PETS

Veterinary Centers Buys Pet Practice for $92.5 Million: The purchase by the Santa Monica-based company raises the number of animal hospitals that Veterinary Centers of America Inc. owns to 160 in 21 states, making it the largest such chain in the U.S. and the only publicly traded veterinary hospital chain. King of Prussia, Pa.-based Pet Practice Inc. will add 86 veterinary clinics in 11 states to Veterinary Centers’ stable and will operate as a subsidiary of the company. Veterinary Centers acquired about 100 pet hospitals in June, most of them individual businesses, except for Pets’ Rx Inc., a veterinary hospital chain with 16 locations. Pet Practice shareholders received 0.4077 share of Veterinary Centers’ stock for each share of Pet Practice stock they owned, for a total of about 3.52 million shares worth about $92.5 million.