Aberdeen to Make Payment of Semi-Annual Dividend

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 12, 2012) - ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL INC. ("Aberdeen", or the "Company") AAB today announces that it intends to issue its semi-annual dividend payment of $0.01 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 16th, 2012. This is the first of two semi-annual payments previously announced as part of the Company's annual dividend policy of $0.02 per common share (see Aberdeen news release dated Feb 23, 2012).

It is anticipated that the payment date for the second semi-annual dividend of $0.01 will be made on September 30, 2012, to be determined in accordance with the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange.

The Company's opinion is that the dividend policy sends a message to the market that Aberdeen's business model is sustainable and generates significant free cash flow. Our first and most important priority will be to continue making great investments in early-stage resource companies, while returning a relatively small amount of capital to our shareholders. The Company believes this will simultaneously enhance shareholder value, while providing the Company with the flexibility and liquidity to pursue its corporate objectives.

About Aberdeen International Inc.:

Aberdeen is a publicly traded global investment and merchant banking company focused on small cap companies in the resource sector. Aberdeen will seek to acquire significant equity participation in pre-IPO and/or early stage public resource companies with undeveloped or undervalued high-quality resources. Aberdeen will focus on companies that: (i) are in need of managerial, technical and financial resources to realize their full potential; (ii) are undervalued in foreign capital markets; and/or (iii) operate in jurisdictions with moderate local political risk. Aberdeen will seek to provide value-added managerial and board advisory services to companies. The Corporation's intention will be to optimize the return on its investment over an 18 to 24 month investment time frame.

For additional information, please visit our website at www.aberdeeninternational.ca and follow us on Facebook and Twitter: AberdeenAAB.

Cautionary Note

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 impact of the dividend policy; 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; the proposed dividend policy; 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.