AUTOS
Times Staff and Wire Reports
Investcorp to Buy 51% Stake in Car Part Supplier: The Bahrain-based merchant bank did not say how much it is paying to acquire Phoenix-based CSK Auto Inc., one of the largest U.S. retailers of automotive parts and accessories. Investcorp will inject $125 million to finance a store expansion program, and CSK Auto will spend $50 million more to enhance its network. CSK operates stores under the names Kragen, Checker and Schuck’s in 14 Western states; it has about 7,000 employees in its 572 stores and several distribution centers. Its sales totaled more than $770 million in the last 12 months. Investcorp is owned by Arab investors from the Persian Gulf and controls 14 companies in North America and Europe, including Saks Fifth Avenue.