Bergen Brunswig Announces Prime Vendor Contract With Owens Healthcare; Renewal Signals Expanded Partnership with Innovative Customer.

Business Editors

ORANGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 16, 2001

Bergen Brunswig Drug Company (BBDC), a subsidiary of Bergen Brunswig Corporation (NYSE: BBC), today announced a new, three-year prime vendor agreement with Owens Healthcare - a premier provider of innovative healthcare solutions.

Under terms of the agreement, which is expected to generate more than $20 million to Bergen annually, BBDC will supply pharmaceuticals to a number of Owens' business segments, including community pharmacy stores, Optioncare home infusion offices, institutional pharmacy locations and a home medical equipment business.

"Bergen is excited to renew and expand this partnership with such a diverse and progressive organization as Owens Healthcare," said David Neu, president, BBDC Retail. "Together our focus will be on leveraging our combined resources to maximize growth opportunities and value creation."

Owens Healthcare will continue to utilize many of Bergen's successful programs, including Generic Purchasing Program (GPP), GNP Plus, Plus Care(R) managed care network, Today's Healthcare and Interlinx(TM) and are eager to utilize new programs, including iBergen(SM).

John Friesen, President/CEO of Owens Healthcare said, "We made the decision to continue our relationship with Bergen because of their willingness to develop a true business partnership. Utilizing the programs and expertise that Bergen possesses is an integral part of Owens continued growth strategy."

Owens Healthcare is a premier provider of innovative healthcare solutions in the areas of home infusion, institutional pharmacy, home medical equipment and community pharmacy.

Bergen Brunswig Corporation, headquartered in Orange County, California, is a leading supplier of pharmaceuticals and specialty healthcare products, as well as information management solutions and consulting services. Bergen's customers include the nation's healthcare providers (hospitals, nursing homes and physicians), drug stores, manufacturers and patients. Through its subsidiaries, Bergen provides product distribution; logistics; pharmacy management programs; and Internet fulfillment strategies designed to reduce costs and improve patient outcomes across the entire healthcare spectrum.

Except for historical information, all other information set forth in this press release, such as earnings forecasts and earnings rate projections, consists of "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These "forward-looking statements" are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied. Such statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking language such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "think," "continue" or the negatives or other variations thereof or other similar terminology. Such risks and uncertainties include the risks described in exhibit 99(a) to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2000 and in other reports and exhibits filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the costs and difficulties related to the integration of acquired businesses, the loss or disruption of one or more key customer or supplier relationships, changes in the distribution outsourcing pattern for pharmaceutical products and/or services, the ability to obtain general financing or financing rates that would be compatible with the Company's business operations, and the costs and other effects of governmental regulation and legal and administrative proceedings. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information in the release.

Bergen Brunswig press releases are available on the company's website at www.bergenbrunswig.com.