Deals
U.S. Said Readying Suits Against Anthem, Aetna Insurer Deals
- Justice Department action on deals could come this week
- Mergers would consolidate U.S. industry to three major players
Justice Dept. Action on Insurer Deals May Come This Week
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U.S. antitrust officials are poised to file lawsuits to block Anthem Inc.’s takeover of rival health-insurer Cigna Corp. and Aetna Inc.’s deal to buy Humana Inc., according to a person familiar with the matter.
Justice Department officials, who are responsible for protecting competition, are concerned that the deals, which would transform the health-insurance industry by turning its five biggest companies into three, would harm customers, according to several people familiar with the situation. While the companies may offer to sell assets to gain approval for the deals, that’s unlikely to sway antitrust officials, one of the people said.