BINDLEY WESTERN INDUSTRIES INC
10-Q, 1998-11-13
DRUGS, PROPRIETARIES & DRUGGISTS' SUNDRIES
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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)
  [X]  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
                  OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

  For the quarterly period ended    September 30, 1998          

                                                         OR

  [ ]  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
                  OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

  For the transition period from              to                 
  Commission file number:   0-11355                              


                        BINDLEY WESTERN INDUSTRIES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


           Indiana                                             84-0601662       
(State or other jurisdiction of                           (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)                            Identification No.)

                                8909 Purdue Road
                           Indianapolis, Indiana 46268
                    (Address of principal executive offices)
                                   (Zip Code)

                                 (317) 704-4000
                         (Registrant's telephone number,
                              including area code)


                     10333 North Meridian Street, Suite 300
                          Indiananpolis, Indiana 46290
              (Former name, former address and former fiscal year,
                          if changed since last report)

                  Indicate by check mark  whether the  registrant  (1) has filed
all  reports  required  to be filed  by  Section  13 or 15(d) of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter  period
that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject
to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.


Yes      x                 No _________



The number of shares of Common Stock  outstanding  as of September  30, 1998 was
22,088,417.


                                      PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.  Financial Statements

                BINDLEY WESTERN INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
                        (000's omitted except share data)
                                   (unaudited)
<TABLE>
<S>                                                    <C>                      <C>                 <C>           <C>    

                                                            Nine-month period ended              Three-month period ended
                                                                  September 30,                        September 30,
                                                  --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             1998               1997              1998               1997
                                                  --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Revenues:
  Net sales from stock                                  $ 3,002,049        $ 1,967,973       $ 1,128,328          $ 694,472
  Net brokerage sales                                     2,620,980          3,290,186           684,882          1,117,996
                                                  --------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Total net sales                                         5,623,029          5,258,159         1,813,210          1,812,468
  Other income                                                1,471              1,095               484                470
                                                  --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          5,624,500          5,259,254         1,813,694          1,812,938
                                                  --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost and expenses:
  Cost of products sold                                   5,484,442          5,155,554         1,764,988          1,776,691
  Selling, general and administrative                        77,104             57,818            26,629             20,527
  Depreciation and amortization                               6,137              5,595             2,115              1,872
  Interest                                                   13,833             12,296             5,242              4,534
  Noncash compensation charge                                 1,588                                  776
                                                  --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          5,583,104          5,231,263         1,799,750          1,803,624
                                                  --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Earnings before income taxes                                 41,396             27,991            13,944              9,314
                                                  --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Provision for income taxes                                   16,455             11,393             5,543              3,791
Minority interest in net income of
 consolidated subsidiary                                      1,287                                  493
                                                  ==========================================================================
Net earnings                                               $ 23,654           $ 16,598           $ 7,908            $ 5,523
                                                  ==========================================================================



Earnings per share:
  Basic                                                      $ 1.10             $ 1.04            $ 0.37             $ 0.33
  Diluted                                                    $ 1.06             $ 0.86            $ 0.35             $ 0.28

Average shares outstanding:
  Basic                                                  21,410,622         15,971,817        21,598,538         16,829,642
  Diluted                                                22,300,161         21,491,897        22,881,133         21,729,503

               (See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements)
</TABLE>



                BINDLEY WESTERN INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
                        (000's omitted except share data)
                                   (unaudited)
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                            <C>                   <C>

                                                                                 September 30,         December 31,
                                                                                          1998                 1997
                                                                          ------------------------------------------
Assets
Current assets:
 Cash                                                                                 $ 29,525             $ 42,895
 Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful
  accounts of $4,086 for 1998 and $4,756 for 1997                                      520,882              606,265
 Finished goods inventory                                                              641,940              520,769
 Deferred income taxes                                                                  11,507                9,707
 Other current assets                                                                    7,460                5,389
                                                                          ------------------------------------------
                                                                                     1,211,314            1,185,025
                                                                          ------------------------------------------
                                                                          ------------------------------------------
Other assets                                                                                47                   76
                                                                          ------------------------------------------
                                                                          ------------------------------------------
Related party receivable                                                                 3,389                3,228
                                                                          ------------------------------------------
Fixed assets, at cost                                                                  113,604               89,704
 Less: accumulated depreciation                                                        (26,204)             (22,076)
                                                                          ------------------------------------------
                                                                                        87,400               67,628
                                                                          ------------------------------------------
                                                                          ------------------------------------------
Intangibles                                                                             33,667               35,050
                                                                          ------------------------------------------
                                                                          ==========================================
  Total assets                                                                     $ 1,335,817          $ 1,291,007
                                                                          ==========================================

