Transaction Expected
to Close on or about January 23, 2020
ST. LOUIS and TAMPA, Fla., Jan.
21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC)
("Centene") and WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG)
("WellCare") today announced that they now have satisfied all
regulatory requirements under the merger agreement to complete the pending
transaction, including review by the U.S. Department of Justice. Subject
to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, the parties expect to
close the transaction and the related divestitures of
WellCare's Medicaid and Medicare Advantage plans
in Missouri, WellCare's Medicaid plan
in Nebraska and Centene'sMedicaid and Medicare
Advantage plans in Illinois on or about January 23, 2020.
"We are pleased to achieve this milestone
and look forward to closing our acquisition of WellCare and providing more
members and communities access to high-quality healthcare,"
said Michael F. Neidorff, Centene's Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer. "We also look forward to building on our
relationships with providers and government partners through the combined
company's wide range of affordable health solutions. We have been working
diligently on the integration plans to bring our organizations together so that
it is seamless for members, providers and employees of both companies."
Additional information about
the Centene – WellCare transaction can be found at
centene-wellcare.com.
About Centene
Centene Corporation, a Fortune 100 company, is a diversified, multi-national healthcare enterprise that provides a portfolio of services to government sponsored and commercial healthcare programs, focusing on under-insured and uninsured individuals. Many receive benefits provided under Medicaid, including the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), as well as Aged, Blind or Disabled (ABD), Foster Care and Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS), in addition to other state-sponsored programs, Medicare (including the Medicare prescription drug benefit commonly known as "Part D"), dual eligible programs and programs with the U.S. Department of Defense. Centene also provides healthcare services to groups and individuals delivered through commercial health plans. Centene operates local health plans and offers a range of health insurance solutions. It also contracts with other healthcare and commercial organizations to provide specialty services including behavioral health management, care management software, correctional healthcare services, dental benefits management, commercial programs, home-based primary care services, life and health management, vision benefits management, pharmacy benefits management, specialty pharmacy and telehealth services.
Centene Corporation, a Fortune 100 company, is a diversified, multi-national healthcare enterprise that provides a portfolio of services to government sponsored and commercial healthcare programs, focusing on under-insured and uninsured individuals. Many receive benefits provided under Medicaid, including the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), as well as Aged, Blind or Disabled (ABD), Foster Care and Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS), in addition to other state-sponsored programs, Medicare (including the Medicare prescription drug benefit commonly known as "Part D"), dual eligible programs and programs with the U.S. Department of Defense. Centene also provides healthcare services to groups and individuals delivered through commercial health plans. Centene operates local health plans and offers a range of health insurance solutions. It also contracts with other healthcare and commercial organizations to provide specialty services including behavioral health management, care management software, correctional healthcare services, dental benefits management, commercial programs, home-based primary care services, life and health management, vision benefits management, pharmacy benefits management, specialty pharmacy and telehealth services.
Centene uses its investor relations
website to publish important information about the company, including
information that may be deemed material to investors. Financial and other
information about Centene is routinely posted and is accessible
on Centene's investor relations website, http://www.centene.com/investors.
About WellCare Health Plans, Inc.
Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) focuses primarily on providing government-sponsored managed care services to families, children, seniors and individuals with complex medical needs primarily through Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, as well as individuals in the Health Insurance Marketplace. WellCare serves approximately 6.4 million members nationwide as of September 30, 2019. For more information about WellCare, please visit the company's website at www.wellcare.com.
Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) focuses primarily on providing government-sponsored managed care services to families, children, seniors and individuals with complex medical needs primarily through Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, as well as individuals in the Health Insurance Marketplace. WellCare serves approximately 6.4 million members nationwide as of September 30, 2019. For more information about WellCare, please visit the company's website at www.wellcare.com.
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking
Statements of Centene
All statements, other than statements of current or historical fact, contained in this communication are forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, forward-looking statements often use words such as "believe," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "seek," "target," "goal," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "can," "continue" and other similar words or expressions (and the negative thereof). In particular, these statements include, without limitation, statements about Centene's future operating or financial performance, market opportunity, growth strategy, competition, expected activities in completed and future acquisitions, including statements about the impact of Centene's proposed acquisition of WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (the "WellCare Transaction"), Centene's recent acquisition (the "Fidelis Care Transaction") of substantially all the assets of New York State Catholic Health Plan, Inc., d/b/a Fidelis Care New York ("Fidelis Care"), investments and the adequacy of Centene's available cash resources.
All statements, other than statements of current or historical fact, contained in this communication are forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, forward-looking statements often use words such as "believe," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "seek," "target," "goal," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "can," "continue" and other similar words or expressions (and the negative thereof). In particular, these statements include, without limitation, statements about Centene's future operating or financial performance, market opportunity, growth strategy, competition, expected activities in completed and future acquisitions, including statements about the impact of Centene's proposed acquisition of WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (the "WellCare Transaction"), Centene's recent acquisition (the "Fidelis Care Transaction") of substantially all the assets of New York State Catholic Health Plan, Inc., d/b/a Fidelis Care New York ("Fidelis Care"), investments and the adequacy of Centene's available cash resources.
