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                                                                      EXHIBIT 99


For Immediate Release                          Investor Contact:  Jeff Edwards
                                                                  (714) 246-4636
                                               Media Contact:     Ira Haskell
                                                                  (714) 246-4515


                       ALLERGAN RAISES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND
                BOARD OF DIRECTORS DECLARES DIVIDEND DISTRIBUTION
                       OF PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE RIGHTS

(IRVINE, California, January 26, 2000) - Allergan, Inc. (NYSE:AGN) announced
today that its Board of Directors increased the fourth quarter dividend to $0.08
per share, payable March 10, 2000, to stockholders of record on February 18,
2000. Allergan has raised its annual dividend payout for nine consecutive years.

Additionally, the Board of Directors has declared a dividend distribution of one
Preferred Share Purchase Right on each outstanding share of Allergan common
stock. Subject to limited exceptions, the Rights will be exercisable if a person
or group acquires 15% or more of the Company's common stock or announces a
tender offer for 15% or more of the common stock. Under certain circumstances,
each Right will entitle stockholders to buy one one-hundredth of a share of
newly created Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Company at an
exercise price of $300.00. The Allergan Board will be entitled to redeem the
Rights at $.01 per Right at any time before a person has acquired 15% or more of
the outstanding common stock.

The Rights are intended to enable all Allergan stockholders to realize the
long-term value of their investment in the Company. They do not prevent a
takeover, but should encourage anyone seeking to acquire the Company to
negotiate with the Board of Directors prior to attempting a takeover. The Rights
Plan will expire in 2010.

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The Rights are not being distributed in response to any specific effort to
acquire control of the Company. The Rights are designed to assure that all
Allergan stockholders receive fair and equal treatment in the event of any
proposed takeover of the Company and to guard against partial tender offers,
open market accumulations and other abusive tactics to gain control of Allergan
without paying all stockholders a control premium.

If a person becomes an Acquiring Person, each Right will entitle its holder to
purchase, at the Right's then-current exercise price, a number of common shares
of Allergan having a market value at that time of twice the Right's exercise
price. Rights held by the Acquiring Person will become void and will not be
exercisable to purchase shares at the bargain purchase price. An Acquiring
Person is defined as a person who acquires 15% or more of the outstanding common
stock of Allergan. If Allergan is acquired in a merger or other business
combination transaction which has not been approved by the Board of Directors,
each Right will entitle its holder to purchase, at the Right's then-current
exercise price, a number of the acquiring company's common shares having a
market value at that time of twice the Right's exercise price.

The dividend distribution to establish the new Rights Plan will be payable to
stockholders of record on February 18, 2000. The Rights will expire in ten
years. The Rights distribution is not taxable to stockholders.

Allergan, Inc., headquartered in Irvine, California, is a technology-driven,
global health care company providing eye care and specialty pharmaceutical
products worldwide. Allergan develops and commercializes products in the eye
care pharmaceutical, ophthalmic surgical device, over-the-counter contact lens
care, movement disorder, and dermatological markets that deliver value to our
customers, satisfy unmet medical needs and improve patients' lives.


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