LaBranche & Co. Inc. Shareholder Investigation by Briscoe Law Firm Concerning Acquisition by Cowen Group, Inc.

The Briscoe Law Firm, PLLC, founded by a former state prosecutor and enforcement attorney for the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and the securities litigation law firm of Powers Taylor, LLP are investigating potential legal claims against the Board of Directors of LaBranche & Co. Inc. (“LaBranche” or “LAB”) (NYSE: LAB) related to the proposed buyout of LaBranche by Cowen Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: COWN). The definitive acquisition agreement, which was announced on February 17, 2011, involves a total transaction valued at approximately $192.8 million under which LaBranche shareholders will receive a fixed ratio of only 0.9980 shares of Cowen Class A common for each share of LaBranche/LAB common stock they hold.

The investigation relates to the fairness of the proposed transaction to LaBranche shareholders, possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of state law by the Board of Directors of LaBranche for approving this transaction, and whether LaBranche’s Board of Directors acted in the shareholders’ best interests. This stock-for-stock transaction reportedly represents a value of only $4.71 per share to LaBranche shareholders, based on the closing price of Cowen shares the day before the acquisition announcement. However, LaBranche shares closed as high as $5.98 per share as recently as April 19, 2010, and the shares closed at over $5.00 per share in May 2010. Based on these and other factors, the firms believe that the acquisition price may not be fair for LaBranche shareholders.

If you currently own shares of LaBranche/LAB and would like additional information regarding this investigation, or if you have information regarding the allegations involved in this transaction, please contact Patrick Powers at Powers Taylor, LLP, toll free [phone], via e-mail at [e-mail], or Willie Briscoe at The Briscoe Law Firm, PLLC toll free [phone], or via email at [e-mail]. There is no cost or fee to you.

The Briscoe Law Firm is a full service business litigation and shareholder rights advocacy firm with more than 20 years of experience in complex litigation matters.

Powers Taylor, LLP is a boutique litigation law firm that handles a variety of complex business litigation matters, including claims of investor and stockholder fraud, shareholder oppression, shareholder derivative suits, and security class actions.