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
 Short-term borrowings                                                               $ 310,000            $ 147,000
 Accounts payable                                                                      572,205              734,346
 Other current liabilities                                                              29,222               16,570
                                                                          ------------------------------------------
                                                                                       911,427              897,916
                                                                          ------------------------------------------
                                                                          ------------------------------------------
Long-term debt                                                                          31,865               32,142
                                                                          ------------------------------------------
                                                                          ------------------------------------------
Deferred income taxes                                                                    4,343                4,343
                                                                          ------------------------------------------
                                                                          ------------------------------------------
Minority interest                                                                       12,297               11,010
                                                                          ------------------------------------------

Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, $.01 par value authorized 40,000,000 shares;
 issued 22,613,823 and 16,135,319 shares, respectively                                   3,830                3,359
Special shares, $.01 par value-authorized 1,000,000 shares
Additional paid in capital                                                             217,346              198,764
Retained earnings                                                                      169,864              147,400
Unamortized value of restricted shares                                                 (10,749)
                                                                          ------------------------------------------
                                                                                       380,291              349,523
Less:  shares in treasury-at cost
 525,406 and 380,942, respectively                                                      (4,406)              (3,927)
                                                                          ------------------------------------------
  Total shareholders' equity                                                           375,885              345,596
                                                                          ------------------------------------------
                                                                          
                                                                          ==========================================
  Total liabilities and shareholders' equity                                       $ 1,335,817          $ 1,291,007
                                                                          ==========================================
</TABLE>

              (See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements)

                BINDLEY WESTERN INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                        (000's omitted except share data)
                                   (unaudited)
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                 <C>                           <C>    

                                                                                             Nine-month period ended
                                                                                                  September 30,
                                                                        ---------------------------------------------------
                                                                                         1998                         1997
                                                                        ---------------------------------------------------
Cash flow from operating activities:
  Net income                                                                         $ 23,654                     $ 16,598
  Adjustments to reconcile net income
    to net cash provided (used) by operating activities:
    Depreciation and amortization                                                       6,137                        5,595
    Deferred income taxes                                                              (1,800)                      (1,800)
    Minority interest                                                                   1,287
    Amortization of restricted shares                                                   1,589
    Gain on sale of fixed assets                                                          (54)                         (76)

Change in assets and liabilities:
  Accounts receivable                                                                  85,382                     (129,338)
  Finished goods inventory                                                           (121,171)                      60,129
  Accounts payable                                                                   (162,142)                     (78,978)
  Other current assets and liabilities                                                 10,582                       (1,453)
                                                                        ---------------------------------------------------
    Net cash used by operating activities                                            (156,536)                    (129,323)
                                                                        ---------------------------------------------------

Cash flow from investing activities:
  Purchase of fixed assets and other assets                                           (24,532)                     (15,521)
  Proceeds from sale of fixed assets                                                       89                        2,044
  Related party note receivable                                                          (161)
  Acquisition of business                                                                   -                      (27,636)
                                                                        ---------------------------------------------------
    Net cash used by investing activities                                             (24,604)                     (41,113)
                                                                        ---------------------------------------------------

Cash flow from financing activities:
  Proceeds from sale of stock                                                           6,716                       10,070
  Reduction in long term debt                                                            (277)                        (239)
  Proceeds under line of credit agreement                                           1,316,500                    1,081,000
  Payments under line of credit agreement                                          (1,153,500)                    (967,000)
  Purchase of shares for treasury                                                        (479)                        (777)
  Dividends                                                                            (1,190)                        (772)

                                                                        ---------------------------------------------------
    Net cash provided by financing activities                                         167,770                      122,283
                                                                        ---------------------------------------------------

