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Aetna (AET) to Acquire Humana (HUM) for $37 Billion, or $230/Share

July 3, 2015 9:11 AM EDT

As rumored, Aetna (NYSE: AET) and Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) announced early Friday that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Aetna will acquire all outstanding shares of Humana for a combination of cash and stock valued at $37 billion or approximately $230 per Humana share based on the closing price of Aetna common shares on July 2, 2015.

The complementary combination brings together Humana’s growing Medicare Advantage business with Aetna’s diversified portfolio and commercial capabilities to create a company serving the most seniors in the Medicare Advantage program and the second-largest managed care company in the United States. The combined entity will help drive better value and higher-quality health care by reducing administrative costs, leveraging best-in-breed practices from the two companies -- including Humana’s chronic-care capabilities that measurably improve health outcomes for larger populations -- and enabling the company to better compete with more cost effective products.

Under the terms of the agreement, which has been unanimously approved by the board of directors of each company, Humana stockholders will receive $125.00 in cash and 0.8375 Aetna common shares for each Humana share. As a result of the transaction, Aetna’s shareholders would own approximately 74 percent of the combined company and Humana’s shareholders would own approximately 26 percent. Aetna expects to finance the cash portion of the transaction with a combination of cash on hand and by issuing approximately $16 billion of new term loans, debt and commercial paper. Upon closing, which is expected to be in the second half of 2016, the company’s debt-capital ratio is projected to be approximately 46 percent, and management has committed to reducing that ratio below 40 percent over the 24 months following the closing. The transaction is projected to be neutral to Aetna’s 2016 Operating EPS and produce mid-single digit percentage Operating EPS accretion in 2017 and low double-digit percentage Operating EPS accretion in 2018.

The combined company will be well positioned to offer a broad choice of affordable, consumer-centric health care products, helping to constrain cost growth, improve health outcomes, and promote wellness. The combination will provide Aetna with an enhanced ability to work with providers and create value-based payment agreements that result in better care to consumers, and spread cutting-edge clinical practices and quality care.

The combined company would have projected 2015 operating revenue of approximately $115 billion, with approximately 56 percent from government sponsored programs (including Medicare and Medicaid). The combined company will have over 33 million medical members, based on memberships as of March 31, 2015. The combined membership includes Humana’s 3 million TRICARE members, under a program of health care coverage for military families and retirees administered by the U.S. Department of Defense.

After closing Aetna will make Louisville the headquarters for its Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE businesses, and will maintain a significant corporate presence in Louisville. Founded in Louisville more than 50 years ago, Humana has a long history of contributing to the Louisville community.

“The acquisition of Humana aligns two great companies and will significantly advance our strategy of more effectively serving members in a rapidly changing health care industry,” said Mark T. Bertolini, Aetna chairman and CEO. “This combination will allow us to continue to invest in excellent service for our members and strengthen our partnerships with providers to deliver high quality care at an affordable price. We have great respect for Humana, their talented team, their culture and their strong medical management capabilities. We look forward to working with them following the closing, as we enhance our combined portfolio of innovative health care offerings to provide significant benefits to consumers, employers and providers, and to continue delivering value for our shareholders.”

“Aetna and Humana share a strong commitment to improving the health and well-being of consumers, whatever their needs and wherever they are on their lifelong health journey,” said Bruce D. Broussard, president and CEO of Humana. “Through the use of technology and integrated services to simplify the consumer experience, the combined entity will be even more effective in meeting the health needs of many more people -- especially people with chronic conditions, who will benefit from Humana’s home health, pharmacy management, and data analytics programs. The transaction is a testament to the accomplishments of Humana associates and an outstanding outcome for our shareholders, who will receive an immediate premium and the opportunity to participate in the growth potential of the combined organization.”

Shawn M. Guertin, Aetna’s executive vice president and CFO, added, “The complementary nature of our two companies provides us with a significant synergy opportunity, furthering Aetna’s efforts to increase its operating efficiency. We expect synergies from the transaction to be $1.25 billion annually in 2018. These cost efficiencies will support our efforts to drive costs out of the system and offer more affordable products.”

The combination of Aetna and Humana:

  • Builds on each company’s respective efforts to provide innovative, technology-driven products, services and solutions to build healthier populations, promote higher quality health care at lower cost, and offer greater transparency and convenience for consumers.
  • Increases Aetna’s Medicare Advantage membership to 4.4 million and improves Aetna’s ability to serve members and their providers with cutting-edge technology and best practices.
  • Brings together two companies with leading percentages of membership in Medicare plans rated four Stars or higher.
  • Creates a leading health care services and pharmacy benefit franchise, serving members who use over 600 million prescriptions annually.
  • Strengthens care management capabilities by taking the best-of-breed provider solutions, including robust offerings of patient-centered provider services, clinical intelligence, value-based reimbursement models, data integration and analytics solutions from both companies.
  • Brings together two companies with longstanding commitments to promoting wellness, health, and access to high-quality health care for everyone, while supporting the communities in which they serve.

Transaction Details

Following the close of the transaction, Mark Bertolini will serve as Chairman and CEO of the combined company. At the time of the closing, the Aetna Board of Directors will be comprised of twelve current Aetna directors and four Humana directors, for a total of sixteen directors.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval by Humana stockholders of the merger agreement, the approval by Aetna shareholders of the issuance of shares in the transaction, as well as the expiration of the federal Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust waiting period and approvals of state departments of insurance and other regulators.

Aetna has received commitments from both Citi and UBS Investment Bank in connection with the financing of the transaction.

Citi and Lazard are acting as financial advisors to Aetna. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP is acting as legal advisor to Aetna. Goldman Sachs is acting as financial advisor to Humana and Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP is acting as its legal advisor.

Share Repurchase Program

Prior to closing, Aetna’s ability to repurchase its own shares will be limited. To meet its deleveraging plans, Aetna expects to suspend its share repurchase program for the combined company for approximately 6 months following the closing of the transaction. In addition, Humana will be suspending its share repurchase program.

The proposed transaction does not impact Aetna’s ability and intent to continue quarterly dividend payments, including the $0.25 dividend declared on May 15, 2015, payable on July 31, 2015 to shareholders of record at the close of business on July 16, 2015. Under the merger agreement Aetna has agreed that its quarterly dividend will not exceed $0.25 per share prior to closing. Declaration and payment of future dividends is at the discretion of Aetna’s board of directors and may be adjusted as business needs or market conditions change.

The proposed transaction also does not impact Humana's ability and intent to continue quarterly dividend payments prior to the closing of the transaction, including the cash dividend of $0.29 per share payable on July 31, 2015 to stockholders of record on June 30, 2015. Under the merger agreement Humana has agreed that its quarterly dividend will not exceed $0.29 per share prior to closing. Declaration and payment of future dividends is at the discretion of Humana’s board of directors and may be adjusted as business needs or market conditions change.



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