejects. Of the $301,132 of net ACH rejects, $117,794 were passed through to independent sales organizations via a reduction in commissions.
Depreciation and amortization expense consists primarily of the amortization of merchant portfolios plus depreciation expense on fixed assets, client acquisition costs, capitalized software expenses, trademarks, domain names and employee non-compete agreements. Depreciation and amortization expense was $630,020 for the three months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to $764,886 for the three months ended September 30, 2016. The decrease was due to the full amortization of certain software and merchant portfolio assets during 2016.
Interest expense was $302,813 for the three months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to $608,716 for three months ended September 30, 2016, representing a decrease of $305,904 due to lower balances as follows:
| Funding Source | Three months ended 2017 | Three months ended 2016 | Increase / (Decrease) | |||||||||
| MBF Notes | $ | 15,277 | $ | 11,356 | $ | 3,921 | ||||||
| RBL Notes | 195,736 | 510,655 | (314,919 | ) | ||||||||
| Priority Payments Note | 65,630 | - | 65,630 | |||||||||
| Other | 26,170 | 86,705 | (60,537 | ) | ||||||||
| Total | $ | 302,813 | $ | 608,716 | $ | (305,904 | ) | |||||
Other interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2017 consisted of $10,407 resulting from the promissory note entered into on March 1, 2017 with Star Equities, LLC (See Note 12. Related Party Transactions) and $17,762 related to the PayOnline acquisition. During the three months ended September 30, 2016, other interest expense primarily consisted of $76,289 related to the PayOnline acquisition. The primary reason for the decrease was due to less Crede stock paydowns on RBL debt during the three months ended September 30, 2017, which resulted in increased RBL interest expense during 2016.
Other expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2017 consists primarily of a $94,267 of expenses attributed to our Mobile Solutions division.
The net income attributable to non-controlling interests amounted to $32,607 for three months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to the net loss of $33,683 for the three months ended September 30, 2016. The $66,290 decrease was caused by an adjustment to commission expense for prior quarters recorded during the three months ended September 30, 2017.
Results of Operations for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
We reported a net loss attributable to stockholders of $5,830,373, or $3.29 per share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to a net loss attributable to stockholders of $10,663,708, or $8.65 per share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. This resulted in a decrease in net loss attributable to stockholders of $4,833,335 primarily due to an increase in revenues and a decrease in the loss from stock value guarantee, a decrease in noncash compensation expense, and a decrease in other income offset by an increase in general and administrative expenses.
Net revenues consist primarily of payment processing fees. Net revenues were $44,604,113 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to $38,963,559 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The increase in net revenue is primarily due to organic growth of merchants in our North American Transaction Solutions segment which resulted in an increase to North American Transaction Solutions segment revenue of $8,258,268 (or 28% increase) for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 versus the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Increases in our North American Transaction Solutions segment revenue were primarily due to continued growth of merchants with emphasis on value-added offerings. Our Online Solutions segment revenue increased $1,006,578 (or 22%), from $4,521,239 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 to $5,527,817 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, primarily due to the onboarding of additional merchants. The increases in North American Transaction Solutions and Online Solutions segments were offset by a $3,624,292 (or 72%) decrease in our Mobile Solutions segment, as we have eliminated staff and assigned current responsibilities to team members at PayOnline and TOT Group Russia.
