VALLEY FORGE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 2,
2006--AmerisourceBergen Corporation (NYSE:ABC) today announced that
its wholly owned subsidiary, AmerisourceBergen Canada Corporation, has
signed an agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of
privately held Asenda Pharmaceutical Supplies Ltd and a related
entity. The purchase price was not disclosed. AmerisourceBergen
expects to complete the acquisition by March 31, 2006 and anticipates
Asenda will be neutral to fiscal year 2006 earnings per share.
"Asenda is a logical expansion of our pharmaceutical distribution
business in Canada and continues AmerisourceBergen's strategic focus
on the pharmaceutical supply channel," said R. David Yost,
AmerisourceBergen Chief Executive Officer.
Headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia, Asenda generated
about US$172 million in revenue over the last twelve months. Asenda
distributes pharmaceuticals in the provinces of British Columbia and
Alberta, strengthening AmerisourceBergen Canada's position in western
Canada.
About AmerisourceBergen
AmerisourceBergen (NYSE:ABC) is one of the world's largest
pharmaceutical services companies serving the United States, Canada
and selected global markets. Servicing both pharmaceutical
manufacturers and healthcare providers in the pharmaceutical supply
channel, the Company provides drug distribution and related services
designed to reduce costs and improve patient outcomes.
AmerisourceBergen's service solutions range from pharmacy automation
and pharmaceutical packaging to pharmacy services for skilled nursing
and assisted living facilities, reimbursement and pharmaceutical
consulting services, and physician education. With more than $54
billion in annual revenue, AmerisourceBergen is headquartered in
Valley Forge, PA, and employs more than 13,000 people.
AmerisourceBergen is ranked #23 on the Fortune 500 list. For more
information, go to www.amerisourcebergen.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release may contain 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. Forward-looking statements may include statements
addressing AmerisourceBergen's future financial and operating results
and the benefits, efficiencies and savings to be derived from the
Company's integration plans to consolidate its distribution network.
The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to
differ materially from those described in any forward-looking
statements: competitive pressures; the loss of one or more key
customer or supplier relationships; customer defaults or insolvencies;
changes in customer mix; supplier defaults or insolvencies; changes in
pharmaceutical manufacturers' pricing and distribution policies or
practices; adverse resolution of any contract or other disputes with
customers (including departments and agencies of the U.S. Government)
or suppliers; regulatory changes; changes in U.S. government policies
(including reimbursement changes arising from the Medicare
Modernization Act); further declines in the amounts of market share
rebates offered by pharmaceutical manufacturers to the PharMerica
long-term care business and/or the inability of the business to offset
the rebate reductions that have already occurred, market interest
rates; operational or control issues arising from AmerisourceBergen's
outsourcing of information technology activities; success of the
Pharmaceutical Distribution segment's ability to transition its
business model to fee-for-service; success of integration,
restructuring or systems initiatives; fluctuations in the U.S. dollar
- Canadian dollar exchange rate; economic, business, competitive
and/or regulatory developments in Canada; acquisition of businesses
that do not perform as we expect or that are difficult for us to
integrate or control; and other economic, business, competitive,
legal, regulatory and/or operational factors affecting the business of
AmerisourceBergen generally.
More detailed information about these and other risk factors is
set forth in AmerisourceBergen's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for
fiscal 2005.
AmerisourceBergen is under no obligation to (and expressly
disclaims any such obligation to) update or alter any forward looking
statements whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
CONTACT: AmerisourceBergen Corporation, Valley Forge
Michael N. Kilpatric, 610-727-7118
mkilpatric@amerisourcebergen.com
SOURCE: AmerisourceBergen Corporation