Investors: eyes on the prize

"Oracle of Omaha" investor Warren Buffett is partnering with candy vendor Mars Inc. to absorb Wrigley, the no. 1 chewing gum manufacturer in the world, for $23 billion.

The offer divvies out to $80 per share, a 28 percent premium over Wrigley's existing market value. The company closed at $62.45 at the end of last week.

Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway — which also owns a stake in Kraft Foods — shall absorb 10 percent of Wrigley.

The chocolate and gum duo would form the world's largest confectionary, potentially driving rivals, like Hershey and Cadbury Schweppes, to form competitive mergers.

Beyond retail, the pair is equally formidable: Mars controls Snickers.com, which enjoys a rather active online life. Wrigley has a strong online entity in Candystand, a branded gaming site with a cross-media relationship with Nintendo Wii.

In addition to Berkshire Hathaway, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase committed financing to the Mars/Wrigley deal.