Exhibit 99 (a)



                           BERGEN BRUNSWIG CORPORATION
                 STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

         The  Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform  Act of 1995  (the  "Act")
provides a "safe  harbor" for  "forward-looking  statements"  (as defined in the
Act).  The Form 10-K to which this  exhibit is  attached,  the Company' s Annual
Report  to  Shareowners,  any Form 10-Q or any Form 8-K of the  Company,  or any
other written or oral statements made by or on behalf of the Company may include
forward-looking  statements which reflect the Company's  current view (as of the
date such  forward-looking  statement  is made) with  respect to future  events,
prospects,   projections  or  financial   performance.   These   forward-looking
statements  are subject to certain  uncertainties  and other  factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those made,  implied or projected
in such statements.  These uncertainties and other factors include,  but are not
limited to, uncertainties  relating to general economic conditions;  the loss of
one or more key customer or supplier relationships,  including pharmaceutical or
medical-surgical  manufacturers  for  which  alternative  supplies  may  not  be
available;  the  malfunction  or failure of the Company's  information  systems,
including  malfunctions  or failures  associated  with Year 2000  compliance  or
readiness  issues;  the costs and  difficulties  related to the  integration  of
recently  acquired   businesses,   including  the  status  of  such  businesses'
compliance  with Year 2000 protocols;  changes to the  presentation of financial
results and position  resulting  from adoption of new  accounting  principles or
upon the  advice  of the  Company's  independent  auditors,  or the staff of the
Securities and Exchange  Commission;  changes in the distribution or outsourcing
pattern  for  pharmaceutical  or  medical-surgical   products  and/or  services,
including any increase in direct  distribution or decrease in contract packaging
by  pharmaceutical  manufacturers;  changes  in,  or  failure  to  comply  with,
government regulations;  the costs and other effects of legal and administrative
proceedings; competitive factors in the Company's healthcare service businesses,
including pricing pressures;  the continued  financial  viability and success of
the Company's customers and suppliers;  technological  developments and products
offered  by  competitors;  failure  to  retain or  continue  to  attract  senior
management or key personnel;  risks  associated with  international  operations;
including fluctuations in currency exchange ratios; successful challenges to the
validity of the Company's patents, copyrights and/or trademarks; difficulties or
delays  in  the  development,  production  and  marketing  of new  products  and
services; strikes or other labor disruptions;  labor and employee benefit costs;
pharmaceutical and medical-surgical  manufacturers' pricing policies and overall
drug and  medical-surgical  supply price  inflation;  changes in hospital buying
groups or hospital buying  practices;  and other factors  referenced in the Form
10-K to which  this  exhibit  is  attached  or other  filings or written or oral
statements made by or on behalf of the Company.  The words "believe",  "expect",
"anticipate",  "project",  and  similar  expressions  identify  "forward-looking
statements", which speak only as of the date the statement was made. The Company
undertakes  no  obligation  to  publicly  update or revise  any  forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.


                               EXH 99(a) - Page 1