S&P Global Ratings has placed Aetna and Humana on creditwatch following the Department of Justice’s announcement Thursday to block their merger.
S&P said it has placed its ratings on Aetna on creditwatch with developing implications, and on Humana and its core subsidiaries on creditwatch with negative implications.
The DOJ also blocked the merger between Anthem and Cigna on Thursday. S&Psaid its ratings on the two insurers would remain on creditwatch negative, where they were placed on June 21, 2015.
Anthem and Aetna have both said they would fight the DOJ’s injunction against their respective mergers in court.
For Anthem’s proposed $53 billion acquisition of Cigna, litigation could be difficult and time-consuming, S&P said.
HENRY KOTULA 