| SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION | |
| Washington, D.C. 20549 | |
| SCHEDULE 13G | |
| Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 | |
| (Amendment No. __)* | |
|
Canadian Solar Inc. | |
| (Name of Issuer) | |
|
Common Shares, no par value | |
| (Title of Class of Securities) | |
|
136635109 | |
| (CUSIP Number) | |
|
August 16, 2013 | |
| (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This Statement) | |
| Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed: | |
| ¨ | Rule 13d-1(b) |
| x | Rule 13d-1(c) |
| ¨ | Rule 13d-1(d) |
| (Page 1 of 15 Pages) | |
______________________________
*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. 136635109 | 13G | Page 2 of 15 Pages |
| 1 |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON Ardsley Partners Fund II, L.P. | |||
| 2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
(a) x (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 861,600 Common Shares | |||
| 7 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 | |||
| 8 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 861,600 Common Shares | |||
| 9 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 861,600 Common Shares | |||
| 10 | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES | ¨ | ||
| 11 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 1.9% | |||
| 12 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON PN | |||
| CUSIP No. 136635109 | 13G | Page 3 of 15 Pages |
| 1 |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON Ardsley Partners Institutional Fund, L.P. | |||
| 2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
(a) x (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 713,400 Common Shares | |||
| 7 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 | |||
| 8 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 713,400 Common Shares | |||
| 9 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 713,400 Common Shares | |||
| 10 | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES | ¨ | ||
| 11 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 1.5% | |||
| 12 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON PN | |||
| CUSIP No. 136635109 | 13G | Page 4 of 15 Pages |
| 1 |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON Ardsley Partners Renewable Energy Fund, L.P. | |||
| 2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
(a) x (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 500,000 Common Shares | |||
| 7 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 | |||
| 8 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 500,000 Common Shares | |||
| 9 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 500,000 Common Shares | |||
| 10 | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES | ¨ | ||
| 11 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 1.1% | |||
| 12 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON PN | |||
| CUSIP No. 136635109 | 13G | Page 5 of 15 Pages |
| 1 |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON Ardsley Advisory Partners | |||
| 2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
(a) x (b) ¨ | ||
| 3 | SEC USE ONLY | |||
| 4 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION New York | |||
| NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH: |
5 |
SOLE VOTING POWER 0 | ||
| 6 |
SHARED VOTING POWER 2,075,000 Common Shares | |||
| 7 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 | |||
| 8 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 2,075,000 Common Shares | |||
| 9 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 2,075,000 Common Shares | |||
| 10 | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES | ¨ | ||
| 11 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 4.5% | |||
| 12 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON PN; IA | |||
| CUSIP No. 136635109 | 13G | Page 6 of 15 Pages |
| 1 |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON Ardsley Partners I | |||
| 2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
(a) x (b) ¨ | ||
| 3 | SEC USE ONLY | |||
| 4 |
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION New York | |||
| NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH: |
5 |
SOLE VOTING POWER 0 | ||
| 6 |
SHARED VOTING POWER 2,075,000 Common Shares | |||
| 7 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 | |||
| 8 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 2,075,000 Common Shares | |||
| 9 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 2,075,000 Common Shares | |||
| 10 | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES | ¨ | ||
| 11 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 4.5% | |||
| 12 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON PN | |||
| CUSIP No. 136635109 | 13G | Page 7 of 15 Pages |
| 1 |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSON Philip J. Hempleman | |||
| 2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP |
(a) x (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 2,438,844 Common Shares | |||
