Big Heart Pet Brands will remain headquartered in San Francisco with key offices in Pittsburgh, Pa., and Burbank, Calif. The company also will maintain its existing pet food manufacturing plants and distribution centers and sales offices. An on-again, off-again public company, Del Monte was taken private again in early 2011 by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., Vestar Capital Partners and Kilts' Centerview Partners. The sale of half the company was first announced last October. Del Monte Pacific agreed to pay $1.68 billion; the food businesses generated annual sales of $1.8 billion. Del Monte Pacific, with bases in Singapore and the Philippines, has licensed the Del Monte name but did not previously have a direct presence or brands in the U.S.