Net increase (decrease) in cash                                                       (13,370)                     (48,153)
Cash at beginning of period                                                            42,895                       63,658
                                                                        ===================================================
Cash at end of period                                                                $ 29,525                     $ 15,505
                                                                        ===================================================
</TABLE>

               (See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements)





                BINDLEY WESTERN INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES



                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS




1.   The accompanying  consolidated  financial  statements have been prepared by
     the Company without audit.  Certain  information and footnote  disclosures,
     including significant  accounting policies,  normally included in financial
     statements  prepared  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  accounting
     principles  have been condensed or omitted.  The Company  believes that the
     financial  statements for the three and nine month periods ended  September
     30, 1998 and 1997 include all necessary  adjustments for fair presentation.
     Results for any interim  period may not be indicative of the results of the
     entire year.

2.   The Company is a defendant  in a  consolidated  class  action  filed in the
     United States District Court for the Northern  District of Illinois in 1993
     which   names   the   Company,   other   pharmaceutical   wholesalers   and
     pharmaceutical  manufacturers as defendants,  In re Brand Name Prescription
     Drugs  Litigation,   MDL  997.   Plaintiffs   allege  that   pharmaceutical
     manufacturers  and  wholesalers  conspired  to  fix  prices  of  brand-name
     prescription drugs sold to retail pharmacies at artificially high levels in
     violation of the federal  antitrust  laws. The plaintiffs  seek  injunctive
     relief,  unspecified treble damages,  costs,  interest and attorneys' fees.
     The Company has denied the complaint allegations.

     Several  of  the   manufacturer   defendants and the class  plaintiffs have
     reached settlement agreements. The trial against  the remaining defendants,
     including the Company, began on September 14, 1998.

     At this time, the Company is a defendant in 115 additional cases brought by
     plaintiffs who "opted out" of the federal class action described above. One
     hundred  eleven of these  complaints  contain  allegations  and  claims for
     relief that are substantially similar to those in the federal class action.
     The four remaining  complaints add allegations that the defendants' conduct
     violated state law. The Company has denied the  allegations in all of these
     complaints.

     On November 20, 1997, two additional  complaints  were filed in the MDL 997
     proceeding by Eckerd  Corporation  and American Drug Stores naming  certain
     pharmaceutical  manufacturers  and wholesalers,  including the Company,  as
     defendants. These complaints contain allegations and claims for relief that
     are substantially similar to those in the federal class action. The Company
     has denied the allegations in these complaints.
 
     On July 1, 1996, the Company and several other  wholesalers were joined  as
     the defendants in a  seventh amended and  restated complaint  filed in  the
     Circuit Court of Greene County,  Alabama,  Durrett  v. The Upjohn  Company,
     Civil Action  No. 94-029. The case was first filed  in 1994. The plaintiffs
     in  this case claim  the prices of   prescription  drugs  they  purchase in
     interstate  commerce are  artificially  high  because  of alleged illegal 
     activities of  the defendant pharmaceutical manufacturers and wholesalers.
     The  plaintiffs  seek   monetary  damages,  injunctive relief and  punitive
     damages under  the Alabama  antitrust act.   The Company  has denied the 
     allegations of the complaint.
 
     On June 16,  1998,  a suit was filed in the Circuit Court for Cocke County,
     Tennessee  purportedly on behalf of consumers of prescription  drugs in the
     following states:  Tennessee,  Alabama,  Arizona,  Florida,  Kansas, Maine,
     Michigan,  Minnesota,  New Mexico,  North  Carolina,  North  Dakota,  South
     Dakota,  West Virginia and Wisconsin.  Graves et al. v. Abbott Laboratories
     et  al.,   Civil  Action  No.   25,109-II.   The  complaint   charges  that
     pharmaceutical  manufacturers  and  wholesalers,   including  the  Company,
     engaged in a price-fixing  conspiracy in violation of the Tennessee's Trade
     Practices  Act and  Consumer  Protection  Act,  and the unfair or deceptive
     trade practices statutes of the other jurisdictions named therein.

     The Company is defending all of these cases vigorously.

