Alyst Acquisition Corp. Agrees to Repurchase Certain Shares of its Common Stock to Secure Favorable Vote at Special Meeting on J
June 22 2009 - 7:30PM
PR Newswire (US)
NEW YORK, June 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alyst Acquisition Corp.
(NYSE Amex: AYA), a special purpose acquisition company ("Alyst" or
the "Company"), today announced that it has entered into
privately-negotiated arrangements with certain of its existing
stockholders in order to secure the necessary favorable vote at its
Special Meeting of Stockholders that will allow the proposed
business combination to proceed. As of June 22, 2009, Alyst has
agreed to repurchase more than 71% of the common shares held by its
public stockholders after the closing of the proposed business
combination with China Networks Media, Ltd. ("China Networks") for
aggregate consideration of approximately $45 million. The holders
of such shares have agreed to vote in favor of the business
combination and related proposals to be considered at the Special
Meeting of Stockholders on Wednesday, June 24, 2009. As announced
by Alyst on June 19, 2009, the arrangements described above will
not decrease the amount of ordinary shares of China Networks
International Holdings, Ltd. (the post-merger surviving entity
("CNIH")) due to amended merger agreement terms with China Networks
that reduce the amount of cash consideration and increase the
amount of stock consideration. For each Alyst share converted for
trust proceeds or repurchased pursuant to the arrangements with
Alyst stockholders, the common stockholders of China Networks will
receive one ordinary share of CNIH. However, such arrangements,
together with payments to stockholders who elect to convert their
shares in connection with the Special Meeting procedures, will
decrease the amount of cash available to CNIH post-merger. CNIH and
China Networks expect to raise additional capital, either debt or
equity, post-merger in the public or private markets to secure the
necessary working capital to fund ongoing operations. Background.
Alyst announced on June 18 that the Special Meeting of Stockholders
has been postponed to 4:30 p.m., Eastern time, on Wednesday, June
24, 2009. Alyst's stockholders of record as of May 29, 2009 will
have the opportunity to submit their proxy, or change a previously
submitted proxy, at any time prior to the commencement of the
Special Meeting on June 24, 2009. At the postponed special meeting,
stockholders of Alyst will be asked to approve, among other
proposals, the proposed business combination with China Networks,
and the related redomestication of Alyst to the BVI through a
merger with CNIH. The postponed special meeting will be held at the
offices of McDermott Will & Emery, LLP, 340 Madison Avenue, 2nd
Floor, New York, New York 10173. Alyst, CNIH, and China Networks
and their respective directors and executive officers, and Chardan
Capital Markets, Alyst's financial advisor, and its partners and
directors, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of
proxies for the Special Meeting of Alyst stockholders. In
connection with the pending transaction, CNIH filed with the SEC a
Registration Statement on Form S-4, File No. 333-157026, which was
declared effected by the SEC on May 29, 2009. The stockholders of
Alyst are urged to read the Registration Statement and the
definitive proxy statement/prospectus, as well as all other
relevant documents filed with the SEC. These documents contain
important information about Alyst, CNIH, China Networks and the
proposed transaction. Stockholders may obtain a copy of the
definitive proxy statement/prospectus and any other relevant filed
documents at no charge from the SEC's website
(http://www.sec.gov/). These documents will also be available from
Alyst at no charge by directing a request to 233 East 69th Street,
#6J, New York, New York 10021. In addition, stockholders may direct
their questions to Morrow & Co., LLC, 470 West Avenue, 3rd
Floor, Stamford, CT 06902, toll-free (800) 662-5200. Alyst has
engaged Morrow & Co., LLC to provide limited assistance in the
proxy solicitation process. Safe Harbor Statement This press
release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 about Alyst and China Networks
Media, Ltd. and their combined business after completion of the
proposed acquisition. Forward-looking statements are statements
that are not historical facts and may be identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology, including the words "believes,"
"expects," "intends," "may," "will," "should" or comparable
terminology. Such forward-looking statements are based upon the
current beliefs and expectations of Alyst's and China Networks
Media, Ltd.'s management and are subject to risks and uncertainties
which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-
looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees
of future performance and actual results of operations, financial
condition and liquidity, and developments in the industry may
differ materially from those made in or suggested by the
forward-looking statements contained in this press release. These
forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks,
uncertainties and assumptions. The forward-looking statements in
this press release speak only as of the date of this press release
and might not occur in light of these risks, uncertainties, and
assumptions. Alyst undertakes no obligation and disclaims any
obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events,
or otherwise. DATASOURCE: Alyst Acquisition Corp. CONTACT: Michael
E. Weksel, Alyst Acquisition Corp., +1-212-650-0232,
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