Net Element, Inc. (NASDAQ:NETE), a technology-driven group specializing in mobile payments and value-added transactional services in emerging countries and in the United States, is pleased to announce that the company has received a Deal Maker of the Year Award from Finance Monthly, a global financial sector publication for its acquisition of Aptito, LLC ("Aptito"). Aptito is a next generation, cloud-based point of sale payments platform, operated through TOT Group, Inc. ("TOT"), the mobile payments and transaction processing subsidiary of Net Element.

Aptito helps restaurants drive consumer engagement via tablet, mobile and all other cloud-connected devices. Aptito's mPOS system provides hospitality merchants with tools to increase sales, productivity, and customer loyalty. The solution is a tablet-based POS that combines traditional POS functionality with mobile ordering, payments, social media, intelligent offers, mobile applications, loyalty, and transactional data all in one solution supported by Aptito's cloud-based payments platform. Restaurants can leverage Aptito to plug into social networks, daily deal promotions and other marketing programs while having the ability to use Aptito's integrated mobile marketing tools to deploy their own lead generation campaigns and loyalty rewards.

The 2013 Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awards list is the third annual celebration of the most impressive transactions across a range of sectors and jurisdictions and reflects a dynamic year of successful M&A and corporate deal activity. Finance Monthly's highly selective judgment panel chooses winners from high caliber nominees in the corporate, private equity, investment banking and legal fields. Net Element was among other winners such as Ally Financial, Qualcomm and The Parthenon Group, for its acquisition of Aptito. All 2013 Finance Monthly Deal Maker Awardees are listed online, accessible via www.finance-monthly.com. In addition to the Deal Maker of the Year Awards, Finance Monthly also publishes CEO, Law and M&A Awards annually.

"On behalf of my team at Net Element, I am honored to receive Finance Monthly's Deal Maker of the Year Award," commented Oleg Firer, CEO of Net Element. "Finance Monthly is a premier publication and we are very pleased to win among other successful companies and transactions from the past year."

TOT Group, a subsidiary of Net Element, is a multinational mobile payments and transaction processing holding company that provides a vast range of flexible online and offline payment solutions. Clients include wireless carriers, content providers and merchants. TOT Group creates and delivers innovative, end-to-end payment solutions to enable commerce around the world with a focus on emerging markets. The Company and its subsidiaries offer innovative technologies which allow merchants to streamline their payments resources including processing of electronic payments at the point-of-sale ("POS"), processing mobile commerce transactions, managing merchant terminals and providing information management services.

About Finance Monthly

Finance Monthly (FM) is a global publication providing news, analysis and features on all the latest headlines within the financial sector. FM examines the key issues affecting the corporate, financial and legal community globally. It covers the major regions such as the US, Europe and Asia and all major financial sectors. FM offers a mix of news-led editorial features, with our editorial team exclusively interviewing some of the biggest players within the financial, corporate and legal fields. Finance Monthly is distributed every month to an international readership. More information is available at www.finance-monthly.com.

About Net Element (NASDAQ: NETE)

Net Element (NASDAQ: NETE) is a global technology-driven group specializing in mobile payments and value-added transactional services. The company owns and operates a global mobile payments and transaction processing provider, TOT Group. TOT Group companies include Unified Payments, recognized by Inc. Magazine as the #1 Fastest Growing Private Company in America in 2012, Aptito, a next generation cloud-based point of sale payments platform, and TOT Money, which has a leading position in Russia and has been ranked as the #1 SMS content provider by Beeline, Russia's second largest telecommunications operator. Together with its subsidiaries, Net Element enables ecommerce and adds value to mobile commerce environments. Its global development centers and high-level business relationships in the United States, Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States strategically position the company for continued growth. The company has U.S. headquarters in Miami and headquarters in Moscow. More information is available at www.netelement.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

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

Net Element, Inc.
Dan Bruck, 305-507-8808
dbruck@netelement.com
www.netelement.com