| 35 |
The following table sets forth our sources of revenues, cost of revenues and gross margins for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:
Gross Margin Analysis
| Nine | Nine | |||||||||||||||||||
| Months Ended | Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||
| September 30, | September 30, | Increase / | ||||||||||||||||||
| Source of Revenues | 2017 | Mix | 2016 | Mix | (Decrease) | |||||||||||||||
| North American Transaction Solutions | $ | 37,701,136 | 85 | % | $ | 29,442,868 | 76 | % | $ | 8,258,268 | ||||||||||
| Mobile Solutions | 1,375,160 | 3 | % | 4,999,452 | 13 | % | (3,624,292 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Online Solutions | 5,527,817 | 12 | % | 4,521,239 | 12 | % | 1,006,578 | |||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 44,604,113 | 100 | % | $ | 38,963,559 | 100 | % | $ | 5,640,554 | ||||||||||
| Nine | Nine | |||||||||||||||||||
| Months Ended | Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||
| September 30, | % of | September 30, | % of | Increase / | ||||||||||||||||
| Cost of Revenues | 2017 | revenues | 2016 | revenues | (Decrease) | |||||||||||||||
| North American Transaction Solutions | $ | 32,213,056 | 85 | % | $ | 25,206,769 | 86 | % | $ | 7,006,287 | ||||||||||
| Mobile Solutions | 1,319,704 | 96 | % | 4,427,043 | 89 | % | (3,107,339 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Online Solutions | 4,002,251 | 72 | % | 2,931,390 | 65 | % | 1,070,861 | |||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 37,535,011 | 84 | % | $ | 32,565,202 | 84 | % | $ | 4,969,809 | ||||||||||
| Nine | Nine | |||||||||||||||||||
| Months Ended | Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||
| September 30, | % of | September 30, | % of | Increase / | ||||||||||||||||
| Gross Margin | 2017 | revenues | 2016 | revenues | (Decrease) | |||||||||||||||
| North American Transaction Solutions | $ | 5,488,080 | 15 | % | $ | 4,236,099 | 14 | % | $ | 1,251,981 | ||||||||||
| Mobile Solutions | 55,456 | 4 | % | 572,409 | 11 | % | (516,953 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Online Solutions | 1,525,566 | 28 | % | 1,589,849 | 35 | % | (64,283 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 7,069,102 | 16 | % | $ | 6,398,357 | 16 | % | $ | 670,745 | ||||||||||
Cost of revenues represents direct costs of generating revenues, including commissions, mobile operator fees, purchases of short numbers, interchange expense and processing fees. Cost of revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 were $37,535,011 as compared to $32,565,202 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The increase in cost of revenues was primarily due to a $7,006,287 increase in our North American Transaction Solutions segment due to the corresponding increase in sales volume. There was also a $1,070,861 increase in cost of revenues resulting from our Online Solutions segment operations also primarily due to with boarding additional merchants. This was offset by a $3,107,339 decrease in our Mobile Solutions segment cost of revenues, which resulted from the corresponding decrease in sales for our Mobile Solutions segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.
Gross margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $7,069,102, or 16% of net revenue, as compared to $6,398,357, or 16% of net revenue, for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The $670,745 increase in gross margin was primarily due to the increased sales volume of processing and business mix in our North American Transaction Solutions offset by a decrease of $516,953 in our Mobile Solutions margin caused from a decrease in business.
Total operating expenses were $11,949,998 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, which consisted of general and administrative expenses of $7,788,068, non-cash compensation expenses of $836,218, provision for bad debts of $1,465,311, and depreciation and amortization of $1,860,401. Total operating expenses were $12,656,323 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, which consisted of general and administrative expenses of $6,372,361, non-cash compensation expenses of $3,108,274, provision for bad debts of $678,150, and depreciation and amortization of $2,497,538.
The components of our general and administrative expenses are discussed below.
| 36 |
General and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 consisted of operating expenses not otherwise delineated in our Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss and include salaries and benefits, professional fees, rent, business development, travel expense, filing fees, transaction gains, office expenses, communication expense, insurance expense, and other expenses required to run our business, as follows:
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Category | North America Transaction Solutions | Mobile Solutions | Online Solutions | Corporate Expenses & Eliminations | Total | |||||||||||||||
| Salaries, benefits, taxes and contractor payments | $ | 1,404,162 | $ | 295,068 | $ | 670,056 | $ | 1,927,741 | $ | 4,297,027 | ||||||||||
