CVS and Aetna win approval for $69 billion merger

Pharmacy chain CVS Health won U.S. antitrust approval for its $69 billion acquisition of health insurer Aetna, the Justice Department said Wednesday, paving the way for a combination the companies say can help cut soaring U.S. healthcare costs.

It is the second large recent healthcare deal to win a thumbs up from the U.S. Justice Department. The agency gave the green light to health insurer Cigna Corp's $52 billion acquisition of the nation's largest pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), Express Scripts Holding Co, on Sept. 17.

Shares of CVS and Aetna each rose about 1 percent on Wednesday, a day when the broader market was sharply lower, with CVS trading at $80.25 and Aetna at $206.00.

The deal was approved on condition that the company's sell Aetna's Medicare Part D prescription drug business, the Justice department said.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/cvs-and-aetna-win-approval-for-dollar69-billion-merger/ar-BBOcbML