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Aetna CEO addresses antitrust concerns over Humana deal


    NEW YORK (Reuters) - Aetna Inc Chief Executive Mark Bertolini said Monday he was confident an antitrust review of the company's proposed purchase of Humana Inc would allow the deal to close in the second half of 2016, seeking to allay investor concerns over significant regulatory hurdles.

    Bertolini said AETNA (AET.NY)had already prepared for possible divestitures to address overlaps with HUMANA (HUM.NY)s business in the largest-ever U.S. health insurance deal. The two sides announced their $37 billion deal on Friday.

    "We took a conservative view of what we would need to divest," Bertolini said during an investor conference call.

    Aetna has not discussed the deal directly with the U.S. Department of Justice, but has consulted with regulatory experts, Bertolini told cable channel CNBC.

    "We believe that given the legal advice we have...that this is a very manageable transaction," he said.

    Aetna shares fell $5.04, or 4 percent, to $120.44 early on Monday. Humana rose $5.95, or 3 percent, to $193.50, but traded well below Aetna's proposed acquisition price of about $230 a share.

    (Reporting by Caroline Humer; Editing by Bernadette Baum)