     On October 21, 1994, the Company entered  into an agreement with five other
     wholesalers and 26 pharmaceutical  manufacturers  covering all of the cases
     listed  above.  Among other  things,  the  agreement  provides that for all
     judgments  that  might  be  entered  against  both  the   manufacturer  and
     wholesaler  defendants,  the Company's total exposure for joint and several
     liability is limited to $1,000,000  and the six  wholesaler  defendants are
     indemnified for $9,000,000 in related legal fees and expenses.

    The Company is unable to form a reasonably reliable conclusion regarding the
     likelihood  of a  favorable  or  unfavorable  outcome of these  cases.  The
     Company  believes the  allegations  of liability are without merit and that
     the attendant  liability of the Company,  if any, would not have a material
     adverse effect on the Company's financial  condition or liquidity.  Adverse
     decisions, although not anticipated,  could have an adverse material effect
     on the Company's results of operations.

3.   On October 7, 1996,  the  Company  and its  subsidiary,  National  Infusion
     Services (now known as Priority Healthcare Services Corporation)  ("PHSC"),
     were named as defendants in an action filed by Thomas G. Slama, M.D. in the
     Superior  Court of Hamilton  County,  Indiana  which is now pending in that
     Court as Cause No. 29D03-9702-CP-81.  Dr. Slama is a former director of the
     Company and formerly was Chief Executive Officer and President of PHSC. The
     complaint  alleges  breach of  contract  and  defamation  arising  from the
     termination of Dr. Slama's  employment with PHSC in October 1996, and seeks
     damages in excess of $3.4 million,  punitive  damages,  attorneys' fees and
     costs.  The Company and PHSC believe Dr. Slama  terminated  his  employment
     without   "cause"   (as   defined  in  his   employment   agreement),   and
     alternatively,  that PHSC had grounds to  terminate  Dr.  Slama for "cause"
     under his  employment  agreement.  The Company and PHSC have  answered  the
     complaint,  denying the merits of Dr. Slama's claims, and have also filed a
     counterclaim  against Dr. Slama  seeking,  among other things,  declaratory
     relief,  compensatory  and (in some  instances)  treble  damages,  punitive
     damages,  attorneys'  fees,  interest and costs. Dr. Slama moved to dismiss
     portions of the counterclaim,  which motion was denied by the court on July
     14, 1997.  The Company and PHSC  thereafter  filed an amended  counterclaim
     adding  additional  claims against Dr. Slama.  On March 12, 1998, Dr. Slama
     filed a motion for leave to amend his complaint to add Priority  Healthcare
     Corporation  ("Priority") and William E. Bindley as defendants and to state
     additional claims for breach of contract,  breach of oral contract,  breach
     of fiduciary duty, securities fraud and conversion.  On April 10, 1998, the
     Company filed its objection to Dr. Slama's motion.  In response,  on May 1,
     1998,  Dr.  Slama filed a second  motion for leave to amend his  complaint,
     which alleges  essentially the same claim as contained in the first amended
     complaint.  On October 5, 1998,  the Court granted Dr. Slama's  motion,  in
     part, and on October 26, 1998,  Dr. Slama filed a Second Amended  Complaint
     adding Priority and William E. Bindley as defendants and stating additional
     claims for breach of contract, breach of oral contract, breach of fiduciary
     duty,  securities  fraud and  conversion.  The Company has entered  into an
     Indemnification  and Hold Harmless  Agreement  with  Priority,  whereby the
     Company  has  agreed  to  indemnify  and  hold  harmless  Priority  and its
     subsidiaries  from and  against any and all  claims,  losses,  liabilities,
     costs,  damages,  charges and expenses  (including without limitation legal
     and other professional fees) which they might incur or which may be charged
     against  them in any way based upon,  connected  with or arising out of the
     lawsuit  filed by Dr.  Slama.  Discovery is  proceeding,  and the matter is
     currently  set for  trial on March 9,  1999.  The  Company,  Priority,  Mr.
     Bindley and PHSC are contesting Dr. Slama's amended  complaint and pursuing
     their  counterclaim  vigorously.  Although the outcome of any litigation is
     uncertain,  the Company believes after  consultation  with its counsel that
     the attendant  liability of the Company, if any, should not have a material
     adverse  effect on the  Company's  financial  condition  or  liquidity.  An
     adverse decision, although not anticipated, could have a material effect on
     the Company's results of operations.