| Professional fees | 351,736 | 44,793 | 717,713 | 881,613 | 1,995,855 | |||||||||||||||
| Rent | - | 33,092 | 119,129 | 240,172 | 392,393 | |||||||||||||||
| Business development | 9,381 | 971 | 26,689 | 2,718 | 39,759 | |||||||||||||||
| Travel expense | 133,901 | 9,723 | 6,479 | 111,551 | 261,654 | |||||||||||||||
| Filing fees | - | - | - | 26,990 | 26,990 | |||||||||||||||
| Transaction (gains) losses | 742 | (30,423 | ) | (6,138 | ) | 3,031 | (32,788 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Office expenses | 165,742 | 6,591 | 62,830 | 104,506 | 339,669 | |||||||||||||||
| Communications expenses | 28,894 | 3,368 | 88,987 | 60,373 | 181,622 | |||||||||||||||
| Insurance expense | - | - | - | 111,194 | 111,194 | |||||||||||||||
| Other expenses | 3,563 | 87 | 4,895 | 166,148 | 174,693 | |||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 2,098,121 | $ | 363,270 | $ | 1,690,640 | $ | 3,636,037 | $ | 7,788,068 | ||||||||||
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Category | North America Transaction | Mobile Solutions | Online Solutions | Corporate Expenses & Eliminations | Total | |||||||||||||||
| Salaries, benefits, taxes and contractor payments | $ | 1,223,240 | $ | 343,247 | $ | 423,238 | $ | 1,498,541 | $ | 3,488,266 | ||||||||||
| Professional fees | 372,492 | 39,422 | 462,650 | 999,627 | 1,874,191 | |||||||||||||||
| Rent | - | 3,260 | 104,056 | 317,317 | 424,633 | |||||||||||||||
| Business development | 31,784 | 4,869 | 92,544 | 6,043 | 135,240 | |||||||||||||||
| Travel expense | 152,795 | 9,657 | 15,964 | 88,368 | 266,784 | |||||||||||||||
| Filing fees | - | - | - | 77,185 | 77,185 | |||||||||||||||
| Transaction (gains) losses | - | (394,880 | ) | 38,449 | (115,797 | ) | (472,228 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Office expenses | 76,347 | 13,779 | 47,619 | 84,971 | 222,716 | |||||||||||||||
| Communications expenses | 64,369 | 1,639 | 42,742 | 69,756 | 178,506 | |||||||||||||||
| Insurance expense | - | 87 | - | 129,776 | 129,863 | |||||||||||||||
| Other expenses | 269 | 152 | 1,615 | 45,169 | 47,205 | |||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 1,921,296 | $ | 21,232 | $ | 1,228,877 | $ | 3,200,956 | $ | 6,372,361 | ||||||||||
| Variance | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Category | North America Transaction Solutions | Mobile Solutions | Online Solutions | Corporate Expenses & Eliminations | Total | |||||||||||||||
| Salaries, benefits, taxes and contractor payments | $ | 180,922 | $ | (48,179 | ) | $ | 246,818 | $ | 429,200 | $ | 808,761 | |||||||||
| Professional fees | (20,756 | ) | 5,371 | 255,063 | (118,014 | ) | 121,664 | |||||||||||||
| Rent | - | 29,832 | 15,073 | (77,145 | ) | (32,240 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Business development | (22,403 | ) | (3,898 | ) | (65,855 | ) | (3,325 | ) | (95,481 | ) | ||||||||||
| Travel expense | (18,894 | ) | 66 | (9,485 | ) | 23,183 | (5,130 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Filing fees | - | - | - | (50,195 | ) | (50,195 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Transaction (gains) losses | 742 | 364,457 | (44,587 | ) | 118,828 | 439,440 | ||||||||||||||
| Office expenses | 89,395 | (7,188 | ) | 15,211 | 19,535 | 116,953 | ||||||||||||||
| Communications expenses | (35,475 | ) | 1,729 | 46,245 | (9,383 | ) | 3,116 | |||||||||||||
| Insurance expense | - | (87 | ) | - | (18,582 | ) | (18,669 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Other expenses | 3,294 | (65 | ) | 3,280 | 120,979 | 127,488 | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 176,825 | $ | 342,038 | $ | 461,763 | $ | 435,081 | $ | 1,415,707 | ||||||||||
| 37 |
Salaries, benefits, taxes and contractor payments were $4,297,027 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to $3,488,266 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.
| Segment | Salaries and benefits for the ended September 30, 2017 | Salaries and benefits for the ended September 30, 2016 | Increase / (Decrease) | |||||||||
| North America Transaction Solutions | $ | 1,404,162 | $ | 1,223,240 | $ | 180,922 | ||||||
| Mobile Solutions | 295,068 | 343,247 | (48,179 | ) | ||||||||
| Online Solutions | 670,056 | 423,238 | 246,818 | |||||||||
| Corporate Expenses & Eliminations | 1,927,741 | 1,498,541 | 429,200 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 4,297,027 | $ | 3,488,266 | $ | 808,761 | ||||||
The increase in salaries of $808,761 was due primarily to the increase of corporate expenses for a $300,000 discretionary bonus payable to our CEO and approved by the Board of directors. The bonus is payable when cash flow of the business can support the payment. Additionally, North American Transaction Solutions segment salaries increased $180,922 due to an increase in headcount and sales incentives for key employees. There was also an increase of $246,818 in our Online Solutions segment which were primarily due to increasing payroll and consulting on PayOnline and the Ruble exchange rate. This was offset by a decrease in Mobile Solutions segment of $48,179 due to reducing headcount in response to the continued decrease in sales and reorganizing the business and responsibilities.
