Axel Mark Inc. plans to acquire Crafty, a Japanese trading card e-commerce operator, expanding its footprint in the growing collectible cards market. The Tokyo-based company didn’t disclose the acquisition price, saying it will be determined after due diligence.
Crafty, which operates the “iLIST Trading Card” online platform, reported revenue of 470 million yen ($3.3 million) and net income of 63 million yen ($440,000) in its first operational year through January 2024. The startup has built a substantial social media following, with 26,000 followers on X and 66,000 LINE messaging app subscribers.
The deal will help AcelMark quickly establish its presence in the online trading card market, complementing its existing vending machine network. The company sees potential synergies between Crafty’s e-commerce expertise and its advertising division.
If completed, the acquisition will be consolidated into Axel Mark’s financial statements from the second quarter of fiscal 2025. The impact on earnings is currently under review, the company said.
