Health insurer Aetna's CFO Shawn Guertin said the company is confident in its case against the U.S. Department of Justice, which sued to block the insurer's $37 billion acquisition of Humana in July, Louisville Business First reports.
At the Morgan Stanley Global Healthcare Conference in New York City last week, Mr. Guertin said he "feel[s] very strongly about the merits of the case," but that one can only feel so good when facing a trial.
Mr. Guertin also said Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna and Louisville, Ky.-based Humana are getting their defense ready and intend to follow the case through its end, according to the report.
Under the acquisition contract, Humana could walk out and collect a $1 billion break up fee from Aetna if the deal does not close by Dec. 31. Mr. Guertin said insurer leaders may seek an extension.
The trial is slated to begin Dec. 5 with a possible ruling by mid-January.
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