Lernout & Hauspie Dives 27.6% on Restatement

Beleaguered

Lernout & Hauspie

(LHSP)

fell 27.6% in preopen

Island

trading after announcing it would restate its 1998, 1999 and 2000 results.

The Belgian developer of voice-recognition technology also said its founders stepped down from their posts as co-chairmen and managing directors. Lernout & Hauspie has been under investigation by the

Securities and Exchange Commission

because of alleged discrepancies in its financial statements.