Aberdeen Reports Shareholders' Equity of $0.27 Per Share and 2016 Year End Financial Results

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 3, 2016) - ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL INC. ("Aberdeen", or the "Company") (TSX:AAB) is pleased to announce that it has released its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2016, ended January 31, 2016.

Highlights:

• Corporate focus on recently acquired platinum-palladium and lithium investments;
• Closed the acquisition of all the shares of Potasio y Litio de Argentina SA (PLASA) which holds 100-per-cent interest in the Diablillos lithium-potash project located in Argentina;
• Subsequent to year end, sold 50-per-cent of PLASA shares to Lithium X Energy Corp ("LIX") for 8,000,000 common shares of LIX;
• Net loss for the year ended January 31, 2016 was $(9.7) million or $(0.10) per basic share;
• Repurchased 1.8 million shares since the beginning of the year to January 31, 2016.

As at January 31, 2016, Aberdeen's Shareholders' Equity (or Net Asset Value, "NAV") was $25.9 million, or $0.27 per share. Aberdeen's shareholders' equity decreased by $0.6 million from $26.5 million at the end of Q3 2016. The decrease in shareholders' equity was due to the performance of Aberdeen's equity investment portfolio in the fourth quarter, which had a total investment loss of $0.4 million for the quarter, operating, general and administration expenses of $0.2M offset by $0.2M interest and dividend income and advisory fees. On a year-over-year basis, Aberdeen's shareholders' equity decreased by $10.0 million. Note that the reference to shareholders' equity is similar to previous references to Net Asset Value or "NAV" by Aberdeen.

For the twelve months ended January 31, 2016, Aberdeen reported net earnings of $(9.7) million or $(0.10) per basic share on total revenue of $(6.3) million. Revenue was comprised of $(7.0) million from net investment losses, $0.1 million from interest income and dividends and $0.6M from advisory fees. For the twelve months ending January 31, 2015, Aberdeen reported net earnings of $(14.0) million or $(0.15) per share on total revenue of $(2.8) million ($(3.0) million from net investment losses and $0.2 million from interest and dividend income).

As a result of a review by staff of the Ontario Securities Commission, the Company has provided additional disclosure in its Consolidated Financial Statements for the years ended January 31, 2016 and 2015, the related management's discussion and analysis (the "MD&A) and its annual information form dated April 29, 2016 (the "AIF"). The Ontario Securities Commission commented that Aberdeen's January 31, 2015 annual filings were deficient. The Company provided additional disclosure about the operations and risk of the Company's concentrated investments as well as additional disclosure regarding the valuation method of its Level 3 investments. For more information please see the Company's Annual Financial Statements, MD&A and AIF posted on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Normal Course Issuer Bid ("NCIB")

During the year ended January 31, 2016, the Company purchased and cancelled 1,802,794 shares at an average price of $0.136. Subsequent to January 31, 2016, an additional 17,500 common shares were purchased for cancellation under the Company's NCIB at an average cost of $0.12.

Corporate Update

Since the end of Aberdeen's fiscal year, certain commodities, including lithium and precious metals have seen a resurgence of interest among investors. With lithium, the interest had been building over the second half of 2015, and has continued in 2016 with bullish views for demand from larger format and automotive batteries, as well as anecdotal transaction announcements suggesting spot prices for lithium chemicals have already risen substantially. In March we announced our deal with Lithium X that effectively transfers part of our interest in the lithium project into publicly traded stock, allowing Aberdeen shareholders to gain exposure to the bullish sentiment for this sector. The rise in precious metals in recent months is probably more correctly described as a recovery off the bottom, as investors have started cautiously to come back into an oversold market. Many junior companies with good projects have doubled or tripled in value this year, which is a sign that the worst may be over for precious metals in the short to medium term. Most of the headlines, as usual, have been around gold - the commodity and the companies that are mining it - but platinum/palladium companies have seen strong share upward price moves too. Should this trend continue, we will look to unlock further value in our private platinum investment, African Thunder, later this year.

Technical Report on the Salar de los Angles Lithium Project in Salta Province, Argentina

The Company has filed a National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") technical report on its Salar de los Angles lithium project in the Salta Province, Argentina. The independent technical report, entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report Salar de los Angeles Project, Salar de Diablillos, Salta Province, Argentina" (the "Technical Report") dated May 2, 2016, was prepared for Aberdeen International by Raymond Spanjers. The Technical Report is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.aberdeeninternational.ca.

Qualified Persons

Mr. Raymond Spanjers, P.Geo and former Manager of Exploration for Rodinia Lithium, who is independent of the Company and a qualified person as defined under NI 43-101, supervised and is responsible for the technical report filed with this press release.

ABOUT ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL

Aberdeen International is a private equity investor and advisor focusing on the global mining and natural resources industry. African Thunder Platinum, Aberdeen's premiere investment, is a lower-cost platinum group metals producer in South Africa's well-known Bushveld Complex. Aberdeen has further enhanced its mineral investment holdings with the acquisition of the lucrative Sal de los Angeles lithium project in Argentina.

For additional information, please visit our website at www.aberdeeninternational.ca and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and check out Aberdeen's YouTube Channel.

Cautionary Notes

Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this press release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding the financial results of Aberdeen; past success as an indicator of future success; net asset value of the Company; the potential of investee companies and the appreciation of their share price; the future intentions of the Company with regard to its shareholdings; the Company's plan of business operations; and anticipated returns. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, financing risks, acquisition risks, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of the Company. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.