EchoStar to Invest $9.5 Million in Archos of France

PARIS, Dec. 27/Satnews Daily/ ¾ EchoStar Communications Corp. (DISH) will invest $9.468 million (Euro 7 million), or 1.427 million ordinary shares, in Archos SA, an Igny-based manufacturer of  portable computer peripherals, including video and photo recorders, digital music players, and hard disks.

In a statement, Archos said the cash injection will be made through the subscription of an Archos convertibles offering reserved to EchoStar shareholders. It will potentially give the U.S. company 26% of the French company if all convertibles are exchanged into shares said Dow Jones in a report.

Founded in 1988, Archos designs and manufactures the industry’s most unique line of miniature peripherals for people on the go. Today Archos is well-known leader in portable music, photo, video, and data storage products. Its four main product lines include mobile data storage peripherals, MP3 audio, digital photo and video, and accessories.

EchoStar provides digital television services serving more than 10.4 million satellite TV customers through its DISH Network. DISH Network offers hundreds of video and audio channels, Interactive TV, HDTV, sports and international programming.

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