Key Takeaways Candy giant Mars' $35.9 billion offer for Kellanova is a fresh burst of energy for the mergers and acquisitions market. The Mars transaction is the largest M&A deal this year, according to Dealogic, ahead of Capital One Financial's $35.3 billion deal to acquire Discover Financial Services, announced in February. It marks the third-largest transaction in the food and beverage space, the data show. Candy giant Mars' $35.9 billion offer for Pop-Tarts and Pringles maker Kellanova (K) is a fresh bu ...