Bergen Brunswig Sued for Securities Laws Violations; Scott & Scott LLC Also Announces Filing of Class Action Complaint Against Mattel.

COLCHESTER, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 9, 1999--

Scott & Scott, LLC (800)/404-7770) ([e-mail]) or ([e-mail]) has filed a class action complaint for violations of federal securities laws against Bergen Brunswig Corp.(NYSE:BBC - news). A class action has been commenced in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on behalf of all persons who purchased or otherwise acquired Bergen Brunswig Corp. ("Bergen") (NYSE:BBC - news) securities during the period between March 16, 1999 and October 14, 1999 (the "Class Period").

The complaint charges Bergen and certain of its officers and directors with violations of the federal securities laws by making misrepresentations about Bergen's business, earnings growth and financial statements and its ability to continue to achieve profitable growth. By issuing these allegedly false and misleading statements, defendants caused Bergen's stock price to trade at artificially inflated levels during the Class Period at as high as $26 per share, allowing Bergen to complete the acquisition of PharMerica using Bergen stock to pay for PharMerica, before the true facts about Bergen's troubled operations, diminished profitability and its false financial statements arising from its Stadtlander acquisition were revealed, and Bergen's stock collapsed to as low as $7 per share. Plaintiff seeks to recover damages on behalf of all persons who purchased or otherwise acquired Bergen securities during the Class Period (the "Class").

Mattel Sued for Securities Laws Violations

Scott & Scott, LLC (800)/404-7770) ([e-mail]) or ([e-mail]) has also filed class action complaints for violations of federal securities laws against Mattel, Inc. (NYSE:MAT - news).

These are class actions on behalf of purchasers of the common stock of Mattel, Inc. ("Mattel") between 2/1/99 and 10/1/99 (the "Class Period") and holder of the stock as of March 26, 1999. Mattel designs, manufacturers and markets family products, including toys. These actions arise out of an alleged scheme to enable Mattel to acquire The Learning Company ("The Learning Company" or "TLC") - a seller and maker of educational software including "Reader Rabbit" and "Carmen San Diego." This alleged scheme enabled defendants to get approval of the acquisition by The Learning Company's shareholders, defendants to get approval of the acquisition by Mattel shareholders and the top two officers of The Learning Company to pocket over $11 million due to the sale of The Learning Company to Mattel. Defendants' alleged false statements artificially inflated Mattel stock during the Class Period to as high as $30-5/16 per share during the critical acquisition pricing period between 4/99-5/99 by falsifying The Learning Company's and Mattel's reported revenues, net income and EPS and by falsely representing that The Learning Company represented an excellent strategic fit with Mattel's business and that its acquisition would be immediately "accretive" to Mattel's 1999 and 2000 results. However, in late 9/99, rumors circulated as news leaked from Mattel that 3rdQ 99 results would be disappointed causing Mattel's stock price to decline from $22-9/16 to 16-7/8. Then, on 10/4/99, just a few months after The Learning Company acquisition closed, Mattel disclosed that The Learning Company had incurred millions in product returns and bad debt write-offs and that The Learning Company would incur a $50 to $100 million loss rather than the large profit forecast for 3rdQ 1999. As a result, Mattel's 1999 earnings will be less than $1.20 rather than the forecasted $1.50, which just weeks before this announcement Mattel's CEO had stated she was firmly committed to. Mattel stock collapsed upon these revelations, falling to $11-7/8 on 10/4/99 on huge volume of 29/96 million shares - the largest one-day stock trading volume in the 39 years Mattel has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"). This collapse wiped out $3 billion in Mattel shareholder value in one day.

Scott & Scott, LLC is a Connecticut-based law firm engaged in the representation of both public and private companies in litigation and transactional work. The firm also has a significant practice in antitrust, securities and other complex litigation, where it regularly represents individuals, companies and other entities.

Scott & Scott, LLC prides itself on its ongoing dedication to client satisfaction and client communication. The firm has a nationwide practice. It regularly works with other firms on major litigation and it co-counsels only with those firms of the highest quality and reputation so as to ensure the best representation and communication with the class.

If you acquired shares, options or bonds in Bergen Brunswig Corp. (NYSE:BBC-news) or Mattel, Inc. (NYSE:MAT - news) and would like to discuss the matters above with an attorney, please contact: Neil Rothstein, Esq. of Scott & Scott, LLC 800/449-4900, or 800/404-7770, or 619/338-3887. E-mail at [e-mail].