Brussels, 29/07/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 28 July 2008, the European Commission cleared the planned acquisition of sole control of Wrigley by Mars (both US-based confectionary companies). The Commission has concluded that the proposed transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it. Mars is a US-based family-owned global confectionery, food and pet care products company. Its confectionary business comprises chocolate confectionary and, to a lesser extent, sugar confectionary (sweets). Wrigley is a US-based multinational making chewing gum and hard candy. After a preliminary assessment, the Commission found that there was no overlap in the parties' core confectionary activities (chocolate and gum). Although both parties are active in the sweets industry, the limited market shares do not give rise to competition concerns. The Commission also concluded that there is no risk that the joint entity could use the strong market position Wrigley currently enjoys on the gum markets to gain an unfair advantage over their competitors through foreclosure of chocolate markets. (A.B. transl fl)