Bergen Brunswig Announces Successful Completion of $200 Million Asset Securitization Program.

ORANGE, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Dec. 17, 1999--

Bergen Brunswig Corporation (NYSE: BBC) today announced that it has successfully completed a $200 million asset securitization program.

The Company has been working to complete a $200 million asset securitization program over the last couple of months, and as an interim arrangement, had previously put in place a bridge facility to meet seasonal working capital requirements. The proceeds from the securitization program will be used to eliminate the bridge facility as well as reduce other short-term debt.

Bergen is continuing to take advantage of inventory buying opportunities and has purchased additional inventory for the Y2K contingency. The Company does not anticipate that its Y2K inventory purchases have had a material effect on working capital needs or will negatively affect its ability to manage its LIFO reserve.

Bergen Brunswig Corporation, headquartered in Orange County, California, is a leading supplier of pharmaceuticals, medical-surgical supplies 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, 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. Bergen Brunswig press releases are available on the Company's website at www.bergenbrunswig.com.

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", such as predictions related to liquidity needs and events related to the Y2K plans, 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 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1999 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, and the costs and other effects of governmental regulation and legal and administrative proceedings. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information in this release.