Van der Moolen Specialists Closes Its Stock Loan Business

    Business Editors/Stock Market Writers

    AMSTERDAM, Netherlands--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 11, 2005--Van der Moolen Specialists USA, LLC ("VDMS"), a 75% subsidiary of Van der Moolen Holding N.V., has been informed that the New York Stock Exchange is conducting an inquiry into broker-dealer stock lending practices, focusing on transactions involving finders, including transactions of VDMS's stock loan business.
    Based on this inquiry, as well as the results of its own internal review, VDMS has decided to close its stock loan business. VDMS has taken this action in light of the projected profitability of the stock loan business and the fact that the stock loan business is not one of its core businesses.
    VDMS's stock loan business, which employed 12 professionals, generated during the years 2002, 2003 and 2004 a net result of approx. EUR 0.6 million per year. This is only a small percentage of the total net operating result of Van der Moolen Holding N.V. Van der Moolen Holding N.V does not expect that the costs of the closing down of VDMS's stock loan business will be material to Van der Moolen Holding N.V's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
    For more information about Van der Moolen Holding N.V, please visit www.vandermoolen.com.

    Van der Moolen trades on the leading US and European equity exchanges. The group trades in open outcry and electronic markets in several time zones. On the NYSE, Van der Moolen Specialists USA, LLC currently has a market share of more than 10% of transaction volume for which it acts as specialist. Van der Moolen's traders worldwide execute an average of 75,000 trades a day. Turnover and price volatility are the most important factors influencing its results. Van der Moolen's shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam (VDMN.AS). American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) representing Van der Moolen shares are listed on the NYSE (VDM).

    Disclaimer:

    Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements". These statements, which contain the words "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "estimate", "expect", "hope", and words of similar meaning, reflect management's beliefs and expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, including those referred to above concerning VDMS's stock loan business and the NYSE inquiry into the stock loan business, and are referred to the documents filed by the Company with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, specifically the Company's most recent filing on Form 20-F, which identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ, including the outcome of the NYSE inquiry and related civil litigation in U.S. courts against Van der Moolen Holding, Van der Moolen Specialists USA, and the members of the Management Board of the Holding. The Company disclaims any obligation to update its view of such risks and uncertainties or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to the forward-looking statements made herein, except where it would be required to do so under applicable law.

--30--TM/ny*

CONTACT: Van der Moolen Jacqueline Eelman, +31 20 535 6789

KEYWORD: NETHERLANDS INTERNATIONAL EUROPE INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BANKING SOURCE: Van der Moolen

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