Van der Moolen Holding requests surseance

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS--(Marketwire - August 10, 2009) -

Van der Moolen Holding N.V. (international trading and brokerage firm) requested today surséance and published its first half year 2009 results earlier than anticipated.

Van der Moolen Holding N.V. ("Van der Moolen") requested this morning with the Amsterdam court a suspension of payments. The request is solely related to Van der Moolen (the parent company). No surséance has been requested for any of Van der Moolen's subsidiaries.

The most important reason to request a suspension of payments.is due to Van der Moolen's very weak liquidity position. After taking over from previous management, Van der Moolen's current management concluded Van der Moolen would soon be unable to satisfy its obligations. Management is looking into the possibility of continuing Van der Moolen as a smaller company. Serious consideration is being given to selling various parts of the company.

These developments have resulted in Van der Moolen's management to call for an extraordinary shareholders' meeting and to publish its half year results today instead of on the previously announced date of 13 August 2009. The extraordinary shareholders' meeting is expected to take place in the second half of September 2009.

The most important causes for the weak liquidity position are:

* continuing disappointing results: Revenues in the first half year 2009 were 73% lower than the first half year 2008. It should be noted that dividend arbitrage revenues under the agreement with GSFS Asset Management BV (GSFS) of approximately EUR 40 million were recognised in the first half year 2008. Such revenues were impaired at the end of 2008; * high cost structure: Despite lower operating expenses (1H09 were 45% lower than 1H08) costs were higher, in part due to the recent move. Van der Moolen recently moved from its two locations in Amsterdam to Schiphol This move resulted in additional costs and expenditures; * treasury share purchases of approximately EUR 30 million in 2008 whose impact on liquidity, in retrospect, were too severe.

Management is currently evaluating the future prospects of the company's various activities and segments. Van der Moolen can not quantify the results of this evaluation nor the surséance of the parent company. Accordingly, management decided to prepare the accompanying condensed financial information of the group (including Van der Moolen) assuming the group will continue as a going concern. Impairments have not been reflected in such financial information because it can not be determined which, if any, assets should be impaired and what the extent of any such impairment may be. Management emphasizes that it is seriously considering significant asset impairments.

The financial information is presented beginning on page 4 of this press release. Management points out that the first half year 2009 results should be considered in light of the aforementioned circumstances and that the going concern assumption - given the surséance that has been requested - is not definite.

Important developments:

* sale of 50% interest in Gekko Global Markets ltd (formerly VDM Global Markets ltd) to joint venture partner SYCAP. A 'letter of intent' was signed on the evening of Friday 7 August with the condition that permission would be granted by the bewindvoerder to be named under the surséance. The upcoming sale of the interest in Gekko Global Markets is expected to have a very limited contribution to the company's results; * the agreement with GSFS has recently been terminated. As a result, Van der Moolen will no longer carry out trading activities (dividend arbitrage) together with GSFS. The impact on the results is nil as possible revenues have been completely impaired.

In anticipation of the upcoming extraordinary shareholders' meeting, Van der Moolen can provide the following information over relevant events in the period.

* Mr. Kroon announced his intention not to accept a position on Van der Moolen's Management Board on 15 July 2009. Mr. Kroon received no termination benefits or any payments of a similar nature; * Mr. Den Drijver resigned as the sole member of Van der Moolen's Management Board on 16 July 2009. It was agreed that Mr. Den Drijver would receive no bonus over 2009 and that he would not request a termination benefit. Mr. Den Drijver will remain connected to the company as an advisor for a maximum of 12 months; * the departure of the sole member of the Management Board on 16 July 2009, resulted in an absence of management. In accordance with Van der Moolen's articles of association, the Supervisory Board was as of that date, in its entirety temporarily charged with managing the company. Carrying out both management and supervisory functions is in the long run not in the company's best interests. However, given the current circumstances, the Supervisory Board will continue to serve in both capacities. A new Management Board will under the current circumstances not be sought after; * the recent departure of 10 traders in England and the announced departure of 11 traders in the Netherlands will have an adverse effect on Van der Moolen's operations and results. Management will consider the causes and consequences of their departure in assessing the company's future prospects.

Van der Moolen's shares remain listed and tradable. Euronext Amsterdam has indicated their intent to take a noteringsmaatregel and to list Van der Moolen's shares under the caption "shares with a noteringsmaatregel".

For further information

For further information please contact Investor Relations/Corporate Communications, telephone +31 (0)20 535 6789.

www.vandermoolen.com

Disclaimer:

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements regarding our future financial condition, results of operations and business strategy, plans and objectives are forward-looking. Statements containing the words "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "hope," and words of similar meaning are forward-looking. In particular, the following are forward-looking in nature: statements with regard to strategy and management objectives; pending or potential acquisitions; pending or potential litigation and government investigations, including litigation and investigations concerning specialist trading in the U.S.; future revenue sources; the effects of changes or prospective changes in the regulation or structure of the securities exchanges on which our subsidiaries operate; and trends in results, performance, achievements or conditions in the markets in which we operate. These forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, which may cause our results, performance, achievements or conditions in the markets in which we operate to differ, possibly materially, from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. We caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect our management's view only as of the date of this Press Release. We have no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Van der Moolen Holding N.V. Condensed Income Statement For the six month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 IFRS (Unaudited) Consolidated income statement (in EUR millions) 1H09 1H08 Revenues 24.9 91.2 Other gains and losses - net - 0.1 Exchange, clearing and brokerage fees (8.5) (12.1) Employee benefit expense (12.8) (41.0) Information and communication expenses (5.2) (4.1) Amortisation and depreciation expense (2.7) (2.3) Impairment charges - - General and administrative expense (7.1) (6.6) Total operating expenses (36.3) (66.1) Operating (loss) / profit (11.4) 25.2 Net financing result 0.1 1.0 (Loss) / Profit before income tax from continuing operations (11.3) 26.2 Income tax expense 2.0 (7.4) (Loss) / Profit from continuing operations (9.3) 18.8 Loss from discontinued operations before income tax 0.6 (4.5) Income tax benefit - - Loss from discontinued operations 0.6 (4.5) (Loss) / Profit for the period (8.7) 14.3 Attributable to: Financing preferred shareholders of the Company 1.8 1.8 Common equity holders of the Company (10.5) 12.7 Loss for the period (8.7) 14.5 Earnings per share attributable to the common equity holders of the Company for the year (expressed in EUR per share): From continuing operations: - Basic and diluted (0.25) 0.29 From discontinued operations: - Basic and diluted 0.02 (0.00) Total - Basic and diluted (0.23) 0.29 Van der Moolen Holding N.V. Condensed Balance Sheet For the six month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 IFRS (Unaudited) Consolidated balance sheet (in EUR millions) June 30, 2009 December 31, 2008 Assets Non-current assets Goodwill 23.7 23.7 Other intangible assets 10.3 11.5 Property, plant and equipment 5.1 4.2 Deferred income tax assets 13.9 14.4 Retirement benefit plans and other long-term benefits 3.6 3.4 Other financial assets 4.6 4.5 61.2 61.7 Current assets Securities owned 453.1 1,248.8 Due from clearing organisations and professional parties 67.4 81.9 Other current assets and prepaid expenses 26.3 18.1 Cash and cash equivalents 147.5 430.7 694.3 1,779.5 Assets (of disposal group) classified as held for sale (*) - 6.5 694.3 1,786.0 Total assets 755.5 1,847.7 Equity and Liabilities Total equity 57.9 67.0 Non-current liabilities 12.7 11.8 Current liabilities Securities sold, not yet purchased 466.0 1,212.3 Due to clearing organisations and professional parties 75.2 62.8 Due to customers 2.0 0.1 Short-term borrowings 10.3 0.3 Bank overdrafts 108.4 443.1 Other current liabilities and accrued expenses 23.0 50.3 684.9 1,768.9 Total equity and liabilities 755.5 1,847.7 (*) planned sale of assets did not take place, therefore these assets are presented under other current assets Van der Moolen Holding N.V. Condensed Movement Schedule of Shareholders' Equity For the six month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 IFRS (Unaudited) Consolidated income statement (in EUR millions) 2009 2008 Shareholders' equity at January 1 67.0 118.5 Payment financing preferred shares dividend - (3.5) Result attributable to common equity shareholders (10.5) 12.7 Result attributable to financing preferred shareholders 1.8 1.8 Fair value change on available-for-sale financial assets - (1.8) Purchase of treasury shares - (19.2) Currency translation adjustments (0.4) (6.0) Shareholders' equity at June 30 57.9 102.5

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