SCIENCE / TECHNOLOGY : MAI Seeks to Vacate Judge’s Order Related to Its Hostile Bid for Prime

MAI Basic Four filed a motion Monday in a Massachusetts federal court seeking to vacate an order preventing the Tustin computer maker from pursuing its $970-million hostile offer for Prime Computer.

On Dec. 9, a federal judge issued an order blocking the offer, saying MAI had understated the role that its investment banker, Drexel Burnham Lambert, is playing in the hostile bid. U.S. District Judge A. David Mazzone also said MAI’s federal filings failed to fully disclose information about past legal problems of Bennett S. LeBow, MAI’s chairman and largest stockholder, and William Weksel, LeBow’s business partner.

But Mazzone then stayed his order pending an appeal to a higher court by MAI. Prime, based in Natick, Mass., immediately filed papers asking that the stay be lifted.

In response, MAI filed its motion and disputed Prime’s challenge of Mazzone’s order. MAI’s motion was accompanied by additional disclosures about LeBow, the investment banker and Weksel. A copy of the MAI filing was not immediately available Monday.

MAI also said it has extended its $20-a-share offer until Dec. 29 at 12 a.m. EST. The offer, which had already been extended once, was due to expire Wednesday.