Duos Technologies Group, Inc S-3/A, filed Jun 20, 2023
Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (DUOT)
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 20, 2023
Registration No. 333-272603
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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Amendment No. 1
to
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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DUOS TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Florida | 65-0493217 | |
|
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
7660 Centurion Parkway, Suite 100
Jacksonville, Florida 32256
(904) 296-2807
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Andrew W. Murphy
Duos Technologies Group, Inc.
7660 Centurion Parkway, Suite 100
Jacksonville, Florida 32256
(904) 296-2807
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
J. Thomas Cookson, Esq.
Shutts & Bowen LLP
200 South Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 4100
Miami, Florida 33131
Tel. No.: (305) 358-6300
Fax No.: (305) 347-7767
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APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: From time to time on or after the effective date of this registration statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ¨
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. þ
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective on filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨
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 | þ | Smaller reporting company | þ | |||
| Emerging growth company | ¨ |
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Duos Technologies Group, Inc. is filing this Amendment No. 1 (“Amendment No. 1”) to its Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-272603), originally filed on June 12, 2023 (the “Registration Statement”), as an exhibit-only filing solely to file the Opinion of Shutts & Bowen LLP (Exhibit 5.1) and the Consent of Shutts & Bowen LLP (Exhibit 24.1). This Amendment No. 1 consists only of the facing page, this explanatory note, Part II of the Registration Statement, the signature page to the Registration Statement, the exhibit index, and the exhibits being filed with this Amendment No. 1. Part I of the Registration Statement is unchanged and has been omitted.
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The following is an estimate of the expenses (all of which are to be paid by the registrant) that we may incur in connection with the securities being registered hereby.
| SEC registration fee | $ | 5,510 | ||||||
| FINRA filing fee | * | |||||||
| Printing expenses | * | |||||||
| Legal fees and expenses | * | |||||||
| Accounting fees and expenses | * | |||||||
| Blue Sky, qualification fees and expenses | * | |||||||
| Transfer agent fees and expenses | * | |||||||
| Trustee fees and expenses | * | |||||||
| Warrant agent fees and expenses | * | |||||||
| Miscellaneous | * | |||||||
| Total | $ | * |
| * | These fees are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time. |
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Florida law permits, under certain circumstances, the indemnification of any person with respect to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, to which such person was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party, by reason of his or her being an officer, director, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against liability incurred in connection with such proceeding, including appeals thereof; provided, however, that the officer, director, employee or agent acted in good faith and in a manner that he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The termination of any such third-party action by judgment, order, settlement, or conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent does not, of itself, create a presumption that the person (i) did not act in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation or (ii) with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. In the case of proceedings by or in the right of the corporation, Florida law permits indemnification of any person by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against liability incurred in connection with such proceeding, including appeals thereof; provided, however, that the officer, director, employee or agent acted in good faith and in a manner that he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification is made where such person is adjudged liable, unless a court of competent jurisdiction determines that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such court shall deem proper.
To the extent that such person is successful on the merits or otherwise in defending against any such proceeding, Florida law provides that he or she shall be indemnified against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection therewith.
Also, under Florida law, expenses incurred by an officer or director in defending a civil or criminal proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if he or she is ultimately found not to be entitled to indemnification by the corporation pursuant to this section. Expenses incurred by other employees and agents may be paid in advance upon such terms or conditions that the Board of Directors deems appropriate.
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Our articles of incorporation provide that we shall indemnify our officers, directors, and employees, and agents unless specifically approved in writing by the Board of Directors, to the fullest extent authorized by law, and such right to indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer of the Company and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives; provided, however, that, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Company shall not be obligated to indemnify any director or officer (or his or her heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives) in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized for consented to by the directors of the Company.
The articles of incorporation also provide that such rights of indemnification shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by us for all reasonable expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of final disposition; provided, however, that the payment of such expenses incurred by a director or officer in his or her capacity as a director or officer in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding shall be made only upon delivery to us of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such director or officer, to repay amounts so advanced if it should be determined ultimately that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.
