Advanced Logic Research

Advanced Logic Research Inc. said Thursday that its earnings rose more than fourfold to $11.5 million for its fiscal year ended Sept. 30, up from $2.8 million a year earlier. The Irvine personal computer maker's sales spurted 235% to $171.9 million from $73.1 million last year. James T. Richardson, chief financial officer, attributed the growth to the company's competitive pricing policy and introduction of numerous new products during the past year.

Advanced Logic Research Inc., an Irvine-based supplier of microcomputer systems, has signed a technology licensing agreement with HawkNet Inc., a Carlsbad software publisher. The agreement, announced Monday, also involves a broader strategic partnership between the two companies in which ALR will market HawkNet's NetTune software. Financial terms of the licensing agreement were not disclosed.

Shares of Advanced Logic Research Inc. climbed 26% in trading Tuesday after the computer maker reported that it has recovered from losses a year ago. ALR, which has focused on computers based on Intel Corp's powerful Pentium microprocessor chip, on Monday reported a profit of $1.2 million, or 10 cents a share, for the three months ended June 30. The Irvine company lost $1.5 million, or 13 cents a share, in the same period a year ago.

Advanced Logic Research Inc., the Irvine manufacturer of microcomputer systems posted a loss of $2.7 million, or 24 cents a share, for its third fiscal quarter, which ended June 30. That contrasted with a profit of $1.6 million, or 14 cents a share, for the comparable period last year. Revenue declined 32% to $36.1 million from $52.7 million. For the latest nine months, the company reported a loss of $5.8 million, or 52 cents a share.

The computer rivalry heated up in this city on Tuesday. Advanced Logic Research Inc. said it cut prices on a number of its computer models to stay competitive with rival computer maker AST Research Inc. ALR said it cut prices up to 18% on a line of desktop computers and up to 26% on a line of computers aimed at small businesses and corporations. Meanwhile, AST said it will introduce two new products on Monday.

Advanced Logic Research Inc. has agreed to sell 300 computers to the Polish government in a deal the company valued at less than $1 million. The Irvine personal computer manufacturer has been designated the sole supplier for the Polish government's Central Statistics Office in Warsaw, said Dave Kirkey, vice president of worldwide marketing. The computers will be used for various statistical analyses and census number-crunching, Kirkey said.

If Gene Lu has his way, Orange County's biggest personal computer maker in the 1990s will be headquartered in Irvine and have a name that starts with "A" and ends with "Research." But he's not talking about AST Research. Lu is the founder and president of Advanced Logic Research, a 4-year-old personal-computer maker whose products have won an impressive string of favorable industry reviews in recent months.

Gene Lu's boyish looks and modest manner seem more fitting for a university graduate student than for the head of a fast-growing personal computer company. But Lu, 35, the founder and president of Advanced Logic Research of Irvine, is beginning to get a sprinkling of gray in his jet-black hair--evidence, perhaps, of the strains of running an $80-million company in a fiercely competitive industry.

Advanced Logic Research Inc., the Irvine manufacturer of microcomputer systems posted a loss of $2.7 million, or 24 cents a share, for its third fiscal quarter, which ended June 30. That contrasted with a profit of $1.6 million, or 14 cents a share, for the comparable period last year. Revenue declined 32% to $36.1 million from $52.7 million. For the latest nine months, the company reported a loss of $5.8 million, or 52 cents a share.

Anticipating its first quarterly loss and continued personal computer price wars, Advanced Logic Research Inc. is laying off 100 employees and cutting its top employees' pay by 5% to 30%. Company executives said Tuesday the restructuring was a response to an anticipated loss for its fourth quarter ended Sept. 30. The company warned last month that the loss was coming, but it did not anticipate layoffs then.

The computer rivalry heated up in this city on Tuesday. Advanced Logic Research Inc. said it cut prices on a number of its computer models to stay competitive with rival computer maker AST Research Inc. ALR said it cut prices up to 18% on a line of desktop computers and up to 26% on a line of computers aimed at small businesses and corporations. Meanwhile, AST said it will introduce two new products on Monday.