These forward-looking statements
reflect Centene's current views with respect to future events and are
based on numerous assumptions and assessments made by us in light
of Centene's experience and perception of historical trends, current
conditions, business strategies, operating environments, future developments
and other factors Centene believes appropriate. By their nature,
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties
and are subject to change because they relate to events and depend on
circumstances that will occur in the future, including economic, regulatory,
competitive and other factors that may cause Centene's or its
industry's actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to
be materially different from any future results, levels of activity,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking
statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are
subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions.
All forward-looking statements included in
this filing are based on information available to us on the date of this
communication. Except as may be otherwise required by
law, Centene undertakes no obligation to update or revise the
forward-looking statements included in this communication, whether as a result
of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this filing.
You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, as
actual results may differ materially from projections, estimates, or other
forward-looking statements due to a variety of important factors, variables and
events including, but not limited to, the following: (i) the possibility that
certain conditions to the consummation of the WellCare Transaction will not be
satisfied or completed on a timely basis and accordingly the WellCare
Transaction may not be consummated on a timely basis or at all; (ii)
uncertainty as to the expected financial performance of the combined company
following completion of the WellCare Transaction; (iii) the possibility that
the expected synergies and value creation from the WellCare Transaction will
not be realized, or will not be realized within the expected time period; (iv)
the exertion of management's time and Centene's resources, and other
expenses incurred and business changes required, in connection with complying
with the undertakings in connection with any regulatory, governmental or third
party consents or approvals for the WellCare Transaction; (v) the risk that
unexpected costs will be incurred in connection with the completion and/or
integration of the WellCare Transaction or that the integration of WellCare
will be more difficult or time consuming than expected; (vi) the risk that
potential litigation in connection with the WellCare Transaction may affect the
timing or occurrence of the WellCare Transaction or result in significant costs
of defense, indemnification and liability; (vii) a downgrade of the credit
rating of Centene's indebtedness, which could give rise to an obligation
to redeem existing indebtedness; (viii) unexpected costs, charges or expenses
resulting from the WellCare Transaction; (ix) the inability to retain key
personnel; (x) disruption from the announcement, pendency and/or completion of
the WellCare Transaction, including potential adverse reactions or changes to
business relationships with customers, employees, suppliers or regulators,
making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships;
and (xi) the risk that, following the WellCare Transaction, the combined
company may not be able to effectively manage its expanded operations.
Additional factors that may cause actual
results to differ materially from projections, estimates, or other
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following:
(i) Centene's ability to accurately predict and effectively manage
health benefits and other operating expenses and reserves; (ii) competition;
(iii) membership and revenue declines or unexpected trends; (iv) changes in
healthcare practices, new technologies, and advances in medicine; (v) increased
healthcare costs, (vi) changes in economic, political or market conditions;
(vii) changes in federal or state laws or regulations, including changes with
respect to income tax reform or government healthcare programs as well as
changes with respect to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the
Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act, collectively
referred to as the Affordable Care Act ("ACA"), and any regulations
enacted thereunder that may result from changing political conditions or
judicial actions, including the ultimate outcome of the District Court decision
in "Texas v. United States of America" regarding the
constitutionality of the ACA; (viii) rate cuts or other payment reductions or
delays by governmental payors and other risks and uncertainties
affecting Centene's government businesses;
(ix) Centene's ability to adequately price products on federally
facilitated and state-based Health Insurance Marketplaces; (x) tax matters;
(xi) disasters or major epidemics; (xii) the outcome of legal and regulatory
proceedings; (xiii) changes in expected contract start dates; (xiv) provider,
state, federal and other contract changes and timing of regulatory approval of
contracts; (xv) the expiration, suspension, or termination
of Centene's contracts with federal or state governments (including
but not limited to Medicaid, Medicare, TRICARE or other customers);
(xvi) the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome of pending or future
litigation or government investigations; (xvii) challenges
to Centene's contract awards; (xviii) cyber-attacks or other privacy
or data security incidents; (xix) the possibility that the expected synergies
and value creation from acquired businesses, including, without limitation, the
Fidelis Care Transaction, will not be realized, or will not be realized within
the expected time period; (xx) the exertion of management's time
and Centene's resources, and other expenses incurred and business
changes required in connection with complying with the undertakings in
connection with any regulatory, governmental or third party consents or
approvals for acquisitions, including the Fidelis Care Transaction; (xxi)
disruption caused by significant completed and pending acquisitions, including,
among others, the Fidelis Care Transaction, making it more difficult to
maintain business and operational relationships; (xxii) the risk that
unexpected costs will be incurred in connection with the completion and/or
integration of acquisition transactions, including, among others, the Fidelis
Care Transaction; (xxiii) changes in expected closing dates, estimated purchase
price and accretion for acquisitions; (xxiv) the risk that acquired businesses,
including Fidelis Care, will not be integrated successfully; (xxv) the
risk that, following the Fidelis Care Transaction, Centene may not be
able to effectively manage its expanded operations; (xxvi) restrictions and
limitations in connection with Centene's indebtedness;
(xxvii) Centene's ability to maintain the Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services (CMS) Star ratings and maintain or achieve
improvement in other quality scores in each case that can impact revenue and
future growth; (xxviii) availability of debt and equity financing, on terms
that are favorable to us; (xxix) inflation; and (xxx) foreign currency
fluctuations.
