Unit Instruments Posts $1.6-Million Loss

Unit Instruments Inc., Yorba Linda supplier of mass flow controllers for the semiconductor equipment industry, lost $1.6 million, or 39 cents a share, for the first fiscal quarter ended Aug. 29, which included $714,000 in pretax charges related to inventory reserves, severance expenses for previously announced staff cuts and legal fees related to merger activities and litigation. For the first quarter of the prior fiscal year, the company earned $359,000, or 8 cents a share. Sales declined 58% to $6.2 million from $14.6 million.