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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  March 13, 2000


        BOISE CASCADE'S PROPOSAL TO PURCHASE MINORITY PUBLIC SHARES
           OF BOISE CASCADE OFFICE PRODUCTS FOR $16.50 PER SHARE
            ACCEPTED BY BOP'S COMMITTEE OF INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

         BOISE, Idaho -- Boise Cascade Corporation (NYSE:BCC) announced
today that its proposal to acquire the minority public shares of Boise
Cascade Office Products (NYSE:BOP) for $16.50 per share in cash has been
accepted by BOP's committee of independent directors. The committee has
determined that the proposed price of $16.50 per share is fair to the
minority public shareholders and will recommend that BOP shareholders
tender their shares pursuant to Boise Cascade's offer.

         Boise Cascade and Boise Cascade Office Products have signed an
Agreement and Plan of Merger, under which Boise Cascade will purchase all
of the publicly held shares of Boise Cascade Office Products for $16.50 per
share in cash. Under this agreement, Boise Cascade will commence a tender
offer for the shares as soon as practical. Success of the tender offer will
be contingent upon acquiring a majority of the shares not currently held by
Boise Cascade.

         George J. Harad, chairman of the board and chief executive officer
of Boise Cascade, stated that he is very pleased that the proposal has been
accepted by the committee of independent directors. "We view the
acquisition of BOP's minority shares as an attractive investment that is
consistent with our focus on growing our distribution businesses," he said.
"We expect the proposed transaction to enhance Economic Value Added over
time."

        Boise Cascade Corporation, headquartered in Boise, Idaho, is a
major distributor of office products and building materials and an
integrated manufacturer and distributor of paper and wood products. The
company also owns and manages over 2 million acres of timberland in the
United States. Visit the Boise Cascade web site at www.bc.com.

EACH BOP SHAREHOLDER WILL RECEIVE AN OFFER TO PURCHASE SHARES. THIS
DOCUMENT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY.
BOISE CASCADE WILL ALSO FILE A TENDER OFFER STATEMENT WITH THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THIS STATEMENT WILL CONTAIN THE OFFER TO PURCHASE
ALONG WITH OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION. ALL DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC
CAN BE EXAMINED FREE OF CHARGE AT THE SEC WEB SITE (http://www.sec.gov).
THEY WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE BY CALLING THE BOISE CASCADE
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT 1-800-544-6473.

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