HOUSTON, TX—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Houston Wire & Cable Company (Nasdaq: HWCC), a leading distributor of specialty wire and cable, today announced the public offering of 8.5 million shares of common stock at a price of $13.00 per share. In the offering, the Company is selling 4.25 million shares and selling stockholders of the Company are selling 4.25 million shares. In addition, certain selling stockholders have granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,275,000 shares of common stock to cover over-allotments, if any.

The Company will use the net proceeds from this offering to repay debt. The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling stockholders.

William Blair & Company, L.L.C. is acting as sole book-running manager and co-lead manager of the offering, Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated is also acting as co-lead manager, and BB&T Capital Markets is acting as co-manager. The shares will begin trading on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol “HWCC” on June 15, 2006.

The common stock offering may be made only by means of prospectus, copies of which may be obtained by contacting:

William Blair & Company, L.L.C.
Prospectus Department
222 West Adams
Chicago, IL 60606
Telephone: 800-621-0687

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
Syndicate Department
777 East Wisconsin Avenue, 25th Fl.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Telephone: 414-765-3632

BB&T Capital Markets
Syndicate Department
909 E. Main Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Telephone: 804-780-3283

A registration statement relating to these securities has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities, in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.