CMA to probe Viagogo takeover of StubHub

The Competition and Markets Authority said on Friday that it will investigate whether Viagogo’s $4bn acquisition of StubHub will result in a "substantial lessening" of competition in the market.

The competition watchdog has invited comment on the potential deal by 10 January. It will then decide whether to kick off a full investigation.

Secondary ticketing company Viagogo announced last month that it had agreed to buy rival StubHub from eBay.

Viagogo’s founder and CEO, Eric Baker, co-founded StubHub but left before the business was sold to eBay in 2007.