ARCHOS Completes Strategic Alliance with EchoStar; Partnership Includes EchoStar Investment in ARCHOS and Brings Industry-Leading Portable Digital Video Recorder Products to EchoStar’s DISH Network Customers
IRVINE, Calif. & IGNY, France, June 23, 2005 — ARCHOS SA, a global consumer electronics manufacturer and leader in portable digital entertainment solutions, announced today it has completed a strategic alliance with EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:DISH), a leading U.S. provider of advanced digital television services. Under the terms of the agreement, EchoStar invested approximately $9 million (7 million Euros) in ARCHOS and ARCHOS will provide portable digital video recorder technology and products to EchoStar.
The EchoStar investment in ARCHOS was made through the private issuance of convertible bonds at a subscription value of 3.16 Euros, or approximately $4.10, per bond. The bonds are convertible into approximately 26 percent of ARCHOS’ share capital. The ARCHOS bonds bear interest at an annual rate of 5 percent. The bonds are convertible at any time by EchoStar, with the conversion rate set at one share per bond, subject to possible further adjustments. Subject to certain restrictions, ARCHOS has the right to convert or redeem a portion of the bonds at any time. The terms of the investment were approved by ARCHOS’ shareholders in April 2005.
The strategic alliance between EchoStar and ARCHOS includes an extensive new product development initiative as well. ARCHOS will provide EchoStar with portable digital video recorders that allow for high-speed transferring of video content directly from select DISH Network set-top boxes to ARCHOS’ portable devices. EchoStar turned to ARCHOS as the primary partner in their portable DVR strategy because they see ARCHOS’ products as the most advanced on the market today. It is anticipated that the EchoStar portable DVR products will be available from EchoStar in the summer to early fall of 2005. Additional information on the DISH Network and ARCHOS portable DVRs and ARCHOS’ own set-top-box technologies will be announced shortly.
“We are extremely proud to work with EchoStar on such an exciting and market-changing initiative in the portable video player market,” said Henri Crohas, ARCHOS founder and chief executive officer. “EchoStar is taking a unique technology approach by integrating the use of our portable video players with their DISH Network set-top boxes. This agreement confirms the growing success of the ARCHOS portable video players and recorders, and is a major new initiative for both us and EchoStar.”
About EchoStar
EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:DISH) serves more than 11.2 million satellite TV customers through its DISH Network™, and is a leading U.S. provider of advanced digital television services. DISH Network’s services include hundreds of video and audio channels, Interactive TV, HDTV, sports and international programming, together with professional installation and 24-hour customer service. EchoStar has been a leader for 25 years in satellite TV equipment sales and support worldwide. EchoStar is included in the Nasdaq-100 Index (NDX) and is a Fortune 500 company. Visit EchoStar’s Web site at http://www.echostar.com or call 800-333-DISH (3474).
About ARCHOS
ARCHOS SA is a global consumer electronics hardware manufacturer and is the technology leader in the field of digital portable entertainment solutions. Committed to the most innovative technology, ARCHOS offers award-winning digital pocket-sized products that feature audio and video recording, photo viewing, gaming and other multimedia and productivity applications for the enjoyment of the most exciting entertainment anywhere, anytime. ARCHOS has offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. More information is available online at http://www.archos.com.
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