In addition to the authority granted to us by Florida law to indemnify our directors, certain other provisions of the FBCA have the effect of further limiting the personal liability of our directors. Pursuant to Florida law, a director of a Florida corporation cannot be held personally liable for monetary damages to the corporation or any other person for any act or failure to act regarding corporate management or policy except in the case of certain qualifying breaches of the director’s duties.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act, as amended, may be permitted to our directors and officers, or to persons controlling us, pursuant to our charter documents and Florida law, we have been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and is therefore unenforceable
Item 16. Exhibits
(a) Exhibits
A list of exhibits filed with this registration statement on Form S-3 is set forth on the Exhibit Index and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 17. Undertakings
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
| (1) | To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: |
| (i) | To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; |
| (ii) | To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and |
| (iii) | To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement. |
| (2) | That for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933 each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
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| (3) | To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. |
| (4) | That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use. |
| (5) |
That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:
The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser: |
| (i) | Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; |
| (ii) | Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant; |
| (iii) | The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and |
| (iv) | Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser. |
| (6) | The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser. |
| (7) | Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 14 above, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
| (8) | The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes: |
| (1) | That for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4), or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective. |
| (2) | That for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and this offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Jacksonville, State of Florida, on June 20, 2023.
| Duos Technologies Group, Inc. | ||
| By: | /s/ Charles P. Ferry | |
| Name: Charles P. Ferry Title: Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | ||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
| Signature | Title | Date | |||
| /s/ Charles P. Ferry | Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive | June 20, 2023 | |||
| Charles P. Ferry | Officer), Director | ||||
| * | Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | June 20, 2023 | |||
| Andrew W. Murphy | |||||
| * | Chairman of the Board | June 20, 2023 | |||
| Kenneth Ehrman | |||||
| * | Director | June 20, 2023 | |||
| Ned Mavrommatis | |||||
| * | Director | June 20, 2023 | |||
| James Craig Nixon | |||||
| *By: | /s/ Charles P. Ferry | ||||
| Charles P. Ferry | |||||
| Attorney-in-Fact | |||||
| II-4 |
EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit No. | Exhibit Description | |
| 1.1 ** | Form of Underwriting Agreement | |
| 4.1 *** | Form of Indenture relating to the issuance from time to time in one or more series of debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness | |
| 4.2 ** | Form of Certificate of Designation | |
| 4.3 ** | Form of Warrant Agreement | |
| 4.4 ** | Form of Unit Agreement | |
| 5.1 * | Opinion of Shutts & Bowen LLP | |
| 23.1 *** | Consent of Salberg & Company, P.A. | |
| 24.1 * | Consent of Shutts & Bowen LLP (reference is made to Exhibit 5.1) | |
| 24.2 *** | Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Registration Statement) | |
| 25.1 **** | Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee under Indenture | |
| 107 *** | Filing Fees Table |
———————
| * | Filed herewith. |
| ** | To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a report on Form 8-K, Form 10-Q or Form 10-K pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K and incorporated herein by reference. |
| *** | Previously filed. |
| **** | To be filed in accordance with the requirements of Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules thereunder, as applicable. |
II-5
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200 South Biscayne Boulevard Suite 4100 Miami, FL 33131 DIRECT (305) 358-6300 FAX (305) 358-9982 |
June 20, 2023
7660 Centurion Boulevard, Suite 100
Jacksonville, Florida 32256
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are acting as counsel for Duos Technologies Group, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (such Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, is herein referred to as the “Registration Statement”), filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), on the date hereof, pertaining to the proposed offer and sale pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act from time to time, in one or more offerings, of the following securities (the “Securities”) having an aggregate offering price of up to $50,000,000:
| · | common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company issuable directly or in exchange for or upon conversion of Warrants (as defined below), or Preferred Stock (as defined below); |
| · | preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), of the Company issuable directly or in exchange for or upon conversion of Warrants or other Preferred Stock; |
| · | debt securities of the Company (the “Debt Securities”); |
| · | warrants of the Company (the “Warrants”) entitling the holders to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock, or other securities of the Company; |
| · | rights to purchase shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock (the “Rights”); and |
| · | units (the “Units”) comprised of any combination of other Securities offered in the Registration Statement. |
The Common Stock is to be issued under the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended (the “Certificate of Incorporation”). Each series of Preferred Stock is to be issued under the Certificate of Incorporation and a certificate of designation (a “Certificate of Designation”) to be approved by the board of directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors”) or a committee thereof and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Florida (the “Florida Secretary of State”) in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida (the “Florida Statutes”). The Debt Securities may be issued pursuant to a senior debt indenture (the “Senior Debt Indenture”) between the Company and the trustee to be named therein (the “Senior Debt Trustee”) or a subordinated debt indenture (the “Subordinated Debt Indenture,” and together with the Senior Debt Indenture, the “Indentures”) between the Company and the trustee to be named therein (the “Subordinated Debt Trustee” and, together with the Senior Debt Trustee, the “Trustees”). The Warrants are to be issued under one or more warrant agreements in a form to be filed and incorporated into the Registration Statement, with appropriate insertions (each, a “Warrant Agreement”), to be entered into by the Company, a warrant agent to be named by the Company (the “Warrant Agent”), and the holders from time to time of the Warrants. The Units are to be issued under one or more unit agreements in a form to be filed and incorporated into the Registration Statement, with appropriate insertions (each, a “Unit Agreement”), to be entered into by the Company and the unit agent named therein. The Rights are to be issued under one or more rights agent agreements in a form to be filed and incorporated into the Registration Statement, with appropriate insertions (each, a “Rights Agreement”), to be entered into by the Company and a bank, trust company or other financial institution to be identified therein as rights agents. The Certificate of Incorporation, each Certificate of Designation, each Warrant Agreement, each Unit Agreement, and each Rights Agreement are referred to herein individually as a “Governing Document” and collectively as the “Governing Documents.”
