Originally codenamed "Project Jackie", First has been shrouded in secrecy since its announcement at the beginning of the year.

Backed by a 12m investment from Emap, and with a predicted weekly run length of more than 200,000 copies, First is a high-profile win for Wyndeham.

"Our cradle-to-grave pre-media and print helped us secure this," said Wyndeham group sales director Jon Hearnden.

Wyndeham Graphics will handle the pre-press, with Wyndeham Heron printing the text pages on one of its MAN Roland Lithoman 64/72pp presses.

"The nature of First means that our editorial teams could well be making extremely late changes," said Emap group production director Andy Franks. "Wyndeham companies are able to deliver on these tight deadlines and provide us with closed loop colour management."

Wyndeham finished its first run of the magazine, an extended-run free sample copy, at the beginning of the week, with a paid-for version to be launched on 17 May.

Wyndeham Group has also expanded its packaging division with the acquisition of Essex-based packaging design consultancy, JGA Design Strategies.

JGA, which was bought this week for an undisclosed sum, has an annual turnover of 1.2m and employs 12 staff, all of whom have transferred to Wyndeham. JGA will work with Wyndeham Kestrel and Wyndeham Connect to offer an end-to-end service to the packaging industry.

Wyndeham Kestrel managing director Mick Tooley stressed it currently had no plans to relocate any of the three companies, adding that they were looking at a strategy of growth and diversification as a means of adding value for customers.

Dagsbrn has announced it has acquired 93.99% of Wyndeham's existing share capital. Dagsbrn has extended the deadline for its offer until 1pm on 9 May 2006.

Wyndeham Timeline
19 Jan '06 Picks up three large-run titles from Dennis publishing

25 Jan '06 Wins 28 titles worth 20m from Emap

27 Feb '06 Buys pre-press firm Icon Reproduction

24 Mar '06 Takeover offer from Icelandic investment company Dagsbrn

4 May '06 Buys Essex-based design consultancy JGA

5 May '06 Wins contract to produce First