Rambus Audit Finds Errors in Options Data

Rambus Inc., a designer of computer memory chips, said Tuesday that it might have to restate financial reports after finding that some dates used to set the value of its options didn’t match the grant dates.

The audit committee that identified the issue hasn’t determined whether any charges against earnings will be required, the company said.

Shares of the Los Altos, Calif.-based company fell 71 cents to $23.13.

Also Tuesday, CNet Networks Inc., a San Francisco-based online publisher of technology news, said it had received a federal grand jury subpoena for documents related to stock-option grants. A company spokeswoman didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment.

CNet announced the subpoena after the market closed. Its shares fell 28 cents to $8.37, and later dropped to $8.07 in after-hours trading.

At least 54 companies have disclosed federal or internal investigations into whether they improperly backdated or timed option grants for senior executives to coincide with days when the stock price was low.