2nd AST Group to Review Samsung Offer

A group of AST Research Inc. investors said Monday that they have formed a committee to review the company’s negotiations with would-be acquirer Samsung Electronics Co., the second such committee formed in the past week.

The latest group, which also criticized Samsung’s offer to acquire AST as too cheap, is headed by Saeid Hariri, a property manager who lives in Laguna Hills. Hariri said he owns about 34,000 shares of AST stock. He is one of 16 people on the committee who own a combined 500,000 shares.

On Jan. 30, Samsung offered to acquire the 54% of AST it does not already own for $5.10 per share.