Icon, which was crowned PrintWeek's Creative Repro Company of the Year in 2005, will be incorporated into the group's pre-press division, which includes Wyndeham Argent, Kestrel and Graphics.

"Icon brings a number of complementary customers and will allow us to share our technology platform and skills," said Wyndeham chief executive Paul Utting.

"We're growing the pre-press business. Pre-press is changing, it's not disappearing that's for sure."

Following Wyndeham's move to acquire Graphic Facilities in March 2004, Icon was one of the few independent repro houses left. Its clients include IPC, for which it handles NME, Uncut and Uncut DVD, Time Out and Centaur.

Joint managing directors Paul Steggle and Mark Bauer will remain at Wyndeham Pre-Press as executive directors.

"We believe that Icon and our customers will benefit from being part of a large pre-press and print group," said Steggle.

Wyndeham paid an initial consideration of 2m, with a deferred payment of up to 1.8m, dependent on performance in 2006 and 2007. The initial 2m was made up of 1.3m in cash, funded by a bank loan, and the issue of 524,348 shares.

Wyndeham's shares rose 1.5p to 1.27.

- IPC is undertaking a review of its pre-press suppliers, which include Wyndeham Argent, Graphics, Graphics Kent, Icon and Colour Systems, CTT and FE Burman.