Cigna drops bid to buy Humana, plans $10B share buyback

The buyback will increase Cigna’s complete share repurchase authority to $11.3 billion, the Bloomfield, Connecticut-based firm stated Sunday. Cigna can be abandoning discussions with Humana, in accordance with an individual with information of the matter who requested to not be recognized.

The Wall Avenue Journal reported earlier Sunday that Cigna is strolling away from the merger talks. Humana didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.

Cigna expects to repurchase at the least $5 billion of frequent inventory by the top of the primary half of 2024, in accordance with its assertion. A portion of the repurchase will happen by way of an accelerated program carried out within the first quarter.

“We consider Cigna’s shares are considerably undervalued and repurchases symbolize a value-enhancing deployment of capital as we work to assist high-quality care, improved affordability, and higher well being outcomes,” stated David Cordani, Cigna’s chairman and chief government officer. “As we have a look at the broader panorama and the strategic alternatives earlier than us, we are going to stay financially disciplined with a transparent concentrate on executing in opposition to our technique, delivering worth for our shareholders, and investing in our future.

Whereas Cigna didn’t remark publicly on Humana, Cordani stated within the assertion that the corporate will “think about bolt-on acquisitions aligned with our technique, in addition to value-enhancing divestitures.”

— With help from John Tozzi