Petstore.com Exerts Animal Magnetism

Online pet supplier Petstore.com said today it had retained the Internet Practice Group at Emerge to lead a "$100 million U.S. and international strategic acquisition effort."

"Our partnership with Emerge broadens our capabilities for identifying and financing attractive acquisitions in the pet industry and allows us to expand our global presence," Chris Luhnow, co-founder and senior vice president of corporate development for the Emeryville, Calif., company said in a prepared release today. "Petstore.com completed its first acquisition last month with Flying Fish, the leading online tropical fish e-tailer, and continues to actively pursue value added on-line and off-line companies."

The Internet Practice Group, led by Managing Director George Vrabeck, will aid Petstore.com through all stages of the acquisition and financing process. Vrabeck said Emerge's "financing methodology and resources will help bring transactions to closure quickly."