Deal of the Week: CVS/Aetna

The biggest deal of the year (so far) was announced on Sunday, December 3, no doubt timed to give media outlets a fresh story to begin the week. By now you know that CVS Health Corp. (NYSE: CVS) and managed care giant Aetna (NYSE: AET) plan to merge in mid-2018, to the tune of $77 billion (including Aetna’s debt). The deal was first reported in October by The Wall Street Journal, with talk of $200 to $205 per share for Aetna. The final price is $207 per share in cash and stock: $145 in cash and $62 in stock. Besides being the largest deal announced in 2017 (since 2015, in fact), the unusual combination portends major changes in the U.S. healthcare market. Or not. Skeptics abound regarding... Read More »
CVS, Aetna Lead a Potential Big-Deal Parade

CVS, Aetna Lead a Potential Big-Deal Parade

The fourth quarter, and the month of December in particular, are usually busy times for mergers and acquisitions, and often when big deals are announced. With one month to go in Q4:17, the pace may be picking up. Deal volume through December 1 stood at 231 transactions (-39% to last year’s 379), and $19.6 billion (-49% vs. $38.6 billion in Q4:16). But late on December 3, CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) and managed care giant Aetna (NYSE: AET) announced their $69 billion merger. More mega-deals are in the offing. Possibly. The CVS/Aetna deal was first reported in October by The Wall Street Journal, with talk of $200 to $205 per share for Aetna. The final price is $207 per share in cash and... Read More »
Deal of the Week: McKesson/RxCrossroads

Deal of the Week: McKesson/RxCrossroads

The largest deal announced in a very sluggish week for healthcare announcements was McKesson Corp.’s (NYSE: MCK) $735 million acquisition of RxCrossroads from CVS Health Corp. (NYSE: CVS). RxCrossroads provides a range of specialty distribution, pharmacy and patient support to biopharmaceutical manufacturers. CVS acquired it in 2015 as part of its $12.7 billion deal for Omnicare Inc., which specialized in managing pharmaceutical care in long-term care and assisted living facilities. Omnicare paid $235 million for RxCrossroads in 2005, when it reported annualized revenue of $46 million. For McKesson, RxCrossroads will help it to capitalize on what the coming boom in the specialty... Read More »
Deal of the Week: Centene/Fidelis Care

Deal of the Week: Centene/Fidelis Care

Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), the self-declared leader in government-sponsored healthcare in the U.S., has taken over another state. As larger rivals like Anthem (NYSE: ANTM) and UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) quit the individual health insurance exchanges around the country, Centene has marched in. In its first major deal since July 2015, Centene is now tops in New York State, thanks to its $3.75 billion deal for not-for-profit Fidelis Care. Fidelis Care provides health insurance coverage through Qualified Health Plans, Child Health Plus, Essential Plan, and Medicaid, available through the New York State of Health Marketplace, as well as through the Medicare Advantage, Dual Advantage,... Read More »

What’s Next for Managed Care?

The managed care mega-deals of 2015 have blown up. Aetna (NYSE: AET) and Humana (NYSE: HUM) amicably terminated their $37 billion merger, following a federal judge’s order in January to block the deal on antitrust grounds. The $1 billion termination fee was in the works. A different federal judge blocked Anthem (NYSE: ANTM) and Cigna’s (NYSE: CI) $54.2 billion merger on similar grounds. Things turned ugly quickly, as Cigna declared the deal dead and sued Anthem for the $1.85 billion termination fee, and another $13 billion in damages on behalf of its shareholders. Anthem says it will go ahead with the merger. What do the Big Five health insurers do now that they’re... Read More »