SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 13G

 

 

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

 

 

Common Stock, par value $0.00001

(Title of Class of Securities)

 

 

00461U105

(CUSIP Number)

 

 

October 22, 2018

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

 

Check the following box to designate the rule pursuant to which the Schedule is filed:

 

¨Rule 13d-1(b)
xRule 13d-1(c)
¨Rule 13d-1(d)

 

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

 

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

 

 

 

 

 

 

CUSIP No. 00461U105

 

  1.

Names of Reporting Persons

I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only)

D. E. Shaw & Co., L.L.C.

13-3799946

 

  2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
    (a) [     ]
   

(b)

 

[     ]
  3.

SEC Use Only

 

  4.

Citizenship or Place of Organization

Delaware

 

Number of

Shares

Beneficially

Owned by

Each

Reporting

Person With

5.

Sole Voting Power

 

 

-0-

      6.

Shared Voting Power

2,049,462

 

      7.

Sole Dispositive Power

-0-

 

      8.

Shared Dispositive Power

2,049,462

 

  9.

Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

2,049,462

 

  10.

Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) [     ]

 

  11.

Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)

5.0%

 

  12.

Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

OO

 

 

 

 

CUSIP No. 00461U105

 

  1.

Names of Reporting Persons

I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only)

D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.

13-3695715

 

  2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
    (a) [     ]
   

(b)

 

[     ]
  3.

SEC Use Only

 

  4.

Citizenship or Place of Organization

Delaware

 

Number of

Shares

Beneficially

Owned by

Each

Reporting

Person With

5.

Sole Voting Power

 

 

-0-

      6.

Shared Voting Power

2,049,462

 

      7.

Sole Dispositive Power

-0-

 

      8.

Shared Dispositive Power

2,049,462

 

  9.

Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

2,049,462

 

  10.

Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) [     ]

 

  11.

Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)

5.0%

 

  12.

Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

IA, PN

 

 

 

 

CUSIP No. 00461U105

 

  1.

Names of Reporting Persons

I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only)

David E. Shaw

 

  2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
    (a) [     ]
   

(b)

 

[     ]
  3.

SEC Use Only

 

  4.

Citizenship or Place of Organization

United States

 

Number of

Shares

Beneficially

Owned by

Each

Reporting

Person With

5.

Sole Voting Power

 

 

-0-

      6.

Shared Voting Power

2,049,462

 

      7.

Sole Dispositive Power

-0-

 

      8.

Shared Dispositive Power

2,049,462

 

  9.

Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

2,049,462

 

  10.

Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) [     ]

 

  11.

Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)

5.0%

 

  12.

Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

IN

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.
  (a) Name of Issuer
    Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc.
 

 

(b)

 

Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices

   

640 Lee Road, Suite 200

Wayne, PA 19087

   
Item 2.
  (a) Name of Person Filing
   

D. E. Shaw & Co., L.L.C.
D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.

David E. Shaw

   
  (b) Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence
   

The business address for each reporting person is:

1166 Avenue of the Americas, 9th Floor

New York, NY 10036

 

 

(c)

 

Citizenship

   

D. E. Shaw & Co., L.L.C. is a limited liability company organized under the laws of the state of Delaware.
D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P. is a limited partnership organized under the laws of the state of Delaware.

David E. Shaw is a citizen of the United States of America.

 

 

(d)

 

Title of Class of Securities

    Common Stock, par value $0.00001
 

 

(e)

 

CUSIP Number

    00461U105

 

Item 3.

 

If this statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b) or 13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:

 

Not Applicable

 

Item 4.

Ownership

 

As of October 22, 2018:

 

(a)Amount beneficially owned:
     
  D. E. Shaw & Co., L.L.C.:

2,049,462 shares

This is composed of (i) 1,319,847 shares in the name of D. E. Shaw Valence Portfolios, L.L.C., (ii) 729,146 shares in the name of D. E. Shaw Oculus Portfolios, L.L.C., and (iii) 469 shares in the name of D. E. Shaw Asymptote Portfolios, L.L.C.

