Exhibit 99.1

LaBranche & Co Inc.

Jeffrey A. McCutcheon

Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

(212) 820-6220

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LaBranche & Co Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2009 Results

NEW YORK, July 21, 2009 – LaBranche & Co Inc. (NYSE: LAB) (the “Company”) today reported financial results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2009. The Company reported after-tax net income of $13.3 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, for the 2009 second quarter, which includes a pre-tax unrealized gain on the Company’s shares of NYSE Euronext, Inc. common stock (the “NYX shares”) of $29.3 million and income on early extinguishment of debt of $1.0 million. This compares to a net loss of $21.3 million, or $0.34 per share, for the 2008 second quarter, which included a $33.2 million pre-tax unrealized loss on the Company’s NYX shares and expense on early extinguishment of debt of $5.1 million.

On a pro-forma basis, the Company reported a net loss for the second quarter of 2009 of $4.9 million, or $0.09 per share, compared to pro-forma net income of $1.7 million, or $0.03 per share, for the second quarter of 2008. These pro-forma results exclude the unrealized gain on the NYX shares and the income on early extinguishment of debt in the second quarter of 2009 and the unrealized loss on the NYX shares and the expense on early extinguishment of debt in the second quarter of 2008.

The Company reported an after-tax net loss of $16.4 million, or $0.29 per share, for the six months ended June 30, 2009, which compares to a net loss of $61.6 million, or $0.99 per share, for the six months ended June 30, 2008.

On a pro-forma basis, the Company reported a net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2009 of $16.8 million, or $0.30 per share, compared to pro-forma net income of $9.5 million, or $0.15 per share, for the six months ended June 30, 2008. These pro-forma results exclude both the unrealized loss on the NYX shares in each period and the income (loss) on early extinguishment of debt as reported in the attached reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.

The Company also announced that its Board of Directors has increased the $40.0 million share repurchase program previously announced by the Company on April 22, 2008 by $25.0 million, making the total authorization under the share repurchase program $65.0 million. Following this increase and repurchases made to date under the repurchase plan, approximately $29.5 million in shares of common stock may be repurchased under the repurchase plan. The repurchase program may be implemented from time to time in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise, in compliance with applicable state and federal securities laws. The timing and amounts of any purchases will be based on market conditions and other factors, including price, regulatory requirements, debt covenant compliance and capital availability. The share repurchase program may be suspended, modified or discontinued at any time.

The Company is the parent of LaBranche & Co. LLC, one of the largest market-makers in exchange-listed securities. The Company is also the parent of LaBranche Structured Holdings, Inc., whose subsidiaries are market-makers in options, exchange-traded funds and futures on various exchanges domestically and


internationally. Another subsidiary of the Company, LaBranche Financial Services, LLC, provides mainly securities execution and brokerage services to institutional investors.

Certain statements contained in this release, including without limitation, statements containing the words “believes”, “intends”, “expects”, “anticipates”, and words of similar import, constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and since such statements involve risks and uncertainties, the actual results and performance of the Company and the industry may turn out to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company also disclaims any obligation to update its view of any such risks or uncertainties or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to the forward-looking statements made in this release.

TABLES TO FOLLOW


LaBranche & Co Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(all data in thousands, except per share data)

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2009     2008     2009     2008  
     (unaudited)     (unaudited)     (unaudited)     (unaudited)  

REVENUES:

        

Net gain on principal transactions

   $ 13,074      $ 44,917      $ 11,032      $ 105,097   

Commissions and other fees

     20,866        9,950        37,042        19,959   

Net gain (loss) on investments

     28,804        (36,344 )      (2,961 )      (117,769 ) 

Interest income

     1,047        17,469        1,910        47,394   

Other

     888        1,110        2,004        1,403   
                                

Total revenues

     64,679        37,102        49,027        56,084   
                                

Interest Expense:

        

Debt

     5,393        8,504        11,057        19,367   

Inventory financing

     5,455        20,808        11,090        51,620   
                                

Total interest expense

     10,848        29,312        22,147        70,987   
                                

Revenues, net of interest expense

     53,831        7,790        26,880        (14,903 ) 

EXPENSES:

        

Employee compensation and related benefits

     13,658        19,594        21,727        48,124   

Exchange, clearing and brokerage fees

     12,145        9,743        17,632        20,401   

Lease of exchange memberships and trading license fees

     406        416        810        843   

Depreciation and amortization of intangibles

     992        907        1,947        1,797   

Early extinguishment of debt

     (1,038 )      5,119        (1,038 )      6,005   

Other

     7,239        6,923        14,979        14,271   
                                

Total expenses

     33,402        42,702        56,057        91,441   
                                

Income (loss) before benefit for income taxes

     20,429        (34,912 )      (29,177 )      (106,344 ) 

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

     7,116        (13,571 )      (12,750 )      (44,766 ) 
                                

Income (loss) applicable to common stockholders

   $ 13,313      $ (21,341 )    $ (16,427 )    $ (61,578 ) 
                                

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

        

Basic

     55,394        61,993        56,883        61,924   

Diluted

     55,536        61,993        56,883        61,924   

Loss per common share:

        

Basic

   $ 0.24      $ (0.34 )    $ (0.29 )    $ (0.99 ) 

Diluted

   $ 0.24      $ (0.34 )    $ (0.29 )    $ (0.99 ) 


LaBranche & Co Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition

(all data in thousands)

 

     June 30, 2009    December 31, 2008
     (unaudited)    (audited)

ASSETS

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 194,983    $ 304,179

Cash and securities segregated under federal regulations

     1,827      1,876

Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations

     52,969      91,354

Receivable from customers

     2,319      —  

Financial instruments owned, at fair value

     2,634,354      3,175,968

Exchange memberships owned, at adjusted cost (market value of $4,356 and $3,910, respectively)

     1,202      1,202

Office equipment and leasehold improvements, at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization of $13,152 and $14,362, respectively

     15,639      16,522

Goodwill and other intangible assets, net

     109,229      109,229

Deferred tax assets

     108      —  

Income tax receivable

     7,330      —  

Other assets

     19,329      31,285
             

Total assets

   $ 3,039,289    $ 3,731,615
             

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

     

LIABILITIES:

     

Payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations

   $ 436,985    $ 105,037

Payable to customers

     2,345      36

Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, at fair value

     1,965,653      2,855,420

Accrued compensation

     4,786      75,747

Accounts payable and other accrued expenses

     19,806      29,179

Other liabilities

     12,578      12,840

Income tax payable

     —        5,834

Deferred tax liabilities

     —        5,349

Long term debt

     189,323      199,323
             

Total liabilities

     2,631,476      3,288,765
             

Total stockholders’ equity

     407,813      442,850
             

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 3,039,289    $ 3,731,615
             


LaBranche & Co Inc.

Regulation G Requirement: Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

(all data in thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

In evaluating the Company’s financial performance, management reviews results from operations, which excludes non-operating charges. Pro-forma earnings per share is a non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) performance measure, but the Company believes that it is useful to assist investors in gaining an understanding of the trends and operating results for the Company’s core business. Pro-forma earnings per share should be viewed in addition to, and not in lieu of, the Company’s reported results under U.S. GAAP.

The following is a reconciliation of U.S. GAAP results to pro-forma results for the periods presented:

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,
     2009     2008
     Amounts as
reported
    (1) (2)
Adjustments
    Pro forma
amounts
    Amounts as
reported
    (1) (2)
Adjustments
    Pro forma
amounts

Revenues, net of interest expense

   $ 53,831      $ (29,313 )(1)    $ 24,518      $ 7,790      $ 33,206 (1)    $ 40,996

Total expenses

     33,402        1,038 (2)      34,440        42,698        (5,119 )(2)      37,579
                                              

Income (loss) before provision (benefit) for income taxes

     20,429        (30,351 )      (9,922 )      (34,908 )      38,325        3,417

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

     7,116        (12,140 )      (5,024 )      (13,571 )      15,330        1,759
                                              

Income (loss) applicable to common stockholders

   $ 13,313      $ (18,211 )    $ (4,898 )    $ (21,337 )    $ 22,995      $ 1,658
                                              

Basic per share

   $ 0.24      $ (0.33 )    $ (0.09 )    $ (0.34 )    $ 0.37      $ 0.03

Diluted per share

   $ 0.24      $ (0.33 )    $ (0.09 )    $ (0.34 )    $ 0.37      $ 0.03
     Six Months Ended June 30,
     2009     2008
     Amounts as
reported
    (1) (2)
Adjustments
    Pro forma
amounts
    Amounts as
reported
    (1) (2)
Adjustments
    Pro forma
amounts

Revenues, net of interest expense

   $ 26,880      $ 408 (1)    $ 27,288      $ (14,903 )    $ 112,452 (1)    $ 97,549

Total expenses

     56,057        1,038 (2)      57,095        91,437        (6,005 )(2)      85,432
                                              

(Loss) income before (benefit) provision for income taxes

     (29,177 )      (630 )      (29,807 )      (106,340 )      118,457        12,117

(Benefit) provision for income taxes (3)

     (12,750 )      (252 )      (13,002 )      (44,766 )      47,383        2,617
                                              

Net (loss) income applicable to common stockholders

   $ (16,427 )    $ (378 )    $ (16,805 )    $ (61,574 )    $ 71,074      $ 9,500
                                              

Basic per share

   $ (0.29 )    $ (0.01 )    $ (0.30 )    $ (0.99 )    $ 1.14      $ 0.15

Diluted per share

   $ (0.29 )    $ (0.01 )    $ (0.30 )    $ (0.99 )    $ 1.14      $ 0.15

 

(1) Revenue adjustment reflects (gain) loss in each accounting period, based on the change in fair market value of the Company’s restricted and unrestricted NYX shares at the end of each such period versus the beginning of such period.
(2) Expense adjustment reflects the (income) expense associated with early extinguishment of the Company’s debt in accounting period.
(3) In the first quarter of 2008, the Company recognized a tax benefit due to the release of a tax reserve for an expired tax year, which resulted in a reduced provision for income taxes.