June 20, 2023
Page 2
As part of the corporate actions taken and to be taken in connection with issuance of any Securities to be issued and sold from time to time under the Registration Statement, the Board of Directors, a committee thereof or certain authorized officers of the Company as authorized by the Board of Directors will, before such Securities are issued under the Registration Statement, duly authorize the issuance and approve the terms of such Securities (the “Corporate Proceedings”).
You have provided us with a draft prospectus (the “Prospectus”) that is a part of the Registration Statement. The Prospectus provides that it will be supplemented in the future by one or more supplements thereto (each, a “Prospectus Supplement”) in connection with each offering of Securities. This opinion is being furnished in connection with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement, other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the issuance of the Securities. It is understood that the opinions set forth below are to be used only in connection with the offer while the Registration Statement is in effect.
In our capacity as your counsel in connection with such registration, we have reviewed and are familiar with such documents, certificates, Corporate Proceedings and other materials, including an examination of originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of the Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws of the Company, Governing Documents and the Registration Statement (collectively, the “Constituent Documents”), and have reviewed such questions of law, as we have considered relevant or necessary as a basis for this opinion.
In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies. For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed that proper proceedings in connection with the authorization and issuance or sale of the Securities will be timely and properly completed, in accordance with all requirements of applicable federal laws and the Florida Statutes, in the manner presently proposed. We have assumed and have not verified the accuracy of the factual matters of each document we have reviewed.
As to facts material to the opinions, statements and assumptions expressed herein, we have, with your consent, relied upon oral or written statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others. In addition, we have obtained and relied upon such certificates and assurances from public officials as we have deemed necessary.
With respect to the Securities to be offered and sold by the Company, we have also assumed that (a) the Registration Statement shall have become and remain effective under the Securities Act, a Prospectus Supplement shall have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the Securities, and such Securities shall have been issued and sold in accordance with the terms set forth in such Prospectus Supplement; (b) such Securities, as issued and delivered, comply with any requirements and restrictions imposed by any court or governmental or regulatory body applicable to the Company; (c) at the time of any offering or sale of any Securities, there shall be a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, authorized and unissued under the Certificate, and not otherwise reserved for issuance, except in connection with the issuance of the Securities; (d) at the time of issuance or sale of the Securities, the Company shall validly exist and shall be in good standing under the laws of the State of Florida, and, in the case of Securities, the Company shall have the necessary corporate power for such issuance; (e) any definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement with respect to any Securities, if applicable, shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto and shall constitute legally valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto, enforceable against each of them in accordance with their respective terms, at the time of issuance of the applicable Securities; (f) certificates representing the Securities, if any, shall have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered, or if uncertificated, valid book-entry notations shall have been made in the share or other register of the Company, in each case in accordance with the Constituent Documents, and in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and/or the applicable Prospectus Supplement, against payment therefor in an amount not less than the par value thereof, or such other consideration determined by the Board of Directors, or an authorized committee thereof, as permitted under the Florida Statutes, in accordance with the provisions of any applicable definitive purchase agreement, underwriting agreement, or similar agreement approved by the Company; and (g) the Constituent Documents shall be in full force and effect and shall not have been amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise altered, and there shall be no authorization of any such amendment, restatement, supplement or alteration, in each case since the date hereof.
Duos Technologies Group, Inc.
