An investment group waging a $2.7-billion hostile...

An investment group waging a $2.7-billion hostile takeover bid for Interco Inc. said it was close to scrapping the offer because of the furniture-apparel company’s stiff resistance. Cardinal Acquisition Corp., a group controlled by Mitchell and Steven Rales of Washington, said it was preparing to abandon a $74-a-share cash tender offer as of midnight EST and would return all tendered shares, which amounted to nearly 90% of the company’s 35.56 million shares outstanding.