Overview
- Phase 2 of the review adds roughly 90 working days to the merger assessment and deepens scrutiny of competitive effects.
- Competition chief Teresa Ribera has initiated only a second full-scale EU merger investigation since her appointment last year.
- Mars announced the $35.9 billion all-cash acquisition in August 2024 to expand its snack portfolio and strengthen its presence in markets like Africa and Latin America.
- The US Federal Trade Commission cleared the deal in early June, highlighting a split in regulatory approaches between Washington and Brussels.
- Mars insists the acquisition will enhance consumer choice and innovation and says it is fully cooperating with the EU review.