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US: Aetna CEO addresses antitrust concerns over Humana deal

By  |  July 6, 2015

Aetna chief executive said Monday he was confident an antitrust review of the health insurer’s proposed purchase of smaller rival Humana would allow the deal to close in the second half of 2016, seeking to allay investor concerns.

Mark Bertolini said Aetna had already prepared for possible divestitures to address overlaps with Humana’s business in the largest-ever US health insurance deal. The two sides announced the $37 billion transaction on Friday.

“We took a conservative view of what we would need to divest,” Bertolini said during an investor conference call.

Aetna has not discussed the deal directly with the US Department of Justice, but has consulted with regulatory experts, Bertolini told cable channel CNBC.

“We believe that given the legal advice we have…that this is a very manageable transaction,” he said.

Full content: Fox Business

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