Group Acquires 5% of Alpha Microsystems

A Miami-based investment group has bought a 5% stake in Alpha Microsystems, a Santa Ana computer maker, “with a view toward influencing management,” according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.

The investment group, which includes Hopkins-Easton-Richardson and Fundamental Resources Ltd., both of Miami, bought 159,000 shares of Alpha Micro for $946,747.

The group said in the filing that it may recommend that Alpha Micro management take the company private in a leveraged buyout. It also indicated that it may buy more Alpha Micro stock in the future.

Alpha Micro executives were unavailable for comment.

Nearly Sold in 1986

Alpha Micro was nearly sold in 1986 for $25.5 million to TeleVideo Systems, a Sunnyvale computer maker that abruptly canceled the deal just days before it was to become final. At the time, the company was suffering from an industry downturn and had lost several million dollars in 1985 and 1986.

Recently, the company has been doing better. In June, the company reported a profit of $672,000 for the quarter ended May 29. It had a profit of $98,000 for the same period one year earlier. Sales rose to $12.1 million from just under $11 million.

In April, Alpha Micro settled a copyright infringement suit against d/Soft Ltd., a New Jersey software company.