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What Issues Will FTC/DOJ What Issues Will FTC/DOJ Analyze?Analyze?
• Nature and extent of competition between the merging parties
• Market definition– Geographic– Product
• Market participants and concentration
• Ease of expansion/entry (including state regulatory requirements)
• Market conditions which increase/decrease the potential for anti-competitive effects
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Examples in Specific Insurance Examples in Specific Insurance IndustriesIndustries
• Healthcare
• Title
• Disability
• Life
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Health Insurance MergersHealth Insurance MergersInvestigated By FTC/DOJInvestigated By FTC/DOJ
• United HealthCare Corp. / GenCare Health Systems, Inc. (1994)
First second request: DOJ investigated but didn’t challenge merger creating 39-47% of HMO, 45% of PPO, and 41% of HMO-PPO enrollees in St. Louis.
• United HealthCare Corp. / MetraHealth Cos. Inc. (1995)
First divestiture: United resolved Federal & State antitrust concerns by agreeing to sell MetraHealth’s HMO serving greater St. Louis.
• Wellpoint Health Networks Inc. / Health Systems Intl. Inc. (1995)
No second request for proposed creation of second largest HMO in U.S.
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Health Insurance MergersHealth Insurance MergersInvestigated By FTC/DOJ (cont’d.)Investigated By FTC/DOJ (cont’d.)
• Aetna Inc. / The Prudential Insurance Co. of Am. (1998)
Seven-month investigation by DOJ & TX:
Count I: reduction in competition in the sale of HMO and HMO-POS plans in Houston (44 + 19 = 63%) and Dallas (26 + 16 = 42%);
Count II: reduction in competition to purchase physician services in Houston and Dallas;
Consent decree required Aetna to divest NYLCare HMO operations in Houston and Dallas.
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Health Insurance MergersHealth Insurance MergersInvestigated By FTC/DOJ (cont’d.)Investigated By FTC/DOJ (cont’d.)
• Anthem/Wellpoint Health Networks (2004)
In October 2003, Anthem announced its intention to acquire Wellpoint Health Networks for $16 billion in cash and stock.
Physician and hospital groups oppose the merger on grounds it would lead to further industry consolidation; Congressional members call for FTC investigation of deal.
DOJ conducts a 4 month investigation, which it closed on March 9, 2004.
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Health Insurance MergersHealth Insurance MergersInvestigated By FTC/DOJ (cont’d.)Investigated By FTC/DOJ (cont’d.)
• Anthem/Wellpoint Health Networks (cont’d)In announcing its decision, the DOJ explained that it had examined the following issues:
1. The competition for sale between Anthem and Wellpoint for the sale of health insurance products;
2. The possibility that a combined Anthem/Wellpoint would have buyer-side market (monospony) power;
3. Despite the lack of direct competition, whether the combination of complementary Blues plans might increase their incentives or ability to exercise monopsony power;
4. The possible effects of this deal on competition for the acquisition of Blues plans to the detriment of the plans’ shareholders.
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Health Insurance MergersHealth Insurance MergersInvestigated By FTC/DOJ (cont’d.)Investigated By FTC/DOJ (cont’d.)
• Anthem/Wellpoint Health Networks (cont’d)
Even as it was announcing the close of its investigation, the DOJ stated:
“Although this particular transaction should not threaten to harm competition or consumers, we will continue to be vigilant in our enforcement of the antitrust laws in this area.”
• United Health/Mid Atlantic Medical Services (2004)
United Health’s acquisition of Mid Atlantic Medical Services in February 2004 created the second largest US health insurer
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Title Insurance MergersTitle Insurance MergersInvestigated By FTC/DOJInvestigated By FTC/DOJ
• Lawyers Title Corp. / Reliance Group Holdings, Inc. (1997)
FTC required divestiture of the plans and related agreements in seven counties in FL, three in MI, St. Louis and D.C.
• Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Co. / First American Title Insurance Co. (1997)
FTC required dissolution of JV and refunds to customers in D.C. area.
• Fidelity National Financial, Inc. / Chicago Title Corp. (1999)
FTC required divestiture of title plant interests in six CA counties.
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Life/Home Service InsuranceLife/Home Service InsuranceMergers Investigated By FTC/DOJMergers Investigated By FTC/DOJ
• AEGON N.V./Transamerica Corp. (1999)
FTC terminated its 30-day review of $9.7 billion transaction creating the 3rd largest US Life insurer.
In November 2003, FTC granted early termination of the 30-day waiting period on Manulife’s $10.4 billion acquisition of John Hancock.
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Life/Home Service Life/Home Service Insurance (cont’d)Insurance (cont’d)
• Bank One/Zurich Life (2003)
In July 2003, FTC closed its investigation of Bank One’s $500 million acquisition of the U.S. life insurance business of Zurich Life.
• St. Paul/Travelers (2003)
FTC granted announced early termination in December 2003 of the HSR waiting period. St. Paul/Travelers announced completion of the merger on April 1, creating the second largest US commercial insurer.
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Disability Insurance MergersDisability Insurance MergersInvestigated By FTC/DOJInvestigated By FTC/DOJ
• Provident Cos., Inc. / The Paul Revere Corp. (1996)
FTC granted early termination.
• Provident Cos., Inc. / UNUM Corp. (1998)
Consent decree resolved concerns regarding the sale of disability insurance sold to individuals in the U.S.
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Restructuring to AlleviateRestructuring to AlleviateFTC/DOJ ConcernsFTC/DOJ Concerns
• FTC divestiture study and growth of big foot print mergers have changed the restructuring rules.
• Consent decree terms and conditions are much stricter (e.g., fix-it-first, clean sweep, monitor trustees, technical assistance).