AST Research Announces Expiration of Tender Offer; Moves Up Date For Expected Merger Completion to Aug. 11.

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 8, 1997--AST Research Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTA) Friday confirmed the expiration of the tender offer by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. to purchase all of the outstanding shares of AST stock that Samsung did not already own at a price of $5.40 per share.

The company also announced it understands that the merger between AST and a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics (with AST being the surviving corporation) will be completed earlier than Aug. 25 as was previously announced. The revised date for the completion of the merger is now Aug. 11.

"Completing the merger sooner than expected allows AST to focus more intensely on satisfying the needs of our customers," said S.T. Kim, AST president and chief executive officer. "It also allows the company to devote even greater resources and attention towards returning the company to profitability and a market growth position."

AST has been informed that 28,537,986 shares (approximately 90% of the outstanding shares not owned by Samsung or its affiliates) had been tendered as of Aug. 8. Adding the tendered shares of AST common stock to the shares already owned by Samsung or its affiliates represents approximately 95 percent of the total outstanding shares of AST. AST expects cash payments to be sent during the week of Aug. 11 to shareholders who have tendered their shares. Shareholders of record who have not tendered their shares will soon be sent instructions on how they may receive cash payments by submitting their shares of AST stock.

As previously announced, record holders of Liquid Yield Option Notes (LYONs) issued by AST will be sent instructions in early September specifying how they may redeem their notes for cash. The company expects LYONs to be redeemable on or about Oct. 1, 1997.

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., a $19 billion company of the $93 billion Samsung Group, is a world leader in electronics, with operations in more than 60 countries. The company challenges itself to make consumer electronics, semiconductors and industrial electronics that are effective, useful, simple and powerful. Samsung Electronics employs over 80,000 people worldwide.

AST Research develops and markets a broad spectrum of desktop, mobile and server PC products that are sold in more than 100 countries worldwide. AST systems meet a wide range of customer needs, ranging from corporate business applications to advanced home and home office use. Corporate headquarters is located at 16215 Alton Parkway, P.O. Box 57005, Irvine, Calif. 92619-7005. Telephone: [phone]. Fax: [phone]. Information about AST and its products can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.ast.com .

CONTACT: AST Research Inc., Irvine

Emory Epperson

714/727-7958

[e-mail]

or

Camerone Welch-Thorson

714/727-8858

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