Following the acquisition, Michigan-based Arbortext, which produces software for the production of technical manuals, legal documents and pharmaceutical product information, is to target existing and new clients needing more design-intensive documents.

"We want to get across that people should look at the alternatives to standard publishing packages," said Ray Schiavone, Arbortext president and chief executive.

He said that there was "very little overlap" between the client bases of the two companies, and that the acquisition would allow Arbortext clients to produce marketing collateral, catalogues and journals using software from a single provider.

All 40 staff at Advent will be kept on, Schiavone said. Advent, which is based in Swindon, employs around 30 staff in the UK, while around 15 of Arbotext's 175 staff worldwide are based in London.