June 20, 2023
Page 3
Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, it is our opinion that as of the date hereof:
| 1. | With respect to any Common Stock, upon (a) the completion of all required Corporate Proceedings with respect to the issuance of such Common Stock, (b) the due execution, registration of issuance and delivery of certificates representing such Common Stock against payment of the purchase price therefor in accordance with the applicable purchase, underwriting or other agreement, and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, and (c) receipt by the Company of the consideration therefor, such Common Stock will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. The Common Stock covered in the opinion in this paragraph includes any shares of Common Stock that may be issued upon exercise, conversion or exchange pursuant to the terms of any other Securities. |
| 2. | With respect to any Preferred Stock, upon (a) the completion of all required Corporate Proceedings with respect to the issuance and terms of such Preferred Stock, (b) the due authorization, execution, acknowledgment, delivery and filing with, and recording by, the Florida Secretary of State of a Certificate of Designation in respect of such Preferred Stock, (c) the due execution, registration of issuance and delivery of certificates representing such Preferred Stock against payment of the purchase price therefor in accordance with the applicable purchase, underwriting or other agreement, and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, and (d) receipt by the Company of the consideration therefor, such Preferred Stock will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. The Preferred Stock covered in the opinion in this paragraph includes any shares of Preferred Stock that may be issued upon exercise, conversion or exchange pursuant to the terms of any other Securities. |
| 3. | With respect to any Debt Securities, upon (a) the completion of all required Corporate Proceedings with respect to the issuance of such Debt Securities, (b) the due execution, registration of issuance and delivery of the Debt Securities and the applicable Indenture relating to the Debt Securities representing such Debt Securities against payment of the purchase price therefor in accordance with the applicable purchase, underwriting or other agreement, and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, and (c) receipt by the Company of the consideration therefor, such Debt Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company. |
| 4. | With respect to any Warrants, upon (a) the completion of all required Corporate Proceedings relating to the terms and issuance of the Warrants, (b) the due authorization, execution and delivery of a Warrant Agreement, (c) the preparation and due execution and delivery of the related Warrants against payment of the purchase price therefor in accordance with the applicable purchase, underwriting or other agreement, and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, (d) the due authentication of the related Warrants by the Warrant Agent, and (e) receipt by the Company of the consideration therefor, such Warrants will be valid and binding obligations of the Company. The Warrants covered in the opinion in this paragraph include any Warrants that may be issued upon exercise, conversion or exchange pursuant to the terms of any other Securities. |
| 5. | With respect to any Rights, upon (a) the completion of all required Corporate Proceedings relating to the terms and issuance of the Rights, (b) the due authorization, execution and delivery of a Rights Agreement against payment of the purchase price therefor in accordance with the applicable purchase, underwriting or other agreement, and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, (c) the shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, underlying such Rights having been deposited with the applicable rights agent, and (d) receipt by the Company of the consideration therefor, such Rights Agreement will be a valid and binding obligation of the Company and the Rights will be valid and binding obligations of the Company. The Rights covered in the opinion in this paragraph include any Rights that may be issued upon exercise, conversion or exchange pursuant to the terms of any other Securities. |
Duos Technologies Group, Inc.
June 20, 2023
Page 4
| 6. | With respect to any Units, upon (a) the completion of all required Corporate Proceedings relating to the terms and issuance of the Units, (b) the due authorization, execution and delivery of a Unit Agreement against payment of the purchase price therefor in accordance with the applicable purchase, underwriting or other agreement, and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, (c) the Securities underlying such Units having been deposited with the applicable unit agent, and (d) receipt by the Company of the consideration therefor such Unit Agreement will be a valid and binding obligation of the Company and the Units will be valid and binding obligations of the Company. The Units covered in the opinion in this paragraph include any Units that may be issued upon exercise, conversion or exchange pursuant to the terms of any other Securities. |
The opinions set forth above are subject to the following exceptions, limitations and qualifications: (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors; (ii) the effect of general principles of equity, including without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief, regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law, and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought; (iii) the unenforceability under certain circumstances under law or court decisions of provisions providing for the indemnification of, or contribution to, a party with respect to liability where such indemnification or contribution is contrary to public policy. We express no opinion concerning the enforceability of any waiver of rights or defenses with respect to stay, extension or usury laws. Our opinion expressed herein is also subject to the qualification that no term or provision hereof shall be included in: (a) the Certificate of Designation relating to any series of the Preferred Stock, (b) the Indenture, (c) the Warrant Agreement, (d) the Unit Agreement, (e) the Rights Agreement, or (f) any other agreement or instrument pursuant to which any of the Securities are to be issued that would affect the validity of such opinion.
Our opinion is limited to the federal laws of the United States and the Florida Statutes. We express no opinion as to the effect of the law of any other jurisdiction. Our opinion is rendered as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to advise you of changes in law or fact (or the effect thereof on the opinions expressed herein) that hereafter may come to our attention.
This opinion letter is furnished in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement and may not be relied upon for any other purpose without our prior written consent in each instance. Further, no portion of this letter may be quoted, circulated or referred to in any other document for any other purpose without our prior written consent.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement. In so doing, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
| Very truly yours, | |
| /s/ Shutts & Bowen LLP |