CST Trust Company's U.S. Affiliate AST Completes D.F. King & Co. Acquisition

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - June 24, 2014) - CST Trust Company's (CST) U.S. affiliate, AST Fund Solutions, LLC announced today the completion of its purchase of D.F. King & Co., Inc. (D.F. King) and its operating businesses. This is another milestone in the company's growth plan, as the combined company offers leading issuer and shareholder services across North America and Europe.

The acquisition brings new capabilities and synergies to the firm and its clients. With operation centres in Europe and in North America, the addition of D.F. King allows AST to provide clients with enhanced solutions for key corporate governance issues. D.F. King's experts are well known for their strategic counsel in proxy contests and communications services.

D.F. King, a market leader for issuer and shareholder services, will be integrated with ASTOne™ over the next several months. The combined business offers the broadest array of specialized advisory services, including proxy solicitation, corporate governance, contested situations and corporate actions.

"D.F. King's new role as a division of AST has significant benefits for our Canadian clients," said Mark C. Healy, CEO and President of AST. "We look forward to bringing our capabilities and technological advantages to a broader audience in the global market for corporate and mutual fund services."

About CST

CST is part of the Link Group, an international network of providers of transfer agent and employee plan services. Headquartered in Toronto with offices in Halifax, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver, CST provides issuers with global solutions through local service. CST, CST Investor Services Inc. and its U.S. affiliate AST form the North American division of the Link Group. This division provides service to over 8,000 public issues and more than 5.5 million shareholders in over 22 foreign countries, ranging in size from initial public offerings to Fortune 100 companies.

About ASTOne™

ASTOne integrates the expertise of AST Fund Solutions, AST Phoenix Advisors and AST Ownership Intelligence through a comprehensive proxy solicitation, investor relations and corporate governance consulting service offering. AST is the only transfer agent providing issuers with these integrated services at an operational level.

About D. F. King & Co., Inc.

Founded in 1942, D.F. King boasts industry-recognized expertise in proxy contests, tender offers and exchange offers for corporate control. For over 70 years, D.F. King has been one of the leading and most trusted providers of proxy and other stakeholder services in the U.S. Today, we are one of the leading proxy solicitation providers in the mutual fund industry.