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(s) of the Week: Teva, Take Two

Deal(s) of the Week: Teva, Take Two

Debt has been a key deal driver this year, particularly in the hospital sector, where Community Health Systems (NYSE: CYH), Quorum Health Corporation (NYSE: QHC) and Tenet Healthcare (NYSE: THC) are shedding less desirable assets. Joining them now is generic drug maker Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE: TEVA), which is shouldering $35 billion of debt brought on by its $40.5 billion acquisition of Allergan’s (NYSE: AGN) line of generics, announced in July 2015. The company hasn’t announced an acquisition since September 2016. What a difference a year makes, as generic drug prices have been squeezed and the company has been selling off non-core assets to pay down its... Read More »