Indian multimedia production outfit PentaMedia Graphics is to acquire a 51% stake in LA-based animation house Film Roman for $15m, establishing a US beachhead for the public company which already has satellite offices in the UK and Luxembourg.

Best known for producing The Simpsons and King Of The Hill for Fox, Film Roman has recently launched a live action and animated feature film slate which will be expedited by the PentaMedia investment.

The two parties were brought together by Jon Vein, former COO of Film Roman and John Mass of The William Morris Agency. Dixon Dern, outside counsel for Film Roman, negotiated the deal along with CEO John Hyde. Dr V Chandrasekaran, chairman and CEO of PentaMedia sealed the deal for PentaMedia.

In March this year, PentaMedia formed a 50:50 joint venture with US digital effects powerhouse Digital Domain to develop feature-length special effects-driven pictures for the international market.