4.   On June 3, 1998, a 4-for-3  stock split of the  Company's  Common Stock was
     effected in the form of a stock dividend to  shareholders  of record at the
     close of business on May 21, 1998.  Accordingly,  all  historical  weighted
     average  shares and per share  amounts  have been  restated  to reflect the
     stock split.  Share amounts in the Consolidated  Balance Sheets reflect the
     actual share amounts outstanding for each period presented.

5.   The Company  issued  restricted  stock grants to certain key  executives on
     March 26, 1998. The grants were subject to  shareholder  approval which was
     received on May 21, 1998.  Pending the lapse of the forfeiture and transfer
     restrictions  established by the Compensation  and Stock Option  Committee,
     the grantee generally will have all the rights of a shareholder,  including
     the  right to vote  the  shares  and the  right to  receive  all  dividends
     thereon.   Upon  issuance  of  the  stock  grants,   unearned  compensation
     equivalent  to the  market  value  at the  date of grant  was  recorded  as
     unamortized value of restricted stock and is being charged to earnings over
     the  period  during  which the  restrictions  lapse.  Compensation  expense
     related to these  restricted  stock grants of $1.6 million and $780,000 was
     recorded in the first nine-months and third quarter of 1998, respectively.

<PAGE>




Item 2.      Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
             Condition and Results of Operations.

Results of Operations.

         Effective July 31, 1997, the Company purchased substantially all of the
operating assets and assumed most of the liabilities and contractual obligations
of  Tennessee  Wholesale  Drug  Company,  Inc.  ("TWD").  TWD  is  a  full-line,
full-service  wholesale  drug  company.   Effective  August  6,  1997,  Priority
Healthcare   Corporation   ("PHC"),  a  subsidiary  of  the  Company,   acquired
substantially all of the operating assets and assumed most of the liabilities of
Grove Way Pharmacy,  Inc., a specialty  distributor of vaccines and  injectables
located in Castro  Valley,  California.  The  financial  statements  include the
results of operations from the respective effective dates of acquisition.

         Net  sales  of  $5,623  million  for  the  first  nine-months  of  1998
represented  a 6.9%  increase  over the same  period  of 1997.  The net sales of
$1,813  million for the third  quarter of 1998  remained flat when compared with
the third  quarter  of 1997.  The loss of the Rite Aid  business  in May of 1998
resulted  in a 20% and 39%  decrease  in  brokerage  type  sales  for the  first
nine-months and third quarter of 1998,  respectively.  These sales generate very
little gross margin,  however they do support the Company's  programs to attract
more direct store delivery  business from chain customers.  From stock sales for
the first  nine-months  of 1998 increased by 52.6% over the same period in 1997.
Internal growth accounting for 83.1% of this increase.  For the third quarter of
1998,  from  stock  sales  increased  by 62.5%  over  1997 and  internal  growth
accounted  for 93.1% of the  increase.  The  remainder of the growth in both the
nine-month period and the third quarter is attributed to the acquisition of TWD.
From stock sales include sales from the Company's  inventory to chain  customers
and direct store  delivery  business.  The Company  continued its  commitment to
expand its presence in the direct store delivery portion of the business through
increased sales to existing customers and the addition of new customers. For the
nine-month  period of 1998,  direct store  delivery  sales  increased  52.1% and
represented  49.6% of total  sales.  For the third  quarter of 1998 direct store
delivery sales  increased  51.5% and  represented  56.3% of total sales. In both
periods,  the increase related to price increases was approximately equal to the
increase  in the  Consumer  Price  Index.  PHC sales for the  nine-month  period
increased 14% from $169.3  million in 1997 to $193.8 in 1998.  PHC sales for the
third quarter increased 18% from $60.7 million in 1997 to $71.7 million in 1998.
This growth was  essentially  generated  internally and reflected  primarily the
addition  of new  customers,  new  product  introductions,  additional  sales to
existing customers and, to a lesser extent, inflationary price increases.

