Aetna Inc. (AET) will acquire PayFlex Holdings Inc. for roughly
$202 million, as the managed care company looks to enhance
technology and offerings surrounding the administration of health
plans.
PayFlex, based in Omaha, Neb., offers web-based benefit
administration services for insurance plan sponsors. Aetna said it
expects to combine PayFlex with its existing consumer fund services
unit.
It sees the deal, expected to close by the end of the year, as
neutral to its results for the current year and 2012.
"This acquisition fits well with Aetna's core business, which
has a strong focus on consumer-directed product offerings," said
Aetna Chief Executive Mark T. Bertolini.
Aetna has recently been on an acquisition streak. In April, the
company agreed to acquire Prodigy Health Group, an administrator of
self-funded health care plans, from One Equity Partners for $600
million. That deal is also expected to close by the end of the
year.
Shares of Aetna closed Friday at $43.36 and were inactive
premarket. The stock is up 42% since the start of the year.
-By Mia Lamar, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-3207;
mia.lamar@dowjones.com