MUMBAI: Hollywood actor-director Mel Gibson has signed a $19.44 million deal under his company Icon Film Distribution to takeover a cinema chain in Australia and New Zealand.

As per media reports, Gibson and his business partner Bruce Davey have purchased the Dendy Cinema chain and distribution business.

Entertainment company Becker Group sold Dendy, known for screening art-house films, to Gibson’s firm.

Dendy operates theatres in major Australian cities Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra.

Media reports quoted Dendy Cinema’s previous owners Prime Media Group managing director Warwick Syphers said that Icon’s offer was attractive “on various parameters, including value, timing and transaction certainty.”