         Gross margin of $138.6  million and $48.2  million for the  nine-months
and third  quarter of 1998  represented  increases of 35.1% and 34.8% over 1997,
respectively.  Internal  growth was the primary reason for the increase in gross
margins with the remainder attributed to TWD. The internal growth was the result
of the overall  increase in net sales,  and increased sales to the higher margin
alternate care/alternate site and direct store delivery markets. The significant
increase in the higher margin from stock sales  resulted in an increase in gross
margin as a percent of net sales for the nine-months from 1.95% in 1997 to 2.46%
in 1998. For the third quarter, gross margin as a percent of net sales increased
from 1.97% in 1997 to 2.66% in 1998. The pressure on sell side margins continued
to be a significant  factor in 1998 and the  purchasing  gains  associated  with
pharmaceutical price inflation remained relatively  constant.  Gross margins for
PHC of $21.8  million  and $8.1  million  for the  first  nine-months  and third
quarter of 1998 represented increases of 26% and 37% over the respective periods
of 1997. The increase was attributable to the distribution  business having more
sales of higher  gross  margin items and  increased  sales in the higher  margin
pharmacy business.

         Other  income  increased  as a result of  finance  charges  on  certain
customers  receivables  and  interest  income  related  to PHC  investing  funds
received from its October 1997 Initial Public Offering.

         Selling,  general and  administration  ("SGA")  expenses  for the first
nine-months  increased  from $57.8 million in 1997 to $77.1 million in 1998. For
the third quarter,  SGA increased from $20.5 million in 1997 to $26.6 million in
1998.  The first  nine-months  of 1998  includes  approximately  $2.4 million of
incremental SGA related to TWD. The remainder resulted from normal  inflationary
increases  and costs to support the growing  direct  store  delivery  program of
Bindley Western Drug Company and the alternate  care/alternate  site business of
PHC. The cost  increases  related to the direct store delivery and the alternate
care/alternate site programs include, among others, delivery expenses, warehouse
expense and labor  costs,  which are  variable  with the level of sales  volume.
However,  total SGA  expense  as a  percent  of from  stock  sales for the first
nine-months  decreased from 2.9% in 1997 to 2.6% in 1998. For the third quarter,
it decreased from 3.0% in 1997 to 2.4% in 1998.  Management  remains  focused on
controlling  SGA  through  improved  technology,  better  asset  management  and
opportunities  to  consolidate  distribution  centers.  In  1998,  SGA  includes
non-recurring expenses of approximately $250,000 related to start up expenses of
new distribution centers in Portland, Oregon and Woodland, California.

         Depreciation  and   amortization  on  new  facilities,   expansion  and
automation of existing  facilities  and  investments  in management  information
systems resulted in increases in depreciation and amortization  expense. For the
first  nine-months  the  expense  increased  from $5.6  million  in 1997 to $6.1
million in 1998.  The  increase  for the third  quarter was from $1.9 million in
1997 to $2.1 million in 1998.

         Interest expense for the first nine-months increased from $12.3 million
in 1997 to  $13.8  million  in  1998.  In 1997,  average  short-term  borrowings
outstanding were $142 million at an average short term interest rate of 6.4%, as
compared to $239 million in 1998 at an average short-term interest rate of 6.4%.
In the third quarter,  interest  expense  increased from $4.5 million in 1997 to
$5.2 million in 1998. Average short-term  borrowings  outstanding increased from
$181 million in the third  quarter of 1997 to $291 million in the third  quarter
of 1998 and the average  short-term  interest rate remained constant at 6.4%. On
August 27, 1997, the Company called for redemption all of its outstanding 6 1/2%
Convertible Subordinated Debentures Due 2002.

          The first  nine-months  and the third  quarter of 1998 also includes a
non-cash charge to compensation  expense associated with restricted stock grants
of approximately $1.6 million and $780,000, respectively.

         The  provision  for income  taxes for the  nine-month  period and third
quarter of 1998  represented  39.75% of earnings  before taxes for both periods.
The  provision for income taxes for the  nine-month  period and third quarter of
1997 represented 40.70% of earnings before taxes for both periods.

