Avalon sets Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders for February 24, 2016 Toronto, ON – Avalon Rare Metals Inc.(TSX: AVL and OTCQX: AVLNF) (“Avalon” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it will hold its Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”) at 4:30 pm EST on Wednesday, February 24, 2016, at the Toronto Board of Trade, Room A/B/C/D, located at 1 First Canadian Place, Toronto, Ontario. At the Meeting, shareholders will be asked to approve a special resolution authorizing the Company to effect a change of name from “Avalon Rare Metals Inc.” to “Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.” Avalon deems that the current Company name fails to adequately convey the Company’s diversified specialty metals and minerals asset base. The Company is not exclusively focused on rare earths and current activities are now focused on its other advanced materials assets, notably lithium and tin-indium. The proposed name of “Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.” is better suited to current Company activity. Please see Avalon’s Information Circular for further information on this and other matters to be acted upon at the Meeting. Avalon’s Information Circular, 2015 President’s Message, Audited Consolidated Financial Statements and Management Discussion and Analysis for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2015 are available online at the following locations: on the Company's transfer agent's at https://noticeinsite.tmxequity.com/AvalonRareMetalsASM2016/ on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com on the Company’s web site at http://www.avalonraremetals.com/investors/regulatory_filings/ Avalon has implemented the Notice and Access Provisions of NI 54-101, an environmentally friendly alternative that will reduce paper and printing and mailing costs associated with the dissemination of annual information to approximately 20,000 shareholders. Non-registered shareholders will receive paper copies of the Notice of Meeting and Form of Proxy in the usual manner, as well as a notice document which contains information on how to obtain electronic or paper copies of the rest of the meeting materials in advance of the Meeting. Due to certain requirements of the Canada Business Corporations Act, the Company has sent a paper copy of all of the above materials directly to registered shareholders. About Avalon Rare Metals Inc. Avalon Rare Metals Inc. is a Canadian mineral development company specializing in niche market metals and minerals with growing demand in new technology. The Company has three advanced stage projects, all 100%-owned, providing investors with exposure to lithium, tin and indium, as well as rare earth elements, tantalum, niobium, and zirconium. Avalon is currently focusing on its Separation Rapids Lithium Project, Kenora, ON and its East Kemptville Tin-Indium Project, Yarmouth, NS. Social responsibility and environmental stewardship are corporate cornerstones. For questions and feedback, please e-mail the Company at [email protected], or phone Don Bubar, President & CEO at 416-364-4938. Avalon sets