| 7 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 | |||
| 8 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 2,438,844 Common Shares | |||
| 9 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 2,438,844 Common Shares | |||
| 10 | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES | ¨ | ||
| 11 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 5.3% | |||
| 12 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON IN | |||
| CUSIP No. 136635109 | 13G | Page 8 of 15 Pages |
| Item 1(a). | NAME OF ISSUER |
| The name of the issuer is Canadian Solar Inc. (the "Company"). | |
| Item 1(b). | ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES |
| The Company's principal executive offices are located at 545 Speedvale Avenue, West Guelph, Ontario N1K 1E6. | |
| Item 2(a). | NAME OF PERSON FILING | |
| This statement is filed by: | ||
| (i) | Ardsley Partners Fund II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("AP II"), with respect to the Common Shares (as defined in Item 2(d) below) directly owned by it; | |
| (ii) | Ardsley Partners Institutional Fund, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("Ardsley Institutional"), with respect to the Common Shares directly owned by it; | |
| (iii) | Ardsley Partners Renewable Energy Fund, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("Ardsley Energy"), with respect to the Common Shares directly owned by it; | |
| (iv) | Ardsley Advisory Partners, a New York general partnership ("Ardsley") which serves as Investment Adviser of AP II, Ardsley Institutional and Ardsley Energy, with respect to the Common Shares directly owned by AP II, Ardsley Institutional and Ardsley Energy; | |
| (v) | Ardsley Partners I, a New York general partnership ("Ardsley Partners") which serves as General Partner of AP II, Ardsley Institutional and Ardsley Energy, with respect to the Common Shares owned by AP II, Ardsley Institutional and Ardsley Energy; and | |
| (vi) | Philip J. Hempleman ("Mr. Hempleman"), the Managing Partner of Ardsley and Ardsley Partners, with respect to the Common Shares owned by AP II, Ardsley Institutional, Ardsley Energy and with respect to the Common Shares owned by certain accounts managed by him directly. | |
| The foregoing persons are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the "Reporting Persons." Any disclosures herein with respect to persons other than the Reporting Persons are made on information and belief after making inquiry to the appropriate party. The filing of this statement should not be construed as an admission that any of the Reporting Persons is, for the purposes of Section 13(d) of the Act, the beneficial owner of the Common Shares reported herein. | ||
| Item 2(b). | ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE OR, IF NONE, RESIDENCE |
| The address of the business office of each of the Reporting Persons is 262 Harbor Drive, Stamford, Connecticut 06902. | |
| CUSIP No. 136635109 | 13G | Page 9 of 15 Pages |
| Item 2(c). | CITIZENSHIP |
| AP II, Ardsley Institutional and Ardsley Energy are Delaware limited partnerships. Ardsley and Ardsley Partners are New York general partnerships. Mr. Hempleman is a United States citizen. | |
| Item 2(d). | TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES |
| Common Shares, no par value (the "Common Shares") | |
| Item 2(e). | CUSIP NUMBER |
| 136635109 | |
| Item 3. | IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO Rules 13d-1(b), OR 13d-2(b) OR (c), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A: |
| (a) | ¨ | Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act; | |
| (b) | ¨ | Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act; | |
| (c) | ¨ | Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act; | |
| (d) | ¨ | Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940; | |
| (e) | ¨ | An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E); | |
| (f) | ¨ | An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F); | |
| (g) | ¨ | A parent holding company or control person in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G); | |
| (h) | ¨ | A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act; | |
| (i) | ¨ | A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act; | |
| (j) | ¨ | A non-U.S. institution in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J); | |
| (k) | ¨ | Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K). |
|
If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution: _________________________________ |
| CUSIP No. 136635109 | 13G | Page 10 of 15 Pages |
| Item 4. | OWNERSHIP |
| The information required by Items 4(a) – (c) is set forth in Rows 5-11 of the cover page for each Reporting Person hereto and is incorporated herein by reference for each Reporting Person. | |
| The percentages used in this Schedule 13G are calculated based upon 46,133,864 Common Shares reported to be outstanding as of August 13, 2013 in the Company's Rule 424(b)(5) Prospectus filed on August 15, 2013 after the consummation of the transactions reported therein. The percentages used herein and in the rest of the Schedule 13G are based upon such number of Common Shares outstanding. |
