Concerned Shareholders Provide Update on Recent Aberdeen Private Placement and Change of Control Payments

• Votes from shares issued in Aberdeen's recent highly dilutive and value destructive private placement will be segregated for the upcoming shareholder meeting
• No change of control payments will be made if the incumbent board is replaced at the upcoming shareholder meeting (until court proceedings continue)
• Shareholders need to vote now to prevent further acts designed to permanently entrench insiders and transfer value away from existing shareholders

TORONTO, Jan. 21, 2015 /CNW/ - Today, funds controlled by Meson Capital Partners LLC ("Meson Capital") and Nightscape Capital (UK) LLP ("Nightscape Capital") that hold shares representing approximately 9% of the issued and outstanding shares of Aberdeen International Inc. (TSX:AAB) ("Aberdeen" or the "Company") urge shareholders to vote your GOLD proxy to put an end to value destructive transactions designed primarily to entrench the Stan Bharti controlled board of Aberdeen. 

The Stan Bharti controlled board of Aberdeen has a history of grants to, and transactions with, insiders designed to entrench insider interests at the expense of Aberdeen shareholders.  Today, the Concerned Shareholders won the right for all shareholders to vote to put a stop to this culture of entrenchment. 

• Votes from Highly Dilutive and Value Destructive Private Placement to Be Segregated. In November 2014 Aberdeen completed a private placement of 10 million shares and a further 10 million warrants to insiders and related parties ("Placement").  The Placement diluted Aberdeen shareholders by up to 23% and resulted in value transfer from Aberdeen shareholders to insiders and related parties equal to 21% of the current Aberdeen share price.  The Placement was completed despite Aberdeen having received a superior and significantly less dilutive alternative offer.  The Concerned Shareholders believe the purpose of the Placement was to entrench Aberdeen insiders by putting up to 20 million shares in Stan Bharti-friendly hands.  In January 2015, the Concerned Shareholders commenced court proceedings to have the Placement set aside.  As part of those court proceedings it has been agreed that all votes associated with Placement shares will be segregated for the purposes of the upcoming meeting.  The court proceedings continue. 
• Change of Control Payments Not To Be Paid. Aberdeen insiders have attempted to grant themselves change of control payments of $6.2 million ("Payments").  The Payments, if deemed legal, would be in addition to $13 million of compensation insiders have paid themselves from 2011.  The Concerned Shareholders believe the award of the Payments is illegal and the court proceedings seek to set aside them aside.  As part of those court proceedings it has been agreed that no Payments will be paid by the Aberdeen board in the event the Concerned Shareholders are successful in having the existing Aberdeen directors removed until such time as the Concerned Shareholders have an opportunity to seek a remedy from the court.

More information on these transactions can be found in a white paper called "Facts About Aberdeen's November 2014 Private Placement" available: http://www.freeaberdeen.ca/aberdeen-whitepaper/private-placement-facts    

Shareholders must to vote to remove Stan Bharti and the existing Aberdeen board before it's too late to prevent further acts designed to entrench insiders forever and transfer the remaining value of Aberdeen to Aberdeen insiders and parties related to them.

Every vote is important, vote GOLD for change before it's too late.

For assistance and ease with voting your GOLD proxy, please contact D.F. King Canada (toll-free) at 1-800-926-7043 or visit www.freeaberdeen.ca where the GOLD proxy can be easily voted by clicking on the "Vote Now" button.

About Meson Capital Partners LLC and Nightscape Capital (UK) LLP
Established in 2009, Meson Capital is a registered U.S. investment advisor based in San Francisco, USA. Meson Capital is managed by Ryan Morris, a Canadian citizen born in Toronto, Ontario. 

Nightscape Capital is an FCA regulated investment advisor based in London, United Kingdom. 

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain information in this press release may constitute "forward-looking information", as such term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation, about the objectives and intentions of Meson Capital and Nightscape Capital as they relate to Aberdeen and Aberdeen shareholders and other matters. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information.  Material factors or assumptions that were applied in providing forward-looking information, include, but are not limited to, Aberdeen's future growth potential, its results of operations, future cash flows, ability to monetize assets for stated book value, the future performance and business prospects and opportunities of Aberdeen and the current general regulatory environment and economic conditions remaining unchanged. Should any factor affect Aberdeen , Meson Capital or Nightscape Capital in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. All of the forward-looking information reflected in this press release is qualified by these cautionary statements.  Forward-looking information is provided and forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and except as may be required by applicable law, each of Meson Capital and Nightscape Capital disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise

SOURCE Meson Capital Partners LLC

Media Contacts: Ryan Morris, President, Meson Capital Partners LLC, [email protected], [phone]; Investor Inquiries: D.F. King Canada, North American, Toll Free: 1-800-926-7043, International Collect Call: 1-201-806-7301, Email: [email protected]