Petco agrees to $1.68 billion takeover (AP)

52 minutes ago NEW YORK - Petco Animal Supplies Inc., the nation's second biggest pet supplies retail chain, said Friday that it has agreed to be acquired for about $1.68 billion by a private investment group. Its shares climbed 43 percent. The deal for the San Diego-based company provides the latest example of the attraction that solid retail cash flows and real estate assets have for private equity investors. The investor firms Leonard Green & Partners LP and Texas Pacific Group are offering $29 ...