Exhibit 5.1
August 4, 2023
Digital Brands Group, Inc.
1400 Lavaca Street
Austin, TX 78701
Re: | Registration Statement on Form S-1 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Digital Brands Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing of a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), including a related prospectus filed with the Registration Statement (the “Prospectus”), in connection with the public offering (the “Offering”) by the Company of (i) up to $5.0 million of shares (the “Shares”) of its common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), and pre-funded warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock (“Pre-Funded Warrants”) directly to various investors (each, an “Investor” and, collectively, the “Investors”) pursuant to the terms of a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) among the Company and the Investors , and (ii) placement agent warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock equal to 2% of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock and Pre-Funded Warrants being offered (“Placement Agent Warrants,” and together with the Pre-Funded Warrants, the “Warrants”), pursuant to the terms of a Placement Agency Agreement (the “Placement Agency Agreement”) between the Company and Spartan Capital Securities, LLC, as placement agent (the “Placement Agent”). . This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.
As such counsel and for purposes of our opinions set forth below, we have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, resolutions, certificates and instruments of the Company and corporate records furnished to us by the Company, certificates of public officials, statutes, records and such other instruments and documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinion set forth below, including without limitation (i) the Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated May 18, 2021, and amended on October 13, 2022 and October 21, 2022, (ii) the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, (iii) the Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, (iv) the Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of the Series B Preferred Stock, (v) the Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of the Series C Convertible Preferred Stock, (vi) the form of Placement Agency Agreement, (vii) the form of Securities Purchase Agreement, (viii) the form of Warrant Agency Agreement, (ix) the form of Placement Agent Warrants, (x) the form of Pre-Funded Warrants, (xi) resolutions of the board of directors of the Company with respect to the Offering, and (xii) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
695 Town Center Drive 14th Floor, Costa Mesa, California 92626 Telephone: 714.371.2500 Fax: 714.317.2550
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Silicon Valley | Washington, D.C.
Digital Brands Group, Inc.
August 4, 2023
Page 2
In such examination and in rendering the opinions expressed below, we have assumed, without independent investigation or verification: (i) the genuineness of all signatures on all agreements, instruments, corporate records, certificates and other documents submitted to us, (ii) the legal capacity and authority of all persons or entities (other than the Company) executing all agreements, instruments, corporate records, certificates and other documents submitted to us, (iii) the authenticity and completeness of all agreements, instruments, corporate records, certificates and other documents submitted to us as originals, (iv) that all agreements, instruments, corporate records, certificates and other documents submitted to us as certified, electronic, facsimile, conformed, photostatic or other copies conform to authentic originals thereof, and that such originals are authentic and complete, (v) the due authorization, execution and delivery of all agreements, instruments, certificates and other documents by all parties thereto (other than the Company), (vi) that the statements contained in the certificates and comparable documents of public officials, officers and representatives of the Company and other persons on which we have relied for the purposes of this opinion set forth below are true and correct, and (vii) that the officers and directors of the Company have properly exercised their fiduciary duties. We also have obtained from the officers of the Company certificates as to certain factual matters necessary for the purpose of this opinion and, insofar as this opinion is based on such matters of fact, we have relied solely on such certificates without independent investigation.
We have also assumed that (i) the Shares and Warrants will be issued and sold as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and (ii) shares of Common Stock of the Company will remain authorized and available for issuance upon exercise of the Warrants.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing qualifications, assumptions and limitations and the further limitations set forth below, we are of the opinion that:
1. | The Shares have been duly authorized, and when issued and sold by the Company in accordance with the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, with payment received by the Company in the manner described in the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. |
2. | The shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants have been duly authorized and, when issued and sold by the Company upon valid exercise thereof and against receipt of the exercise price therefor, in accordance with and in the manner described in the Warrants, as applicable, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. |
3. | The Warrants when duly executed and delivered by the Company in accordance with the Placement Agency Agreement and Securities Purchase Agreement, as applicable, and issued, delivered and paid for, as contemplated by the Registration Statement the Placement Agency Agreement and Securities Purchase Agreement, as applicable, will constitute a valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms. |
Digital Brands Group, Inc.
August 4, 2023
Page 3
The opinions expressed in this opinion letter are limited to (i) with respect to opinion paragraphs 1 and 2, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and (ii) with respect to opinion paragraph 3, the internal laws of the State of New York. We express no opinion as to whether the laws of any jurisdiction are applicable to the subject matter hereof. This opinion is expressly limited to the matters set forth above and we render no opinion, whether by implication or otherwise, as to any other matters relating to the Company or the Common Stock. We are not rendering any opinion as to compliance with any federal or state law, rule or regulation relating to securities, or to the sale or issuance thereof.
With respect to the enforceability of the Warrants, opinion paragraph 3 above is subject to the following qualifications:
(a) the effect of applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws (including, without limitation, applicable state and federal laws relating to fraudulent or voidable transfers) and court decisions of general application, and other legal or equitable principles of general application, relating to, limiting, or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally;
(b) the discretion of any court of competent jurisdiction in awarding equitable remedies, including but not limited to specific performance or injunctive relief and limitations imposed by applicable federal or state securities laws;
(c) limitations imposed by applicable law or public policy on the enforceability of the indemnification and/or contribution provisions of the Warrants;
(d) the net impact or result of any conflict of laws between or among laws of competing jurisdictions;
(e) the unenforceability, under certain circumstances, of contractual provisions respecting various self-help or summary remedies, especially if their operation would work a substantial forfeiture or impose a substantial penalty upon the burdened party;
(f) the effects of the implied covenant of good faith, reasonableness and fair dealing and standards of immateriality, commercial reasonableness; and
(g) the enforceability of provisions to the effect that the terms thereof may not be waived or modified except in writing may be limited under certain circumstances.
We express no opinion with respect to the enforceability of (a) consents to, or restrictions upon, judicial relief or jurisdiction; (b) advance waivers of claims, defenses, rights granted by law, or notice, opportunity for hearing evidentiary requirements, statutes of limitation, or other procedural rights; (c) provisions for exclusivity, election or cumulation of rights or remedies; (d) provisions authorizing or validating conclusive or discretionary determinations; (e) provisions for the payment of attorneys’ fees where such payment is contrary to law or public policy; and (f) provisions that waive the right of a party to object to jurisdiction or venue, or to assert any defense based on lack of jurisdiction or venue; or any provision purporting to waive the right to a jury trial.
Digital Brands Group, Inc.
August 4, 2023
Page 4
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and the use of our name therein under the caption “Legal Matters.” In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are experts with respect to any part of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus within the meaning of the term “expert” as used in Section 11 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the Commission, nor we do not admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission adopted under the Securities Act.
The opinions included herein are expressed as of the date hereof unless otherwise expressly stated, and we disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes in the facts stated or assumed herein or of any subsequent changes in applicable laws.
Very truly yours, | |
/s/ Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP | |
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP |