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Wellpoint strikes deal to buy Amerigroup for $4.9 Billion

WellPoint entered a definitive agreement to acquire Amerigroup in a cash deal valued at $4.9 billion.

The agreement, expected to close in the first quarter of 2013, calls for WellPoint, Indianapolis, to pay $92 per share for Amerigroup, a Virginia Beach, Va.-based managed-care company with 2.7 million members in 13 states, according to a news release.

The acquisition would greatly expand WellPoint's footprint in Medicaid managed care and with the dual-eligible population. The combined company would have “a presence in the four largest states that have a combined $105 billion in annual dual eligible spending,” according to the release.

About Dean Erhardt

Dean provides over 20 years of industry experienece working across the distribution and payer environments. Dean currently works with pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device companies in launching products and services including REMS compliant distribution models.