Mars Inc. announced Monday that it expects to close on its acquisition of Kellanova this week following approval by European antitrust regulators.
The candy and pet food giant said that the European Commission gave “unconditional approval” for the $36 billion deal, fulfilling all regulatory approvals and closing conditions for the transaction originally announced last summer. Mars expects to close on the purchase of the snacks company, whose brands were spun out of the former Kellogg Co., on Thursday.
Mars said that the combined Mars Snacking business would span 145 markets and include 80 manufacturing facilities, 50,000 employees, and nine billion-dollar brands.
“Today marks an extraordinary milestone and the culmination of years of work for many of our Associates,” Andrew Clarke, the global president of Mars Snacking, said in a statement. “We can’t wait to welcome Kellanova talent to Mars and create a shared, global snacking leader with a beloved range of brands.”
