VALLEY FORGE, Pa. & ORANGE, Calif--(BUSINESS WIRE)--August 1,
2001--AmeriSource Health Corporation (NYSE:AAS) and Bergen Brunswig
Corporation (NYSE:BBC) today announced that each company has scheduled
a special shareholders' meeting for Wednesday, August 29, 2001 in
connection with their previously announced plan to merge the two
companies.
The companies began mailing proxy materials for the two meetings
today.
AmeriSource will hold its shareholders' meeting at 11:00 a.m. EDT
at its headquarters located at 1300 Morris Drive, Chesterbrook,
Pennsylvania, and Bergen Brunswig will hold its shareholders' meeting
at 9:00 a.m. PDT at its headquarters located at 4000 Metropolitan
Drive, Orange, California.
The companies expect to complete the merger by the end of August
2001.
On March 19, 2001, AmeriSource and Bergen Brunswig announced that
they had entered into a merger agreement to create a new company named
AmerisourceBergen Corporation.
Under the terms of the agreement, each share of Bergen Brunswig
common stock will be converted into 0.37 shares of AmerisourceBergen
common stock and each share of AmeriSource common stock will be
converted into one share of AmerisourceBergen common stock.
About AmeriSource
AmeriSource Health Corporation, with approximately $14 billion in
annualized operating revenue, is a leading distributor of
pharmaceutical and related healthcare products and services, and the
industry's largest provider of pharmaceuticals to acute care/health
systems customers.
Headquartered in Valley Forge, PA, the Company serves its base of
about 15,000 customer accounts through a national network of 22
strategically located drug distribution facilities. For news and
additional information about the company, visit its web site at
www.amerisource.com.
About Bergen Brunswig
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, physicians), drug
stores, manufacturers and patients.
Through its subsidiary companies, 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 web site at
www.bergenbrunswig.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
The foregoing communication contains certain "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of
1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These
statements are based on management's current expectations and are
subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances.
Actual results may vary materially from the expectations contained
in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements
herein include statements addressing future financial and operating
results of AmeriSource and Bergen Brunswig and the timing, benefits
and other aspects of the proposed merger.
The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to
differ materially from those described in the forward-looking
statements: inability to obtain, or meet conditions imposed for,
governmental approvals for the transaction; failure of the
stockholders of AmeriSource and Bergen Brunswig to approve the merger;
the risk that the businesses of AmeriSource and Bergen Brunswig will
not be integrated successfully; failure to obtain and retain expected
synergies; and other economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory
factors affecting the businesses of AmeriSource and Bergen Brunswig
generally.
More detailed information about these factors is set forth in
AmeriSource's and Bergen Brunswig's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, including each of their Annual Reports on Form
10-K for fiscal 2000 and their most recent quarterly reports on Form
10-Q.
AmeriSource and Bergen Brunswig are under no obligation to (and
expressly disclaim any such obligation to) update or alter their
forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
Additional Information
In connection with their proposed merger, AmeriSource and Bergen
Brunswig filed a joint proxy statement/prospectus with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. Investors and security holders are advised to
read the joint proxy statement/prospectus because it contains
important information.
Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the joint
proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed by AmeriSource
and Bergen Brunswig at the Securities and Exchange Commission's web
site at www.sec.gov.
The joint proxy statement/prospectus and such other documents may
also be obtained for free from AmeriSource or from Bergen Brunswig by
directing such request to AmeriSource Health Corporation, General
Counsel, 1300 Morris Drive, Suite 100, Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania
19087-5594, Telephone: 610/727-7000; or to Bergen Brunswig
Corporation, Attention: Corporate Secretary, 4000 Metropolitan Drive,
Orange, California 92868-3510, Telephone: 714/385-4000.
Participants in Solicitation
AmeriSource and Bergen Brunswig and their respective directors,
executive officers and other members of their management and employees
may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from
their respective stockholders in connection with the proposed merger.
Information concerning AmeriSource's participants in the
solicitation is set forth in AmeriSource's Current Report on Form 8-K
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 19, 2001,
and information concerning Bergen Brunswig's participants in the
solicitation is set forth in Bergen Brunswig's Current Report on Form
8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 19,
2001.
CONTACT: |
AmeriSource, Valley Forge |
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Michael N. Kilpatric, 610/727-7118 |
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mkilpatric@amerisource.com |
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or |
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Bergen Brunswig |
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Donna Dolan, 714/385-4226 |
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donna.dolan@bergenbrunswig.com |
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