General Mills said it had agreed to acquire a North American cat feeding and pet treating business from European private-equity firm NXMH in a deal worth $1.45 billion.

General Mills Inc., known for cereal brands such as Cheerios, made its fifth acquisition in the pet food sector since 2018 by buying the North American unit of Whitebridge Pet Brands in a deal valued at $1.

General Mills agreed to acquire Whitebridge Pet Brands' North American cat food and pet treat business from NXMH for $1.45 billion. Why it matters: Both the cat food and pet treat segments continue to grow,