A Pep Boys auto parts store is shown in Encinitas, California December 8, 2015. REUTERS/Mike Blake Thomson ReutersA Pep Boys auto parts store is shown in Encinitas, California
(Reuters) - Japanese tire maker Bridgestone said it would not counter Carl Icahn's raised offer to buy Pep Boys, ending a bidding war for the U.S. auto parts retailer.
Icahn sweetened his offer for Pep Boys for the second time to $18.50 per share on Monday, after Bridgestone raised its bid by $1.50 to $17 per share on Dec. 24.
Pep Boys said on Monday Icahn's latest offer was superior to the deal it accepted from Bridgestone, and moved to terminate its agreement with the Japanese company. 
Icahn, whose latest bid values Pep Boys at about $1 billion, had reported a 12.12 percent stake inPep Boys earlier in December and said the company's retail automotive parts business would be a perfect fit for Auto Plus, a competitor he owns.
The auto parts retailer has been on the block since June, when it said it was considering selling itself as part of a strategic review.
Bridgestone had said on Oct 26 that it would buy Pep Boys to boost its retail network by more than a third in the United States. 
(Editing by Anil D'Silva)
Read the original article on Reuters. Copyright 2015. Follow Reuters on Twitter.

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