Rigrodsky & Long, P.A. Investigates LaBranche & Co Inc. Buyout - LAB

Rigrodsky & Long, P.A. announces that it is investigating potential claims against the board of directors of LaBranche & Co, Inc. (“LaBranche” or the “Company”) (NYSE: LAB) concerning possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law related to the Company’s entry into an agreement to be acquired by Cowen Group, Inc. (“Cowen”) (NASDAQ: COWN) in a stock-for-stock merger transaction valued at approximately $192.8 million. Click here to learn how to join the action: http://www.rigrodskylong.com/news/LaBrancheCoInc-LAB.

Under the proposed agreement, each outstanding share of LaBranche common stock will be exchanged for 0.9980 of a share of Cowen Class A common stock. The total Cowen shares to be issued to LaBranche shareholders will represent approximately 35.1 percent of the combined company and 33.8 percent on a fully diluted basis. The transaction represents an only 16 percent premium to LaBranche’s closing price on February 16, 2011. Certain executive officers of LaBranche, holding approximately 12.5% of the Company’s outstanding shares, and RCG Holding LLC, which currently holds approximately 44.5% of the outstanding shares of Cowen, have entered into voting agreements to vote in favor of the transaction.

The investigation concerns whether LaBranche’s board of directors failed to adequately shop the Company and obtain the best price possible for LaBranche’s shareholders before entering into the agreement with Cowen.

If you own the common stock of LaBranche and purchased your shares before February 17, 2011, if you have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or if you wish to discuss these matters or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Scott J. Farrell, Esquire, of Rigrodsky & Long, P.A., 585 Stewart Avenue, Suite 304, Garden City, New York 11530, by telephone at [phone], or by e-mail to [e-mail].

Rigrodsky & Long, P.A., with offices in Wilmington, Delaware and Garden City, New York, regularly litigates securities class, derivative and direct actions, shareholder rights litigation and corporate governance litigation, including claims for breach of fiduciary duty and proxy violations in the Delaware Court of Chancery and in state and federal courts throughout the United States.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.