Norwegian business software Mamut has pledged continued support for accounting software from MYOB, following its purchase of the UK business division for £1.7m.

The software includes that from DOSH, a company MYOB bought two years ago. Mamut will continue to use the MYOB (short for Mind your own Business) and DOSH brands, according to a company statement today.

Existing code will be used as the basis of future MYOB products in the UK. The Australian and New Zealand arms of MYOB retain their right to the code in those countries.

But MYOB users in the UK will be offered a free migration to a software-with-services product Mamut plans to introduce within a few months.

The accounting division of MYOB UK was bought two weeks ago by Wolters Kluwer Law & Business. It gains some MYOB practice-management software but most of the product line goes to Mamut.

Alan Moody, UK head of Mamut UK, said he was very pleased with the MYOB deal. "It will put us among the top five in the country and will put us in a better position to serve our customers."

Mamut said in a statement: '"With small businesses at particular risk from an economic slowdown, they are under increasing pressure to find improved ways to manage the efficiency and accuracy of accounting and business processes.

"The combination of Mamut, known for innovation in small business solutions and MYOB, with 50,000 active UK customers, will see new online capabilities delivered to the UK small business community to address this need."