This list of important factors is not intended
to be exhaustive. We discuss certain of these matters more fully, as well as
certain other factors that may affect Centene's business operations,
financial condition and results of operations, in Centene's filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"),
including the registration statement on Form S-4 filed
by Centene with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on May 23, 2019 (the "Registration
Statement"), and Centene's Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly
reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. Due to these important
factors and risks, Centene cannot give assurances with respect
to Centene's future performance, including without
limitation Centene's ability to maintain adequate premium levels
or Centene's ability to control its future medical and selling,
general and administrative costs.
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking
Statements of WellCare
All statements, other than statements of current or historical fact, contained in this communication are forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, forward-looking statements often use words such as "believe," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "seek," "target," "goal," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "can," "continue" and other similar words or expressions (and the negative thereof). Such forward-looking statements are intended to be covered by the safe-harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and this statement is included for purposes of complying with these safe-harbor provisions. In particular, these statements include, without limitation, statements about WellCare's future operating or financial performance, market opportunity, growth strategy, competition, expected activities in completed and future acquisitions, including statements about the impact of the Transaction, investments and the adequacy of WellCare's available cash resources.
All statements, other than statements of current or historical fact, contained in this communication are forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, forward-looking statements often use words such as "believe," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "seek," "target," "goal," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "can," "continue" and other similar words or expressions (and the negative thereof). Such forward-looking statements are intended to be covered by the safe-harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and this statement is included for purposes of complying with these safe-harbor provisions. In particular, these statements include, without limitation, statements about WellCare's future operating or financial performance, market opportunity, growth strategy, competition, expected activities in completed and future acquisitions, including statements about the impact of the Transaction, investments and the adequacy of WellCare's available cash resources.
These forward-looking statements reflect
WellCare's current views with respect to future events and are based on
numerous assumptions and assessments made by WellCare in light of WellCare's
experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, business
strategies, operating environments, future developments and other factors
WellCare believes appropriate. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve
known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are subject to change because
they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the
future, including economic, regulatory, competitive and other factors that may
cause WellCare or its industry's actual results, levels of activity,
performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results,
levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these
forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future
performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions.
All forward-looking statements included in
this filing are based on information available to WellCare on the date of this
communication. Except as may be otherwise required by law, WellCare undertakes
no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements included in
this communication, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise, after the date of this filing. You should not place undue reliance
on any forward-looking statements, as actual results may differ materially from
projections, estimates, or other forward-looking statements due to a variety of
important factors, variables and events including, but not limited to, the following:
(i) the possibility that certain conditions to the consummation of the
Transaction will not be satisfied or completed on a timely basis and
accordingly the Transaction may not be consummated on a timely basis or at all;
(ii) uncertainty as to the expected financial performance of the combined
company following completion of the Transaction; (iii) the possibility that the
expected synergies and value creation from the Transaction will not be
realized, or will not be realized within the expected time period; (iv) the
exertion of management's time and WellCare's resources, and other expenses
incurred and business changes required, in connection with complying with the
undertakings in connection with any regulatory, governmental or third party
consents or approvals for the Transaction; (v) the risk that unexpected costs
will be incurred in connection with the completion and/or integration of the
Transaction or that the integration of WellCare will be more difficult or time
consuming than expected; (vi) the risk that potential litigation in connection
with the Transaction may affect the timing or occurrence of the Transaction or
result in significant costs of defense, indemnification and liability; (vii) a
downgrade of the credit rating of WellCare's indebtedness, which could give
rise to an obligation to redeem existing indebtedness; (viii) unexpected costs,
charges or expenses resulting from the Transaction; (ix) the inability to
retain key personnel; (x) disruption from the announcement, pendency and/or completion
of the Transaction, including potential adverse reactions or changes to
business relationships with customers, employees, suppliers or regulators,
making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships;
and (xi) the risk that, following the Transaction, the combined company may not
be able to effectively manage its expanded operations.
