PSA parent company Collectors to acquire Beckett, keeping it an ‘independent brand’ – The Athletic
Collectors, the parent company of leading trading card grader PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator), is acquiring well-known collectibles media and grading company Beckett.
On Monday, Collectors announced that a “definitive agreement” is in place and that Beckett “will remain an independent brand.” It said Beckett will continue its “own operations, customer experience, and standards around grading, marketplace, magazines and price guide.”
“The first card I ever submitted for grading was to Beckett, and I consider Collectors custodians of this important icon in the hobby,” said Nat Turner, CEO of Collectors, in a press release announcing the deal. “We believe that strong, well-supported brands help grow access to the hobby.”
PSA and Beckett will continue to process grading orders as they previously would, with no change in pricing, according to the release.
Beckett was founded in 1979 by Dr. James Beckett and rose to prominence in the ’80s and ’90s with its popular trading card price guide magazines. Its grading services (BGS) later became a leader as interest in the practice grew during the 2000s. But in recent years Beckett has struggled to keep pace with a rapidly growing industry, dropping to third or fourth among the top grading companies, according to data compiled by GemRate. In December 2024, Collectivus Holdings was announced as Beckett’s new parent company following a series of controversies and legal troubles involving the CEO of its previous parent company, Greg Lindberg.
While PSA has grown to account for the vast majority of total trading cards graded each month, Collectors has now acquired two of its much smaller competitors in recent years. In February 2024, Collectors added SGC, which has since transitioned to being a “boutique” grading company and experienced a significant decline in total cards graded, according to GemRate data. CGC is now the only major card grading company not owned by Collectors.
According to Collectors, it “will look to enhance Beckett’s offering while preserving the ability for hobbyists to choose what is best for every unique item in their collection.”
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