‘Anthem deal could close in 2017’

NEW YORK: Health insurer Cigna Corp, which announced plans to be bought by larger Anthem Inc 10 months ago, on Friday said the deal may close in 2017 rather than 2016 due to the complexity of the regulatory process, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The U.S. Department of Justice is currently reviewing the Cigna-Anthem deal, which would create the nation's largest health insurer, offering Medicare, Medicaid and commercial health insurance.

The Justice Department is reviewing that deal in conjunction with Aetna Inc's proposed purchase of Humana Inc, which was also announced last summer.

Ever since the deals were announced, investors have worried that one or both may not close because of antitrust issues. Anthem has not changed its expectations, Anthem spokeswoman Jill Becher said in a statement.

"Although our merger agreement with Cigna gives us until April 30, 2017 to obtain regulatory approvals, we continue to believe that we will obtain such approvals and close in the second half of 2016," she said. Cigna said in the filing that it continues to target closing in the second half of 2016 but that the closing hinges on regulators' timing and approval.