NEWS UPDATE

Contact:

Colleen Clements

LaBarge, Inc.
314-997-0800, ext. 409

colleen.clements@labarge.com

LaBARGE, INC. REPORTS SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN FISCAL 2004
FOURTH-QUARTER AND FULL-YEAR SALES AND EARNINGS

Full-Year Net Sales Increase 28 Percent;

Full-Year Net EPS Rise to $.44 Vs. $.15;

Record Backlog - Up 27 Percent

ST. LOUIS, August 26, 2004 . . . . . LaBarge, Inc. (AMEX: LB) today reported that financial results for its fiscal 2004 fourth quarter and full year ended June 27, 2004 rose significantly over prior-year levels.

For the fiscal 2004 fourth quarter, net sales rose 38 percent to $40,910,000, compared with $29,735,000 for the year-ago period. Fourth-quarter net earnings from continuing operations increased 93 percent to $2,501,000, or $.16 per diluted share, in fiscal 2004 compared with $1,294,000, or $.09 per diluted share, in fiscal 2003. Total net earnings for the fiscal 2004 fourth quarter grew 135 percent to $2,501,000, or $.16 per diluted share, compared with $1,066,000, or $.07 per diluted share, in the fiscal 2003 fourth quarter. Included in the Company's fiscal 2004 fourth-quarter results are net sales of $11,938,000 and earnings of approximately $.03 per diluted share contributed by the Company's Pittsburgh operation, which was acquired in February 2004. Fiscal 2003 fourth-quarter results included a net loss from discontinued operations of $228,000, or $.02 per diluted share.

For the 2004 fiscal year, net sales rose 28 percent to $131,510,000, compared with $102,901,000 in fiscal 2003. Net earnings from continuing operations for the 12-month period increased 110 percent to $6,971,000, or $.45 per diluted share, in fiscal 2004, compared with $3,319,000, or $.22 per diluted share, in fiscal 2003. Total net earnings for fiscal 2004 grew 205 percent to $6,869,000, or $.44 per diluted share, compared with $2,248,000, or $.15 per diluted share, in fiscal 2003. Discontinued operations resulted in a net loss of $102,000, or $.01 per diluted share, in fiscal 2004, and a net loss of $1,071,000, or $.07 per diluted share, in fiscal 2003. Fiscal 2004 full-year results included net sales of $17,553,000 and earnings of approximately $.06 per diluted share contributed by the recently acquired Pittsburgh operation.

Gross margin for the 2004 fiscal year increased to 23.1 percent, compared with 20.3 percent for the previous fiscal year. The improvement in gross margin is primarily the result of product mix, operating productivity gains in our manufacturing process and the impact of higher sales volume. Selling and administrative expenses declined as a percentage of sales to 14 percent in fiscal 2004, versus 15 percent last year. Total selling and administrative expenses rose 20 percent from last year in contrast to the 28 percent increase in sales volume. Interest expense was $718,000 in fiscal 2004, versus $820,000 for the year-ago period.

Total debt at June 27, 2004 was $37,735,000, compared with $7,064,000 at June 29, 2003. Cash and cash equivalents at June 27, 2004 were $793,000 versus $4,030,000 at June 29, 2003. "The Company's continuing operations generated $13,034,000 of cash in fiscal 2004, compared with $7,589,000 in the previous year. The increased debt and reduced cash levels at fiscal 2004 year-end reflect the cash acquisition of our new Pittsburgh operation, which was acquired during the third fiscal quarter, and capital expenditures," said Craig LaBarge, chief executive officer and president. "We expect cash flow from operations to continue to be strong, and are planning significant debt reductions during the next year." Stockholders' equity was $42,584,000 at the end of fiscal 2004, up 19 percent from $35,879,000 at fiscal 2003 year-end.

Mr. LaBarge stated further, "In addition to improved growth in sales and earnings, bookings of new business - particularly from the defense and natural resources market sectors - were strong during fiscal 2004. Backlog of unshipped orders set a record at the end of the fiscal year, growing to $156,949,000, up 27 percent from $123,640,000 at the end of last fiscal year, and up 9 percent from $144,048,000 at the end of the fiscal 2004 third quarter.

"The largest contributor to fiscal 2004 revenues was shipments to defense customers, representing 48 percent of sales, versus 49 percent in fiscal 2003," said Mr. LaBarge. "During the year, LaBarge provided cables and electronic assemblies for a variety of defense applications, including military aircraft, radar systems and shipboard programs."

"Revenues from the natural resources market generated 14 percent of fiscal 2004 shipments, versus 17 percent last year," continued Mr. LaBarge. "Natural resources sales represent shipments of capital equipment to customers in the oil-and-gas and mining sectors, and include downhole tools and industrial mining equipment. The increase in current year revenues from this market is attributable to strengthening activity among oil-and-gas customers, business from the Pittsburgh acquisition and the development of new mining customers.

"Shipments of capital equipment to industrial customers were 13 percent of fiscal 2004 revenues compared with an insignificant amount last year," said Mr. LaBarge. "This growth is largely from our recent acquisition which has broadened our customer mix to include companies that do business in the glass packaging and specialized instrumentation industries, as well as other industrial markets."

"The remaining 25 percent of fiscal 2004 sales is attributable to customers in a variety of other market sectors," said Mr. LaBarge.

