California Amplifier Posts Higher 2nd-Quarter Profit

California Amplifier, a Camarillo maker of home-satellite dishes, reported its profit surged to $356,000 in its fiscal second quarter that ended Aug. 31 from $111,000 a year earlier. The company’s revenue, meanwhile, jumped 44% to $5.3 million from $3.7 million.

In the six months that ended Aug. 31, California Amplifier earned $483,000, up from $166,000 in the same period in fiscal 1991. Six-month revenue totaled $9 million, a 24% gain from $7.2 million.

The company attributed the improved results to higher demand from international markets for its satellite-television and wireless-cable products.

California Amplifier, which has struggled in recent years, said its improved financial condition was a key reason why the company’s directors have recommended that shareholders reject an unsolicited, $12.5-million tender offer made by Colorado investor Charles W. Ergen last month.

The board also recently adopted a “poison pill” shareholder rights plan, a commonly used takeover defense that makes unwelcome takeover attempts prohibitively expensive.

The $3-a-share offer by Ergen is due to expire Friday. Ergen, who now owns 5.9% of California Amplifier’s 4.42 million shares outstanding, has not responded to the company’s recent moves.