         Rite Aid informed  the Company that Rite Aid signed a supply  agreement
with  McKesson  that began in May 1998.  In 1997,  Rite Aid comprised 18% of the
Company's sales. However, the Company does not believe the loss of this customer
will  negatively  impact  its  results  of  operations.  Sales  to Rite Aid were
predominantly to their  warehouses.  In 1997, the resources the Company expended
on servicing Rite Aid's  pharmaceutical  warehouse  programs were such that they
generated an overall negative return.  In addition,  the Company only serviced a
portion  of the  Rite  Aid  California  stores  on a  direct  store  basis.  The
logistical  costs  involved in servicing  these stores were high,  and thus, the
contribution  from the direct  store  delivery  segment  was not  sufficient  to
produce an overall favorable return.

         On October 27, 1998, the Company  announced that the Board of Directors
established  December 15 and 31, 1998 as the respective  record and distribution
dates for the  previously  announced  spin-off  of its  approximately  82% owned
subsidiary,  PHC. The spin-off will result in the pro rata  distribution  of the
10,214,286  PHC Class A Common  Shares  currently  owned by the  Company  to the
Company's common shareholders.  It is estimated that The Company's  shareholders
will  receive  approximately  0.46  shares of PHC Class A Common  Stock for each
share of the  Company's  Common  Stock owned as of the record  date.  The actual
ratio will be calculated  by dividing  10,214,286 by the number of shares of the
Company's  Common Stock  outstanding  as of December  15, 1998.  The spin-off is
subject to finalizing  certain  regulatory  approvals  and  continued  favorable
market conditions.

Liquidity-Capital Resources.

         For the  nine-month  period ended  September  30, 1998,  the  Company's
operations  consumed  $156.5  million in cash. The use of funds resulted from an
increase in  inventories  and a decrease in accounts  payable.  The  increase in
inventory resulted from the increase in direct store delivery sales and new bulk
inventory acquisition and purchasing management programs with certain customers.
The reduction of accounts  payable is  attributable to the timing of payments of
invoices and the  reduction of brokerage  type sales to Rite Aid.  These uses of
cash were  offset by the  decrease in accounts  receivables  resulting  from the
reduction  of  brokerage  sales to Rite Aid.  The Company  continues  to closely
monitor  working  capital in relation to economic  and  competitive  conditions.
However, the emphasis on direct-store  delivery and alternate care business will
continue to require both net working capital and cash.

         Capital  expenditures,  predominantly for the purchase of the corporate
offices and  warehouse  facilities,  the  expansion  and  automation of existing
warehouses and the investment in additional management  information systems were
$24.5 million for the first nine-months of 1998.


<PAGE>




         On June 30, 1998,  the Company  negotiated an increase in its bank line
of credit from $270  million to $325  million.  The net  increase in  borrowings
under the bank credit  agreement was $105 million during the nine-month  period.
At  September  30, 1998 the Company had  borrowed  $310  million  under the bank
credit agreement and had a remaining availability of $15 million. On November 3,
1998,  the Company  negotiated a further  increase in its bank line of credit to
$350 million.

         The Company believes that its cash on hand, cash  equivalents,  line of
credit and working  capital  management  efforts are  sufficient  to meet future
working capital requirements.

         The  Company's  principal  working  capital needs are for inventory and
accounts receivable. The Company sells inventory to its chain drug warehouse and
other  customers on various  payment terms.  This requires  significant  working
capital to finance inventory  purchases and entails accounts receivable exposure
in the event any of its chain warehouse or other significant customers encounter
financial   difficulties.    Although   the   Company   monitors   closely   the
creditworthiness  of its major  customers and, when feasible,  obtains  security
interests in the inventory sold, there can be no assurance that the Company will
not incur the write off or write down of chain  warehouse  or other  significant
accounts receivable in the future.

Year 2000.

         The Year 2000 will pose a unique set of challenges to those  industries
reliant on information technology.  As a result of the methods employed by early
programmers,  many software  applications and operational programs may be unable
to distinguish the Year 2000 from the year 1900. If not  effectively  addressed,
this problem could result in the production of inaccurate data, or, in the worst
cases,  the  inability  of the systems to continue to function  altogether.  The
Company  and  other  companies  in  the  same  business  are  vulnerable  to the
dependence on distribution and communications systems.

