Mel
Gibson Buys Aussie Cinema Chain
2/26/08
Hollywood star Mel Gibson has completed a $19.44 million deal for his
company Icon Film Distribution to takeover a popular cinema chain in
Australia and New Zealand.
Gibson and his business partner Bruce Davey have purchased the Dendy
Cinema chain and distribution business via their Icon firm, making them
owners of theatres in cities like Canberra, Brisbane and Melbourne.
Warwick Syphers, the managing director of Dendy Cinema's previous
owners Prime Media Group, said Icon's offer was attractive "on
various parameters, including value, timing and transaction
certainty."
He adds, "They're fellows (at Icon) who I think are in the
business very strongly in the distribution side. It would appear sensible
and logical that if you're in that side of the business, it really helps
to have a cinema distribution platform."
Icon Film Distribution has recently experienced success with the
Oscar-nominated movies I'm Not There and The Diving Bell And The
Butterfly.