Professional fees were $1,995,855 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to $1,874,191 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.
| 38 |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Professional Fees | North America Transaction Solutions | Mobile Solutions | Online Solutions | Corporate Expenses & Eliminations | Total | |||||||||||||||
| General Legal | $ | 23,418 | $ | - | $ | 4,142 | $ | 62,533 | $ | 90,093 | ||||||||||
| SEC Compliance Legal Fees | - | - | - | 191,349 | 191,349 | |||||||||||||||
| Accounting and Auditing | - | - | 15,433 | 307,782 | 323,215 | |||||||||||||||
| Tax Compliance and Planning | - | - | - | 15,400 | 15,400 | |||||||||||||||
| Consulting | 328,318 | 44,793 | 698,138 | 304,549 | 1,375,798 | |||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 351,736 | $ | 44,793 | $ | 717,713 | $ | 881,613 | $ | 1,995,855 | ||||||||||
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Professional Fees | North America Transaction Solutions | Mobile Solutions | Online Solutions | Corporate Expenses & Eliminations | Total | |||||||||||||||
| General Legal | $ | 39,215 | $ | 268 | $ | 3,867 | $ | 168,039 | $ | 211,389 | ||||||||||
| SEC Compliance Legal Fees | - | - | 131,250 | 131,250 | ||||||||||||||||
| Accounting and Auditing | - | - | 578 | 326,132 | 326,710 | |||||||||||||||
| Tax Compliance and Planning | - | - | - | 44,200 | 44,200 | |||||||||||||||
| Consulting | 273,277 | 39,154 | 458,205 | 390,006 | 1,160,642 | |||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 312,492 | $ | 39,422 | $ | 462,650 | $ | 1,059,627 | $ | 1,874,191 | ||||||||||
| Variance | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Professional Fees | North America Transaction Solutions | Mobile Solutions | Online Solutions | Corporate Expenses & Eliminations | Increase / (Decrease) | |||||||||||||||
| General Legal | $ | (15,797 | ) | $ | (268 | ) | $ | 275 | $ | (105,506 | ) | $ | (121,296 | ) | ||||||
| SEC Compliance Legal Fees | - | - | - | 60,099 | 60,099 | |||||||||||||||
| Accounting and Auditing | - | - | 14,855 | (18,350 | ) | (3,495 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Tax Compliance and Planning | - | - | - | (28,800 | ) | (28,800 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Consulting | 55,041 | 5,639 | 239,933 | (85,457 | ) | 215,156 | ||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 39,244 | $ | 5,371 | $ | 255,063 | $ | (178,014 | ) | $ | 121,664 | |||||||||
Professional fees increased by $121,664 primarily due to an increase in Online Solutions segment’s consulting fees of $239,933 and $60,099 in corporate’s SEC compliance fees primarily offset by a decrease in general legal corporate expenses of $105,506 and a $85,457 decrease in corporate consulting expenses.
Non-cash compensation expense from share-based compensation was $836,218 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $3,108,274 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The majority of these expenses were for employee and consultant incentives in both periods.
| 39 |
We recorded bad debt expense of $1,465,311 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to $678,150 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, we recorded a loss which was primarily comprised of $1,185,804 in net ACH rejects and a $279,508 provision from our Russian operations. Of the $1,185,804 of net ACH rejects, $781,923 were passed through to independent sales organizations that board their merchants with us. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, we recorded a loss which was primarily comprised of $710,508 in net ACH rejects offset by a $32,358 recovery from our Russian operations. Of the $678,150 of net ACH rejects, $286,128 were passed through as a reduction to commissions to independent sales organizations that board their merchants with us.
Depreciation and amortization expense consists primarily of the amortization of merchant portfolios plus depreciation expense on fixed assets, client acquisition costs, capitalized software expenses, trademarks, domain names and employee non-compete agreements. Depreciation and amortization expense was $1,860,401 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to $2,497,538 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.
