AST Shareholders to Monitor Talks

A group of AST Research Inc. shareholders formed a committee to monitor the struggling computer manufacturer’s negotiations with would-be buyer Samsung Electronics Co. “People are wondering whether this is a fair offer and how the company got into this shape,” said Dan Montano, who described himself as an Orange-based investment banker asked by several AST shareholders to help create a “shareholders’ protection committee.” AST executives declined to comment. Committee members plan to elect a panel that will request access to AST executives during the negotiations, as well as the chance to review proposals, Montano said. Samsung, a South Korean electronics company, already owns about 46% of the Irvine-based company. Last week, Samsung made an offer to acquire the remainder of the company for $5.10 per share.