MILAN, Dec. 3 -- The Prada Group closed the purchase of Milan fashion rival Versace in a $1.375 billion cash deal that puts the fashion house known for its sexy silhouettes under the same roof as Prada's "ugly chic" aesthetic and Miu Miu's youth-driven appeal. The highly anticipated deal is expected to relaunch Versace's fortunes, after middling post-pandemic performance as part of the US luxury group Capri Holdings. Prada said in a one-line statement the acquisition had been completed after receiving all regulatory clearances. Capri Holdings, which owns Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo, said the money would be used to pay down debt. Donatella Versace welcomed the deal in an Instagram post, which also marked the birthday of the brand's late founder, her brother, Gianni Versace. "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,'' she wrote in a post that also featured a 1996 photo of Gianni Versace with Miuccia Prada. Prada heir Lorenzo Bertelli is set to steer Versace's next phase as executive chair, in addition to his roles as group marketing director and sustainability chief. Capri Holdings paid $2 billion for Versace in 2018, but had been struggling to position the brands' bold profile in the recent era of "quiet luxury. Versace represented 20% of Capri Holdings' 2024 revenue of €5.2 billion....