By Jaime Llinares Taboada

The U.K. Competition and Markets Authority said Friday that it has started a merger investigation into the acquisition by Facebook Inc. of Kustomer Inc.

The competition watchdog said it is considering whether the transaction will result in the creation of a relevant merger situation and whether it is expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within the U.K. markets.

Facebook said in November that it would buy Kustomer, a startup that specializes in customer-service platforms and chatbots. People familiar with the matter said the deal would value Kustomer at a little more than $1 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Write to Jaime Llinares Taboada at jaime.llinares@wsj.com; @JaimeLlinaresT

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

07-30-21 0626ET