Pet broker PetPartners has been acquired by Agria Animal Insurance, Sweden's largest pet insurer.

Agria, a mutual insurer with a 62% share of the pet insurance market in Sweden, said the move was the "first step" in its strategy to grow internally.

But it said it had no plans to make further acquisitions in the UK.

PetPartners, which handles policies for the Kennel Club, reported a turnover of £6.25m in 2005, and profits before tax of almost £1.3m, up almost 80% on the previous year.

Managing director Petka Olson said there were no plans to change its underwriting arrangements. PetPartners' products are underwritten by Norwich Union.

"We have no immediate plans to restructure the business," said Olson

Agria is part of the Länsförsäkringar Alliance, Sweden's only customer-owned locally established banking and insurance service. It has been providing pet insurance for over 100 years.

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