Finance
After long courtship, Versace becomes part of Prada
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on December 2, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Global Banking & Finance Review®
Company
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on December 2, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Prada has completed the acquisition of Versace for 1.3 billion euros, marking a strategic shift. Lorenzo Bertelli will lead Versace post-integration.
By Elisa Anzolin
MILAN, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Prada said on Tuesday it had completed the acquisition of smaller Italian rival Versace, a brand the luxury group said it had long coveted.
Prada signed a definitive agreement in April to buy Versace from U.S.-based Capri Holdings for about 1.3 billion euros ($1.5 billion), after Capri's sale to Tapestry was scrapped in the wake of a challenge by antitrust regulators.
Founded in 1978 by Gianni Versace in Milan, the brand renowned for its bold, glamorous aesthetic will join the group's two main labels – its namesake Prada and the smaller but fast-growing Miu Miu. It marks a sharp strategic shift for Prada.
Donatella Versace, sister of the late Gianni, noted that the closing of the deal coincided with his birthday.
"Today is your day and the day Versace joins the Prada family. I am thinking of the smile you would have had on your face. I miss you, always," she wrote on Instagram.
Gianni was shot dead in Miami in 1997.
PRADA HAS LONG BEEN KEEN ON A DEAL
Lorenzo Bertelli, the son of Prada owners Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli, told Reuters in November that he will become executive chairman of Versace once the integration is complete. He said that Prada had been keen on a deal for several years.
"There had already been contacts during the COVID period, there were talks even before Capri's sale to Tapestry. When that deal fell through over antitrust issues, we came back and tried to speed things up," Lorenzo Bertelli said.
"It was something that had been in the works for a long time," he added.
Bertelli, who strongly pushed for the acquisition, said Versace met two key conditions: that it was not too risky financially and that it was worth it, given the brand ranks among the world's leaders in terms of awareness.
In March, a few weeks before the deal with Prada was announced, Donatella Versace stepped down as creative chief after almost three decades in the role.
Dario Vitale, formerly design director at Miu Miu, took over from her. ($1 = 0.8613 euros)
(Reporting by Elisa AnzolinEditing by Keith Weir)
An acquisition occurs when one company purchases another company, gaining control over its assets and operations. This can enhance market share and expand product offerings.
Corporate strategy refers to the overall plan and direction a company takes to achieve its goals and objectives, including decisions on acquisitions, market entry, and resource allocation.
A luxury brand is a high-end brand that offers premium products and services, often characterized by exclusivity, quality, and high price points, appealing to affluent consumers.
Market trend analysis involves studying data and patterns in a specific market to identify trends, consumer behavior, and potential opportunities for businesses.
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