Buyout firms bid for UK's Pets at Home -sources

* First-round bids submitted for pet goods retailer -sources

* Sources say Apax, Bain, Blackstone, Charterhouse bid

* Cinven, KKR, TPG also said to submit offers

* Business valued at 700 mln pounds or more, sources say

By Simon Meads and Quentin Webb

LONDON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - At least seven private equity firms have submitted bids for Pets at Home, increasing the likelihood of a sale of the UK retailer rather than an initial public offering (IPO), sources familiar with the matter said.

The sources said Apax Partners [APAX.UL], Bain Capital, Blackstone (BX.N), Charterhouse [CHCAP.UL], Cinven [CINV.UL], KKR [KKR.UL] and TPG [TPG.UL] all submitted first-round bids for the company, owned by mid-market private equity shop Bridgepoint [BRDG.UL].

Pets at Home is valued at 700 million pounds ($1.13 billion) or more, the sources said. It has been running a dual track process, working on both a London stock-market listing and a sale of the business.

Bridgepoint declined to comment. The other private equity firms either declined to comment or were unavailable for comment.

($1=.6170 Pound)

(editing by Alex Chambers)