Anthem To Buy Simply Healthcare Holdings; Backs 2014 Outlook - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Health care provider Anthem, Inc. (ANTM) agreed to acquire Simply Healthcare Holdings, Inc. along with its two subsidiaries, Simply Healthcare Plans, Inc. and Better Health, Inc. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The deal, subject to certain state regulatory approvals and standard closing conditions, is expected to close in the first half of 2015.

Simply Healthcare is a leading managed care company for people enrolled in Medicaid and Medicare programs in the state of Florida. The acquisition of Medicaid and Medicare Health Plans will boost Anthem's business growth strategies.

The company said the deal is expected to be neutral to earnings in 2015. It continues to expect full-year 2014 earnings in the range of $8.83 to $8.93 per share, including $0.08 per share of net favorable items from the first three quarters.

Excluding items, adjusted earnings is still projected in the range of $8.75 to $8.85 per share. On average, 21 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect the company to report earnings of $8.83 per share for the full-year 2014. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.