DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ANTITRUST DIVISION
ISSUES STATEMENT ON THE CLOSING OF ITS INVESTIGATION OF
ANTHEM, INC.’S ACQUISITION OF WELLPOINT HEALTH NETWORKS, INC.

Investigation Focused On Whether Merger Between Two
Blue Cross Plans Would Create Market Or Monopsony Power

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Deparment of Justice Antitrust Division issued the following statement today after the Department announced the closing of its investigation into Anthem, Inc.’s proposed acquisition of WellPoint Health Networks, Inc.:

“The facts did not support a conclusion that this merger will give a combined Anthem/WellPoint market or monopsony power in any market in which they compete. WellPoint’s share in the markets in which they overlap is very small, and these companies are not particularly close competitors. Although this particular transaction should not threaten to harm competition or consumers, we will continue to be vigilant in our enforcement of the antitrust laws in this area.”

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