CONTACT:  Raymond B. Rogers                  (NYSE -- BMC)
          (612)  851-6030                    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                      BMC ANNOUNCES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND

December 12, 1997 --  Minneapolis, Minnesota -- BMC Industries, Inc. today
announced that its Board of Directors has approved a continuation of its
quarterly cash dividend of $.015 per share.

Shareholders of record as of December 23, 1997 will receive a dividend of $.015
for each share owned on that date, to be paid on January 5, 1998.

BMC Industries, Inc. is one of the world's largest manufacturers of aperture
masks for color picture tubes used in televisions and computer monitors.  The
Company is also a leading producer of polycarbonate, glass and plastic eyewear
lenses.  BMC's Common Stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol BMC.