Additional factors that may cause actual
results to differ materially from projections, estimates, or other
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: (i)
WellCare's progress on top priorities such as integrating care management,
advocating for WellCare's members, building advanced relationships with
providers and government partners, ensuring a competitive cost position, and
delivering prudent, profitable growth, (ii) WellCare's ability to effectively
identify, estimate and manage growth, (iii) the ability to achieve accretion to
WellCare's earnings, revenues or other benefits expected, (iv) disruption to
business relationships, operating results, and business generally of WellCare,
(v) potential reductions in Medicaid and Medicare revenue,
(vi) WellCare's ability to estimate and manage medical benefits expense
effectively, including through its vendors, (vii) WellCare's ability to
negotiate actuarially sound rates, especially in new programs with limited
experience, (viii) WellCare's ability to improve healthcare quality and access,
(ix) the appropriation and payment by state governments
of Medicaid premiums receivable, (x) the outcome of any protests and
litigation related to Medicaid awards, (xi) the approval
of Medicaid contracts by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, (xii) any changes to the programs or contracts, (xiii) WellCare's
ability to address operational challenges related to new business and (xiv)
WellCare's ability to meet the requirements of readiness reviews.
This list of important factors is not intended
to be exhaustive. WellCare discusses certain of these matters more fully, as
well as certain other factors that may affect its business operations,
financial condition and results of operations, in its filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"),
including WellCare's Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q
and current reports on Form 8-K. Due to these important factors and risks,
WellCare cannot give assurances with respect to its future performance,
including without limitation its ability to maintain adequate premium levels or
its ability to control its future medical and selling, general and
administrative costs.
Important Additional Information and Where to
Find It
In connection with the WellCare Transaction, on May 23, 2019, Centene filed with the SEC the Registration Statement, which included a prospectus with respect to the shares of Centene's common stock to be issued in the WellCare Transaction and a joint proxy statement for Centene's and WellCare's respective stockholders (the "Joint Proxy Statement"). The SEC declared the Registration Statement effective on May 23, 2019, and the Joint Proxy Statement was first mailed to stockholders of Centene and WellCare on or about May 24, 2019. Each of Centene and WellCare may file other documents regarding the WellCare Transaction with the SEC. This communication is not a substitute for the Registration Statement, the Joint Proxy Statement or any other document that Centene or WellCare may send to their respective stockholders in connection with the WellCare Transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF CENTENE AND WELLCARE ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT CENTENE, WELLCARE, THE WELLCARE TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders of Centene and WellCare are able to obtain free copies of the Registration Statement, the Joint Proxy Statement and other documents (including any amendments or supplements thereto) containing important information about Centene and WellCare through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Centene and WellCare make available free of charge at www.centene.com and ir.wellcare.com, respectively, copies of materials they file with, or furnish to, the SEC.
In connection with the WellCare Transaction, on May 23, 2019, Centene filed with the SEC the Registration Statement, which included a prospectus with respect to the shares of Centene's common stock to be issued in the WellCare Transaction and a joint proxy statement for Centene's and WellCare's respective stockholders (the "Joint Proxy Statement"). The SEC declared the Registration Statement effective on May 23, 2019, and the Joint Proxy Statement was first mailed to stockholders of Centene and WellCare on or about May 24, 2019. Each of Centene and WellCare may file other documents regarding the WellCare Transaction with the SEC. This communication is not a substitute for the Registration Statement, the Joint Proxy Statement or any other document that Centene or WellCare may send to their respective stockholders in connection with the WellCare Transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF CENTENE AND WELLCARE ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT CENTENE, WELLCARE, THE WELLCARE TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders of Centene and WellCare are able to obtain free copies of the Registration Statement, the Joint Proxy Statement and other documents (including any amendments or supplements thereto) containing important information about Centene and WellCare through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Centene and WellCare make available free of charge at www.centene.com and ir.wellcare.com, respectively, copies of materials they file with, or furnish to, the SEC.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication is for informational purposes only and does not constitute, or form a part of, an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, and there shall be no sale of securities, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and otherwise in accordance with applicable law.
This communication is for informational purposes only and does not constitute, or form a part of, an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, and there shall be no sale of securities, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and otherwise in accordance with applicable law.
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SOURCE Centene Corporation
Centene Contacts: Media, Marcela
Manjarrez-Hawn, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer,
mediainquiries@centene.com, (314) 445-0790, Investors, Edmund E. Kroll, Jr.,
Senior Vice President, Finance & Investor Relations, investors@centene.com,
(212) 759-0382, WellCare Contacts: Media, Rhonda Mims, Executive Vice President
and Chief Public Affairs Officer, WellCareMediaRelations@wellcare.com, (813)
290-6208, Investors, Beau Garverick, Senior Vice President, Corporate
Development, Investor Relations and Strategy, beau.garverick@wellcare.com,
(813) 206-2329
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