Tekelec Reports Loss of $8.8-Million in Quarter

Tekelec, a Calabasas manufacturer of computer diagnostic equipment, reported an $8.8 million loss for its fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, in contrast with a $381,000 profit a year before.

The fourth-quarter loss included a pretax charge of $3.56 million to write off certain technology and product development and to provide for the cost of reducing the company’s work force by 10%. The charge also provided for the cost of certain litigation, Tekelec said.

In January a Los Angeles County jury found that Tekelec had wrongfully fired Mark Tyson, its former vice president of sales and marketing, and must pay Tyson $437,000 in compensatory damages.

Tekelec’s revenue was $12.5 million in the latest quarter, up 4% from a year earlier.

For all of 1992, Tekelec’s loss totaled $8.3 million, in contrast with a profit of $4.58 million in 1991. Its revenue rose 11%, to $58.1 million from $52.4 million.