Premier Veterinary signs deal with US distributor

(ShareCast News) - Premier Veterinary Group's wholly-owned subsidiary, Premier Vet Alliance, has signed a major agreement with Atlanta-based veterinary products distributor Veterinary Products Inc (VPI).The contract - of which no financial details were disclosed - is to supply the company's preventative healthcare programme for pets, branded in the US as Premier Pet Care Plan (PPCP) to VPI's 600 member hospitals across 15 states, located primarily in the South East of the US.The initial 5-year agreement is to introduce PPCP to VPI's member hospitals, with a target of at least 200,000 pets on plan. The first pets on plan are expected during the second half of the calendar year.Premier Veterinary's chief executive officer Dominic Tonner said: "We are delighted to have secured such a prestigious contract so soon after announcing our entry into the US market last month with our first 10 signed hospital contracts."VPI is an award winning business and a highly respected industry player. We look forward to a rapid and successful roll-out of our Premier Pet Care Plan across the VPI membership."At 1015 BST, shares were up 11% to 152.50p.