WHEATON, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- First Trust/Aberdeen Emerging Opportunity Fund (FEO) (the "Fund") (NYSE: FEO) today declared a long-term capital gain distribution of $0.35 per share payable on December 30, 2011 to shareholders of record as of December 23, 2011. The ex-dividend date is expected to be December 21, 2011.

The Funds current policy is to make level distributions each quarter in the amount of $0.35 per share.

The final determination of the source and tax status of 2011 distributions will be made after the end of 2011.

The Fund is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide a high level of total return. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 80% of its managed assets in a diversified portfolio of equity and fixed-income securities of issuers in emerging market countries.

First Trust Advisors L.P., the Funds investment advisor, along with its affiliate First Trust Portfolios L.P., are privately-held companies which provide a variety of investment services, including asset management, financial advisory services, and competitive municipal underwritings, with collective assets under management or supervision of approximately $46 billion as of November 30, 2011 through unit investment trusts, exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, mutual funds and separate managed accounts.

Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. (Aberdeen) serves as the Funds investment sub-advisor. Aberdeen is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aberdeen Asset Management PLC which is the parent company of an asset management group managing approximately $265 billion in assets as of September 30, 2011, including approximately $63.5 billion in global fixed-income securities, for a range of pension funds, financial institutions, investment trusts, unit trusts, offshore funds, charities and private clients.

Past performance is no assurance of future results. Investment return and market value of an investment in the Fund will fluctuate. Shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

The Fund is exposed to several risks including, but not limited to, the following: investment and market risk, management risk, emerging markets risk, equity securities risk, fixed-income securities risk, interest rate risk, non investment-grade securities risk, non-U.S. securities risk, government securities risk, non-U.S. government securities risk, currency risk, preferred stock risk, convertible securities risk, asset-backed securities risk, credit linked notes risk, credit default swaps risk, smaller capitalization risk, market discount from net asset value, leverage risk, derivatives risk, portfolio turnover risk, market disruption risk, inflation risk, and illiquid/restricted securities risk. The risks of investing in the Fund are spelled out in the prospectus, shareholder report and other regulatory filings.

The Funds daily New York Stock Exchange closing price and net asset value per share as well as other information can be found at www.ftportfolios.com or by calling 1-800-988-5891.

First Trust/Aberdeen Emerging Opportunity Fund
Press Inquiries: Jane Doyle, 630-765-8775
Analyst Inquiries: Jeff Margolin, 630-915-6784
Broker Inquiries: Jeff Margolin, 630-915-6784

Source: First Trust/Aberdeen Emerging Opportunity Fund

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