Bare Escentuals, Shiseido Complete Merger

Ropes & Gray represented Bare Escentuals, the San Francisco-based innovator in mineral-based cosmetics, in its recently completed $1.7 billion merger with the Japan-based global cosmetics company Shiseido. Ropes & Gray’s representation included the M&A work on the deal, in which Shiseido placed a 42 percent premium on Bare Escentuals. Ropes & Gray litigators also won dismissal of suits filed by Bare Escentuals’ shareholder groups attempting to block the deal. The two companies announced on March 14 they had completed the transaction. Partner David Chapin led the M&A team and partner John Donovan led the litigation team.