Fiscal 2005 First-Quarter and Full-Year Outlook

"Based on our strong backlog and the current pipeline of new business opportunities, we are optimistic about our current fiscal year. We anticipate, compared with the same period last year, fiscal 2005 first-quarter net sales to increase at least 36 percent to approximately $41.0 million to $42.0 million, and earnings per diluted share to improve at least 75 percent to approximately $.14 to $.15. Looking further ahead, we continue to expect fiscal 2005 sales and earnings to increase approximately 25 percent from fiscal 2004 levels."

Today's Conference Call Webcast

Today, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time, LaBarge will host a live audio webcast of its discussion with the investment community regarding financial results for the Company's fiscal 2004 fourth quarter and full year. The webcast can be accessed at http://www.labarge.com/investor/stockholder_calendar.asp . Following the live discussion, a replay of the webcast will be available at the same location on the Internet.

LaBarge, Inc. reports the following . . . .

LABARGE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)

(Amounts In Thousands -- Except Per-Share Amounts)

				Three Months Ended																Twelve Months Ended
				June 27,									June 29,								June 27,						June 29,
				2004									2003								2004						2003
Net sales			$							40,910		$				29,735			$					131,510		$				102,901
Costs and expenses:
		Cost of sales						31,234								23,462							101,138						82,053
		Selling and administrative expense			5,336										4,121							18,828						15,662
		Interest expense					427								198							718						820
		Other income, net					(158				)				(45		)					(677			)			(710			)
Earnings from continuing operations  before income taxes							4,071								1,999							11,503						5,076
Income tax expense							1,570								705							4,532						1,757
Net earnings from continuing operations							2,501								1,294							6,971						3,319
Discontinued operations:
	Loss from discontinued operations less applicable income tax benefit of $(131), $(70) and $(519), respectively						---								(228		)					(114			)			(859			)
	Gain (loss) on disposal of discontinued operations net of income tax expense of $8 and $2,434, respectively						---								---							12						(212			)
Net earnings						$				2,501				$		1,066			$					6,869		$				2,248
Basic net earnings per common share:
Net earnings from continuing operations						$				0.17				$		0.09			$					0.47		$				0.22
Net loss from discontinued operations									---						(0.02			)				(0.01			)			(0.07			)
Basic net earnings						$				0.17						0.07			$					0.46		$				0.15
Average common shares outstanding							14,965								14,927							14,981						14,977
Diluted net earnings per share:
Net earnings from continuing operations							$			0.16				$		0.09			$					0.45		$				0.22
Net loss from discontinued operations							---								(0.02			)				(0.01			)			(0.07			)
Diluted net earnings						$				0.16				$		0.07			$					0.44		$				0.15
Average diluted common   shares outstanding							15,660								15,072							15,552						15,101

				LABARGE, INC.
				CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
				(Unaudited)
				(Amounts In Thousands -- Except Share Amounts)
					June 27, 2004				June 29, 2003
ASSETS
Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents				$		793		$		4,030
	Accounts and other receivables, net					22,335				15,653
	Inventories					40,202				25,743
	Prepaid expenses					854				956
	Deferred tax assets, net					803				637
	Current assets of discontinued operations					---				215
		Total current assets				64,987				47,234
Property, plant and equipment, net						18,910				14,255
Deferred tax assets, net						37				299
Intangible assets, net						3,881				270
Goodwill, net						24,471				206
Other assets, net						5,694				4,727
Non-current assets of discontinued operations						---				171
			Total assets		$		117,980		$		67,162
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
	Short-term borrowings				$		7,050		$		---
	Current maturities of long-term debt						4,415				395
	Trade accounts payable					12,305				7,808
	Accrued employee compensation					8,466				5,930
	Advances from customers for purchase of materials					2,656				3,419
	Other accrued liabilities					8,864				4,208
	Current liabilities of discontinued operations					---				66
		Total current liabilities				43,756				21,826
Long-term advances from customers for purchase of materials						5,370				2,788
Long-term debt						26,270				6,669
Stockholders' equity:
	Common stock, $.01 par value. Authorized 40,000,000 shares; 15,773,253 issued at June 27, 2004 and June 29, 2003, including shares in treasury					158				158
	Additional paid-in capital					13,462				13,486
	Retained earnings					31,853				24,984
	Accumulated other comprehensive gain				157				---
	Less cost of common stock in treasury, shares of 808,754 at June 27, 2004 and 844,903 at June 29, 2003				(3,046			)	(2,749			)
		Total stockholders' equity				42,584				35,879
		Total liabilities and stockholders' equity			$		117,980		$		67,162

LaBarge, Inc. is a broad-based provider of electronics to technology-driven companies in diverse industrial markets. The Company provides its customers with sophisticated electronic products through contract design and manufacturing services. Headquartered in St. Louis, LaBarge has operations in Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Texas. The Company's Web site address is http://www.labarge.com .

Statements contained in this release relating to LaBarge, Inc. that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Matters subject to forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including economic, competitive and other factors that may cause LaBarge or its industry's actual results, levels of activity, performance and achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause LaBarge's actual results to differ materially from those projected in, or inferred by, forward-looking statements are (but are not necessarily limited to) the following: the impact of increasing competition or deterioration of economic conditions in LaBarge's markets; cutbacks in defense spending by the U.S. Government; loss of one or more large customers; LaBarge's ability to replace completed and expired contracts on a timely basis; the Company's ability to integrate recently acquired businesses; the outcome of litigation the Company may be party to; increases in the cost of raw materials, labor and other resources necessary to operate LaBarge's business; the availability, amount, type and cost of financing for LaBarge and any changes to that financing; and other factors summarized in our reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Given these uncertainties, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements. Unless otherwise required by law, LaBarge disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements or to publicly announce any revisions thereto to reflect future events or developments.

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