Change Healthcare and Optum Extend Merger Agreement

Rhea-AI Summary

Optum and Change Healthcare have extended their merger agreement until December 31, 2022, amid a legal challenge from the U.S. Department of Justice. The companies express confidence in the merger's potential to enhance healthcare by reducing costs and improving stakeholder experiences. A $650 million fee is set if the merger fails due to court decisions, while shareholders of Change Healthcare will receive a special cash dividend of $2.00 per share at closing. A trial is scheduled to begin on August 1 to address the merger's challenges.

Positive

• Confident in merger's potential to improve healthcare efficiency.
• Expected to lower costs and enhance experiences for stakeholders.
• Special cash dividend of $2.00 per share to shareholders at closing.

Negative

• Legal challenges from the U.S. Department of Justice may delay merger.
• Potential $650 million fee if the merger doesn't complete due to court decision.

Combination will benefit patients, payers and providers by lowering costs and improving experiences

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. & NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Optum, a diversified health services company, and Change Healthcare (NASDAQ: CHNG), a health care technology leader, have agreed to extend their merger agreement to December 31, 2022.

In a joint statement, the companies said: “The extended agreement reflects our firm belief in the potential of our combination to improve health care, and in our commitment to contesting the meritless legal challenge to this merger.”

Change Healthcare and Optum share a vision for achieving a simpler, more intelligent and adaptive health system for patients, payers and providers. The combination of Optum and Change Healthcare will connect and simplify the core clinical, administrative and payment processes health care providers and payers depend on to serve patients. Increasing efficiency and reducing friction will benefit the entire health system, resulting in lower costs and a better experience for all stakeholders.

Change Healthcare and Optum will detail the benefits of this combination at a two-week trial scheduled to begin on August 1. The U.S. Department of Justice’s attempt to block the combination is without merit and serves only to delay improving the experience and outcomes for all participants in the health system.

As part of the extension, Optum will pay a $650 million fee to Change Healthcare in the event the merger is unable to be completed because of the court’s decision. Change Healthcare will pay a special cash dividend of $2.00 per share to its shareholders at or about the time of the closing.

About Optum

Optum is a leading information and technology-enabled health services business dedicated to helping make the health system work better for everyone. With more than 190,000 people worldwide, Optum delivers intelligent, integrated solutions that help to modernize the health system and improve overall population health. Optum is part of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH). For more information, visit www.Optum.com.

About Change Healthcare

Change Healthcare (NASDAQ: CHNG) is a leading healthcare technology company focused on insights, innovation, and accelerating the transformation of the U.S. healthcare system through the power of the Change Healthcare Platform. We provide data and analytics-driven solutions to improve clinical, financial, administrative, and patient-engagement outcomes in the U.S. healthcare system.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220405005507/en/

UnitedHealth Group Investor Relations

Zack Sopcak

(952) 936-7215

zack.sopcak@uhg.com



Optum Media Relations

Gwen Holliday

(202) 549-3429

gwen.m.holliday@optum.com



Change Healthcare Investor Relations

David Elliott

(205) 907-5540

daelliott@changehealthcare.com



Change Healthcare Media Relations

Katherine Wojtecki

(630) 624-9142

katherine.wojtecki@changehealthcare.com

Source: Optum and Change Healthcare

FAQ

What is the timeline for the Change Healthcare and Optum merger?

The merger agreement has been extended to December 31, 2022.

What is the financial impact of the merger on Change Healthcare's shareholders?

Change Healthcare's shareholders will receive a special cash dividend of $2.00 per share at closing.

What legal challenges are affecting the Change Healthcare and Optum merger?

The merger faces a legal challenge from the U.S. Department of Justice.

What are the expected benefits of the Change Healthcare and Optum merger?

The merger aims to enhance efficiency, lower costs, and improve experiences for patients, payers, and providers.

When will the trial regarding the merger begin?

The trial is scheduled to begin on August 1.