<B>Boise Cascade To Buy Blue Star Unit</B>

Boise Cascade Corp. announced plans to pay $115 million to buy the U.S. Office Products Co unit Blue Star Business Supplies Group in Australia and New Zealand.

The purchase would include office products distribution, educational supplies, manufacturing and wholesaling and specialty businesses in Australia and New Zealand, which all together had revenue of about $298 million last year.

"This major acquisition will fold nicely into our existing operations and will significantly expand our Australian presence," said Chris Milliken, president and chief executive of Boise Cascade Office Products, a wholly owned unit of Boise Cascade Corp.