ABEN LATI : Aberdeen Latin America Equity Fund, Inc. Announces Payment of Distribution

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Aberdeen Latin America Equity Fund, Inc. (NYSE AMEX: LAQ) (the "Fund"), a closed-end equity fund, today announced that it paid on January 13, 2012, a distribution of US $1.92275 per share declared on December 22, 2011 to all shareholders of record as of December 30, 2011.

Under U.S. tax rules applicable to the Fund, the amount and character of distributable income for each fiscal year can be finally determined only as of the end of the Fund's fiscal year. However, under Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") and related Rules, the Fund may be required to indicate to shareholders the source of certain distributions to shareholders.

The following table sets forth the estimated amounts of the sources of the distribution for purposes of Section 19 of the 1940 Act and the Rules adopted thereunder. The table includes estimated amounts and percentages for this distribution and for the cumulative distributions paid year to date from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short-term capital gains; net realized long-term capital gains; and return of capital.

                        Estimated            Estimated              Estimated              Estimated
                        Amounts of           Amounts of         Amounts of Fiscal      Amounts of Fiscal
                   Current Distribution Current Distribution       Year to Date           Year to Date
                      per share ($)        per share (%)    Cumulative Distributions      Cumulative
                                                                  per share ($)          Distributions
                                                                                         per share (%)
                                                                                          ------------
    Net Investment
     Income                        $0.58791                   30%               $0.65243                  33%
    --------------                 --------                  ---                --------                 ---
    Net Realized
     Short-Term
     Capital Gains                 $0.10894                    6%               $0.10894                   5%
    --------------                 --------                  ---                --------                 ---
    Net Realized
     Long-Term
     Capital Gains                 $1.22590                   64%               $1.22590                  62%
    --------------                 --------                  ---                --------                 ---
    Return of
     Capital                              -                    -                       -                   -
    ---------                           ---                  ---                     ---                 ---
    Total (per
     common share)                 $1.92275                  100%               $1.98727                 100%
    --------------                 --------                  ---                --------                 ---

The amounts and sources of distributions reported are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The final determination of the source of all distributions in 2011 will be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to change based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

Circular 230 disclosure: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the U.S Treasury, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.

Closed-end funds have a one-time initial public offering and then are subsequently traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. The 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 a fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

If you wish to receive this information electronically, please contact [e-mail]

www.aberdeenlaq.com

SOURCE Aberdeen Latin America Equity Fund, Inc.