NEWS UPDATE

Contact:

Colleen Clements

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

colleen.clements@labarge.com

LaBARGE, INC.'S CEO ADOPTS 10b5-1 PLAN

ST. LOUIS, May 2, 2006-LaBarge, Inc. (AMEX: LB) announced today that Craig LaBarge, the Company's chief executive officer and president, has adopted a prearranged stock trading plan under Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Rule 10b5-1 permits officers and directors of public companies to adopt predetermined plans for selling specified amounts of stock.

"I believe LaBarge is well positioned in the EMS industry and am excited about our prospects for 2007 and beyond. I am adopting the 10b5-1 plan simply as a way of achieving prudent diversification of my investments. The amount of shares covered under the trading plan represents less than 10 percent of my equity position in the Company," said Mr. LaBarge. Under his Rule 10b5-1 plan, Mr. LaBarge may sell up to 150,000 shares of the Company's common stock over a period of six months.

LaBarge, Inc. is a broad-based provider of electronics to technology-driven companies in diverse 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 may be accessed at 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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