| 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 |
|
Ardsley, the Investment Adviser of AP II, Ardsley Institutional and Ardsley Energy, has the power to vote and direct the disposition of the proceeds from the sale of the Common Shares owned by AP II, Ardsley Institutional and Ardsley Energy, and accordingly may be considered to be the direct "beneficial owner" of such Common Shares. Ardsley Partners, the General Partner of AP II, Ardsley Institutional and Ardsley Energy, shares the power to vote and direct the disposition of the Common Shares owned by AP II, Ardsley Institutional and Ardsley Energy, and accordingly, may be considered to be the direct "beneficial owner" of such Common Shares. Mr. Hempleman is the Managing Partner of Ardsley and Ardsley Partners and in that capacity directs their operations and therefore may be considered to be the indirect "beneficial owner" of the Common Shares owned by AP II, Ardsley Institutional, Ardsley Energy and certain accounts managed by him directly. Mr. Hempleman disclaims beneficial ownership of all of the Common Shares reported in this 13G. | |
| 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. | |
| CUSIP No. 136635109 | 13G | Page 11 of 15 Pages |
| Item 10. | CERTIFICATION |
| Each of the Reporting Persons hereby makes the following certification: | |
| By signing below each Reporting Person certifies that, to the best of his or its 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 that purpose or effect. |
| CUSIP No. 136635109 | 13G | Page 12 of 15 Pages |
SIGNATURES
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of his or its knowledge and belief, each of the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
DATE: August 19, 2013
| ARDSLEY PARTNERS FUND II, L.P. | ||
| BY: ARDSLEY PARTNERS I, | ||
| GENERAL PARTNER | ||
| BY: | /s/ Steve Napoli | |
| Steve Napoli | ||
| General Partner | ||
| ARDSLEY PARTNERS INSTITUTIONAL FUND, L.P. | ||
| BY: ARDSLEY PARTNERS I, | ||
| GENERAL PARTNER | ||
| BY: | /s/ Steve Napoli | |
| Steve Napoli | ||
| General Partner | ||
| ARDSLEY PARTNERS RENEWABLE ENERGY FUND, L.P. | ||
| BY: ARDSLEY PARTNERS I, | ||
| GENERAL PARTNER | ||
| BY: | /s/ Steve Napoli | |
| Steve Napoli | ||
| General Partner | ||
| ARDSLEY ADVISORY PARTNERS | ||
| BY: | /s/ Steve Napoli | |
| Steve Napoli | ||
| Partner | ||
| CUSIP No. 136635109 | 13G | Page 13 of 15 Pages |
| ARDSLEY PARTNERS I | ||
| BY: | /s/ Steve Napoli | |
| Steve Napoli | ||
| General Partner | ||
| PHILIP J. HEMPLEMAN, INDIVIDUALLY | ||
| BY: | /s/ Steve Napoli* | |
| Steve Napoli | ||
| As attorney in fact for | ||
| Philip J. Hempleman | ||
| * Evidence of Power of Attorney was filed with the Schedule 13G/A filed on February 15, 2006 (Acc-no: 0000902664-06-000895) and is incorporated by reference into this filing. | ||
| CUSIP No. 136635109 | 13G | Page 14 of 15 Pages |
EXHIBIT 1
JOINT FILING AGREEMENT
PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-1(k)
The undersigned acknowledge and agree that the foregoing statement on Schedule 13G is filed on behalf of each of the undersigned and that all subsequent amendments to this statement on Schedule 13G shall be filed on behalf of each of the undersigned without the necessity of filing additional joint filing agreements. The undersigned acknowledge that each shall be responsible for the timely filing of such amendments, and for the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning him or it contained herein and therein, but shall not be responsible for the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning the others, except to the extent that he or it knows or has reason to believe that such information is inaccurate.
DATE: August 19, 2013
| ARDSLEY PARTNERS FUND II, L.P. | ||
| BY: ARDSLEY PARTNERS I, | ||
| GENERAL PARTNER | ||
| BY: | /s/ Steve Napoli | |
| Steve Napoli | ||
| General Partner | ||
| ARDSLEY PARTNERS INSTITUTIONAL FUND, L.P. | ||
| BY: ARDSLEY PARTNERS I, | ||
| GENERAL PARTNER | ||
| BY: | /s/ Steve Napoli | |
| Steve Napoli | ||
| General Partner | ||
| ARDSLEY PARTNERS RENEWABLE ENERGY FUND, L.P. | ||
| BY: ARDSLEY PARTNERS I, | ||
| GENERAL PARTNER | ||
| BY: | /s/ Steve Napoli | |
| Steve Napoli | ||
| General Partner | ||
| CUSIP No. 136635109 | 13G | Page 15 of 15 Pages |
| ARDSLEY ADVISORY PARTNERS | ||
| BY: | /s/ Steve Napoli | |
| Steve Napoli | ||
| Partner | ||
| ARDSLEY PARTNERS I | ||
| BY: | /s/ Steve Napoli | |
| Steve Napoli | ||
| General Partner | ||
| PHILIP J. HEMPLEMAN, INDIVIDUALLY | ||
| BY: | /s/ Steve Napoli* | |
| Steve Napoli | ||
| As attorney in fact for | ||
| Philip J. Hempleman | ||
| * Evidence of Power of Attorney was filed with the Schedule 13G/A filed on February 15, 2006 (Acc-no: 0000902664-06-000895) and is incorporated by reference into this filing. | ||