VALLEY FORGE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 10,
2006--AmerisourceBergen Corporation (NYSE:ABC) today announced that it
has signed a definitive agreement to purchase Network for Medical
Communications & Research, LLC. (NMCR), a privately held provider of
physician accredited continuing medical education (CME) and analytical
research for the oncology market that is headquartered in Atlanta,
Georgia, for the purchase price of approximately $90 million including
assumed debt. AmerisourceBergen anticipates NMCR will be accretive to
fiscal year 2006 earnings per share by approximately $0.01. The
acquisition is expected to close during the quarter ending March 31,
2006, subject to regulatory approvals.
"NMCR is an excellent addition to our Specialty Group's
market-leading oncology distribution and services business," said R.
David Yost, AmerisourceBergen Chief Executive Officer. "With services
to oncology drug manufacturers and physicians, NMCR supports
AmerisourceBergen's strategy of focusing on servicing the
manufacturers and healthcare providers in the pharmaceutical supply
channel."
NMCR's analytics business uses physician panels and case studies
to research and analyze cancer treatment regimes, resulting in
practical data that our manufacturing customers find very valuable.
The CME business will complement AmerisourceBergen Specialty Group's
Imedex accredited CME unit. AmerisourceBergen will operate NMCR as
part of the Specialty Group's manufacturer services business, which
includes physician education, analytics, reimbursement consulting,
third party logistics and other support services.
About AmerisourceBergen
AmerisourceBergen (NYSE:ABC) is one of the largest pharmaceutical
services companies in the United States. 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); 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
Michael N. Kilpatric, 610-727-7118
[email protected]
or
Barbara Brungess, 610-727-7199
[email protected]
SOURCE: AmerisourceBergen Corporation