 

 

D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.:

 

 

2,049,462 shares

This is composed of (i) 1,319,847 shares in the name of D. E. Shaw Valence Portfolios, L.L.C., (ii) 729,146 shares in the name of D. E. Shaw Oculus Portfolios, L.L.C., and (iii) 469 shares in the name of D. E. Shaw Asymptote Portfolios, L.L.C.

 

 

David E. Shaw:

 

2,049,462 shares

This is composed of (i) 1,319,847 shares in the name of D. E. Shaw Valence Portfolios, L.L.C., (ii) 729,146 shares in the name of D. E. Shaw Oculus Portfolios, L.L.C., and (iii) 469 shares in the name of D. E. Shaw Asymptote Portfolios, L.L.C.

 

 

 

 

(b)Percent of class:
  D. E. Shaw & Co., L.L.C.: 5.0%
  D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.: 5.0%
  David E. Shaw: 5.0%


(c)Number of shares to which the person has:
(i)Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
  D. E. Shaw & Co., L.L.C.: -0- shares
  D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.: -0- shares
  David E. Shaw: -0- shares

 

(ii)Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
  D. E. Shaw & Co., L.L.C.: 2,049,462 shares
  D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.: 2,049,462 shares
  David E. Shaw: 2,049,462 shares

 

(iii)Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
  D. E. Shaw & Co., L.L.C.: -0- shares
  D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.: -0- shares
  David E. Shaw: -0- shares

 

(iv)Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
  D. E. Shaw & Co., L.L.C.: 2,049,462 shares
  D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.: 2,049,462 shares
  David E. Shaw: 2,049,462 shares

 

David E. Shaw does not own any shares directly. By virtue of David E. Shaw’s position as President and sole shareholder of D. E. Shaw & Co., Inc., which is the general partner of D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P., which in turn is the investment adviser of D. E. Shaw Valence Portfolios, L.L.C. and D. E. Shaw Oculus Portfolios, L.L.C. and the managing member of D. E. Shaw Adviser, L.L.C., which in turn is the investment adviser of D. E. Shaw Asymptote Portfolios, L.L.C., and by virtue of David E. Shaw’s position as President and sole shareholder of D. E. Shaw & Co. II, Inc., which is the managing member of D. E. Shaw & Co., L.L.C., which in turn is the manager of D. E. Shaw Valence Portfolios, L.L.C. and D. E. Shaw Oculus Portfolios, L.L.C. and the managing member of D. E. Shaw Manager, L.L.C., which in turn is the manager of D. E. Shaw Asymptote Portfolios, L.L.C., David E. Shaw may be deemed to have the shared power to vote or direct the vote of, and the shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of, the 2,049,462 shares as described above constituting 5.0% of the outstanding shares and, therefore, David E. Shaw may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of such shares. David E. Shaw disclaims beneficial ownership of such 2,049,462 shares.

 

Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class

Not Applicable

 

Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

Not Applicable

 

Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company or Control Person.

Not Applicable

 

Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group

Not Applicable

 

Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group

Not Applicable

 

Item 10. Certification

By signing below, each of D. E. Shaw & Co., L.L.C., D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P., and David E. Shaw certify that, to the best of such reporting person’s knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purposes or effect.

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of their knowledge and belief, the undersigned certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Powers of Attorney, dated March 1, 2017, granted by David E. Shaw in favor of Nathan Thomas, are attached hereto.

 

Dated: November 1, 2018

 

  D. E. Shaw & Co., L.L.C.
   
  By: /s/ Nathan Thomas
    Nathan Thomas
   

Authorized Signatory

     

 

  D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P.
   
  By: /s/ Nathan Thomas
    Nathan Thomas
    Chief Compliance Officer
     

 

  David E. Shaw
   
  By: /s/ Nathan Thomas
    Nathan Thomas
    Attorney-in-Fact for David E. Shaw