         Our Daily Sales System,  which controls  ordering,  pricing,  inventory
control,  and shipping  for the Company and which  accounts for 70% of our total
investment in software, was initially designed and programmed to comply with the
Y2K challenge. The Company's remaining systems will be fully Year 2000 compliant
by the end of the first  quarter of 1999.  Furthermore,  all software  purchases
within the past three years have been  guaranteed to be compliant by the vendor.
The Company has upgraded  and  replaced  its  hardware  and network  systems for
reasons other then Y2K  compliance,  however,  and such new hardware and network
systems  will be fully  tested  during the first  quarter of 1999 to ensure that
they  are  also  Year  2000  compliant.  Management  estimates  that  the  total
cumulative  costs relating to its efforts to make its systems  compliant for the
Year 2000 will be $350,000, of which approximately $150,000 had been incurred as
of September 30, 1998.

         Management  believes  that  the  expenditures  required  to  bring  the
Company's  systems into compliance will not have a materially  adverse effect on
the  Company's  performance.  However,  the Year 2000 problem is  pervasive  and
complex  and can  potentially  affect  any  computer  process.  Accordingly,  no
assurance  can be given that the Year 2000  compliance  can be achieved  without
additional unanticipated expenditures and uncertainties that might affect future
financial results.

         Moreover,  to operate its business,  the Company relies on governmental
agencies, utility companies,  telecommunications  companies, shipping companies,
suppliers  and other  third  party  service  providers  over which it can assert
little control.  The Company's ability to conduct its business is dependent upon
the ability of these third parties to avoid Year 2000-related  disruptions.  The
company is in the process of contacting its third party service  providers about
their Year 2000  readiness,  but the Company has not yet received any assurances
from any such third parties about their Year 2000  compliance.  If the Company's
key third party  service  providers do not  adequately  address  their Year 2000
issues, the Company's business may be materially affected, which could result in
a materially adverse effect on the Company's results of operations and financial
condition.

         The Company has not to date developed any  contingency  plans,  as such
plans will depend on the responses  from its third party service  providers,  in
the event the  Company or any key third  party  providers  should fail to become
Year 2000 compliant.

Forward Looking Statements.

         Certain  statements  included in this  quarterly  report  which are not
historical facts are forward looking statements. Such forward looking statements
are made  pursuant  to the safe  harbor  provisions  of the  Private  Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward looking  statements involve certain
risks and  uncertainties  including,  but not  limited  to,  changes in interest
rates,  competitive  pressures,  changes in customer mix, financial stability of
major customers,  investment  procurement  opportunities,  changes in government
regulations or the interpretation thereof and the ability of the Company and the
entities with which it transacts  business to modify or redesign  their computer
systems to work properly in the year 2000,  which could cause actual  results to
differ from those in the forward looking statements.

Item 3.      Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Not applicable,


<PAGE>



                                             PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.                    Legal Proceedings

The  information  set  forth  in  Notes  2 and 3 to the  Notes  to  Consolidated
Financial  Statements set forth elsewhere in this Report is incorporated  herein
by reference.


Item 6.                    Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

                           (a)      Exhibits

                                    27.  Selected Financial Data Schedule

                           (b)      Reports on Form 8-K

                                    None


<PAGE>



                                                      SIGNATURE


                  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934,  the  registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


November 13, 1998                         BINDLEY WESTERN INDUSTRIES, INC.

 
                                            BY /s/ Thomas J. Salentine
                                                   Thomas J. Salentine
                                                   Executive Vice President
                                                  (Principal Financial Officer)



<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                     5
<CIK>                         0000722808
<NAME>                        Bindley Western 
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                         29,525
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  520,882
<ALLOWANCES>                                   4,086
<INVENTORY>                                    641,940
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               1,211,314
<PP&E>                                         113,604
<DEPRECIATION>                                 26,204
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,335,817
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          911,427
<BONDS>                                        31,865
                          0
                                    0
<COMMON>                                       3,830
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<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   1,335,817
<SALES>                                        5,623,029
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<INCOME-TAX>                                   16,445
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            23,654
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   23,654
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  1.10
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