Interest expense was $894,553 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to $1,186,207 for nine months ended September 30, 2016, representing a decrease of $291,655 as follows:
| Funding Source | Nine months ended September 30, 2017 | Nine months ended September 30, 2016 | Increase / (Decrease) | |||||||||
| MBF Notes | $ | 49,606 | $ | 39,806 | $ | 9,800 | ||||||
| RBL Notes | 572,231 | 1,066,227 | (493,996 | ) | ||||||||
| Priority Payments Note | 90,378 | - | 90,378 | |||||||||
| Other | 182,338 | 80,174 | 102,164 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 894,552 | $ | 1,186,207 | $ | (291,655 | ) | |||||
Other interest expense primarily consisted of $84,199 resulting from the promissory note entered into on March 1, 2017 with Star Equities, LLC (see Note 12. Related Party Transactions) and $98,139 related to the PayOnline acquisition. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, other interest consisted primarily of $76,289 related to the PayOnline acquisition. The primary reason for the decrease was due to less Crede stock paydowns on RBL debt during nine months ended 2017, which resulted in increased RBL interest expense during 2016.
Other expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, consisted of $98,721 attributed to our Mobile Solutions Division, by $48,481 in from our North American Transaction Solutions segment and $9,128 of expenses from corporate, offset by $5,359 in other income from our Online Solutions segment.
The net income attributable to non-controlling interests amounted to $93,175 for nine months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to $110,350 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The decrease was caused by an adjustment to commission expense for prior quarters recorded during the three months ended September 30, 2017.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our total assets at September 30, 2017 were $20.4 million compared to $23.2 million at December 31, 2016. The period over period change in total assets is primarily attributable to a decrease in accounts receivable due to collections from our Mobile Solutions segment of $2.7 million and our North American Transaction Solutions segment collections of $0.6 million.
At December 31, 2016, we had total current assets of $9.2 million including $0.6 million of cash, $7.1 million of accounts receivable, and $1.5 million of prepaid expenses and other assets. At September 30, 2017, we had total current assets of $7.0 million, including $0.9 million of cash, $4.4 million of accounts receivable and $1.7 million of prepaid expenses.
We currently believe that we will require an additional $4.8 million to finance continuing operations as currently conducted over the next 12 months. In addition, we have a payment obligation of approximately $1.4 million associated with our PayOnline acquisition. These conditions raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
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Additional funds may be raised through debt financing and/or the issuance of equity securities, there being no assurance that any type of financing on terms satisfactory to us will be available or otherwise occur. Debt financing must be repaid regardless of whether we generate revenues or cash flows from operations and may be secured by substantially all of our assets. Any equity financing or debt financing that requires the issuance of equity securities or warrants to the lender would cause the percentage ownership by our current stockholders to be diluted, which dilution may be substantial. Also, any additional equity securities issued may have rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of existing stockholders. If such financings are not available when required or are not available on acceptable terms, we may be unable to implement our business plans or take advantage of business opportunities, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and/or prospects and may ultimately require us to suspend or cease operations, which could cause investors to lose the entire amount of their investment.
The net loss attributable to Net Element, Inc. stockholders was $5.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to $10.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.
Operating activities used $2,609,164 of cash for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to $1,067,490 of cash used for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Negative operating cash flow of $2,609,164 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was primarily due to a net loss of $5,923,548 and a $2,390,495 decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses, primarily the result of paying down amounts related to the PayOnline acquisition, a $159,228 net decrease of deferred revenue primarily resulting from amortization of annual fees.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, investing activities used $1,303,231 in cash primarily for client acquisition costs as compared to $1,346,718 of cash used primarily to purchase portfolios and client acquisition costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.
Financing activities provided $4,193,358 in cash for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to $2,675,845 of cash provided from financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Financing activities provided $4,193,358 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, primarily from the sale of stock for $1,150,098 and proceeds and repayments from indebtedness, which netted $2,965,673. Financing activities provided $2,675,845 in cash for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 resulting from related party advances of $117,779 and the proceeds and repayments from indebtedness which netted $2,558,066.
We have international operations that transact in foreign currencies including Russian Rubles, Euros, and Kazakhstan Tenges. The effect of exchange rate changes increased our US Dollar-denominated cash balance by $19,503 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to a $97,902 decrease for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.
Off-balance sheet arrangements
At September 30, 2017, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4) of Regulation S-K.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.
Not applicable.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
As of the end of the period covered by this Report, our management conducted an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act). Based on that evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective because there are a limited number of personnel employed and we cannot have an adequate segregation of duties, and due to the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting as discussed below under “Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.” Accordingly, management cannot provide reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objective. Management works to mitigate these risks by being personally involved in all substantive transactions and attempts to obtain verification of transactions and accounting policies and treatments involving our operations, including those overseas. We are in the process of reviewing and, where necessary, modifying controls and procedures throughout the Company, particularly in light of our recent acquisitions and the continued integration of these businesses. We will continue to address deficiencies as resources permit.
