TORONTO, ONTARIO–(Marketwired – June 14, 2016) – ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL INC. (“Aberdeen”, or the “Company”) (TSX:AAB) is pleased to announce that it has released its financial results for the first quarter of 2017, ended April 30, 2016.
Highlights:
- Closed the sale of 50-per-cent of Potasio y Litio de Argentina SA (“PLASA”) common shares to Lithium X Energy Corp (“LIX”) for 8,000,000 common shares of LIX;
- Net income for the three months ended April 30, 2016 was $12.7 million or $0.13 per basic share;
- Subsequent to April 30, 2016 repurchased an additional 6.6 million shares under the 2017 NCIB.
As at April 30, 2016, Aberdeen’s Shareholders’ Equity (or Net Asset Value, “NAV”) was $38.6 million, or $0.40 per share. Aberdeen’s shareholders’ equity increased by $12.7 million from $25.9 million at the end of Q4 2016. The increase in shareholders’ equity was primarily due to the sale of 50 per-cent of PLASA common shares to LIX in exchange for 8,000,000 LIX common shares and the performance of Aberdeen’s equity investment portfolio in the first quarter, which had a total investment gain of $13.5 million for the quarter offset by operating, general and administration expenses of $0.8M. On a year-over-year basis, Aberdeen’s shareholders’ equity increased by $2.3 million. Note that the reference to shareholders’ equity is similar to previous references to Net Asset Value or “NAV” by Aberdeen.
| April 30, 2016 | January 31, 2016 | April 30, 2015 | ||||||
| Shares outstanding | 95,529,128 | 95,546,628 | 96,658,252 | |||||
| $ | $/Shares | $ | $/Shares | $ | $/Shares | |||
| Cash on hand | 5,159,689 | 0.054 | 604,613 | 0.006 | 409,084 | 0.004 | ||
| Investments | ||||||||
| Publicly traded | 18,155,669 | 0.190 | 2,754,448 | 0.029 | 19,470,971 | 0.201 | ||
| Private | 17,625,252 | 0.185 | 19,322,417 | 0.202 | 17,541,282 | 0.181 | ||
| Non-trading warrants | ||||||||
| Intrinsic value | – | – | – | 0.000 | 30,000 | 0.000 | ||
| Option value | 420,570 | 0.004 | 423,920 | 0.004 | 426,280 | 0.005 | ||
| 420,570 | 0.004 | 423,920 | 0.004 | 456,280 | 0.005 | |||
| Portfolio Investments | 36,201,491 | 0.379 | 22,500,785 | 0.235 | 37,521,353 | 0.388 | ||
| Loans / preferred shares | – | – | – | – | 153,846 | 0.002 | ||
| Total | 41,361,180 | 0.433 | 23,105,398 | 0.241 | 38,084,283 | 0.394 | ||
For the three months ended April 30, 2016, Aberdeen reported net earnings of $12.7 million or $0.13 per basic share on total revenue of $13.6 million. Revenue was comprised of $13.5 million from net investment gains, $0.1 million from interest income and advisory fees. For the three months ending April 30, 2015, Aberdeen reported net earnings of $0.5 million or $0.01 per share on total revenue of $1.6 million ($1.3 million from net investment gains and $0.3 million from interest and dividend income and advisory fees).
Normal Course Issuer Bid (“NCIB”)
During the three months ended April 30, 2016, the Company purchased and cancelled 17,500 shares at an average price of $0.12. Subsequent to April 30, 2016, an additional 6,616,846 common shares was purchased for cancellation under the Company’s NCIB at an average cost of $0.18.
Corporate Update
David Stein, Aberdeen’s President and CEO, stated, “Q1 was a quarter that clearly demonstrated the value that Aberdeen can deliver by buying under-the-radar and discounted investments, taking advantage of the technical expertise and deal flow capability of our team, generating an unrealized return of approximately 500% for selling half of its common shares of PLASA, which holds the Sal de Los Angeles. While the sale to Lithium X was a highlight, we should emphasize that the story is far from finished. We expect that as operator, Lithium X will unlock much more value by developing this high-quality lithium brine project, and Aberdeen will continue to benefit through its 50% shareholdings in PLASA. We are also pleased to be able to allocate approximately $1.2 million to our NCIB since the end of the quarter. Given our significant market discount to the value of our holdings, management felt that this action would be accretive to all shareholders.”
ABOUT ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL
Aberdeen International is a global resource investment company and merchant bank focused on small capitalization companies in the mining and metals sector. African Thunder Platinum, Aberdeen’s premiere investment, is a lower-cost platinum group metals project in South Africa’s well-known Bushveld Complex. Aberdeen has further enhanced its investment holdings with its holding of 50% of Potasio y Litio de Argentina SA, which holds the 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.
Rob Hopkins
Manager, Investor Relations
+1 416-861-5899
info@aberdeeninternational.ca
Aberdeen International Inc.
David Stein
President and Chief Executive Officer
+1 416-861-5812
dstein@aberdeeninternational.ca