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Cigna, one of the largest health insurers in the country, is set to acquire pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts (ESI) in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $67 billion. The proposed deal has Cigna acquiring ESI at a 31% premium and is expected to close by the end of 2018.
One hundred million Americans have diabetes or pre-diabetes and newly diagnosed cases have tripled over the past 20 years. As the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, diabetes is characterized by inadequate insulin secretion resulting in high blood sugar and potential long-term heart, kidney, eye or nerve complications. Along with the rise of newly diagnosed cases, there has been a sharp increase in the cost of medication, presenting a challenge for many diabetic patients and their employers.
At the end of 2017, the U.S Senate and House of Representatives passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which reduced the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. The new tax rate, the lowest since 1938, went into effect on January 1, 2018.
While the full impact of the new plan is yet to be determined, it is expected that the changes will have a significant impact on the affordable housing industry and many of the clients we serve in that sector. The Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) helps finance 90% of affordable rental units built across the country. Since these credits are tied to the corporate tax rate, the credits are worth less to investors when the expected tax burden decreases.
Most businesses or firms involved in a merger or acquisition understand and value the traditional/financial due diligence process; however, many remain unaware of other types of risks that could impact the profitability of the deal.
At Scott, we offer a unique perspective through our analysis and assessment of M&A-related risk. With a focus on operations, human resources and culture, we can help uncover blind spots in a company’s risk management, insurance and/or employee benefits programs.
Yesterday, Congress voted to pass H.R. 195, a bill that will continue to fund the government through February 8, 2018. The bill was signed by the President last night and it includes three items specific to the Affordable Care Act, two of which will impact employer-sponsored coverage directly: