Cameron Ashley Building Products, Inc. completes acquisition of California branch.

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--October 3, 1996--Cameron Ashley Building Products, Inc. (Nasdaq:CABP) announced today that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of Dependable Roofing, Inc., located in Indio, California. Dependable Roofing distributes primarily roofing products, both commercial and residential, as well as related supplies. Sales for this branch were approximately $4 million in 1995. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Ronald R. Ross, Chairman of Cameron Ashley Building Products, Inc., commented: "This acquisition provides us with a platform to further our penetration of the high growth markets east of Los Angeles. Dependable Roofing has an excellent reputation in the reroofing market which we will seek to enhance through our purchasing capabilities and marketing programs."

Cameron Ashley Building Products, Inc. is a distributor of a broad line of building products that are used principally in home improvement, remodeling and repair work and in new residential construction. The Company distributes its products to independent building material dealers, professional builders, large contractors and mass merchandisers through a network of 107 branches located throughout the United States. Product lines include roofing, millwork, pool and patio enclosure materials, insulation, siding, steel products, industrial metals and a variety of other building materials.

CONTACT: CAMERON ASHLEY BUILDING PRODUCTS, INC.

F. Dixon McElwee

Chief Financial Officer

[phone]

or

Morgen-Walke Associates

June Filingeri, Robert Weiner,

Jonathan Schaffer

Media contact: Stan Froelich,

Nancy Gallinghouse

[phone]

or

Ken Pieper [phone]