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Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under Exchange Act). Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that: (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
We recognize that because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies and procedures may deteriorate.
Management of the Company conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2017, based on the framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the “COSO II Framework”). Based on management’s assessment in accordance with the criteria in the COSO Framework, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of September 30, 2017.
Management is aware of the following material weaknesses (a material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected and corrected on a timely basis) in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting:
Control Environment
| ■ | Inadequate Policies and Procedures: Based on management’s review of key accounting policies and procedures, our management determined that such policies and procedures were inadequate as of September 30, 2017. Management identified certain policies and procedures as inadequate regarding the design of the control and formal written documentation. |
| ■ | We do not have sufficient personnel or financial resources to provide adequate risk assessment functions. |
| ■ | Changing of Key Employees in Russia: A changing organizational structure provided challenges to ensure a sound control environment with appropriate tone, authority, responsibilities, and high ethical values. Due to reorganization of our Russian organization, we have not been able to provide adequate training to new employees in order to establish adequate best practice procedures. |
Control Activities
| ■ | Testing of Internal Controls: The Company’s accounting staff is relatively small and the Company does not have the required infrastructure for meeting the demands of being a U.S. public company. As a result we have identified deficiencies in our internal controls within our key business processes, particularly with respect to the design of quarterly accounting, financial statement close, consolidation, and external financial reporting procedures. Management believes there are control procedures that are effective in implementation within our key business processes. However, certain of these processes could not be formally tested because of lack of design, inadequate documentation, and lack of financial resources. |
Information and Communication
| ■ | We did not have adequate written procedures, risk assessment processes or board of directors training at September 30, 2017. Our quarterly reporting process, particularly in Russia, requires additional controls and processes. |
Monitoring
| ■ | Internal Control Monitoring: As a result of our limited financial personnel and ineffective controls (both preventative and detective) management’s ability to monitor the design and operating effectiveness of our internal controls is limited. Accordingly, management’s ability to timely detect, prevent and remediate deficiencies and potential fraud risks is inadequate. |
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These material weaknesses impede the ability of management to adequately oversee our internal control over financial reporting on a consistent basis. Management intends to continue focusing its remediation efforts in the near term on training new staff in Russia and designing revised accounting and financial reporting policies and procedures that will help ensure that adequate internal controls over financial reporting are met. Additionally, these revised procedures will be formally documented and procedures will focus on transaction processing, period-end account analyses and providing for additional review and monitoring procedures and periodically assess the need for additional accounting resources as the business develops and resources permit. Management also is committed to taking further action and implementing enhancements or improvements as resources permit. We recognize that, due to the size and stage of development of our foreign businesses, implementation of additional measures may take considerable time.
Notwithstanding the material weaknesses discussed above, our management has concluded that the financial statements included in this Report fairly present in all material respects our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
Except as specifically described above in this Item 4, there was no change in our internal control over financial reporting during our third fiscal quarter of 2017 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
For a discussion of legal proceedings, see “—Litigation” in Note 11 to the condensed consolidated financial statements contained in Part I, Item 1 of this Report, which section is incorporated by reference herein.
In addition to the information set forth in this Report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks described in such reports are not the only risks facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may eventually prove to materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
Sales of Unregistered Securities
On October 24, 2017, the Company sold an aggregate of 414 shares of common stock to Cobblestone Capital pursuant to the Cobblestone Purchase Agreement for total consideration of approximately $1,857. Such shares were sold to Cobblestone Capital under an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in reliance upon Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
A list of the exhibits filed as a part of this Report is set forth on the Exhibit Index that follows page 36 of this Report and is incorporated herein by reference.
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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, thereunto duly authorized.
| Net Element, Inc. | ||
| Date: November 14, 2017 | By: | /s/ Jonathan New |
| Name: Jonathan New | ||
| Title: Chief Financial Officer | ||
| (Principal Financial Officer | ||
| and Duly Authorized | ||
| Signatory) | ||
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EXHIBIT INDEX
| 45 |
| 101.SCH* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document | |
| 101.CAL* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document | |
| 101.DEF* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document | |
| 101.LAB* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document | |
| 101.PRE* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
|
# Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
* Filed herewith.
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