PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Aberdeen Emerging Markets Smaller Company Opportunities Fund, Inc.(1) (the "Fund") (NYSE MKT: ABE(2)), a closed-end equity fund, announced today its performance data and portfolio composition as of January 31, 2016.

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The Fund's total returns for various periods through January 31, 2016 are provided below. (All figures are based on distributions reinvested at the dividend reinvestment price and are stated net-of-fees):



               Cumulative as of        Annualized as of 01/31/16
                        01/31/16
                        --------

                    1 Month      3 Month              YTD         1 Year       3 Years       5 Years      10 Years          Since Inception
                    -------      -------              ---         ------       -------       -------      --------          ---------------

    NAV                     -4.8          -9.1               -4.8        -17.6          -9.2         -1.3               3.3                  5.9
    ---                     ----          ----               ----        -----          ----         ----               ---                  ---

    Market
     Price                  -4.3         -10.0               -4.3        -20.0         -10.4         -2.3               3.0                  5.2
    ------                  ----         -----               ----        -----         -----         ----               ---                  ---

    MSCI
     Emerging
     Markets
     Small Cap              -7.9         -10.1               -7.9        -15.1          -4.9         -3.9        n/a(3)               n/a(3)
    ----------              ----         -----               ----        -----          ----         ----        ------               ------

On January 31, 2016, the Fund's net assets amounted to US$117.0 million and the Fund's NAV per share was US$12.05.

As of January 31, 2016, the portfolio was invested as follows:



    Portfolio Composition                    Percent of
                                             Net Assets
    ---                                      ----------

    Financials                                                    21.9
    ----------                                                    ----

    Consumer Staples                                              19.3
    ----------------                                              ----

    Industrials                                                   15.1
    -----------                                                   ----

    Consumer Discretionary                                        14.4
    ----------------------                                        ----

    Materials                                                     12.5
    ---------                                                     ----

    Information Technology                                         9.2
    ----------------------                                         ---

    Health Care                                                    6.6
    -----------                                                    ---

    Cash                                                           0.9
    ----                                                           ---



    Portfolio Composition                                Geographic Exposure %
    ---------------------                                 --------------------

    India                                                                 14.0
    -----                                                                 ----

    Brazil                                                                 9.6
    ------                                                                 ---

    South Africa                                                           7.4
    ------------                                                           ---

    Indonesia                                                              6.6
    ---------                                                              ---

    Thailand                                                               6.0
    --------                                                               ---

    Malaysia                                                               5.9
    --------                                                               ---

    Hong Kong                                                              5.0
    ---------                                                              ---

    United States                                                          4.7
    -------------                                                          ---

    Turkey                                                                 4.0
    ------                                                                 ---

    Chile                                                                  4.0
    -----                                                                  ---

    Mexico                                                                 3.6
    ------                                                                 ---

    Singapore                                                              3.1
    ---------                                                              ---

    Poland                                                                 2.7
    ------                                                                 ---

    South Korea                                                            2.6
    -----------                                                            ---

    Philippines                                                            2.6
    -----------                                                            ---

    Egypt                                                                  2.5
    -----                                                                  ---

    Romania                                                                2.1
    -------                                                                ---

    Nigeria                                                                2.1
    -------                                                                ---

    Kenya                                                                  1.7
    -----                                                                  ---

    Sri Lanka                                                              1.6
    ---------                                                              ---

    Netherlands                                                            1.5
    -----------                                                            ---

    United Kingdom                                                         1.5
    --------------                                                         ---

    China                                                                  1.3
    -----                                                                  ---

    Russia                                                                 1.1
    ------                                                                 ---

    Oman                                                                   0.9
    ----                                                                   ---

    Lebanon                                                                0.8
    -------                                                                ---

    Israel                                                                 0.6
    ------                                                                 ---

    Peru                                                                   0.4
    ----                                                                   ---

    Europe                                                                 0.2
    ------                                                                 ---

The Fund's ten largest equity holdings as of January 31, 2016, representing 28.6% of net assets, were:



    Stock                                  Percent of

                                           Net Assets
    ---                                    ----------

    Aeroportuario del Centro Norte pls                           3.6
    ----------------------------------                           ---

    AKR Corporindo                                               3.5
    --------------                                               ---

    Godrej Consumer Products                                     3.2
    ------------------------                                     ---

    Epam Systems Inc.                                            2.9
    -----------------                                            ---

    Parque Arauco                                                2.9
    -------------                                                ---

    Kansai Nerolac Paints                                        2.8
    ---------------------                                        ---

    Eurocash                                                     2.7
    --------                                                     ---

    Jollibee Foods                                               2.6
    --------------                                               ---

    Madras Cements Ltd.                                          2.2
    -------------------                                          ---

    BRD-Groupe Societe Generale                                  2.1
    ---------------------------                                  ---

Important Information
Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. has prepared this report based on information sources believed to be accurate and reliable. However, the figures are unaudited and neither the Fund, Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited (the Investment Adviser), nor any other person guarantees their accuracy. Investors should seek their own professional advice and should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before acting on this information. Aberdeen is a U.S. registered service mark of Aberdeen Asset Management PLC.

Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. The Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

Total return figures with distributions reinvested at the dividend reinvestment price are stated net-of-fees and represents past performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results, current performance may be higher or lower. Holdings are subject to change and are provided for informational purposes only and should not be deemed as a recommendation to buy or sell the securities shown. Inception date June 17, 1992.

If you wish to receive this information electronically, please contact: InvestorRelations@aberdeen-asset.com

(1) The Fund changed its name, benchmark, investment objective and strategy effective March 15, 2013. Performance information for periods prior to March 15, 2013 does not reflect the current investment strategy. The MSCI Emerging Markets Small Cap Index is the Fund's benchmark. Please refer to the Fund's January 14, 2013 proxy statement at aberdeenABE.com for additional information.

(2 )The Fund's ticker symbol changed from ETF to ABE at market close on July 31, 2015.

(3 )There is no 10 year or since inception figure for the MSCI EM Small Cap Index because the inception date of the Index is June 1, 2007. The inception date of the Fund is June 17, 1992.

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