AST hit hard by turnover plunge

AST's troubles continue as the struggling PC vendor announced a $98.7 million loss on turnover of $553.7 million for its Q2 ended 29 June.

This compares with last year's Q2 loss of $31.6 million on turnover of $662 million. Worldwide sales for the period were down 19 per cent on Q2 1995, but up four per cent on Q1 1996.

AST received $15 million from Samsung during the period as it increased its stake in the PC vendor. Interim losses reached $214.5 million.

The company has become the latest to rationalise its desktop range. AST has combined its Premmia and Bravo range under the Bravo banner.

AST marketing manager Con Mallon explained that the only existing Premmia PC had been competing in the same market as its top-end Bravo model.

'This isn't the sort of massive consolidation we've seen from the likes of Compaq, but obviously it's important to have easily identified ranges: Ascentia is notebooks; Bravo is desktops; and Manhattan is servers.'