February 8, 2024
Nuwellis, Inc.
12988 Valley View Road
Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344
Re:
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Registration Statement on Form S-1
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Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Nuwellis, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-276562) dated January 17, 2024 (as the same may be amended from
time to time, the “Registration Statement”), relating to the offer and sale of: (i) up to 16,666,666 units (“Units”), consisting of (A) 16,666,666 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common
Stock”), (B) 16,666,666 Series A warrants (the “Series A Warrants”) to purchase up to 16,666,666 shares of Common
Stock, and (C) 16,666,666 Series B warrants (the “Series B Warrants”) to purchase up to 16,666,666 shares of Common Stock;
(ii) for some purchasers, in lieu of Units, up to 16,666,666 pre-funded units (the “Pre-Funded Units”), consisting of (A)
16,666,666 pre-funded warrants (the “Pre-Funded Warrants” and together with the Series A Warrants and the Series B
Warrants, the “Warrants”) to purchase up to 16,666,666 shares of Common Stock, (B) 16,666,666 Series A Warrants to purchase
up to 16,666,666 shares of Common Stock, and (C) 16,666,666 Series B Warrants to purchase up to 16,666,666 shares of Common Stock; and (iii) up to 49,999,998 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Series A Warrants, the Series B
Warrants and the Pre-Funded Warrants (collectively, the “Warrant Shares”). The Warrants are being issued pursuant to the
terms of that certain warrant agency agreement (the “Warrant Agency Agreement”) to be entered into by and among the Company
and Equiniti Trust Company, LLC (the “Warrant Agent”) , the form of which Warrant Agency Agreement has been filed as
Exhibit 4.18 to the Registration Statement.
The Units and the Pre-Funded Units, including the Shares and Warrants comprising such Units and Pre-Funded Units, are to be sold by
the Company as described in the Registration Statement and pursuant to a placement agency agreement (the “Placement Agency
Agreement”) to be entered into by and between the Company, Lake Street Capital Markets, LLC and Maxim Group LLC, the form of which has been, or will be, filed as Exhibit 1.1 to the Registration Statement. We have assumed that the sale
of the Units and Pre-Funded Units, including the Shares and Warrants comprising such Units and Pre-Funded Units, as described in the Registration Statement, the exercise price of the Warrants, will be at prices established by the Board of
Directors of the Company or a duly-formed Pricing Committee thereof no less than the minimum prices authorized by the Board of Directors as of the date hereof, in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law. We have also assumed that,
(i) the Warrant Shares will be properly delivered to the persons exercising the Warrants, and (ii) at the time of exercise of the Warrants, the consideration for the issuance and sale of the Warrant Shares in connection with such exercise is an
amount that is not less than the par value of the Common Stock.
For the purpose of rendering this opinion, we examined originals or copies of such documents as we deemed relevant. In conducting
our examination, we assumed, without investigation, the genuineness of all signatures, the correctness of all certificates, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents
submitted as certified or photostatic copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such copies, and the accuracy and completeness of all records made available to us by the Company, including, but not limited to, the Certificate of
Incorporation, the Warrants, the Placement Agency Agreement and the Warrant Agency Agreement. In addition, in rendering this opinion, we have assumed that the Units and Pre-Funded Units (including the Shares and Warrants included in the Units
and Pre-Funded Units) and the Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, will be offered in the manner and on the terms identified or referred to in the Registration Statement, including all supplements and amendments thereto, the
Placement Agency Agreement and the Warrant Agency Agreement. As to various questions of fact material to such opinions, we have relied upon statements or certificates of officials and representatives of the Company and others.
February 8, 2024
Page 2
Our opinions are limited solely to matters set forth herein. The law covered by the opinions expressed herein is limited to New
York law applicable to contracts and the Delaware General Corporate Law. We express no opinion as to whether the laws of any particular jurisdiction are applicable to the subject matter hereof. We are not rendering any opinion with respect to
federal law, including federal securities laws, or state blue sky securities laws.
With regard to our opinions concerning the Warrants, constituting valid and binding obligations of the Company:
1. Our opinions are subject to, and may be
limited by, (a) applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent transfer, voidable transaction, fraudulent conveyance, debtor and creditor, and other laws which relate to or affect creditors’ rights generally, and
(b) general principles of equity (including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing) regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
2. Our opinions are subject to the
qualification that the availability of specific performance, an injunction or other equitable remedies is subject to the discretion of the court before which the request is brought.
3. We express no opinion as to any
provision of the Warrants that: (a) provides for liquidated damages, buy-in damages, monetary penalties, prepayment or make-whole payments or other economic remedies to the extent such provisions may constitute unlawful penalties, (b) relates
to advance waivers of claims, defenses, rights granted by law, or notice, opportunity for hearing, evidentiary requirements, statutes of limitations, trial by jury, or procedural rights, (c) restricts non-written modifications and waivers,
(d) provides for the payment of legal and other professional fees where such payment is contrary to law or public policy, (e) relates to exclusivity, election or accumulation of rights or remedies, (f) authorizes or validates conclusive or
discretionary determinations, or (g) provides that provisions of the Warrants are severable to the extent an essential part of the agreed exchange is determined to be invalid and unenforceable.
4. We express no opinion as to whether a
state court outside of the State of New York or a federal court of the United States would give effect to the choice of New York law or jurisdiction provided for in the Warrants.
Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
1. When the Warrants covered by the
Registration Statement have been offered, sold, issued, duly executed and delivered by the Company as described in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus and in accordance with, and in the manner set forth in, the Placement
Agency Agreement and the terms of the Warrants and the Warrant Agency Agreement (including, without limitation, the payment in full of all applicable consideration therefor), against payment therefor, such Warrants will constitute binding
obligations of the Company.
2. The Common Stock covered by the
Registration Statement and issuable upon exercise of the Warrants included in the Units and Pre-Funded Units, when they and such Warrants are offered, sold, issued and delivered by the Company as described in the Registration Statement and
related prospectus and in accordance with, and in the manner set forth in, the Warrants, the Placement Agency Agreement and the Warrant Agency Agreement, including without limitation, the payment in full of all applicable consideration
thereof, against payment therefor, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
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 giving such consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the
Commission. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof, 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 law.
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/s/ Honigman LLP
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Honigman LLP
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PDT/JMH/EAAL/JPK/GSWA