Spotlight: Samsung Again Extends Its AST Offer

For the third time, Samsung Electronics Co. extended its cash tender offer for all shares of Irvine-based computer maker AST Research Inc. that the South Korean company doesn’t already own. The offer for the nearly 27.8 million shares--or 88% of the remaining stock Samsung doesn’t yet own--will now expire on Aug. 8. The delay will give Samsung time to receive clearance for the deal from the South Korean government. Samsung already owns 49% of the company.