Exhibit 99.a









                                                              December 6, 1995



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



            MASCO CORPORATION ADOPTS SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN


        Taylor, Michigan -- Masco Corporation announced today that its Board of
Directors adopted a Shareholder Rights Plan designed to enhance the Board's
ability to protect shareholders against, among other things, unsolicited 
attempts to acquire control of the Company that do not offer an adequate 
price to all shareholders or are otherwise not in the best interests of its
shareholders.

        Under the Plan each common shareholder at the close of business on 
December 18, 1995 will receive a dividend of one right for each share of common
stock held.  However, as is the case with similar Shareholder Rights Plans 
adopted by many other companies, the rights are not exercisable until after a
person becomes the owner of 15% or more of the Company's common stock or 
commences a tender offer which would result in such ownership.  Once a person
acquires such ownership, the rights would permit Masco shareholders, other than
the acquiring person, to purchase additional common stock at a substantial
discount to its then current market price.

        Masco said that the Plan was not adopted in response to any stock
acquisition plans or proposals of others.  The rights would expire in ten years,
unless earlier exchanged or redeemed.