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Geneva - Global luxury goods giant Richemont said on Wednesday that it had completed the acquisition of a pioneering 10-year-old web-based women's fashion retailer, Net-a-Porter.
"As a consequence, Richemont will hold an effective economic interest of more than 93% in the issued ordinary capital of Net-a-Porter," the Swiss-based group said in a statement.
The business, which employs 600 staff in London and New York, was created by former fashion journalist Natalie Massenet and recently racked up its one millionth order, according to Richemont.
The luxury group had previously owned about one third of the web retailer, which had annual turnover for the financial year to the end January of £120m.
Richemont did not reveal the cost of the acquisition of the remaining shares, but it had valued Net-a-Porter's equity at £350m in April.
Net-a-Porter, which sells more than 300 women's designer brands, will operate as an independent entity alongside Richemont's other standalone businesses such as Cartier, Dunhill, IWC, Piaget and Van Cleef & Arpels.
Massenet reportedly had an 18% stake in the website and stands to make a substantial profit on her holding, estimated in some media reports at £50m.
She vowed in April to "build the 21st century model for luxury fashion retailing" along with Richemont.
