Aetna shareholders back proposed Humana acquisition

Aetna said its shareholders voted Monday to approve the issuance of Aetna common shares to Humana stockholders in connection with Aetna’s proposed acquisition of Humana.

Ninety-nine percent of Aetna's shareholders voted in favor of issuing the shares, which will be issued under and in accordance with the agreement and plan of merger dated July 2, 2015.

The Humana transaction is not yet complete; it remains contingent upon closing conditions such as approval by Humana stockholders of the agreement and plan of merger, expiration of the federal Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust waiting period and approvals of state departments of insurance and other regulators.

Aetna officials anticipate the transaction will close in the second half of 2016.

Aetna is one of the nation’s leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately46.7 million people.