SEC Filing | Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc.

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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 7, 2020

Registration No. 333-

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

_____________________________________

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

_____________________________________

Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware		46-0571712
(State or other jurisdiction of Incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

640 Lee Road, Suite 200

Wayne, PA 19087

_____________________________________

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

2015 Equity Incentive Plan

_____________________________________

(Full title of the plan)

Neal Walker

President and Chief Executive Officer

Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc.

640 Lee Road, Suite 200

Wayne, PA 19087

(484) 324-7933

_____________________________________

(Name and address of agent for service) (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:

Brian F. Leaf
Mark Ballantyne
Cooley LLP
11951 Freedom Drive
Reston, VA 20190-5640
(703) 456-8000

Kamil Ali-Jackson
Chief Legal Officer
Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc.
640 Lee Road, Suite 200

Wayne, PA 19087
(484) 324-7933

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	◻	Smaller reporting company	⌧
		Emerging growth company	⌧

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ⌧

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

.83
Title of Securities to be Registered	Amount to be Registered (1)	Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share (2)		Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price (2)		Amount of Registration Fee
Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share	1,451,997 shares	$	1.185	$	1,720,616.45	$	223.34

(1)Pursuant to Rule 416(a) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock that become issuable under the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2015 EIP”) set forth herein by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction effected without receipt of consideration that increases the number of outstanding shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock.

(2)Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) promulgated under the Securities Act. The proposed maximum offering price per share and the proposed maximum aggregate offering price are calculated using the average of the high and low prices of the Registrant’s Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on May 4, 2020. The chart below details the calculations of the registration fee:


Securities	Number of Shares	Offering Price Per Share (2)		Aggregate Offering Price
Additional shares reserved for future grant under the 2015 EIP	1,451,997	$	1.185 (2)	$	1,720,616.45
Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price				$	1,720,616.45
Registration Fee				$	223.34

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is being filed for the purpose of registering an additional 1,451,997 shares of Common Stock of Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. to be issued pursuant to the 2015 EIP.

PART II

ITEM 3.INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The contents of the earlier registration statement relating to the 2015 EIP, previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 15, 2015 (File No. 333-207434) are incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Registration Statement.

ITEM 8.EXHIBITS


Exhibit Number		Description
4.1	⁽¹⁾	Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant.
4.2	⁽²⁾	Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant.
4.3	⁽³⁾	Specimen stock certificate evidencing shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock.
4.4	⁽⁴⁾	2015 Equity Incentive Plan.
4.5	⁽⁵⁾	Form of Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option Agreement under 2015 Equity Incentive Plan.
4.6	⁽⁶⁾	Form of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under 2015 Equity Incentive Plan.
4.7	⁽⁷⁾	Form of Performance Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option Agreement used in connection with the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan.
4.8	⁽⁸⁾	Form of Performance Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement used in connection with the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan.
5.1		Opinion of Cooley LLP.
23.1		Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
23.2		Consent of Cooley LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1		Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Form S-8).

(1)	Previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-37581), filed with the Commission on October 13, 2015, and incorporated by reference herein.

(2)	Previously filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-37581), filed with the Commission on October 13, 2015, and incorporated by reference herein.

(3)	Previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-206437), filed with the Commission on September 25, 2015, and incorporated by reference herein.

(4)	Previously filed as Exhibit 4.6 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-207434), filed with the Commission on October 15, 2015, and incorporated by reference herein.

(5)	Previously filed as Exhibit 10.10 to Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-206437), filed with the Commission on September 25, 2015, and incorporated by reference herein.

(6)	Previously filed as Exhibit 10.11 to Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-206437), filed with the Commission on September 25, 2015, and incorporated by reference herein.

(7)	Previously filed as Exhibit 10.11 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-37581), filed with the Commission on March 18, 2019, and incorporated by reference herein.

(8)	Previously filed as Exhibit 10.12 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-37581), filed with the Commission on March 18, 2019, and incorporated by reference herein.

ITEM 9.UNDERTAKINGS

1.	The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(a)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;

(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% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.

(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;

Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(i) and (a)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

(b)That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c)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.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

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 foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission 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.

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-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Wayne, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on this 7th day of May, 2020.


			Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc.
			By:	/s/ Neal Walker
				Neal Walker
				President and Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Know All Persons By These Presents, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Neal Walker, Kamil Ali-Jackson and Frank Ruffo, and each or any one of them, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his or her substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.


Signature	Title	Date

/s/ Neal Walker Neal Walker	President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)	May 7, 2020

/s/ Frank Ruffo Frank Ruffo	Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)	May 7, 2020

/s/ Christopher Molineaux Christopher Molineaux	Chairman of the Board of Directors	May 7, 2020

/s/ Anand Mehra, M.D. Anand Mehra, M.D.	Director	May 7, 2020

/s/ William Humphries William Humphries	Director	May 7, 2020

/s/ Andrew Powell Andrew Powell	Director	May 7, 2020

/s/ Andrew Schiff Andrew Schiff	Director	May 7, 2020

/s/ Bryan Reasons	Director	May 7, 2020
Bryan Reasons	Director

/s/ Maxine Gowen	Director	May 7, 2020
Maxine Gowen	Director

/s/ Vincent Milano	Director	May 7, 2020
Vincent Milano	Director

Brian F. Leaf

T: +1 703 456 8053

bleaf@cooley.com

Exhibit 5.1

May 7, 2020

Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc.

640 Lee Road, Suite 200

Wayne, PA 19087

Ladies and Gentlemen:

You have requested our opinion, as counsel to Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the filing by the Company of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission covering the offering of up to 1,451,997 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share (the “Common Stock”), pursuant to the Company’s 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”).

In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon (a) the Registration Statement and the related prospectus, (b) the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, each as currently in effect, (c) the 2015 Plan, and (d) the originals or copies certified to our satisfaction of such records, documents, certificates, memoranda and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinion expressed below. We have assumed the genuineness and authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as copies, the accuracy, completeness and authenticity of certificates of public officials; and the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents by all persons other than the Company where authorization, execution and delivery are prerequisites to the effectiveness of such documents. As to certain factual matters, we have relied upon a certificate of an officer of the Company and have not sought independently to verify such matters.

Our opinion is expressed only with respect to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. We express no opinion to the extent that any other laws are applicable to the subject matter hereof and express no opinion and provide no assurance as to compliance with any federal or state securities law, rule or regulation.

On the basis of the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when sold and issued in accordance with the 2015 Plan, the Registration Statement and the related prospectuses, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable (except as to shares issued pursuant to certain deferred payment arrangements, which will be fully paid and nonassessable when such deferred payments are made in full).

We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

Sincerely,

Cooley LLP

By: /s/ Brian F. Leaf

Brian F. Leaf

Reston Town Center, 11951 Freedom Drive, Reston, Virginia 20190-5640 T: (703) 456-8000 www.cooley.com

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc. of our report dated February 25, 2020 relating to the financial statements, which appears in Aclaris Therapeutic, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Philadelphia, PA
May 7, 2020