MUMBAI: With the news that the media arm of Len Blavatnik‘s US-based industrial group Access Industries has finally closed its deal to buy the UK operations of Mel Gibson and Bruce Davey‘s LA-based Icon Group, Stewart Till‘s hopes to establish an international distribution network has gained momentum.

The transaction that comprises Icon‘s international sales company, the distribution operation based in the UK and the Majestic Films & Television library does not include the Australian distribution company and cinemas, which is retained by The Icon Group.

Access Industries chairman and New York-based industrialist Blavatnik backed Till‘s company Stadium when it first announced plans to acquire Icon including both UK and Australian distribution operations and the sales company and the Majestic Films & Television library in September 2008.

Till said that the UK distribution company and the sales company were "the first two pieces in the jigsaw" in establishing an international distribution network along the lines of PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and PolyGram Film International.

Icon Distribution‘s upcoming UK slate includes Oren Peli‘s Paranormal Activity, Richard Kelly‘s sci-fi thriller The Box starring Cameron Diaz and James Marsden, Sam Taylor-Wood‘s multiple British Independent Film Awards nominee Nowhere Boy, The Road starring Viggo Mortensen and Charlize Theron, action thriller Edge Of Darkness starring Gibson, Precious, and A Single Man.