Cigna ends Humana merger talks, prioritizes share buybacks

Cigna ends Humana merger talks, prioritizes share buybacks 
Modern Healthcare - Insurance; by John Lauerman, Bloomberg; 11/11/24 
Cigna Group said it won’t pursue a combination with rival insurer Humana Inc. after reports the two companies had renewed discussions of a deal. The company “remains committed to its established M&A criteria and would only consider acquisitions that are strategically aligned, financially attractive, and have a high probability to close,” according to a statement Monday. Cigna shares jumped by 8% in premarket trading, while shares in Humana dropped by 7%. The two health insurance giants, with a combined market value of roughly $125 billion, held talks about a deal last year, but Cigna walked away after the two companies failed to agree on a price, Bloomberg News reported in December.