SAN FRANCISCO (Bloomberg) — Bermuda-based Marvell Technology Group Ltd., which restated results earlier this month by $327.4 million after an investigation found that it had backdated stock options, said interim chief financial officer Michael Tate resigned.The resignation is effective July 13, Bermuda-registered Marvell said yesterday in a statement. Tate took over after chief financial officer George Hervey quit in May, following the announcement of a probe that resulted in the firing of the company's legal counsel and the demotion of the chief operating officer.

Marvell, whose chips are used in products such as Apple Inc.'s iPod music player, is among more than 200 companies to disclose internal or federal investigations into misdated stock options. Backdating grant dates to times when stocks traded lower inflates the options' value. The practice can be illegal because it hides costs from investors and regulators.

Diane Vanasse, a spokeswoman for the company, which is operated from Santa Clara, California, declined to comment beyond the statement. Tate joined the company in 2001 and worked as treasurer and corporate controller, Marvell said in the statement.

As a result of the investigation, chief executive officer Sehat Sutardja agreed in May to reduce the number of shares he received in a December 2003 grant by 500,000 and stepped down as chairman.

His wife Weili Dai, who had served as chief operating officer, agreed to cancel options that would have allowed her to purchase about 1.5 million shares. She was demoted to director of strategic marketing and business development.