Japanese e-commerce company Rakuten has become the new owner of J-League side Vissel Kobe after buying all the shares of the team's holding company, Crimson Football Club Inc, reports, www.sportspromedia.com/. The Rakuten Group, which had 2013 revenues of US$5.3 billion, consists of around 40 online businesses in fields such as online retail, banking, travel, and entertainment.
The company has been Vissel Kobe's main sponsor since 2004, but the acquisition will bring about a streamlining of management and marketing functions.
Rakuten also owns Nippon Professional Baseball league side the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.
Financial details from the acquisition were not immediately available.
