Headlines
Mars set to win unconditional EU nod for $36 billion Kellanova deal, sources say
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on October 7, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Global Banking and Finance Review
Company
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on October 7, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Mars is poised to receive EU approval for its $36 billion acquisition of Kellanova, potentially reshaping the snacking industry landscape.
By Foo Yun Chee
BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Candy and snacks giant Mars' $36 billion bid to acquire Pringles maker Kellanova is set to clear a major hurdle by winning unconditional European Union antitrust approval, three people with direct knowledge of the matter said.
The deal, among the biggest in the sector, would bring under one roof brands ranging from M&Ms, Snickers and Whiskas cat food to Pringles crisps, Pop-Tarts and Kellogg's cereals. It has already secured a green light without any conditions from U.S. authorities.
The European Commission, which warned in June that the deal could lead to price hikes and may boost Mars' negotiating power with retailers, has subsequently found insufficient legal grounds to demand concessions, the sources said.
The Commission, the EU's competition enforcer, declined to comment, as did Mars and Kellanova. An EU decision on the deal is due by December 19.
A combined Mars and Kellanova would account for roughly 12% of the U.S. snacking and candy industry, according to market share data from NielsenIQ.
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Joe Bavier)
An acquisition is a corporate action in which one company purchases most or all of another company's shares to gain control of that company.
Antitrust approval is the legal permission granted by regulatory authorities to ensure that a merger or acquisition does not create unfair competition in the market.
Market share is the percentage of an industry's sales that a particular company controls, indicating its competitiveness within the market.
Implications in business refer to the potential effects or consequences that a decision, action, or event may have on a company's operations or market position.
Corporate strategy is a plan that outlines how a company will achieve its goals and objectives, including decisions about mergers, acquisitions, and resource allocation.
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