Dense Pac Microsystems Inc

Beneventure Founders Risicokapitaalfonds II N.V. lowered its stake in Dense Pac Microsystems Inc. to 7.78%. The firm sold 282,000 shares of Dense Pac common stock at prices ranging from $6 to $6.56 per share, according to documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It now holds about 1.3 million shares in Garden Grove-based Dense Pac.

Computer memory chip packager Dense-Pac Microsystems Inc., offering a sliver of bullish news in the beleaguered technology sector, said it plans a modest increase in its work force as part of a recent uptick in business. Its shares climbed more than 29%, or 59 cents a share, to close at $2.60 on Nasdaq. The stock traded as high as $17.69 last July.

Dense-Pac Microsystems Inc. said Monday that it has received a $550,000 order from an undisclosed military customer. Dense-Pac said the order is for its electrically erasable, programmable read-only memory for use in a military program. The company expects to ship the order next quarter. Dense-Pac designs and makes three-dimensional high-density memory products.

* Ameron International Corp. reported a 15% rise in second-quarter earnings on higher demand. The Pasadena-based maker of pipes for major construction projects reported net income for the period ended May 31 of $7.0 million, or $1.78 per share, compared with $6.2 million, or $1.55, a year ago. Sales rose 3% to $143.7 million. * The state Court of Appeal in Santa Ana has upheld an $870,000 jury award for a former Amplicon Inc.

Dense-Pac Microsystems' stock price moved up Tuesday amid rumors that the Garden Grove builder of high-powered computer memory systems is a takeover target. A handful of takeover rumors appeared on Internet message boards saying Micron Technology, a Boise, Idaho, chip maker, was targeting Dense-Pac. Dense-Pac would not confirm or deny the rumors, "but to my knowledge there has been no attempt to take over the company," spokesman Joe Zappulla said. Micron executives did not return calls.

The Garden Grove maker of electronic design and manufacturing systems posted a fourth-quarter loss of $669,000, or 3 cents a share, compared with a profit of $864,000, or 4 cents a share, a year earlier. Revenue for the three months ended Feb. 28 rose 22% to $8 million. For the fiscal year, the company earned $1.8 million, or 9 cents a share, down from $2.6 million, or 13 cents a share, the previous year. Revenue rose 30% to $35.8 million.

Dense-Pac Microsystems Inc. said its board authorized the repurchase of up to 500,000 shares, or 2.5% of the Garden Grove company's common stock outstanding. Dense-Pac, which provides high-density electronic design and manufacturing systems, said it will buy back the shares from time to time over the next year at prevailing prices in the open market, subject to market conditions.

Dense-Pac Microsystems Inc. said Monday it has sold its TypeHaus unit to the unit's management for cash and a secured note. Financial details were not disclosed. Dense-Pac said the unit, which provides printing services for laser printing, was acquired in 1997. Garden Grove-based Dense-Pac makes three-dimensional high-density semiconductor packaging products.

Dense-Pac Microsystems Inc., a Garden Grove provider of high-density semiconductor packaging products, said Friday that it has completed its acquisition of Productivity Enhancement Products Inc. in Laguna Hills, a privately held engineering development and manufacturing company. Dense-Pac previously said it would acquire PEP for $6 million in stock and debt, but it did not provide detailed information Friday. PEP operations will be consolidated into Dense-Pac financial records as of Oct. 26.