Spotlight: AST Signs Credit Agreement With Samsung

Irvine-based AST Research Inc. signed a final agreement with Samsung Electronics Co. for a $200-million, two-year bank credit guarantee in exchange for 500,000 nonvoting preferred shares. The personal computer maker has been struggling with quarterly losses, declining market share and continuing executive turmoil as Seoul-based Samsung tries to save it. Samsung invested $378 million for a 40% stake in AST earlier this year and raised the stake to 46% in July.