Bergen Brunswig reports 23% increase in net earnings on 13% revenue gain for its fiscal 1995 second quarter.

ORANGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 24, 1995--Bergen Brunswig Corp. (NYSE:BBC) Monday announced results for its fiscal 1995 second quarter ended March 31, 1995.

Net sales and other revenues reached $2.1 billion, a 13% increase over last year's second quarter revenues of $1.8 billion. Net earnings climbed to $17.9 million, a 23% gain from the prior year's quarter of $14.5 million. Earnings per share advanced 18% to 45 cents from last year's 38 cents.

For the six months ended March 31, 1995, net sales and other revenues grew to $4.1 billion, and 11% increase over last year's $3.7 billion. Net earnings advanced 26% to $31.4 million over last year's $24.9 million. Earnings per share increased 22% to 79 cents compared to last year's 65 cents.

Net earnings for the second quarter and six months ended March 31, 1994, and the foregoing percentage comparisons reflect an after-tax earthquake-related charge of $0.8 million or two cents per share. Earnings per share figures for all periods reflect the 5% stock dividend the company issued March 1, 1995.

Commenting on the results of the second quarter, Robert E. Martini, Chairman and CEO, said, "These quarterly results validate our successful reengineering of the company for positive performance in an evolving industry. We are very pleased with the increase in our top line revenues, which was fueled by new contracts that were announced earlier in the year."

Mr. Martini continued, "We are still seeing erosion in our gross profit margin; however, the rate is slowing as evidenced by this quarter's decline of only three basis points from the prior year. Gross profit margins were helped this quarter by increased sales at our medical-surgical supply company, whose products carry higher margins than our drug company. We continued to emphasize reduction of distribution, selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of sales and as a result this quarter's rate dropped four basis points from the first quarter to 4.28%. Our second quarter's operating profit margin increased to 1.84% of sales. This is the third consecutive quarter that operating margins have improved on a year over year basis and that the percentage of net earnings growth has been higher than the top line gain."

Bergen Brunswig Corporation, with annualized revenues in excess of $8.0 billion, is the nation's largest supplier of pharmaceuticals to the managed care market and the second largest wholesaler to the retail pharmacy market. Additionally, Bergen is the only pharmaceutical distributor that also supplies medical and surgical products on a national basis. Bergen's 33 drug distribution facilities provide pharmaceuticals and health & beauty care products to approximately 13,000 hospital, managed care, independent, and chain pharmacy accounts. Another 25 Durr Medical distribution facilities provide medical and surgical supplies to some 33,000 hospital, clinic, nursing home, veterinary clinic and physician accounts. Bergen's specialty wholesaling division, Alternate Site Distributors, furnishes pharmaceuticals and oncology products to clinic and physician accounts. -0-

                         Bergen Brunswig Corp.
              Summary of Consolidated Sales and Earnings
                              (Unaudited)
           (In thousands except share and per share amounts)

                         Three Months Ended        Six Months Ended
                              March 31,                March 31,
                         1995        1994/a        1995        1994/a

Net sales and other
 revenues             $2,084,216   $1,845,449   $4,068,079   $3,680,385

Costs and expenses:
  Cost of sales        1,956,668    1,731,865    3,824,588    3,462,382
  Distribution,
  selling, general and
  administrative
  expenses                89,144       81,481      174,936      162,824

   Total costs and
   expense             2,045,812    1,813,346    3,999,524    3,625,206

Operating earnings        38,404       32,103       68,555       55,179
Net interest expense       7,603        6,502       14,394       11,373

Earnings before taxes
 on income                30,801       25,601       54,161       43,806
Taxes on income           12,937       11,072       22,748       18,946

Net earnings          $   17,864   $   14,529   $   31,413   $   24,860

Average number of
 common and common
 equivalent shares/b  39,969,328   38,370,362   39,568,272   38,353,604

Earnings per share/b    45 cents     38 cents     79 cents     65 cents

    Note/a:  Includes earthquake-related charge of $775 ($1,366
before taxes on income), equivalent to 2 cents per share.

    Note/b:  Gives effect to the 5% stock dividend declared Jan.
26, 1995.  Earnings per common and common equivalent share are based
on the weighted average number of shares of Class A Common Stock
outstanding during each period, the assumed  conversion of the
weighted average number of shares of Class B Common Stock
outstanding during each period through the conversion date of Feb.
24, 1994 and the assumed exercise of employees' stock options.

CONTACT: Bergen Brunswig, Orange

Lisa Riordan, 800/840-5131